Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
An Eco-Friendly Road Trip in Iceland Electric Cars, Geothermal Wonders & Green Initiatives
Iceland – Hveragerdi – Reykjavik
Your adventure begins in Hveragerdi, where you’ll hike between hot springs and learn how Icelanders utilise geothermal activity to help grow their crops. Then, take a splash on a guided sea kayaking adventure, keeping your fingers crossed for bird and seal sightings...
Back behind the wheel of your trusty electric car, make your way to the capital, Reykjavik, stopping at the Blue Lagoon along the way (lucky you). In true eco-enthusiast form, explore the city on two wheels and sample some sustainable snacks at an ethical food initiative.
Of course, this is Iceland, so there’s another hike on the agenda, this time to the cascading Glymur Waterfall. Then, enjoy some R&R at the Hvammsvik hot springs. After all that green living (and legwork), we reckon you’ve earned it...
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
After plenty of daydreaming and counting down the sleeps, your greener getaway to Iceland begins today.
Head to the airport, whizz through security and pick up a holiday read (something nature-themed, perhaps) before boarding your three-and-a-half-hour flight to Keflavik. And, while you’re in the clouds, you can rest easy knowing your carbon footprint is being offset by our financing of reforestation projects around the world.
When you touch down, collect your electric hire car – all high-tech and wonderfully low-emission. Then, hit the road for the one-hour drive to Hveragerdi, a sleepy little town in the heart of southern Iceland.
After a scenic journey, check in to your eco-friendly guesthouse – your home for the next three nights. Fittingly, you’re slap bang in an environmentally conscious region (we’re good, we know), where locals harness geothermal energy from nearby Hengill Volcano to support agriculture.
This evening, keep that sustainable spirit going and tuck into a delicious dinner made with organic ingredients.
What better way to keep your sustainable travels on track than with a good old-fashioned hike?
Lace up your walking boots and hit one of the many trails leading out of town and into the volcanic landscapes beyond. As you wander, listen to the earth hissing and steaming around you – this geothermal energy put Hveragerdi on Iceland’s sustainable agricultural map back in the 1940s.
Continue along the trails, passing greenhouses filled with fresh produce and thriving plants, all thanks to the region’s natural heat. And they say Iceland is all ice and snow...
If you’re raring to go, take the longer (and more strenuous) Reykjaladur trail through the Valley of Fumaroles, where you’ll find a sprinkling of natural thermal baths in the heart of the Icelandic wilderness. So be sure to pack your swimsuit – after all that hiking, there’s nothing quite like a soul-warming soak in nature’s very own spa.
Fuel up with a hearty breakfast this morning before meeting your local guide for a walking tour of Hveragerdi. Along the way, learn all about life at the foot of a volcano, marvel at the town’s steaming vents and mud pools and fire off any questions you have about local eco-friendly practices; they're the pros after all...
Your next sustainable sightseeing stint takes place off the coastal village of Stokkseyri, where you’ll bundle into a sea kayak and paddle around a reef formed by Iceland’s longest lava flow.
Your guide is something of a wildlife expert and will point out native birdlife along the way. Plus, if luck’s really on your side, you might even spot some oh-so-adorable seals popping their heads up in the surrounding waters.
Car fully charged? This morning, it’s a one-hour drive to Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, with plenty to discover en route.
First, pull over at the Reykjanes Peninsula, affectionately nicknamed ‘miniature Iceland’ for packing lava fields, caves, hot springs and solfataras into one small region. Don’t miss a stroll along the Reykjanesta cliffs, where jagged volcanic rocks plunge into the Atlantic.
Next, visit Iceland’s oldest lighthouse at Reykjanesta, then head to Krysuvik-Seltun and marvel at the volcanic steam vents and boiling mud pools.
Continue on to the oh-so-dreamy Blue Lagoon, where you’ll bathe in turquoise thermal waters in the heart of a lava field. This is one of Iceland’s most iconic spots, but don’t worry – we’ve already sorted your entrance tickets, so you can breeze straight in...
After hours of soaking (and slathering on silica mud masks), resume the drive to Reykjavik, where you’ll return your hire car. Then, check into your eco-friendly guesthouse, your base for the next four nights, before grabbing dinner.
With electric or manual bikes at your disposal today, you’re free to pedal around Reykjavik at your own pace.
This capital city has been championing sustainable living in recent years, with miles of cycle paths winding through its streets and out into nature. A cyclist's dream, really.
Roll on over to Heidmork Nature Reserve for a dose of Icelandic wilderness, follow the waterfront trail to Grotta Lighthouse or swing by Lake Tjornin for some birdwatching. And don’t miss the woodland trails of Perlan and Oskjuhlid, where you might even spot adorable wild rabbits bounding around.
Next, take a spin around the city centre, hitting the brakes at quirky boutiques, indie museums and cosy cafés. If you’re more of an architecture aficionado, make your way to Hallgrimskirkja Church, whose striking design was inspired by Iceland’s basalt lava columns.
Round things off at a local restaurant, where the seafood is delicious and sustainably caught. Win-win.
Another day, another eco-adventure. Meet your clued-up guide this morning, who’ll give you the lowdown on daily life in the capital and how Iceland is doing its bit for the planet.
You’ll then hop in a taxi (electric, of course) to Islensk Hollusta, an ethical food initiative founded by a passionate biologist. Using Iceland’s native plants, moss and lichens, they produce delicious teas, sauces, jams and cheeses, all with minimal environmental impact.
This family-run business has even brought dried seaweed back into fashion in Iceland – quite the comeback for something historically eaten during difficult times. Let the sustainable snacking commence...
The rest of the day is all yours to enjoy, so perhaps indulge in some retail therapy in Reykjavik’s trendy downtown, where Icelandic designers are making slow fashion seriously stylish. We also recommend popping into Kaolin Ceramic Gallery for a handmade mug or bowl – perfect for enjoying your new Icelandic teas and snacks.
Collect another electric hire car this morning and spend the day exploring Hvalfjordur fjord, tuning into our destination-specific playlist as you go.
Start with Glymur Waterfall (a one-hour drive away), grabbing your hiking poles for the trek to the top. As Iceland’s second-tallest waterfall, it’s quite the climb, but all that huffing and puffing is worth it for those views...
When you’ve hiked back down and made it to your electric ride (phew), head to the Hvammsvik hot springs. We’ve arranged an afternoon of soaking in the eight natural springs, each at a different temperature. Hop between them until you find your favourite – pure bliss.
Feeling brave? The pools sit right on the water’s edge, so you can jump into the ice-cold ocean before hopping back into the toasty springs, just as the Icelanders do.
Tonight, leave dinner plans in the hands of our local Concierge, who’ll know just the spot for a celebratory final meal.
Time flies when you’re having fun – and discovering just how cool sustainable travel can be – but sadly, your Icelandic escape has come to an end.
After one last morning of café-hopping in the capital, fire up the electric motor for the one-hour drive back to Keflavik Airport. Here, return your hire car and enjoy some downtime in the airport lounge before boarding your direct flight back to the UK.
You’ll spend around three-and-a-half hours in the air – plenty of time to ruminate on all the sustainable habits and eco-friendly tricks you plan to weave into everyday life. Just don’t forget them by the time your next adventure rolls around...
Why visit Iceland with Original Travel ?
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire nowA few of the benefits of travelling with us to Iceland
- Our local Concierges
- The Original Travel app
- Destination Dossier
- 24-hour helpline
- Expert guides
- 100% carbon absorption
