Travel Type
Self-Drive
Duration
13 Days/12 Nights
Country
Iceland
This self-drive is one of our most complete Iceland experience, combining the iconic highlights of the Ring Road with the secret wonders of the Westfjords and Eastfjords and the mystical Snæfellsnes Peninsula. You’ll explore ancient volcanic landscapes, thread through breathtaking narrow fjords, and discover remote fishing villages that feel a world away from the beaten track. From the thundering force of Dettifoss to the shimmering icebergs of Jökulsárlón and the glacier-crowned peak of Snæfellsjökull, this is Iceland at its most spectacular.
*Itinerary and activities are suggested, not mandatory and not included in the package.
Inclusions
– 12-night accommodation in a standard room
– 12 meals: 12 breakfasts
– Rental car for 12 x 24 hours with unlimited mileage, CDW*, theft protection and VAT
– Free in-car unlimited Wi-Fi to help you navigate with your personal mobile device
– Car pick up/drop off at Keflavík International Airport
– Authorisation for two people to drive the rental car during your trip
– 24/7 Customer Care (including weekends and public holidays)
– Airport fees for rental pick up
– Service fee and taxes
*Upgrade on site ($) your insurance protection with the Zero Excess option (includes Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW), Theft Protection (STP), Wind and Gravel Protection (WGP) and Roadside Assistance (RSN).
Exclusions
Flights – Meals and drinks unless indicated in the inclusions – Travel insurance – Optional excursions – Other car supplements – New tax on KM will need to be paid on site approx. 12 € per day /$20CAD at the Rental Counter – Tolls (tunnels, roads, and other route tolls), unless specified – Parking fees – Ferry across Breiðafjörður Bay (can be added into the package, please contact us) – All other items not mentioned in the inclusions.
Additional Information
Important Information About Car Rental
– You must be 20 years of age to rent a car, and 23 years of age to rent car Categories MC or higher.
– The driver must present a valid driving license held for a minimum of one year at the time of rental.
– A valid automobile driver’s license from the US, Canada or the European Economic Area is required to drive in Iceland. A license from other countries can be used if it: a) has a valid license number, b) shows the license holder’s photograph, c) is printed in Latin alphabet characters and d) is valid at the time of travel. Otherwise, an international driver’s license is required.
– The car rental company will take an authorisation of no more than €500 on the main driver’s credit card at the time of pick-up.
– If your flight arrives early on day 1 and leaves late on your departure day, an additional supplement will be charged for the car unless you choose to return the car in Reykjavík on the last afternoon/evening of your tour and use our airport transfer on your departure day. (A one-way fee for dropping the car off in Reykjavík will also apply.)
1
DAY 1 WELCOME TO ICELAND (APPROX. 50 KM)
Once you have landed at Keflavík Airport, please pick up your luggage and head through customs. Collect your rental car at the airport and proceed to your hotel. If your flight lands with time to spare, we suggest that you take some time to explore the Reykjanes Peninsula (a UNESCO GeoPark site) before you head to Reykjavík. Reykjanes is a great introduction to Iceland’s unique geology and volcanoes and the site of Iceland’s 2021 – 2025 eruptions. The landscape is raw and otherworldly, with craters, lava cliffs, fissures, and the surreal Krýsuvík geothermal area, where colourful mud pools and steam vents bubble away at the surface. Reykjanes is also home to the Blue Lagoon, and if you’d like to ease into Iceland with a long soak in its mineral-rich geothermal waters, we’re happy to arrange that in advance. Alternatively, the Sky Lagoon just outside Reykjavík offers an equally memorable introduction, with its seven-step Skjól ritual and views straight out to the Atlantic. Head into Reykjavík for the evening and your first overnight in Iceland’s colourful capital. Overnight in Reykjavík.
*Please note check-in for most hotels begins at 2h00 pm – 4h00 pm.
*Please note check-in for most hotels begins at 2h00 pm – 4h00 pm.
