Iceland Circle, Snæfellsnes Peninsula and Northern Lights 10 days

AVAILABLE:
September 15 to April 16

DURATION:
10 days / 9 nights

CAR RENTAL DAYS:
8 Days

DEPARTURES:
Daily

TOUR ID:
BP40

• Private airport transfer on arrival day
• 9 nights accommodation, in the accommodation category of your choice.
• Breakfast daily
• Rental car of your choice for 8 days including unlimited mileage, CDW and more.
• Two authorized drivers.
• Unlimited WiFi with the rental car
• Detailed itinerary and road map of Iceland with the route and accommodations marked in.
• Private airport transfer on departure day
• 24 hour Emergency telephone service.
• Taxes and service fees.

• Fuel expense and parking fees.
• Personal travel insurance.
• Flights to and from Iceland
• Anything not specifically stated in Included.

Day 1. Arrival

Upon your arrival at Keflavik airport, you will be met by your private driver who will take you to your accommodation in Reykjavik. You will be free for the rest of the day to explore Reykjavik, visit museums, landmarks etc. Downtown Reykjavík offers excellent restaurants, cafés, bars and clubs. You might want to join an optional tour if you arrive early. You can visit one of the many Reykjavík’s excellent restaurants for dinner.

Highlights of the day:
Reykjavík
Perlan
Hallgrímskirkja Church
Laugavegur Shopping Streat
Gamla Höfnin (The Old Harbour)
Harpa Concert Hall

Overnight:
Reykjavík

Optional activity:
Reykjavik City Card
Reykjavik Food Tour

Day 2. The Scenic South Coast

Pick up the car in the morning and leave Reykjavik. Cross the plateau Hellisheiði, with a lot of geothermal activity and plumes of steam rising from the ground. Stop at the waterfall Seljalandsfoss where it is possible to walk behind the waterfall in summer, a quite a unique experience. The impressive waterfall Skógafoss is a little further east and don’t miss the Folk Museum at Skógar, close to the waterfall. Drive to Reynisdrangar with spectacular coast and beautiful rock formations. The promontory at Dyrhólaey is a massive natural arch carved by the relentless pounding of the winds and surf with rich birdlife in summer.

For the next 7 nights you will stay overnight in the country side. This provides you with perfect conditions to hunt the northern lights. Check the northern lights forecast before heading out or ask the hotel reception.

Driving distance
200 kilometers

Highlights of the day:
Hveragerði Town
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Skógafoss Waterfall
Reynisfjara beach
Dyrhólaey Nature Reserve
Vík Town

Overnight:
Vík area

Recommended optional activity:
Glacier Walk
Snowmobiling on Solheimajokull Glacier
LAVA Centre
ATV Black Sand Beach and Plane Wreck
Katla Ice Cave

Day 3. Skaftafell National Park and Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon

Continue along the South Coast to Vatnajökull National Park. On your way you will pass Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon and Kirkjubæjarklaustur Village. As you reach the Vatnajökull area, you won’t miss Skaftafell National Park with its great views. There you can also find many hiking trails, for example to the beautiful Svartifoss Waterfall. Continue to the famous Glacier Lagoon, where huge icebergs, true sculptures of nature, broken off Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, float and grind together in the blue waters of the lagoon. You can also go down to the Diamond Beach before driving to the Höfn area for an overnight stay.

Driving distance
280 kilometers

Highlights of the day:
Kirkjubæjarklaustur town
Skaftafell National Park
Svartifoss waterfall
Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon
Höfn

Overnight:
Höfn area

Recommended optional activity:
Crystal Ice Cave

Day 4. The Tranquil East Fjords

Drive from Höfn past the colourful Lónsöræfi District, a mountainous wilderness ringed by extinct volcanoes and traversed by glacial rivers. Drive past towering mountains, and to the magnificent East Fjords, some now deserted. Enroute stop at some of the charming small fishing towns. On the east coast of Iceland you might get the chance to see herds of wild Reindeer that mostly live at higher altitude in summer seek the lowlands in winter. Reindeer were introduced to many parts of Iceland from Norway in the 18th century now only live in the eastern part of Iceland from Höfn area to Vopnafjörður in the north east.

