Iceland Winter Wonders

ICELAND WINTER WONDERS

7-Day Self-Drive Independent Tour

Period of validity:  October 1, 2024 – April 30, 2025

HIGHLIGHTS
Visit Reykjavik, the famous Golden Circle, the South Coast and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula • Time to explore waterfalls, glacier lagoons, volcanoes and hot springs

ITINERARY INCLUDES

• 5 nights accommodations, double occupancy with private facilities
• Daily breakfast [B]
• Rental car for 6 days 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 Keflavik International Airport
• Authorization for two people to drive the rental car during your trip
• Iceland Travel App
• 24-hour Iceland Travel emergency line assistance while you are in Iceland
• Service fee and taxes

NOTES ABOUT THIS TOUR

• Must be 20 years of age to rent a car and 23 years of age to rent a 4WD car.
• 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.
• Optional activities are not included in price.

ITINERARY – 7 DAYS

DAY 1     ARRIVE REYKJAVIK
Once you have landed at Keflavik Airport in Iceland, please pick up your luggage and head through customs. Collect your rental car at the airport and proceed to your hotel in Reykjavik. Spend the afternoon exploring the city center of Reykjavik, perhaps visiting a few museums or just enjoying a drink with the locals in one of the many pubs in the down town area. Overnight in Reykjavik.

Please note that hotels in Iceland start check-in around 14:00 (2:00pm), and early check-in is not guaranteed. Most hotels will be happy to store your luggage if you are not able to check in early.

DAY 2     REYKJAVIK – GOLDEN CIRCLE – VIK                                                [B]
Breakfast at your hotel. Head out of the city, where you’ll explore some of the Golden Circle and South shore areas. Drive to Gullfoss waterfall and the nearby Geysir hot spring area. Continue your trip along the south coast, viewing highlights such as Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls. On a clear day you might glimpse majestic Eyjafjallajokull, the site of the (in)famous volcanic eruption in 2010. This region is one of Iceland’s best farming districts, providing geothermal vegetables and some of Iceland’s best known dairy and meat products. Overnight in Vik area.

DAY 3     EXCURSION TO VATNAJOKULL & JOKULSARLON                       [B]
Breakfast at your hotel. Today you’ll be in the area of the largest national park in Western Europe: Vatnajokull National Park. First, you’ll drive past the largest single lava flow in the world in recorded history, Eldhraun. You’ll also cross over vast sand plains created by glacial washes. Visit the majestic Skaftafell area of Vatnajokull National Park, named after Europe’s largest glacier. The area is ringed by glaciers offers good winter hiking possibilities. You can even join a guided hiking tour taking you onto a glacier, an unforgettable experience. Continue to the shimmering icebergs of Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. Nearby is the Diamond Beach, which has become quite famous in the social media community. Return again to your overnight in the Vik area.

DAY 4     VIK – THINGVELLIR – BORGARFJORDUR                                       [B]
Breakfast at your hotel. Drive to the UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park, site of the ancient Icelandic parliament and a jewel of nature. The park itself is situated in a stunning volcanic landscape of mountains and lava flows on the edge of Iceland’s largest lake. You can enjoy the unique experience of walking between continents on a path leading through the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Continue to charming Borgarfjordur fjord, a region known for local culinary and craft traditions. Visit the remarkably beautiful Hraunfoss and Barnafoss waterfalls and Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in Europe. We recommend a visit to the nearby Krauma natural geothermal baths, where you can relax in pools fed by a perfect blend of water from Deildartunguhver and nearby glacial springs. Overnight in Borgarfjordur area.

DAY 5     EXCURSION TO SNAEFELLSNES PENINSULA                                 [B]
Breakfast at your hotel. Explore the countless natural wonders of the Snaefellsnes peninsula, which also includes Snaefellsjokull National Park. Snæfellsnes has become known as “Iceland in a Nutshell” because it has so many diverse types of landscapes in one area. We recommend you stop at the wind tangled Arnarstapi sea cliffs and the rocky beach of Djupalonssandur. The beautiful Snaefessjokull glacier-volcano is the crown jewel of the peninsula. Legends say that the mountain is home to a benevolent half-troll guardian. Drive along the north coast through bustling fishing villages, stopping to look at Kirkjufell, Iceland’s most photographed mountain. Return to Borgarnes area for overnight.

DAY 6     BORGARFJORDUR – REYKJANES PENINSULA – REYKJAVIK   [B]
Breakfast at your hotel. Drive to the Reykjanes peninsula and visit the moonlike lava fields around Lake Kleifarvatn.The peninsula is a UNESCO GeoPark, with over 50 interesting sites connected to geothermal activity, volcanoes and tectonic plates. One of the most interesting of these is Krysuvik geothermal area with primordial bubbling mud pools. We recommend a stop at Grindavik fishing village, famous for its heritage of producing salt fish (bacalao). Salt fish made an enormous impact on the prosperity of the Icelandic nation, particularly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Perhaps you will also visit the famous Blue Lagoon and enjoy its pleasantly warm geothermal waters, rich in silica and minerals that are great for the skin. (Note: Bookings must be made in advance. We are happy to book a time for you.) After a great trip, it’s time to head to Reykjavik for your last night in Iceland! Overnight in Reykjavik.

DAY 7     REYKJAVIK – DEPART                                                                                 [B]
Return to Keflavik International Airport.** We recommend departing the hotel approximately 3 hours prior to the departure of your international flight. If you did not visit the Blue Lagoon earlier 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. End of services.

**Please note that the package price is based on 6 x 24-hour rental days starting at the time of rental. If your flight arrives early on day 1 and departs late on day 7, an additional supplement will be charged unless you choose to return the car in Reykjavik when the 6- day rental is up and use our FlyBus plus departure transfer.

NORTHERN LIGHTS: The Northern Lights are visible in the northern sky from September through April when the sky is clear and free of clouds. Like many natural wonders, it is an ephemeral spectacle – the Northern Lights may be visible, they may appear for a bit and then be gone (it is not a TV show that you can just turn on and off). But it is worth the patience which is much required. Because they are a winter event, you need to be prepared to wait outside while looking for them. It is best to dress very warmly, in layers, with good footwear, gloves, hats and whatever else makes you comfortable while you await this truly outstanding event. For the best photos we recommend using a tripod.