6-Day Self-Driving Adventure in Southern Iceland – Snæfellsnes and Surroundings.
Iceland is a unique and stunningly beautiful country located just south of the Arctic Circle. There’s no better way to visit Iceland than by a self-drive itinerary, giving you the freedom to explore at your own pace. Black beaches stretch along the Atlantic, geysers spout from geothermal fields, and waterfalls glide across escarpments while brooding volcanoes and glittering ice caps score the inland horizon. The beautiful Southwest has many of Iceland’s legendary natural wonders including three famous sights: Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss.
Contact us for more information about this customizable Southern Iceland self-drive itinerary.
Highlights
STARTS AT
USD per Person
THIS IS A CUSTOMIZABLE ITINERARY FOR SMALL GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS.
DATES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
DAY 1: WELCOME KEFLAVIK, ICELAND
Welcome to Iceland! Arrive at Keflavík Airport and pick up your rental car at the airport.
SAMPLE VEHICLES
Skoda Octavia or similar 4WD and automatic for 6 days
Included: Unlimited KM, CDW insurance, detailed roadbook and 24/7 emergency phone number at your disposal
Excluded: Fuel, GPS unit, extra driver fee, additional extra insurances
Kia Sorento or similar 4WD and automatic for 6 days
Included: Unlimited KM, CDW insurance, detailed roadbook and 24/7 emergency phone number at your disposal
Excluded: Fuel, GPS unit, extra driver fee, additional extra insurances
Hvalfjörður
Hvalfjörður (Whale fjord) is one of the deepest fjords in Iceland. The area with its slopes, shores, canyons, and waterfalls is quiet and tranquil with few people around. A hiking trail to Glymur, the second-highest waterfall in Iceland (198 m), has its origin at the innermost end of the fjord. The somewhat steep trail up the rim of the deep river gorge is called Leggjabrjótur, meaning “Broken Leg”.
Note:
If you decide to hike up to Glymur please note that before the ascent it passes through a short cave and across a thin improvised bridge. While it is possible to reach the bottom of the falls, it is not recommended; one has to wade through the cold river into the canyon, which is dim and at constant risk of falling rocks
Accommodation: Borgarnes area
DAY 2: SNæFELLSNES SOUTH & NORTH
Snæfellsness, a 90- km long peninsula comprises a world of diversity. Snæfellsnes South includes spectacular mountains, a multitude of bird species nesting on treacherous cliffs, beaches of sand and pebbles popular among horsemen and rock skimmers, remnants and relics scattered here and there of times and ways of life long past. Saga sites and hiking trails.
In the north of Snæfellsness peninsula are many treasures to be found, including the sleepy village of Stykkisholmur and the town of Grundarfjörður, where you can go looking for Orca whales, and the most photographed mountain in Iceland, Kirkjufell.
Accommodation: Borgarnes area
DAY 3: BORGARFJÖRðUR
Borgarfjörður
Borgarfjordur takes its name from the farm of Viking and poet Egill Skallagrimsson, of Egil’s Saga fame. Several farms and townships are in the fjord, the largest rural area being the town of Borgarnes, a commerce and service center for a large part of the southwest. Hvita River runs through the fjord and the mountains of the district are highly scenic and varied, lending further beauty to the area. Natural attractions further include the Hraunfossar waterfalls, streaming out of Hallmundarhraun lava over a distance of about 900 m into the Hvita River. In the same lava field is Surtshellir, the most famous and longest lava cave in Iceland.
Hraunfossar & Barnafossar
Hraunfossar is a series of waterfalls formed by rivulets streaming over a distance of about 900 metres out of the Hallmundarhraun, a lava field that flowed from an eruption of one of the volcanoes lying under the glacier Langjökull. The waterfalls pour into the Hvítá River from ledges of less porous rock in the lava. The name hraun comes from the Icelandic word for lava. The Hraunfossar are situated near Húsafell and Reykholt and the lava-tube cave Víðgelmir is close by.
