So for my birthday in 2016, I got to celebrate it in Iceland! I really like going away for my birthday rather than having parties or anything. It makes it special! Now I know Iceland is a hot place right now and I am often asked to share my Iceland itinerary so I thought I would just post it here to make it easier to help y'all. I was lucky enough to drive around the whole country instead of just hitting up Reykjavik (the capital), the Blue Lagoon, and the golden circle (which is usually what people do). It's unfortunate that most people stop there and don't really explore this amazing country! It deserves more than just a day or two layover on your way to somewhere else. Of the 31 countries I have been to, this one is my favorite! It's just absolutely magical, with the landscapes changing from turn-to-turn, the Iceland horses, volcanoes, black sand beach, waterfalls, hot springs, people (they are SO nice), and just vast amount of land. I think that Iceland is probably the easiest place to create your own itinerary or travel alone since it is one main road around the entire country and it is absolutely safe. No need to join a tour group.
As I said, I was reallllyyy lucky to drive around the whole country. It was March and the weather in March is so ify. In fact, on the one year anniversary of my trip to Iceland, the country had one of its biggest storms. Often the roads in Iceland get closed in the Winter, so you cannot usually drive around the whole country because of the heavy snowfall and the dangerous winds. So I got lucky. I was prepared, however. I had a plan B in case when i got to Iceland, the roads would be closed. I am sharing my plan B in the itinerary below. Keep in mind (1) that this was MY personal itinerary so I am including specific dates and addresses and mileage. It might be helpful to you. I'll also add some helpful comments, which are italicized and in red. And (2) I did this trip in the month of March. I would still recommend this basic itinerary for Summer or other seasons, but I would definitely try to add in some hikes, maybe a volcano visit, and maybe some time exploring the interior (which is completely closed off in the Winter). This is NOT what my average itineraries look like--Iceland in the Winter is so unpredictable so I needed plenty of options. Hopefully its not too all over the place with all of the options. I am not going to add photos here since it is an itinerary but hopefully later I will write a post with pictures of my trip!
Monday February 29
Arrive at 5:10am
Pick up Rav4 4x4 at Blue Car Rental , Blikavellir 3, 235 Keflavik Airport. Paid $762 USD (98.900 ISK), blue@bluecarrental.is (354) 773-7070 (I did a lot of research and basically all of the car rental companies had bad reviews. This one had the best reviews so it is more pricey, but in general, car rental in Iceland is definitely more expensive than most places and you really want to rent a reliable car with snow tires if it is Winter. I would definitely spring for the ash and sand insurance since there is volcanic rock all over the road and it isn't unlikely it'll nick up the windshield. Also, DO rent a car. It's cheaper than a tour and driving around Iceland is very easy.)
Check into Airbnb (My airbnb host was nice enough to let us check-in right from the airport and didn't charge us an extra night or anything! You definitely can't do that at a hotel. I'm sure not every Airbnb host would allow you to check in at 7am, but its worth asking!)
Hallgrimskirkja (church) and explore downtown Reykjavik (I don't think Reykjavik itself needs more than a day to explore)
Dinner at 7:00pm at Tapas Barinn, Vesturgotu 3b, 101 Reykajavik, tapis@tapis.is (Great restaurant that has Icelandic fare! I tried puffin, whale, Brennivín, lamb, lobster, skyr and Iceland fish)
Optional Ideas
Viking World, Opens at 7AM (café too), Vikingabraut 1, 260 Reykjanesbaer
Hot dogs—Baejarins Beztu Pylsur , Tryggvagotu 1, Reykjavik 101, Iceland. Near Settlement Museum (closed) (Best hot dogs ever and constantly on lists of best foods to try in the world)
Saegreifinn (lobster soup), Geirsgata 8 near city center and harbor
Tuesday March 1
Golden Circle Day—Thingvellir National Park, Friðheimar Farmhouse (tomato greenhouse & lunch. This is a MUST stop! They grow their own tomatoes in a greenhouse and have amazing homemade soup, pasta, bread!), Geysir, Gullfoss, Secret Lagoon, Farmhotel Efstidalur
Brietartun, Reykjavik to Thingvellir National Park (47 min., 50.8 km)
Thingvellir National Park to Friðheimar Farmhouse (Bláskógabyggð, IS-801, Selfoss) (via Route 365 and Biskupstungnabraut) (42 min., 52.3 km)
Friðheimar Farmhouse to The Great Geysir (and Stokkur) (via Biskupstungnabraut/Route 35) (16 min., 19.2 km)
Geysir, Haukadalsvegur, Iceland to Gullfoss (via Route 35) (10 min, 9.8 km)
Gullfoss to Secret Lagoon, Hvammsvegur, 845 Flúðir Iceland (via Skeida-og Hrunamammavegur) (31 min. 31.7 km)
Secret Lagoon to Farmhotel Efstidalur (Efstidalur 2, Blaskogabyggd, 801) 220 Euros and still need to pay, Phone +3544861186) (via Biskupstungnabraut and Laugarvatnsvegur) (29 min and 32.2 km) (That price was for two rooms. Amazing little farmhouse!)
