self drive 7 days iceland for the active family · the kilometer/mile distance per day is not...

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Iceland for the Active Family

Road no. 1

Self Drive 7 days

Self Drive Iceland for the Active Family2

Welcome to Iceland!To make your stay in Iceland more enjoyable, we would like to draw your attention to the following:

△ This booklet contains a standard itinerary. If you have added nights, please note that the itinerary has not been customized to show such amendments.

△ This itinerary is a guideline for your travel in Iceland. The route may vary according to your overnight stay and road conditions, especially during April/May and September/October.

△ Even with the long daylight, you will not be able to visit every nook and cranny nor enjoy all the fun things sug-gested. Please choose between the sites mentioned depending on your interest as time limits your possibilities.

△ The kilometer/mile distance per day is not precise. The distance may vary depending on the location of your accommodation and the detours you take each day.

△ On your accommodation itinerary you will find a detailed address list, describing how to reach your accommoda-tions. The accommodation itinerary also has a reference number, which is valid as your voucher. Official hotel check-in time is 14:00-18:00. If you arrive any later, it’s courteous to notify the hotel.

△ Breakfast is always included during your stay, but no other meals. Many of the rural hotels and guesthouses offer a nice dinner at a reasonable price.

Sat Nav

Speed Limit

Seat Belts

Road Map

Bin the Litter

One Lane Bridge

Watch out for Animals

Gravel Roads

3Iceland for the Active Family Self Drive

A few favourites from the trip

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Day 1: Arrival

Pick-up your rental car and explore

➠➠Approximate driving distance: 70 km / 45 miles

Please see your Iceland Travel Itinerary for details about your overnight stay

Upon your arrival in Iceland you’ll find your rental car at the service desk in the arrival

hall at Keflavik Airport. The desk is open every day from 5:00am – 5:00pm and again from 9:00pm-1:00am. The staff at your car rental will advise you where to find your vehicle.

If you have time, you could swing by Rey-kjanesbær (Keflavik and Njarðvik combined) and check out the stone trolls, known as the Silent Sentinels.

Vikingaheimar or Viking World is just a stone’s throw away. Turn off road no. 41 into Njarðvik. You will go through a series of round-abouts here but just follow the signs to Viking World. Each round-about will have its own theme and work of art.

To get to the Blue Lagoon, follow road no.

41 towards Reykjavik until you find road no. 43, leading south towards Grindavik. Before you reach Mt Þorbjorn you make a right turn to the Blue Lagoon area. To make it easier you can just follow the steam rising up through the air! At the Blue Lagoon you can wash of the jet lag and relax in the milky waters of the Lagoon and per-haps enjoy a glass of the famous Blue Lagoon cocktail while you let the algae mask bring out the skins inner glow!

Kindly note that the Blue lagoon is very popular year around and therefore you need to book ahead.

Reykjavík

Keflavík

Akureyri

Dettifoss

Mývatn

Gullfoss

Dalvík

Skagafjörður

1&6

2

34-5


If you are not relaxing in the lagoon at the beginning of your trip you continue on road no. 41 until you find your way into Reykjavik.

You may want to visit the newly opened Grandi Whales of Iceland, which is the largest of its kind in Europe. If you’re looking for a fun place to spend the day look no further than the Reykjavik Family Park and Petting Zoo in Laugardalur Valley. This family-friendly complex that is part zoo, aquarium, theme park, and adjacent geothermal swimming pool is so elaborate that it could take several days to explore.

Fun things to do

Viking WorldOpen May – August 09:00 – 18:00Tel. 422 2000.Whales of Iceland Open all year 09:00 – 18:00Tel. 571 0077.Reykjavik Family Park and Petting ZooOpen all year 10:00 – 17:00Tel. 411 5900.

Day 2: Golden Circle of Adventure

National Park with Geological Wonders (UNESCO), Glacial Snorkeling, Waterfall Queen and Geyser King



Today you will drive the north out of Reykjavík to the Þingvellir National Park.

