Self Drive Holidays
Welcome to Iceland. Upon arrival at Keflavik Airport, please pick-up luggage and head through Customs. Collect your rental car at the Airport and proceed to your hotel. Drive along the Southern Coast of the Reykjanes Peninsula to the charming Village of Hveragerði for your overnight stay. This village is one of the few sites in the world located directly on top of a Geothermal area because of its many greenhouses heated by hot water from nearby springs it is often called the 'Flower Village'. There are plenty of outdoor and wellness activities to enjoy here and several restaurants with a unique local focus. Overnight in Hveragerði.
After breakfast, we will visit the Þingvellir National Park, the site of the Ancient Icelandic Viking Parliament and a jewel of nature. Here you can see the meeting point between the North American and Europe Continents. Several walking trails take visitors to historical points of interest. If you enjoy the adventure you might try Snorkelling in clear waters between two continents. Þingvellir sits near Þingvallavatn, Iceland's largest lake. Visit two other amazing sites of the Golden Circle, Gullfoss Waterfall and the Geysir Hot Spring area. Gullfoss is considered by many visitors to be Iceland's most beautiful Waterfall. Geysir is an active Geothermal field with many bubbling steam vents and spouting Hot Springs including the famous Strokkur Geyser. If you enjoy adventure, you might try White Water Rafting in the River running from Gullfoss. Next, a wonderful way to relax during the day is to visit the Fontana Steam Baths, the Secret Lagoon or the Laugarás Lagoonr. These places are a part of the area’s history and popular with both Icelanders and visitors. A delightful culinary experience is a visit to the Efstidalur Dairy Farm. You can take a guided tour to learn about the farm and life on the farm as well as try some of the homemade dairy treats like Cheese, Skyr and Ice Cream. The farm's restaurant looks into the Dairy barn where you might get a glimpse of the Cows who provide the Milk for Efstidalur's tasty treats. Overnight in the Hveragerði area. Meals: Breakfast
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Today is open for you to explore more of the area around the Golden Circle and South Iceland. Here are some suggestions. If you have a 4WD vehicle (On Request), you might enjoy visiting the Þjórsárdalur Valley and its ever changing landscapes of Birch woods, sandy Lava fields, Rivers and Waterfalls. You will also see the impressive and beautiful Mt. Hekla Volcano towering over the region. You can visit the site of a Viking Age Farm that was covered by Lava from one of Hekla’s eruptions. A replica shows you how the Longhouse looked (admission not included). Game of Thrones fans might recognise some of the landscapes as locations used in Season 4 of the show. A short and easy hiking trail from Stöng leads to the enchantingly green landscapes of Gjáin Canyon (Summer time). The Lava formations around the Canyon are spectacular. Þjórsárdalur is also home to Háifoss, Iceland's third highest Waterfall, as well as the uniquely divided Waterfall of Hjálparfoss. You could opt to take the South Coast road to the charming coastal Villages of Stokkseyri and Eyrarbakki both with lovely old buildings and great Seafood restaurants. You can visit unique Museums like the Ghost Centre in Stokkseyri and the historical homes at the Eyrarbakki Heritage Museum. At Stokkseyri you can also enjoy ATV safaris on the beach. If you love local history, another option would be a guided tour of Laugarvatnshellir Cave in the Golden Circle area (open June-August). This cavern was the cosy home of two Icelandic families during the early 20th Century. Reconstructions show how the unique family homes looked. You could also visit the charming Friðheimar Farm. At Friðheimar you can tour the Tomato greenhouses, buy local products at their market and even enjoy a Tomato based lunch (the meal must be booked in advance). Overnight in Hveragerði or Selfoss. Meals: Breakfast
This morning, drive along the scenic South Shore and the area near the infamous Eyjafjallajökull Volcano. This is the Volcano whose massive 2010 eruption caused air traffic around the world to be cancelled. We recommend a stop at the interactive LAVA Centre where you will learn about the powerful Volcanic and Tectonic forces that shaped both Iceland and Earth. The centre has interesting exhibits for all age groups. Your journey takes you by the beautiful Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss Waterfalls (each one a photo worthy visit) and Mýrdalsjökull Glacier. Seljalandsfoss Waterfall is a graceful, ribbon shaped cascade that once dropped into the sea. Skógafoss Waterfall is one of the most photographed falls in Iceland. Its perfect shape makes a fantastic backdrop for a selfie. Nearby is the Skógar Folk Museum, where we recommend exploring the Old Turf Farm or checking out the historical exhibits inside. Afterwards, we will stop by the seafront Village of Vík to explore Reynisfjara, a dramatic stretch of coastline poised between Glacier topped mountains, rugged sea cliffs and black sand beaches. Dyrhólaey is a rocky headland famous in photos for its black Lava Arch. During Summer, thousands of Seabirds and Puffins nest here (Puffins are generally in Iceland between mid-May and early August). Head through the vast Lava fields of Eldhraun that were created in a devastating eruption in the 18th Century that impacted both Icelanders and Western Europeans. Your destination is Kirkjubæjarklaustur, a town named after a Medieval Convent. Overnight in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area. PLEASE NOTE: Dyrhólaey is closed during nesting season from about the middle of May until late June. Meals: Breakfast
