1 week Iceland roundtrip in your own car
A short but very comprehensive tour, which involves quite a bit of driving: a total of 1450-1600 km. The route goes all around Iceland, mainly following the circle route, thus visiting many of the most spectacular sites of Iceland: the most of Iceland in the shortest possible time!
Day 1
After disembarking from Norröna, you drive from Seyðisfjörður to Egilsstaðir, making short stops at the waterfalls along the way. After a look around in Egilsstaðir, you can drive through Skriðdalur valley and over Breiðdalsheidi mountain pass, to Breiddalur valley, where the children at some of the farms sell colourful stones they have found in the mountains. Alternatively, you can drive along the east fjords, and make a stop on the way at the famous Petra Stone Museum. Then you drive further over winding roads, enjoying lovely views. You pass the tiny fishing village of Djúpivogur, from where the road continues to Höfn, a larger community and an important fisheries harbour. You stay overnight either in Djúpivogur or in the Höfn area.
Day 2
First you drive to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, where large icebergs float around. It's possible to make an optional boat-trip on the lagoon. Then, take some time to visit Skaftafell national park and walk to Svartifoss waterfall, (1½ hrs walk in total) before continuing along the south coast. You cross Skeiðarársandur, an outwash plain of black sand, at the foot of the glacier. Then you have the opportunity to stop at the tiny chapel of Núpsstaður and a bit further at the interesting basalt columns of Dverghamrar. Next you pass Kirkjubæjarklaustur village and then you cross Mýrdalssandur outwash plains until you come to the village of Vík. Close by it's possible (after 25 June and until mid-August) to drive up to Dyrhólaey cliff to see the puffins. Overnight is in this area.
Day 3
Visit Skógar folk museum and Skógafoss waterfall before continuing your tour along the south coast and make a visit to Seljalandsfoss, a lovely waterfall which is very special: you can walk behind it – if you don’t mind getting wet. But today you also visit Iceland's highlights: Gullfoss waterfall, which some people consider to be Iceland’s most beautiful, and the Geysir hot spring area with the famous spouting spring Strokkur as well as a great number of bubbling, steaming and boiling springs. Then you drive to Þingvellir national park, where the ancient outdoor parliament was founded in 930. This area is also very interesting from a geological point of view, since it’s situated on top of the mid-Atlantic ridge, where two earth crust plates slowly drift apart. Therefore, there are many fissures in the soil at Þingvellir. Overnight in the Selfoss area.
Day 4
In the morning, you drive to Reykjavík, where you can explore the city. If you fancy, it is possible to drive in the afternoon to the Blue Lagoon for a swim in the mineral-rich hot water. By the end of the afternoon, you drive into Borgarfjörður for overnight.
Day 5
Today, it's possible to visit Hraunfossar waterfalls, Reykholt village and Deildartunguhver hot spring. Then you continue to the north, past Grábrók crater (which you can climb to obtain a lovely view over the area) and over Holtavörðuheiði pass, which brings you to Húnavatnssýsla County. This area has quite a bit of agriculture and Skagafjörður County is famous for horse breeding. It’s possible to visit the Glaumbær torf farm museum. Continue over the impressive pass Öxnadalsheiði (550 m) to Akureyri, the most important town of the north. (290-390 km). Overnight in or close by Akureyri.
Day 6
Drive via Goðafoss waterfall to lake Mývatn, where you spend the rest of the day. At Skútustaðir, there are pseudo-craters. Dimmuborgir is a beautiful lava labyrinth with very strange lava formations, which provide shelter for the abundant vegetation. A walk is definitely indicated. Another visit is made to the Námaskarð solfataras, with their grey mud pools which are really cooking, the yellowish sulphur precipitations and the unforgettable smell. Also you can climb Mount Hverfjall or visit Grjótagjá – a small gorge which is filled with hot water, or Stóragjá, a similar phenomenon. Overnight in the Mývatn area. (250-300 km)
Day 7
Drive north along Tjörnes peninsula and make your first stop at Húsavík fishing village for a look at the picturesque harbour or, if you like, an optional whale watching trip. Then you continue to the horse-shoe-shaped gorge Ásbyrgi where you can take a short walk through a small but lovely forest. Next, you drive through Jökulsárgljúfur gorge, which is a national park. You can visit Hafragilsfoss waterfall and you shouldn’t miss Dettifoss, Iceland’s most powerful waterfall. After descending on foot along a rocky path to see the waterfall, you continue over Möðrudalsheiði highland plateau to the east. Finally you drive through Jökuldalur valley to Egilsstaðir, the most important town of east Iceland, for overnight. (280-300 km).
