Around Iceland

After landing at Keflavik International Airport, collect your rental vehicle and head to Reykjavik for an overnight stay. The 30-minute drive offers a tantalising glimpse of Iceland’s lava landscapes and rugged coastline – but the best is yet to come! On the way to the capital, it’s a short diversion to the Blue Lagoon if you fancy a dip in the world-famous geothermal pools.

From Reykjavik, drive north to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula where you’ll spend the next two nights. A superb introduction to Iceland, it has everything from lava fields and black-pebble beaches to a snow-capped volcano that inspired Jules Verne’s Journey to the Centre of the Earth. We love its fishing villages and coastal walks – and if you’re a wildlife enthusiast, the Snaefellsnes has whales, white-tailed eagles and (during summer) puffins and other nesting seabirds.

Continuing north from the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, it’s a three-hour drive to the coastal village of Hvammstangi on the Vatnsnes Peninsula of Northwest Iceland. As well as seal colonies, Vatnsnes is home to an extraordinary rock formation, known as Hvitserkur – a 15m-tall basalt sea stack that resembles a dragon, a rhinoceros or sparring trolls, depending on which story you hear! Overnight outside of town.

After breakfast, continue your journey east towards Akureyri – your base for the next two nights. Hugging the shores of Eyjafjordur, it’s the largest town in North Iceland and has plenty to see and do with its museums, botanic gardens, whale-watching tours and Forest Lagoon geothermal spa. A rewarding way to spend the afternoon is to drive north from Akureyri, following the shores of Eyjafjordur to the old fishing village of Siglufjordur with its beautiful harbour.

Akureyri is within easy reach of Lake Myvatn (an hour’s drive to the east). You’ll want a whole day to explore the fascinating volcanic features dotted around Iceland’s largest freshwater lake. Don’t miss the maze-like lava formations at Dimmuborgir, the massive Hverfjall crater, the bubbling mud pools at Namaskard or the curious pseudo-craters at Skutustadagigar. If birdwatching is your thing, don’t forget binoculars – Lake Myvatn is home to numerous species of wildfowl and waders. Alternatively, ask us about prebooking entry to the Earth Lagoon, a fabulous geothermal pool with panoramic views across the volcanic interior. On the way back to Akureyri, be sure to stop at Iceland’s very own Niagara – the horseshoe-shaped falls of Godafoss.

From Akureyri, drive north to the colourful fishing town of Husavik, often referred to as the whale watching capital of Iceland. We highly recommend a boat trip in search of the rich marine life of Skjalfandi Bay – ask us to prebook one during your two-night stay here. The town itself also has plenty of attractions, including the excellent Whale Museum and GeoSea thermal baths. Drive northeast from Husavik, tracing the coast of the Tjornes Peninsula (known for its puffin colonies during summer), and you’ll reach the horseshoe-shaped canyon of Asbyrgi – a great spot for hiking.

Just under half-way on your breathtaking drive across North Iceland today, you’ll pass the turn-off to Dettifoss waterfall. Try to allow time for the detour to Europe’s most powerful waterfall – it really is an awesome spectacle as it plunges 45m into a remote gorge. A little further on, another worthwhile detour is the ancient farm of Modrudalur with its turf-roofed buildings. It’s mentioned in the Icelandic Saga of Grettir the Strong. Arriving in Egilsstadir, where you’ll spend the next two nights, you’re at the gateway to the East Fjords. Close to town is Iceland’s largest forest, Hallormsstadaskogur, and a mysterious lake called Lagarfljot where the legend of the Lagarfljót Wyrm (a cousin of the Loch Ness Monster) dates back to 1345.

You’ll cover the southern section of the East Fjords on day 11, so today we recommend you focus on the north. There are two excellent options. The first is to drive north to Bakkagerdi – a remote settlement in the shadow of the Dyrfjoll Mountains and a must for keen walkers. Alternatively, drive east over the spectacular mountain pass to the small coastal town of Seydisfjordur, known for its colourful timber buildings, creative arts scene and gentle pace of life. Returning to Egilsstadir, Vok Baths are just 10 minutes away if you’d like a soothing soak.

It’s a long drive today – but what a journey! Heading south from Egilsstadir, you’ll join the dots between several fascinating villages in the magnificent East Fjords, including Faskrudsfjordur (settled by French fishermen in the mid-1800s), Stodvarfjordur (with its remarkable gemstone collection) and Djupivogur (an historic fishing village surrounded by mountains). Continuing south, you’ll emerge from the East Fjords at Vestrahorn – a dragon-back massif rearing above a deserted beach. Famous for its black sand dunes and reflections, it’s a revered spot for photographers. A small admission fee is payable at the Viking Café. A 20-minute drive west brings you to the small town of Hofn where you’ll spend the night.

Shortly after leaving Hofn, you’ll get your first glimpse of mighty Vatnajokull and some of its glacier tongues. The entire 7,500-square-kilometre ice cap is protected within one of Europe’s largest national parks. After around 80km you’ll reach Jokulsarlon where icebergs have been shed into a coastal lagoon. Pre-book a boat trip for a closer look at these blue-ice behemoths, and don’t miss Diamond Ice Beach (just across the road) where polished jewel-like fragments of ice are washed up on black volcanic sands. A further 54km west, Skaftafell is the starting point for an easy hike to Svartifoss, an elegant 20m-high waterfall cascading over striking columns of basalt. Spend the night in a nearby hotel.

Continue driving west, stopping at the town of Vik – gateway to a stunning stretch of coast where basalt cliffs and sea stacks rear above black-sand beaches. Other highlights along the South Coast include the bird cliffs of Dyrholaey, the waterfalls of Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss and the Lava Centre. Check into your hotel for the next two nights.

What better way to round off your grand circuit of Iceland than by driving the country’s most famous touring route. On the Golden Circle, you’ll see the double falls of Gullfoss, the Strokkur geyser erupting at the geothermal hotspot of Geysir, and Thingvellir National Park, a geological wonderland where you can walk (or even snorkel) between the tectonic plates of North America and Eurasia

Depending on your flight home, you may have time to visit one or two spots on the Reykjanes Peninsula before returning your hire car and checking in at Keflavik International Airport.