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Magical West

6 Days / 10 locations in Iceland

Our self-drive holidays with fixed dates offer pre-booked accommodations on certain days; all there is left to do is to choose a car and start looking forward to an adventure in Iceland!

These comfortably-paced trips also have the benefit of being confirmed in one business day, along with knowing at the time of booking what hotels you will be using.

With a focus on West Iceland, this six day tour boasts beautiful landscape, lush valleys, coastal scenery, snow-capped glaciers and two of Iceland’s national parks. A visit here gives you a very thorough experience of what makes Iceland special. It’s a region rich in history, as you can walk in the places where famous Vikings lived. You’ll also discover interesting folk tales and legends inspired by the landscape.

You´ll enjoy a comfortable traveling pace and a chance to visit friendly farms as well as the famous Golden Circle natural wonders.

Itinerary

 
Day 1     Keflavik

Approximate distance: ca30km / 19miles

Volcanic Wonderland – UNESCO Geopark – Viking Heritage – Blue Lagoon

Pick up the car at the airport and drive to the Geohotel in charming Grindavík village (about 25 – 30 minute drive from the airport). Check in to your hotel.

If you are arriving on a morning flight, you are in a fantastic part of Iceland to explore and enjoy. The Reykjanes peninsula area is an ideal introduction to Iceland´s volcanic personality. The region has been designated a UNESCO Geopark for its otherworldly and beautiful volcanic features. There are 55 points of interest in the area. Some of these include Krýsuvík, a primoridial geothermal area of bubbling earth and steam, and the Midatlantic Ridge that the divides the North American and European tectonic plates.

Experience the area´s terrain on an ATV tour between lava and mountains and along the sea. Try whale watching or sailing. Visit the Viking World museum and discover Norse history and the famous Íslendingur Viking ship at that sailed to North America in 2000. Other area activities include birdwatching, hiking and playing golf in Sandgerði, on the edge of the ocean.

Or take a scenic drive through the area, visiting Geopark sites and enjoying seafood in charming village restaurants.

Of course, a very important place to visit in this area is the relaxing Blue Lagoon, which is a short drive from your hotel. The soothing geothermal mineral waters are perfect for your skin, and it´s a great way to shake off jetlag! (Important: if you plan to visit the Blue Lagoon, admission must be booked in advance. Iceland Travel can assist you with this.

Overnight stay in the Reykjanes area (Geo Hotel, Grindavík or similar)

 
Day 2     Thingvellir - Gullfoss Waterfall
Meals: Breakfast

Approximate distance: ca215km / 134miles

Thundering Waves – Magical Church – Viking Horses – Golden Falls – Spouting Geysers

Breakfast at your hotel. Start with a drive along a scenic road taking you by thundering waves and the mysterious mountains surrounding Lake Kleifarvatn. Stop at Strandakirkja, a lovely old church, Local legends have it that the church provides good fortune and success to those in need of it. The road takes you into the green farmlands and coasts of South Iceland. Your ultimate destination is the Golden Circle region. Visit Gullfoss, the Queen of Waterfalls. Nearby is the Geysir Geothermal area, where hot springs bubble and even shoot into the air. Most famous of these is Strokkur, which erupts like clockwork. Maybe you´ll opt to bathe in one of the local favorite hot spring pools of the area. These include the Secret Lagoon in Fludir, or the Fontana Steambaths in Laugarvatn.

Overnight in the Geysir region.

 
Day 3     Thingvellir - Borgarnes
Meals: Breakfast

Approximate distance: ca250km / 155miles

Historical and Geographical park – Saga history town – Viking Homestead

Breakfast at your hotel. Thingvellir National Park (UNESCO) provides a visually stunning lesson in plate tectonics and is a historical treasure as the site of the world's oldest parliament.

A drive along scenic Hvalfjörður (Whale) Fjord reveals Bjarteyjarsandur, a working horse and sheep farm where you may choose to stop for a friendly visit or even participate in fun farm activities. Driving further into West Iceland brings you to Borgarnes known for Iceland's beloved Sagas where you can go on a voyage of discovery at the Settlement Center which uses the Sagas to explore the history of Iceland's early settlement by Nordic Vikings.