Day 8
In the morning you drive the 30 km back to Seyðisfjörður, to catch the ferry.
1 week Iceland roundtrip in your own car V2.0
A short but very comprehensive tour, which involves quite a bit of driving: a total of 1450-1600 km. The route goes to the most exciting spots in the highland and also includes the "musts" of Iceland. It is necessary to drive this program in a 4x4 drive car, and not the smallest types! This trip can be made from late July through August.
Day 1
After disembarking from Norröna, you drive from Seyðisfjörður to Egilsstaðir, making short stops at the waterfalls along the way. After a look around in Egilsstaðir, you drive through Skriðdalur valley and to Breiðdalsheidi mountain pass, where you have a choice: you can drive through Breiðdalur valley, where the children at some of the farms sell colourful stones they have found in the mountains. You can also opt for a more adventurous track that brings you straight to Berufjörður fjord. Then you drive along the eastern fjords over winding roads, enjoying lovely views. You pass the tiny village of Djúpivogur and from there you continue to Höfn, a larger community and an important fisheries harbour. You stay overnight in this area.
Day 2
First you drive to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, where large icebergs float around. It's possible to make an optional boat-trip on the lagoon. Then, take some time to visit Skaftafell national park and walk to Svartifoss waterfall, (1½ hrs walk in total) before continuing along the south coast. You cross Skeiðarársandur, an outwash plain of black sand, at the foot of the glacier. Then you have the opportunity to stop at the tiny chapel of Núpsstaður and a bit further at the interesting basalt columns of Dverghamrar. Next, you drive to Kirkjubæjarklaustur village where you stay overnight.
Day 3
Today the highland adventure begins, leaving civilisation for a while to visit Eldgjá gorge, where you can hike to the charming waterfall Ófærufoss. From there you continue over a rough track to Landmannalaugar, with its many hot springs and a nice warm river where you can bathe, all surrounded by very colourful mountains. You can go on a very nice hike in this area. Continue through Landssveit to the main road and from there to Reykjavík for overnight stay.
Day 4
Today you can spend a bit of time in the capital, and after that you visit Iceland's highlights, starting with a drive to Þingvellir national park, where the ancient outdoor parliament was founded in 930. This area is also very interesting from a geological point of view, since it's situated on top of the mid-Atlantic ridge, where two earth crust plates slowly drift apart. Therefore, there are many fissures in the soil at Þingvellir. Next you visit the Geysir hot spring area with the famous spouting spring Strokkur as well as a great number of bubbling, steaming and boiling springs. From there you continue to Gullfoss waterfall, which some people consider to be Iceland's most beautiful. Overnight in the area.
Day 5
Today you head north through the highlands, starting with some stops in Þjórsárdalur valley, to see the lovely twin waterfalls of Hjálp, and possibly the waterfall Háifoss, Iceland's second highest. Then your trip continues with a drive over Sprengisandur track, passing the power plants in the south, and driving between the glaciers Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull. You will have to cross two rather deep rivers, so it will be quite adventurous. Late in the afternoon you arrive in the Mývatn area, where you stay overnight.
Day 6
Today you can make your choice from the marvels of lake Myvatn and Jökulsá Canyon: at Mývatn there are the Námaskarð solfataras, Dimmuborgir lava labyrinth, and Skútustaðir pseudo-craters, and in the national park Jökulsa Canyon, you can visit Ásbyrgi gorge and Europe's most powerful waterfall Dettifoss.
Day 7
A long, but very rewarding day. You head east and after a while south, straight into the wilds, passing the table mountain Mt Herðubreid (1.682 m) on your way to Askja. A hike will bring you to Víti crater, where it is possible to descend on foot and bathe in the lukewarm water. From there you continue east to Egilsstaðir, where you arrive in the early evening. Overnight in Egilsstaðir.
Day 8
In the morning you drive the 30 km back to Seyðisfjörður, to catch the ferry. Note: driving outside official tracks is prohibited by law in Iceland because of damage to the environment. Driving through rivers is not covered by insurances.
