With 15 nights to lavish on a self-drive itinerary, we’ve devised a rather special holiday. Our Iceland Odyssey not only encircles the country, taking you on a breathtaking journey along the South Coast, through the East Fjords and over-the-top to Lake Myvatn, but it also probes the wild and wonderful West Fjords and stunning Snaefellsnes Peninsula. The ultimate Iceland odyssey.
Our most comprehensive itinerary
Iceland is like a box of chocolates. It’s sometimes hard to choose between the strawberry cream and the hazelnut caramel. But with our chock-a-block Iceland Odyssey itinerary, you can scoff the lot. Everyone’s favourite is included in this mouthwatering self-drive, from the ice-spectacular of Vatnajokull National Park to the irresistible West Fjords and classic Golden Circle.
Time to linger
This is not a mad dash around Iceland. The itinerary is paced to allow you to soak up the views, enjoy hikes and optional activities like snowmobiling and whale watching, relax in geothermal pools and get to know the friendly and welcoming Icelandic people.
Itinerary
Fly to Keflavik, collect rental vehicle and head off through stunning scenery to Hveragerdi for a two night stay.
Explore the natural wonders on the famed Golden Circle route: the tectonic rip in the earth’s crust at Thingvellir, the thundering falls of Gullfoss and the bubbling Geysir geothermal area.
Continue around the south coast, stopping no doubt many times to admire the views, including Seljalandsfoss, one of Iceland’s best-known waterfalls and the Myrdalsjokull icecap, where you may wish to take an optional snowmobile trip (prebookable – please contact our team). You may also choose to visit the little museum at Skogar and the famous waterfall with an impressive 60 metre drop (perhaps walk the path to the top). Explore the Reynisfjara pebble beach with its caves and basalt formations. Investigate the bird cliffs at Dyrholaey and walk along its black sand beach (closed until 25th June so as not to disturb nesting birds). Continue east past Vik, driving through the rather curious looking, grass-covered lava fields at Eldhraun. Two nights in Skaftafell.
You will be spoilt for choice today as there is much to see and do in the area: walking in the Skaftafell area of Vatnajokull National Park; discovering the Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon with its immense icebergs (boat trips are prebookable – contact us for further details). Perhaps take an optional snowmobile trip on Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajokull – to name but a few options!
Optional Experiences
Boat Trip on the Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon
Snowmobiling on Vatnajokull Glacier
Further east, located in the coastal village of Breiddalsvik for an overnight stay.
Spend the day enjoying the sweeping fjords of the east coast, including birdlife-rich Djupivogur, where you might want to take a look at the 34 enormous granite eggs along the shoreline, representing the number of bird species that nest in the area. The road winds high into the clouds before dropping down into the town of Egilsstadir where you will stay the night.
Optional Experiences
VOK Baths
Continue to the Myvatn region; with a possible visit en route to Iceland’s highest farm with a cafe and turf buildings at Modrudalur. Spend two nights at in Myvatn.
Close to the northern shores of the lake where you will have plenty of time to explore the area and its volcanic wonders. Visit the relaxing Earth Lagoon (the north’s answer to the Blue Lagoon) take a hike at Dimmuborgir or venture up to the pretty village at Husavik and experience a thrilling whale watching trip on an old fishing boat (prebookable – contact us for details).
Optional Experiences
Earth Lagoon Myvatn
Whales and Sails, Husavik
Drive to Akureyri, Iceland’s “capital of the north” is a peaceful, laid back town set amongst snow capped mountains, on the edge of one of the country’s longest fjords. It is home to a host of trendy cafes, the world’s most northerly botanical gardens and several museums, and is well worth a visit before the long journey west, through sheep and horse country, to the Hvammstangi area. Overnight in Laugarbakki.
Optional Experiences
Forest Lagoon
Drive along the spectacular Strandir coast to Drangsnes where you will spend the night.
Continue deep into the West Fjords taking the road that follows the water’s edge to Sudureyri, almost at the westernmost tip of the Westfjords where you will spend the night.
Travel down along the northwest coast of the region, with stunning views as you cross over the mountaintops of the fjords to your hotel, near to the bird cliffs at Latrabjarg, the westernmost point in Iceland and a must-see for bird watchers. Early evenings are often the best time to visit this area. Overnight in the Westfjords.
Drive to Brjanslaekur and take a ferry (3 hrs) across Breidarfjordur Bay to the dramatic Snaefellsnes Peninsula. You may wish to consider adding an extra night and staying on the tiny island of Flatey (the ferry stops here en route, however vehicles are not permitted on the island and they will be transported to the harbour at Stykkisholmur ready for you to collect the following day). Two nights in Hellnar.
Time to explore the volcanic landscape of Snaefellsnes including a drive around the impressive glacier, a visit to the sea stacks at Arnarstapi and the pretty fishing villages sheltered by colourful looming mountains and interspersed by sweeping lava fields.
Optional Experiences
Whale Watching from Olafsvik
On the final leg of the odyssey, drive south to Reykjavik, taking in the sights of Borgarfjordur including the beautiful Hraunsfossar falls spilling out from underneath the lava, the island’s most productive hot spring at Deildatunguhver and the fascinating Settlement Centre at Borganes (entry payable locally). Overnight at in Reykjavik.
Depart Reykjavik for the airport. Time-permitting, perhaps taking a final dip in the relaxing waters of the Blue Lagoon (prebooking essential) before dropping off the rental vehicle at the airport and catch your flight home.
Optional Experiences
Blue Lagoon
Prices & departures
What's Included
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Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
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Daily breakfast
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Car rental throughout with unlimited mileage
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No charge for additional driver
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24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
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Full financial protection
From £2569 Excluding Flights
15 Nights
May-Sep
Your Holiday Pricing
Prices are per person based on two people sharing and are subject to availability. Your Travel Specialist will provide a final price tailored to your specific dates and requirements.
What’s Included:
Items listed and all known compulsory taxes and charges.
What’s Not Included:
Variable local costs like tolls, parking or hotel taxes that cannot be calculated in advance. We will provide guidance on these expected costs within your personalised quote.
Our holiday prices also exclude flights. Flight prices and offers change daily, so we’ll provide a bespoke quote based on your preferred airport at the best price available.
Make this trip yours
Every trip you see here can be adapted to suit you using inside-out knowledge to create one-off experiences created just for you.
Doug
11
Species of whale seen
10
Kilometres ran in Longyearbyen
We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch.
Experts with real experience
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Doug
Travel Specialist
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Rosie
Travel Specialist
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Freya
Travel Specialist
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Kieran
Travel Specialist
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Gary
Travel Specialist
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