Highland Adventure

After disembarking from Norröna, you drive from Seyðisfjörður to Egilsstaðir, making short stops at the waterfalls along the way. After a look around in Egilsstaðir, you drive through Skriðdalur valley and to Breiðdalsheidi mountain pass, where you have a choice: you can drive through Breiðdalur valley, where the children at some of the farms sell colourful stones they have found in the mountains. You can also opt for a more adventurous track that brings you straight to Berufjörður fjord. Then you drive along the eastern fjords over winding roads, enjoying lovely views. You pass the tiny village of Djúpivogur and from there the road continues to Höfn, a larger community and an important fisheries harbour. You stay overnight either in Djúpivogur or in Höfn.  

First you drive to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, where large icebergs float around. It's possible to make an optional boat-trip on the lagoon. Then, take some time to visit Skaftafell national park and walk to Svartifoss waterfall, (1½ hrs walk in total) before continuing along the south coast. You cross Skeiðarársandur, an outwash plain of black sand, at the foot of the glacier. Then you have the opportunity to stop at the tiny chapel of Núpsstaður and a bit further at the interesting basalt columns of Dverghamrar. Next, you drive to Kirkjubæjarklaustur village where you stay overnight.

Today the highland adventure begins, leaving civilisation for a while to visit Eldgjá gorge, where you can hike to the charming waterfall Ófærufoss. From there you continue over a rough track to Landmannalaugar, with its many hot springs and a nice warm river where you can bathe, all surrounded by very colourful mountains. You can go on a very nice hike in this area. Continue through Landssveit to the main road and from there to Reykjavík for overnight stay.

Today you can spend a bit of time in the capital, and after that you visit Iceland's highlights, starting with a drive to Þingvellir national park, where the ancient outdoor parliament was founded in 930. This area is also very interesting from a geological point of view, since it’s situated on top of the mid-Atlantic ridge, where two earth crust plates slowly drift apart. Therefore, there are many fissures in the soil at Þingvellir. Next you visit the Geysir hot spring area with the famous spouting spring Strokkur as well as a great number of bubbling, steaming and boiling springs. From there you continue to Gullfoss waterfall, which some people consider to be Iceland’s most beautiful. Overnight in the area.

Today you head north through the highlands, starting with some stops in Þjórsárdalur valley, to see the lovely twin waterfalls of Hjálp, and possibly the waterfall Háifoss, Iceland’s second highest. Then your trip continues with a drive over Sprengisandur track, passing the power plants in the south, and driving between the glaciers Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull. You will have to cross two rather deep rivers, so it will be quite adventurous. Late in the afternoon you arrive in the Mývatn area, where you stay overnight.

Today you can make your choice from the marvels of lake Myvatn and Jökulsá Canyon: at Mývatn there are the Námaskarð solfataras, Dimmuborgir lava labyrinth, and Skútustaðir pseudo-craters, and in the national park Jökulsa Canyon, you can visit Ásbyrgi gorge and Europe’s most powerful waterfall Dettifoss.

A long, but very rewarding day. You head east and after a while south, straight into the wilds, passing the table mountain Mt Herðubreid (1.682 m) on your way to Askja. A hike will bring you to Víti crater, where it is possible to descend on foot and bathe in the lukewarm water. From there you continue east to Egilsstaðir, where you arrive in the early evening. Overnight in Egilsstaðir.

In the morning you drive the 30 km back to Seyðisfjörður, to catch the ferry.

Note: We reserve the right to reverse the itinerary.