Iceland in Summer

Eight nights from Reykjavík to the far north and back, timed for the long days of summer. A volcano's magma chamber, the Silfra fissure between two tectonic plates, puffins nesting on Drangey in June and July, three days at Deplar on the Troll Peninsula, and a last night at the Blue Lagoon, where dinner at Moss can begin in its wine cellar.

Length: Eight nights
Pace: Four stays
Style: Summer, glacier, lodge, spa
Route: Reykjavík to The south coast to The Troll Peninsula to Grindavík

ReykjavíkTwo nights
The south coastTwo nights
The Troll PeninsulaThree nights
GrindavíkOne night

A glass-fronted concert hall beside the harbour under a bright blue sky.

Days 1 to 3 · two nights

Reykjavík

Met at the airport and driven into the city, to the hotel by the Old Harbour. A private walk through Reykjavík, then a descent of 400 feet into the magma chamber of a dormant volcano in the Blue Mountains.

Where you stay

The Reykjavik EDITION

The Reykjavik EDITION stands by the Old Harbour in the historic heart of the city, close to the Harpa concert hall, with 253 rooms and suites and a penthouse on the sixth floor. Tides serves seafood, The Roof is the rooftop bar, and there is a spa and a gym.

The timber lodge on the open plain under a summer sky. — Photo © Ingibjörg Friðriksdóttir and Kristján Pétur Vilhelmsson, courtesy of Hotel Rangá

Days 3 to 5 · two nights

The south coast

Three days with a driver-guide: Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, a visit to a family ranch, and a private walk on the Sólheimajökull glacier in crampons. At Thingvellir, if you wish, a snorkel in Silfra, the rift between tectonic plates, in water of two to four degrees Celsius that the national park calls astoundingly clear. From mid-June to September, one day can turn inland by jeep into the Landmannalaugar highland reserve, for a hike among the rhyolite peaks to Brennisteinsalda and, if you wish, a soak in a natural hot pool at the edge of the Laugahraun lava field. Or, with a private expert guide, into Thórsmörk to the Gígjökull glacier, where meltwater reshaped the land during the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull. From Skálakot, a breeding farm for the Icelandic horse, a ride can be arranged to the 30-metre Írárfoss waterfall below Eyjafjallajökull, with refreshments afterwards at the Manor Hotel.

Where you stay

Hotel Rangá

Beside the Rangá River in the south of Iceland, Hotel Rangá is within easy reach of waterfalls, glaciers and black sand beaches. Rooms carry hand-painted murals by local artists, the restaurant looks over the river, and the hotel has its own observatory, with telescopes and a guide to the night sky.

The turf-roofed farm buildings in a green valley beneath steep mountains. — Photo: Eleven Experience

Days 5 to 8 · three nights

The Troll Peninsula

A domestic flight or helicopter to the north. Three days of guided hiking, kayaking, riding Icelandic horses and fishing for Arctic char, and whale watching from a traditional oak boat. In June and July, a boat to Drangey, climbing the island's path of ropes and ladders among nesting puffins, guillemots and kittiwakes; the geothermal pool and the spa at the end of each day.

Where you stay

Eleven Deplar Farm

Deplar Farm is a converted sheep farm in the remote Fljót Valley on the Troll Peninsula, with 13 rooms under living roofs and floor-to-ceiling windows. A geothermally heated pool flows out of a glass-walled spa, and summer days bring hiking, riding, fishing for Arctic char and whale watching.

Undulating lava rocks covered in thick green moss.

Days 8 to 9 · one night

Grindavík

A flight back to Reykjavík and on to the lava fields of the Reykjanes Peninsula, for a last evening in the private lagoon and the Retreat Spa's ritual of silica, algae and minerals. On a Thursday or Friday, the Kitchen Table at Moss seats up to six and begins in the cellar of more than 5,000 bottles, before the flight home.

Where you stay

The Retreat at Blue Lagoon

The Retreat is a hotel of 60 suites at Grindavík, beside its own lagoon of mineral-rich water bounded by centuries-old lava canyons. Guests have the Retreat Spa and the private lagoon included with their stay, and dinner is at Moss or at Lava.

Arranged on request

Drangey in the nesting season

In June and July a boat to Drangey Island, then a climb up its rock face on assisted ropes and ladders among nesting puffins, guillemots, gannets and kittiwakes.

Silfra

A snorkel or dive in the rift between tectonic plates at Thingvellir, in water of two to four degrees Celsius; divers need a dry suit qualification.

The Kitchen Table at Moss

Thursdays and Fridays at 5:45 p.m., up to six guests, beginning in the subterranean cellar of more than 5,000 bottles before a MICHELIN-starred tasting menu.

Waterfalls and hot springs by helicopter

From Deplar, a flight over geothermal pools, waterfalls and lava fields, or a scenic flight along the Fljót Valley and its fjords.

Into Landmannalaugar

From mid-June to September, a jeep of two to three hours into the Landmannalaugar highland reserve, a hike among rhyolite peaks to Brennisteinsalda and, on request, a natural hot pool at the edge of the Laugahraun lava field.

Riding from Skálakot

From Skálakot, a breeding farm for the Icelandic horse, a ride on request to the 30-metre Írárfoss waterfall below Eyjafjallajökull, with refreshments afterwards at the Manor Hotel.

Subject to availability.

Ways to make it yours

A 25-minute flight from the north to Grímsey, the only part of Iceland crossed by the Arctic Circle, for an hour's walk with a local guide, from June to September.
A second night at the Blue Lagoon, with a massage in the water of the lagoon.
A day west to Langjökull, where modified glacier vehicles drive onto the ice cap and into man-made ice tunnels, then a guided highland walk past Langifoss and the site of Okjökull to a soak in the Húsafell Canyon Baths.

This is a sample. The hotels, the pace and the order are where we start, not where we finish: every journey is designed around the people taking it.

Made around you

Most travel is bought. This is designed.

Before anything is booked, we talk: who is travelling, how you like to spend a morning, and the hotel preferences below the obvious, from the kind of bath you like to the time you wake and how much daylight you need in a room. You see options where options matter and clean recommendations where they don't.

The same person remains your point of contact from the first reply to the trip after next. No handovers. No team.