Icelandic Road Trip
2024
Highlights of the trip
During your stay you can enjoy the following highlights: Culture / Heritage, Faune and flora, Discovery, Adventure / Sports & Leisure, Relaxation / Well-being.
Best times to go
The best time(s) to go is/are : Printemps, Eté.
Where to stay - Reykjanes ?
The map of your stay "Icelandic Road Trip"
Detail of the stay : Icelandic Road Trip
How to get there - Reykjanes
Reykjanes Peninsula
Steps: Hveragerði
Tour the Reykjanes Peninsula, which gives an initial glimpse of the diversity of Icelandic landscapes. A few moments of relaxation in the Blue Lagoon are followed by the observation of the solfatares and rushing ponds of Krísuvík before you re-recharge, the time of one night, in the horticultural village of Hveragerði.
The Golden Circle
Steps: Gullfoss
Day dedicated to the Golden Circle, you start by joining the fault line of the Þingvellir National Park, former meeting place of the Icelandic Parliament, the Althing. Further east, the Strokkkur geyser emerges in the Geysir geothermal area. In good weather, not far from this place, Gullfoss Falls is adorned with a bright rainbow. Night in Selfoss
Places of interest : GEYSER ARTIFICIEL (STROKKUR)
Þjórsárdalur Valley, from waterfalls to hot springs
Steps: Landmannalaugar
The Þjórsárdalur valley, through which the river Þjórsá flows, is a landscape of striking contrasts, from sandy lava fields to flourishing birch forests. In the middle of it, the Hjálparfoss waterfall cascades down with a bang. The F225 road then leads to the hot springs of Landmannalaugar, an area dominated by rhyolite, and then crosses the F208, a track leading to the edge of Ófaerufoss waterfall. Overnight in the Landmannalaugar refuge.
Places of interest : HJÁLPARFOSS
From the Þórsmörk reserve to Skogar
Steps: Skógar
Difficult to reach because of deep gués to cross, Þórsmörk, a natural reserve partly hidden by three glaciers, offers a show of great beauty by its lush vegetation. Further south, near Highway 1, Seljalandsfoss Falls leaves tourists to intrude behind its curtain. Last step of the day, the small village of Skogar, with its famous waterfall and a very attractive folk museum.
Places of interest : MUSÉE FOLKLORIQUE SELJALANDSFOSS
Westmann Islands
Steps: Vestmannaeyjar
Going to the new port that leads in 30 minutes on the Westmann Islands, named Vestmannaeyjar Islands. Fruits of underwater volcanic eruptions, they are birds in summer and are very much appreciated by egg farc. Heimaey, the largest island in the archipelago, is a wonderful staging point for the night. Visit of the island and return to the end of the day or night on site.
Far South
Steps: Lakagígar
Dyrhólaey, the southernmost point of Iceland, is full of puffins in high season. The surrounding black sandy beaches become the starting point for many walks during this period. After seeing the historic rock formations at Vík, Reynisdrangar, head for Lakagígar, a line of 135 craters. Overnight in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, home of the Systrafoss waterfalls and Kirkjugolf, an area long considered to be an ancient church floor.
From Dverghamrar to Skaftafell Park
Steps: Skaftafell
To the east of Foss Farm, on route 1, are the twin horseshoe-shaped basalt cliffs of Dverghamrar. Núpsstaður, a small church where many riders used to come for a guide, is another stopover before arriving at Skaftafell National Park, a paradise of vegetation with many marked trails. Overnight in Skaftafell.
Places of interest : DVERGHAMRAR
Hiking among the icebergs
Steps: Jökulsárlón
Armed with crampons and a good guide, the ascent of the Svínafellsjökull tongues reveals, for half a day, another facet of Iceland. In order to keep this magic alive, the observation by boat of the Jökulsarlón lake and its immense icebergs gives a concrete idea of the phenomenon of melting glaciers. Shortly before Höfn, a town that makes a pleasant overnight stop, the entrance to the Eastern Fjords offers numerous walking trails surrounded by magnificent scenery.
From Djúpivogur to Fáskrúðsfjörður
Steps: Fáskrúðsfjörður
The winding roads on the east coast lead straight to Djúpivogur, a small village built in an arc around its harbour, and then to Breiðdalsvík. For the keen walker, there are plenty of opportunities for hiking near Fáskrúðsfjörður, not far from which is Skrúður Island, a bird-filled nature reserve with a series of caves, the largest in Iceland. Overnight in Egilsstaðir.
Hallormsstaðarskógu Forest
Steps: Þorshöfn
The Hallormsstaðarskógur forest, 26 km south of Egilsstaðir, is a good example of Iceland's reforestation efforts. Returning to the western shore of Lake Lagarfljót, it is possible to venture to Hengifoss, a 188 m high waterfall. Overnight in Þórshöfn, after crossing basalt reliefs and bypassing the town of Vopnafjörður.
