Lake Myvatn Stopover Tour

Day 1: Keflavik - Reykjanes Peninsula - Blue Lagoon - Reykjavik

After an overnight flight we make an early morning start from Keflavik (if you are already in Iceland we'll pick you up at your hotel).

We'll start this day by exploring the Reykjanes Peninsula. Reykjanes Peninsula is an exciting area on the margin of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, directly located on the Mid-Atlantic ridge. It’s a mysterious and breathtaking area of volcanic rock, lava, fissures and gorges and along the shore the ocean waves crash onto the coast. We'll have a look at a few wetlands on the Reykjanes peninsula, which should yield the first Red-necked Phalaropes of the trip. Other migrants, such as the Ringed Plover, European Golden Plover and drumming Common Snipe, will be conspicuous, while the shoreline will hold some visiting Red Knot and Sanderling. Dunlin and Purple Sandpiper will also be around and will of course all be in splendid summer plumage. Other species, such as Harlequin Duck, Great Northern Diver, Northern Gannet, Great Cormorant, Black-legged Kittiwake, Arctic Tern, Razorbill, Redwing, Meadow Pipit and many more should also be seen in the spectacular moonlike landscape during the day. We'll end our tour around Reykjanes Peninsula by going for a swim and relaxation at the Blue Lagoon.

The Blue Lagoon is a unique spa where guests relax in warm geothermal water. It comprises a sandy bottom, lovely milky-blue-green water and silica mud. The silica mud contains natural active ingredients such as various salts, silica and blue algae, which gently cleanse and revitialize your skin. A visit to the Blue Lagoon is known as an invigorating and exciting experience and at the same time a way to relief stress and strain of daily life. In the early afternoon we make our way to Reykjavik where we stay for the night.

Day 2. Reykjavik – Akureyri - Lake Myvatn

We'll start the second day with a domestic flight to the northern part of Iceland - the town of Akureyri. Akureyri is one of the prettiest towns in Iceland, known as the “Capital of the north”. From Akureyri we make our way towards our destination, Lake Myvatn.

Lake Myvatn is around 23 square miles in size (37km²), making it Iceland's second largest natural lake. It has been described as a strange meeting place of two worlds where you are able to find flora and fauna from both the temperate and the arctic zones. The area is also highly volcanically active, situated on the west edge of the meeting point of the Eurasian- and North American tectonic plates.

During the day we will be exploring, among other things, a range of pseudo-craters, volcanoes of different sizes, hot springs and recent lava fields with lava pillars. We'll see birds in thousunds, including species such as Great Northern Diver (Common Loon), Horned Grebe (Slavonian Grebe), Barrow's Goldeneye, Harlequin duck, Long-tailed Duck, Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Wigeon, Greater Scaup and Tufted Duck. Species such as Red-necked Phalarope, Redwings, Common Snipe and Redshank will also be abundant all around us during the day.

Lake Myvatn area is the only place in Europe where the Barrow’s Goldeneye breeds and Iceland is also the only country in Europe where Harlequin Duck and Great Northern Divers breed.

Day 3. Lake Myvatn – Husavik Whalewatching – Akureyri – Reykjavik City

We'll spend the morning observing birds at Lake Myvatn and visit Dimmuborgir, which has been described as stunningly beautiful, but at the same time very eerie. It's lava landscape with lava pillars up to 65 feet high (20m).

After having lunch we’ll make our way north to the small town Husavik, where we embark on a whalewatching trip on the Skjalfandi bay. It is arguably the best area in Iceland to watch whales. An astonishing number of cetacean species have been recorded there - 12 species in total.

Cetaceans we may see include Minke Whale, which are the most common species in the bay, White-beaked Dolphin, Humpback Whale and Porpoise. Orca (Killer Whale) and the magnificent Blue Whale have also been seen regularly in the area in recent years.

From Husavik we’ll make our way back to Akureyri, for a return flight back to Reykjavik, where we'll stay overnight.

Day 4: Reykjavik – Keflavik Airport

Today we make sure everyone gets to the airport on time. Depending on when your departure is you might have some free time in the morning to look around in the capital before heading to the airport. We'll leave the hotel shortly after lunch and if time allows visit some interesting areas before reaching the Keflavik airport at around 2:00pm.