Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Iceland – Reykjavik – Highlands – Eastfjords
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Your road trip around Iceland begins today. Head to the airport, speed through security and enjoy some downtime before your three-and-a-half-hour flight to Keflavik. On arrival, collect your hire car and drive two hours to the Geysir Geothermal Area in the Haukadalur Valley, home to boiling mud pools, hot springs, steaming fumeroles and active geysers.
The Great Geysir is mostly inactive these days, but the must-see Strokkur geyser shoots plumes of water up to 130ft high every seven to eight minutes. Your home for the night is a modern hotel overlooking this impressive natural attraction.
Hit the road to the Kerlingarfjoll mountain range (also called ‘Witch Mountains’) for a two-night stay in a mountain chalet. The drive takes around two-and-a-half hours following the Kjolur Route: a centuries-old 104-mile-long gravel track which cuts through the Icelandic Highlands.
As you journey between the glistening Hofsjokull and Langjokull glaciers, stop to admire the rugged wilderness and beautiful glacier-fed lakes Hagavatn and Hvitarvatn – the source of the Hvita river.
When you arrive at your destination, enjoy the views and a delicious dinner prepared by the resort’s restaurant.
Kerlingarfjoll is a hiker’s paradise, so pull on your walking shoes and explore this geothermal landscape of steaming vents, hot springs, bubbling mud pools and snow-capped volcanic mountains. A must-do is the Hveradalir route, a seven-and-a-half-mile loop that takes around four to five hours.
After crossing the Innri-Asgardsa river, follow the well-marked trail to the summit of Mount Maenir for breathtaking views overlooking the Hveradalir (also called the ‘Valley of the Hot Springs’) – one of Iceland’s largest geothermal areas. On a clear day, spot the Kjolur mountain plateau to the north and Lake Hvitarvatn to the west.
It’s back on the Kjolur Route this morning for a scenic four-hour drive to Akureyri for an overnight stay. Known as Iceland’s ‘Capital of the North’, the town is tucked away at the base of the magnificent Eyjafjordur – one of the longest fjords in Iceland, measuring 37 miles from its head to mouth.
Stop at Hveravellir en route for a closer look at its geothermal wonders and to take some memorable snaps.
After settling into your modern Nordic-style hotel, explore the town’s streets and browse its art galleries, as well as its vintage and independent stores selling local handcrafted goods.
Ready to embark on the next leg of your adventure? Head south-east, driving two hours to the hamlet of Modrudalur, where you’ll stay in a traditional turf house on a remote farm for two nights (with an altitude at over 1,500ft, it’s the highest inhabited farm in Iceland).
En route, stop at Godafoss waterfall (also known as the ‘Waterfall of the Gods’); Myvatn, one of the country's most active volcanic regions and a protected nature reserve; and Askja caldera, that also serves as a training ground for astronauts thanks to its lunar-like landscapes.
After reaching your destination, admire the local church that doubles as a lighthouse, which was built in 1949 by Jon Stefansson, an artist and farmer who lived at the farm.
Then, enjoy a dinner featuring locally-sourced ingredients including Arctic char (a cold-water fish), lamb, reindeer and organic vegetables.
After waking to silence in this awe-inspiring landscape, enjoy a wholesome buffet breakfast before exploring the local area. Skyr (creamy yogurt), hafragrautur (oatmeal), rugbrauo (rye bread), and jams and cheeses will all feature on the menu.
Your home-from-home is close to incredible spots within easy driving distance from the farm. Some of our favourites include Odadahraun, Iceland’s largest lava field (1,422 square miles); the active Askja caldera in the Dyngjufjoll mountains; Herdubreidarlindir for its hot springs; and the photo-worthy Herdubreid table mountain (called ‘Queen of the Mountains’ by locals).
Today, you’re swapping lunar-like landscapes for emerald-green woodland with a two-night stay in the heart of a forest.
First, drive 90 minutes to Egilsstadir where we’ve arranged tickets to Vok Baths on the banks of Lake Urridavatn. These state-of-the-art facilities blend seamlessly into the landscape and feature floating geothermal pools with infinity views, a sauna, a cold-water spray tunnel and cold plunge, as well as an in-water pool bar and on-site restaurant.
After experiencing the age-old Icelandic tradition of bathing, drive for another 30 minutes to reach your modern hotel tucked in the forest outside Egilsstadir, where native trees include birch, larch and rowan.
After waking to birdsong and rustling leaves, take a walk around the serene Lagarfljot lake, where locals believe a mythical serpent known as Lagarfljotsormurinn lives in the depths. Then, visit dramatic Hengifoss, an iconic waterfall nearby that plunges 420ft. A little further along the trail is Litlanesfoss waterfall, which is flanked by magnificent basalt columns.
Keen for more exploring? Hallormsstadur National Forest, a 20-minute drive from Egilsstadir, is a 1,828-acre protected area and Iceland’s largest forest. Here you can find 25 miles of well-marked hiking trails winding through this magical woodland – which is home to over 85 different tree species – past thundering waterfalls and gentle streams.
Your road trip continues with a four-hour drive to Hofn, where you’ll spend the night in a modern hotel with panoramic views of the majestic Vatnajokull glacier.
