Iceland Self Drive Full Circle 8 days
The tour covers all the most interesting sights along the main circular highway.
BP12 Map
Upon arrival at Keflavik airport, a meet and greet service is provided by a TOURIS representative. He will deliver travel documents and take you to your hotel in Reykjavik.
Highlights of the day:
Reykjavík
Overnight:
Reykjavík
Optional activity:
Reykjavik City Card
Pick up the car in the morning and leave Reykjavik city and head for Hveragerði and the village Selfoss. Cross the plateau Hellisheiði, with a lot of geothermal activity and plumes of steam rising from the ground. Numerous boreholes have been drilled on Hellisheiði in the last years for hot water and steam, some of the cleanest energy available. Stop at Hellisheiði Geothermal Powerplant where natural hot water and steam pressure from the ground is used for generating electricity. In Hveragerði geothermal water is harnessed to heat greenhouses for cultivation of decorative flowers and vegetables. From Selfoss proceed east along the south shore, heading for Vík. See the Saga Centre at Hvolsvöllur and stop at the waterfall Seljalandsfoss, where a walk behind the falls is possible during summer, which can be a quite a unique experience. A little further east is Skógafoss, another pretty waterfall, the largest on the south coast and don’t miss the interesting Folk Museum at Skógar, close to the waterfall.
The glaciers Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull are towering above, capping the Eyjafjöll mountain chain. On March 20th 2010, a volcanic eruption started on Fimmvörðuháls, a mountain ridge between the glaciers, Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull. The eruption on Fimmvörðuháls lasted a couple of weeks. After this eruption came to an end a new and bigger eruption started underneath the nearby icecap of Eyjafjallajökull Glacier. This eruption came to an end on 23. May 2010.
Make a detour to the glacier Sólheimajökull before continuing to Dyrhólaey natural reserve and a nesting colony of numerous seabirds (closed for all traffic during the nesting period until June 25th).
Make a short detour to the glacier Sólheimajökull (passable only during summer). Continue further east and make a short detour to the headland Dyrhólaey, a natural reserve and a nesting colony of numerous seabirds. Next visit Reynisdrangar with spectacular coast and beautiful rock formations.
Driving distance
190 kilometers
Highlights of the day:
Hveragerði Town
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Skógafoss Waterfall
Dyrhólaey Nature Reserve
Vík Town
Reynisfjara beach
Overnight:
Vík area
Recommended optional activity:
Glacier Walk
Snowmobiling on Solheimajokull Glacier
LAVA Centre
Drive across the Mýrdalssandur floodplains and Eldhraun, the largest lava field ever to flow on Earth in historical time, and to the small village Kirkjubaejarklaustur. Fjaðrárgljúfur is a narrow and beautiful canyon a few km to the west from Kirkjubæjarklaustur, worth taking a look at. At Kirkjubæjarklaustur, see Kirkjugólfið (the Church Floor), a protected natural monument just east of the village. Kirkjugólfið is columnar basalt, shaped and eroded by water and wind. From Kirkjubæjarklaustur, continue over Skeidarársandur, vast tracts of black sandy desert washed down by numerous torrential glacial rivers. Stop at Skaftafell National Park, an oasis wedged between glacier and sand. Its natural beauty is a result of unusually favorable weather conditions and the interaction of ice and fire. Beneath the Vatnajökull ice cap, towering above Skaftafell is Grímsvötn, one of Iceland’s most active volcano. . In the afternoon of 21. May 2011, a sub-glacial eruption started in the Grímsvötn volcanic system underneath Vatnajökull Glacier. Later the same day, the eruption broke the ice cover of the glacier and started spewing volcanic ash into the air. The amount of ash fall was the greatest close to the village Kirkjubæjarklaustur. The eruption went on for about a week. It ceased on 28. May 2011. See the interesting Visitors Center where you can learn the history of fire and ice in the region and a video of the volcanic eruption and the catastrophic flood in the area in 1996 can also be viewed. An interesting hiking trail takes you to Svartifoss, one of Icelands most picturesque waterfall, framed in by beautiful basalt columns that surround it. In the Skaftafell area are many other interesting hiking trails. Continue to Jökulsarlón, the Glacial Lagoon where huge icebergs, sculptures of nature, float and grind together in the deep blue waters of the lagoon. An interesting cruise among the icebergs on the Lagoon is available in summer. From here, drive further east towards the Höfn area for an overnight stay.
Driving distance
270 kilometers
Highlights of the day:
Kirkjubæjarklaustur town
Skaftafell National Park
Svartifoss waterfall
Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon – Höfn.
Overnight:
Höfn area
Recommended optional activity:
Amphibian boat Tour on Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
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 the small fishing town Djúpivogur and at Stöðvarfjörður the Stone Collection of Petra is an interesting place to visit.
