An Island Adventure
An Island Adventure
Circumnavigate the island for a surfeit of ‘wow’ factor sights and dramatically contrasting scenery. Take in the classic Geological sites of the 'Golden Circle' and the southern coast's fertile glacier plains and black sand beaches before passing along the eerily misty eastern fjords and up to Myvatn's steaming fumaroles and pseudo craters. Along the way you'll have time to take in the Jokulsarlon Lagoon's drifting bergs, spot for whales at Husavik and waterfalls galore.
DAY 1 - UK - Fludir
Scheduled flight to Reykjavík. Collect hire car on arrival and drive to Fludir. Check in and overnight at the Hotel Fludir.
DAY 2 - Fludir - Vik
Drive up to Pingvellir Lake, along to Geyser's hot springs and Gullfoss invariably overarched with a rainbow; stop at Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss, possibly detouring up to Myrdalsjokull for a glacier snowmobile ride before arriving at Dyrholaey. Overnight at the Icelandair Hotel Vik.
DAY 3 - Vik - Oraefi
Drive along the southeast coast with bridges fording several dramatic outwash plains interspersed with black sand beaches. Overnight at the Fosshotel Nupar for 2 nights.
DAY 4 - Skaftafell
Spend the day walking in Skaftafell Natural park with its contrasting landscapes of dwarf birch woodland, glacier tongues, melt water rivers, moorland and sand plains.
DAY 5 - Oraefi - Egilsstadir
The highlist of the day's journey is the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon before a drive alongside eastern fjords overhung by rhyolite crags contouring the indented coastline and dotted with fishing villages. Overnight at guesthouse Egilsstadir.
DAY 6 - Egilsstadir - Myvatn
Vast seemingly endless deserts of glacially crushed rock are the hallmark of today's drive before reaching the contrasting lushness of Myvatn. Overnight at Fosshotel Myvatn.
DAY 7/8 - Lake Myvatn
Time to explore the extraordinary scenery and wildlife in the area: the wooded headland at Höfði with its lava pillars; contorted black towers of Dimmuborgir; the pastel coloured Námafjall ridge with its steamy surroundings and smouldering, sulphurous Krafla. Further afield there are multi-hued houses that hug the mountainside by the fishing village OF Husavik from where you can go whale spotting; the unusually wooded Canyon at Asbyrgi; Dettifoss with it's dishwater grey torrent and the somewhat forgotten Selfoss with its wide curtain fall.
DAY 9 - Myvatn - Reykjavik
Drive across to Akureyri and through the Oxnadalsheidi pass through the heart of horse breeding country and down into Reykjavik via Borgarfjordur and Borgarnes, where the Saga centre is worth a stop. Drop off car and overnight at the Hotel Centrum.
DAY 10 - Reykjavik - UK
Morning at leisure. Transfer to Keflavik airport for your scheduled return Icelandair flight back to the UK.
What's Included
- Return flights from selected regional departure airports
- 9 nights hotel accommodation in twin room(s) with private WC/shower
- Breakfasts throughout
- 8 days (8 x 24 hrs) car rental (group A,Toyota Yaris or similar including unlimited mileage; theft protection and collision damage waiver insurance; all local taxes and airport collection/drop–off charges)
- Road Map
- Free GPS
Our opinion
There are those who suggest that you can get round Iceland in as little as 5 or 6 days which, with the ring road coming at 1400 kilometres, you theoretically can but whether you'd want to, see anything along the way or feel as though you'd had a holiday afterwards is questionable. We think you need a week to enjoy yourself and that's what this tour is designed to do. As with all our self drives the trip is customizable in any way that suits you - we can add a night here, take away one there and, of course, your car can be upgraded to any level of comfort and power you need.
Departure Dates
May - September
Price per Adult
£2395 Prices are 'from' and are subject to availability
