15 Day Self Drive Tour Grand Circle Iceland with West Fjords

15 Day Self Drive Tour Grand Circle Iceland with West Fjords

Waterfalls, glaciers, lava fields, sands of glacial rivers, black beaches, islands and cliffs teeming with bird life. You will be able to discover all this and much more as you drive around the amazing Snæfellsnes peninsula, across the remote landscapes of the West Fjords and along the ring road around the country.

Highlights:

• Snæfellsnes peninsula
• The Westfjords with towns of Ísafjörður and Hólmavík
• Dynjandi waterfall
• Hvammstangi and the Seal Centre
• Glaumbær museum
• Akureyri and Húsavík in North Iceland
• Ásbyrgi, Dettifoss waterfall and the Jökulsárgljúfur national park
• Lake Mývatn
• Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon
• Skaftafell national park
• Dyrhólaey
• Skógarfoss, Seljalandsfoss and numerous other waterfalls
• The Geysir area
• Þingvellir national park
• Reykjavik

Daily itinerary

The itinerary will include following sights of interests :

Day 1: (ca. 50 km)
Arrival at Keflavík international airport. Pick up the rental car at the airport and drive to Reykjavík where you stay the first night. If your arrival is late evening then it is also possible to arrange accommodation in Keflavik.

Day 2: (ca. 280 km)
Driving north out of Reykjavik * Hvalfjörður * Borgarnes * Snæfellsnes peninsula with many sights of interest on the way. To name but a few: Eldborg volcanic crater that rises above the field is good point for a short hike; Panoramic view of moutains and tiny waterfalls that drop of the hilltops as you get closer to the western point of the peninsula; White sand beaches and lava fields; Snæfellsjökull volcano covered by glacier – made famous in a book by Jules Verne about the journey to the centre of the earth; Vatnshellir – a lava cave made accessible to visitors by a round staircase that decends deep down into the darkness underground; Arnarstapi and Hellnar – interesting basalt rock formations and bird cliffs; the cliff of Londrangar; Djúpalónssandur – once an important fishing harbour where one can also see the remains of an English trawler that stranded there in March 1948 and 4 men were rescued under very difficult circumstances. * Fishing villages of Hellisandur, Ríf, Ólafsvík and Grundarfjörður.

Day 3: (ca. 80 – 200 km + ferry)
The town of Stykkishólmur * car ferry across Breiðafjörður * Flatey Island * possibility for a halfday stopover on Flatey where you can take a walk through the picturesque village before continuing further to the Westfjords.
Or you continue direct to Brjánslækur * chance to drive all the way to the westernmost point of Europe at Látrabjarg – the fascinating bird cliffs rising high above the ocean. No words can describe the feeling of a tranquil summer evening with puffins, guillemots, gulls and other sea birds preparing for the night as the sun is setting.

Day 4: (ca. 190 – 250 km)
Látrabjarg * Paterksfjörður * Arnarfjörður * the majestic Dynjandi waterfall which cascades in a wide curtain deep down from the top of the hills * fishing villages of the West fjords * mountain passes with panoramic views of the deep fjords * Ísafjörður, the administrative centre of the Westfjords region

Day 5: (ca. 0 – 100 km)
Ísafjörður * Bolungarvík * Ósvör maritime museum * weather permitting, drive up the Mt. Boli for a panoramic view.
A possibility for this day is an optional boat tour to Vígur Island. Visit to the island is a must for anyone coming to the Westfjords. A walk on the island brings visitors close to the thousands of birds (puffins, eider ducks and other sea birds) that inhabit the island during the summer months.
Another option could be a a boat tour to Hesteyri – a deserted village where the houses that are now mainly used a summer residence for the local people are well maintained and give a feeling for the times past.
Ísafjörður is also an ideal place for a short kayak tour.

Day 6: (ca. 500 km)
Drive along Ísafjarðarjúp * Hólmavík, a charming fishing village * chance for a visit to the witchcraft museum * panoramic views and will bring you back to the ring road * Vatnsnes peninsula * possibilities to spot seals resting on the rocks in the sea * Hvammstangi * Hvítserkur, a solitary basalt rock formation * Blönduós.

Day 7: (ca. 260 km)
Skagafjörður (possibility for river rafting) * Glaumbær museum – the largest preserved turf farmhouse * Sauðárkrókur * Hofsós * Siglufjörður * chance to visit the awarded Herring Era museum * Dalvik * Eyjafjörður, the longest Icelandic fjord * views of the islands of Drangey, Malmey, Hrisey and the alpine mountains of Tröllaskagi peninsula * Akureyri
The university town of Akureyri is the cultural, educational and administrative centre of North Icelandand has many things to offer. The churchof Akureyriwith its two towers is one of the landmarks in the city. In the northernmost botanical garden you will find plants that one would not expect this far in the Arctic. A number of interesting museums are located in the town and the surrounding countryside. There are a number of cafés where one can enjoy a cup of coffee. Possibility for an evening whale watching tour from Akureyri

Day 8: (ca. 280 km)
Vikurskarð mountain pass * Lake Ljósavatn * Goðafoss – “The Waterfall of the Gods” * Húsavík – a delightful fishing town with interesting museums and one of the finest wooden churches in the country * Tjörnes peninsula where you may spot puffins nesting on the cliffs * Ásbyrgi, a horseshoe shaped canyon with lush vegetation * the Jökulsárgljúr national park * Dettifoss waterfall * Lake Myvatn.

