The Highlights of the South and Northern Lights 6 days
Self Drive Tour
Visit the most popular sights of the South Iceland and experience the phenomenon of the northern lights.
BP41 Map
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Upon your arrival at Keflavík airport, a meet and greet service is provided by a TOURIS represetative who will take you to your Reykjavík hotel. You will free free for the rest of the day to explore Reykjavík.
Highlights of the day:
Reykjavík
Overnight:
Reykjavík
Optional activity:
Reykjavik City Card
Pick up the rental car in the morning and head for the eastern outskirts of the city. 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. After crossing the plateau, come to the small town Hveragerði, where hot spring water is used for heating greenhouses for cultivation of decorative flowers and vegetables. Drive further east to the scenic South shore. Continue across the lowland plains towards Eyjafjöll district. Stop at the waterfall Seljalandsfoss where it is possible to walk behind the falls. This can be quite an interesting experience but be careful it can get slippery. A little further east, stop at Skógafoss, another pretty waterfall and don’t miss the folk museum at Skógar, close to the waterfall. The glaciers Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull are towering above the area. 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. If passible make a short detour to the tip of the Sólheimajökull glacier tongue from there it is possible to go on a guided glacier walk (pre-booking needed). Proceed further east to Dyrhólaey, a natural reserve and a nesting colony of numerous seabirds in summer. The promontory at Dyrhólaey is a massive natural arch carved by the relentless pounding of the winds and surf. Drive to Reynisdrangar with spectacular black beaches and beautiful rockformations then continue to Vik the southernmost town in Iceland. Drive across the Mýrdalssandur floodplains and Eldhraun, the largest lavafield 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. In the evening, depending on weather conditions, head out for the hunt of the northern lights.
Driving distance
260 kilometers
Highlights of the day:
Hveragerði Town
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Skógafoss Waterfall
Dyrhólaey Nature Reserve
Vík Town
Reynisfjara beach
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
Kirkjubæjarklaustur town
Kirkjugólf Basalt Columns
Overnight:
Kirkjubæjarklaustur area
Recommended optional activity:
Glacier Walk
Snowmobiling on Solheimajokull Glacier
LAVA Centre
Continue from Klaustur over Skeidarársandur, vast tracts of black sandy desert washed down by numerous torrential glacial rivers. Stop at Skaftafell which is a part of Vatnajökull National Park and an oasis wedged between glacier and sand. Its natural beauty is a result of unusually favourable 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 but please ask about conditions of the hiking trails at the visitors center before heading out for a walk. Continue to Jökulsarlón, the Glacial Lagoon where huge icebergs, sculptures of nature, broken off the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier float and grind together in the deep blue waters of the lagoon. This will be your turnaround place and head back to Vík area where you will overnight. You might be lucky and see some northern lights dancing in the sky during the night.
Driving distance
320 kilometers
Highlights of the day:
Skaftafell National Park
Svartifoss waterfall
Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon
Overnight:
Vík area
Continue to Selfoss town and head inland, stop at the volcanic crater Kerið on you right hand side immediately by the side of the road. Drive further inland and to the waterfall Faxi, which is hidden in a short distance from the road. Continue to the Geyser area to see the famous Great Geysir and Strokkur, a very active geyser that spouts every few minutes, as well as numerous other hot springs. From Geysir, continue a short distance to the waterfall Gullfoss one of Iceland’s largest and most beautiful waterfall. Ask the hotel reception about the chances of seeing the northern lights.
Driving distance
200 kilometers
Highlights of the day:
Gullfoss Waterfall and Geysir Hot Springs
Faxi waterfall
Kerið
Overnight:
Geysir area
Head to the National Park Þingvellir, a unique place from a geological point of view. Þingvellir is a natural wonder on an international scale where evidence of continental drift and the rifting of the earth's crust can clearly be seen. Þingvellir is also the most historical place in the country and and was accepted as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2004. From the National Park, drive across the plateau Mosfellsheiði to Reykjavík. From Reykjavík, drive through moon-like rugged lava fields to the world famous Blue Lagoon. Soak in the refreshing waters of the Blue Lagoon, and have a wonderful last unforgettable taste of Iceland, that ensures that you are fully relaxed when you leave Iceland. If you plan to take a bath at the Blue Lagoon, we strongly recommend that you book your ticket in advance. It can be booked at www.bluelagoon.com Return to Reykjavík and drop off the car.
Driving distance
220 kilometers
Highlights of the day:
Þingvellir
The Blue Lagoon
Overnight:
Reykjavík
Private transfer from the hotel to Keflavik International Airport.
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: 3
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