Arrival

The rental car will be waiting upon arrival at Keflavík airport. On the way into the city an optional detour to the Blue Lagoon Spa for a relaxing bath can be done. Then drive to your first accommodation in Reykjavík. 1 night in Reykjavík or in the geothermal area Hveragerði. (ca. 30 miles / 50 km)

Reykjavík, National Park Þingvellir, hot Springs at Geysir and the Waterfall Gullfoss

Drive to National Park Þingvellir which is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List for many reasons. A nice walk through the lava landscape at the old parliament site will take about 2 hours. Drive over Lyngdalsheiði to the hot spring area at Geysir and a bit farther is the magnificent waterfall Gullfoss, were a short hike around the area can be done. The drive to the accommodation in or near the geothermal area Flúðir is about 30+ minutes. 1 night. (ca. 130 miles / 200 km)

Þjórsárdalur & Volcano Hekla

Drive through the valley Þjórsárdalur and stop at the waterfall Hjálparfoss en route to the Viking Saga Age Farm Stöng. Take a walk to the waterfall Gjáfoss (1 hour). Drive past the dam of the hydro-electric power plant Sultartangar, by crossing the river Þjórsá. This is a great spot to view the famous volcano Hekla. Recommended is a stop at the waterfall Þjófafoss and at the Hekla volcano Centre in Leirubakki, before arriving to the accommodation near the village of Hvolsvöllur. 1 night. (ca. 100 miles / 160 km)

Skógar & the South Coast

Leave the car in Hvolsvöllur and take the scheduled highland bus to Þórsmörk. Here we recommend the walk from Húsadalur on the peak Valahnúkur, where you have a magnificent view of the infamous volcano Eyjafjallajökull.

The other alternative for the day is a drive along the south coast. Make sure to stop at the beautiful waterfall Seljalandsfoss and take a walk behind the fall. In Skógar is the magnificent waterfall Skógafoss, where the hike along the river Skógá begins. The hiking path along the river lies between the glaciers Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull, passing many waterfalls, heading towards Fimmvörðuháls, where a smaller eruption took place just weeks before the eruption in Eyjafjallajökull (3-4 hours). If the decision is to walk all the way to the eruption area, the walk will take about 5 hours. Walk back to Skógar relax or visit the local folk museum. On the way to the accommodation in the village Vík a detour to the bird cliff Dyrhólaey (1-2 hours) – (please note that Dyrhólaey is closed until approx. 20 June during breeding season) is a nice option. 1 night in or near the village Vík. (ca. 90 km.) The tour to Þórsmörk is not included in the package price.

National Park Skaftafell

The drive through the black sandy desert to Skaftafell in Europe’s largest national park near the glacier Vatnajökull along the south part of Iceland is a geological drive, various formations of mountains and cliffs. At the information center in Skaftafell they can recommend various walks and hikes in the area (3-5 hours). Make sure not to miss the waterfall Svartifoss. 1 night near the national park. (ca. 90 miles / 140 km)

Glacier Lagoon Jökulsárlón

In the morning you can experience the glacier, its sounds and icyness, by stopping at the glacier tongue Svínafellsjökull. Daily except Sundays there are excursions to the bird cliff Ingólfshöfði (3 hours) from Fagurhólsmýri. Continue to glacier lagoons Fjallsárslón and Jökulsárlón where we recommend a walk along the lagoon Jökulsárlón (2 hours). You can also go on a boat excursion on the lagoon, sailing between the icebergs. Finally follow the ring road further to your accommodation near Höfn. (ca. 90 miles / 140 km)

The dramatic fjords of the East

Pass the village Höfn on your way towards the mountain Vestrahorn, where you should take a picturesque walk along the coast (2 hours). Drive further along the coast of the rugged fjords of the east to Djúpivogur, an old Danish trading and fishing village where we recommend a walk on designated paths in the bird area. Drive over the pass Öxi to the village Egilsstaðir. 2 nights in or near Egilsstaðir. (ca. 130 miles / 200 km)

Dyrfjöll in Borgarfjordur Eystri (East)

Through the pass Vatnsskarð you will reach the coast. On the pass you start your 5-6 hour long hike to the terrific landscapes of Stórurð at the roots of the mountain Dyrfjöll. In the village Bakkagerði you have a good chance to see puffins (until approx. 10 August). Return to your accommodation. (ca. 90 miles / 150 km)

National Park Jökulsárgljúfur

We recommend a detour through the valley Möðrudalur and from there to the reconstructed old farm house Sænautasel, instead of following the ring road. Once you get back on the ring road you will reach the crossroads to the national park Jökulsárgljúfur leading you to the powerful waterfall Dettifoss, and the horseshoe shaped canyon Ásbyrgi as well as Hljóðaklettar (echo cliffs) where we recommend a hike (2 hours). Follow the coast of the Tjörnes peninsula to the fishing village Húsavík, where you have the opportunity to take a whale watching tour. 3 nights in Húsavík or near Lake Mývatn. (ca. 160 miles / 250 km)

Highland Bus Tour – Herðubreið & Askja (from ca. July 5)

Today we recommend you leave the car and hop on a bus at Lake Mývatn which will take you to mountain Herðubreið and further to mountain Askja with the crater Víti where you can take a bath in the warm crater lake. Please note that this tour is not included in our price.

Alternatively, choose one of the diverse hikes around Lake Mývatn.

Lake Mývatn

Spend the day exploring the diverse surroundings of Lake Mývatn, an area that has many things to offer. We recommend the following walks: in the lava labyrinth Dimmuborgir (1 hour), to the top of the crater Hverfjall (2 hours), by the sulphur springs in Námaskarð or in the new lava from the volcano Krafla (2 hours).  In the evening you can enjoy a relaxing bath in the Nature Baths. (ca. 90 miles / 150 km)

Akureyri & Museum Glaumbær

On your way to Akureyri stop at Goðafoss (the waterfall of the Gods). In the capital of North Iceland, Akureyri, you should visit the botanical garden and/or just take a stroll through the centre of town. Drive over the pass Öxnadalsheiði to Skagafjörður, an area famous for horse breeding. Here you should visit the folk museum in Glaumbær. Today we recommend a walk from farm Bakkaflöt to the waterfall Reykjafoss, visiting the church in Reykir on the way (2-3 hours). Alternatively you can go horseback riding or river rafting. 1 night in or around Skagafjörður. (ca. 130 miles / 200 km)

On the way to Reykjavík

Before driving over the pass Holtavörðuheiði to Borgarfjörður you can visit Hvammstangi, the home of the Icelandic Seal Centre. In Borgarfjörður we recommend a hike on crater Grábrók and to waterfall Glanni next to Bifröst the University center. Instead you could also visit Saga Centre Reykholt and Deildartunguhver, the highest-flow hot spring in Europe. Finally, drive through the tunnel under Hvalfjörður (toll) to Reykjavik. In Reykjavík we recommend the bird watching boat tour with boat Lundi RE 20 in the bay of Reykjavík. 2 nights in Reykjavík. (ca. 190 miles / 300 km)

Reykjanes Peninsula & the Blue Lagoon.

There are many different walks and hikes available in the Reykjanes area, for example along the bird cliffs Krýsuvíkurbjarg or from hot spring Gunnuhver along the coast to the lighthouse Reykjanestá or simply enjoy a relaxing soak in the Blue Lagoon. (ca. 60 miles / 100 km)

Departure

Drive to the airport in Keflavík, where you return the rental car before catching your flight back home. (ca. 30 miles / 50 km)