Overview
Array
Iceland is a vast, evocative country, constantly evolving and changing
through the sheer power of the geological forces that created it. There is a
huge amount to see outside of the better known tourist spots of the south. We
do of course see these, including Geysir, Thingvellir and Gullfoss, and get
to understand why they are so popular! Our journey however continues, to
explore areas less frequented by the average visitor. The starkly beautiful
Icelandic coastline, the immense glaciers and the beauty of the Eastern
Fjords are just some of the treasures that await, to say nothing of the
almost indescribable geology of the north.
Choose between the frozen landscape of the winter, when we see the sun rise
and set every day and have the chance of Northern Lights, and the seemingly
endless days of summer with 24hr daylight. It’s no surprise so many
blockbusters and TV series are filmed here, as dramatic landscapes go, this
takes some beating.
Highlights
* Volcanoes, waterfalls and geysers
* Fishing villages and puffins
* 24hr daylight in summer, chance for Northern Lights in winter
Itinerary
Day 1
Fly to Keflavik; transfer to Reykjavik hotel.
After a Flybus transfer from the airport, our trip begins with a briefing at
our hotel. Depending on your arrival time you may wish to visit to one of the
public hot tubs. Remember to bring your towel and swimsuit in hand luggage.
Day 2
Visit Thingvellir volcanic rift, Geysir waterspouts and Gullfoss Waterfall;
to Hella.
Today we drive inland to the Thingvellir World Heritage Area, where the
world’s first ‘democratic parliament’ meeting took place – the area became
Iceland’s first National Park in 1928 and a World Heritage area in 2004.
Sitting right on top of a major fault line it is the best place in Iceland to
see the continental drift – the movement of the Eurasion and North American
tectonic plates. Here they are literally pulling the earth apart as they inch
away from each other causing the land between to subside. Not surprisingly
the area abounds with waterfalls, immense fissures and the largest lake in
the country. We then carry on to see the world famous geysers. The most
reliable eruption comes every 5-10 minutes from one called ‘Strokkur’; the
30-metre jet of water and steam is spectacular. To round off the day we drive
a short distance on to Gullfoss, a huge dramatic waterfall located in a 70m
deep canyon of River Hvita (White River).
Day 3
Across southern Iceland towards the Eyafjallajokull Volcano Ice Cap, visiting
Kvernufoss and Skogafoss Waterfalls plus sea-cliffs, famous for puffins and
on to the beautiful Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.
We head east to the foot of the infamous Eyjafjallajokull Ice Cap; this area
was heavily affected by ash fall during the eruption of 2010 and a great deal
of ice was melted by the boiling lava. The glacier feeds many beautiful
waterfalls and we visit two of them: Skogarfoss and Kvernufoss. Both have
rushing water dropping 60m, and in the case of Skogafoss, this wall of water
rushes down in a 25m wide sheet, providing quite a spectacle.
Continuing east, we cross the black flood-plain of Solheimasandur, before
reaching the green valley of Myrdalur and continuing to Dyrholaey. This
dramatic 120-metre high promontory is the southernmost point in Iceland. It
is rich in birdlife, and a nesting site for Puffins and Arctic terns in
spring. If we are lucky we might see whales and seals from the promontory on
calm days. We continue further east to Vik, Iceland’s southernmost town, a
great place from which to see theReynisdrangar needles. Then it is further
across Myrdalssandur flood plain and then Skeydararsandur flood plain. Both
created by the countless floods created by volcanic eruptions over time. We
head for Vatnajokull NP with Europe’s largest ice cap, Vatnajokull and it
further on to the famous Glacier Lagoon at Jokulsarlon where thousands of
icebergs are separating from the country’s largest glacier and are floating
in the pale green sea-level lagoon. We take a walk beside the lagoon for
excellent views and if conditions allow can head down to the black sand beach
where chunks of ice are washed back up onto the shore by the sea, creating
some wonderful shapes and formations. We then continue further east with the
steep mountains of Vatnajokull on one side and the exposed south coast on the
other, to our accommodation
Day 4
Today we explore the beautiful east of Iceland, full of glistening fjords,
fishing villages and rich widlife.
A day of scenic driving, with a number of stops as we travel through fjord
country. This stunning mountain region has been sculpted as much by glaciers
as volcanic activity. The spectacular road winds from one fjord to another,
passing a few farms in each fjord where there is enough flat landfor
hayfields. The birdlife is rich and in late summer thousands of moulting
whooper swans feed in the sheltered lagoon of Alftafjordur (Swan fjord). We
then continue to the town of Egilsstadir
Day 5
Studlagil Canyon, Saenautasel farm, Dettifoss Waterfall and the volcanic
Myvatn area.
