- Passengers:5
- Suitcases:4
- Doors:5
- Operation:Automatic
Overview
- Duration:10 days / 9 nights
- By Car km/mi:1940
- Season:July 6 to September 5
- Operates:Daily
- Price From:265186 ISK/Per Person
- Tour ID:RT11
Included
- Flybus Transfer upon arrival to your accommodation in Reykjavík
- Accommodation
- Breakfast
- Rental car including VAT, unlimited milage and CDW
- Two authorized drivers
- WiFi included with the rental car
- Detailed Itinerary
- Road map with the route and accommodation marked in
- 24/7 Emergency Services
- Flybus transfer to Keflavik international airport
- How to drive in Iceland Booklet
- Taxes, Service fee and VAT
Not Included
Itinerary
Day 1. Arrival and Reykjavik City
Following your arrival at the airport, you will take a comfortable bus ride, with Wi-Fi Internet connection on board, to your accommodation in Reykjavik or to a nearby drop off point.
You have the option of upgrading to a private door-to-door airport transfer. You can also receive and return the rental car at the airport if you prefer that.
Enjoy the rest of the day in Reykjavik, which offers a great variety of things to do. See iconic buildings including the Perlan (the Pearl), the Alþingishúsið (where the Icelandic Parliament is housed), and Hallgrímskirkja Church. If you don't have time to shop on Laugarvegur Street, don't worry; you can do that when you return from your Icelandic Circle adventure.
Highlights:
Gamla Höfnin (The Old Harbour)
Harpa Concert Hall
Perlan
Hallgrímskirkja Church
Laugavegur Shoppping Streat
Overnight:
Reykjavik city
Optional Extras:
Private Airport Transfers
Reykjavik City Card
Reykjavik Food Tour
Day 2. A National Park - Geysers - The Golden Waterfall
Today you will do the famous Golden Circle route, where some of Iceland’s most precious natural wonders can be found. Start with a visit to the Thingvellir National Park. Thingvellir is a place of great importance from a geological and historical perspective, as well as a park of exceptional natural beauty. From the Thingvellir National Park, continue to the Great Geysir geothermal area. The area hosts a few geysers and hot springs, the most powerful of which (Strokkur) erupts every 8 minutes or so with such force that the boiling hot water jets 15 to 20 meters into the air. Continue further to the Golden Waterfalls, Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most majestic waterfalls. When viewed in sunny weather, the mist layers many rainbows on top of one-another, giving the waterfalls its beautiful crown. Continue to your accommodation in the area for an overnight stay.
Highlights:
Þingvellir National Park
Geysir Geothermal Area
Gullfoss Waterfall
Kerið Crater
Selfoss Town
Hella Town
Optional Extras:
Snorkeling
Driving Distance:
160 kilometers
Overnight:
Geysir area
Day 3. Highland Adventure and Akureyri City
Fill up the tank as there are no gas stations for the next 300 kilometers. Head inland to the highland track Kjölur taking you over the interior highlands between the massive ice fields of Hofsjökull and Langjökull glacier. Enjoy the magnificent mountainous views on this route and be sure to stop by the colourful Kerlingarfjöll mountains before continuing to the strange Hveravellir geothermal area. There you will find a natural hot spring where you can enjoy a relaxing bath in the surreal environment. Take a short stroll around the lunar like area before continuing onwards to the fertile Skagafjörður region. We recommend a visit to Glaumbær folk museum to see the turf houses and learn about the old way of living in Iceland. Continue to Akureyri to enjoy this cultural hub of the north and spend the night in the area.
Highlights:
Kerlingafjöll Mountains
Hveravellir
Driving distance:
300 kilometers
Overnight:
Akureyri area
Day 4. Paradise on Earth – Lake Myvatn and The Whale Watching Capital of the world
Leave Akureyri and head for one of Iceland’s most beautiful areas surrounding Lake Mývatn. Along the way, stop by the legendary Goðafoss Waterfall where an historical event took place in the year 1,000 when Icelanders converted to Christianity. The story goes that a so-called law speaker named Þorkell disposed of the pagan gods by throwing them into the waterfall—thus the name, Goðafoss, which means the "waterfall of the gods".
