Iceland Full Circle Tour: 14 Days

Welcome to Iceland! After landing at Keflavík International airport, you will be transferred to your accommodation in the city center. On your way to Reykjavík, you will see endless lava fields and moon-like landscapes. After you have checked into your accommodation, you can explore some landmarks of the city like the Perlan building, Hallgrímskirkja Church and Harpa – Music & Conference Centre. In the evening, the restaurants of Reykjavík will welcome you and afterwards, the bars are open until 1:00am during weekdays and 04:00am at the weekend. Overnight in the heart of Reykjavík.

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Today your Iceland travel begins for real! Pick up your rental car in the morning and start your day by driving to Þingvellir National Park. Þingvellir, because of its beauty and its geological and historical value, was accepted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. This is the site where the Vikings first assembled in ancient times. After exploring the treasures of the park, head south to see Geysir Spouting Spring and Gullfoss waterfall to complete the “Golden Circle”. Enjoy the afternoon seeing the sizzling hot springs and geysers and the force of the great waterfall. Drive to the south coast, where you will find your accommodation in the area.

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Today you will head to the famous Skaftafell National Park. After breakfast at your accommodation, drive east to the picturesque waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. Above the waterfalls, you can get a glimpse of Eyjafjallajökull where the great volcanic eruption took place in 2010. Today you could go on optional buggy tour or glacier hike on a nearby glacier. Drive along the south shore to Dyrhólaey natural reserve where you can find one of the best seabird colonies in Iceland. Dyrhólaey is a 120-meter-high headland into the sea and there are several hiking paths to choose from. You stay the night close to Vík and we recommend an evening walk at the black beach of Vík.

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Spend the day in Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park where you’ll find many interesting hiking trails, including one to the waterfall Svartifoss, which drops from the edge of a wide cliff of basalt columns. Stop at Svínafellsjökull glacier fall, where the opening scene of Batman Begins was filmed and head east to the glacial lagoon Jökulsárlón that comes from the roots of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier. Here you can take an optional boat tour where you will sail between the icebergs while the local guides tell you the story about this great phenomenon. You stay the night close to Höfn.

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Time to travel the tranquil and beautiful Eastfjords of Iceland. After passing Djúpivogur, you will explore the East Coast of Iceland. Travel through tranquil coastal villages towards the largest village in the east, Egilsstaðir. Near Egilsstaðir, there is a small forest called Hallormsstaðaskógur. In the ancient times, it was believed that a large worm-monster lived in the lake by the forest, our very own Loch Ness monster. Maybe you will manage to snap a photo of it! Stay the night in Egilsstaðir (the “Capital of the East”).

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Today you will drive to the amazing and almost surreal Mývatn area. We recommend that you take the Dettifoss Road and explore Dettifoss Waterfall (the most powerful in Europe), Hljóðaklettar Cliffs and Ásbyrgi Canyon. After that drive to Húsavík, where you can take an optional whale watching tour before continuing to Lake Mývatn. Around the Mývatn area, you will find amazing attractions such as the colourful Námaskarð pass, the Skútustaðir pseudo craters, the Dimmuborgir lava formations, Krafla volcano and the Natural Baths of Mývatn. Stay the night around lake Mývatn or Húsavík.

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Start the day early by exploring the sights around Lake Mývatn before driving to Akureyri. On your way to Akureyri (the “Capital of the North”) stop and enjoy the charming Goðafoss waterfall. In Akureyri, we recommend that you visit the Botanical Garden, an oasis in the heart of this charming town. Also recommended is the Akureyri Church, situated on a hilltop overlooking the center of the town. After a full day of sightseeing, it’s always popular to spend the afternoon in the town’s outdoor geothermal swimming pool & Water Park. Overnight in or around Akureyri/Skagafjörður.

