The Arctic Coast Way 9 days

The Arctic Coast Way 9 days

This tour goes off the beaten track and discovers the most remote places in North Iceland along with all the main sights. Read more about what the Arctic Coast Way is in our blog.

BP37 Map

BP37 Map

AVAILABLE:
June 1 to September 20

DURATION:
9 days / 8 nights

CAR RENTAL DAYS:
7 Days

DEPARTURES:
Daily

TOUR ID:
BP37

Included

Not Included

Itinerary

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:

Overnight:
Reykjavík

Optional activity:

Day 2. West Iceland and Borgarfjörður District

Pick up a car in the morning and leave Reykjavík and drive to the beautiful Hvalfjörður fjord and enjoy the tranquil environment. From there head to the Borgarfjörður district and Borgarnes town. In Borgarnes town you will find the interesting Saga Centre. The prime objective of the Icelandic Settlement Centre at Borgarnes is to recreate the fascinating sagas surrounding the birth of this island nation. Multi-media and theatrical techniques are employed to help the visitor experience firsthand the trepidation and excitement of setting off over the open ocean for lands unknown. Head for Borgarfjörður district and visit Deildartunguhver, Iceland's largest hot spring. Continue further inland to the historic Reykholt, home of 13th century chieftain, writer, poet and a scholar Snorri Sturluson. Continue to Hraunfossar and Barnafossar, some of Iceland's most scenic waterfalls. Continue to Hrútafjörður and Miðfjörður Fjords and further to Hvammstangi. 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.

Driving distance: 310 kilometers

Highlights of the day:

Overnight:
North West Iceland

Optional activity:

Day 3. Arctic Coast Way: Vatnsnes Peninsula and Skagafjörður Fjord

Start the Arctic Coast Way by exploring Vatnsnes Peninsula. The route today is one of the best in Iceland for seal watching. At Hamarsá you can see a wheel-shaped sheep round-up pen, right on the seacoast, a striking image and a great photo stop. Illaugastaðir beach is a place that offers great opportunities to watch seals in their natural habitat. See the Hvítserkur rock formation, otherwise known as the Troll of Northwest Iceland. Finish up the circle around Vatnsnes Peninsula and head to Skagaströnd village where you will find a museum of Prophecies. Continue towards the tip of the peninsula and stop at Kálfshamarsvík, a small peninsula built up by spectacular basalt columns. An interesting short walk takes you through the ruins of the once flourishing settlement of Kálfshamarsvík and to the lighthouse. Continue over the tip of the peninsula and drive along the west coast of Skagafjörður Fjord heading towards Sauðárkrókur and stop at Grettislaug pool. The hot pool offers great views Drangey island. Continue to Sauðárkrókur.

Driving distance: 230 kilometers

Highlights of the day:

Overnight:
Sauðárkrókur

Day 4. Arctic Coast Way: Tröllaskagi Peninsula and Whale Watching Capital.

Continue towards Tröllaskagi Peninsula. Explore Hólar, an interesting historical place to visit. Popular horse riding tours for beginners and experienced riders are available in Skagafjörður area. Continue to Hofsós which is one of the oldest trading centers in Iceland and has a very scenic outdoor swimming pool. Continue to Siglufjörður, a remotely located fishing town that during the herring boom in early 20th century used to be the most prosperous fishing town in Iceland. Visit the award-winning Siglufjörður Herring Era Museum. Continue along the shores of Eyjafjörður to Dalvík. Drive along the coastline through Akureyri town and to Húsavík, sometimes called “The Whale Watching Capital of The World”. Húsavík was the first place in the country to offer very successful Whale Watching cruises. The Whale Museum in Húsavík is an educational centre on marine wildlife.

Driving distance: 260 kilometers

Highlights of the day:

Overnight:
Húsavík

Optional activity:

Day 5. Arctic Coast Way: Húsavík, Ásbyrgi Canyon and Kópasker

Leave Húsavík and drive to the north towards the Öxarfjörður Bay. Make a detour to Vesturdalur and Hljóðaklettar, the Echo rocks, an extremely beautiful canyon carved by the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum. This area offers many interesting hiking trails to explore the many wonders of the Jökulsárgljúfur National Park. Ásbyrgi canyon is a strange and spectacular horseshoe shaped canyon by the main road, - not to be missed. Continue to the fishing village of Kópasker. There you will find an interesting Earthquake Center. Continue further to explore Melrakkaslétta Peninsula. This area is one of the best places in Iceland to see the midnight sun in summer and the famous Northern Lights in winter. This area offers shelter and is a temporary stopping place for thousands and thousands of birds that come here for the summer or rest here for their further migration to the north or to the south. Seals can also be seen resting on skerries and whales are spotted off the coast as well as foxes and mink on the heaths close to rivers and lakes. Continue to the small village Raufarhöfn.