The road winds its way through the Eastfjords, a breathtakingly wild landscape off the beaten track (fun fact: this area receives the most sunshine in Iceland).
En route, there are plenty of picture-worthy places to stop (this is Iceland, after all). We love Mjoifjordur (‘Narrow Fjord’ in Icelandic), a beautiful fjord accessed by a rugged hair-pin road, and Brekka, a tiny remote fishing village overlooked by towering mountains. Djupivogur is also a charming seaside town worth visiting, where you’ll spot wooden frames that are traditionally used to air-dry locally caught fish.
Breiddalur valley offers picnic potential, crisscrossed with hiking trails that weave past hidden waterfalls, a rocky canyon, and along Breiddalsa river (a popular salmon fishing spot). It’s also home to Breiddalsvik, another tiny fishing village with a population of around 140 people.
Ready to hit the road again? Today you’re driving three hours to stay in a cosy guesthouse for two nights in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, a village in the south-east of Iceland.
There’s no shortage of scenic vistas as you journey past steaming lava fields, glistening glaciers, craggy mountains, ice-filled lagoons, wind-swept headlands and crashing waves on black sandy beaches.
Make sure to swing by Heinabergslon lagoon, where we’ve arranged a kayaking trip to see the majestic Heinaberg glacier. Other postcard-worthy places to stop include Skaftafell Nature Reserve (part of the Vatnajokull National Park), home to hiking trails that lead to glacial lagoons in the Vatnajokull region, not forgetting panoramic views of the 6,923ft-tall Hvannadalshnukur, Iceland's highest peak.
Another must-see is Svartifoss waterfall, framed by a beautiful basalt-column cliff. For seal watching, head to Jokulsarlon lagoon, where they playfully weave between floating icebergs (especially from April to October). Over the road at Diamond Beach, gleaming chunks of ice wash up on the black sand.
After breakfast, hop in the car for an hour-and-a-half drive to the must-see Laki Craters. This row of 130 giant volcanic fissures was formed in one of the largest ever historic eruptions. These began in June 1793 and continued until February 1784 – emitting lava, ash and poisonous gas along a 15-and-a-half-mile fissure. Although the Laki volcano didn’t erupt, it shares its name.
From the visitor’s car park, it’s a 40-minute hike along a trail through a delicate mossy and lava landscape to Laki’s summit where you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the craters and lava fields with glistening glaciers in the distance.
Later, head back to the guesthouse for some R&R, then gather around the wood stove (a rarity in Iceland) and enjoy a communal dinner of fresh local produce prepared by your host.
Your road trip continues west today, as you head to a farmhouse in the small town of Hella for the next two nights.
The journey will take a couple of hours if you take the coastal road, but it’s well-worth the detour through the Landmannalaugar massif to admire its rhyolite mountains, known for their striking colours which range from oxide red and bright moss green to copper and golden hues.
Fjallabak Nature Reserve (about two-and-a-half hours from Kirkjubaejarklaustur) is the ideal place to hit the hiking trails, winding through steaming lava fields, sulphur vents, geothermal hot springs and old lava flows.
From here you can climb two volcanoes for panoramic vistas – Blahnukur (‘Blue Peak’) with its distinctive blue-grey slopes or Brennisteinsalda (‘Sulphur Wave’) whose name comes from its yellow and orange streaks.
Sleepy after all that fresh air? It’s a two-hour drive to Hella, where a comfy pillow and hearty dinner await.
Today’s all about exploring the scenic landscape of Iceland’s south coast. Discover picturesque tiny villages (Vik and Skogar are our favourites) tucked between the stormy North Atlantic Ocean and snow-capped glaciers of Myrdalsjokull and Eyjafjallajokull.
Then there’s Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss, two of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls. Thundering Skogafoss (the highest in Iceland) is 80ft wide and plunges 200ft to create a magnificent glittering curtain of water – you might even spot a double rainbow in the mist on a sunny day. If you take the path to the right, surrounded by soaring fulmars who nest here in summer, it leads to hidden cascades and more panoramic photo-worthy vistas.
You’re heading to Reykjavik today, but as it’s only an 80-minute drive, there’s still time to make the most of your last full day in Iceland.
En route is Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to the ruins of the oldest parliament building in the world (the Althing, founded in 930 AD) and Thingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest natural lake. A few miles outside the capital is the Arbaejarsafn Open Air Museum where you can learn how locals lived centuries ago.
Your home for the night is a stylish hotel that’s perfectly located for exploring this walkable city packed with art galleries, independent stores and cosy eateries. A must-see is Marshall House, a former herring factory that’s home to the Living Art Museum (locally known as Nylo), artist exhibition spaces and La Primavera restaurant. Why not try Brennivin, Iceland’s signature spirit flavoured with caraway seeds, traditionally paired with hakarl (fermented shark)?
Sadly, it’s time to wind up your Icelandic adventure. Drive to Keflavik International Airport and drop off your hire car before boarding your three-and-a-half-hour return flight to the UK. After a speedy flight spent scrolling through your jaw-dropping photos, you’ll be back on home turf in no time.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
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.
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