Today, you will be in Vatnajökull National Park named after Europe's largest glacier. Visit the awe inspiring Skaftafell area of the park, which is set between glaciers. There are several excellent hiking trails including one to the Basalt lined Svartifoss Falls (Summer hiking trail). If you want to experience Glacier adventure, we recommend taking a guided hike on one of the park's Glaciers. Next, continue to the shimmering Icebergs of Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon and enjoy the amazing view. Many people enjoy taking an amphibian boat trip on the Glacier Lagoon itself. Nearby the Glacier Lagoon is Diamond Beach an area where glittering pieces of Glaciers perch on the Volcanic black sand coastline. If you would like to view another Glacier Lagoon, you should check out Fjallsárlón. It is a smaller and less visited Ice Lagoon with distinctive beauty. You can take Zodiac Tours in this Lagoon that give you amazing views of the Icebergs. Return to your accommodation in the late afternoon and stay overnight in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area. Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, take a leisurely trip back through the South Shore area to visit places you might not have seen on Day 4. This is a good day to try activities like riding ATV vehicles on a black sand beach, guided hiking on Sólheimajökull Glacier or kayaking on the Sólheimajökull Glacier Lagoon. Your destination is the beautiful Borgarfjörður region an area full of enchanting landscapes, Viking history, handicrafts and local cuisine. This afternoon, if you enjoy Viking history we recommend a visit to the interactive Settlement Museum in Borgarnes Town. You will learn how Viking pioneers settled Iceland as well as tales about the controversial Viking Hero Egill Skallagrimsson. Overnight in the Borgarfjörður area. Meals: Breakfast
Today, you are in for a treat. Enjoy a whole day to explore the countless natural wonders of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula the home of Snæfellsjökull National Park. Snæfellsnes is known as 'Iceland in a Nutshell' since you can see samples of most Icelandic landscapes in one area. Visit Arnarstapi sea cliffs where many types of Seabirds live. If you enjoy hiking, there is a great nature trail you can hike between Arnarstapi and Hellnar Villages (About 4.3 kms). Crowning the area is the Glacier topped Snæfellsjökull Volcano the legendary home to a guardian spirit. Driving through the park gives you a chance to view the mountain from many different angles. Afterwards, we will also visit Djúpalónssandur with its mysteriously shaped rocks and black pebbled beach. Then head along the north coast through lively fishing villages. Keep an eye out for Kirkjufell the photogenic Church Mountain. Ólafsvík Town is a great place for Whale Watching Tours. Overnight in the Breiðafjörður area. Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, leave today open to enjoy Breiðafjörður on your way to Reykjavík. While in Breiðafjörður, you might visit the colourful Víðgelmir Lava Cave or take an exciting ride up Langjökull Glacier in a special truck to view a unique Ice Tunnel and Ice Cave and see a Glacier from the inside out. If you enjoy scenic hikes, you will want to visit the Husafell Nature area. A series of walking trails lead to scenic and historical areas. There are trails to suit different hiking levels and landscapes so you will surely find one that suits you perfectly. Within the area are also two scenic and impressive Waterfalls. Hraunfossar the Lava Falls appears as though Glacial water is bursting through Lava formations. The nearby Barnafoss Falls has brilliantly blue waters. Visit Deildartunguhver the most powerful and fastest Hot Springs in Europe. You can’t bathe in these springs but the nearby Krauma Natural Geothermal Baths use water from Deildartunguhver combined with cool mountain springs to create the ideal temperature for relaxation. Next, head onwards to Iceland’s colourful Capital City, Reykjavík. The rest of the day is open to enjoy the city's restaurants, museums and nightlife. Overnight in the Reykjavík area. Meals: Breakfast
This morning, we will explore a different side of Iceland with a visit to Reykjanes Peninsula. Designated as a UNESCO Geopark in 2015, Reykjanes lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It has over 50 sites related to Geothermal and Tectonic plate activity. It is a paradise for Geologists and Photographers alike. Visit the moon like surroundings of Lake Kleifarvatn and the Krýsuvík Geothermal area with its multicoloured bubbling mud pools. You can also cross the Mid-Atlantic ridge on the Bridge between Continents. Reykjanes is also home to the famous Blue Lagoon where you can relax in the soothing mineral waters (must be booked in advance). If you enjoy adventure, you can also enjoy the optional guided ATV tours, hiking, Snorkelling and Golfing, or indulge your inner explorer at the Vikingaheimar Museum where you can learn about Viking discoveries between Iceland and the New World. Afterwards, we will head to Reykjavík for your overnight stay. Enjoy the food scene and lively culture of Iceland's Capital. Overnight in Reykjavík. Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, we will drive back to Keflavik International Airport. We recommend departing your hotel in Reykjavík no later than at least 3 hours before your flight. It takes approximately 1 hour to drive to the airport and check-in will start 2 hours before your departure. Meals: Breakfast
Tour Prices are per person twin share in Australian Dollars. Conditions apply and group tours are subject to change and availability. Prices are subject to currency fluctuations. (ic)
