Walking Iceland's Diamond Circle

Arrive into the bustling hub of Reykjavik International airport before taking the shuttle bus to Reykjavik City Centre (approx. 1hr).

Surrounded by incredible nature, Reykjavik is a city brimming with life with much to explore. Recharge in one of the city’s 18 geothermal swimming pools, delight in charming street boutiques and intriguing museums, or choose one of the many excursions leaving from the city should time allow. The ocean around Reykjavik is well known as a whale watcher’s paradise and offers unforgettable opportunities to see minke and humpback whales alongside dolphins and porpoises. These tours are also possible from Husavik whilst you’re staying near Lake Myvatn.

Take a short taxi ride (5mins) from your hotel to Reykjavik Domestic airport for your internal flight to Akureyri. Located in north-east Iceland, Akureyri is in one of the longest fjords in the country and is surrounded by mountains reaching 1,500m with the Arctic Circle only 60km away. Here, you collect your hire car and drive to your next base near Lake Myvatn (approx. 1hr).

Before leaving Akureyri, you may wish to visit their beautiful Botanic Garden (the world’s most northerly botanic garden), home to unique Icelandic flora and over 7,000 foreign plants. En-route to Lake Myvatn, we highly recommend visiting ‘Iceland’s Waterfall of the Gods – Godafoss’. A true spectacle, Godafoss has understandably been an inspiration to many of Iceland’s best folklore tales.

Arrive at your hotel in Myvatn and choose from our range of walks nearby between 3km – 15km (level 1 to level 3). Lake Myvatn is home to incredible geological features as well as a wealth of flora and fauna, all created as a result of a massive basaltic eruption. Many locals consider the lake region of Myvatn to be the most beautiful in all of Iceland. From here, you can also visit Namaskard sulphur mud hot springs near Krafla volcano. A breath-taking landscape of natural black rivers and boiling pools emitting steam and smoke; well worth a visit!

Choose from our range of walks nearby between 3km – 15km (level 1 to level 3). Walk around Hverfjall Crater, a captivating 140m deep crater reminiscent of an amphitheatre and onto Myvatn Nature Baths where you can bathe in the rich geothermal waters.

Explore Asbyrgi and it’s canyon walk within UNESCO Vatnajokull National Park or venture onto Dettifoss Waterfall; yet another exquisite Icelandic waterfall. Fed by an immense glacier river, Dettifoss ranks as the second most powerful waterfall in Europe with a thunderous average water flow of 190m cubed per second! Nearby, the smaller yet still beautiful Selfoss Waterfall stands, worth a visit in its own right.

Visit the nearby town of Husavik, known as the whale capital of Iceland. Husavik is also the oldest settlement in the country with a flourishing musical culture. We recommend booking a whale watching tour where you’ll have the chance to see up to 23 species of whale, including the Blue Whale, as well as large colonies of puffins in or around the bay.

En-route to your next base in Borgafjordur Eystri, we recommend visiting Studlagil Canyon, one of the world’s most enchanting basalt rock formations and an incredible natural wonder overlooking the turquoise glacial river.

Borgafjordur Eystri is a little known and truly unspoilt region (even by Icelandic standards!). Home of the Atlantic Puffin, Borgafjordur Eystri inhabits just 100 people and offers a wealth of fantastic hiking trails and untouched scenery – certainly a hidden treasure away from the tourist track.

Meeting the puffins here is a must! One of the easiest and safest spots to watch puffins, around 10,000 pairs nest here from mid-April to mid-August. There is a shelter and wooden platform where you can get really close to the puffins without the risk of falling into a burrow; sure to be a highlight of your trip.

Choose from our range of walks nearby between 4km – 18km (level 1 to level 3). Walk the Brunavik trail, between fjord and mountains with breath-taking views across Eastern Iceland. Discover the Hvannagil Canyon Loop known as the Golden Valley due to its colourful rhyolite canyon home to spectacular rock formations.

Spend your afternoon enjoying more beautiful walks in this remote corner of Iceland or visit the Puffin Harbour in Borgafjordur Eystri.

Despite being one of the country’s most stunning attractions, Storurd remained relatively unknown, even to Icelanders, until a few decades ago. However, it has since gained rapid popularity among hikers, who want to experience this unique location beneath the magnificent Dyrfjoll peaks.

Sliding under its own weight, the glacier transported the blocks considerable distances down the valley. The current Storurd landscape was primarily formed by the most recent glaciation of the Ice Age, which ended around 10,000 years ago. When the glacier retreated, these massive stone blocks were left scattered across the valley floor, where we see them today. The vast surroundings provide ample opportunities for exploration and discovery. We have two walk options here: Storurd Circular 17.5km or Storurd Out & Back 11.5km.

Depending on your flight times, you can spend the morning exploring more of Borgafjordur Eystri before driving to Egilsstadir airport (approx. 1hr) to return your hire car and fly to Reykjavik Domestic airport.

Enjoy your last night in the capital city of Iceland, in fact the northernmost capital in the world. Despite it’s smaller size, Reykjavik has many superb museums, attractions, restaurants, and an interesting art scene, all easily accessible on foot. Home to over 60% of Iceland’s population, the community are very welcoming to visitors wishing to explore its endless opportunities for adventure.

Take the shuttle bus (approx. 1hr) from the city centre to Reykjavik Keflavik airport. Return home with fond memories of your Icelandic Adventure.