Summer Holiday

Summer Holiday Idea

Here is an example of an itinerary for a customer who wanted to see as all the best nature sights with an adventure twist – so we crossed the central highlands twice.

Day 1: Arrival & Private City Tour
Private transfer from the airport to Reykjavik. After that you could explore the city, either on your own or on a guided tour.
Accommodation: Hotel in Reykjavik

Day 2: Thorsmork Nature Reserve
Today we visit one of the most beautiful locations in Iceland; Thorsmork. Located by the roots of Eyjafjallajokull, which erupted so memorably in 2010, the green valley is one of Iceland’s most popular hiking grounds. The route into Thorsmork is a great strip of mountain track, with plenty of un-bridged rivers and streams to cross. The day is spent hiking and photographing in Thorsmork. On the way out of the valley we can stop for a walk along a long valley with a picturesque waterfall at the end.
Accommodation: Hotel near Hella

Day 3: South Shore to Skaftafell National Park
We drive east along the south shore and explore all the classic sights: Skogafoss, Dyrholaey, Reynisdrangar and the black sand beach in Vík.  We have a few hikes to choose from. One is along the banks of Fjadrargljufur Canyon and another in Skaftafell, for example to Svartifoss waterfall.
Optional: Glacier hike or ice climbing
Accommodation: Hotel near Skaftafell

Day 4:  Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon & Icy Beach
We start with visiting the famous Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and the icy beach. We also visit a less know glacier lagoon, Fjallsárlón which is much closer to the glacier crumbling down the mountainside makes a great setting for landscape photography. We know an unmarked trail that takes you much closer to this hidden gem. We also visit Svinafellsjokull glacier and Skaftafell.  We can then choose between tour to see the puffins at Ingólfshöfði or to go hiking in Skaftafell.
Optional: Private boat tour among the icebergs, great for photography
Accommodation: Hotel in Kirkjubaeyjarklaustur

Day 5:  Landmannalaugar
Landmannalaugar is a nature pearl in the interior highlands, located in a valley between colourful mountains at the dark edge of the rhyolite lava field Laugahraun. A visit to Landmannalaugar is a geological exploration where the hot and cold meet in a great array of colours and beauty. In Landmannalaugar we can walk to Grænagil (‚Green Canyon‘) and/or hike to Mt. Brennisteinsalda (‚Sulphur Wave‘) or simply photograph from the parking area and by the natural geothermal pool. Enroute we stop at crater lakes Hnausapollur and Ljotipollur to photograph as well as at Lake Frostastadavatn. Accommodation: Hotel in the area

Day 6:  Hrafntinnusker (‚Obsidian Skerry‘) + Laugarvegur hiking route
Hrafntinnusker means ‚Obsidian Skerry‘ and as the name suggests it‘s black glassy rock, obsidian, rising above the wilderness.  On the mountain side there is a receeding ice cap with geothermal steam vents and boiling mud pools underneath, melting the ice and forming ice caves. Around the fumeroles and hot springs grows neon green moss and algae.  You therefore have an amazing variety to photograph; from the grand scale landscape untouched by humans to the macro close ups of the geothermal areas. This is place is so remote that most 4×4‘s can‘t get there and the large tyres on our super-truck are needed.  Tom Cruise flew in here on a helicopter when making the film Oblivion, just to see this. You won‘t find this in any guide book or in any tourist brochure but it‘s worth the trip. Your guide will then leave you in the middle of nowhere or almost – you hike part of Iceland’s most famous hiking route, Laugavegur down to Landmannalaugar, 12k where your guide will pick you up again (hopefully 🙂
Accommodation: Hotel in the area

Day 7:  Crossing the Central Highlands north to Lake Myvatn
This is route is a bit hard to describe but you will get a true sense of the Icelandic highlands and wilderness. We cross through center of Iceland, the mountain desert and lava fields where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin practiced for their moon landing. Spectacular view of 3 glaciers and a few glacier rivers to cross make the route a fun and scenic drive. Plenty of time to stop and photograph, including Aldeyjarfoss waterfall and ruins of a hideout by Iceland’s most famous outlaw, Fjalla-Eyvindur (‘Mountain-Eyvind’)
Accommodation: Hotel near Lake Mývatn