Accommodation : Reykjavík for 1 night
2
DAY 2 REYKJAVÍK - BORGARFJÖRÐUR - SNÆFELLSNES PENINSULA (APPROX. 350 KM)
This morning you leave the city behind and head into the Borgarfjörður region, one of Iceland’s best-kept secrets and one of our favourite areas to find beautiful handicrafts and taste local farm products. Visit the brilliantly blue waters of Hraunfossar and Barnafoss falls, and the hot spring Deildartunguhver. Near the hot springs is Krauma, the relaxing “fire and ice” geothermal spa that uses a soothing blend of hot springs and glacier water. From here you continue west to Snæfellsnes Peninsula, known with good reason as “Iceland in a Nutshell.” The basalt pillars at Gerðuberg, the charming turf-roofed church at Búðir, the sea cliffs and nesting seabirds at Arnarstapi, the black sand and wave-worn rocks of Djúpalónssandur, and the white sands of Skarðsvík all sit within a short drive of one another. Moving along the peninsula’s north coast, you’ll pass through small fishing villages with Kirkjufell mountain as a constant backdrop, and the ancient Berserkjahraun lava field to discover along the way. Overnight on Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Snæfellsnes Peninsula for 1 night
3
DAY 3 SNÆFELLSNES PENINSULA - STYKKISHÓLMUR - WESTFJORDS (APPROX. 420 KM OR WITH FERRY 150 KM)
From the charming harbour town of Stykkishólmur, you have a choice: take the Baldur ferry across Breiðafjörður Bay, winding through an archipelago rich with seabirds and resting seals, or drive along the coastal road. Either way, your destination is the Westfjords, Iceland’s oldest and most remote region. Driving: Drive along the coast of Barðarströnd and into the Westfjords. You can explore Dalir, the region of Eríkur the Red and birthplace of his son, the great explorer Leifur Eiríksson at a living replica museum. Ferry option*: Head to Stykkisholmur ferry dock. Sail with the ferry Baldur across Breiðafjörður bay with its countless islands and rich birdlife. (Please note ferry trip is not included in the price, but we can book it for you). You will pass by the island of Flatey, a beloved summer holiday area for Icelanders. Enjoy the ride and the views of islands and birds. Once you arrive in the Patreksfjörður area, the landscape shifts dramatically. Steep mountains plunge into narrow fjords, and the sense of quiet isolation is something travellers tend to remember long after the trip. The day ends at Látrabjarg, the westernmost point in Europe and one of the finest seabird cliffs in the world, where thousands of breeding birds nest during the summer months. Overnight in Patreksfjördur or Látrabjarg area.
*Please note: After September 1st, the ferry Baldur departs once per day and does not sail on Saturdays.
*Please note: After September 1st, the ferry Baldur departs once per day and does not sail on Saturdays.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Patreksfjördur or Látrabjarg area for 1 night
4
DAY 4 WESTFJORDS - PATREKSFJÖRÐUR - ÍSAFJÖRÐUR (APPROX. 150-200 KM)
Today you continue up north along the West Fjords, one of the most remote regions of Iceland. The landscape is breathtaking: mountain passes, sheer cliffs dropping into the sea, and fjord after fjord unfolding as you drive. The unmissable stop along the way is Dynjandi, one of the most stunning waterfalls in Iceland! As you walk up towards the main falls, you pass through a series of smaller cascades, each with its own character. The fishing villages of Þingeyri and Flateyri are quiet, friendly places for a restful stop before reaching Ísafjörður for your overnight. Overnight in Ísafjördur or Sudureyri area.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Ísafjördur or Sudureyri area for 1 night
5
DAY 5 ÍSAFJÖRÐUR - HÓLMAVÍK - HRÚTAFJÖRÐUR (APPROX. 380 KM)
Leaving Ísafjörður, the route follows the fjords of Ísafjarðardjúp, where seals are a common sight along the shoreline and the only sounds are wind and water. You’re now entering Strandir, a region with a long reputation for sorcery and witchcraft. In Hólmavík, the Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft takes a thoughtful and surprisingly absorbing look at the magical traditions that once flourished in these isolated communities. Continuing along Hrútafjörður, you arrive in the Hvammstangi area, a small fishing community where the Icelandic Seal Centre is worth a visit, particularly if there are younger travellers in the group. Overnight in Hrútafjördur or Hvammstangi area.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Hrútafjördur or Hvammstangi area for 1 night
6
DAY 6 HRÚTAFJÖRÐUR - HÚNAFLÓI - SKAGAFJÖRÐUR - EYJAFJÖRÐUR (APPROX. 200-340 KM)
The drive today takes you along Húnaflói Bay, where a short detour to Hvítserkur reveals a basalt sea stack with an unmistakably animal-like silhouette rising from the water. The road then swings into Skagafjörður, one of the finest horse-breeding valleys in the country. Glaumbær, a beautifully preserved turf farmhouse museum, gives a genuine sense of how Icelanders lived for centuries, and nearby Víðimýrarkirkja is one of the few remaining turf churches in the country, built in 1834 and still intact. If you take the Tröllaskagi coastal route rather than the inland pass, you’ll travel through Hofsós, with its cliffside swimming pool and Emigration Centre, and Siglufjörður, home to the Herring Era Museum, Iceland’s largest maritime museum. Overnight in Eyjafjördur area.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Eyjafjördur area for 1 night
