Iceland Full Circle

Today is the day for visiting some of Iceland’s most famous and interesting attractions. First stop is UNESCO World Heritage site Thingvellir National Park, where both the history and the geology are fascinating.

Continue on to the famous geothermic area of Geysir, where Strokkur, Iceland’s most active geyser, spurts its majestic column of water into the sky every 5-7 minutes. Close to Thingvellir national park is the majestic Gullfoss waterfall, ”The Golden Waterfall”, by many regarded the most beautiful in Iceland.

Travel south and along the Southern coast until you get to the waterfalls Seljalandfoss and Skógarfoss, two stops not to be missed. You can walk behind the curtain of water at Seljalandsfoss, and at Skógar you can also find an interesting museum on the history of Iceland. Drive on towards the town of Vik for your overnight stay in the area of Skogar/Vik.

If there is time in the afternoon you can visit the beautiful cliffs of Dyrhólaey, richly populated by migrating puffin birds from springtime to the middle of August, but Dyrhólaey is well worth a visit outside the puffin season too.

From Vik you drive over the Mýrdalssandur plain and pass the lave field Eldhraun. Continue you journey over the magnificent river delta Skeidarársandur, where you get an excellent view of Europe’s larger glacier Vatnajökull. You can see the results of volcanic outbreaks beneath Vatnajökull, creating glacial rivers that have taken everything in their path with them.

Make a stop at the glacial lagoon Jökulsárlón at the foot of the glacier. Icebergs released from the glacier float in the lagoon, creating an almost magical atmosphere. It is possible to take a short boat trip on the lagoon amongst the icebergs (additional fee). Continue onto to Höfn for your overnight stay.

The journey continues north along the Eastern fjords, passing fishing villages and steep mountainsides along the way. Drive through the Almannaskarð pass to the towns Djúpivogur and Breiðdalsvík.

When you get to Stöðvarfjörður you can visit a well-known and interesting exhibition of rocks assembled by one lady during her lifetime in Iceland. Overnight stay in the Egilsstaðir area.

Drive through the desert-like highlands of Möðrudalur in the morning to reach Iceland’s most powerful waterfall Dettifoss, with a fall height of 44 metres. Continue on to Ásbyrgi, an escarpment shaped as a horseshoe, believed to be the hoof print of Odin’s house Sleipner. From there you drive along the beautiful coastal roads on the Tjörnes peninsula until you reach the charming fishing village of Húsavík, where you stay overnight in the area of Húsavík/Mývatn.

Spend the day in the nature reserve surrounding Mývatn Lake, one of Iceland’s most fascinating areas. Fantastical volcanic rock formations, geothermic activity and the lake itself with its varying surrounding flora and fauna await you.

Options here include visiting the twisted lava formations of Dimmuborgir, exploring the volcanic craters of Skútustaðir, or visiting the volcano itself, Krafla, which had an outbreak as late as 1984.

There is also an outdoor natural lagoon reminiscent of the famous Blue Lagoon in the area, well worth a visit to relax after the active day. From Mývatn drive north to Varmahlíð, passing the Goðafoss waterfall and Akureyri, Iceland’s second largest city. Overnight stay in the area around Varmahlíð.

Continue along road no 1 over the Holtavörðurheiði pass towards the south west of Iceland and Reykjavík. In Borgafjörður you pass the beautiful Hraunfossar waterfall, and then drive through Reykholt where the Norse author Snorre Sturlasson lived and worked. Iceland’s largest hot spring Deildartunguhver is also located in Reykholt.

On the last stretch towards Reykjavík you can choose between to routes. Either drive through the tunnel Hvalfjörður, or along the fjord by the same way. In Hvalfjörður (The Whale fjord) there was an important American marine base during the Second World War.

Once settled in Reykjavík you can stroll around and enjoy great restaurants, cafes and shops. For the culturally inclined there are several excellent museums. If you wish to make a night of it, spend the evening in a welcoming bar, pub or strutting your stuff on a dance floor. Overnight stay in Reykjavík.

Return flights either early in the morning or in the afternoon. Drive from Reykjavík to Keflavík airport (approx. 45 mins) and leave the car there in connection with your return flight.