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12 days / 11 nights
Daily Tour
34 people
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Fly to Keflavík. Pick up your vehicle at the airport. Depending on your arrival time, visit the geothermal area of Krýsuvík (boiling pools, solfataras, fumaroles) and/or relax at the Blue Lagoon, known for its turquoise, soft, warm (37 °C to 39 °C) and relaxing waters. Dinner at leisure. Overnight in the Reykjavík area.k.
Breakfast.
Depending on your mood, take some time to discover the Icelandic capital by strolling through the streets with colorful houses in the city center or go to Hraunfossar, a beautiful set of waterfalls descending along a lava flow before flowing into the Hvita River. The towns of Reykholt and Borgarnes offer the opportunity to learn more about the history of the settlement of the island by the Vikings. Near the thermal spring of Deildartunguhver, enjoy the warm and relaxing waters of Krauma, a recently opened complex. Free lunch and dinner. Overnight in the Borgarfjördur region.
Breakfast.
Head to the Skagafjördur Valley to visit two of the island’s most beautiful examples of traditional architecture: the grass-roofed Vidimyri Church and Glaumbaer, a 19th-century turf farmhouse that has been converted into a museum. At Saudarkrokur, take part in an immersive experience in a 13th-century battle between Icelandic clans.
Along the way, go seal-watching on a cruise along the coast of the Vatnsnes Peninsula from Hvammstangi. End the day with a trip to Akureyri, the country’s second city, located at the bottom of a fjord. You can climb up to the church, whose architecture is reminiscent of basalt columnar formations. Free lunch and dinner. Overnight in the Akureyri region.
Breakfast.
Head to the beautiful Godafoss Falls, split into two arms on a basalt rock. When the island was converted to Christianity around the year 1000, it was here that the region's religious dignitaries are said to have had the ancient pagan idols thrown into the waterfall.
Then spend the rest of the day exploring Lake Mývatn and its surroundings. Located to the northeast of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge that separates the island into two tectonic plates, the site brings together multiple phenomena linked to volcanism: the extinct volcano of Hverfjell, with a magnificent panorama of the peaceful shores of the lake at its summit; Namafjall, a ridge colored with yellow, green, white or pink sulfur deposits; the labyrinth of lava, arches and caves of Dimmuborgir; Mount Krafla, where volcanic activity is most recent (1984). Krafla is not strictly speaking a volcano with the usual shape that we know, but a set of cracks. You will move in particular in the middle of lava fields and fumaroles. Accessible on foot, the Viti ("hell") crater shelters within it a small turquoise lake. Lake Mývatn is also a prime ornithological site, established as a nature reserve. The shallow depth (less than 3 meters) and the richness of minerals, algae and micro-organisms offer favorable conditions for the presence of several colonies of birds in general and ducks in particular, such as the Barrow's goldeneye, the common goldeneye (site closed during the breeding season until mid-July).
Free lunch and dinner.
Installation for 2 nights in the Mývatn region.
Breakfast.
Drive to the charming village of Húsavik, renowned for its whale watching cruises (go in the morning to have enough time to visit the recommended sites after the cruise), then to Ásbyrgi, a beautiful forest of birch and rowan trees in a horseshoe-shaped canyon. Recommended stop at Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe, fed by the Vatnajökull glacier. It is not so much its height (less than 50 meters high) as the power of the water flow that impresses: 500 m³ per second. Swimming recommended in the warm waters (38 °C to 41 °C) at the thermal center of Mývatn.
Lunch and dinner at leisure.
Night in the Mývatn region.
Breakfast.
If you didn’t have time to visit everything the day before, extend your discovery of Lake Mývatn and its surroundings. For example, on the shores of the lake, Höfdi is a pleasant place for a picnic break. Wild flowers and dwarf birch forests create a charming setting in a treeless world. Then head towards Mödrudalur, by road 901, and stop at the Saenautasel ecological museum.
Free lunch and dinner.
Night in the Egilsstadir region.
Breakfast.