7
DAY 7 EYJAFJÖRÐUR - AKUREYRI - GOÐAFOSS - LAKE MÝVATN (APPROX. 200-250 KM)
This morning, take some time to explore Iceland’s northern capital, Akureyri, that sits at the head of Eyjafjörður fjord. After spending time in the town, continue towards Lake Mývatn, pausing at Goðafoss on the way. Lake Mývatn offers many natural wonders, including fantastic volcanic formations, geothermal activity, and the lake itself, teeming with bird life. Take some time to walk around the pseudo-craters at Skútustaðir, the lava formations of Dimmuborgir, the colourful sulphurous slopes of Námaskarð, and the Krafla volcanic system with its vivid blue crater lake and still-steaming lava fields from eruptions as recent as the 1980s. The Earth Lagoon Mývatn, set in a wilderness landscape with views across the lake, make an excellent end to a remarkable day. Overnight in Eyjafjördur, Mývatn or Húsavík area.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Eyjafjördur, Mývatn or Húsavík area for 1 night
8
DAY 8 LAKE MÝVATN - HÚSAVÍK - ÁSBYRGI - DETTIFOSS - EGILSSTAÐIR (APPROX. 250-325 KM)
Húsavík is a charming fishing village and one of the most popular places for whale watching tours in Iceland. The town also has a highly regarded Whale Museum and the GeoSea Baths, where naturally warmed sea water and views stretching out towards the Arctic Circle make for a restorative stop. From there, the route follows the Tjörnes Peninsula before reaching Ásbyrgi, a horseshoe-shaped canyon of remarkable scale, and former bed of the great glacial river Jökulsá á Fjöllum. It’s the same turbulent river that you will later discover in its present course at Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall, which marks the beginning of the stunning Jökulsárgljúfur canyon and National Park. From there, cross the barren regions of Mödrudalsöræfi until you reach Egilsstadir. Consider a possible evening stop at the local Vök Baths, where floating geothermal pools sit in the lake on the edge of town. Overnight in Egilsstadir area.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Egilsstadir area for 1 night
9
DAY 9 EGILSSTAÐIR - EASTFJORDS - HÖFN (APPROX. 250-325 KM)
Discover the East Fjords between the small towns of Egilsstadir and Höfn. Although many fjords are uninhabited, each of them has its own grandeur. Some of the unique villages include Reyðarfjörður and its World War II heritage, Fáskrúðsfjörður and its interesting French connection, and Eskifjörður with its fishing traditions. In Stödvarfjördur a local lady has collected an impressive number of minerals and stones, presented in Petra’s Stone Collection. The small fishing villages of Breiðdalsvík and Djúpivogur have their own quiet appeal, and between Hvalnes and Stokksnes the Lónsvík bay opens up with wide views and, depending on the season, the occasional herd of reindeer on the hillsides. The Almannaskarð tunnel brings you into the Höfn area, where you’re in the realm of Vatnajökull ice cap, Europe’s largest glacier, which dominates the landscape. Overnight in Höfn are.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Höfn area for 1 night
10
DAY 10 HÖFN - JÖKULSÁRLÓN - SKAFTAFELL - KIRKJUBÆJARKLAUSTUR (APPROX. 200-280 KM)
The southeast coast delivers some of the most iconic landscapes in Iceland in close succession. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where icebergs calve from Vatnajökull and drift peacefully towards the ocean. Diamond Beach across the road, where fragments of glacier ice rest on black volcanic sand. Visit the amazing Skaftafell area, a green oasis nestled between glaciers that offers many hiking possibilities. The drive continues past the towering cliffs of Lómagnúpur and through Kirkjubæjarklaustur, a small village on the site of a 12th-century Catholic convent, before reaching the vast and eerily beautiful Eldhraun lava field, the result of the catastrophic Laki eruption of 1783, which is thought to have been one of the most consequential volcanic events in recorded history. Overnight in Vík or Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Vík or Kirkjubæjarklaustur area for 1 night
11
DAY 11 KIRKJUBÆJARKLAUSTUR - VÍK - SOUTH SHORE - HVERAGERÐI (APPROX. 150-225 KM)
Today, in the vicinity of Katla and Eyjafjalajökull volcanoes, south of Mýrdalsjökull glacier, you have time to explore the South Shore area around Vík and Skógar. Discover beautiful sites such as Seljalandsfoss and Skógarfoss waterfalls and Reynisfjara black sand beach. Take a short detour to Dyrhólaey*, a rocky headland famous for its lava arch, offers excellent seabird watching during the summer. For those with an interest in active adventure, Sólheimajökull glacier outlet offers guided ice hiking, and ATV tours on the black sand beach. The day ends in the Hveragerði area, from there, you might want to go on a hike up in the Reykjadalur Valley and bathe in a natural hot river! Overnight in Selfoss or Hveragerdi area.
