Iceland Complete Circle and the West Fjords 14 days

• 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
• Ferry Baldur from Stykkishólmur to Brjánslækur

• Optional Activities
• Fuel

Day 1. Arrival - 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

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Day 2. The West Coast and Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Pick up your car in the morning and start your road trip adventure. Leave Reykjavík and head to Borgarnes town where you will find the Icelandic Settlement Centre, whose main objective is to present the fascinating sagas from the settlement times as well as a special exhibition of the famous Viking poet, Egill Skallagrímsson.
Continue to Snæfellsnes Peninsula where you will come upon numerous natural wonders. Cross the plains of Mýrar and head to the South Coast of the peninsula. In the northern part of Mýrar, you will pass a number of spectacular craters. Continue to the charming hamlets of Arnarstapi and Hellnar where you will find easy access to bird cliffs and beautiful lava fields.
Continue around the tip of the peninsula at the foot Snæfellsjökull, a graceful glaciated volcanol that is a popular destination for glacier hikers, snowmobilers, and skiers. For those not familiar with the glacier, a guide is recommended. Daily tours to the top of the glacier are available by either snowmobile or snow cat when conditions allow. Continue to the charming town of Stykkishólmur situated by Breiðafjörður Bay.

Highlights:
Borgarnes-Town
Hellnar
Arnarstapi Village
Lóndrangar Rock Formations
Snæfellsjökull Glacier

Driving Distance:
280 kilometers

Overnight:
Stykkishólmur area

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Day 3. Countless islands of Breiðafjörður Bay and Látrabjarg Cliff

Take a ferry across Breiðafjörður Bay to port of Brjánslækur on the South Coast of the West Fjords.
From Brjánslækur continue to Látrabjarg, one of the most spectacular sea cliffs in the world. The cliff is 450 meters high and about 14 kilometres long, providing millions of species of seabirds with a safe home and an abundance of seafood from the ocean. Látragjarg is a magnificent attraction, but we encourage travellers to be careful; the cliff edges can be weak. Látrabjarg is a place where many Icelandic ships and their crews have perished due to the unforgiving force of the sea. On your way to Látrabjarg, try to find time to stop at the interesting folk museum at Hnjótur.

Highlights:
Stykkishólmur Town
Breiðafjörður Bay
Látrabjarg Cliff

Optional Extra:
Viking Sushi Boat Tour

Driving Distance:
160 kilometers

Overnight:
Látrabjarg area

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Day 4. Scenery of the West Fjords

Today you will head to the largest town in the West Fjords, Ísafjörður. The route to Ísafjörður is characterized by stunning scenery with narrow and deep fjords. After crossing Dynjandisheiði Pass, stop by the impressive, 100 meter high Dynjandi Waterfall.
Continue through a road tunnel from Flateyri town to Ísafjörður town and get acquainted to the quiet lifestyle of the locals in this charming town. Ísafjörður is host to many festivals and cultural events making it a vibrant, yet quiet, place to visit. Kayak tours on Ísafjörður Fjord are available during the summer and the Natural History Museum of Bolungarvík is also worth a visit.

Highlights:
Dynjandi Waterfall
Flateyri Town
Ísafjörður Town

Driving Distance:
200 kilometers

Overnight:
Ísafjörður / Suðureyri area

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Day 5. The West Fjords

Drive along the shores of the many fjords of Ísafjarðardjúp Bay with beautiful coastlines teeming with seals and bird life. Cross Steingrímsfjarðarheiði Heath and head towards Hólmavík town in the Strandir area known for its interesting history of witchcraft and sorcery. Visit the Sorcery and Witchcraft Museum for a closer look into witchcraft and witch hunting as it was practised here in the 17th century.
Before reaching Hólmavík, take a detour to Drangsnes, a small fishing village at Steigrímsfjörður Fjord where the natural hot outdoor pool is popular with locals and visitors.

Highlights:
Hólmavík Town
Drangsnes Town

Driving Distance:
230 kilometers

Overnight:
Strandir area

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Day 6. The North West

Today, you will head for the fertile valley of Skagafjörður, known for breeding of the Icelandic horse. Pass Blönduós town, situated on the banks of Blanda River. Popular horse riding tours for beginners and experienced riders are available in the Skagafjörður district and some of the best white water rafting in the country is available here too. We recommend visits to Glaumbær Folk Museum and the tiny old church at Víðimýri, close to Varmahlíð.