The coastal road takes you between mountains and fjords to picturesque fishing villages such as Seydisfjördur, with its colourful houses and bohemian atmosphere, or Faskrudsfjordur, where it is advisable to stop. Street names in French, the cemetery where our compatriots rest and a small museum recall the significant presence, until the 1930s, of the French who came to fish for cod off the island. Linger near the East Fjords, sometimes bordered by black sand beaches and unique rock formations such as Vestrahorn or Djupivogur.
Free lunch and dinner.
Night in the Höfn region.
Breakfast.
Road along the Atlantic Ocean with the Vatnajökull glacier on the horizon, the largest in Europe (about 8,000 km², or about the size of Corsica). Under Vatnajökull is one of the most active volcanoes, if not the most active volcano on the island, Grimsvötn. Its last eruption was in 2011, but the one in 1996 was the most spectacular: resulting from subglacial eruptions, its lava flows destroyed the road infrastructure and bridges in the south of the island.
At Jökulsárlón, you can walk on the glacial lagoon where icebergs float, detached from the Vatnajökull glacier, transforming this place into a Greenlandic landscape. Continue through the Skaftafell region, where green valleys and waterfalls (such as Svartifoss, surrounded by basalt columns) contrast with the Vatnajökull glacier, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many hiking trails offer pleasant walks.
Free lunch and dinner.
Night in the Kirkjubaejarklaustur/Vik region.
Breakfast.
Head to the black sand beach of Reynisfjara and then to Dyrhólaey, a popular spot for birdwatching, including puffins. A recommended stop is Skógafoss waterfall. At 60 metres high, this waterfall is the last in a series of 20 cascades on the Skógora River that separates the Myrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajokull glaciers, the famous volcano that has been so much talked about since its eruption in 2010.
A recommended visit to the Skógar open-air museum, with its old turf farms covered in grass. There you will find a beautiful collection of objects related to the lives of the locals. Also allow time to admire the Seljalandsfoss waterfall and visit the Lava Center in Hvolsvöllur.
Free lunch and dinner.
Accommodation for 2 nights in the Hella region.
Breakfast.
Spend the day exploring Heimaey, the only inhabited island of the Vestmannaey (return ferry crossings Landeyjahöfn/Heimaey not included). The volcanic cones of Eldfell and Helgafell offer a spectacular view of the village of Heimaey, partly buried under lava flows during the 1973 eruption. Also take the opportunity to observe the puffins at the sites of Ofanleitishamar or Litlihöfdi. A small bird with a red, blue and yellow beak (in summer), the puffin is the national emblem of the country. It generally arrives in Iceland in April, and leaves around mid-August.
Another possibility, if you are more of a fan of the Game of Thrones® series: go to the Thjórsárdalur valley to discover the old Viking farm Stöng and the Gjáin gorge (a 4x4 vehicle is recommended).
Free lunch and dinner.
Night in the Hella region.
Breakfast.
You can start the day with a moment of relaxation in the warm and relaxing waters of the Secret Lagoon in Fludir before admiring the Geysir area, which brings together many geothermal phenomena including the geyser "Strokkur", with jets of boiling water that gush up to 30 meters high every 5 minutes or so. Then join the Thingvellir fault, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It alone sums up the human history of the country, since it brought together the Icelandic Parliament, and its geological history, for its location on an area of intense tectonic activity. A tectonic fault several kilometers long and more than 30 meters high runs through the site, marking the western limit of the collapse basin between America and Europe. Icelanders take great pride in their parliament, the Althing, as it is one of the first experiments in democratic government, dating back to the 10th century. It was on this very site that the island's independence was proclaimed in 1944.
Lunch and dinner at leisure.
Overnight in the Keflavík/Reykjavík area.
Breakfast.
Return of the vehicle to Keflavík airport (meals not included). Return flight.