Day 9: (ca. 40 km)
Explore the various sights at Lake Mývatn with thousands of nesting birds * various volcanic phenomena: lava fields, volcanic craters and mountains, pseudo craters, lava rock formations, solfatara field with boiling mud pits and roaring steam vents * the Nature Baths geothermal lagoon with a possibility for a relaxing bath in pleasantly warm water and great views over the area.

Day 10: (ca. 290 – 350 km)
Crossing the Möðrudalsöræfi desert land * Möðrudalur the solitary farm with a little church built by a farmer who used to live on the farm * view of Mt Herðubreið, the queen of the Icelandic mountains
If you have decided for a 4WD type of car, then you have the possibility for a detour to Snænautasel. This is a turf house built in 1843 on the river bank in a green oasis in the middle of the desert land. It is now a museum where one can usually try out the special Icelandic pastry called “lummur” (possible only after the road opens).
Egilsstaðir * Eastfjords * chance to visit Petra’s stone museum with a colourful collection of Icelandic minerals * Djúpivogur.

Day 11: (ca. 240 -390 km)
Coastal road along the Eastfjords * the town of Höfn * views of Vatnajökull glacier * Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon – possibility for boat tour amongst the floating icebergs * chance to spot seals * chance for a tractor tour to Ingólfshöfði * Svartifoss waterfall * Skaftafell national park, a green oasis surrounded by glaciers and sands of glacial rivers. There is a network of hiking trails through the park with opportunities for shorter easy hikes or longer and more demanding ones * view of Hvannadalshjúkur, the highest peak of Iceland.

Day 12: (ca. 100 – 190 km)
Crossing sands of glacial rivers and lava fields covered by soft layer of moss * Kirkjubæjarklaustur * the village of Vik where the black sandy beach stretches as far as eye can reach * Reynisdrangar cliffs * Dyrhólaey promontory, the southernmost point of Iceland on land

Day 13: (ca. 220 km)
Eyjafjöll mountains covered by Eyjafjallajökull glacier under which rests the notorious volcano of the same name * Skógar folk museum * Skógafoss waterfall * Seljalandsfoss waterfall * views of the Vestmannaeyjar Islands and Mt. Hekla (weather permitting) * Selfoss * the Geysir hot spring area with one of the gesyser, Strokkur spouting regularly every 5-10 minutes * Gullfoss waterfall – the “Golden waterfall” on Hvítá glacial river

Day 14: (ca. 100 – 140 km)
Geysers * the Þingvellir national park, a site of histrical, cultural and geological importance. In this rift valley by the Lake Þingvallavatn the oldest parliament was established in 930 where it remained until 1789. The national park was established at 1000th anniversary in order to protect the remains of the parliament site, later extended to protect also the natural sights of geological interest * Reykjavik

Day 15: Reykjavík – Keflavík:
Departure day.
Drive to Keflavík international airport, drop off the rental car and then check-in for the flight back home. If your flight leaves Keflavik in the afternoon then you have a possibility for a visit to the Blue Lagoon before driving to the airport.

Dates & prices

Departures: May – September 2019

Prices include:
– 15 days car rental with unlimited mileage, CDW, “Theft Waiver” PAI and tax; pick up/drop off at Keflavík airport
– Road map
– 14 nights accommodation in double or twin rooms including breakfast
– Ferry transport Stykkishólmur – Brjánslækur for passengers and car
– Detailed itinerary;
– Reference guide about Iceland
– Service and VAT.

A) With accommodation in rooms with private facilities:

B) With accommodation in rooms without private facilities:

Car type groups

Not suitable for highland roads:
A /EDMN : VW POLO / TOYOTA YARIS / SUZUKI SWIFT
B /CDMN : VW GOLF /  KIA CEED / TOYOTA AURIS
N /IWMQ : SKODA OKTAVIA STW / KIA CEED STW
M /FVMQ : CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTY (7-seater)

Suitable for highland roads:
FG /DFNN : SUZUKI GRAND VITARA / DACIA DUSTER
G /DFAN : VW TIGUAN / KIA SPORTAGE / TOYOTA RAV
I / FFBD : MITSUBISHI PAJERO / TOYOTA LANDCRUISER
J /SVNQ * : TOYOTA HIACE 9 SEATER 4WD BUS (* when rented with 8 pax, the price includes trailer for luggage!)

Ask for off-season price and itinerary. 

Good to know

4WD will not be necessary for this itinerary if you do not plan to make any of the detours which would involve driving on highland roads.

Itinerary can also be tailor-made according to your preferences and interests. Optional activities we can be added to the programme, e.g. horseback riding, sea-kayaking, river rafting, whale watching, glacial hike, caving, sightseeing flights, etc.

Upon booking and confirming the package detailed itinerary will be provided.