Around Iceland by Jeep - 11 Days

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Über die Reise

Get to know the highlands and still have time for Iceland´s renowned nature gems! This journey will take you through varied landscapes of glaciers and volcanoes where asphalt roads and highland trails alternate in a balanced relationship. We will secure your accommodation and rental for a hassle free, enjoyable vacation. Detailed route description and further information upon booking.

Please note that this tour can only be offered from the end of June since highland roads are normally impassable before that time.

Highlights

Highland routes in the remote wilderness of Iceland
Glaciers, volcanoes, waterfalls and geysers
Hiking in majestic Landmannalaugar Nature Reserve
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
The mountainous East Fjords
Mývatn nature pearl

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Leistungen

10 nights in three-star hotels or guesthouses, incl. breakfast
10 days rental car incl. unlimited mileage, CDW, Icelandic VAT and pick-up/drop-off at the airport in Keflavík
Detailed itinerary for each day
Location description of your accommodation
Road map 1:500 000
Iceland Road and Travel Guide
VAT and accommodation tax
Insolvency Insurance

Not included:
Fuel, meals other than breakfast, admission to museums/exhibitions, GPS system and tunnel toll (Hvalfjörður). Extra driver € 30.

Reiseverlauf

Arrival

The rental car will be at Keflavík International Airport upon arrival. You might enjoy a relaxing soak in the famous Blue Lagoon Spa on the way into the city. 1 night in Reykjavík. (ca. 50 km/30 miles).

Geothermal activity and Þingvellir national park

Drive through the geothermal area of Nesjavellir, with a possible stop at the geothermal power station. Drive around lake Þingvallavatn in Þingvellir national park, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. We recommend a walk through the lava landscape at the old parliament site and to Öxarárfoss waterfall. Afterwards, drive along the lake until you reach Kerið crater, where a short walk is recommended. On your way to your accommodation for the night, you can visit the historic bishop‘s residence in Skálholt. The hotel will either be close to the village of Flúðir or in Þjórsárdalur valley. 1 night. (ca. 130 km/80 miles)

Landmannalaugar and Fjallabak nyrðra

Follow the Fjallabak nyrðra mountain route. Drive along Þjórsá glacial river past the famous Hekla volcano. Continue through Dómadalur valley to the Ljótipollur explosion crater and further on until you reach the colourful rhyolite mountains of Landmannalaugar. Here we recommend a walk through the obsidian fields to the springs by Brennisteinsalda mountain (3–4 hrs.) and a relaxing bath in the natural hot spring. Afterwards, continue your journey past Eldgjá volcanic canyon. In the area around Eldhraun lava field (the Fire Lava) the road will lead back onto the ring road again. 1 night close to Kirkjubæjarklaustur. (ca. 220 km/140 miles)

Skaftafell in Vatnajökulsþjóðgarður national park

Follow the ring road through the black sandy desert until reaching Skaftafell national park right by Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull. At the information centre you can get various hiking descriptions (3 – 5 hours), one being to the popular Svartifoss waterfall, which is surrounded by black basalt columns. From here it’s about an hour’s drive to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, where you can go on a boat excursion on the lagoon, sailing around the icebergs. Alternatively you could walk along the coast where there is a good chance of spotting some seals. Drive to the accommodation in or near Höfn. 1 night in or near the village of Höfn. (ca. 140 km/90 miles)

The dramatic fjord landscape of East Iceland

Today you will discover the beautiful jagged landscape of the East. We recommend a walk by the coast at Þvottárskriður as well as the bird trail close to the village of Djúpivogur. From here you can either choose the direct way to Egilsstaðir over Öxi pass, or enjoy the impressive landscape by taking the ring road until you reach Fáskrúðsfjörður fjord, where you enter the tunnel leading to Reyðarfjörður fjord. Make sure not to miss the country‘s largest private mineral collection in Stöðvarfjörður, owned by Mrs. Petra Sveinsdóttir. Driving further through Fagridalur (the Beautiful Valley) with its many waterfalls you will get into the inner part of the country and eventually to the capital of the East, Egilsstaðir, by Lagarfljót river. If you‘re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the mysterious monster which is supposed to live in the river. 1 night in or near Egilsstaðir. (ca. 200-300 km/120-190 miles)

Askja caldera and Herðubreið table mountain

Make sure to fill the fuel tank before heading off to the famous Askja caldera. Cross Jökuldalur valley on the ring road and follow Jökulsá á Dal river until reaching the farm Brú, there a turn onto the highland route leading to Askja past Upptyppingur mountain. Askja itself consists of a caldera containing two lakes: lake Askja, one of Iceland’s deepest lakes (220 m), and a lake inside the explosion crater Víti. Afterwards, take the same way back to Möðrudalur valley turn left and follow the country road until entering the ring road. Accommodation is close to Lake Mývatn. 2 nights. (ca. 300 km/ 190 miles)

Jökulsárgljúfur, part of Europe’s largest national park

Drive to Húsavík, where you can go on a whale watching tour and/or visit one of the town’s many museums. Follow Tjörnes peninsula to Jökulsárgljúfur, a part of Vatnajökulsþjóðgarður national park. Take a walk by Hljóðaklettar (the Echoing Cliffs) with their beautifully shaped amygdules from old volcanoes, in the horseshoe-shaped lava canyon Ásbyrgi and take a look at the powerful Dettifoss waterfall. Finally, visit the sulphur springs in Námaskarð and relax in the Mývatn Nature Baths before returning to the accommodation. (ca. 150 km/ 90 miles)

Natureparadise at lake Mývatn

The area around Lake Mývatn has many things to offer. We recommend any of the following walks: around the pseudo craters of Skútustaðir, through the lava labyrinth Dimmuborgir, up to Hverfjall explosion crater or across the new lava from Krafla volcano. Drive along the west side of the lake to Akureyri, stopping by Goðafoss waterfall. Once you arrive in the capital of the North, you should do a sightseeing walk around town and include the botanical gardens, the birth place of writer Jón “Nonni” Sveinsson and the church. 1 night in or near Akureyri. (ca. 200 km/ 130 miles).

The peninsula of the trolls - Tröllaskagi

Drive northbound along the west coast of the fjord Eyjafjörður, through Dalvík and around the peninsula Tröllaskagi. The road goes through the villages of Ólafsfjörður on to Siglufjörður with two tunnels on the way. Recommended is a stop at the Herring Era Museum in the fishing town Siglufjörður. The third tunnel leads to the coast into the fjord Skagafjörður to the village of Hofsós with a scenic swimming pool. Afterwards continue to Sauðárkrókur. If time permits, a visit to the old Glaumbær farm and museum or a river rafting tour will make your day. 1 night in the Skagafjörður fjord region (ca. 150 km / 90 miles)

Kjölur highland route - Gullfoss and Geysir

Today’s journey brings you along Kjölur gravel route. You should stop in Hveravellir where you can bathe in a natural spring while enjoying the extraordinary view of Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers. Take a walk between fire and ice at an altitude of 1000 m (ca. 1000 yards) in Hveradalir (the Spring Valleys), before continuing your drive further south to Gullfoss waterfall and from there to Reykjavík. 1 night in Reykjavík. (ca. 350 km/ 220 miles)