Highlights:
Hvítserkur Cliff
Vatnsdalshólar Mounds
Glaumbær Folk Museum

Optional Extra:
Horse Riding

Driving Distance:
200 kilometers

Overnight:
Northwest Iceland

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Day 7. Akureyri – the Capital of North Iceland

Your destination is Akureyri the largest town in North Iceland. Akureyri is a picturesque town and although it is situated only about 60 miles south of the Arctic Circle, it enjoys some of the best weather in Iceland. See the Botanical Gardens and some of the many museums and art galleries. Akureyri is the trade and service centre of North Iceland as well as a centre of culture and education. This is truly a city where there's something for everyone.

A different option:

Drive around Tröllaskagi Peninsula to Hofsós town where you might want to visit The Icelandic Emigration Center built in honor of Icelanders who emigrated to North America between 1850 and 1914. Continue to Siglufjörður, a remotely located fishing town that was once the most prosperous fishing town in Iceland during the herring boom in the early 20th century. Enjoy the tranquility of Siglufjörður and other fishing towns on your way to your destination, the vibrant city of Akureyri.

Highlights:
Akureyri Town
Siglufjörður Town

Optional Extra:

Driving Distance:
130 - 180 kilometers

Overnight:
Eyjafjörður area

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Day 8. The Natural Wonders of Lake Mývatn

Leave the Eyjafjörður area 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
Húsavík Town

Optional Extra:
The Nature Baths
Whale Watching from Húsavík

Driving distance:
150 km

Overnight:
Húsavík/ Lake Mývatn area

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Day 9. Jökulsárgljúfur National Park – Ásbyrgi Canyon – Dettifoss Waterfall

Head for Öxarfjörður Bay and visit 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. Head back and drive to 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. Proceed across the highland plateau to the town of Egilsstaðir, the largest town in East Iceland. Hallormsstaðaskógur, the largest forest in the country, and the legendary Lake Lagarfljót are nearby. Across Fjarðarheiði Pass is Seyðisfjörður, a small and picturesque fishing town and a ferry port that is certainly worth a visit.

Highlights:
Hljóðaklettar Rock Formations
Ásbyrgi Canyon
Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon
Dettifoss Waterfall
Hallormsstaðaskógur Forrest
Seyðisfjörður Fjord

Driving distance:
300 kilometers

Overnight:
Egilsstaðir / Seyðisfjörður area

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Day 10. The Scenic East Fjords

Drive to the long narrow fjords and with steep-sided mountain peaks. The East Fjords are famous for their colorful 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.

Highlights:
East Fjords
Djúpivogur Town
Höfn Town

Driving distance:
250 kilometers

Overnight:
Djúpivogur / Höfn area

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Day 11. Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon and Skaftafell

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 available during 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 floor but is a nature made. 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
Kirkjugólf - The Church Floor
Vík Town

Optional Extra:
The Glacier Lagoon - Amphibian Boat Tour

Driving distance:
280 kilometers

Overnight:
Vík area

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Day 12. Black Beaches – Spectacular Waterfalls – Geysers

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 on to the Kerið Volcanic Crater and the beautiful Faxi Waterfall. Next on the agenda is the famous Great Geysir and Strokkur, an active geyser that spouts boiling hot water up to 20 meters in the air every few minutes.
Continue inland to the awe-inspiring Gullfoss Waterfall (the Golden Waterfall) one of Iceland’s largest and most beautiful falls.

Highlights:
Reynisfjara Beach
Skógafoss Waterfall
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Kerið Crater
Geysir Geothermal Area
Gullfoss Waterfall


Optional Extra
Glacier Walk
Snowmobiling on Mýrdalsjökull Glacier
LAVA Centre

Driving distance:
200 kilometers

Overnight:
Golden Circle area

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Day 13. Þingvellir National Park - The Blue Lagoon

From Gullfoss head back to visit Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Þingvellir National Park is an historic site where the Icelandic Parliament was established in 930. Þingvellir is also hauntingly beautiful with its rugged lunar-like landscapes on the spot where two continental plates meet creating a fascinating rift valley. Head back to Reykjavík across Mosfellsheiði Heath. Drive to the Blue Lagoon for a relaxing bath in an otherworldly setting in the middle of a recently formed lava field. Filled with mineral rich warm water, the Blue Lagoon provides a sensational bathing experience out in the open air all year round. Apply some silica mud to rejuvenate and soften your skin or get a relaxing message. Dine at the Lava Restaurant or the Blue Lagoon Café before dropping off the car in Reykjavik.

Highlights:
Þingvellir National Park
The Blue Lagoon


Optional Extra
Snorkeling

Driving distance:
160 kilometers

Overnight:
Reykjavík

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Day 14. 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.

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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.

*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?
During summer (May - September) any type of vehicle is sufficient for this tour. In winter between mid September – mid April we recommend a 4x4 vehicle as there is a chance of some snow or ice on the road. The cars are equipped with good winter tires during winter.

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