Iceland complete

Title: Iceland complete

Length : 15 days / 14 nights
From 950 to 2250 Euros per person

This is the complete Iceland self-drive tour indluding all the popular must-see spots as well as many of the island’s best kept secrets. Among these off the beaten track sites are the peninsulas of the fjords of the north-west and of Snæfellsnes that will delight both sea and bird lovers with their refreshing ocean air and breathtaking vistas! The length of the trip will give you the time to really appreciate the diversity of Iceland’s landscapes, whether they be marine, volcanic, glacial or desert. You’ll be amazed to discover that such a small country is home to so many natural marvels.
Trip available from May to September

Strengths:

- An Iceland self drive tour that includes the Snaefellsness peninsula and the north-western fjords
- 3 days devoted to discovering the fjords of the north-west
- A stopover on the enchanting Flatey Island (possible beginning in the end of May)
- An itinerary that includes stops in every one of Iceland’s National Parks

Summary:

Day 1 : Keflavik - Reykjavík. 50 km. 1h
Day 2 : Reykjavik - Thingvellir - Gulfoss. 160 km about 3h
Day 3 : Vik - Kirkjubæjarklaustur . 230 km about 4h
Day 4 : Skaftafell National Park – Jökulsarlon – Höfn. 260 km about 5h
Day 5 : Höfn – Álftafjördur – Djúpivogur – Egilsstadir. 260 km about 5h
Day 6 : Dettifoss – Jökulsárgljúfur - Mývatn. 300 km about 5h
Day 7 : Région de Myvatn. 60 km.
Day 8 : Godafoss – Akureyri - Skagafjördur. 220 km about 4h
Day 9 : Vatnsnes – Holmavik. 300 km about 5h
Day 10 : Baie d‘Isafjördur. 250 km about 4h30
Day 11 : Isafjördur – Dynjandi - Látrabjarg . 230 km about 4h
Day 12 : Látrabjarg – Flatey – Stykkishólmur. 120 km about 2h
Day 13 : Stykkishólmur – Snæfellsnes – Borgarnes. 200 km about 3h30
Day 14 : Reykholt – Hvalfjordur - Reykjavík . 200 km about 3h30
Day 15 : Reykjavik – Keflavik. 50km about 1 h

Friendly Advice:

- Book a whale watching tour from the picturesque fishing port of Húsavík on the northern coast
- At Holmavik, stop by the Riis café located in the town’s oldest house that is magnificently restored and hosts concerts in the summertime.
- From June to August, from Isafjordur you can visit Vigur island: an ornithological reserve home to large eider (seaduck) and puffin populations
- From June to August, discover Papey Island from the port of Djúpivogur where you’ll find puffins and seals at play
- In summer, with a 4WD vehicle or during a snowmobile excursion, you can approach the glacier volcano of Snæfellsjökull and soak in the view from here of the entire Snæfellsnes peninsula.

In most of the regions the itinerary takes you through, you’ll find guesthouses, farmhouses, countryside hotels, hostels, chalets and mountain huts. Only the region from Jökulsárlon to Skaftafell necessitates longer driving hours due to the limited availability of accommodations. The vast majority of Icelandic establishments are modest but clean and comfortable. Most of the guesthouses, farmhouses and hotels offer restoration. Meanwhile, keep in mind that we cannot guarantee specific accommodations before booking; however, your accommodations will fall under whichever category of establishment you choose. We recommend that you book as soon as possible in order to have to most choices when it comes to both the establishments themselves and the type of establishment you stay in.

There is also a camping option. With our voucher system, you’ll be able to camp when and where you want, giving you as much freedom as you want to adapt your itinerary based on the weather as well as your on location whims. This option is particularly interesting financially, but can not be undertaken outside of the summer months (from June to September). Remember that we will provide you with all the necessary equipment (tent, mattress, kitchen kits and coolers).
For people staying in mountain huts or in hostels, we also provide kitchen kits and coolers.

What's Included:

- Transfer to and from Keflavik International Airport and Reykjavík accommodations.
- 2 nights in Reykjavík in the double room of a guesthouse, with breakfast included.
- 12 nights in the countryside in a double room (private or shared), or in a campsite depending on your choice.
- Breakfasts included if staying in guesthouses, farmhouses or countryside hotels.
- A trip folder including road maps and a road-book describing your detailed day by day itinerary.
- 13 day rental of a category A vehicle, unlimited distance, 25.5% VAT, CDW insurance and second driver included.
- For the hostel, mountain hut and camping options: a stove for two, kitchen utensils, a cooler, a thermos, and a dishwashing kit.
- For the camping option: one tent for two and one floor mattress per person..
- A ferry crossing of the Breidarfjördur fjord

What's not Included:

- International flights in and out of Iceland, airport taxes and travel insurance
- Meals, drinks and personal expenses.
- Breakfasts in hostels, mountain huts or campsites.
- Fuel for your car.
- Optional visits and activities.
- Admission to sites that charge for visits.
- Super CDW insurance and gravel protection (SCDW) including excess liability charges.
- For the hostel, mountain hut and camping options: a sleeping bag available on site and ordered before your departure.

