Overview:
Experience the best of Iceland’s winter! Although this tour is available all year round, the Northern Lights can usually not be seen in Iceland from early April until late August. This self drive tour allows for an exploration of all the beautiful sights in South Iceland where in winter Northern Lights can frequently be seen.
Holiday price is from £ 2,300 per person based on availability and two persons sharing a standard double/twin room.
| Package |
All year, Daily |
Single supplement |
| Standard |
from £ 2,300 pp
|
£ 590 |
| Comfort |
from £ 2,500 pp
|
£ 605 |
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Keflavik Airport - Reykjavik (45km/28 mls)
Upon arrival at Keflavik airport, a meet and greet service is provided by our local representative. He will deliver travel documents and take you to your hotel in Reykjavik.
After traveling through volcanic landscape, you arrive in the capital Reykjavik. Spend the day in the city and be sure not to miss the highlights of Hallgrimskirkja church, the Pearl, Althingi Parliament, Harpa Concert Hall and Solfar sculpture. For those interested in history, the Hofdi House is a must see, being the site of Reagan’s and Gorbatsjov’s meeting that effectively marked the end of the Cold War in 1986.
Overnight in Reykjavik area.
Tour Category:
Standard:
Our standard self-drives offer you the chance to travel around Iceland in a worry free spirit, staying in accommodation with private facilities without stretching your budget. Throughout your stay you‘ll be residing in a combination of standard hotels, farmhouses and guesthouses.
- Private facilities
- Accommodation at good value hotels, guesthouses and/or farmhouses
Comfort:
Our comfort self-drive holidays allow you to spend your days exploring rural Iceland, knowing your nights will be spent in the most comfortable accommodation each area has to offer. Throughout the tour you‘ll stay in quality guesthouses and hotels where all rooms have a private facilities.
- Private facilities
- Rooms in the best quality accommodation available at the time of booking
Day 2: South Coast (260 km/162 mls)
Pick up the rental car in the morning and head for the eastern outskirts of the city. Cross the plataue Hellisheidi, with alot 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. Stop at Hellisheiði Geothermal Powerplant where natural hot water and steam pressure from the ground is used for generating electricity. Here, you can enjoy an optional tour through the power station and learn about the eco-friendly geo thermal energy.
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. See the Saga Centre at Hvolsvöllur. Continue across the lowland plains towards Eyjafjöll district. Stop at the waterfall Seljalandsfoss where in summer it is possible to walk behind the falls.
A little further east, stop at Skógafoss, another impressive waterfall and don’t miss the folk museum at Skógar, close to the waterfall. The glaciers Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull are towering above the area.
Make a short detour to the tip of the Sólheimajökull glacier tongue. Proceed further east to the headland Dyrhólaey, a nature reserve and a nesting colony of numerous seabirds. Go to Reynishverfi with spectacular coast and beautiful rock formations and thousands of nesting seabirds in summer. 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, visit the Kirkjugólfið (the Church Floor), a protected natural monument just east of the village.
In the evening there is a good chance to view the elusive Northern Lights. Most of the south coast of Iceland is very sparsely populated and the few towns are small. Therefore there is little light pollution and perfect conditions for viewing the Northern Lights. Sightings of the Northern Lights can never be guaranteed but when the sky is clear, the Northern Lights can frequently be seen during the winter months from the middle of August until early April.
Overnight in Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.
Day 3: Skaftafell & Glacier Lagoon (250 km/155 mls)
Continue from Klaustur over, vast tracts of black sandy desert washed down by numerous torrential glacial rivers. Stop at the Skaftafell National Park, 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. Visit 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. 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. An interesting cruise among the icebergs on the Lagoon is available in summer. Return to Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.
Overnight in Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.
Day 4: Return to Selfoss Area (200 km/124 mls)
Return to Selfoss area and have more time to enjoy sights along the route. A Snowmobiling tour on Mýrdalsjökull Glacier, a Glacier Walk on l Glacier and Horse Riding Tour are possible activities.
Overnight in Selfoss area.
Day 5: The Great Geysir & Gullfoss Waterfall (100 km/62 mls)
From Selfoss head inland and 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.
Overnight in Geysir area.
Day 6: Thingvellir National Park & Blue Lagoon (200 km/124 mls)
Head to the National Park Þingvellir, a unique place from a geological point of view. Research has shown that 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 a place of exceptional beauty. From the National Park, drive across the plateau Mosfellsheiði to Reykjavík.
Continue across moon-like rugged lava fields to the Blue Lagoon*. Enjoy a relaxing bath in an otherworldly setting. In this unique area, lava and thermal water complement each other to prepare you for your journey home. 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.
*Note that it’s important to book the Blue Lagoon in advance as it’s often sold out for entry.
Return to Reykjavik and drop off the car.
Overnight in Reykjavik.
Day 7: Departure (45 km/ 28 mls)
Breakfast at your hotel and return by Flybus shuttle transfer to Keflavik Airport in time for your return flight.
Package Includes:
- Direct return flights from London, Manchester, Edinburgh or Dublin to Iceland (other UK airports upon request)
- 1 piece of check-in luggage per traveler (up to 23 kg)
- Meet and greet at KEF airport and transfer to Reykjavik
- 6 nights’ accommodation in your selected accommodation category
- Breakfast daily
- Rental car for 5 days with unlimited mileage, CDW, theft protection and VAT
- GPS system with car and additional authorized driver
- Fuel discount card valid at more than 90 N1 Gas stations around Iceland
- Iceland Road Guide Book in English
- Detailed itinerary and road map of Iceland with your personal route & accommodation marked in
- Departure transfer from Reykjavik to KEF airport by Flybus
- Emergency phone line open 24 hours
- ATOL protection
- All taxes
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