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This young country, still being shaped by the forces of nature, has many fascinating features that make it strangely beautiful and unfamiliar. As we travel around the island, we’ll see unspoiled wilderness, jagged coastlines, vast rugged mountains, hot spring areas with spouting geysers and towering glaciers. And everywhere, the primeval fire and lava of foreboding black volcanoes contrast with the freezing white ice-glare of Europe’s greatest glaciers. While the moniker “land of fire and ice” is apt, it doesn’t begin to cover Iceland’s spectacular natural attractions. At the geothermal area of Hveravellir we’ll dip our feet (or take the plunge) into the multicoloured pools, one of which is the most brilliant blue imaginable. Near Vík we’ll walk the striking black volcanic beach. We will have unequalled opportunities to view and photograph the jagged mountains, barren lava fields, spectacular waterfalls, steaming geothermal springs, and boiling mud pits of this volcanic island. Home to Europe’s largest glacier, Iceland is also, in terms of recent volcanic activity, one of the hottest places on the planet.

Our tour is also designed to let us view the vast numbers of raucous seabirds nesting on high rocky cliffs and spot waterfowl and quite possibly rare raptors, including the protected Iceland Gyrfalcon and White-tailed Eagle. We’ll observe the largest concentrations of breeding ducks in Europe and watching for the Great Skua near the world famous Mýrdalsjökull glacier. We’ll have a boat trip to the scenic Flatey Island, with colourful clapboard houses but also great bird life. We’ll also enjoy colourful Arctic and European boreal wildflowers blooming throughout the island. We will also go whale-watching for an opportunity to see various species at closer range. A warm niche in a cold corner of the planet, Iceland is the quintessential natural history experience.