Culinary and Cultural Iceland

This evening dine on delicious Icelandic specialties with the ‘Around Iceland’ menu at Fish Company in the heart of Reykjavik. The chefs will prepare creative tastes from all corners of the island, from both land and sea, at this eclectic restaurant for you to enjoy.

Today you will enjoy a cooking class at Salt Eldhús. With a firm belief that the best way to get to know any country is through your taste buds, your ingredients and cooking style will be decidedly Icelandic with a new Nordic twist. Get involved with every aspect of the art of cooking here from learning how to prepare a “mise-en-place”, to orchestrating a full meal to serving up your culinary creations. Then, dine together and savor the delicious meals before heading home with a recipe folder for future Icelandic treats.

Today you will see the city’s major landmarks on a private tour. Starting with Reykjavik’s spectacular coastline, you will see the harbour area then visit the Höfdi house, the venue of the “end of the cold war” meeting in 1986 between President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev. Next is a trip to the Pearl, a remarkable building which dates back to 1988. Enjoy wonderful city views from the Pearl’s glass dome which sits atop huge tanks where natural hot water is stored to heat the city. You will also explore Reykjavik’s colourful old quarter, plus a museum of your choice – whether you are into history or art, we will find the most interesting choice for you.

Taste 8 different Icelandic beers with an expert and learn about the thriving craft scene of Iceland – a perfect to start a night out in the city.

This evening have dinner at the popular Grillmarket, recognised for their top rated tasting menu. Bringing fresh seasonal produce straight from local farms, Grillmarket conjures up culinary delights. The decor is inspired by Icelandic nature and features live moss, basalt columns and fish skin and along with fantastic lighting provides the perfect setting for an unforgettable meal.

During this delightful day travel by the Eyjafjörður coastline, focusing on coastal culture and the beautiful seaside surroundings. We take our time to walk on a black sand beach, visit small fishing villages and visit the busy harbour area of Dalvík, one of the biggest harbour in Icelandic fishing industry.

Visit the award-wining maritime and industrial Herring Era Museum where the ‘glory days’ of Iceland’s herring fisheries are brought back to life. On Saturdays there is a live outdoor salting show and traditional accordion dance.

The dramatic Goðafoss – meaning waterfall of the god – is where the waters of the river Skjálfandafljót falls from a height of 12 meters over a width of 30 meters. Legend has it that in the year 1000, after the Lawspeaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði made Christianity the official religion of Iceland, he threw his statues of the Norse gods into the waterfall.

Shaped by repeated volcanic eruptions and seismic activity down through the ages, the landscape surrounding lake Mývatn is a spectacular panorama of surreal lava, crater and cave formations, sulphur-streaked mountains, and sweeping wetlands. These wetlands teem with plant and birdlife which, in summer, are home to the swarms of midges that not only give the region its name but also provide a major source of nutrition for fish and birds. You’ll also get to relax and unwind in the warm waters of the Mývatn Natural Baths.

The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa is one of the most visited attractions in Iceland. Temperatures in the bathing and swimming area of the lagoon averages 37–39 °C (98–102 °F) and the waters, rich in minerals like silica, are reputed to help some people suffering from various skin ailments. The lagoon is man-made and fed by the water output of the nearby geothermal power plant Svartsengi, where superheated water is vented from the ground near a lava flow and used to run turbines that generate electricity.