Continue your journey to explore the abundance of natural wonders Lake Mývatn and the surrounding area, including amazing formations of geological interest. Visit the numerous highlights of the area: the Dimmuborgir lava field, the Námaskarð geothermal area, the Skútustaðagígar pseudo craters, the nature baths, Krafla Volcano, and numerous other interesting spots.
Proceed to Húsavík town, the “whale watching capital of the world”, where you can join a whale watching tour or simply relax after a day of sightseeing.
Highlights:
Goðafoss Waterfall
Lake Mývatn
Mývatn Nature Baths
Húsavík Town
Optional Extra:
Whale Watching from Húsavík
Mývatn Nature Baths
Forest Lagoon
Driving distance:
150 kilometers
Overnight:
Húsavík/ Lake Mývatn area
Day 5. Jökulsárgljúfur National Park – Ásbyrgi Canyon – Dettifoss Waterfall
Head for Öxarfjörður Bay and and vist Ásbyrgi Canyon, a strange and spectacular, horseshoe-shaped canyon carved by the mighty Jökulsá á Fjöllum River. There is an excellent visitors' centre at Ásbyrgi called Gljúfrastofa, where one can get detailed information on Ásbyrgi and the national park, including maps for hiking trails. continue south and visit Vesturdalur and Hljóðaklettar, also known as Echo rocks, a valley of extraordinary rock formations, carved by the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum streaming from Vatnajökull Glacier. There are numerous hiking trails for exploring the many wonders of Jökulsárgljúfur National Park.
Continue south to Dettifoss Waterfall, the most powerful waterfall in Europe.
Highlights:
Hljóðaklettar Rock Formations
Ásbyrgi Canyon
Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon
Dettifoss Waterfall
Driving distance:
180 kilometers
Overnight:
Lake Myvatn area
Day 6. Volcanic Highlands
After breakfast you will once again head inland for another highland exploration through volcanic areas. You will drive through a vast lava field of Ódáðahraun to Herðubreiðalindir springs, a lush and fertile area in the middle of the deserted highlands. Continue to Dygjufjöll mountain range where and onwards through the mountain track util you reach the hiking path to the majestic Askja caldera and the explosion crater Víti and if you are feeling adventurous you can take a bath in the blue crater lake so take your swimsuits and towel with you. It is about a 30 minute easy walk to the caldera and crater and are definitely a must do. From Askja continue to Egilsstaðir town where you will spend the night in the area.
Highlight:
Herðubreiðarlindir
Askja
Víti
Ódáðahraun
Driving Distance:
330 kilometers
Overnight:
Egilsstaðir / Hallormsstaður area
Day 7. Fjord Scenery of the East
Drive to the long narrow fjords and with steep-sided mountain peaks. The East Fjords are famous for their colourful minerals and the stone collection of Petra at Stöðvarfjörður is an interesting place to visit.
Continue to the top of Almannaskarð Pass for a spectacular view of the surrounding area. Continue to Höfn, a fishing town in the realm of Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe. Höfn located at the foot of Vatnajökull is famous for its lobster catch, and the scenery is breathtaking. You might want to enjoy a lobster dinner at Höfn as they are known for their excellent lobster dinners.
Highlights:
East Fjords
Djúpivogur Town
Höfn Town
Driving distance:
250 kilometers
Overnight:
Djúpivogur / Höfn area
Day 8. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Skaftafell
Today you will head for Jökulsárlón, the Glacial Lagoon and one of the major attractions in Iceland. Large blocks of ice constantly break off the edge of the glacier and drift about in the blue glacial waters of the lagoon at the foot of the glacier. Boat trips that take you sailing among the icebergs are popular during the summer.
