Day 1: Depart U.S. on your transatlantic flight from your gateway city
Day 2: Reykjavík Arrive in Reykjavík and pick up your documents at the airport including a clearly marked road map. Transfer by Flybussen to your city-center hotel. Enjoy a day of leisure to catch up on jet lag and explore this vibrant city.
Day 3: Reykjavík – Mýrdalsjökull Start your journey with a fabulous drive to see some of Iceland’s highlights: Þingvellir National Park, a place of great geological and historical interest, the spectacular Gullfoss Waterfall and Geysir hot-springs area. Travel along the south shore, viewing Skógafoss Waterfall, the black beaches around Vík and the Mýdalsjökull Glacier.
Optional: Snow-scooter tour on Mýrdalsjökull Glacier
Day 4: Mýrdalsjökull – Höfn After breakfast, meander through the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur and explore Skaftafell National Park, a green oasis nestled below the great Vatnajokull Glacier surrounded by black volcanic sands. Continue to Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon and then on to the harbor town, Höfn.
Optional: Boat tour on Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon, glacier hike in Skaftafell area.
Day 5: Höfn – Stöðvarfjörður Today’s drive is along the rugged, varied coastline of the East Fjords, with their towering mountains and charming fishing villages. On the way, there is an option of taking a boat tour to Papey Island to see the thousands of puffins nesting in summer, or visit the famous stone collection of Petra at Stöðvarfjörður.
Optional: Boat tour to Papey Island, Petra’s Stone Collection.
Day 6: Stöðvarfjörður – Húsavík Continue on your memorable journey across the Mörudalsöræfi Highlands, renowned for their stark beauty, to Dettifoss, Europe’s mightiest waterfall. From there, visit the magnificent horseshoe-shaped canyon, Ásbyrgi. Culminate your day on the Tjörnes Peninsula at Húsavík fishing port.
Optional: Whale watching at Húsavík
Day 7: Húsavík – Akureyri Head over to Lake Mývatn area for numerous highlights: the strange volcanic formations at Dimmuborgir, the pseudocraters at Skútustaðir, the colorful sulfurous slopes of Námaskarðand Krafla Volcano. Drive on to Goðafoss Waterfall, the town of Akureyri or Skagafjörður.
Day 8: Akureyri – Reykjavík Awaken and drive through the historical region of Skagafjörður, renowned for horse breeding. There is an option of visiting the old farmstead of Glaumbær, a great example of Old Icelandic architecture. Continue to the bay of Húnaflói and across Holtavörðuheiði Plateau, returning to Reykjavík in the late afternoon.
**Another option is to travel across the barren Kjölur Highlands (4WD needed, track open from mid-June), to the geothermal oasis at Hveravellir and onward to Reykjavík.
Optional: River rafting in Skagafjörður, horseback riding in Skagafjörður
Day 9: Reykjavík After your final Icelandic breakfast, make your way to the airport on the Flybussen.
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