• 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. Hvalfjörður and Borgarfjörður district

Pick up your car in the morning and start your road trip adventure. Leave Reykjavík and head to Borgarnes town via Hvalfjörður fjord 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. Drive towards Deildartunguhver hot spring, the largest hot spring in Europe. Continue a short distance further to the historic site Reykholt. Visit the interesting historical museum at Reykholt and see the hot pool Snorralaug. After a visit to Reykholt drive further inland to Barnafossar and Hraunfossar waterfalls. Make the waterfalls a turnaround point and return to Borgarnes town.


Highlights:
Borgarnes-Town
Reykholt Town
Hraunfossar Waterfalls

Optional Extra:
Krauma Baths

Driving Distance:
200 kilometers

Overnight:
Borgarfjörður area

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Day 3. The West Coast and Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Head for the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Shortly after leaving Borgarnes, continue towards Stykkishólmur to explore the countless natural wonders of the Snæfellsnes peninsula that divides the west coast of Iceland into two large bays. Cross the plains of Mýrar, drive to the south coast of Snæfellsnes and head towards the tip of the peninsula. In the northern part of Mýrar, you will be passing a number of volcanic craters on both sides of the road, Eldborg being the largest and most beautiful shape. At the farm Ytri Tunga, on the south coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, only a few hundred meters drive from the main road, seals can often to be seen on land or in the water. Visit Búðir, a pretty site located on a natural inlet. Continue to Arnarstapi and Hellnar to view beautiful and spectacular coast and interesting birdlife. There is an interesting museum at Hellnar. Continue around the tip of the peninsula at the foot of Snæfellsjökull, a glaciated volcano, the backdrop for the famous novel “The Journey to the Centre of the Earth” written by the famous French author, Jules Verne. Many interesting geological phenomena and historic sites are found in the Snæfellsjökull National Park, the most recent one in Iceland. Among many places of interest are Dritvík, Djúpalónssandur and Öndverðarnes, a former fishing station. Make a short detour to Djúpalónssandur and take a short walk along a marked path to the beach. Drive east along the north coast of the peninsula, passing the small fishing towns Hellissandur, Rif and Ólafsvík. Continue to the charming town of Stykkishólmur situated by Breiðafjörður Bay.

Highlights:
Arnarstapi Village
Lóndrangar Rock Formations
Snæfellsjökull Glacier
Stykkishólmur Town

Driving Distance:
260 kilometers

Overnight:
Snæfellsnes area

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Day 4. Countless islands of Breiðafjörður Bay

We recommend an adventure cruise from Stykkishólmur to explore the many small islands of Breiðafjörður Bay with its rich birdlife and delicious scallops and sea urchin rows. This is an unforgettable experience and takes a little more than two hours. In the afternoon, take the ferry Baldur across the Breiðafjörður Bay with its countless islands to Brjánslækur port on the south coast of the West fjords. Enroute to Brjánslækur, the ferry will make a short stop at the Flatey Island to drop off and pick up passengers. Drive from Brjánslækur to Patreksfjörður town. The town was named after Saint Patrick, who was the spiritual guide of Örlygur Hrappsson – the original settler of the area. At Patreksfjörður you will find a geothermal pool where you can relax in a hot tub in the evening.


Highlights:
Breiðafjörður Bay

Optional Extra:
Viking Sushi Boat Tour

Driving Distance:
160 kilometers

Overnight:
Patreksfjörður area

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Day 5. Rauðasandur Beach and Látrabjarg Bird Cliff

Today you will explore the area around Patreksfjörður. Start by heading to most famous beach of Iceland – Rauðasandur. The unique sand and shell mix gives the beach spectacular yellow-read colour. This is a wonderful place to enjoy an amazing bird- and wildlife. During the summer time you may spot seals relaxing at the beach. Next continue to Látrabjarg, one of the most crowded bird cliffs in the world. In summer the 444 m high sea cliffs are occupied by millions of Puffins, Gannets, Guillemots and Razorbills kindly note that the seabirds leave their nests in the cliffs in late summer. Enroute, stop at the interesting folk museum at Hnjótur. Continue to explore Kollsvík, which is surrounded by magnificent scenery.

Highlights:
Látrabjarg Cliff
Rauðasandur

Driving Distance:
180 kilometers

Overnight:
Patreksfjörður area

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Day 6. Dynjandi Waterfall - Ísafjörður

Drive to the north towards Ísafjörður town. The drive to Ísafjörður, the largest town in the West fjords is characterized by stunning steep-sided mountain scenery and deep and narrow fjords. As you cross the Dynjandisheiði pass, visit the picturesque Dynjandi waterfall. It is the largest waterfall in Westfjords. Continue to Ísafjörður.

Highlights:
Ísafjörður Town
Dynjandi Waterfall

Driving Distance:
230 kilometers

Overnight:
Ísafjörður area

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Day 7. Extra Day at Ísafjörður

Today you have plenty of time to explore the town of Ísafjörður and its surroundings, the neighboring towns of Bolungarvík and Suðureyri. Various day tours are available from Ísafjörður – sea kayaking, horse riding, boat trips and even hiking trips to Hornstrandir area during summer. Hornstrandir is a nature reserve that was established in 1975. The nature reserve is accessible only by boat and foot; there are no roads for the cars.