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As you continue your travel in Iceland, drive from Akureyri to Hólmavík. Pass fertile farmland and barren mountain roads. On the way, you can stop in Skagafjörður for a riding tour on an Icelandic horse or enjoy a thrilling river rafting adventure on a glacial river. We recommend a visit to Vatnsnes peninsula where you will find the rock formation Hvítserkur and can watch seals in their natural habitat. The Icelandic Seal Center at Hvammstangi offers educational exhibition on seals and gives information to people seal watching in Vatnsnes peninsula. You stay the night around Hólmavík.

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Today you can visit some of the most remote areas of Iceland. You can drive in the morning to the remote region of Strandir until the road ends. There you’ll find Djúpavík – a remote place untouched by modern developments and where silence reigns over an abandoned herring processing factory. Near the end of the road, you’ll find Krossneslaug. Please note that the drive from Hólmavik to Krossneslaug is quite far (2,5 hours one way). Hólmavík is the gateway to the Strandir region which was well known for the inhabitants’ knowledge of black magic and as a safe haven for criminals. Here you will find the Icelandic Museum of Witchcraft and Sorcery. Drangsnes is a paradise for bird watchers, especially in spring and early summer. Continue to Ísafjörður, the largest town of the Westfjords (2.600 inhabitants). Fishing has been the main industry in Ísafjörður, and the town has one of the largest fisheries in Iceland. The drive from Hólmavík to Ísafjörður is about 2,5 hours (220 km). In the small town Súðavík you can make a stop at Melrakkasetrið, a visitor- and research centre for the only original Icelandic mammal, the Artic fox. If you’re lucky you might even get to see a cub. Spend the night in a quiet fishing village.

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Today you drive from Ísafjörður to Patreksfjörður. On the way, you will pass through the tiny villages of Þingeyri, Tálknafjörður, and Bíldudalur. Continue to the Arnarfjörður where you’ll find Dynjandi, one of Iceland’s most spectacular waterfalls. You will also visit the amazing Látrabjarg cliff. With a 444-meter vertical drop and 14 kilometers length, it’s the most awe-inspiring bird cliff in Iceland and the westernmost point of Europe. You stay the night around Patreksfjörður.

Today you will visit the mystical and powerful Snæfellsnes peninsula. In the morning you take the ferry to Stykkishólmur, a nice fishing town. Explore places such as Sönghellir cave, the spectacular Hellnar cove and the perfectly cone-shaped mountain Kirkjufell. As you drive around the peninsula you can visit the peaceful and lovely coastal villages found along the tip and north side of the peninsula. Stay overnight on Snæfellsnes peninsula.

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After exploring the Snæfellsnes peninsula it is time to continue to Reykjavík. Sights along the way are the volcanic crater Grábrók, Barnafoss and Hraunfossar waterfalls, Deildartunguhver (the largest hot spring in Europe) and the settlement center in Borgarnes. Once heading back to Reykjavík, you can either take the scenic Hvalfjörður route where you can stop and hike up to the famous Glymur waterfall or if you want to return directly to Reykjavík take the Route 1 underwater tunnel. Drop off your car in the evening and stay the night in central Reykjavík.

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Enjoy a full free day in the vibrant and lively capital city, you’ve earned it! Go shopping or sightseeing or simply relax at a nice cafe or in one of many outdoor swimming pools that are to be found within the city limits. Visit some of the major landmarks of Reykjavík, such as the Hallgrímskirkja church, Perlan museum, the Solar Voyager sculpture or Harpa – Music & Conference Centre. In the evening, we recommend that you award yourself with a gourmet dinner at one of many high-quality restaurants in the city. In the later hours, explore the world-famous nightlife of Reykjavík. Stay at the same accommodation as the night before

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Your Iceland travel is coming to an end. How time flies when you’re having fun. You will be picked up from your accommodation and transferred to Keflavík airport, in time for your departing flight. If you are leaving in the afternoon, you can visit the Blue Lagoon on your way to Keflavík Airport (optional). Soak in the restorative waters of the lagoon that is situated in the middle of a lava field. Your luggage will be kept safe while you are relaxing in the lagoon. After that you will be dropped off at Keflavík International Airport. Have a safe journey home!

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