The Express Circle of Iceland 7 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

• 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

---

Day 2. A National Park – Geysers and Waterfalls

Pick up your car in the morning and head out on your adventure. Your first stop is Þingvellir National Park where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge forms an impressive rift valley causing Iceland to drift apart at the rate of approximately 2 cm per year. Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is where the Icelandic Parliament was established in 930. Þingvellir is hauntingly beautiful despite its rugged lunar-like landscapes.
Then, head to the Geysir geothermal area, which is filled with geysers and hot springs. One of the geysers spouts boiling hot water 15 to 20 meters in the air every 8 minutes or so in a majestic display you won't want to miss.
Continue on to Gullfoss, the Golden Waterfall, one of Iceland’s most impressive and unique waterfall, plunging down 32 meters into the canyon in two stages. On sunny days the mist from the waterfall creates rainbows giving the waterfall a beautiful crown. Make sure you have your cameras ready.
Then, head down the South Coast to Hvolsvöllur area and stop along the way at the Kerið Volcanic Crater and Selfoss the largest town on the South Coast.

Highlights:
Þingvellir National Park
Geysir Geothermal Area
Gullfoss Waterfall
Kerið Crater
Selfoss Town


Driving Distance:
240 km

Overnight:
Hvolsvöllur area

---

Day 3. Black Beaches, Skaftafell and the Glacial Lagoon

Begin the day by taking a scenic drive with mountain and glacier views and the awe-inspiring Skógarfoss and Seljalandsfoss Waterfalls. A rare opportunity to walk behind the Seljalandsfoss Waterfall is something you won't want to miss. Visit Dyrhólaey Nature Reserve where, in summer, huge numbers of Puffins nest from the beginning of June until late July / early August then the black beach of Reynisfjara with its strange rock formations rising from the sea. Next up is a visit to the charming town of Vík and further on to the quiet town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur with its rich and conflicted history. Some indications point to the conclusion that Irish monks settled here before the Norse settlers, but whatever the case, this was always a Christian community where heathens were not welcome.
Continue to Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe, and Skaftafell National Park at the base of the glacier. This is a fantastic place for short, tranquil hikes, and we highly recommend a hike up to the beautiful Svartifoss Waterfall; you won't regret it.
Continue along the roots of the glacier to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, which may look familiar if you've seen such movies as Tomb Raiders and Batman Begins. You will see icebergs, - the size of houses slowly drifting towards to the sea; in fact, you can cruise among them on a guided boat tour. Continue to Höfn town, where you can enjoy a stroll and a visit to a local café or restaurant.

Highlights:
Skógafoss Waterfall
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Vík Town
Reynisfjara Beach
Dyrhólaey Nature Reserve
Kirkjubæjarklaustur Town
Skaftafell
Vatnajökull Glacier
Svartifoss Waterfall
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Höfn Town

Optional Extra:
The Glacier Lagoon - Amphibian Boat Tour
LAVA Centre
Glacier Walk
Snowmobiling on Mýrdalsjökull Glacier

Driving Distance:
350 Km

Overnight:
Höfn / Djúpivogur area

---

Day 4. East Fjords and Lake Mývatn

Your first destination today is Egilstaðir, the largest town in East Iceland, but along the way you will experience the magnificent scenery of the East Fjords where every fjord is a world unto itself.
From Egilsstaðir town, continue across the highland desert to the Lake Mývatn area, a place filled with natural wonders and a true paradise for the nature lover with its diverse geologic formations, volcanoes, mysterious lava formations, and mud pools. Circle the lake and take time to enjoy the rich birdlife and lush vegetation. A relaxing bath in the famous Nature Baths is the perfect way to end this exciting day.

Highlights:
Egilsstaðir Town
Lake Mývatn

Optional Extra:
The Nature Baths

Driving Distance:
420 - 470 km

Overnight:
Lake Mývatn / Húsavík area

---

Day 5. Akureyri City – Capital of the North

Continue to Húsavík town, famous for the popular whale watching cruises available during the summer months. Head for Akureyri, the largest town in the north. Stop enroute at the beautiful waterfall Goðafoss,on road 1 close to the junction with 85 at Fosshóll. In the year 1000, all Icelanders converted to Christianity and the story goes that a so-called law speaker named Þorkell disposed of the pagan gods by throwing them into this waterfall giving it its name.
The next stop is Skagafjörður Fjord known for its horse breeding and a great place to explore on horseback. The last stop before you soak in the rich culture of Akureyri is Glaumbær, an old turf farm that now houses a very interesting folk museum.

Highlights:
Goðafoss Waterfall
Akureyri Town
Glaumbær Folk Museum

Optional Extra
Whale Watching from Húsavík
Horse Riding


Driving Distance:
240 km

Overnight:
North west area

---

Day 6. Wonders of the West

Your first stop will be Deildartunguhver Hot Spring, which yields over 180 litres of boiling water every second. Then, you will continue inland to see the Hraunfossar and Barnafossar Waterfalls, where the water creeps from underneath the lave fields into the Hvítá River.
From there, head to the Settlement Centre in Borgarnes town where you can explore the sagas of the settlement times and visit an exhibition of the famous Viking poet Egill Skallagrimsson. Continue back to Reykjavik after an amazing trip around Iceland.

Highlights:
Deildartunguhver Hot Spring
Hraunfossar Waterfalls
Borgarnes-Town
Reykjavik city

Optional Extra
Krauma Baths

Driving Distance:
360 km

Overnight:
Reykjavik city

---

Day 7. Departure

You will transfer from your accommodation to the airport on a comfortable Wi-Fi connected bus, but if you have an afternoon or evening flight to allow time to visit the other-worldly setting of the Blue Lagoon, a bathing area in the middle of a vast lava field that came into existence in 1976 as a result of operations in a geothermal power plant nearby. Today, this is one of Iceland´s most visited sites. You can go for a relaxing bath in the surreal surroundings, get a massage, or apply some of the silica mud to rejuvenate and soften skin before your flight. Enjoy dinner at the Lava Restaurant or the Blue Lagoon Café before heading back to Reykjavik.

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.

---

Like the title of this tour indicates, this is an "EXPRESS" tour. Therefore it is limited how many optional extras can be added.

Please note the below before booking:
Amphibian tour fits in on day 3rd.-late afternoon. Can be done between 09:00 – 19:00 in summer but in shoulder season it is available 10:00 - 17:00 in May, September and October. If you add a Snowmobiling tour and a Glacier Walk, it would not be possible to make it to the Glacial Lagoon in time for the boat trip

A Glacier Walk fits in on day 3. Departure available that will fit this tour schedule is checking in at 09:30

Snowmobiling fits in on day 3. Departure available that fits this tour schedule is at 09:30, 12:00 or at 14:30
Opening hours: Myvatn Nature baths fit in on day 4. Summertime Opening hours (1. June - 31. August): 09:00 – 24:00 Entry no later than 23:30. Wintertime (1. September - 31. May): 12:00 – 22:00 Entry no later than 21:30. 24. December: 13:00 - 16:00 25. December: Closed 31. December: 13:00 - 16:00 1. January: Closed

Whale Watching fits in day 5 At 11:00, 15. – 31. March At . 08:30, 01. April through 31. August. At 10:00, 01. – 30 September
"
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: PT02 - Express Circle of Iceland - 7 days

*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 morning check in is to book the night before as well.

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