Follow Reykjavik A signs until you get to road no. 36.

Þingvellir National Park is of great ecologi-cal, geological and historical interest. The park itself is situated in a stunning volcanic landscape of mountains and lava flows, on the border of Iceland’s largest lake. Surrounding the lake are impressive faults and gorges that are consid-ered among the finest examples of the results of tectonic movements in the world. It is the area where the tectonic plates for Europe and America meet, and one can literally see the ridge between the continents. This is also the


former site of the oldest parliament in Europe, Alþingi. It was founded in Þingvellir in 930 and there most of the greatest moments of Icelandic history took place over a period of 750 years. In the 18th century a major earthquake took place at this location, after which the parliament was transferred to Reykjavík. It may interest you that Þingvellir was in 2004 inscribed upon the List of UNESCO World Heritage concerning the Protec-tion of the World Cultural.

While in Þingvellir you should visit

Lögberg (The Law Rock), the law speaker, the president of Lögrétta (the Low Council) stood, facing the gathering below to recite the laws during the period when the old Alþingi was held at Þingvellir.

Neðrivellir where Lögrétta was, the most important institution of the ancient parlia-ment, the Alþingi, where the “goðar”, the local chieftains, and bishops gathered to debate, pass new law and amend old ones. These two sites are on the eastern side of the Almannagjá gorge.

Drekkingarhylur (Drowningpool) in Öxará

River, where women found guilty of adultery were drowned.

Öxarárfoss waterfall, a beautiful waterfall in the Öxará River, which falls thunderously over a steep slope at the edge of the Almannagjá rift.

Þingvallakirkja Church, from 1859, situated on the spot where one of the first churches in Iceland was built around 1016, shortly after Icelanders converted to Christianity in the year 1000.

From Þingvellir you will drive via Lyngdalsheiði on road no. 365 to the lake Laugarvatn area, a geothermal area. It is said that when Christianity was legalized in the year 1000, the chieftains from the north who refused to be baptized in the cold water of Þingvellir, were brought to Laugarvatn to be baptized in the warm spring. At the Fontana Geothermal Baths you can relax in the warm geothermal pools and natural steam rooms while enjoying the spectacular views over the lake.

You continue your tour to the beautiful Gullfoss and Geysir region. You drive to King Geysir, which is by road no. 35. It is a colour-ful geothermal field in a 3 km² (1.2 mi²) area


where hot springs and geysers are abundant. Geysir spouting spring is the world’s largest geyser, whose name is the generic term for this strange phenomenon. Geysir, believed to have formed in the thirteenth century, has a bowl 18 m (59 ft) in diameter with a 20 m deep chamber below. Its eruptions are majestic and after the big earthquakes in 2000 it has erupted several times. A smaller, adjacent hot spouting spring, Strokkur, is a popular attraction, erupting at 5–10 minute intervals. The whole area contains a variety of hot springs and bubbling pools.

Please be careful around the hot springs and around the waterfall and stick to the hikingpaths.

You continue the journey further north to the Queen of Icelandic waterfalls, Gullfoss waterfall or the “Golden Waterfall”. It is a beautiful double-folding fall that many believe to be the most scenic in Iceland. It thunders 32 m (105 ft) over a fault into a gorge, which measures 2.5 km (1.5 miles) in length and up to 70 m (230 ft) deep in places.

Fun things to do

Snorkeling in SilfraOpen all yearArctic Adventures, tel. 562 7000

Day 3:

