Free Whale Watching trip from Reykjavik if you book this Self Drive Tour with arrival between 01 May and 31 August!.
For a
limited time only! Read more about this offer here.
This package holiday to Iceland takes you around Iceland in one week. It offers an amazing variety of places to visit (glaciers, waterfalls and hot springs) with views of volcanos including the famous Eyjafjallajökull. A trip during which you will experience the unique landscapes of this mysterious island, from lavafields to woodland, from mountains and moors to bird-cliffs and tranquil bays. Visit unique places such as Lake Myvatn, Egilsstadir, Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon, Skaftafell National Park, Geysir hot spring area, waterfall Gullfoss, Thingvellir National Park, The blue lagoon, and many more.
Day 1: Arrival in Keflavík - drive to Reykjavik (Driving distance approx. 50 km)
Arrival at Keflavik Airport. Pick-up of rented vehicle and drive to Reykjavik for your first night’s stay in Iceland.
Depending on your arrival time, we recommend that you make a stop at the famous Blue Lagoon on the way and have a swim in the geothermal warm water.
Day 2: Reykjavik - Thingvellir - Reykholt (Driving distance approx. 240 km)
Today you will be visiting some of the most interesting and famous sights of Iceland. Your first stop should be at
Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site, and one of the geological wonders of the world. At Thingvellir you can see the effects of the tectonic plate movements which have opened various cracks and fissures in the earth’s crust, and it was here that the Icelandic Parliament was founded in the 10th century. Take time to walk around in the unique landscape of Thingvellir.
Continue to discover an interesting area, rich with cultural and historical heritage Borgarfjörður. To reach
Borgarfjörður you can take the tunnel under Hvalfjörður. Hvalfjörður (‘whale fjord’) was an important naval station for the Allies during World War II. There was also a whaling station there until 1986. In Borgarfjörður you must visit the splendid waterfalls of Hraunfossar, where the water flows out of the lava into the river below, Reykholt, where the 13th century author Snorri Sturluson lived, and Deildartunguhver, Iceland’s largest hot spring (in terms of water production per second).
Highlights of this day: Thingvellir National Park, Waterfall Hraunfossar, Reykholt, Deildartunguhver.
Day 3: Reykholt - Laugar/Husavik area (Driving distance approx. 300-400 km)
Driving on the main road (the ‘Ring Road’, No. 1) heading to Akureyri, be sure to make a stop in the Skagafjörður region. This area is known for horse breeding and many Icelandic horses can be seen grazing in the fields of the Skagafjördur valley. Just before arriving at the village of Varmahlíð you can make a stop at Vídimýri church, a small traditional turf church. Then, you can make your way just north of Varmahlíð to visit the Glaumbær museum, which is one of the best preserved turf farmhouses in Iceland.
Heading towards Eyjafjorður fjord, the road takes you through the deep valleys of North Iceland before you arrive in Akureyri. You could take time to visit its beautiful church and botanical gardens or shop at leisure. Continue towards Lake Myvatn. On the way you will have the opportunity to take a look at the picturesque Godafoss waterfall “the waterfall of the pagan gods”.
Overnight in Laugar/Husavik area.
Highlights of this day: Skagafjörður, Glaumbær museum, Akureyri, Waterfall Godafoss, Lake Myvatn.
Day 4: Laugar/Husavik - Egilsstadir area (Driving distance approx. 200 - 250 km)
Lake Myvatn deserves its reputation as one of Iceland’s most fascinating areas of natural beauty. Its abundant bird life, incredible variety of volcanic formations and geothermal activity and wealth of walking trails make it a particularly rewarding place for visitors.
Take a walk through the Dimmuborgir lava formations and stop to see th Skuetustaðir pseudo craters. You should also visit the boiling mud pools and steam vents of Námaskarð, and then the Krafla area, where a series of volcanic eruptions took place from 1975 - 1984.
Continue your drive through the the lunar landscape of Mödrudalur highlands until you reach the fertile valley of Hérað where the village of Egilsstadir lies.
Overnight in the Egilsstadir area.
Highlights of this day: Lake Myvatn, Skútustaðir, lava formations of Dimmuborgir, Námskarð, Krafla area, Egilsstadir.
Day 5: Egilsstadir - East Fjords - Höfn (Driving distance approx. 320-370 km)
Now it is time to discover the East Fjords. Follow the main road (No. 1) to Reydarfjörður. There you can make a stop in the village of Reyðarfjörður where there is a small history museum on World War II. From there you can continue through the new tunnel to Fáskrúdsfjordur or take the more panoramic route, the old road along the coast. In Stödvarfjördur there is an interesting place you can visit: Petra’s stone collection, a private collection which includes most of the Icelandic minerals.
As you continue you might want to make a stop in the village of Djúpivogur, located in a charming setting. Now you continue along the fjords towards Southeast Iceland; at times the road hangs precariously high on the mountain slopes. Finally you drive through the tunnel of Almannaskard to arrive in the Höfn town.