Price:

Prices per person. (calculations based on a two person trip with shared accommodations)
In guesthouses, farmhouses or countryside hotels, from May to September
- Bedrooms with a private bathroom: from 1900 Euros to 2250 Euros/pers. depending on the season
- Bedrooms without a private bathroom: from 1550 Euros to 1850 Euros/pers. depending on the season
In mountain huts or hostels, from May to September
- In shared or private rooms: from 1200 Euros to 1500 Euros/pers. depending on the season
Camping, from June to September
- With equipment provided: from 950 Euros to 1200 Euros/pers. depending on the season

4WD supplement with a category G vehicle: from 500 Euros to 700 Euros/pers. Depending on the season. Indispensable for access to non-coastal roads in summer.
Fixed price based on the number of people, the season and the category of car chosen

View Iceland Grand Circle in a larger map

Day 1: Keflavik - Reykjavík. 50 km. 1h
Arrival at Keflavik international airport. Greeting and transfer to Reykjavík. Settle into your accommodations. The rest of your night is at your leisure in the world’s northernmost capital.
Overnight in Reykjavík.

Day 2: Reykjavik - Thingvellir - Gulfoss. 160 km about 3h
Rental car pick up and departure towards Iceland’s famous golden circle, a marvellous introduction to the astonishing history and geology of the country. At Thingvellir, seat of Iceland’s first parliament, you’ll be able to observe the effects of oceanic rifting. At Geysir, the spouting of the Strokkur geyser will surprise even the most nonchalant of visitors. A few miles further, you’ll see the Gullfoss cascade where the Hvítá river has dug an impressive canyon.
Overnight in the Flúdir region.

Day 3: Skogar – Vik – Kirkjubæjarklaustur - 280 km about 4h
Discover the feet of the glacier volcanoes of Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull, nestled between black sand beaches, glacial lagoons, and bird covered cliffs against which the ocean waves crash powerfully. Stop in Skogar to visit its’ waterfall and museum and the in Vik to admire its’ puffin colonies.
Overnight in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur region.
In summer with the 4WD option only: Add a day to your trip to explore the natural reserve of Fjallabak which houses some of Iceland most spectacular and wildest sites, the Hekla volcano, the rift of Elgjá, and of course, the hot water river of Landmanalaugar, nested in mountains that geothermal activity has stained many colors over the years!

Day 4 : Skaftafell National Park – Jökulsarlon – Höfn. 260 km about 5h
Overnight in the Höfn region.
After having crosses the expanses of sand created by the eruptions of the volcano Vatnajokull, you’ll enter the Skaftafell Nation Park. Hike atop impressive glaciers and more expanses of volcanic sand until you reach the Svartifoss waterfall and its’ bizarre basaltic rock formations. Continue to the glacial lagoon of Jökulsárlón and its arctic atmosphere. Here, seals and arctic sterns play hide and seek amid the white black and blue icebergs, surrounded by snow-capped glaciers.

Day 5 : Höfn – Álftafjördur – Djúpivogur- Egilsstadir. 260 km about 5h
Discover the fjords of the east, an area that is still very much isolated and has preserved its’ strong regional character. Along a zigzagging road between mountain and sea, you’ll have a chance to see the seals of Lónsvík the swans of Álftafjördur bay, the the exhibit about Iceland’s French fishermen in Fáskrúdsfjördur, the mineral and rock collection of the Petra museum at Stödvarfjördur, or the charming port of Djúpivogur.
Overnight in the Egilsstadir region.

Day 6 : Dettifoss – Vatnajökull National Park - Mývatn. 300 km about 5h
Cross the deserted highlands of the northeast until you reach Dettifoss, the largest waterfall in Europe. The waterfall marks the entrance of the Vatnajökull National Park, Europe's biggest national park, covering 11% of Iceland's territory (http://www.vatnajokulsthjodgardur.is/english). After going around the Tjörnes peninsula, you’ll arrive in the port of Húsavík where you have the option of going on a whale watching excursion.
Overnight in the Mývatn region.
In summer with the 4WD option only: Before driving straight to Mývatn, discover the regions of Snæfell, Kverkfjöll and Askja. You’re at the heart of desert and volcanic plateaus, at the edge of the Vatnajökull glacier’s icecap.

