Iceland Winter Explorer Fly-Drive

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.

This map uses Google Maps, so you can zoom and interact with it as we hope it is familiar to you.

For a larger version of this map which opens in a new window, click here

The lines shown give you an indication of our destinations and are not the exact route used.

You'll see...

• The Blue Lagoon Iceland »
• Photographing the Northern Lights »
• Ice Glacier Walking »
• Northern Lights in Iceland »
• The Pearl »
• Horse Riding »
• National Museum of Iceland »
• Reykjavik City »
• Hot Springs Iceland »
• Geysers & hot springs in Iceland »
• Golden Circle Tour Iceland »

Will I see the Northern Lights?

Please scroll down to see the specifics for the country you wish to visit:

Iceland:
The Northern Lights are in the Northern sky from September through April but are only visible when the sky is clear and free of clouds. Like many of natures wonders, it’s ephemeral – they may be visible, they may appear for a bit and then be gone. But it’s worth it to be patient. Because they’re a winter event, you need to be prepared to wait outside, while looking for them. It’s best to dress very warmly, in layers, with good footwear, gloves, hats and whatever else will make you comfortable while you await this truly amazing event. The Northern Lights can be pretty spectacular, and for the best photos we recommend using a tripod. Much of Iceland offers a very a good chance to see the Northern Lights when conditions are right. Remember – the Northern Lights are natural phenomena, not guaranteed, but appreciated all the more for their elusive qualities.

Norway:
Northern Norway is one of the world's best places to experience the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). In Northern Norway, Northern Lights occur in up to 90% of every clear night in the period from late September to late March. Most Northern Lights occur in the time span from 6pm to slightly after midnight, with an absolute peak at around 10-11pm. 

In Norway, the area north of the Arctic Circle is prime aurora territory. The various destinations in the High North have a distinct personality, and are well worth exploring. Major places in Northern Norway are Tromsø, Kirkenes, Alta, Bodø, Lofoten and Vesterålen Islands and Svalbard.

Finland:
The best place to see the Northern Lights in Finland is in the Northern Lapland region, which is almost entirely located within the realm of the Arctic Circle. During the dark winter months here, when the sun rarely peaks its head over the horizon, you can expect to see the Finland Northern Lights with regularity, and other peak seasons include February through March and September through October. The most common colours of the Northern Lights are greenish-yellow and red.

The Finnish term for the Northern Lights, Revontulet, meaning fox fire, comes from an old tale where the fox was believed to swish its bushy tail on the snowy fell landscapes, throwing sparks into the air.

As mentioned, Lapland is the best place to see the Finland Aurora Borealis, with the Kilpisjarvi area offering the most abundant opportunities. The best time of the day to see the Finland Northern Lights is between 9 pm and 11:30 pm, though they are certainly not restricted to this time frame.

Sweden:
In Northern Sweden, the Northern Lights usually occur during the winter months through late March or early April, but they can be spotted as early as September in the Northernmost parts. Your best chance of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is on cold winter nights when the sky is clear and cloudless. You need to be away from city lights, which dilute the effects of these natural phenomena, so head out into the countryside. On clear nights, the Northern Lights can be visible from most locations in Swedish Lapland, occurring between 6 pm to and 2 am, with the strongest shows happening between 10 pm and 11 pm. For those willing to brave the cold on winter nights, here are some of the best locations in Swedish Lapland for viewing these phenomena:

Abisko National Park
Abisko National Park, a couple of kilometers north of Kiruna, is a prime location for viewing the Northen Lights. The scientifically proven “blue hole” — a patch of sky over the Torneträsk lake that usually remains clear despite overcast weather in surrounding areas — gives Abisko its own micro-climate, which is suitable for catching the lights.

Jukkasjärvi and the Torne Valley
Not only does the village of Jukkasjärvi (population roughly 541) boast the world’s first ice hotel (rebuilt ever year from Torne River ice), it’s also one of the best regions to view the Northern Lights. ICEHOTEL organizes guided tours for guests which takes the to the Esrange Space Center located 30 minutes from Kiruna. You can dine at a wilderness camp and get the chance to scan the Arctic winter sky for aurora borealis.

Other regions in Swedish Lapland
As mentioned earlier, if weather conditions are just right (clear, dark, cold, and cloudless), you might catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights from any location within subarctic and arctic Sweden — even close to larger towns such as Luleå, Jokkmokk, Arvidsjaur, and Gällivare.

Greenland:
The northern lights - or Aurora Borealis as it is officially known - actually occur all year round, but cannot be seen during the summer months in Greenland due to the midnight sun. The phenomenon is often seen around midnight and is best experienced on a dark, clear night in the period from September to the beginning of April. If you are travelling during this period, you can see the Northern Lights from anywhere in the country, whilst in South Greenland the northern lights can be seen from as early as the end of August.