Day 8:  Lake Myvatn
The day is spent exploring the Lake Myvatn area, seeing sites such as Dimmuborgir lava formations, Krafla caldera and Namaskard hot spring area.  This area is also the home of over 2.000 birds in the summer.  There has been a lot of volcanic activity by Myvatn and there’s a lot of geothermal heat in the ground.  Myvatn, is the fourth largest lake in Iceland covering an area of 36,5km2. The lake has 44 island and endless nooks and crannies. Myvatns most popular attractions include Dimmuborgir, Hofdi, Hverfjall, Leirhnjukur/Krafla the pseud-craters at Skutastadir, the boiling mud pits and fumeroles on the east of Namaskard, and the hot streams in the caves of Grjotagja. There are many different hiking paths to choose from around Lake Myvatn. Together we will choose the one you like best. In the afternoon it’s perfect to go for a relaxing soak in the Myvatn Nature Baths.
Accommodation: Hotel near Lake Myvatn

Day 9:  Dettifoss, Hljodaklettar & Asbyrgi in Vatnajokull National Park
Less than an hour from Lake Myvatn is Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss and a bit further are Hljodaklettar (‘Echo cliffs’). There is a great hiking route along the banks of the canyon which is fun and scenic. You can choose how far you want  to hike, from Dettisfoss to Hljodaklettar – or from Hljodaklettar down to Asbyrgi for example. Another option is to drive to Askja volcano.
Accommodation: Hotel near Lake Myvatn

Day 10:  Krafla and Namaskard
There are so many great sights around Lake Mývatn that we’re confident you will want another day. The crater lake Víti and the new lava around Krafla volcano offer great hiking and photography. Among other options are a whale watching from Husavik, which is the best place in Iceland to see whales or going into a lava tube cave.
Accommodation: Hotel near Lake Myvatn

Day 11:  Kjolur mt. route to Kerlingarfjoll
We start the morning with a photo stop at Godafoss waterfall before we drive west, through the town of Akureyri and turn south to another great mountain road, Kjolur. This will take us to Hveravellir, a geothermal oasis in the central highlands and then to Kerlingarfjöll, which are colorful rhyolite mountains with a lot of geothermal actvitiy.
It’s a favorite hiking and photographic destination for us, compatible with Landmannalaugar but with much fewer people.
Accommodation: Kerlingarfjöll Mt. Resort

Day 12:  Golden Circle and back to Reykjavik
We recommend a morning photographic session and a light morning hike before leaving the magical mountains. The drive down south is very scenic, between two large glaciers, and will take us to the Golden Circle route, with it’s famous Geysir, Gullfoss waterfall and the tectonic plates at Thingvellir National Park.
Accommodation: Hotel in Reykjavik

Day 13:  Inside the Volcano
Thrihnukagigur is the only place on earth where you can enter a magma chamber – and it’s right outside Reykjavik.  It’s an easy 2 x 45 min hike to/from the chamber to the parking lot across a lava field.  It’s a unique opportunity which combines so many great adventures; hiking, cave exploring, geology and photography – there are amazing colors inside the volcano. You can upgrade this to a helicopter tour.
Afterwards it’s ideal to enjoy a relaxing soak in the Blue Lagoon.
Accommodation: Hotel in Reykjavik

Day 14:  Departure
Private transfer to the airport in time for your flight.

This is just one idea of many – we can of course send you more ideas and we will of course plan your Iceland summer holiday according to your needs and wishes. Please do not hesitate make requests or ask questions.

If you have any sights, places or activities on your wishlist, we will of course include them and pack as many highlights as possible into your summer holiday in Iceland, whether it’s action, relaxation or both.

FAQ for Iceland

Q: bla?
A: Iceland is not as cold as the name suggests, the average temperature in summer is 11°C (52°F) and in winter around 0°C (32°F). However it’s often wet and windy so better to bring proper clothing

Q: Tipping?
A: Service and tax is always included in prices so tipping is not mandatory or expected but always appreciated.

Do you have questions? Please don’t hesitate to contact us: info@IcelandPrivateTours.is