Kjölur Mountain Track

Uninhabited Interior, Nature hiking, Hidden Hot Springs, River Wilderness



Note: If Kjolur (road no. F35) is closed due to road conditions you will be redirected

to take Route 1.It’s time to discover the undiscovered! The

Kjolur 4WD mountain route is open during the summer (from mid-June) and is a straight track (S-N) through Iceland‘s uninhabited interior highlands. This unique trek through vibrant thermal areas between Langjökull and Hofs-jökull glaciers reveals Iceland‘s true remote-ness and nature at its rawest. This area sets a stunning stage for the numerous hiking paths along the way dotted with hidden geothermal treasures and strange oases of vegetation for your discovery. Don‘t miss Hveravellir, one of the most beautiful geothermal areas in the world with a natural pool under open sky per-


fect for relaxing after an invigorating hike.Upon arriving on the other side of the Kjolur

highland route you will find yourself in North Iceland‘s Skagafjordur Horse Valley, famous for its horse breeding. This area is equally known for a wide variety of river rafting and kayak-ing adventures. There is a gentle rafting tour option that offers fun for the whole family as even a novice can pick up a paddle and thrill in Iceland’s stunning river wilderness.

Fun things to do

River Rafting in SkagafjörðurDuration 3-4 hoursArctic Rafting, tel. 571 2200.

Day 4:

The Troll Peninsula

Vibrant Fjord Villages, Arctic Whale Watching, Capital of the North

➠➠Approximate driving distance: 190 km/ 118 miles


Follow road no. 76 to enjoy the peaceful mountain views and crisp Arctic air around

Trollaskagi Peninsula, exploring the colourful fjord villages of Siglufjörður and Ólafsfjörður and continue on road no. 82 on your way towards Dalvik. The dramatic landscapes here were carved by glaciers during the last Ice Age and provide a special sense of discovery as you dance along the edge of the inhabitable world. Arriving in Dalvik you may opt to board


an oak whale watching vessel for a 3-hour sail into the pristine Arctic waters which are ideal for encounters with the majestic blue whale, whose heart is the size of a car. Marine-life fre-quently spotted in these waters are humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, minke whales, and small harbour porpoises.

Continue on your journey to Akureyri on Route 1.

On your first evening in Akureyri you may want to soak up the local ambiance of Iceland’s hip and happening ‘Capital of the North,’ with its 18,000 inhabitants, heart-shaped street-lights, free transit buses and arguably the warmest temperatures in the country. Stroll-ing along the quaint pedestrian areas filled with outdoor cafes and visiting local favorite Brynjuís for some delicious ice cream, is the perfect ending to this day in a surprisingly green community located only 96 kilometers (60 mi) from the Arctic Circle.

Fun things to doWhale Watching in DalvikDuration 3 hoursArctic Sea Tours, tel. 771 7600.

Day 5:

Lake Myvatn and Dettifoss

Protected Nature Reserve, Geothermal Spa, Europe’s Mightiest Waterfall



The day begins with the picturesque ‘Water-fall of the Gods’, Godafoss located on your

right side on Route 1. Mývatn is one of the country’s most

fascinating places. The unique ecology of the lake and its unusual environment has made it


one of northern Iceland’s greatest attractions. Lake Mývatn is famous for many things, such as rich bird life, beautiful landscape influenced by volcanic activity and boiling sulfates. In and near the lake, all the Icelandic duck spe-cies, apart from the eider, breed annually, all together 15. During the summer the lake is covered with birds, which utilize the rich fauna and flora in the lake. The area is protected by international law as a very important breeding place for different birds. Birds to look out for, apart from the ducks, are great northern divers, red-necked phalaropes, Slovenian grebes, red-throated divers, merlins and gyrfalcons. NB You might need a bug repellant / nets.

There are several remarkable natural phenom-ena in the district worth visiting, such as:

Skútustaðargígar pseudo craters: A cluster of colourful and beautifully formed pseudo craters situated close to Skútustaðir and easily accessible from there by foot.

Höfði, Nature Park: With rich flora, fauna and a beautiful view of the lake.

Dimmuborgir: Translated as “Black Castles”, a landscape of rugged crags and strange lava formations. There are 3 different routes marked for walking. Please stay on the paths, as this area is like a labyrinth.

