Iceland South & West Coast Exploration

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival in Reykjavik, Pick Up of Your Rental Car

  Welcome to Iceland - The land of Ice and Fire!

  Upon arrival, pick up the keys to your rental car at the counter in the arrival hall. Then, drive to the capital city of Reykjavik and check in to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at leisure.

  • Reykjavik

• Day 2: Reykjavik - Borgarnes, Explore Borgarfjordur Valley

  Start your Iceland journey by driving to the north of Reykjavik to explore the beautiful Borgarfjordur Valley. Stop at the town of Borgarnes and visit the Settlement Center, a museum that showcases the history of Iceland dating back to the Medieval Settlement Age and the story about Egill Skallagrimsson, the most famous Viking and poet in Iceland. Followed by the Deildartunguhver Hot Springs, you will reach the final destination today, the Hraunfossar. It is a series of waterfalls flowing out from a vast lava field and forming a unique landform scenery. Not far from here is another waterfall called the Barnafoss, narrower, faster, and smaller in size.

  At the end of today's tour, drive back to Borganes and check into the hotel in the town. Have a good rest to recharge yourself for the next day's adventure.

  Optional: If you prefer, an exploration of the Víðgelmir, the longest lava cave in Iceland, can be arranged after you visit the Deildartunguhver. Equipped with a walking path and illuminated wall lights, it is especially suitable for less-experienced explorers.

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  • Borgarnes

• Day 3: Borgarnes, Excursion to Snæfellsnes Peninsula

  After having your breakfast in the hotel, drive northwest to Snæfellsnes Peninsula for a day excursion.

  Make a stop at the Bjarnarhöfn Farm for a taste of "hákarl" (fermented shark meat) with traditional Icelandic schnapps. Afterward, pass by the Mountain Kirkjufell you will reach the Snaefellsjokull National Park which is built around the glacier-covered Volcano Snaefellsjokull. Take a walk in the black pebble beach Djúpalónssandur inside the park. It is a wonderful place to enjoy the view of majestic Volcano Snaefellsjokull.

  Along the way back to Borgarnes, you will have a chance to spot seals at the sand beaches at Búðir and Ytri-Tunga and see a row of perfectly shaped hexagonal basalt columns in Gerðuberg.

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  • Borgarnes

• Day 4: Borgarnes - Hvolsvöllur, Discover the Highlights of Golden Circle

  This morning, drive along the road towards Hvalfjördur to discover some popular attractions of the famous Golden Circle. The first one will be Thingvellir National Park which witnesses the glorious ancient history of Iceland and reflects Icelanders' hopes for independence. The second will be Gullfoss whose waters seem like the condensation of gold under the reflection of the light. It's one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. Then, the third stop will be the Strokkur in the Geysir Geothermal Area where you can see the geyser outburst up to 40 meters every 10 minutes. Finally, take some time at Friðheimar Farm before going to your hotel in the town of Hvolsvöllur. Here you will have a chance to talk to the riders at a stable and taste the tomato soup at the greenhouse.

  Optional: A visit to the Secret Lagoon can be arranged if you want to relax in the thermal spring after the tour.

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  • Hvolsvollur

• Day 5: Hvolsvöllur, Day Excursion to South Coast

  Today you will drive along the south coast toward the seaside village of Vik. During the road, you will visit the beautiful waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. You can walk along the path to the back of the Seljalandsfoss to enjoy its charm from a unique angle. If lucky enough you can see a rare double rainbow raising from the magnificent Skogafoss. Visit the Skogar Museum near the Skogafoss which houses around 15,000 pieces of local folk handicraft works. It's an interesting place for a break. Reynisfjara Beach, the last stop today, is what you can't miss among the numerous black beaches in Iceland. Beyond the unique landscape consisting of its black sand and odd cliffs, you might also see some puffins.

  Optional: Before going back to the hotel, you can take an exciting snowmobile tour at the Sólheimajökull Glacier.

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  • Hvolsvollur

• Day 6: Hvolsvöllur - Reykjavik, Reykjanes Peninsula and Blue Lagoon

  Begin today's journey with a 1-hour countryside horse riding tour at the Eldhestar Riding Farm. Later, proceed to visit the lava tunnel in Raufarholshellir. Take some time walking along the tunnel to see magnificent lava falls and other exotic lava formations. After getting out of the tunnel, enjoy a detour to the picturesque fishing villages of Eyrarbakki and Stokkseyri before heading on to Reykjanes peninsula. The exploration on the peninsula includes the mud hot springs at Krisuvik and Kleifarvatn Lake as well as a visit to the famous Blue Lagoon.

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  • Reykjavik

• Day 7: Reykjavik, Free Day

  A whole day will be left for you to explore the beautiful city of Reykjavik on your own. Boasting endless opportunities for fun and adventure, Reykjavik has plentiful activities to offer. You can immerse yourself in Icelandic art and culture in museums, galleries, outdoor sculptures, and street art. Or book a day trip out of the city to explore nature, such as whale watching and volcano hiking.

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  • Reykjavik

• Day 8: Reykjavik, Departure

  Your Iceland vacation comes to an end today.

  After breakfast, depending on the time of departure, you might still have time to explore the capital further or make some excursions. Then, drive to the airport, return the car, and then board your international flight back home.

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