100% customisable travel idea
Volcanoes, geysers and black sand Icelandic family road trip
Iceland - Reykholt Valley - Golden Circle - South Coast - Selfoss - Höfn - Vik
100% customisable travel idea
Iceland - Reykholt Valley - Golden Circle - South Coast - Selfoss - Höfn - Vik
100% customisable for you
International flight. On arrival in Keflavik, pick up your rental car and head north to the Reykholt valley (2 hours). It will not be long before the wonders begin to reveal themselves: craters, vast lava deserts, then lakes and large parks opening up before your eyes. And that is just the beginning.
The Reykholt valley is a one of the top historic sites in Iceland. Here you will find the former residence of Snorri Sturluson, a writer from the 13th century. There is a museum dedicated to him beneath the church. You are also in the perfect spot to visit Hraunfossar, the “lava falls”, a series of small, clear-waterfalls that spring from ancient, solidified lava flows; and Barnafoss, the “children’s falls”, famous for its natural arch carved by the current through the rock.
Stay for two nights in a hotel surrounded by nature. The hotel is in harmony with its environment and the fantastic panoramic views surrounding it, offering contemporary decor and amenities, with the added bonus of the pleasures of geothermal pools that are open all year round.
You have a day to explore the Reykholt valley at your own pace. You are sure to head to Hraunfossar, the “lava falls”, a series of small, clear-waterfalls that spring from ancient, solidified lava flows; or to Barnafoss, the “children’s falls”, famous for its natural arch carved by the current through the rock.
Optional: Horse riding in the Reykholt valley and visit to Vidgelmir cave.
This time, head south towards Selfoss, the gateway to the famous Golden Circle region.
To see in the Golden Circle region: Thingvellir National Park, the former site of the Icelandic National Parliament, the Althing, founded in 930. There you can see a beautiful waterfall and numerous gorges, including Almannagjá, where there are stunning views over the valley and Lake Thingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland. The Strokkur Geyser, whose name means “The Churn”, erupts every five to eight minutes and reaches a height of up to 66 feet (20m). The Gullfoss waterfalls are also among the must-sees.
In Selfoss, you will stay for two nights at a welcoming farm guesthouse run by chicken farmers, with attractive Nordic-style bungalows and comfortable bedrooms.
Scheduled: Laugarvatn Fontana baths. Less well known and less busy than the Blue Lagoon, these geothermal baths are just as relaxing, as well as surpising. In summer or winter, you can enjoy the naturally warm water of the pools, which are arranged by temperature. You also have a breathtaking view of Lake Laugarvatn, where you can cool off after a sauna or hammam. On site, there are snack options if you get hungry, and you can even try bread baked using the heat from the ground!
Drive to Vik (about 2 hours).
Scheduled: a day on the Westman Islands. The south coast of Iceland has some of the most astonishing landscapes on this tiny island. This coastline is inhospitable, but its few reefs and cliffs are nevertheless a nesting site for millions of seabirds. This day is an opportunity to discover the Vestmann Islands, known as the “Islands of the Westmen” (the Celts), which you can reach by ferry. Heimaey, which is a kind of natural fortress and the largest and only inhabited island, was devastated by a terrible eruption in 1973. During this eruption, a second volcano was born, increasing the island’s size by a third. It has an incredible concentration of birds that you can get very close to by boat.
You have a full day to enjoy Vik and its surroundings at your own pace. The village of Vik sits at the foot of green hills, bordered by cliffs where puffins soar. There are ten streets of colourful houses and a small white church on a promontory, overlooking the ocean. Beyond a stretch of black sand, the silhouette of basalt pillars stands out against the horizon. Along the coast, be sure to stop as often you need to so that you can admire the beautiful scenery: black sand beaches, steep cliffs where birds create nesting communities, dramatic waterfalls, glacial lagoons, etc. You’ll remember the green of the hills, the black of the cliffs, and the white of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier.
Nearby highlights: The impressive Seljalandsfoss waterfall (131 feet (40m)); the famous basalt stacks at Reynisdrangar.
Optional: Explore the Vik region by super jeep.
Continue along the coast to Kirkjubaejarklaustur. After leaving the Skogar and Vik region, you enter an area of lava fields and gorges, with the vast Vatnajökull glacier to the east.
Not sure how to pronounce Kirkjubaejarklaustur? Say “Klaustur”, no one will hold it against you! It is a tiny town with barely a hundred inhabitants, surrounded by black ash beaches and a lava desert. Close by you will find the Laki crater and the Eldgja gorge. You’ll stay overnight in a cosy, homely guesthouse. People meet in the lounge at the end of the day to talk about what they have seen that day or, quite simply, to read or have a drink.
Next you head east towards the small fishing town of Höfn, between glaciers and black sand.
On the way: RIB excursion on the Jökulsarlon glacial lagoon. Boating among the icebergs takes your breath away. These bluish ice blocks, released by the Breidarmerkurjökull glacier, float on the lagoon like magnificent sculptures shaped by a fleeting moment. As they drift along, they gradually diminish and eventually head out to sea, leaving behind their last specks of sparkling dust on the black sand beach.
Not to be missed: Skaftafell National Park, which is close to Höfn, offers many walks where you can get close to the glacial lagoons of Vatnajökull and take in spectacular views of Hvannadalshnúkur, Iceland’s highest peak, which rises to 7250 feet (2,210m). There is also an easy hike to Svartifoss, a small waterfall decorated with a beautiful necklace of basalt columns. Near the lagoons with their Greenland-like atmosphere, seals and Arctic terns play hide-and-seek among the icebergs surrounded by an amphitheatre of glaciers.
You’ll stay overnight near Höfn, in a family-run guesthouse set in the heart of nature. Your cottage, a charming little wooden house with a red roof, has all the home comforts you need and even a small kitchen. It is so peaceful.
Optional: Tractor ride on the Ingólfur Headland.
Return your rental vehicle and take a flight to Reykjavik. There will be a transfer to your accommodation, a cosy establishment where comfort is found in traditional houses, right in the heart of the capital. Local craftsmanship and friendliness are part of the scenery, as is a warm welcome.
To see and do: Stroll through the 101 district, around Laugavegur, a “village” best explored on foot, with its brightly-coloured houses, cafes, galleries, showrooms, design shops and concept stores, where you might be tempted by a pure wool blanket or creations by emerging designers; climb to the top of Hallgrimskirkja church; visit Árbæjarsafn in Kistuhyl, an outdoor architecture museum, to see what the Icelandic capital looked like at the start of the 20th century; for adults only, sample caraway-flavoured potato schnapps; visit the Marshall House, a former herring factory opened in 1948 and funded by the Marshall Plan, now renovated as an exhibition space for artist collectives.
Transfer to Keflavik airport and return flight.
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