Day 7 : Mývatn region. 60 km
Take your time to discover the surroundings of Myvatn Lake: pseudo-craters and explosive craters, recent lava runs, cauldrons of boiling mud…Optional swim in Mývatn’s thermal baths, and hikes in this surreal apocalyptic setting.
Overnight in the Mývatn region.

Day 8: Godafoss – Akureyri- Skagafjördur. 220 km about 4h
You’ll get back on the road heading west toward Godafoss falls and Akureyri, the «capital of the north», before finally arriving in the region of the Skagafjördur fjord by way of an ancient glacial valley. The bay here has a few islands among which, Drangey, the home of the famous thief Grettir who hid there for three years. Optional visit of the Glaumbær eco-museum, on a renovated 19th century farm.
Overnight in the Skagafjördur region
In summer with the 4WD option only:
Passing the Aldeyjarfoss cascade and the Laugafell source, foray into the Sprengisandur region’s central highlands, north of the Hofsjökull glacier.

Day 9: Vatnsnes – Holmavik. 300 km about 5h
A day of transit to reach the peninsula of the western fjords, kingdom of witchcraft and a region totally off the beaten path. Take a detour by the Vatnsnes region to check out its wild coast populated by seal colonies. At Hólmavík, visit the museum of Icelandic sorcery and witchcraft before going for a seaside midnight bath in the hotsprings of Drangsnes.
Overnight in the Hólmavík region.

Day 10: The Bay of Isafjördur. 250 km about 4h30
From fjord to fjord the road winds between jagged coasts and little beaches where seals come to be admired, at the foot of mountains dug out by glaciers millions of years ago. Upon your arrival in Ísafjördur, the region’s biggest town and a prosperous fishing port.
During the summer visits of Vigur Island are possible: you’ll cross the Ísafjardardúr fjord to get to this little island and its’ puffin and eider colonies.
Overnight in the Ísafjördur region.

Day 11: Isafjördur - Dynjandi - Látrabjarg. 230 km about 4h
Going from one fjord to the next, you follow the coast while going by mountain passes that form the skeleton of the fjords cut out by glaciers, relics of the last ice age. Stop at the Dynjandi falls and the Látrabjarg cliffs, the highest in Europe, for a distance of 15 km they tower over 400 meter above the sea. This is also the westernmost and most isolated spot in the country.
Overnight in the Látrabjarg region.

Day 12: Látrabjarg - Flatey - Stykkishólmur . 120 km about 2h
From the Látrabjarg peninsula, descend onto Raudisandur’s red beach. Not terribly easy to get to but the expanse of ochre sand populated by seal colonies is well-worth seeing before boarding the ferry on which you will cross the Breidarfjördur fjord. This is a breathtaking crossing with the Snaefellsjökull glacier volcano dominating the horizon.
Overngiht on Flatey island in the middle of the fjord or in the fishing village of Stykkishólmur, on the Snæfellsnes peninsula.

Day 13: Stykkishólmur – Snæfellsnes - Borgarnes. 200 km about 3h30
Spend a day touring the Snaefellsnes peninsula, a spectacular region of varied vistas. The road you will take follows sandy beaches and rocky coasts chewed up by the ocean at the foot of the Snaefellsjökull volcano’s snowy cone. One of the symbols of Iceland, Snaefellsjökull , was immortalized by Jules Vernes who sets the beginning of his ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth’ here.
Overnight in Borgarnes.
In summer with the 4WD option only: Get up close and personal with the 700,000 year old stratovolcano, Snæfellsjökull, that now has a glacier covering its summits. Here you can admire panoramic views over the entire peninsula.

Day 14: Reykholt – Hvalfjordur - Reykjavík. 200 km about 4h
Head south through the valley of Reykholt where you will find the hot water sources of Fromildartunguhver, the vastest in the world. Stop at the waterfalls of Hraunfossar and Barnafoss and drive back to the capital along the impressive Hvalfjördur, Icelandic for « whale fjord ».
Vehicle return and night accommodations in Reykjavík.
In summer with the 4WD option only: Choose to follow either the Kaldidalur road between the Reykholt and Thingvellir valleys along the bottom of the Langjökull glacier, ou bien la piste from Kjölur qui passe entre les glaciers Langjökull et Hofsjökull via les sources from Hveravellir.

Day 15: Reykjavik – Keflavik. 50km about 1 h
Transfer to Keflavik international airport.