Continue to Skaftafell National Park, nestled at the foot Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull. Hike to Svartifoss, one of Iceland’s most picturesque waterfalls, framed in by hexagonal basalt columns. Skaftafell has a network of excellent hiking trails, and guided treks are available.
Continue to Kirkjubæjarklaustur town and see Kirkjugólfið (the Church Floor), a protected natural monument with a floor that looks like man-made tile. Stop to take a look at Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon just west of Kirkjubæjarklaustur on your way to the black sandy floodplains of Mýrdalssandur and the charming town of Vík.
Highlights:
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Skaftafell
Vatnajökull Glacier
Svartifoss Waterfall
Kirkjubæjarklaustur Town
Vík Town
Optional Extra:
The Glacier Lagoon - Amphibian Boat Tour
Glacier Kayak Adventure
The Glacier Lagoon - Zodiac Boat Tour
Driving distance:
280 kilometers
Overnight:
Vík area
Day 9. Volcanic Beaches – Stunning waterfalls – Lunar Landscapes and the Blue Lagoon
Drive to Reynishverfi with its black beaches and the beautiful pinnacles Reynisdrangar. Thousands of seabirds nest here in sea cliffs in the summer. Continue to the majestic Skógafoss Waterfall, situated at the foot of the infamous Eyjafjallajökull Glacier and volcano that erupted in 2010.
Continue to the mesmerizing Seljalandsfoss Waterfall where you can gain a unique perspective by walking behind the waterfall.
Continue to Hvolsvöllur town where the surrounding area is the scene of Njáls Saga, one of the most famous Icelandic sagas. Continue pass the towns Selfoss and the greenhouse community and onwards to Reykjanes peninsula with its vast lava fields. Visit Lake Kleifarvatn and Krísuvík geothermal area before going to the Blue Lagoon to soak in the mineral rich waters leaving you fully relaxed after your Iceland adventure vacation.
Highlights:
Reynisfjara Beach
Skógafoss Waterfall
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Hveragerði Town
Lake Kleifarvatn
Krýsuvík Geothermal Area
The Blue Lagoon
Optional Extra:
Glacier Walk
Snowmobiling on Mýrdalsjökull Glacier
LAVA Centre
Katla Ice Cave
ATV Black Sand Beach and Plane Wreck
Driving distance:
290 kilometers
Overnight:
Reykjavík
Day 10. Departure
Enjoy a bit of shopping on Laugavegur Street or relax at one of the local cafes before transferring from your accommodation to the airport aboard a comfortable Wi-Fi connected bus.
Accommodation
Rental Cars
Optional Extra
Other Information
This tour can be customized to your specifications and needs, so if you have any special requests, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be more than happy to help you arrange the perfect Icelandic vacation.
This tour is also available as a private guided tour: PT08 - Best of Both Worlds - Highlands and Lowlands - 10 day
*FAQ*
We are arriving very early. What is the check in time?
Check in time is usually between 14:00 - 16:00 for accommodation in Iceland. The only way to secure an early check in is to book the night before as well. However if a room is ready you should be able to check in early.
Where to eat during the tour?
In the small towns around Iceland you will find restaurants, bakeries and cafes where you can get something to eat. If you are going to the highlands we recommend purchasing something to take with you as there are very limited options for meals in the remote highland areas.
Are there any hidden charges?
There are no hidden charges or fees you should be aware of. Note that fuel and meals other than breakfast are not included.
What type of car is recommended?
For this tour you require a 4x4 vehicle suitable for highland driving. On this tour you will be driving on both paved roads as well as rough highland tracks with river crossings.
Do I need an international driver’s license?
No you do not need an international drivers license but you need a valid driver’s licence, which you will have held for at least two years. Travellers from overseas will need a licence issued in their country of residence along with an English translation (where appropriate). Some form of picture Identity is required, e.g. Passport, ID card etc. A valid credit card is also required.
How far is it between gas stations?
