Secrets of Iceland – Self Drive

Arrive independently to Keflavik International Airport in Iceland, collect your hire car, and take to the roads. Your accommodation tonight will be in Reykjavik, so you can choose to explore the city or its surroundings. We recommend a visit to the famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa (must be booked in advance), although throughout your circumnavigation of Iceland there will be other lesser-known geothermal pools to visit too.

Please note: the places and areas to visit that are described in this itinerary are suggestions only, based on the location of your accommodation for each night. As this a self-drive itinerary, you have the flexibility to chart your own route, knowing that there is a comfortable bed waiting for you at the end of every action-packed day.

Today you will travel on to the west coast of Iceland heading towards the Borgarfjörður district where your accommodation for tonight will be found. On the way, you may wish to visit Hvalfjordur and take the 4-hour hiking path to Glymur, the second highest waterfall in Iceland. Or for a less strenuous afternoon you could visit Deildartunguhver, Europe's largest geometric hot water source.

You may also wish to visit Reykholt, the place of the famous Icelandic author Snorri Sturluson, and Húsafell where you can take a tour to the Langjökull glacier and into a man-made cave on the glacier, or visit the beautiful waterfalls of Barnafossar and Hraunfossar.

Moving east over the Holtavörðuheiði highland plateau, you will reach the Skagafjörður area where a visit to Saudakrokur and the fascinating folk museum at Glaumbær is recommended. Horseback riding is very popular here and it may be worth booking a tour to get this authentically Icelandic experience. Hikes and river rafting are other options here and you may wish to drive to Víðidalur near Hvammstangi to see the beautiful Kolugljúfur canyon and its stunning waterfall Kolufossar, along with the iconic Hvítserkur basalt stack that legend states is actually a petrified troll.

Enjoy an exploration of the Vatnsnes Peninsula which home to a wide variety of wildlife including Iceland’s largest and most accessible seal sanctuary. Accommodation tonight will be in the Skagafjörður area.

Today you will make your way towards Akureyri, along a beautifully scenic coastal route that passes through numerous quaint villages, as well as the delightful fishing town of Siglufjörður which is home to the Síldarminjasafnið Herring Museum. This area was famously the filming location for the internationally popular Icelandic crime TV show, Trapped.

As you reach the beautiful town of Akureyri you can enjoy some time exploring along the stunning fjord on which it is located, or simply relax and enjoy the town’s charming atmosphere and unique botanical gardens.

Accommodation tonight and tomorrow night will be in Akureyri.

Today will see you drive the famous “Diamond Circle” as you discover Iceland’s stunning northern area. The active volcanic zone of the Lake Mývatn area offers up a multitude of impressive geological features that are likely to fill your cameras, with bizarre lava formations, sulfuric springs and pseudo-craters offering wonderful photo opportunities. The Mývatn Nature Baths, known as the Blue Lagoon of the North, the “lava town” of Dimmuborgir, and the geothermal area Námaskarð are all definitely worth a visit.

You can then continue on to explore more of the dramatic Tjörnes Peninsula including Húsavík, Ásbyrgi, and Jökulsá Canyon, and on to Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall. In Húsavík, known as Europe's whale capital, there will be many opportunities for optional whale watching tours which come highly recommended, and on your way back to Akureyri you may wish to stop at Godafoss, another incredibly impressive waterfall.

Overnight in Akureyri.

Today it’s time to discover the contrasting desert-like landscapes of the Möðrudalsöræfi area as you enjoy a scenic drive to Egilsstadir. Along the way you may wish to visit Hallormsstaður National Forest and the 25 km long lake Lagarfljót which legend has it is home to the Icelandic Loch Ness Monster, or “Lagarfljótsormurinn”. There are also fantastic hiking options around here and a 40-60 minute walk will bring you the beautiful waterfall of Hengifoss.

Tonight’s accommodation will be in the Egilsstadir area.

Today gives you the chance to explore around the beautiful landscapes of the Eastern Fjords area as you make your way towards Höfn. The rich birdlife and fascinating ancient geological wonders here will make this a day to remember, and you may wish to stop at the famous stone sculpture of Eggene i Gledivik in Djupavogur. We recommend a drive to Stöðvarfjörður to visit the stone museum of Petra or a drive to Eskifjordur, one of the most beautiful fjords in Iceland. Other options today could be a boat tour from Djupavogur to the island of Papey or a guided hike to the waterfall Hengifoss by Hallormsstadur.

Accommodation tonight will be in the Höfn area, so you may also wish to take a scenic drive along the coast outside Höfn which will reward in beautiful views of Vestrahorn, the most photographed mountain in Iceland.

Continuing along the Ring Road, you will likely head towards Skaftafell National Park where a whole day can be filled with mountains, volcanoes and glaciers, including the mighty Vatnajökull, Europe’s biggest glacier. The extraordinary Jökulsarlon Glacial Lagoon is absolutely worth a visit, along with the nearby Diamond beach which gets its name from the sight of the glistening icebergs sprinkled along the black sand beach sparkling in the sun. We also recommend visiting Svartifoss waterfall, one of the most popular attractions in the park, and there are plenty of optional activities that can be booked here including kayak tours and boat rides along the lagoon.

From here you drive through the desert plains of Skeiðarársandur, mainly made of volcanic sands, towards Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Vik, where you will be staying for the next 2 nights.

Enjoy some exploration around the Vik area, including Reynisfjara black lava beach and its impressive basalt rock formations. You will also be able to see the basalt-shaped pillars Reynisdrangar, and on the small peninsula of Dyrholaey there are great chances of spotting puffins.

Overnight in Vik.

Moving north now, you will head towards the Geysir area, likely passing Eyjafjallajökull glacier along the way. On this route there are a number of iconic areas that we recommend visiting, not least the Seljalandsfoss and Skogarfoss waterfalls which are 2 of Iceland’s most impressive and well photographed sights. We also recommend a trip to Hella to visit the incredible Lava Center exhibit, and if you haven’t made it to a geothermal pool yet, then you might want to take a detour to the Secret Lagoon today to enjoy a relaxing dip before exploring more of the Geysir area tomorrow.

Tonight’s accommodation will be in the Geysir area.

Today it’s time to tick off even more Icelandic bucket-list experiences, including the iconic Iceland “Golden Circle” route which takes in the mighty Gullfoss waterfall, the awe-inspiring Geysir hot spring area to see bubbling hot springs and the famous spouting Strokku, and the memorable Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is certain to impress. We also recommend a stop at the farm Efstidalur between Geysir and Þingvellir which provides delicious traditional food and ice cream.

From here you will drive back to Reykjavik for your final 2 nights.

Enjoy some further exploration of Reykjavik and the surrounding areas. This vibrant and bustling capital city is like no other, and is simply a joy to explore. You may wish to join some of the many tours available from Reykjavik including whale watching and horse riding tours. Or you might simply want to enjoy a wander around the world’s northernmost capital sampling the culture and cuisine. We recommend a visit to Hallgrimskirkja church, the Harpa concert hall and Perlan where you can get stunning panoramic views of the city.

After checking out of the hotel on day 13, you will drive to Keflavik International Airport to return your hire car and take your onward or homeward flights. Should you wish to stay longer in Reykjavik, or discover even more of Iceland, please feel free to enquire about possible extensions to your tour.