The Full Circle Express self drive 7 days

AVAILABLE:
March 25 to September 30

DURATION:
7 days / 6 nights

CAR RENTAL DAYS:
5 Days

DEPARTURES:
Daily

TOUR ID:
BP06

• Private airport transfer on arrival day
• 6 nights accommodation, in the accommodation category of your choice.
• Breakfast daily
• Rental car of your choice for 5 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

Overnight:
Reykjavík

Optional activity:
Reykjavik City Card
Reykjavik Food Tour

Day 2. South coast & Waterfalls

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.

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

Day 3. Skaftafell National Park & Jökulsárlón Glacier 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 famous for the Icelandic lobster. You will drive to the East Fjords for an overnight stay.

Driving distance
370 kilometers

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

Overnight:
South East Iceland

Recommended optional activity:
Amphibian boat Tour on Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Zodiac Boat on Glacier Lagoon

Day 4. The Tranquil East Fjords, Mývatn and Akureyri City

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 Mývan 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 pseudocraters 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. Continue to Akureyri, the capital of the North and stop enroute at the beautiful waterfall Goðafoss, the waterfall of the gods.

Driving distance
360 kilometers

Highlights of the day:
Egilsstaðir town
Hallormsstaðaskógur Forest
Lake Mývatn
Nature Baths
Dimmuborgir
Goðafoss waterfall
Akureyri

Overnight:
Akureyri area

Recommended optional activity:

Nature Baths

Day 5. North West Iceland

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. 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. Around Vatnsnes peninsula you have a unique opportunity to watch both harbour seals and grey seals in their natural habitat. 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
Beer Spa

Day 6. The Great Golden Circle

Drive along the shores of Hvalfjörður Fjord 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 where you 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
Geysir
Gullfoss Waterfall
Kerið
Hveragerði Town

Overnight:
Reykjavík

Day 7. 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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01.A - Hyundai I10 or similar - Manual - manual

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

02.D - Hyundai I10 or similar - Automatic -

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

03.N - VW Polo or similar - Manual -

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

04.O - VW Polo or similar - Automatic -

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

05.B - VW Golf or similar - Manual -

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

06.L - VW Golf or similar - Automatic -

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

07.E - Hyundai I30 station or similar - Manual -

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please note that like the title of this tour indicates, this is an "Express" tour, especially designed for those who have limited time but still want to do the full circle. Therefore it is limited how many extra activities can be added as driving distances are rather long each day. We recommend you contact us before booking extra activities.
Pick up of rental car is the morning of day 2.

Drop off is in Reykjavík the day prior to your departure – day 6.

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.
The highland tracks of Iceland are usually not expected to be open until the middle of June and due to road conditions some routes may temporarily not be passable 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 all year round, 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. 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.

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 and 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.
Please note that some activities described may only be available during summer.

Information on weather and road conditions are available at http://www.vegagerdin.is/english/road-conditions-and-weather/.
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.