RT02 - The Express Circle of Iceland 7 days
Self Drive Tour
| Season: | (MAY 1 to SEP 25) |
| Operates: | (Daily) |
| Duration: | (7 days / 6 nights) |
| By Car km/mi: | (1530) |
| Price from: | (86941 ISK  ) |
This Express self drive tour of Iceland allows you to explore all the major sights at a reletively fast pace. Suitable for those who want to see all the main attractions around Iceland in one week.
Day 1. Arrival – Reykjavik City
You will transfer from the airport to your accommodation in Reykjavik via a comfortable bus with Wi-Fi internet connection on board. 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. Check out the Reykjavik City Guide provided with the travel documents for a map of the city and points of interest.
Highlights:
Gamla Höfnin (The Old Harbour)
Harpa Concert Hall
Overnight:
Reykjavik city
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
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
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
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.
Departures: Daily
Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
Driving distance: 1530 KM
Price from: 86941 ISK/person - Price per person based on 4 adults together sharing 2 double rooms in Economy Accommodation accommodation and 01.A - Hyundai I10 or similar - Manual car type. Please use our Price Calculator or Book Now page to calculate your price.
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