*Please note that Dyrhólaey is closed during nesting season in spring, from around mid-May until June 23rd.
*Please note that Dyrhólaey is closed during nesting season in spring, from around mid-May until June 23rd.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Selfoss or Hveragerdi area for 1 night
12
DAY 12 HVERAGERÐI - GOLDEN CIRCLE - REYKJAVÍK (APPROX. 200 KM)
Before heading back to Reykjavík, explore the famous Golden Circle region. Start with the beautiful Þingvellir National Park, site of the ancient Icelandic Viking parliament and a jewel of nature. Here you can see the meeting point between the North American and Europe continents. Several walking trails take visitors to historical points of interest. If you enjoy adventure, you might try snorkelling in clear waters between two continents. Þingvellir sits near Þingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest lake. Another exciting activity is whitewater rafting in a glacial river. Explore Gullfoss, the “Golden Waterfall”, and the nearby Geysir hot spring area to see the famous Geysir and Strokkur, as well as numerous other hot springs and boiling mud pools. While in the area, take advantage of relaxing in one of the hot spring-fed pools that make Iceland so famous. The Secret Lagoon is a historical swimming pool with an all-natural feel and its own little geyser. The Laugarvatn Fontana steam baths are a local favourite; natural steam soothes away aches and pains, followed by relaxation in a series of hot spring pools. The new Laugarás Lagoon offers unique hot spring bathing in a two-storey pool and a miniature forest. Head back into Reykjavík in the late afternoon for a final evening in the city. Overnight in Reykjavík.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Reykjavík for 1 night
13
DAY 13 REYKJAVÍK - DEPARTURE (APPROX. 50 KM)
Drive back to Keflavík International Airport. We recommend departing from your hotel in Reykjavík no later than at least 3 hours before your flight departure. It takes approximately 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 first day but have some free time today, you might want to use the opportunity en route to the airport. For this detour, please be sure to allow for at least 2-2,5 hours extra so you’ll have ample time at the lagoon. Your 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 departure hall.
Meals : Breakfast
ACCOMMODATION CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS
Comfort
Our comfort self-drives offer you the chance to travel around Iceland in a carefree spirit, staying in accommodation with private facilities without stretching your budget. During your stay you’ll be located in a combination of standard hotels, farmhouses, and guesthouses.
– Private facilities
– Standard rooms in Comfort hotels, guesthouses, and farmhouse accommodation
Quality
Our quality self-drive holidays allow you to spend your days exploring rural Iceland, knowing your nights will be spent in comfortable accommodation in each area. Throughout the tour you’ll stay in quality guesthouses and hotels.
– Private facilities
– Standard rooms in Quality hotels, guesthouses, and farmhouse accommodation
– Superior rooms in comfort hotels and guesthouses
Quality Upgrade
Upgrade your stay to a superior room in quality or superior hotels.
– Hotels as per accommodation list (a supplement may apply for hotels not on list)
– Not available in every location
Rates in CA$, per person, starting from, in double occupancy | |||
Daily Departures 2027 | Comfort Hotel Category | Quality Hotel Category | Quality Upgrade Hotel Category |
| Based on Car Rental Grp SD – Small 2WD Automatic, Hyundai i20, VW Polo, Swift or Similar | |||
| May 1 – 31 | 3980 | 4710 | 6125 |
| June 1 – 30 August 21 – September 30 | 5300 | 6055 | 7435 |
| July 1 – August 20 | 5790 | 6595 | 8010 |
| Based on Car Rental Grp MC – Medium 4WD Automatic, Kia Sportage or Similar | |||
| May 1 – 31 | 4735 | 5465 | 6880 |
| June 1 – 30 August 21 – September 30 | 6280 | 7035 | 8415 |
| July 1 – August 20 | 7445 | 8250 | 9660 |
| Supplement | |||
| Single Occupancy | On Request | ||
Tour Code: IT
*Bigger vehicule, more passengers travelling, prices on request.
A supplement may be charged if you overnight in Reykjavík on Culture Night (August 21, 2027).
**Prices in this document are for information only; they were issued at press time, for the current year. Please note that due to exchange rates and temporary promotions, they can increase or decrease at any time. Contact your travel agent for the price and promotion of the moment. Prices include the contribution of customers to the Compensation Fund for clients of Quebec travel agents.
*** PLEASE CAREFULLY READ OUR TERMS & CONDITIONS. ***
Iceland Complete Westfjords edition – Detailed Itinerary
Iceland Complete Westfjords edition – Detailed Itinerary
