Iceland South Coast Sampler 2025

Day 1 - Arrival in Iceland

Iceland greets you today in its realm of contrasts - The Land of Fire and Ice. Your journey begins with a swift airport departure to the soothing waters of Sky Lagoon. Immerse yourself in this therapeutic experience, allowing the warm waters to ease travel fatigue before enjoying a revitalizing lunch. We'll then venture "east of the mountain," as locals say when traveling from Reykjavík toward the south coast, traversing landscapes of rugged lava fields, steaming geothermal vents, and expansive grassy plains.

We'll pause in Selfoss, where you can explore a traditional Icelandic grocery store for unique snacks or discover the town's New Town district with its diverse shops, eateries, and excellent brewery. After this leisurely break, we'll continue to our accommodations near Hella village for a gentle evening of relaxation. Choose between retiring early or joining fellow travelers for a cozy knitting session in Landhotel's common area. Whether you prefer a nightcap or calming tea, the perfect end to your first Icelandic day awaits!

Day 2 - Icelandic Wool Immersion

As everyone is still recovering from jet lag, we’ll take it easy today and focus more on learning than on exploring. Get ready to delve into the world of Icelandic wool! We’re spending the day with local textile designer and artisan, Ásdís Birgisdóttir. Ásdís is from a family with a long history of woolen handcrafting. She took those skills and experience with her to the Arts & Crafts University of Iceland (now the Art Academy of Iceland), where her focus was the spectrum of Icelandic patterns and motifs applied to lopapeysa. Ásdís will teach a full day’s workshop in bardaprjon, a traditional Icelandic intarsia knitting technique. Throughout history, Icelanders wore slippers made of sheepskin or sealskin over thick socks. Inside the slipper, hidden from view, were multicolored, highly patterned, knitted inserts. The inserts were made using bardaprjon, a type of patterned garter stitch. We’ll use Lopi Light yarn and create our own designs, swatching to select from a range of offered colors, motifs and sizing. After the workshop, you’ll have time to stretch your legs, have a soak or continue working on your project before we depart for dinner at Eldstó, a nearby cafe with great, homestyle fare and an onsite studio full of art and ceramics.

Day 3 - The Westman Islands

Now that we’ve had a few good nights’ sleep and have some hands-on wool work under our belts, it’s time to get exploring! A short drive will have us to the south coast, where we’ll hop on a ferry over to the Vestmannaeyjabær, or Westman Islands. This beautiful archipelago was created by volcanic action. We’ll have a full day to explore it – and explore it we will, on a very special scooter trip around the main island! But don’t worry, these scooters are custom built for ease of maneuvering. You won’t need any prior experience to handle one. We’ll enjoy lunch while on the island, plus spend time in the local museum that documents the 1973 eruption which, Pompeii-like, caught the local community by surprise. The excavations have revealed an interesting time capsule of island life.

Day 4 - Waterfalls & Wool Farms

Today we leave our Hella base and journey through Iceland's dramatic landscapes. Our route features two stunning waterfalls and time in Skógar village, nestled at the edge of Eyjafjallajökull glacier (you'll master pronouncing this name!). We'll also explore Vik's famous black sand beaches before visiting our friend Kidda at her home studio.

Kidda specializes in the unique Feldfé or "leader" sheep—a distinctive subset of Icelandic sheep now generating excitement among Iceland's wool enthusiasts. At Kidda and Siggi's farm, you'll discover their beautiful textile collection, from handknit lopapeysas and blankets to yarn and sheepskins. We'll enjoy traditional Icelandic pancakes with coffee while learning about these special sheep. By day's end, we'll reach our next accommodation in Kirkjubæjarklaustur (another pronunciation you'll conquer!).

Day 5 - The Amazing South Coast Landscape

Pack your warmest woolens in your day bag. You just might need them today… It’s going to be an all-day excursion to some of the South Coast’s most intriguing offerings. In the morning, we’ll be aboard a boat, floating in Jökulsárlón, also known as Glacier Lagoon. This iconic lake is almongst the most scenic locations in Iceland. We’ll continue gazing at the striking landscape through our lunch at a fantastic restaurant sited just above the lagoon. Our day continues with visits to Skaftafell National Park, Skaftafell glacier, the Reverend Jón Steingrimsson Chapel, Dverghamrar plus more, as time and weather permit.

Day 6 - A Relaxed Return Westward

We’re headed back toward Hella this morning, toward a community of wool folk in southern Iceland that we love to visit. On our way back, we’ll stop to spend time at Iceland’s famous Lava Center, where we’ll gain a better understanding of what’s really going on under the surface of this island nation. Nearby is a fantastic little shop full of locally made goods. We might just have to stop in for a visit… By midafternoon, we’ll be at our final accommodation of the trip, where we’ll enjoy luxurious digs for the final three nights of the tour. Take time to rest, soak, knit with friends or take an afternoon hike – whatever offers you renewal. In the evening, we’ll be out watching the night sky for a fine display of stars and possibly even the Northern Lights!

Day 7 - Life with Sheep

Autumn in Iceland means it’s time for one of Iceland’s favorite agricultural events: réttir (roundup). Families that keep sheep on various farms gather as a community  to saddle up their horses, ride into the highlands and spend a week or so collecting the vast number of sheep set free to graze during the warmer months. Once gathered, the sheep have to be herded down to community corrals for sorting and walking to their individual farms. It’s work, play and celebration all in one – a time the whole community pitches in to work together plus invites friends, family and guests to help. We love to be there! Rettir is also a lopapeysa fashion show, with locals proudly showing off their handmade sweaters in a variety of colors, patterns and motifs. As this is a morning event, our afternoon will be free to visit some of our favorite woolcraft studios in the area plus the country’s first independent spinning mill, Uppspuni. It will be an all-things-sheep-and-wool day!

Day 8 - Final day in Iceland

Savor this Icelandic morning at a leisurely pace. No need to rush—you'll have ample time to pack, knit together while enjoying the scenery, and perhaps share the treasures everyone has collected throughout our journey. Our midday adventure takes us to the nearby Caves of Hella on Ægissíða land, where archaeological remains and artwork predate the earliest Nordic settlers. We'll experience an exceptional guided tour followed by a special tasting of local cuisine paired with finely crafted beverages. Weather and time allowing, we'll explore more of the surrounding area before returning to our hotel for our final celebratory dinner in their elegant restaurant. And yes, we'll gather for one last evening knitting session together!

Day 9 - Home Time

After breakfast, we’ll load up our bus and drive back to Keflavik Airport for flights home. We’ll arrive there with plenty of time for everyone to check in, check luggage and get through security before departures.