Overnight:
Ísafjörður area

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Day 8. The West Fjords & Witchcraft

Drive along the shores of the many fjords of Ísafjarðardjúp with beautiful coastlines teeming with seals and bird life. Cross Steingrímsfjarðarheiði Heath and head towards Hólmavík town in the Standir 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.

Highlights:
Hólmavík Town

Driving Distance:
220 kilometers

Overnight:
Hólmavík area

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Day 9. Norðurstrandir - Remote Iceland

Continue to explore the fjords of Strandir. Begin the day by exploring Bjarnarfjörður fjord, where you will find several farms, some of them no longer used. Visit the natural hot spring named Gvendarlaug and even take a bath. Continue to Reykjarfjörður fjord – this scenic road is usually closed during the winter time due to massive snow. Visit Djúpavík village at the end of the fjord. In the old days Djúpavík was busy fishing town - nowadays, however, the village is quiet as the fishing industry has left from there. Continue to Norðurfjörður fjord where you will find a unique geothermal pool just by the ocean. You can take a hike around this beautiful area, as the road further north ends, drive back to Hólmavík area where you will spend the night again. Please note because of the condition of this road you will drive slowly today and we recommend a 4x4 for this tour.

Highlights:
Hólmavík Town
Drangsnes Town
Djúpavík
Krossaneslaug swimmingpool

Driving Distance:
220 kilometers


Overnight:
Hólmavík area

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Day 10. 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 11. 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:
Beer Spa

Driving Distance:
130 - 180 kilometers

Overnight:
Eyjafjörður area

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Day 12. Húsavík Town- Ásbyrgi Canyon - National Park - Lake Mývatn Area

Start the day by driving to town of Húsavík, which is known also as the Whale Watching Capital of the World. You might want to join a whale watching tour. Next continue to the massive, horseshoe-shaped Ásbyrgi Canyon, from there head to see the strange Hljóðaklettar rock formations. Continue to the Jökulsárgljúfur National park, where you will witness the raw force of the Europe´s most powerful waterfall – Dettifoss. Standing near the waterfall you can´t help but feel humbled by the devastating power of nature. Next head to explore the surrounding area of Mývatn – hot springs and mud pools at Námaskarð, the impressive volcano Krafla as well as mysterious lava formations at Dimmuborgir. After a day of sightseeing we recommend you to visit Mývatn Nature Baths and relax in the mineral rich waters.

Highlights:
Dettifoss Waterfall
Ásbyrgi Canyon
Hljóðaklettar Rock Formations
Húsavík Town

Optional Extra:
Whale Watching from Húsavík

Driving Distance:
240 kilometers

Overnight:
Lake Mývatn Area

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Day 13. Lake Mývatn Area

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.

Highlights:
Lake Mývatn

Optional Extra
Mývatn Nature Baths

Driving Distance:
50 km

Overnight:
Lake Mývatn area

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Day 14. To The East

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:
Hallormsstaðaskógur Forrest
Seyðisfjörður Fjord

Driving Distance:
170 kilometers

Overnight:
Egilsstaðir / Seyðisfjörður area

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Day 15. 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 16. Jökulsárlón Glacial 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.


Highlights:
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Skaftafell
Vatnajökull Glacier


Optional Extra:
The Glacier Lagoon - Amphibian Boat Tour

Driving Distance:
140 kilometers

Overnight:
Skaftafell area

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Day 17. Skaftafell to Vik

Spend some time in Skaftafell before continueing 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. Visit the black beach of Reynisfjara where strangely formed basalt columns, cliffs, and caves are to be found. Local folklore says that the formations were once trolls attempting to reach shore in the cover of night, but when the sun came out, they were turned to stone.

Highlights:
Kirkjubæjarklaustur Town
Kirkjugólf - The Church Floor
Vík Town
Reynisfjara Beach

Driving Distance:
140 kilometers

Overnight:
Vík area

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Day 18. Black Beaches – Spectacular Waterfalls – Geysers

Continue your journey to the majestic Skógafoss Waterfall, situated at the foot of the infamous Eyjafjallajökull Glacier and volcano that erupted in 2010.
Along the way stop at 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:
Skógafoss Waterfall
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Kerið Crater
Geysir Geothermal Area
Gullfoss Waterfall


Optional Extra:
Glacier Walk
Snowmobiling on Mýrdalsjökull Glacier
LAVA Centre

Driving Distance:
180 kilometers

Overnight:
Geysir area

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Day 19. Thingvellir 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 you have the option of just satying in Reykjavik but we recommend a a leisurely 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 late evening or early next morning.

Highlights:
Þingvellir National Park
The Blue Lagoon

Optional Extra:
Snorkeling

Driving Distance:
200 kilometers (including Blue Lagoon)

Overnight:
Reykjavík

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Day 20. Free day in Reykjavik.

A full day in Reykjavik where you can visit one of the many museums, exhibitions and art galleries, take a tour of the city or simply relax at some of the down town cafes see our travel guide for more interesting things to do and see in Reykjavik What to see - Capital area

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Day 21. Departure

Transfer in a comfortable Wi-Fi connected bus to the airport from your accommodation in Reykjavik to Keflavik airport

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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?
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