Hverfjall: A huge explosive tuff crater. It looks like a giant circular stadium with a crater bowl of 1,040 – 1,200 m (3.411-3.936 ft) in diameter and 140 m (459 ft) in depth. It stands only 150 m (492 ft) above its surroundings so it is not difficult to hike to the top. Well worth visiting and exploring by foot.

Vogafjóscafé: A small café located inside a cowshed where you can see the milking of the cows. It is possible to taste the fresh milk and even try to do some milking. The cows are milked twice per day. The emphasis is on home-made local food such as smoked trout, Moz-zarella cheese from their own milk and geyser bread baked in geothermal heat in the earth. You will find Vogafjós by road no. 1 where it surrounds Lake Mývatn, 10 minutes drive from the village of Reykjahlíð.


Gamli Bær is a small café with a nice atmos-phere close to Hotel Reynihlíð, where you can sit outside on a good day during summer.

Námafjall: A mountain ridge singed and boiled by sulphurous vapours. The area is famous for the colourful solfataras and bubbling pools of hot viscous mud of amazing patterns and col-ours. Please be very careful here and do not get too close to the bubbling pools as they might splash hot mud.

Grjótagjá: One of Iceland’s most well known chasms, half full of hot water, which made it a popular bathing spot for a long time, but has reached too high temperature today for that purpose. Please watch your step if you walk down to the water.

Krafla: A high temperature field with active volcanic craters, where a steam-powered elec-tricity generating station has been built.

The NatureBaths: The geothermal spa called, Mývatn Nature Baths is the latest addition to the region’s many visitor attractions and are

well worth visiting. It contains a unique blend of minerals, silicates and geothermal micro-organisms. It’s open all year around: 1 June - 31 August from 09:00 to 24:00 and from 12:00 to 22:00 in the wintertime. For directions you can call the baths directly tel. 464 4411, or ask local hotels and service-centres in the Mývatn area.

Bird Museum (Fuglasafn Sigurgeirs): A private collection of birds, now open to the public. For directions you can call the museum directly, tel. 464 4477.

Leirhnjúkur: Part of the Krafla fissure com-plex. It is one of the most interesting sights in the Mývatn area. A highly active volcano and a small but very colourful high-temperature geothermal field situated west of Krafla, which last erupted in a series of nine eruptions from 1975–1984.

West of it are a series of craters and volcanic fissures of the same name. In this area you can also see the lava fields from 1984, which are still hot. A vast magma chamber lies under the region, in some parts as close to the surface


as 3 km (1.9 mile). From the car park, a circular footpath leads you around the volcano and up to its summit from where there is a beautiful view over the impressive volcanic landscapes surrounding it. This is a very interesting walk but one has to be very careful when crossing the high-temperature area. It is important to wear good walking boots. On rainy days there is considerable mud in the geothermal area and it can become very slippery there, so one has to take extra care when crossing it.

The grand finale of this eventful day is a visit to Europe’s mightiest waterfall, Dettifoss, a thundering cascade of glacial water and mist among shattered cliffs in Jokulsargljufur National Park. Follow Route 1 and turn left onto road no. 864.

After taking in Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall, contrasting strikingly with the smaller waterfalls of Hafragilsfoss and Selfoss, turn back to Akureyri.

Fun things to do

Myvatn Nature BathsOpen all year 12:00 – 22:00Myvatn Nature Baths, tel. 464 4411.

Day 6:

Ring Road to Reykjavik

Botanical Gardens, Viking Horses, Seal Center



The drive between Akureyri and Reykjavik is approximately 4.5 hours. Before departing

for Reykjavik along the Ring Road, take in some of the northern charms Akureyri has to offer.