The price of this package includes the rental of camping equipment (without meals) and the last night in a guesthouse, in a room with shared bathroom and 1 breakfast. The camping equipment is to be collected from our partner: ICELAND CAMPING EQUIPMENT - Vatnsmýrarvegur 10 (BSÍ Bus Terminal), 101 Reykjavík. The store is open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the summer period (May to September). Outside of these opening hours, you can collect the equipment and return it on site in a box in front of the store with a code that will be provided to you in your travel book.
https://www.google.com/maps/ With the rental of this camping equipment and the list of campsites on the link above, you have the freedom to choose the campsites where you spend your nights. Some can be booked in advance on their website, but many of them can be booked by phone or on site. However, be sure to take into account the distance between your different stops. Most Icelandic towns and villages have one or more campsites (or "tjaldsvaedi" in Icelandic). Campsites are often located on the outskirts of towns, not far from gas stations, swimming pools or shops. Some campsites only have a phone number, while others also have a website. You will have to pay on site: the pitch fee (approximately 2,000 ISK / €14.50 per adult per night, 1,000 ISK / €7.25 per child per night), access to showers (often extra), tourist tax (400 ISK per tent per night), various services that may be offered (sale of food products, laundry, etc.). The amounts of the pitch fees given are an average: they can be lower (sometimes even free for children) or higher. Some campsites include the tourist tax in the pitch fee and others charge it extra. Unless otherwise stated, the campsites mentioned below have hot and cold water. The addresses of the accommodations booked will be included in the travel book that you will have received before your departure.
- a 2-3 person tent (Vango Alpha 300+). - 5 cm thick self-inflating mattresses. - sleeping bags/duvets. - a stove (Primus Frigg Stove type) + a 220 g gas cartridge. - a kitchen kit: pots and pans. - a picnic kit: plates, bowls, glasses, cutlery.
You will stay in farm inns, guesthouses, small country hotels and summer hotels (colleges or high schools transformed in the summer into hotels of the Edda chain), each with their own character. Their comfort is simple but adequate. The bathroom is shared upstairs. You will benefit from breakfasts. Maximum 1 child from 2 to - 12 years old in the room of 2 adults. The additional bed for the child often consists of an extra bed (often folding).
You will stay in 2*/3* hotels (local standards) each with their own character. Their comfort is simple but adequate. The rooms are equipped with a private bathroom (with shower or bathtub and toilet). Breakfasts are included. 1 child from 2 to - 12 years old in the room of 2 adults. The additional bed for the child often consists of an extra bed (often folding).
Due to the popularity of this destination and limited hotel availability, accommodations may be located up to 2 hours drive from the planned stage on average, or two stages may be combined into one. The limited capacity of Icelandic hotels does not guarantee the same accommodation for bookings of more than two rooms. For bookings of two rooms or more with a single rental car, you must book the same accommodation package. Check-in at guesthouses and hotels is generally from 3:00 p.m. In case of delay or late arrival (after 7:00 p.m.), you must notify the hotelier. Check-out must be before 11:00 a.m. Some accommodations require an imprint of your international credit card in order to give you access to the mini-bar, telephone service or room service (if available). You can settle your bill on the day of your departure. Pack your swimsuits and towel, because almost every town or village in Iceland has its own municipal thermal pool located outdoors and supplied with water heated by geothermal energy (27°C-29°C or more). You will enjoy these moments of relaxation.
