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Experience the lovely fishing villages dotting the Snæfellsnes Peninsula along with the beautiful north-west coast of Iceland, known for spotting seals, and from where you can view the remarkably-shaped Hvítserkur crag. Traverse the Kjölur mountain track straight through Iceland’s uninhabited interior highlands. The route shows Iceland’s nature at its rawest and passes between the Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers. The relaxed itinerary means you don’t have to pack and unpack every night.

Itinerary

Pick up your rental car at Keflavík International airport and make your way to Reykjavík. Rest of the day open for your activities. Both Reykjanes and Reykjavik offer a great variety of enjoyable activities for your first day in Iceland.

Overnight stay in Reykjavík or Reykjanes area.

Reykjavik – Snæfellsnes Peninsula – Borgarfjörður

Depart your hotel and travel along the western coast towards the Snæfellsnes peninsula. En route pass the perfectly formed Eldborg crater, which looks as though it belongs on the moon. Explore the extraordinary variety of natural wonders along the peninsula, from the rich birdlife at Arnarstapi sea cliffs to pleasant hiking along the shiny pebbled beach of Djupalonssandur.

Throughout the day, glimpse views of Snaefellsjökull, a magnificent cone-shaped glacier which covers a dormant volcano (last eruption 250 AD).

Overnight stay in the Borgarfjörður area.

Borgarfjörður – Deildartunguhver – Hraunfossar - Laugarbakki

Explore Borgarfjordur area, a popular destination getaway for Icelanders. Some places you might visit include the historic site of Reykholt, the remarkably beautiful Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls and Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in Europe.

Continue to the north of Iceland, crossing the vast Holtavörðuheiði plateau where views seem to stretch into infinity.

Overnight stay in the Laugarbakki area for two nights.

Vatnsnes – Borgarvirki – Sauðárkrókur – Glaumbær

Spend the day exploring the north-west part of Iceland and the Skagafjörður area. Visit Vatnsnes peninsula, recently made famous in Hannah Kent‘s heart-wrenching historical novel, Burial Rites. This is a beautiful area for spotting seals, and from where you can view the remarkably-shaped Hvítserkur crag. Another interesting sight is Borgarvirki, a columnar basalt fortress used in Viking age battles. Also vist visit Skagafjörður, famous for horse breeding and history. Glaumbær is a beautifully-preserved turf manor house dating back to the 18th century. You can also visit Hólar, a Medevial bishopric with many historical sites.

Overnight stay in Laugarbakki area.

Kjölur – Gullfoss – Geysir – Laugarvatn

Today it‘s time to leave civilisation and view the wild highland heart of Iceland. Drive the historical unpaved Kjölur mountain track straight through Iceland’s uninhabited interior highlands. . The route shows Iceland‘s nature at its rawest and passes between Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers. Stop at Hveravellir, one of the world‘s most beautiful geothermal areas. Its natural hot spring pool is perfect for a relaxing break under the wide highland skies.

Kjölur emerges in the vicinity of Gullfoss, a majestic waterfall of sparkling mist and golden charm situated on the Hvítá River. The Geysir geothermal field is nearby, with its various bubbling mud pots and spouting hot springs. Most famous of these is Srokkur geyser, which seems to erupt like clockwork.

Overnight stay in Laugarvatn area for two nights

South Shore – Skógar – Vík - Laugarvatn

Today follow along the stunning volcano landscapes and ocean views of Iceland‘s south shore, This is the landscape of Iceland‘s national epic, Njáll’s Saga. A stop at the Saga Museum in Hvollsvöllur can tell you more about the saga and where it takes place.

During the day you‘ll encounter the wonderful variety of the south: from the wide plains formed by glacial rivers, to the sheer sea cliffs and black sand beaches and spectacular waterfalls. On clear days, you‘ll experience unforgettable views of Eyjafjallajökull volcano. You may even see the Westman Islands Archipelego.

Overnight stay in Laugarvatn area. Perhaps you´ll consider a visit to the Laurgarvatn Fontana steam baths.

Þingvellir – Reykjavík

Drive to Þingvellir National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site), site of the ancient Icelandic parliament, and a jewel of nature. The park itself is situated in a stunning volcanic landscape of mountains and lava flows on the edge of Iceland's largest lake. A walk through here can give you a glimpse into Iceland‘s history, as many intersting events happened here. This is also where the European and North American tectonic plates come together.

Continue back to Reykjavík for the last overnight stay.

Drive back to Keflavik International Airport and drop off rental car. If your flight is later in the day, you might consider a visit to the Blue Lagoon. ( or if late flight drop car off no day 7 before 6.00pm Reykjavik city.

Notes