Wednesday March 2
South Coast—Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Vik, to Guesthouse Skalafell (4 hr 54 min, 405 km). Pass by Kerid Crater
Farmhotel Efstidalur to Seljalandsfoss Waterfall (can walk behind waterfall) (Pro tip: Buy crampons for your shoes! It is very icy near all of the waterfalls and people are slipping like crazy! You can order cheap ones from LLBean) (1 hour 31 min., 117 km) (Eyjafjallajokull)
Between Hella & Seljalalandsfoss, Keldur, which has turf houses
Seljalandsfoss to Skogafoss (26 min, 29.3 km)
9 minutes from Skogafoss is Sólheimasandur airplane 63.459523,-19.364618 (After driving past Skógafoss going East on Route 1, you’ll cross a bridge with blinking yellow lights and a dirt access road to Sólheimajökull Glacier on the left.) The road sign here marks the glacier access road. From this point, keep driving East for about 2 kilometers and keep your eyes open for another dirt road turnoff with a gate on your right. It should be the only opening in the fence after the bridge. If you end up driving over a 2nd bridge, you’ve gone too far.
Skogar folk museum (turf houses but museum closed) (Skogar, Iceland near Hotel Edda)
Skogafoss to Vik (28 min, 33.8 km)
Vik to Guesthouse Skalafell, Pjoovegur, Hornafjord (Skalafell 1 Hornafjordur 781) (2 hr. 41 min, 229 km) +3544781041 info@skalafel.net
Optional Ideas
Guesthouse Skalafell to Hofn, (36 min, 43.3 km)
Vik restaurants- Halldorskaffi, Vikurbraut 28; Suour Vik, Suourvikurvegur 1
Turfhouse near Selfoss Gaulverjabaejarvegur, Selfoss, The Icelandic Turf house
Wednesday March 2
Extreme Iceland 354-588-1300—Glacier Adventure, Ice Caving Tour in Vatnajokull at 1:00pm info@glacieradventure.is. The meeting point is at the reception of Hali Country Hotel located 13 km east of the Jokulsarlon Glacier lagoon and 67 km west of Hofn. Be there 20 min early. Could take between 2.5-5 hours (AMAZING excursion! This is the only group thing we did and there was maybe 10 other people. The guide takes you on the glacier and you get to go into an ice cave! Ice caves are closed in the Summer. At the Jokulsarlon Lagoon, though, they have boat rides on the lagoon, which I would do instead in the Summer since that's the only time that is open)
Optional Ideas
Icelagoon Café at Jokulsarlon 9am- 7pm. GPS location: 64.0484123, -16.1794611. Jökulsárlón, 781 Höfn í Hornafirði, Iceland
Holmur Myrar (petting zoo), 781 Hofn, 30 minute drive east of Jökulsárlón +354 478 2063, Guesthouse Holmur, reindeer tours
Wednesday March 2 evening to Sunday March 6 evening
Option 1 (As mentioned above, I had a second option if the weather wasn't good and I couldn't continue around ring road and had to drive back towards Reykjavik. I have that alternative option at the end. I didn't get to do that portion of the itinerary but will use it for next time. I also allowed for options to stop for the night at several points during the road-trip depending on how tired we were. Our actual driving stops for the nights ended being like this-- Wednesday, Jokulsarlon to Egilsstadir. Thursday, Egilsstadir to Akureyri. Friday, Akureyri to Borgarnes. Saturday, Borgarnes to the Blue Lagoon)
Ring Road- Hofn to Akureyri 451 km & 6hr, 12 min/A to R, 380km 4hr,15
Thursday- Drive from glacier to Egilsstadir or Seydisfjordur. 269 km or 3,5 hour drive