Heading inland and west we pass through the starkly contrasting desert
scenery of the North East Highlands and follow the track that takes us north
to Jokuldalur valley and to Studlagil Canyon, one of the most beautiful
canyon of Columnar basalt in Iceland. Then its on to Saenautasel farmstead
short distance away. Saenautasel was left abandoned due to have ashfall
shortly after the volcano Askja erupted in 1875. From Saenautasel we drive
enroute Modrudalur to the enormous Dettifoss Waterfall. This is Europe’s most
powerful waterfall, bizarrely set in an arid area of sand and rock
formations. Our journey then takes us on to the Krafla volcano area to
explore the craters and lava from the eruptive period of 1975-1984. We hike
into one of the craters and look at the strange textures of cooled magma
splatters and rich colours of the mineral deposits. From Krafla we head for
our hotel at Lake Myvatn.
Day 6
Lake Myvatn, Hverfell, Godafoss, Akureyri
We spend the day around lake Myvatn and go for a short walk in the lava
fields and craters. We start at Dimmuborgir, a vast area of lava towers and
natural arches. The most spectacular of them is ‘the Church’, a large vault
resembling a church. Only a short distance from Dimmuborgir is Mt.Hverfjall,
a huge circular crater with a depth of 140 metres and 1000 metres in
diameter. It is one of the most beautiful craters in Iceland, one which
erupted some 2500 years ago and covered the Myvatn area in tephra (fragments
of volcanic rock). It is also thought to be one of the largest on the planet.
We traverse Mt.Hverfjall, and a little further north is the rift crevasse
Grjotagja with its crystal clear warm water. We explore the pseudo craters of
Skutustadir. After Myvatn we head to the Godafoss Waterfall en route to
Akureyri.
Day 7
Siglufjordur, Hofsos, Borgarvirki, Kolufljufur Canyon
A free morning in Akureyri. Akureyri is a town of some 17,000 inhabitants and
is the biggest town outside the capital. It is the cultural, commercial and
educational centre for northern Iceland and is 60 km south of the Arctic
Circle. Whale watching tours depart regularly and there are a number of
museums, including an ‘Into the Arctic’ exhibition. Opened in 2017 this
offers everything from information on arctic explorers to ancient charts and
maps, navigational equipment and information on arctic wildlife. This
northerly town is also remarkably green and has the northernmost botanical
garden in the world. The Lutheran church in Akureyri is an interesting visit,
featuring a stained-glass window above the altar that has its origins in
England.
As with most towns in Iceland there are also thermal baths, enjoyed as much
by the locals as by visitors, and if you just fancy a wander, there are
plenty of interesting shops, coffee shops and even ice cream parlours. If you
dont want to relax and explore town then an optional whale watching tour
is possible in the morning.
We leave Akureyri and drive around the Troll Peninsula, via few fishing
villages on the peninsula. We stop at the magnificent outdoor swimming pool
at the village Hofsos and go for a quick dip. This remote geothermal swimming
pool has some of the best views in the country over the Skagafjordur bay. We
head further south and stop at Borgarvirki, an old Viking fortress. The
Citadel is a columnar basalt fortress and a volcanic plug. A little further
south we head into Vididalur valley and make a short stop at beautiful
waterfalls in Kolugljufur canyon, named after a giantess, once said to live
in the area. From Koluglufur we head for our hotel close by.
Day 8
Snaefellsness Peninsula, vikings and Stykkisholmur
Today we drive west to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Along the way we visit a
reconstructed Viking house once home to Eirik the Red and his son Leif
Eiriksson – the two most famous travelling Vikings. The ‘Eirikstadir’ gives
an interesting insight to way of life for the early settlers and an
introduction to the historic tradition of the ‘Icelandic Sagas’. From
Eirksstair we head for the village Stykkisholmur on the Snaefellsnes
peninsula. Snaefellsnes is perhaps best known for the Stratovolcano
‘Snaefellsjokull’. Jules Verne, in his classic ‘Journey to the Centre of the
Earth’, describes this as the start point for the characters’ descent. New
Age followers consider this area to be one of the earth’s seven major energy
centres. We head to our accommodation, located on the southern side of the
peninsula, on the beach with great views over Snaefellsjokull.
Day 9
Follow the Snaefellsness coast before starting back for Reykjavik
The exposed coast of the of Snaefellsnes peninsula is the goal for today, and
this area has recently been designated a National Park. We visit the old
church at Budir, one of the most picture tic on in the country. Sea cliffs
at Arnarstapi swarming with birds, to the rocks of Djupalonssandur and the
sites of old shipwrecks in the black basaltic sand. Our guide will tell us
about the old cod-fishing methods from open boats in the bountiful seas and
towering above us is the volcano – Snaefellsjokull. Some of the best
fisheries are of the peninsula and whales can often be seen from shore on
calm days. We pass through fishing villages on the peninsula and head to one
of the most photographed mountains in Iceland Mt. Kirkjufell. After
kirkjufell we start heading back to the capital.
Day 10
End Keflavik airport.
Our trip ends with a Flybus transfer to Keflavik airport.
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