Driving distance
260 kilometers

Highlights of the day:
Egilsstaðir town
Hallormsstaðaskógur Forest

Overnight:
Egilsstaðir/Hérað area

Day 5. Lake Mývatn and Surroundings

Today you drive to the great Lake Mývatn area. On your way we recommend a detour to Dettifoss, the largest waterfall in Europe. Just before reaching Mývatn we recommend a stop at Námaskarð Pass where boiling mud pools and flashing colors of the pass merge with ash and lava from nearby volcanoes. Explore the phenomenal natural beauty of the Lake Mývatn area. The lake area is known worldwide for its exceptionally many breeding duck species and the abundance of other birdlife. The main highlights of the area include Dimmuborgir, Mt. Hverfjall, the pseudo-craters of Skútustaðir and the Krafla volcanic system. The explosion crater Víti is near Krafla and the Mývatn Nature Baths are an outstanding attraction too not to be missed.

Driving distance
190 kilometers

Highlights of the day:
Dettifoss Waterfall
Lake Mývatn
Dimmuborgir
Skútustaðagígar Pseudo Craters
Hverfell Crater
Námaskarð

Overnight:
Mývatn area

Recommended optional activity:
Nature Baths

Day 6. Akureyri - The Capital of the North

Head towards Akureyri, the capital of the North. We recommend a stop at the beautiful waterfall Goðafoss on your way to Akureyri. One of the most extraordinary aspects of Akureyri is its warm climate. Although its sits only 60 miles from the Arctic Circle, it has some of the best weather in the country. See the Botanical Gardens and some of the many museums and art galleries. The newly opened Forest Lagoon is a great attraction as well. Leave Akureyri and drive to Skagafjörður, renowned for horse breeding.

Driving distance
200 kilometers

Highlights of the day:
Goðafoss waterfall
Akureyri
Hvítserkur Cliff

Overnight:
Northwest area

Recommended optional activity:
Forest Lagoon

Day 7. West Iceland and Borgarfjörður

Head for Borgarfjörður district. In Borgarfjörður you will be able to see Deildartunguhver hot spring, the historic site Reykholt and the beautiful Hraunfossar and Barnafossar waterfalls. Make the waterfalls a turnaround point and head back to Borgarnes town where we recommend a visit to the Settlement Centre.

Driving distance
300 kilometers

Highlights of the day:
Vatnsdalshólar mounds
Hvítserkur Cliff
Reykholt town
Deildartunguhver
Hraunfossar
Borgarnes town

Overnight:
Borgarnes area

Recommended optional activity:
Krauma Baths
Into the Glacier - Langjökull Ice Tunnel

Day 8. Snæfellsnes National Park

Continue towards Snæfellsnes Peninsula to explore the countless natural wonders of the area. Enroute you will be passing a number of volcanic craters on both sides of the road, Eldborg being the largest and most beautiful shape. We recommend a visit to Búðir, a pretty site located on a natural inlet. Other sites on the south coast are Arnarstapi and Hellnar with a spectacular coast and interesting birdlife and Djúpalónssandur. Much of interesting geological phenomena and historic sites can be found in the Snæfellsjökull National Park, the most recent one in Iceland. As you continue around the tip of the peninsula you will be met with a few small fishing towns. Just outside of Grundarfjörður you will find Kirkjufell Mountain, the most picturesque mountain in Iceland. Continue to Stykkishólmur town, the main town of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Return to Borgarnes for an overnight stay.

Driving distance
330 kilometers

Highlights of the day:
Stykkishólmur Town
Snæfellsjökull Glacier
Hellnar hamlet
Arnarstapi
Lóndrangar rock formation
Kirkjufell

Overnight:
Borgarnes area

Day 9. The Golden Circle

Drive to Reykjavik before heading to the Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the start of the famous Golden Circle. The faults and fissures of the area are evidence of the rifting of the earth's crust. Thingvellir is one of the most historical sites in the country and a place of exceptional beauty. Explore the great Geysir hot spring area on foot and see the famous Great Geysir and Strokkur, a geyser that spouts every few minutes. Continue onwards to the majestic Gullfoss waterfall, one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls. Make Gullfoss your turnaround point ahead for the waterfall Faxi. Continue to the volcanic crater Kerið. Proceed to the main circular highway and head for Hveragerði, a small town where hot spring water is harnessed to heat greenhouses for cultivation of decorative flowers. Cross Hellisheiði heath again and close up the circle in Reykjavik and drop off the car.