Hotel Eyvindara , on road 94, Eyvindara II, 700 Egilsstadir eyvindara2@simnet.is 354-471-1200 (Specify private bathroom, fills up with tours, no dinner) Icelandic Farm Holidays website
Guesthouse Egilsstadir , 354-471-1114 (food) egilsstadir@egilsstadir.com
Icelandair Hotel Herad (food, reindeer steaks, until 930pm) (this was where we actually stayed, which I really enjoyed, the two hotels above were options depending on where we stopped for the night. Up until this point, I had reservations ahead of time. For three nights, I waited to see where we ended up for the night, which I would only recommend doing when Iceland isn't at peak IE not summer)
Thursday March 3
Lake Myvtan (volcanoes to the SE: Hverir, Leirhnjukshraun, Viti Crater* in Krafla Volcanic area) Námaskarð (hot springs), Dettifoss (hard to get to), Sellfoss (twin of Dettifoss), Godafoss, Sulphur Springs, Dimmuborgir, Skutustadagigar oseudocrater, Mt Krafla (most visited volcano), Myvatn Nature Bath, Namafjall (mud pots, sulfur hot springs), Hverfell crater (these are all ideas for that area. The things highlighted are what we actually got to see. A lot of things were too covered with snow. Godafoss was actually my favorite waterfall of all the ones we saw in Iceland. Everything not highlighted on this day are just options for the area)
Dimmuborgir (lava field—black pillars and caves)
Grjótagjá (spring cave near Reykjahlíð)
Jökulsárgljúfur National Park with Dettifoss, Vesturdalur and Asbyrgi.
Past Akureyri 20 km, 17 miles away , Ytri-Vik farm. Has hot tub, really pretty. 621 Hauganes, Iceland +354-899-8000 sporttours@sporttours.is
Past Akureyri, Hofsos (magical horses) N from Ring Road to stay https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3057377?s=TKx1-jRg
Hofsos Island Swimming pool (best pool view)
Near Hofsos, Herring Era Museum
Seydisfjordur to Akureuri (300 km- 3.5 hours)
Borgarfjordur Eystri – Puffin Watching
Akureyri to Reyjkavik 4.5 hours.
Close to the lake--Vogafjos Cowshed Café & Guesthouse - Coming from the east on road no. 1 (from Egilsstaðir): Turn left on the intersection of road no. 1 and no. 848 when driving pass the village Reykjahlíð. Continue along road no. 848 and drive 2 kilometers until you see a sign of a cow on your right hand side. Turn right and drive to Vogafjós Restaurant where the reception is located. 660 Myvatn, 354-464-3800, vogafjos@vogajos.is
Akureyri Restaurant= Rub 23, 600 Akureyi Kaupvangsstraeti 6
Icelandair Hotel Akureyri
Friday March 4
Drive to Borgarnes
The Settlement Center (this was actually one of the coolest museums I have every been to! It was very interactive. I usually am not really into museums when I go on trips)
Icelandair Hotel Hamar (this hotel had the most amazing hot tub and beautiful views)
Here are some optional things to do in and around Borgarnes, which we didn't end up having time to do
Borgarnes
Ljomalind Farmers Market
Geirabakari Bakery and Café (famous for Snudar)
Deildartunguhver (largest hot spring in Europe, cant swim)
Hraunfossar and BArnafoss waterfalls
Snorrastofa, medieval
Kria Guesthouse (hot tub)
Near Borganes, town to stay
borgarfjordur eystri (Tuft house)
Blabjorg Guesthouse (great place but shared bathroom)
Saturday March 5- Sunday March 6
The Blue Lagoon (absolute must! We stayed in the Blue Lagoon hotel, which is expensive but totally worth it! The hotel has its own private Blue Lagoon and you get free admission to the main Blue Lagoon attraction! We got water massages and had so much fun!)