Akureyri boasts some of the finest timber buildings in the country, beautifully restored. Because of its excellent natural harbor and good communications, Akureyri has become the northern centre of education, culture, trade and industry. Akureyri has a whole street in its centre, Listagil (Art Gorge), devoted to arts,

crafts and design, where it is ideal to visit the Akureyri Art Museum. This charming town is located inland at the base of Eyjafjörður Fjord, the longest fjord in Iceland, which means that Akureyri, together with Egilsstaðir, is one of the two towns in Iceland closest to the centre of the country. This provides Akureyri with a cli-mate, which is more continental than oceanic, with colder winters and warmer summers than in most other towns in Iceland. Therefore, in spite of its location, about 70 km (44 miles) south of the Arctic Circle, the town is verdant with a public park and botanical garden, Lystigarðurinn, which was opened in 1912. It was originally only planted with various kinds of trees, but it now also includes over 400 to 450 Icelandic vascular plants.

There are many other interesting places and museums in Akureyri. One is Nonnahús, a museum and former home of children’s writer and Jesuit priest Jón Sveinsson, “Nonni”. (It is located at Aðalstræti 54b). Next-door, and equally interesting, is the Akureyri Museum. Akureyri also has a good swimming pool with indoor, outdoor and children’s pools, Jacuzzis and slides.

At the Tourist Information Center at the cul-ture house Hof, right in the center, you are able to get yourself a map of Akureyri and find other interesting information about Akureyri.

If you drive road no. 821 and pass the airport you will soon reach the so called Santa House (Jólahúsið), a Christmas store which operates all year round. This is a nice way to learn about the Christmas celebration in Iceland, get the Icelandic Christmas smell, songs and feel the spirit. They offer a wide selection of souvenir; both hand-made from Iceland as well as imported. This is especially worth visiting for huge Christmas fans and children.

From Akureyri you can make a detour and take road no. 83 to visit the Laufás Museum. Here you can see one of the country’s best preserved turf/sod farmhouses. The museum is open from mid May until mid September from 10:00 – 18:00.

Approximately halfway back to Reykjavik you may want to take a break at the lovely


Gauksmyri Lodge located on a former farm-stead along Route 1. Owned by horse enthusi-asts, they offer demonstrations of the Icelandic Viking Horse and short riding tours in the incredible surrounding nature.

Nearby is the Icelandic Seal Center which provides a fun and interactive learning experi-ence on the six seal species found in Iceland. Turn right on road no. 711 to Hvammstangi and left onto Brekkugata road.

Continuing onwards to Reykjavik the driving

journey is completed and your final night is spent in the ‘Capital of Cool.’

Fun things to do

Horse riding tourDuration: variableHestasport, tel. 453 8383.Seal CenterOpen May-Sept 09:00 – 16:00.Seal Center, tel. 451 2345.


Day 7:

Departure

For those that have some time to spare in Reykjavik we suggest that you visit Laugar

dalslaug swimming pool or one of the many swimming pools in Reykjavík. There is also a botanical garden and family park in the Laugardalur area you might enjoy visiting. You can also browse around the old city center of Rey-kjavík, with its many shops, galleries, museums, cafés and restaurants. Recommended sites to visit if walking are: Hallgrímskirkja Church, the City Hall, Tjörnin Lake, the harbor area, Harpa conference and music hall, and the sculpture Sun Voyager. A little bit outside of the center

you can visit the Höfði House.Departure from your accommodation is

recommended 3 hours before the departure of your flight, as it takes approx. 1 hour to drive to the airport and check in will start 2 hours before your departure.

If you did not visit the Blue Lagoon on your way to the city on day one, but have time to spare today you might want to use the oppor-tunity en route to the airport. For this detour, please be sure to allow for at least 2-2.5 hours extra to make sure you’ll have ample time at the lagoon.

The rental car should be returned to the airport service area which is located only 2 minutes from the airport building. A shuttle will then transport you to the departures hall.

We at Iceland Travel hope you have enjoyed your stay in Iceland and wish you a safe journey back home.It would be great to hear how your holiday went when you get back home! You can either log onto our website’s comment section at www.icelandtravel.is/comment/ or visit our TripAdvisor profile.

Skógarhlíð 12IS-105 ReykjavíkIceland

Tel +354 585 4300 Fax +354 585 4390

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self drive 7 days iceland for the active family · the kilometer/mile distance per day is not...

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