Take the scenic route towards Budardalur village, a village that dates back to Iceland‘s Viking settlement. At the nearby Erpsstadir dairy farm you can stop for an introduction to Icelandic farm life and taste the freshly made ice cream.

If you continue to Eiriksstadir, you'll see the Viking Age home and turf-covered replica longhouse of Erik the Red and birthplace of his son Leif Eiriksson, two of the most celebrated Vikings in the world. In this area you can also visit the rocky outcrop said to be a cathedral to elves and other supernatural creatures. In the evening, when the sun hits it just right, it takes on its own strange glow.

Overnight at the Hotel Edda Laugar in Saelingsdalur or similar

 
Day 4     Snaefellsnes Peninsula - Stykkisholmur
Meals: Breakfast

Approximate distance: ca220km / 137miles

Pebbled beaches – Shark Museum – Bay of a Thousand Islands

Breakfast at your hotel. Continuing north, head onto the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, also known as “Iceland in a Nutshell“ for its compact combination of the different types of landscapes that represent Iceland. This peninsula is also rich in Icelandic history and folklore. Snæfellsjokull National Park, the only coastal national park in the country, makes up the Western edge of the peninsula. The park is named after the volcanic glacier that towers over the peninsula. A benevolent half-troll spirit is said to guard the area from the top of the mountain. The mountain has a reputation internationally as a place of healing energy. Science fiction fans may know Snaefellskökull from Jules Vernes‘ novel Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

Enjoy exploring the fantastic landscapes, birdlife and historical sites in Iceland´s oldest national park.

Explore Stykkisholmur with its beautifully preserved town center. From here, you can take a boat tour through Breiðafjörður bay with its jawdropping seascapes and thousands of tiny islands dotting the area.

Many visitors to this area like to visit the Shark Museum at Bjarnarhofn for a courageous taste of 'rotten' shark meat, a local delicacy, and a fascinating lesson on shark fishing

Explore pebbled beaches to bizarrely-shaped sea cliffs with incredible birdlife. Keep an eye out for Kirkjufell (the Church Mountain), a popular landmark for photographers.

Overnight at Hotel Hellnar.

 
Day 5     Borgarfjordur - Reykholt - Hvalfjordur - Reykjavik
Meals: Breakfast

Approximate distance: ca330km / 205miles

Picturesque Waterfalls – Europe's Most Powerful Hot Spring- Home of Medevial Saga AuthorBreakfast at your hotel. A drive through Borgarfjordur reveals a region proud of its legacy, serving as the setting for most of the Icelandic Sagas with the landscape, nature and culture reflecting this heritage and bringing history to life. While in Reykholt you'll be walking in the footsteps of Snorri Sturluson, famed Saga poet and author.

A drive further reveals two adjacent waterfalls, each with very different characteristics. At Hraunfoss (Lava Falls) the water seems to magically appear from the moss covered lava rocks and shiver down into the rushing turquoise blue waters below, while Barnafoss (Children's Falls) resembles a pale blue milkshake of short, fierce rapids that cut through a narrow canyon.

Nearby is Europe's most powerful hot spring, Deildatunguhver, where visitors can by organic tomatoes grown using geothermal heat in the nearby greenhouses.

On your way back we recommend a short detour to Háafell goat farm, that is proud to protect the Icelandic goat stock. You can play your part in the protection and adopt one of their goats for a one year support or longer.

Head to Reykjavík in the afternoon. Overnight at hotel in Hafnarfjörður or Reykjavik.

 
Day 6     Reykjavik
Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at your hotel. Drive back to Keflavik International Airport, Drop off your car at the airport. We recommend departing Reykjavik no later than 3 hours before your flight

If your flight is in the afternoon, one more car rental day will be added.

 
Price Includes
Accommodations
Daily Breakfast
Rental Car, Cat. 2 With Unlimited Mileage; 5 Days Rental
Detailed Road Map & Gps System; Cdw
Emergency Phone Line Open 24 Hours
Price Does Not Include
 Optional Excursions
 Air
IT$-1269
1.28.15.WP26