Gas stations can be found in almost all towns around Iceland so running out of gas is not a likely scenario. However before going to the highland areas we recommend filling up the tank as there are no gas stations in the highlands.
Do hotels and guesthouses offer Wi-Fi internet connection?
Most hotels and guesthouses in Iceland do provide free access to Wi-Fi internet. Some hotels and guesthouses do charge a small fee for access to the internet.
How do I book and what is the process?
There are several factors that determine the tour price:
• Time of the year you plan on visiting
• Number of people travelling together
• Type of car Car Info (Only applicable with self drive trips)
• Accommodation type (we offer 2 categories of accommodation or you can choose mixture of both)
• Optional Activities (Various optional activities are available with each trip)
There is a special Price Calculator button with every self-drive tours and private guided tours where you can enter your choice of type of accommodation, car, number of people and your arrival date. The Price Calculator will calculate and display the price according to your specifications. This way you can see how different choices in car and accommodation types affect the price of the package.
Once you are confident about your trip selection proceed to press the book now tab. Here you will fill in the required information and proceed through the booking process.
We require a 15% deposit at the time of booking. Full payment is due 5 weeks prior to arrival.
Once a booking is made an automatic e-mail is sent informing you that the order has been placed and is currently being processed by the IcelandRoadtrip.com team. You will then be contacted with by one of our trusted travel agents with further details.
For more practical information please visit our Travel Guide
This tour is also available as a private guided tour: PT08 - Best of Both Worlds - Highlands and Lowlands - 10 day
*FAQ*
We are arriving very early. What is the check in time?
Check in time is usually between 14:00 - 16:00 for accommodation in Iceland. The only way to secure an early check in is to book the night before as well. However if a room is ready you should be able to check in early.
Where to eat during the tour?
In the small towns around Iceland you will find restaurants, bakeries and cafes where you can get something to eat. If you are going to the highlands we recommend purchasing something to take with you as there are very limited options for meals in the remote highland areas.
Are there any hidden charges?
There are no hidden charges or fees you should be aware of. Note that fuel and meals other than breakfast are not included.
What type of car is recommended?
For this tour you require a 4x4 vehicle suitable for highland driving. On this tour you will be driving on both paved roads as well as rough highland tracks with river crossings.
Do I need an international driver’s license?
No you do not need an international drivers license but you need a valid driver’s licence, which you will have held for at least two years. Travellers from overseas will need a licence issued in their country of residence along with an English translation (where appropriate). Some form of picture Identity is required, e.g. Passport, ID card etc. A valid credit card is also required.
How far is it between gas stations?
Gas stations can be found in almost all towns around Iceland so running out of gas is not a likely scenario. However before going to the highland areas we recommend filling up the tank as there are no gas stations in the highlands.
Do hotels and guesthouses offer Wi-Fi internet connection?
Most hotels and guesthouses in Iceland do provide free access to Wi-Fi internet. Some hotels and guesthouses do charge a small fee for access to the internet.
How do I book and what is the process?
There are several factors that determine the tour price:
• Time of the year you plan on visiting
• Number of people travelling together
• Type of car Car Info (Only applicable with self drive trips)
• Accommodation type (we offer 2 categories of accommodation or you can choose mixture of both)
• Optional Activities (Various optional activities are available with each trip)
There is a special Price Calculator button with every self-drive tours and private guided tours where you can enter your choice of type of accommodation, car, number of people and your arrival date. The Price Calculator will calculate and display the price according to your specifications. This way you can see how different choices in car and accommodation types affect the price of the package.
Once you are confident about your trip selection proceed to press the book now tab. Here you will fill in the required information and proceed through the booking process.
We require a 15% deposit at the time of booking. Full payment is due 5 weeks prior to arrival.
Once a booking is made an automatic e-mail is sent informing you that the order has been placed and is currently being processed by the IcelandRoadtrip.com team. You will then be contacted with by one of our trusted travel agents with further details.
For more practical information please visit our Travel Guide
Photos
Price from: 265186 ISK/Per Person