A few meters from Hraunfossar, there is another waterfall called Barnafoss. Its name, the waterfall of the children, comes from an accident which is said to have taken place here in former times. There was a natural bridge over the waterfall and two children from a nearby farm fell to their deaths crossing the river on the bridge. Afterward, the grief-struck mother had the bridge destroyed.
Deildartunguhver
Deildartunguhver is a hotspring in Reykholtsdalur, Iceland. It is characterized by a very high flow rate for hot spring (180 liters/second) and water emerges at 97 °C. It is the highest-flow hot spring in Europe. Some of the water is used for heating, being piped 34 kilometers to Borgarnes and 64 kilometers to Akranes. A fern called the “deer fern” or “hard fern”, Blechnum spicant grows near Deildartunguhver, and nowhere else in Iceland.
Accommodation: Borgarnes area
DAY 4: ÞINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK + GEYSER + GULLFOSS
Þingvellir National Park
No single place epitomizes the history of Iceland and the Icelandic nation better than Þingvellir by the river Öxará. At Þingvellir – literally “Parliament Plains” – the Alþing general assembly was established around 930 and continued to convene there until 1798. Major events in the history of Iceland have taken place at Þingvellir and therefore the place is held in high esteem by all Icelanders. Today Þingvellir is a protected national shrine. According to the law, passed in 1928, the protected area shall always be the property of the Icelandic nation, under the preservation of the Alþing.
Geysir Hotspring The English word “geyser” is derived from the Icelandic word “geysir” which means gusher. Though the Great Geysir itself is now more or less inactive, the area surrounding it is geothermically very active with many smaller hot springs. The attraction of the area is now Strokkur (The Churn), another geyser 100 meters south of the Great Geysir, which erupts at regular intervals every 10 minutes or so and its white column of boiling water can reach as high as 30 meters. The whole area is a geothermal park sitting on top of a vast boiling cauldron. Belching sulphurous mud pots of unusual colors, hissing steam vents, hot and cold springs, warm streams, and primitive plants can all be found here.
Gullfoss The Golden Waterfall located on the Hvítá river which is fed by Iceland ́s second biggest glacier, the Langjökull. The water cascades down two steps, one 11 m high, and the other 22 m, into the rugged canyon below. This canyon was created at the end of the Ice Age by catastrophic flood waves and is lengthened by 25 cm a year by the constant erosion. As one first approaches the falls, the edge is obscured from view, so that it appears that the river simply vanishes into the earth.
Visit Seljalandsfoss on the way to Vík
Accommodation: Vík area
DAY 5: SOUTH COAST + GLACIER
South Coast
Along the South Coast you will see some of the most splendid and popular natural phenomena in Iceland. You will see two beautiful waterfalls, the 60 meters high Skógarfoss in the river Skógá and the unique Seljalandsfoss (recommended to visit on day 4), also 60 meters high with a thin cascade and a foot path behind it at the bottom of the cliff. The small peninsula, or promontory, Dyrhólaey (meaning: the hill- island with the door-hole) was formerly an island of volcanic origin. The view from up there is magnificent; to the north is the big glacier Mýrdalsjökull, to the east, the black lava columns of the Reynisdrangar rise from the sea and the whole coastline to the west. In front of the peninsula, there is a gigantic black arch of lava standing in the sea, which gave the peninsula its name. In the summertime, many puffins nest on the cliff faces of Dyrhólaey. Dyrhólaey has been a natural reserve since 1978.
AG101 – Glacier Discovery
This is an informative, safe, and easy glacier walk on the Sólheimajökull glacier tongue. Your certified glacier guide will lead you through a frozen wonderland of different shades of glacier ice; white ice, blue ice, and crystal clear ice. You will get to see deep crevasses and water cauldrons in a safe manner, along with other interesting features of the glacier. During the hike, you will have plenty of photo opportunities and your expert guide will share his wisdom about the ever-changing landscapes of the Icelandic glaciers, their formation and interplay with the surrounding volcanoes and mountains. No technical skills are needed for this tour and you will be provided with all the necessary glacier equipment. This is a great, family-friendly, way to experience the Icelandic glaciers.
