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Iceland Connoisseur

from £1453 excluding flights

  • 7 nights
  • Year round
Home Destinations Nordic Europe Iceland Iceland Connoisseur

Highlights

hotel ranga fine dining

Enjoy fine dining inspired by fresh, local ingredients

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Explore the natural treasures of Iceland’s iconic Golden Circle route

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Walk behind Seljalandsfoss and enjoy the view from the top of Skogafoss

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Explore Snaefellsnes Peninsula’s stunning volcanic coastline

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Take a dip in the naturally-heated waters of the Blue Lagoon

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Enjoy optional excursions such as glacier trips and whale watching

Why this trip...

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Stay in great locations

This holiday features accommodation in incredible locations

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Tailor made

This itinerary can be tailor made to suit you and is intended to give you a guideline of what is possible in a given timeframe

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Nordic Heritage

With 40 years of experience in creating trips to Nordics we know this region inside out

Overview

This highly original self drive itinerary focuses on four charming and inviting countryside hotels, ideally located in the south and west, with easy access to outstanding scenery and places of interest. If you have a penchant for fine dining and even finer views, this is the trip for you.

On this holiday, appreciate Iceland’s acclaimed natural wonders of the south and west, as well as the hospitality of some characterful and very welcoming hoteliers. Their properties are particularly comfortable, and with their own restaurants, you’ll have the opportunity to sample delicious, locally inspired dishes from home cooked fare to gourmet cuisine.

Walk behind the spectacular waterfall Seljalandsfoss, take an optional snowmobile ride on Myrdalsjokull icecap and take a look at Snorri’s pool, a preserved hot tub dating from the Middle Ages – a small taste of what’s instore. With all the wonderful places to visit and things to do, you’ll certainly work up an appetite on a daily basis.

At the end of the holiday, spend a night in Reykjavik with its wealth of dining options, a favourite of ours being Laekjarbrekka – a fitting end to a lovely holiday.

Itinerary

Arrive in Keflavik, collect your rental vehicle and drive to the Northern Light Inn close to the Blue Lagoon and perhaps take an evening dip in its therapeutic waters (entrance fee at extra cost – prepayable).

Northern Light Inn

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northern light inn aurora overhead feb19 bw

A delightful, well-appointed hotel in a great location.

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Travel north towards Husafell via Hvalafjordur (‘Whale Fjord’), see the sights of Borgarfjordur, perhaps visit the fascinating Settlement Centre at Borganes, before driving inland towards Husafell, where you will stay for 2 nights.

Hotel Husafell

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A stunning property full of contemporary flair, Hotel Husafell nestles in the magnificent landscape of Borgarfjordur, about 90 minutes’ drive northeast of Reykjavik.

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A day at leisure to drive around Snaefellsnes Peninsula at the foot of the volcano and see the glacier. Take a walk by the coastal rock formations and bird cliffs of Arnarstapi. Travel along the north shore of Snaefellsnes to Stykkisholmur and perhaps take an optional bird watching cruise on Breidafjordur Bay (May to Aug only).

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Head south to the ancient assembly site at Thingvellir National Park, and visit Geysir, home of spectacular spouting geysers and other hot springs. Gullfoss, Iceland’s two-tiered waterfall is nearby. Spend the next three nights at the superb Hotel Ranga. The hotel’s restaurant offers the very best mouthwatering gourmet fare, thanks to a creative and exquisitely produced menu, accompanied by an extensive wine list. With views out across the river, a dining experience here is sure to be one of the absolute highlights of your holiday.

Hotel Ranga, near Hella

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Around an hour's drive from Reykjavik, this cosy riverside lodge offers four-star comfort and fine dining in the volcanic heart of rural Iceland.

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Spend two days exploring the area, see Seljalandsfoss, one of Iceland’s most well known waterfalls and continue to the Myrdalsjokull icecap where you may choose to do an optional snowmobile trip (at additional cost). Visit the fascinating museum and 60 metre high waterfall, Skogafoss. Explore the Reynisfjara pebble beach with caves and basalt formations. Take a look at the majestic bird cliffs at Dyrholaey and walk along the famous black sand beach (closed until 25th June so as not to disturb nesting birds).

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Drive back to Reykjavik past the charming villages of Stokkseyri (the lobster feast at Restaurant Fjorubordid is very much recommended for lunch) and Eyrarbakki (try Rauda Husid or Blaa Hafid for dinner – two very good restaurants). Check in for an overnight stay at the stylish Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina in the city’s harbour district.

Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina

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A fresh and funky hotel with a lively vibe in a great downtown location.

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Head to Keflavik and drop off the rental vehicle at the airport, before taking your flight home.

Prices and Departures

Price from £1453 excluding flights

Airfares vary widely and are quoted separately to the holiday price, starting from around £250pp return with Icelandair and British Airways, though may be lower with Play or EasyJet. We'll provide the best fare available at the time of enquiry, which tend to be cheaper the earlier you book.

UK Airports with flights direct to Iceland are Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. We can also arrange flights from non-UK destinations. Discover more »

Iceland Volcano Disruption Protection
We are proud of our excellent reputation for looking after our clients, without question. Should the unexpected occur our team of dedicated Travel Specialists are on call 24/7 to make any necessary alternative plans at no cost to you.

What's Included

  • Accommodation in rooms with private facilities
  • Daily breakfast
  • Car rental throughout with unlimited mileage
  • No charge for additional driver
  • 24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
  • No surcharge guarantee
  • Full financial protection

This itinerary starts from around £1,453 per person, based on 2 sharing a room with private bathroom in standard hotels, and rental of an intermediate vehicle.

Prices may vary depending on departure date and booking date, as well as any changes to the included components. The final cost of a tailored holiday will be based on the level of accommodation, size of vehicle, included activities, travel season, and how far in advance it is booked. We will confirm the exact price for your holiday in your individual quotation, based on your chosen travel dates and inclusions.

* Choice of Vehicles

We can offer a wide range of rental vehicles for this holiday – our team will be happy to talk you through the options and provide a quote for the most suitable category based on your individual requirements.

  • 4WD

    We would always recommend a 4WD for winter travel, but many clients also prefer the greater security and comfort that a larger vehicle provides year round – upgrade your vehicle from as little as £10 per person, per day.

  • Go electric

    With a selection of electric cars now available including the Kia Niro and Volkswagen ID.3, you can choose to upgrade from as little as £12 per person, per day. We recommend this option for summer only, due to the colder temperatures in winter affecting battery range.

As Standard, Complete Piece of Mind

We’re listening. We always care what our fellow travellers think and love building strong customer relationships so we continuously focus on improving future experiences based on feedback. How incredible for the last three years we have received the Feefo Platinum Award.

The World's Great. Pass it On

To mark our 40th anniversary, we've launched our Education Bursary Fund to help disadvantaged school children experience the wonders of travel. A percentage of revenue from every holiday booked will go into the bursary fund to pay for at least 40 students to join one of our school trips abroad.