Driving distance: 190 kilometers

Highlights of the day:

Overnight:
Raufarhöfn/Þórshöfn

Optional activity:

Day 6. Arctic Coast Way: Þórshöfn, Bakkafjörður and Vopnafjörður

Continue to the small fishing village Þórshöfn. Explore Langanes Peninsula which is known for its rich birdlife and a very good birdwatching spots where it is possible to watch the Gannet and Brünnichs Guillermot from land. Continue to Bakkfjörður. Langanes Municipality is one of Iceland’s hidden gems, where the beauty and soul of the small fishing villages lives on. Head towards the village Vopnafjörður. Make a stop at the geothermal swimming pool Selárdalslaug which is located on the banks on the river Selá. From Vopnafjörður head to the ring road and continue to Lake Mývatn. Make a detour to Dettifoss waterfall, the largest waterfall in Europe.

Driving distance: 360 kilometers

Highlights of the day:

Overnight:
Lake Mývatn

Day 7. The Natural Wonders of Lake Mývatn and Akureyri

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. Stop at Námaskarð pass where boiling mud pools and flashing colors of the pass merge with ash and lava from nearby volcanoes. Visit its highlights Dimmuborgir, Mt. Hverfjall, the pseudo-craters of Skútustaðir and Krafla volcanic system where the most recent eruptions were 1975 - 1984. The explosion crater Víti is near Krafla and the Mývatn Nature Baths offer a nice place to relax in warm waters after a long day of sightseeing and not to be missed. Head towards Akureyri, the capital of the North and stop at the beautiful waterfall Goðafoss. Akureyri town, situated at the Eyjafjörður Fjord is the northern centre of education, culture, trade and industry. 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 some of the many museums and art galleries. 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.

Driving distance: 240 kilometers

Highlights of the day:

Overnight:
North West Iceland

Recommended optional activity:

Day 8. Back to Reykjavik

Drive back to Reykjavik. You can either make a detour on your way to Reykjavik and explore Snæfellsnes Peninsula or drive to the Reykjanes Peninsula and relax in the mineral-rich waters of the Blue Lagoon. Drop off the car in Reykjavik.

Driving distance: 290 kilometers

Overnight:
Reykjavík

Day 9. Departure

Private transfer from the hotel to Keflavik International Airport.

ACCOMMODATION

CARS

01.SA - Hyundai i10 or similar - Manual -

01.SA - Hyundai i10 or similar - Manual -

Transmission: Manual
Seats: 4
Suitcases: 1
Doors: 5

02.SB - Hyundai i10 or similar - Automatic -

02.SB - Hyundai i10 or similar - Automatic -

Transmission: Automatic
Seats: 4
Suitcases: 1
Doors: 5

03.SC - Hyundai i20 or similar - Manual -

03.SC - Hyundai i20 or similar - Manual -

Transmission: Manual
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 2
Doors: 5

04.SD - Hyundai i20 or similar - Automatic -

04.SD - Hyundai i20 or similar - Automatic -

Transmission: Automatic
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 2
Doors: 5

05.SG - Hyundai i30 or similar - Manual -

05.SG - Hyundai i30 or similar - Manual -

Transmission: Manual
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 2
Doors: 5

06.SH - Hyundai i30 or similar - Automatic -

06.SH - Hyundai i30 or similar - Automatic -

Transmission: Automatic
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 2
Doors: 5

07.SN - Toyota Corolla station or similar - Manual -

07.SN - Toyota Corolla station or similar - Manual -

Transmission: Manual
Seats: 5
Suitcases: 4
Doors: 5

08.SK - Suzuki Vitara 4WD or similar - Automatic -

08.SK - Suzuki Vitara 4WD or similar - Automatic -

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

09.ME - Skoda Octavia Station AWD or similar - Automatic -

09.ME - Skoda Octavia Station AWD or similar - Automatic -

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

10.SL - Dacia Duster 4WD or similar - Manual -

10.SL - Dacia Duster 4WD or similar - Manual -

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

17.XE - VW Transporter 2WD or similar - Manual - Limited Availability

17.XE - VW Transporter 2WD or similar - Manual - Limited Availability

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

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

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

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

Optional Extra: Would you like to do some extra activities? Below activities can be added to this tour.

Useful Information: Here you will find other information for this tour.

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 8.

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

    Due to road conditions routes may have to be altered without prior notice.
    Types of car recommended: Any. 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.
     

    Accommodation is according to your choice in Budget, Comfort, Comfort PLUS, Quality or Quality PLUS 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.
    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.

    Self Drive tours can often be modified according to the client’s wishes. If you want to change or extend the tour, add days etc, please contact our office.

    Map displayed is only for quick reference and is not to scale.

    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.