Jökulsárgljúfur National Park
Steps: Dettifoss
One of the most beautiful and powerful waterfalls in Iceland is Dettifoss, a natural phenomenon located in Jökulsárgljúfur National Park. The entrance to this canyon is near Ásbyrgi, on the 864 trail. Back on route 1 to Mývatn, with visits to the Námafjall hills, Grjótagjá cave, Dimmuborgir rock formations or the steaming lava of Krafla volcano. Overnight in Myvatn.
Askja
Steps: Askja
Excursion to Askja, a large caldera located in the mountainous region of Dyngjufjöll. Since the 18th century, a swimming lake has invaded the crater: Öskjuvatn. The brave, ready to take the track again in a 4x4, will head back to Mývatn while the others will stop in the Herðubreiðarlindir refuge on the way.
Places of interest : ÖSKJUVATN
Hike to Hverfjall
Steps: Akureyri
The ascent of the Explosif explosive crater by a small path continues through the observation of Pseudo's grassy shorelines, which were screened by pseudo-craters, in the vicinity of Lake Mývatn. Before spending the night in Akureyri, the passage through the fall of Goðafoss and then by Laufás, ancient church site where the uproar of pagan sepulchres were discovered, is imperative.
Places of interest : LAUFÁS MUSÉE EN PLEIN AIR
Grímsey Island
Steps: Grimsey
A few kilometres north of Akureyri, the church site of Möðruvellir. A boat regularly leaves Dalvík in summer to reach Grímsey Island. Rich in particularly developed vegetation and colonized by various bird breeds, it is home to only a small number of inhabitants, probably because of its small size, 5.3 km². Overnight on the island or in Dalvík.
From the island of Hrísey to Glaumbaer
Steps: Blönduós
From Dalvík, it is possible to reach Iceland's second largest island, Hrísey. To the east of Skagafjörður, the village ofHofsós invites the traveller to discover its regional museum. Further south in Hjaltadalur, the site of Hólar offers a one-hour walk with 14 historical information points. The last stop of the day is Glaumbaer, famous for its church and peat farms. Overnight in Blönduós.
Vatnsnes Peninsula
Steps: Vatnsnes
The Vatnsnes Peninsula is full of treasures. Témoignent, a basalt structure about metres high, the rocks of Hvítserkur, but also Illugastaðir, where the murder of Natan Ketilsson occurred. A museum, located south of the peninsula at the Reykjaskóli school in Le, provides information about shark fishing and life on the farm of yesteryear. The fans of thermal sites don't forget Hveraborg in Tvídaegra. Night in Borðeyri.
Places of interest : HVÍTSERKUR ILLUGASTAÐIR
Western Fjords - Day 1
Steps: Hólmavík
After entering the western fjords, Route 61 quickly leads to the small village of Hólmavík. Accessible by road 635, Kaldalón, a valley crossed by the glacial river Mórilla, accentuates all the contrasts, and testifies to a nature with a raw aspect. It then becomes necessary to retrace your steps in order to head towards Ísafjörður and visit its two main museums. Night in Ísafjörður.
Western Fjords - Day 2
Steps: Búðardalur
Start the day in the southern part of Dýrafjörður at the village of Þingeyri, which contains one of the oldest houses in Iceland. After visiting the museum and chapel in Hrafnseyri, thewestern fjords have more to offer. The Dynjandi waterfall, also known as Fjallfoss, falls from a hundred-metre cliff and is the most impressive waterfall in the West Fjords. Overnight in Búðardalur.
Stykkishólmur
Steps: Borgarnes
A reconstruction of the birthplace of Leifur Eiríksson, the first European to set foot in America, is in Eiríksstaðir. In the Snaefellsnes peninsula, near Stykkkishólmur, Mount Helgafell, which is visited by many walkers in summer, shows its basalt composition. Stykkishólmur is also an ideal starting point for boats specialising in whale, dolphin and other marine observation. The tour of the peninsula completed, harms Borgarnes.
Húsafell
Steps: Akranes
Húsafell, the Pearl between lava and glaciers, offers an amazing contrast with the surrounding nature. A few steps away, a series of waterfalls, Hraunfossar, spills over a vast area. In the Reykholtsdalur region, a final geothermal area provides 180 litres of water at 100°C, Deildartunga, a spring considered the most productive in Iceland. Overnight in Akranes.
Places of interest : HRAUNFOSSAR ET BARNAFOSS
Mount Akrafjall
The ascent of Mount Akrafjall is not very difficult and gives one of the most beautiful views ofWest Iceland. A paying tunnel leads back to Reykjavík, the capital city, where you can enjoy some last minute shopping and relaxing swimming pools. Overnight in Reykjavík.
