Fly & Drive
Self-drive tours offer the travelers the opportunity to truly experience the tranquility and beauty of Iceland at their own pace. Our team will have driven the routes we suggest and visited the accommodation, so the traveler can rely on this firsthand knowledge. Self-drive tours offer freedom and flexibility for the experienced driver. It is always better to have information on what pace of travel the individuals prefer and whether they are used to travelling independently before suggesting a self-drive program.
We provide 24-hour total assistance as well as detailed notes of the program, distances and any other relevant information such as nearby sights of interest. We always suggest to include a GPS in the car rental but we provide a road map with the hire car in case the traveler does get lost. We trust that the traveler take their time studying driving conditions and regulation in Iceland before traveling and then follows closely the weather forecast during the stay.
Sample: 8-day self-drive itinerary
This program is a spin on the classic 8-day tour around Iceland where the focus is on the ring road (road no. 1). Here we suggest the traveler skips the drive from Akureyri to Reykjavik, by dropping of the rental car in Akureyri and flying to Reykjavik, to have more time either in North Iceland or Reykjavik at the end of the tour.
Day 1
Pick-up rental car at airport. We recommend going straight to the Blue Lagoon (by appointment only) for relaxation before continuing to Reykjavik hotel for overnight.
Day 2
In the morning head to Thingvellir National Park to explore the historic and geological attractions in the area. Continue to Geysir geothermal area in Haukadalur valley and Gullfoss, the golden waterfall. Other geysers get their name from this large geyser in Iceland, the great Geysir, which no longer is active, but instead the geyser right next to it, Strokkur, spouts boiling water every 5 to 15 minutes. We recommend stopping for lunch while at Gullfoss waterfall.
In the afternoon we continue to the South Coast of Iceland. Stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall, one of the few waterfalls in Iceland that you can walk behind when conditions are favourable. Be careful if you chose walk behind it. Overnight in Skogar area.
Day 3
Start the day by driving to Skogar to take a look at the majestic Skogar waterfall and the remarkable Skogar folk museum. Next continue to the half-island of Dyrhólaey, a 100 meters high cliff on a peninsula that reaches into the Atlantic Ocean. The area is rich with bird life and on the top of the island is a lighthouse. Stop in the village of Vik before continuing across vast stretches of black sand. In the afternoon visit Skaftafell National Park, a green oasis with contrasting landscapes all around. Next continue to hotel for overnight in Skaftafell area.
Day 4
Start the day at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon where huge icebergs, broken off the ever-shifting mass of Breidamerkurjokull glacier, float in the lagoon. Boat tour on the lagoon (about 30-40 minutes, by appointment). This afternoon you will start exploring the East fjords. We will recommend stops depending on schedule and weather. Overnight in Breiddalsvik area.
Day 5
Start the day in Stodvarfjordur village to visit the spectacular collection of Icelandic rocks and minerals at Petra’s museum of minerals. Continue north towards Lake Myvatn area. You have a lot of ground to cover but also amazing stops such as Dettifoss waterfall, Europe’s most powerful waterfall. Overnight in Lake Myvatn or Husavik area.
Day 6
Lake Myvatn is a famous bird sanctuary and the area’s landscape has many interesting geological and volcanic features that are many easily accessible. We recommend visiting pseudo-craters in Skutustadir, strange lave formations that have a mythical aura in Dimmuborgir and solfataras with boiling sulphuric mud-pools in Namaskard area. On the way to Akureyri stop at the scenic Goðafoss waterfall. We will recommend further stops depending on location of confirmed hotel. Dinner and overnight Akureyri area.
Day 7
Drop-off rental car at Akureyri airport and catch morning flight from Akureyri to Reykjavik. Taxi to downtown hotel. Explore Reykjavik today.
Day 8
Departure day. Airport transfer will pick you up at the hotel about 2,5 hrs prior to the departure of flight out of the country.
