Overview:
On this 8-day fly-drive you’ll explore the highlights of Iceland while traveling in a whole circle around the island. Enjoy Iceland’s waterfalls, beaches, bird cliffs, hot springs and glaciers before returning to end your tour in the vibrant capital of Reykjavik. This tour is ideal as an independent spring, summer and autumn program.
This Iceland holiday package starts from £ 1,695 per person based on availability and two persons sharing a standard double/twin room. Single supplement is £1,000 per person.
| Package / Dates |
All year, daily |
Standard package
(simple hotels, guesthouses and B class car)
|
from £1,695 pp
|
Comfort package
(best quality tourist class accommodation and C class car) |
from £2,095 pp
|
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Keflavik Airport - Reykjavik (45 km/28 miles)
Upon arrival at Keflavik airport, a meet and greet service is provided by our local representative. He will deliver travel documents and take you to your hotel in Reykjavik.
After traveling through volcanic landscape, you arrive in the capital Reykjavik. Spend the day in the city and be sure not to miss the highlights of Hallgrimskirkja church, the Pearl, Althingi Parliament, Harpa Concert Hall and Solfar sculpture. For those interested in history, the Hofdi House is a must see, being the site of Reagan’s and Gorbatsjov’s meeting that effectively marked the end of the Cold War in 1986.
Overnight in Reykjavik area.
Tour Category:
Standard:
Our standard self-drives offer you the chance to travel around Iceland in a worry free spirit, staying in accommodation with private facilities without stretching your budget. Throughout your stay you‘ll be residing in a combination of standard hotels, farmhouses and guesthouses.
- Private facilities
- Accommodation at good value hotels, guesthouses and/or farmhouses
Comfort:
Our comfort self-drive holidays allow you to spend your days exploring rural Iceland, knowing your nights will be spent in the most comfortable accommodation each area has to offer. Throughout the tour you‘ll stay in quality guesthouses and hotels where all rooms have a private facilities.
- Private facilities
- Rooms in the best quality accommodation available at the time of booking
Day 2: South Coast & Waterfalls (190 km/118 miles)
Pick up the car in the morning and leave Reykjavik city heading for Hveragerði and the village Selfoss. Cross the plateau Hellisheiði, where you find geothermal activity and plumes of steam rising from the ground. Stop at Hellisheiði Geothermal Powerplant where natural hot water and steam pressure from the ground is used for generating electricity. Here, you can enjoy an optional tour through the power station and learn about the eco-friendly geo thermal energy.
From Selfoss proceed east along the south shore, heading for Vík. Visit the Saga Centre at Hvolsvöllur and stop at the waterfall Seljalandsfoss, where a walk behind the falls is possible during summer, which can be a quite a unique experience. A little further east you find Skógafoss, another pretty waterfall, the largest on the south coast. Not to miss is the interesting Folk Museum at Skógar, close to the waterfall.
Make a detour to the glacier Sólheimajökull before continuing to Dyrhólaey natural reserve and a nesting colony of numerous seabirds (closed for all traffic during the nesting period until June 25th). Next visit Reynisdrangar with spectacular coast and beautiful rock formations.
Overnight in Vík / Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.
Day 3: Skaftafell & Jökulsárlón (270 km/168 miles)
Drive across the Mýrdalssandur floodplains and Eldhraun, the largest lava field ever to flow on Earth in historical time, to the small village Kirkjubaejarklaustur. Fjaðrárgljúfur is a narrow and beautiful canyon a few km west of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, worth seeing. At Kirkjubæjarklaustur, visit Kirkjugólfið (the Church Floor), a protected natural monument just east of the village.
Continue over Skeidarársandur, vast tracts of black sandy desert washed down by numerous torrential glacial rivers. Stop at Skaftafell National Park, an oasis wedged between glacier and sand. An interesting hiking trail takes you to Svartifoss, one of Icelands most picturesque waterfall, framed in by beautiful basalt columns that surround it. In the Skaftafell area you will find many interesting hiking trails ranging in difficulty.
Continue east to Jökulsarlón, the Glacial Lagoon where huge icebergs, sculptures of nature, float and grind together in the deep blue waters of the lagoon. A cruise among the icebergs is available in summer.
Overnight in Höfn area.
Day 4: East Fjords & Lake Mývatn (430 km/267 miles)
From Höfn, drive through the Almannaskard tunnel and past the colorful Lónsöræfi district, a mountainous wilderness ringed by extinct volcanoes and traversed by glacial rivers. Continue to the magnificent East Fjords, some now deserted, each a world of its own.
If you are a bird enthusiast, we recommend a boat tour to Papey Island near Djúpivogur where thousands of puffins and other seabirds nest in summer. We recommend stopping in the small fishing town Djúpivogur and at Petra’s stone collection in Stöðvarfjörður village. Continue to Egilsstaðir and drive across the highland desert plateau towards Lake Mývatn.