Driving distance
260 kilometers
Highlights of the day:
Egilsstaðir town
Hallormsstaðaskógur Forest
Overnight:
Egilsstaðir / Hérað area
Continue across the highland plateau towards Lake Mývatn. Make a detour to Dettifoss, the largest waterfall in Europe. 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. Visit its highlights Dimmuborgir, Mt. Hverfjall, the pseudocraters of Skútustaðir and Krafla volcanic system where the most recent eruptions were 1975 - 1984. In summer visitors can have a guided tour through the Kröfluvirkjun Geothermal Power Station where steam pressure is harnessed for generating electricity (admission is free of charge). The explosion crater Víti is near Krafla and the Mývatn Nature Baths are an outstanding attraction too not to be missed. Continue to Akureyri, the capital of the North and stop enroute at the beautiful waterfall Goðafoss, the waterfall of the gods.
Driving distance
270 kilometers
Highlights of the day:
Lake Mývatn
Nature Baths
Dimmuborgir
Goðafoss waterfall
Akureyri
Overnight:
Akureyri/Eyjafjörður area
Recommended optional activity:
Nature Baths
Whale Watching From Húsavík
Drive through the majestic mountains and narrow passes of Öxnadalur Valley and Öxnadalsheiði Pass, which leads to the district of Skagafjordur, renowned for horse breeding. Popular horse riding tours for beginners and experienced riders are available here. In the upper reaches of Skagafjordur, you will also be able to join some of the best white water rafting in Iceland. We strongly recommend that you see Glaumbær Folk Museum where you can learn how Icelanders used to live in the past. The museum is open during the summer and the tiny old church at Víðimýri, is also worth a visit. Hólar is an interesting historical place to visit. At Hofsós town, see the interesting Emigration Center and museum. The Icelandic Seal Center at Hvammstangi town is an interesting place to visit. It is a research and exhibition center investigating the lives of seals found in and around Iceland. Around Vatnsnes peninsula you have a unique opportunity to watch both harbour seals and grey seals in their natural habitat. The main watching locations are Svalbarð and at Illugastaðir on the west coast and and at Ósar on the east coast. The Icelandic Seal Center at Hvammstangi gives more information about these locations and how to approach the seals with care. It is usually best to see the selas at low tide since seals usually rest ashore during low tide but feed during high tide. Drive to Borgarfjörður district and visit Deildartunguhver, the largest hot spring in Europe. Continue a short distance further to the historic site Reykholt. Visit the interesting museum at Reykholt and see the hot pool Snorralaug. Further inland are the beautiful Hraunfossar and Barnafossar Waterfalls. Make the waterfalls a turnaround point and head back to Borgarnes
Driving distance
390 kilometers
Highlights of the day:
Glaumbær Folk Museum
Vatnsdalshólar mounds
Hvítserkur Cliff
Reykholt town
Deildartunguhver
Hraunfossar
Borgarnes town
Overnight:
Borgarfjörður area
Recommended optional activity:
Horseback Riding
The Settlement Exhibition and The Egil Saga Exhibition
Krauma Baths
Drive towards Reykjavik before heading to Þingvellir National Park, a unique place from a geological point of view. Research has shown that Thingvellir is a natural wonder. 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. Head on to explore the great Geysir hot spring area and see the famous Great Geysir and Strokkur, a hot spring that spouts every few minutes. The Geysir Service Center consists of a restaurant, hotel, swimming pool, souvenir shop, snack bar, gas station, a geo-center multimedia show, horse rental, quad bike tours, and a camping area. From here, drive to the majestic waterfall Gullfoss one of Icelands most beautiful waterfall. Head back to see Faxi, a pretty waterfall, situated a few steps from the road. Drive further to the volcanic crater Kerið for a picture stop. Continue to the main circular highway, and head for Reykjavík across the plateu Hellisheiði. Before crossing Hellisheiði, stop for a drive around the small town Hveragerði where geothermal water is harnessed for heating greenhouses for cultivating decorative flowers. There is a lot of geothermal activity on Hellisheiði, where numerous boreholes have been drilled in the last years for hot water and steam under high pressure, currently harnessed for generating electricity. Continue to Reykjavik and drop off the car.
Optional detour for those who plan on taking a bath at the Blue lagoon: From Hveragerði drive the South coast of the Reykjanes peninsula to Blue Lagoon before ending the day in Reykjavik. Another option is to drive into Reykjavik check in to you hotel and visit the Blue Lagoon in the evening
Driving distance
290 kilometers
Highlights of the day:
Þingvellir
Gullfoss Waterfall and Geysir Hot Springs
Kerið
Hveragerði Town
Overnight:
Reykjavík
Private transfer from the hotel to Keflavik International Airport.
Transmission: Manual
Seats: 4
Suitcases: 1
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
Seats: 4
Suitcases: 1
Doors: 5
Transmission: Manual
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Suitcases: 2
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 2
Doors: 5
Transmission: Manual
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 2
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 2
Doors: 5
Transmission: Manual
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Manual
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 3
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 3
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 3
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 3
Doors: 5
Transmission: Manual
Seats: 9
Suitcases: 4
Doors: 4
Transmission: Manual
Seats: 9
Suitcases: 4
Doors: 3
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