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Iceland

The Best of Iceland: A Country of Beautiful Contrasts

Program No. 3342RJ
Traverse the wonders of Iceland with locals and scholarly experts, delving deep into a landscape of stunning geological features, glaciers and bubbling thermal pools.

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Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
May 7 - May 17, 2024
Starting at
5,699
Itinerary Note

This departure will stay at Berjaya Akureyri Hotel in Akureyri.

May 10 - May 20, 2024
Starting at
5,699
Jun 4 - Jun 14, 2024
Starting at
6,099
Itinerary Note

This departure will stay at Centrum Hotel Akureyri in Akureyri.

Jul 9 - Jul 19, 2024
Starting at
6,099
Itinerary Note

This departure will stay at Centrum Hotel Akureyri in Akureyri.

Filling Fast!
Jul 20 - Jul 30, 2024
Starting at
6,299
Aug 6 - Aug 16, 2024
Starting at
6,299
Itinerary Note

This departure will stay at Centrum Hotel Akureyri in Akureyri.

Filling Fast!
Aug 16 - Aug 26, 2024
Starting at
6,299
Aug 30 - Sep 9, 2024
Starting at
6,199
Sep 14 - Sep 24, 2024
Starting at
6,199
Sep 21 - Oct 1, 2024
Starting at
6,099
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
May 7 - May 17, 2024
Starting at
6,299
Itinerary Note

This departure will stay at Berjaya Akureyri Hotel in Akureyri.

May 10 - May 20, 2024
Starting at
6,299
Jun 4 - Jun 14, 2024
Starting at
7,079
Itinerary Note

This departure will stay at Centrum Hotel Akureyri in Akureyri.

Jul 9 - Jul 19, 2024
Starting at
7,079
Itinerary Note

This departure will stay at Centrum Hotel Akureyri in Akureyri.

Jul 20 - Jul 30, 2024
Starting at
7,279
Filling Fast!
Aug 6 - Aug 16, 2024
Starting at
7,279
Itinerary Note

This departure will stay at Centrum Hotel Akureyri in Akureyri.

Filling Fast!
Aug 16 - Aug 26, 2024
Starting at
7,279
Filling Fast!
Aug 30 - Sep 9, 2024
Starting at
7,089
Filling Fast!
Sep 14 - Sep 24, 2024
Starting at
7,089
Sep 21 - Oct 1, 2024
Starting at
6,799

At a Glance

Named by a Scandinavian explorer inspired by the beauty of icebergs bobbing through a fjord, Iceland is in fact not very icy at all, boasting abundant vegetation, a veritable menagerie of wildlife and stunning geological features. Journey through Iceland’s north, south and west with native experts who introduce you to their country’s history, music, food and traditions. Learn about the sagas of Icelanders and explore a dramatic landscape, from the coast to the Blue Lagoon.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walking up to 3 miles per day, most days on uneven and hilly terrain.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Witness geology in action in the “Land of Fire and Ice” and visit a geothermal power plant.
  • Enjoy a scallop fishing demonstration on a boat excursion in the Breidafjördur and take a bite out of another Icelandic delicacy: shark.
  • Experience 1000 years of Icelandic history at the Borgarnes Settlement Center.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Last Places, A Journey in the North
by Lawrence Millman, Paul Theroux (Introduction)
Millman explores the culture and history of the Faroes, Iceland and Greenland in this hilarious account of his travels in the wake of the ancient Vikings.
North: The New Nordic Cuisine of Iceland
by Evan Sung (Photographer), Jody Eddy, Gunnar Gislason
Catering to a rising interest in Nordic cuisine, this cookbook celebrates Iceland’s food alongside its haunting landscapes, portrayed in starkly beautiful, full-color photos.
Iceland, Land of the Sagas
by Jon Krakauer (Photographer), David Roberts
Krakauer and colleague Roberts hike and climb around Iceland in this classic travel narrative, reissued as a paperback and featuring Krakauer's color photographs. The book interweaves the natural and cultural history of the island with the authors' own adventures.
Butterflies in November
by Brian Fitzgibbon (Translator), Auour Ava Olafsdottir
Scorned by love, a quirky, unapologetically independent 33-year-old woman takes a spontaneous trip along Iceland’s Ring Road, her best friend’s 4-year-old deaf-mute son in tow. Evocative of the Icelandic spirit.
Ring of Seasons, Iceland, Its Culture and History
by Terry G. Lacy
A longtime resident of Reykjavik, Lacy weaves tales of family life, anecdote, lore and history into this illuminating personal portrait of Iceland.
The History of Iceland
by Gunnar Karlsson
A history of Iceland from the Viking-era through colonization, independence and the 20th century. Karlsson draws on the sagas and rich literature of Iceland in presenting this comprehensive history.
A Naturalist's Guide to the Arctic
by E.C. Pielou
A primer on Arctic climate, geography, plants, birds, mammals and insects in a single nicely written book. It's a highly recommended, enthusiastic guide to natural history throughout the Circumpolar North.
Names for the Sea, Strangers in Iceland
by Sarah Moss
A stranger in a strange land, British novelist Sarah Moss captures the spirit of Iceland in this tale of a year in the Reykjavik with her husband and two children.
Jar City
by Arnaldur Indridason
Indridason's first moody police procedural finds Reykjavik detective Erlendur Sveinsson investigating the brutal murder of a lonely pensioner and the man's connection to the deaths of a number of young women. Made into a darkly superb film.
Insight Guide Iceland
by Insight Guides
This guide emphasizes culture and history, with wonderful photographs, maps and essays from experts.
The Sagas of Icelanders
by Jane Smiley (Editor), Robert Kellog (Introduction)
Nine sagas and six tales composed between the years 1000 and 1500, including an account of Leif Eriksson's voyage to North America, all newly translated.
Iceland Adventure Map
by National Geographic
A detailed map at a scale of 1:465,000, printed on handy tear- and water-resistant paper.
Island on Fire: The Extraordinary Story of a Forgotten Volcano That Changed the World
by Jeff Kanipe, Alexandra Witze
Two science writers discuss the political and natural ramifications of the 1783 eruption of Iceland’s largest volcano, Laki, which led to global death, famine and even revolution. Great for the geologically minded but accessible to all with an interest in volcanoes.
Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings
by John Haywood
This history of the Vikings tells their story through a series of innovative maps and excellent photographs. It traces the routes of 9th-century Viking merchants and explorers throughout Europe and the New World.
Letters from Iceland
by W.H. Auden
Written with fellow poet Louis MacNiece, this quirky, under-appreciated masterpiece captures the spirit of Iceland, its people and landscapes.
Independent People, An Epic
by Halldor Laxness
Rich in local color, this great mock-epic by the Icelandic Nobel Prize-winner features the indelible Bjartur of Summerhouses, a hard-headed, independent-minded sheep farmer.





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.