Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Iceland - Golden Circle - South Coast - Vik - Hofn and its surrounds - Eskifjordur and the East Fjords - Akureyri
100% customisable for you
On arrival, you'll pick up your hire car and drive to the south of the island and the Golden Circle region. On your way you'll see wild landscapes with beautiful colours, which is characteristic of Icelandic scenery.
Things to see in the Golden Circle region - Thingvellir National Park and Logberg, at the foot of which the first Icelandic (and first ever) parliament convened in the 10th century - the geothermal area of Geysir and the spectacular Strokkur geyser - the falls of the Hvita River in Gullfoss.
Spend two nights on a farm at the end of the Earth, just across from the ocean. The owner is an exceptional cook.
In the itinerary - A trip to the LAVA Centre, a museum dedicated to volcanoes and earthquakes. Hvolsvöllur, some 60 miles east of Reykjavik, is located close to three of the country's largest volcanoes, Hekla, Katla, and the famous Eyjafjallajokull. The LAVA Centre offers visitors an interactive experience that allows them to get close to these impressive geological phenomena. There's also a platform with 360° views of the volcanoes near the centre, which allows you to observe possible eruption phenomena from a safe distance.
Head to Vik. The journey is an hour overall, not including the many stops you'll make to marvel at the beautiful scenery along the coast . with its black sandy beaches, steep cliffs that birds turn into dormitory towns, dizzying waterfalls, and glacial lagoons... You won't forget the green of the hills, the black of the cliffs or the white of the Myrdalsjokull glacier. Vik is nestled at the foot of some green hills, bordered by cliffs where puffins nest. Ten streets, colourful houses and a little white church perched on top of a hill, with a view straight to the ocean. And beyond a strip of black sand, there's a silhouette of basalt pillars cut out on the horizon.
On the way - you'll stop off at the impressive Seljalandsfoss waterfall(130ft) and the famous lava pillars at Reynisdrangar.
You'll stay overnight in an old school which was converted into a charming little hotel by Johann and Einar - two brothers who, as children, used to sit on the school benches in their short trousers.
Head east towards Hofn (approx. four hours). Between glaciers and black sand, the road encompasses some extraordinary scenery. The small fishing town of Hofn is a great introduction to traditional Icelandic life, which is a combination of fishing and farming.
On the way you'll stop at Skaftafell, a magnificent national park at the foot of Iceland's largest glacier, the Svartifoss waterfall, which gushes out into an amphitheatre of basalt columns , and Jokulsarlon and its fabulous polar spectacle.
Spend the night on the outskirts of Hofn, in a pretty cottage sitting between the ocean and the glacier. There are views of the Vatnajokull Glacier or the Atlantic Ocean, the meals made using produce from the farm are wonderful, and the service is excellent.
In the itinerary - a boat trip on the Fjallsarlon glacial lagoon. The Oraefajokull glacier overlooks the lagoon and descends to the water where bluish icebergs, beautiful sculptures of the ephemeral, detach and taper as they drift.
Things to see and do - Breathe in the air at the foot of the island's largest glacier, Vatnajokull - walk along the volcanic sands where icebergs are beached by the current.
Now it's time to climb the East Fjords. Between Hofn and Lonsvik, majestic gabbro (cooled magma) rock mountains lend all their beauty to this corner of the island. The sloping layers of land from the coast to the inland areas bear witness to ancient volcanic activity 16 to 20 million years old. The remote area of the East Fjords offers breathtaking coastal roads and ocean views in the heart of nature, broken up by fjords. Eskifjordur is a charming fishing village with traditional homes. Spend two nights in a charming cottage on the water's edge. You'll love the cosy atmosphere of this cottage, the friendly summer meals, the warm welcome of the owners and the hot tub facing the fjord.
Things to see and do - Djupivogur and Faskrudsfjordur, former fishing stations in the heart of the fjords - the opportunity to delve into an authentic Iceland, experiencing the atmosphere of the life of fishermen of the past. The cliffs of Raudubjorg - called the 'red cliffs' because of the presence of rhyolite - are famous in Iceland for the light they give off, as if they are continually reflecting the sun. At sunset you'll love watching the cliffs as they turn red; it's magical A little further south is Gerpir, Iceland's most eastern tip, which is the starting point for a great hike, offering high-up views of the surrounding cliffs, which rise more than 2110ft above the ocean. At the edge of the fjord, you'll reach - via a 1,950ft long tunnel under the rock - the easternmost village of Iceland, Neskaupstadur - it feels as though you've been swallowed by the mountain . Before the tunnel was built, the village was cut off from the rest of the island all winter, when the road that crosses the pass was impassable...
Head northeast to the Jokulsa Canyon, where Dettifoss Falls roar through a mineral landscape. Further afield, the river delta offers a stunning panorama of thousands of miles of water flowing into the Arctic Ocean. Vesturdalur Valley is home to some of the finest basalt columns on the island. The trail ends at Asbyrgi, a large horseshoe cliff. The road then follows the coast and passes through the colourful village of Husavik, gateway to Lake Myvatn.
Akureyri, located at the bottom of a fjord and just 31 miles from the Arctic Circle, is the region's most important city - it's a charming city with cafés and restaurants on its main street. You'll spend three nights here in a private apartment. You'll really feel like you're cocooned here , with its understated shades, large wooden table, architectural lamps and tasseled chandeliers, velour and linen, and candles everywhere.
In the itinerary - A whale-watching trip. Located on the east coast of the Eyjafjordur fjord, the small hamlet of Dalvik leads a quiet life, away from the classic itineraries of travellers. It's the best place to go to see whales and other dolphins basking in nearby waters. Offshore, just a short distance from the hamlet, the small island of Hrisey at the entrance to the fjord looks eternally frozen, a sign for visitors that they are near the border of the legendary Arctic Circle.
Things to see and do - Visit Farmhouse Laufas, an eco-museum housed in an old farmhouse dating back to the mid-19th century - the walls are made of peat and roofs are covered with grass. Far, far away from the crowds, walk the Skagi Peninsula, for its rugged atmosphere. The cliffs of Ketubjorg, on the east coast of the peninsula, are beautiful. A gorgeous waterfall flows from the cliffs directly into the sea. Take a hot bath at the springs in the village of Grettislaug whilst admiring Skagafjordur Fjord. From the small harbour, boats depart for Drangey Island, whose high cliffs are home to flocks of guillemots and puffins.
Return your hire car and fly to Reykjavik. Transfer to your hotel, a cosy place where you'll immediately at home. Scandinavian decor, leather seats and fireplace in the lounge, comfortable rooms that open out onto the city or the sea, a fitness room and sauna with free access : a lovely, welcome stopover in Reykjavik.
Things to see and do -Walk through district 101 to Laugavegur Street, a 'village' where you can meander past brightly coloured houses, cafes, galleries, showrooms, design shops, and concept stores, and where you may be tempted by a wool blanket or the creations of up-and-coming designers - climb to the top of Hallgrimskirkja Church - visit Arbaejarsafn in Kistuhyl, an open-air architecture museum, to discover what the Icelandic capital looked like at the beginning of the 20th century - enjoy a lunch of cooked shark fin, accompanied by Brennivin, a potato and caraway aquavit - visit Marshall House, a former herring factory opened in 1948 and financed by the Marshall Plan, which has been converted into an exhibition space for artists collectives.
Early-morning transfer to Reykjavik Airport and return flight.
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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