Head to the Blue Lagoon to relax in the steaming turquoise waters of this large lake with its milky, opaque blue, which contrasts with the surrounding black lava rock and makes the place seem supernatural. Enjoy true relaxation since the average water temperature is 39°C. It is rich in minerals, such as silica, which is very good for the skin and whose virtues you can test with a facial mask. Be sure to follow the hygiene instructions in force. Siliceous clay has the effect of "plastering" the hair. www.bluelagoon.com
• Drivers must have a valid B driving license for at least 1→year for vehicles with up to 8 passengers; a D driving license for vehicles with 9 passengers or more. A B driving license will be accepted if issued before March 1988. If your driving license is the new "credit card" type, make sure it is valid for the entire duration of your trip. • The minimum age requirement is 23 years for category XE and 20 years for other categories. There is no maximum age limit. Young driver: A surcharge of Isk 1,000/day (local tax included) will be applied for drivers aged 20-22 for category XE; 18-19 years for all other categories. The young driver must have held a valid driving license for at least 12 months. Temporary licenses are not accepted. • Pick-up: at the Avis office at Keflavík Airport, during the rental company's office opening hours. (between 6 am and 1 am, times subject to change). Please note the arrival time of your outbound flight. A mandatory airport surcharge of Isk 5,400/rental (approximately €38) will be charged locally upon delivery. When the vehicle is delivered, the rental company will take an imprint of the driver's international credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express). Debit cards are not accepted. Please note that without a credit card, your vehicle will not be delivered to you. Fuel costs are payable on site. The vehicle will be delivered with a full tank of fuel. It must also be returned with a full tank of fuel, otherwise you will be charged the price per liter at the highest rate with a surcharge. • Returning the vehicle: the AVIS office is open between 5 am and 5 pm. Outside of these opening hours, keys can be returned 24 hours a day in a box provided for this purpose. Avis reserves the right to substitute vehicle categories or vehicles similar to the models listed. Avis also reserves the right to increase, without notice, the amounts of: additional insurance, excesses, local tax, delivery or abandonment taxes; to offer new insurance policies during the year... to be paid directly on site.
Other places, generally less frequented, are suitable for relaxing in warm waters in the open air: near Borgarnes, the recent Krauma complex; Hvammsvik Hot springs overlooking Hvalfjörður; near Akureyri, the Forest lagoon; near Lake Myvatn, Myvatn Nature Baths; near Husavik, the GeoSea seawater spa, with a beautiful view of the bay and the surrounding peaks; near Egilsstadir, the Vök Baths; in Flúðir (not far from Geysir), the Secret Lagoon; in Laugarvatn, the geothermal baths of Fontana Spa.
PLEASE NOTE: for requests for 2 rooms or more, the reservation must be made in the same accommodation package.
If you want to take advantage of your trip to Iceland to learn more about this part of the country's history, you can visit the Settlement Exhibition in Borgarnes, 1238 The Battle of Iceland in Saudarkrokur (https://1238.is) or the Sagas Museum in Reykjavík.
The magnificent Sky Lagoon, opened in 2021, just outside Reykjavík. This open-air hot spring bath, surrounded by rocks, offers magnificent views of the ocean and the sunset. Some of the treatments are provided in a traditional turf house. NB: It closes at 23:00 in summer. www.skylagoon.com
• Car rental: by default, the first passenger registered when booking will be considered the main driver. There is no toll barrier for the tunnel between Akureyri and the Mývatn region or for the Thingvellir car park: Iceland relies on the honesty of its users. If you forget to pay, the invoice will be sent to the car rental company, who will debit the amounts due (read the "Driving in Iceland" section). • Camping formula: plan to pay on site the pitch fees of approximately €14.50 per adult per night and other costs related to camping (access to the shower, tourist tax, etc.). See the "Accommodation" section in "Special information"). • Accommodation: 3 accommodation options to choose from: camping (camping equipment for 10 nights and 1 night in a guesthouse), 11 nights in 2*/3* guesthouses/hotels in a room with shared bathroom or 11 nights in 2*/3* hotels in a room with private bathroom or shower. Due to the popularity of this destination and reduced hotel availability from June to August, accommodation may be located up to 2 hours drive on average from the planned stage, or 2 stages may be combined into one. The limited capacity of Icelandic hotels does not guarantee the same accommodation for reservations of more than 2 rooms. For reservations of 2 rooms or more with a single rental car, it is mandatory to book the same accommodation option. • Flights: prefer flights that arrive in Iceland in the afternoon. If your return flight leaves late at night, we recommend that you return to Reykjavík early enough on the last day to enjoy the attractions of the capital; the last night partially used will not be refunded. Depending on your return flight schedule, the last night will be in Keflavík, very close to the airport, or in Reykjavík, approximately 45 minutes from the airport. • Northern Lights: their observation is possible from mid-September but not guaranteed as it depends in particular on weather conditions.
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