After passing various outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice cap, you will arrive at the Glacial Lagoon, Jokulsarlon, an exceptional sight at the foot of Iceland’s highest mountain, Hvannadalshnúkur. You can walk along the banks of the lagoon or take a 30-40 min. boat trip to admire the fantastically-shaped icebergs of different shapes and sizes that are constantly breaking off the icecap and drifting towards the sea nearby.
Overnight in the Jökulsárlón/Skaftafell area.
Highlights of this day: East Fjords, Petra´s stone collection, Djúpivogur, Almannaskarð, Höfn, Glacial Lagoon.
Day 6: Höfn - South Coast - Hella (Driving distance approx. 230 -280 km)
Skaftafell National Park is another site worthy of your attention. Then the road takes you across the immense black sand plain of Skeiðarársandur, through the village of
Kirkjubæjarklaustur, the Eldhraun lava field and the Mýrdalssandur sandflats to the village of Vík. We reccomend you stop at Reynisfjara beach; a black sand beach famous for the Reynisdrangar rock stacks that rise from the sea just off the shore and for its basalt columns. You can also stop at Dyrholaey cape, which is the southern most point of Iceland.
Continue westbound; the village of Skogar is the next place of interest with its beautiful waterfall and the local folk museum. As you continue towards Hella you can stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall, where you can actually walk behind the waterfall. You then follow the main road to arrive in Hella for your overnight stay.
Overnight in Hella area.
Highlights of this day: Skaftafell National Park, Eldhraun lava field, Vík, Reynisfjara black sand beach, Dyrhólaey, Skógar museum, Waterfall Skógarfoss, Waterfall Seljalandsfoss.
Day 7: Golden Circle - Reykjavik 
(Driving distance approx. 220 km)
Now it is time to visit some of the most interesting and famous sites of Iceland. On the way you can stop at Kerid, a volcano crater and lake, and Skálholt church. Continue to the famous geothermal site of Geysir where the hot spring Strokkur ejects its water column high into the air every 5–10 minutes and where numerous small springs boil and bubble.
After this you only have a short drive to reach Gullfoss, surely the country’s most famous waterfall. Then you drive back through the Geysir site towards Lake Laugarvatn. Continue to Reykjavik.
Overnight in Reykjavík.
Highlights of this day: Geysir hot spring, Waterfall Gullfoss.
Day 8: Departure
Drive back to Keflavik airport for your flight back home.
Or book an extra night in Reykjavík, the vibrant capital of Iceland!
Reykjavík is Iceland’s largest city and often called the capital of the north because of its location. With only approximately four hours of daylight in the wintertime, the city has a mysterious yet dynamic atmosphere, while in summer it is bustling and full of energy, with almost 24 hours of daylight!
Reykjavik offers a wide range of sights to visit and lots of activities.
Among the things you can visit in Reykjavík are the old city centre where you can walk by the lake, Tjörnin, visit the Town Hall, and walk around the Austurvöllur square,
where the Parliament building stands, and down to the harbour. You can stroll along the main street, Laugavegur to have a look at the shops and the art galleries and find a restaurant or a café to your liking. Do not miss the church Hallgrímskirkja or the dome Perlan, a modern building from where you have a panoramic view over the whole city. It is also possible to go to the Laugardalur valley for a swim in the outdoor thermal pool or a walk in the botanical gardens.
There are several museums worth visiting in Reykjavík, for example the National Museum of Iceland near the University, the National Gallery of Iceland and the Reykjavík Art Gallery (includes 3 different collections).
A whale-watching tour from Reykjavik harbour is a wonderful experience: a trip out to sea to look at whales and dolphins in their natural habitat.
An interesting half-day excursion from Reykjavik could be to the Reykjanes Peninsula, taking you to the geothermal springs in Krýsuvík. If you did not stop at the Blue Lagoon on Day 1, the highlight of the tour on your way back would then be a visit to the famous Blue Lagoon for a relaxing swim in the geothermal water. Approx. 120 km round trip.
Type of accommodation
Comfort
Rooms with private facilities. Comfort accommodation may be in country hotels, farmhouses or guesthouses. Most of the facilities booked by Iceland Tours offer dinner during the summer time. Breakfast included.
Car Rental details
| Car Group |
Car type example |
Example |
A
|
Toyota Yaris, Polo or Similar
Manual/ Automatic
|
|
B
|
Toyota Auris or similar
Manual
|
|
T
|
Toyota Verso Station or similar
Manual
|
 |
F
|
Suzuki Grand Vitara 4WD or similar
Manual
|
|
I
|
Toyota Land Cruiser GX 4WD AUTO or similar
Automatic
|
 |
Included
• Rental car of your choice with unlimited mileage, CDW and VAT for 7 days
• Accommodation comfort for 7 nights with Continental breakfast
• Map of Iceland and detailed itinerary
• 24-hour emergency service
• Taxes and service fee
Not included
Do you have any questions about this tour? Contact us
here.