Do not miss a detour to Dettifoss, the largest waterfall in Europe. Stop at Námaskarð Pass where boiling mud pools and flashing colors of the pass merge with ash and lava from nearby volcanoes. Explore the natural beauty of the Lake Mývatn area, worldwide for its exceptionally many breeding duck species and the abundance of other birdlife.
The area around lake Mývatn offers highlights such as Dimmuborgir, Mt. Hverfjall, the pseudo craters of Skútustaðir and Krafla volcanic system where the most recent eruptions were 1975 - 1984. The explosion crater Víti, located near Krafla, and the Mývatn Nature Baths are recommended as well.
Overnight in Mývatn / Húsavík area.
Day 5: Akureyri & The North (290 km/180 miles)
Drive to Húsavík, sometimes called “The Whale Watching Capital of The World”. The Whale Museum in Húsavík is an information centre on marine wildlife and ideal for learning more about the giants of the oceans. We suggest a Whale watching tour and a visit to the Whale Centre.
Continue to Akureyri, the capital of the North and stop at the beautiful waterfall Goðafoss, the waterfall of the gods. From Akureyri, drive through the majestic mountains and narrow passes which lead to the Skagafjördur District, famous for horse breeding. Popular riding tours for beginners and experienced riders are available here. In the upper reaches of Skagafjordur you will also be able to join some of the best white water rafting in the country. We strongly recommend that you see Glaumbær Folk Museum and the old church at Víðimýri.
Overnight in North-West Iceland.
Day 6: West Coast & Þingvellir (400 km/249 miles)
Around Vatnsnes peninsula you have a unique opportunity to watch both harbour seals and grey seals in their natural habitat. The main watching locations are Svalbarð and at Illugastaðir on the west coast and and at Ósar on the east coast. The Icelandic Seal Center at Hvammstangi gives more information about these locations and how to approach the seals with care
Drive to Borgarfjörður district and visit Deildartunguhver, the largest hot spring in Europe. Continue a short distance further to the historic site of Reykholt. Visit the interesting museum at Reykholt and see the hot pool Snorralaug. Further inland are the beautiful Hraunfossar and Barnafossar Waterfalls. Make the waterfalls a turnaround point and head back to road 1.
In Borgarnes town you will find the interesting Settlement Centre, recreating the fascinating sagas surrounding the birth of this island nation where Multi-media and theatrical techniques are employed to help enhance the visitor experience. Drive along the shores of Hvalfjörður Fjord towards Reykjavik.
Continue to Þingvellir National Park, a unique place from a geological point of view. Research has shown that Thingvellir is a natural wonder. The faults and fissures of the area are evidence of the rifting of the earth's crust. Thingvellir is one of the most historical sites in the country and a place of exceptional beauty.
Overnight in South-West Iceland.
Day 7: Golden Circle & Blue Lagoon (260 km/162 miles)
Head on to explore the great Geysir hot spring area where you find the famous Geysir and Strokkur, a hot spring that spouts every few minutes. The Geysir Service Center consists of a restaurant, hotel, swimming pool, souvenir shop, snack bar, gas station, a geo-center multimedia show, horse rental, quad bike tours, and a camping area.
Drive on to the majestic waterfall Gullfoss one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls. Head back to see Faxi, a pretty waterfall, situated a few steps from the road. Continue your journey to volcanic crater Kerið for a picture stop. Continue to the main circular highway, and head for the small town Hveragerði where geothermal water is harnessed for heating greenhouses for cultivating decorative flowers.
Head to the amazing Blue Lagoon*. Filled with mineral-rich waters, the Blue Lagoon has become famous for providing soothing relief for sufferers of skin disorders, as well as others looking for a sensational bathing experience. Stop for a refreshing bath before ending the tour at your hotel in Reykjavík.
*Note that it’s important to book the Blue Lagoon in advance as it’s often sold out for entry.
Return to Reykjavik and drop off the car.
Overnight in Reykjavik.
Day 8: Departure from Reykjavik (45 km/28 miles)
Breakfast at your hotel and return by Flybus shuttle transfer to Keflavik Airport in time for your return flight.
Package Includes:
- Direct return flights from London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh or Bristol to Reykjavik and return (other UK airports upon request)
- 1 piece of check-in luggage per traveler (up to 23 kg)
- Meet and greet at KEF airport and transfer to Reykjavik
- 7 nights’ accommodation in your selected accommodation category
- Breakfast daily
- Rental car for 6 days with unlimited mileage, CDW, theft protection and VAT
- GPS system with car and additional authorized driver
- Fuel discount card valid at more than 90 N1 Gas stations around Iceland
- Iceland Road Guide Book in English
- Detailed itinerary and road map of Iceland with your personal route & accommodation marked in
- Departure transfer from Reykjavik to KEF airport by Flybus
- 24 hour emergency service
- ATOL protection
- All taxes
Enquire now »