Driving distance
290 kilometers

Highlights of the day:
Þingvellir
Geysir
Gullfoss Waterfall
Kerið
Hveragerði Town

Overnight:
Reykjavík

Recommended optional activity:
Sky Lagoon

Day 10. Departure

Private transfer from the hotel to Keflavik International Airport.

Budget

Standard rooms in guesthouses. Private room but WC facilities and shower are shared with other guests. Rooms sometimes have wash basins in the room. Breakfast is included

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Comfort

Rooms in tourist class hotels combined with quality guesthouses. Rooms have private bathroom facilities. Breakfast is included.

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Comfort PLUS

Standard rooms in superior 3 star hotels combined with superior rooms at standard 3 star hotels. Rooms have private bathroom facilities. Breakfast is included

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Quality

Standard rooms in 4 Star hotels combined with superior and deluxe rooms at quality 3 star hotels. Breakfast is included.

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Quality PLUS

Superior or Deluxe rooms in 4 star hotels. Rooms have private bathroom facilities. Breakfast is included

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10.P - Suzuki Vitara 4WD or similar - Manual -

Transmission: Manual
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 3
Doors: 5

11.H - Kia Sportage 4WD or similar - Automatic -

Transmission: Automatic
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 3
Doors: 5

12.J - Kia Sorento 4WD or similar - Automatic -

Transmission: Automatic
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 3
Doors: 5

13.K - Toyota Landcruiser 4WD or similar - Automatic -

Transmission: Automatic
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 4
Doors: 5

14.C - Land Rover Discovery 4WD - Automatic - Limited Availability -

Transmission: Automatic
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 4
Doors: 5

15.I - Land Rover Defender 4WD - Automatic - Limited Availability -

Transmission: Automatic
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 3
Doors: 5

18.XG - VW Transporter 4WD or similar - Manual - Limited Availability

Transmission: Manual
Seats: 9
Suitcases: 4
Doors: 3

Why book your Self Drive Tour with Tour.is?

Highly competitive prices

We include more

Outstanding response time and customer care

Knowledgeable and motivated team of travel agents

Great reviews from visitors

We offer cancellation insurance

Pick up of rental car is the morning of day 2.

Drop off is in Reykjavík the day prior to your departure – day 9.

An extra day will be charged if the car is returned later.

Accommodation is according to your choice in farmhouses, guesthouses or hotels, cat. 1, 2 or 3. including breakfast. Due to limited availability of accommodation in the Icelandic countryside and a great demand for summer, we are only able to confirm specific category but not a specific hotel in each locality until booking has been made and confirmed.


Early morning arrival: Check in time at hotels is usually between 14:00 - 16:00. If you arrive early morning, you may not be able to check in immediately on arrival.
Due to road conditions routes may have to be altered without prior notice.
The highland tracks of Iceland are usually not expected to be open until early June and due to road conditions some routes may temporarily not be passable without prior notice.

Types of car recommended: During winter, usually September through May, snow and ice can be expected. Although the route of this tour is usually passable by any car type, driving conditions can occasionally become difficult and we strongly recommend 4x4 during winter.


A credit card imprint will be taken at the start of all rentals for security reasons, even when a voucher covers the cost of the rental. Cash and debit card deposits will not be accepted. This credit card imprint may be used to pay all extra charges, including extra driven kilometres if applicable, extra insurance, parking fines, damages or any costs due to the car rental company as a result of the hirer's use of the car.

Travel Insurance: To avoid dispute in case of cancellation, we strongly recommend that our clients purchase a comprehensive travel insurance in their home country, that covers your cost should you have to cancel your tour. This kind of travel insurance is usually not expensive and it frequently covers other risks too.

Price Calculator: There are several factors that determine the price of self drive packages:

1. Time of the year.

2. Number of people traveling together

3. Type of car (we offer more than 15 different types of cars)

4. Type of accommodation (we offer 3 different categories of accommodation)

There is a special Price Calculator button at our website with every self drive tour package where you can enter your choice of type of accommodation and car, number of people and when you want to begin the tour (arrival date) and the Price Calculator will calculate and display the price of different options.

Note: Day(s) can be added before and / or after if your arrival and departure does not fit the itinerary of this tour. Additional day tours can be added for the additional day/s. If you have any questions please don´t hesitate to contact us by email to tour@tour.is and we will be more than happy to advice.