LAVA Restaurant (at the Blue Lagoon. Really great place to eat!)
Monday March 7
My birthday! Unfortunately we had to fly home this day, but got to hang out in the Blue Lagoon hotel's private lagoon before heading to the airport.
So "option 2" is what I would have done starting Wednesday March 2 evening, had my route around Iceland been closed due to weather:
Option 2 Hofn to Snaefellnes,[ZK12] 597 km, 7 hr, 21
Stay in Vik, Hotel Katla (outdoor hot tub)
Between Vik & Hofn, Icelandair Hotel Klaustur
Between Selfoss & Hveragerdi, The Icelandic Horse Park Fakasel, show & soup, 354-483-5050, Ingolfshvoll 816 Olfus (4:30 & 7 shows)
Hotel Ranga, Hotel Ion (expensive hotels outside Reykajvik)
Kjot og Kunst in Hveragerdi (Breidmork)
Snafellsnes Peninsula (6 hours from Reykavik)
Saxholl Crater (small hike but gets windy)
Hellnar Arch (natural rock formation comprised of basalt sheets). Café close by.
Raudamelsolkkelda, natural mineral springs you can drink
Mt. Stapafell. Gatklettur (arch rock)
Holaholar (crater you can drive inside)
Stykkisholmur (Wayyyy North) charming houses
Mt. Helgafell (15 min hike up and three wishes when you get to top)
Olis Gas Station (gas station burgers)
Plassid restaurant
Narfeyrarstofa (mussels)
Sugandisey Lookout point (easy walking path)
Gurunarlaug Hot Tub- To get to this particular hot-tub turn from ring-road 1 onto road 60 for Búðardalur village. Drive for 16 km and turn left on side-road 589. Drive for 3 km on a paved road to Hotel Edda. Up in a hill immediately there is Guðrúnarlaug hot-tub.
Eldborg volcanic caldera (SE off 54) approach parking area to its South, half hour walk each way
Gerduberg Basalt Columns (SE off 54, off main road a couple km)
Lysuholl Swimming Pool (Middle S off 54)
Hotel Budir, (food, middle of 54, S), 356 Snaefellsbaer, +354-435-6700, budir@budir.is/ Langaholt hotel, Hotel Hellnar
Raudfeldargja Gorge (middle of 54, S), can be seen from road or hiking takes 30 min.
Arnarstapi, (middle of 54, S), trading post. Angry birds.
Fjoruhusid Café (middle of 54, S might be closed in Winter) GPS Points N64° 45’ 6.482” W23° 38’ 43.840”
Hellnar, (middle of 54, S) harbor area has popular hotel and Snafellsjokull Glacier National park
Badstofa Cave, special light
Londrangar (middle of 54, S) rock formations you can see from road
Vatnshellir Cave, lava cave, (middle of 54, SW) Tours 12-4 on the hour
Djupalonssandur Black Sand Beach (middle of 54 SW)
Skardsvik Beach (yellow beach , NW)
Kirkjufell Mountain (off 54, N, middle) most photographed mountain
Grundarfjordur (middle of 54, N) (small beautiful town w/ killer whales)
Sugur-Bar Guesthouse +354-438-6815, Sudur-Bar 350, Grundarfjordur Iceland
Hotel Framnes, only place to eat in winter, call to reserve
Bjarnarhofn Shark Museum Bjarnarhofn, Iceland (N, off 54)
Berserkjahraun (lava field) (N, middle, 54)
T&L—Hotel Egilsen, 340 Stykkisholmur (North tip), restaurant Narfeyrarstofa
Here are a few other random ideas/places I had as options
Hverhamer
Fire and Ice Hotel in http://www.frostogfuni.is/ 27 miles from Reykavik 1 hour away, 810 Hveragerði, +354 483-4959, info@frostogfuni.is
Reykjanes Peninsula (Near airport)
Gunnuhver Hot Springs
Bridge between continents
Lighthouse
Sandgerði (has harbor and swimming pool, restaurant called Vitinn)
Árbæjarsafn (turf houses) 1:00pm tours)
Laugarvatn Fontana is hot pool near golden circle
