Self-Drive The highland road to Northern Iceland

Fly to Iceland and collect your rental car on arrival at Keflavik International Airport. Dive into the geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon before heading south to your first accommodation. A visit to the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa could be a good start on your stay in Iceland. Guests renew their relationship with nature, soak up the scenic beauty and enjoy breathing the clean, fresh air while relaxing in the warm geothermal seawater. Please note that admission to the Blue Lagoon needs to be booked ahead, and entrance is not included in this offer. On the roundtrip in Iceland, you will also find other geothermal pools to visit. First night in Reykjavik.

Drive to the World Heritage Site of Thingvellir National Park. This is the location of Iceland‘s original parliament. Enjoy views across the clear waters of Lake Thingvallavatn. Visit the thundering Gullfoss waterfall and famous Geysir geothermal area, where the geyser of Strokkur regularly erupts and numerous other hot springs bubble and steam. Nearby Geysir area, we can recommend stop at the farm Efstidalur (about 10 minutes’ drive from Laugarvatn area, between Thingvellir and Geysir). Here you can enjoy a nice dinner or just have a taste of homemade ice cream. Nearby Geysir, you will also find the natural pool Secret Lagoon. From Geysir we head towards the highland road Sprengisandur and spend a couple of nights in this area before crossing over the highlands.

From our accommodation, we will take a day-tour to the highland area of Landmannalaugar. Landmannalaugar is a place in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve in the Highlands of Iceland. It is at the edge of Laugahraun lava field, which was formed in an eruption around the year 1477. It is known for its natural geothermal hot springs and surrounding landscape and too many as the pearl of the Icelandic highlands. Landmannalaugar itself is made up of Rhyolite Mountains, a rock type that creates a full spectrum of dazzling colors on the mountainside. Shades of red, pink, green and golden yellow all change their tone, keeping in movement with the sun rays and creating an area of wilderness that resembles no place else on earth. Use the day for a nice hike on the mountainside and top it with a bath in the geothermal pool before heading back to your accommodation.

Today’s route will take you across the ancient pass through the highland plateau Sprengisandur, from south to north and passing the glaciers Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull.  Make sure the tank is full of gasoline and you pack both drinks and packed lunch in the car. The gravel road is about 200 km and reaching a height of around 750-800 meters, and only passable with good 4WD cars during the summer. You will have to cross rivers on the way. The landscape is mostly highland gravel desert, but with a beautiful views to the glaciers. The scenic beauty makes this route unforgettable. From the highland gravel road, you will reach the green areas of the north. Three night stay in the area in or around the capital of the north, Akureyri.

After a long drive on a rough gravel road, it is highly recommended to start your day in a nearby swimming pool, and stretch out your sore muscles in a Jacuzzi. Enjoy the day at Akureyri. Within the Akureyri town, limits there are many interesting recreation areas and hiking paths. The Akureyri Botanical Garden is known everywhere for its beautiful walking paths and luxuriant flora. One of gems of Akureyri is that it was founded in 1912, and it contains nearly every plant found in Iceland ca. 450 and nearly 7,000 foreign plants. The town has many museums, galleries and exhibitions who offers insight in the diversity of the culture and the nation as a whole.

Drive the Diamond Circle route to pass through the truly impressive landscape of the north. Explore the area around Lake Mývatn. This is a lovely and intriguing area of pseudo-craters, steaming fissures, lush green plains and amazingly varied birdlife. Couple of highlights by Mývatn are the lava “town” of Dimmuborgir and geothermal area Námaskarð. Continue your journey around the dramatic Tjörnes Peninsula to Húsavík, Ásbyrgi, and Jökulsá Canyon and on to Europe’s most powerful waterfall Dettifoss. With a width of 100 meters and a drop of 45 meters, it is a spectacular sight and you can feel the earth shake when you stand by the fall. Ásbyrgi is a horseshoe shaped valley with nice hiking opportunities, as well as a beautiful little lake in the middle of the valley. Take a trip to the fishing village of Húsavík, where you can join a whale-watching excursion. Húsavík is known for being Europe's whale capital, and there is a great chance to see whales if you participate in whale watching. The trip out with the beautiful wooden boats gives you a wonderful experience at the sea overlooking the majestic north coast of Iceland. Visit Godafoss, the impressive “waterfall of the Gods” on the route to Akureyri.

Drive the ring road toward west. The Skagafjörður area features a number of intriguing sights. This region is particularly famous for breeding the world-renowned Icelandic horses. Nearby is Saudakrokur and the fascinating folk museum at Glaumbær. There are possibilities for horseback riding on Iceland horse, hiking tours and if you want more excitement, there is river rafting. In Víðidalur near Hvammstangi, you will find the beautiful Kolugljúfur canyon with its stunning waterfall Kolufossar. In this area, you will also find the amazing cliff Hvítserkur. Continue west to the Borgarfjördur district, where you spend the night.

Start your day driving to Reykholt. The place of Snorri Sturluson, Icelandic author and poet who lived in Reykholt in the 1200's. He is most famous as a writer of Heimskringla, Norse Kings Sagas. Nearby Reykholt, you will find Húsafell. Here you have the opportunity to join a tour to Langjökull glacier and into a manmade cave on the glacier. Just by Húsafell, you will also find the beautiful waterfalls Barnafossar and Hraunfossar. It is possible to stop at Deildartunguhver, Europe's largest geometric hot water source. It produces 150 liters of boiling water per second! The steaming water testifies to the inner forces of the earth. You will find Krauma Spa by Deildartunguhver. In the afternoon, you arrive in Reykjavik, where the journey ends. Take a stroll in the old city, with the small colorful houses, shops, galleries and cafes. There are options for city sightseeing excursions and boat-tours from the city harbor, as well as guided walk tours with both food and beer tasting on the way. Visit the beautiful concert house Harpa by the harbor. Reykjavik has many outdoor swimming pools, open from early morning to late evening and a good way to ease the body after a long drive. Laugavegur shopping-street is worth visiting, and you will find the big shopping center Kringlan near by the city center. Enjoy your last evening in the city.

Spend the day as you wish, depending on your return flight. Drop off your rental car at Keflavik Airport.