Iceland Self-Drive Tour

Circle the island and visit four National Parks: Thingvellir, Skaftafell, Jokulsargljufur and Snafellsnes.

Itinerary

Arrival at Keflavik airport and pick up of travel documents. Transfer with Flybus to hotel in Reykjavik.

Today's highlights are many including Thingvellir National Park a place of great geological and historical interest, the spectacular Gullfoss waterfall and Geysir hot-spring area. Drive onwards towards the south shore for an overnight stay.

Drive along the spectacular south coast, viewing highlights such as Seljalandsfoss and Skagafoss waterfalls, Myrdalsjokull glacier, Dyrholaey and the black sands of Vik. Drive over Eldhraun and onwards to Kirkjubaejarklaustur

Optional: Snow scooter tour on Myrdalsjokull glacier, Boat tour from Vik, Skogar folk museum.

Kirkjubaejarklaustur is a picturesque village and former site of a 12th-century Catholic convent. Continue to Skaftafell National Park, a green oasis nestling below the great Vatnajokull glacier. Skaftafell offers many hiking possibilities, such as a short walk to the glacier tongue of Mosarjokull or walking in the Icelandic vegetation to the spectacular waterfall of Svartifoss surrounded by basaltic rock formations

Visit the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon with its shimmering icebergs and still, milky waters. Drive north through the spectacular East Fjords, where towering, terraced mountains plunge vertically into the ocean and on to Egilsstadir the largest town in East Iceland.

Optional: Jeep tour to Vatnajokull glacier, Boat tour on Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon, Boat tour to Papey island, Petra's stone collection

Explore Egilsstadir and its surroundings. Visit Hallormsstadur the largest forest plantation in Iceland set along the Lagarfljot lake, which according to legend contains a monster. An option is also to drive to the remote and beautiful area of Borgarfjordur Eystri and its small town Bakkagerdi, with approximately 150 inhabitants.

Optional: Bout tour on Lagarfljot lake.

Travel across the Modrudalsoraefi highlands renowned for their stark beauty towards Dettifoss, Europe's mightiest waterfall. Visit the magnificent horseshoe-shaped canyon Asbyrgi. Onwards to Tjornes peninsula and Husavik fishing port.

Optional: Whale watching from Husavik.

Explore highlights of the Lake Myvatn area, such as the strange volcanic formations at Dimmuborgir, the pseudocraters at Skutustadir, the colorful sulfurous slopes of Namaskard and Krafla volcano.

Drive on to Godafoss waterfall and to the town of Akureyri . Due to its excellent natural harbor and good accessibility, Akureyri has become the northern center of education, culture, trade and industry. Continue through the historical region of Skagafjordur renowned for horsebreeding.

Optional: Glaumb�r museum, horse riding in Skagafj�r�ur

Explore Dalir, the region of Eric the Red, before continuing to Snafellsnes peninsula with its countless wonders. Towering over the peninsula is the mystical Snafellsjokull glacier appearing in the science fiction novel by Jules Verne Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Drive around the mystical Snafellsjokull today, visit the Arnarstapi seacliffs with their varied birdlife, the beautiful coast at Budir and the rocky beach of Djupalonssandur. Return to Stykkisholmur for the overnight stay.

Optional: Boat tour from Stykkisholmur

Leaving the peninsula pass the magnificent Eldborg crater towards the agricultural region of Borgarfjordur where it is possible to visit such highlights as Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls, Reykholt and the hot spring Deildartunguhver.

Departure by flybus after breakfast.

Notes