Duration: 2.5 hours (on the ice 1-1,5 hrs)
Meeting point: Sólheimajökull base camp, 20 min. prior to departure GPS point for Sólheimajökull N 63.532833 W 19.369675
Included : Experienced and qualified guide, Glacier gear, Safety equipment, Tea, coffee, water and access to restrooms at Sólheimajökull
Not included : Warm clothing , Rain gear and hiking boots (can be rented)
Accommodation: Vík area
DAY 6: REYKJANES PENINSULA
Reykjanes Peninsula
The peninsula, with its diversity of volcanic and geothermal activity, is a Geopark and is the only place in the world where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is visible above sea level. It is home to many important geological formations, some of which are utterly unique, including numerous types of volcanoes in at least four separate volcanic zones, with hundreds of open fissures and faults. The lava-scarred Reykjanes peninsula lies on one of the world’s major plate boundaries, the Mid Atlantic Ridge. According to the continental drift theory the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are continuously drifting apart with great forces under the gaping rifts. The Bridge between two continents at Sandvík is a small footbridge over a major fissure which provides clear evidence of the presence of a diverging plate margin.
Departure to Keflavík Airport (or option to extend to Reykyavik or northern Iceland)
Drop the rental car off at Keflavík airport.
Tour Exclusions
IMPORTANT NOTES
PLEASE NOTE: This itinerary is subject to change. Although we always do our best to stick to the itinerary, due to the ever-changing nature of Mother Nature, activities, hotels, and visits are subject to change due to forces beyond our control.
FLIGHTS: Please do not purchase your flights until this tour is confirmed.
PASSPORTS: Must be valid for at least 6 months upon return date to your home country. Proper documentation is the responsibility of each traveller.
VISAS & VACCINATIONS: Responsibility of the traveller. VISAS (responsibility of the traveller) – Many nationalities do need a visa to enter.
Date: Custom Departure available upon request
Prices from: $2995 USD per participant based on Double / Twin accommodation
*Please note, the hotels and routing of this tour can be altered to best suit your needs. Prices may vary.
Travel Insurance
Cancellation, Travel, Flight, and Health insurance are required and are the responsibility of the participant to research and secure the appropriate coverage. Click HERE for a Travel Insurance Quote or please email nicola@finisterra.ca for a quote.
Check with your local travel agent /insurance provider/health plan for advice about traveling overseas.
Waiver Form
All participants will be required to sign a Waiver Form prior to departure.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Even though we wish you a flawless trip, things can happen, especially nowadays. Make sure you are prepared with a Travel Insurance policy that is right for you. Finisterra recommends Manulife Insurance or John Hancock Please feel free to ask us about Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance, Cancel for Any Reason Policies, Travel Medical Insurance, or any other questions you may have.
TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR CANADIANS
Travel with confidence knowing that you’re covered with Manulife Insurance.
TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR AMERICANS – JOHN HANCOCK
Explore the world, stress-free, when you book travel insurance with John Hancock International.
WHY TRAVEL WITH US?
At Finisterra Travel we help you discover, push personal boundaries, and explore the unknown.
We are super passionate about sustainable, transformational, and adventure travel. Definitely not “armchair travellers”, we have firsthand experience of where you’ll be heading.No one wants to feel like a tourist which is why when we plan a custom travel experience for you, we strive to make your adventure as authentic as possible. We offer an array of Small Group Adventures & Custom Trips, and have something for every type of traveller.
Our unique itineraries are designed to best showcase some of our favourite destinations around Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, North America, and Europe. All itineraries are fully-customizable.Not your typical online travel agency, nor are we quite a tour operator, we are international travel designers with a flair for unique experiences. We’d love to hear from you!
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