Pearls of Iceland | Snaefellsnes, Lake Myvatn, the Highlands, Golden Circle & South Coast

Your adventure starts in Reykjavík when you will be picked up in the morning and whisked away to Þingvellir National Park, A UNESCO world heritage site. You'll travel in a small but comfortable minibus with the maximum of 16 passengers which will allow you to travel like a local, avoiding the crowds of the big buses.

Þingvellir is historically significant as it was the site of Iceland's ancient parliament, founded in 930 AD. It is also of great geological interest as you can see quite clearly the rift between the two continental plates on which Iceland is situated. 

You will then head inland, close to Langjökull glacier via the Kaldidalur mountain pass, on your way to the Borgarfjörður region. 

You will visit the Hraunfossar waterfalls where you can see ice cold water seeping out of the lava field above it. You will also visit Europe's most powerful hot spring, Deildartunguhver, and the old bishopric Reykholt, once home to Iceland's most celebrated scholar, Snorri Sturluson.

You'll spend the night in the Borgarfjörður area.

Today we will visit the magical Snaefellsnes peninsula, often called 'Iceland in miniature' as you can find essentially every single natural phenomenon in Iceland there, albeit on a slightly smaller scale. 

From Borgarnes you will head up to the peninsula's southern part and drive by volcanic craters, lava fields, waterfalls, sandy beaches, and bird cliffs. You'll also pass through some of the small and charming fishing villages of the area. 

On the northern side, you'll see Mt. Kirkjufell, considered by many to be the most picturesque mountain in Iceland. Watching over you the entire journey is the mighty Snæfellsjökull, a glacier covering a 7000-year old stratovolcano. 

At the end of the day, you will reach Stykkishólmur town where you'll spend the night. 

Today you'll continue your journey, heading east on the country's northern coast. You'll say 'goodbye' to Stykkishólmur and the countless island of Breiðafjörður bay, and make your way towards Hrútafjörður fjord.

You'll drive along the fjords and green pastures of the Skagafjörður region before stopping at Hólar in the Hjaltadalur valley. There, you'll find the old and beautiful Hólar cathedral, one of the oldest stone churches in Iceland.

You'll continue your journey, making your way north to Tröllaskagi, or 'Troll Peninsula', where you'll find the town of Siglufjörður. The award-winning museum, Herring Era Museum, is located in Siglufjörður. It provides you with an insight into times when this little coastal town was a booming fishing district, and how vital the fishing industry is to a small nation like Iceland.

You'll then move on to the largest town in northern Iceland, Akureyri, where you will spend the night. 

Today you will see some of the most impressive sights in north Iceland. 

The day starts with a drive east along Eyjafjörður fjord towards the beautiful Goðafoss waterfall. From there, you'll move on to the volcanic area around Lake Mývatn. 

The lake and its surroundings were formed in a volcanic eruption some 2,000 years ago. You can see clear signs of past volcanic activity, as recent as 1984, in the Rift Zone. 

You'll also see the labyrinth of lava rocks at Dimmuborgir 'Dark Castles', and the fumarole fields at Námaskarð, with both boiling mud pits and steam vents. The lake itself is also quite striking, with pseudocraters dotted around and an active birdlife in the summer.

You'll return to your accommodation in Akureyri in the late afternoon.

From Akureyri, you'll travel the Ring Road towards Varmahlíð village where you will turn onto the Highland road Kjölur. 

You'll stop at the hot spring area of Hveravellir where you can take a quick dip in the natural geothermal pool or walk around the region.

You'll follow the road further south, driving between the glaciers Langjökull and Hofsjökull, and through the desolate landscape of the highlands. 

You'll pass the glacial lake of Hvítarvatn on your way to Gullfoss waterfall, one part of the famous Golden Circle Route. You'll see as the river Hvítá hurls freezing water down 2 'steps' into an ancient gorge, creating this spectacular cascade. 

From there, you'll move on to the Geysir geothermal area where you can see the geyser Strokkur spout water up 15-20 metres every few minutes. You'll then spend the night in the area. 

On your last day on the road, you will visit magnificent waterfalls and an iconic beach. 

You'll start the day by heading east on Iceland's Ring Road to two of the most spectacular waterfalls of the country; Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. 

From there, you'll continue along the foot of the Eyjafjöll mountains, where the infamous volcano Eyjafjallajökull rests under a glacier of the same name. 

You'll drive on to the village of Vík which sits on the banks of the famous Reynisfjara black sand beach. You'll get fantastic views of the beach and the massive Reynisdrangar sea stack that rise out of the ocean, as well as Dyrhólaey promontory.

You'll then head back west, ending the day at your accommodation in Reykjavík.

Now it is time to say farewell to Iceland. Make sure you get to the airport in good time for your flight. Remember that transport to the airport is not included, but you can book an airport shuttle at the lobby of your accommodation. 

If your flight leaves late, you can spend some time getting to know the city of Reykjavík. You can walk around the downtown area, see Hallgrímskirkja church, Harpa Concert Hall and the parliament building, or pick up a souvenir to take home.