Inspirational Landscapes of Iceland Tour: 10 Days Off the Beaten Path

Iceland is beautiful and makes for the most unique and amazing vacation! Zicasso’s travel company arranged a breathtaking and comprehensive itinerary for our vacation. It included all the big, important stops like the Blue Lagoon, Northern Lights boat tour, and Hallgrimskirkja church. But our trip also took us all the way to the east side of the country to see Diamond Beach, a blue ice-cave tour, and a glacier hike. Our itinerary included all of the beautiful stops in between, so we saw waterfalls, volcanic formations, and museums.

We stayed in our lodge in Iceland to see the Northern Lights. Every hotel selected was cozy, comfortable, and welcoming. And the food was delicious everywhere. A surprising highlight was a tomato farm—a delicious meal in a beautiful restaurant inside the greenhouse! Their wine bar was even more beautiful!

This was our second trip through Zicasso and we are already starting to dream up the next destination...

Zicasso's tour planner designed an amazing two-week trip for us to Iceland. She was wonderful to work with. Every detail was precisely planned and communication was prompt and helpful. We would highly recommend her and the agency for any travel to the north. If we head in that direction again, we will certainly use her.

Going to Iceland was a very unique experience. So much beautiful scenery and a laid-back, outdoorsy type of trip. Our guide was the perfect choice for us. He was a native of Iceland and knew everything about the whole island. All our accommodations and the food were excellent. Twelve days in Iceland was the perfect amount of time. We were so glad to be able to see the Icelandic horses and learn about them.

We selected Zicasso's tour company to assist us with arranging a 12-day self-driving tour around the entire island of Iceland starting in mid-May. In addition to visiting and hiking the many wondrous geological sites on our own, we wanted to schedule some tours to reach areas we couldn't by ourselves, along with a few stops at the local hot springs.

The trip planner carefully listened to our wants and needs during an initial video call, and then curated a custom travel plan with all event, rental car, and hotel bookings pre-arranged and pre-paid. We just needed to show up, drive around the country, and enjoy, and that's just what we did.

His planned itinerary matched our interests very well, leaving just enough time between regions and sites to cover 95% of his recommendations. I was able to fully indulge in my photography, while the wife and I got to enjoy some spectacular tours (whale and puffin boat ride, a glacier climb, ice lagoon boat ride, ATV tour, super Jeep tour, yet another whale boat ride, and a delicious lunch at a tomato farm). All of the tour operators were friendly, entertaining, and capable, so they were well selected for us.

We stayed at eight different hotels, ranging from the typical chain in Reykjavík to mostly boutique hotels in stunning locations along the Ring Road. Our favorite (for the food) was a cabin operated by a local farmer whose farm-fresh meals were simply extraordinary. All of the hotels were clean and comfortable, and not too distant from the previous accommodation or the activities and sightseeing stops.

Several times, I texted the trip planner for help arranging dinner reservations, finding unique stores, or alerting the hotel of our late arrival or early departure. He came through every time without delay. Having a local Zicasso agent like him, with expert knowledge and 24/7 assistance, is invaluable for the peace of mind essential for a successful trip in a foreign land.

If we had any regrets, it was in not allowing ourselves a more relaxed pace and extended stay in Iceland. The typical tourist to Iceland spends less than 10 days there, so we thought an additional two days was a luxury. However, covering 2,100 miles in 12 days, with numerous and frequent stops, is no easy feat. Sleep was often a luxury, as we often stayed out late for the 10:30 sunset, only to start out early the next morning for a 7:30 breakfast and departure to the next destination. This was certainly no fault of the trip agent, as he made sure our travel was as trouble-free as it was. We will surely use this travel company’s services for a return trip.

Iceland did not disappoint! From our arrival in Reykjavík to our final day at the Blue Lagoon, every moment was nothing short of magical.

A huge thank you to Zicasso’s travel consultant at the travel company for creating an amazing itinerary filled with the best Iceland has to offer. Highlights included exploring inside a volcano, marveling at Geysir Park, a full day in Vatnajökull National Park, the breathtaking glacier lagoon, the black-sand Diamond Beach, and the unforgettable waterfalls at Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss.

We ended the trip perfectly with a relaxing soak at the Blue Lagoon—an ideal way to close out an incredible adventure.

Finally, a special thank-you to our guide. This trip would not have been the same without you! The hidden gems and personal touches you added turned a great trip into the experience of a lifetime.

Working with Zicasso’s travel designer was incredibly seamless and enjoyable. He created an impeccable nine-day trip to Iceland that allowed me to see different sections of the island each day. From Reykjavík to the Golden Circle to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula to the Silver and Diamond Circles, I covered a lot of ground by renting a car and driving myself.

I really appreciated how responsive, fast, and thoughtful this travel designer was in planning the trip with a quick turnaround i.e., I only booked the trip a month ahead of my scheduled travel. He also checked in throughout the trip to make sure things were going well and helped me immediately rebook a whale watching-tour that was canceled on my first day due to weather. Having everything booked through him made it really easy for me, knowing it was all taken care of. All I had to do was show up.

I highly recommend Iceland as a destination, especially if you enjoy outdoor adventures, hiking, and exploring natural wonders—it's a magical place. I also recommend booking a trip through Zicasso’s travel partner. As a local Icelandic company, it's an excellent resource to guarantee a great experience!