Suck in the magic of the highland of Iceland

Description of the route (route 7)

The highlands of Iceland are uninhabited and uninhabitable, since the winters are very harsh in this area. It is almost impossible to drive there in the winter, and even in the summer it can only be done with good 4x4 cars. 

There are quite a few glacier rivers tumbling down from the mountains, and there are not always bridges… so then you just have to drive through the fords. We will provide instructions on how to do this, and of course you need to be careful and use some common sense, but the experience is very remarkable indeed.The wildness and variation of the highlands is almost unlimited, and if you were wondering if there is still some unspoilt nature left in the world, you will find the answer here! This trip can be made from late July through August.

Day 1

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 continue south over Breiddalsheidi pass to the East Fjord area.   In Breiddalur you can encounter young children who are selling semi-precious stones such as quarz, obsidian and jasper, which they have found in the mountains. Then you drive over a very steep, winding and primitive road to the long fjord of Berufjörður (where you’ll find a lovely waterfall) and on to Djupivogur village for overnight. (370 km)

Day 2

Continue to Höfn and from there to the famous glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón, where you can make a short boat trip among the icebergs, which are floating around in the lake. Then you continue to Skaftafell national park, where we recommend a hike to Svartifoss, a lovely waterfall surrounded by basalt columns. Via Skeiðarársandur outwash plains you finally arrive to the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area where you stay the next 2 nights.

Day 3

Today you make an excursion along a rough mountain track to Laki, a series of craters, which produced an enormous lava flow in 1783, which stopped just outside Kirkjubæjarklaustur village.

Day 4

Another adventurous day, leaving civilisation again 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 surrounded by very colourful mountains. Continue through Landssveit to Hvolsvöllur village for overnight.

Day 5

Today you can drive to Þórsmörk nature reserve, where you can go on some very interesting hikes, exploring a gorge where you’ll find a hidden waterfall, climbing a small mountain, or walking through a green valley. Late afternoon you drive to Reykjavík, where you stay overnight.

Day 6

Today you can explore the charming city of Reykjavik on your own. We also recommend a visit to the famous Blue Lagoon, not far from Reykjavik. Overnight in Reykjavik.

Day 7

Today you can drive via Þingvellir, a national park, where the ancient parliament was founded in 930, over Kaldidalur highland pass to Borgarfjörður province. Visit Hraunfossar waterfalls, Reykholt village and Deildartunguhver, Iceland’s largest hot spring, before returning to Reykjavík along the charming fjord Hvalfjörður.

Day 8

Drive out of the city towards Þingvellir, After exploring this magnificent spot, you drive over Lyngdalsheiði for another taste of unpaved roads, and visit the highlights Geysir and Gullfoss, before checking in your hotel for the night.

Day 9

Today there is another highland adventure: you drive over Sprengisandur to the north of Iceland. On the way, you will see the large lakes that provide Iceland’s largest hydropower stations with water, and if the weather is favourable you will get magnificent sights on Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull glaciers. In the middle of the highlands you have to cross two large rivers, so some adventure is guaranteed. You will visit the beautiful waterfall Aldeyjarfoss before returning to civilisation. Late in the afternoon you check into a hotel in the Mývatn area for 3 nights.

Day 10

A whole day to explore the marvels of lake Mývatn: the Leirhnjúkur and Námaskarð solfataras, Dimmuborgir lava labyrinth, Hverfjall crater, Skútustaðir pseudo-craters and other spectacular sights. Lots of time for walking and little driving: a wonderfully relaxing day. Today, it is also possible to go on an optional whale watching tour from Húsavík village.

Day 11

Today you drive to the national park Jökulsá Canyon, where you can go on some marvellous hikes, visiting the Echo Rocks Hljóðaklettar and Europe’s most powerful waterfall Dettifoss.

Day 12

A long, but very rewarding day. You head east and after a while south, straight into the wilds, passing the table mountain Mt Herðubreið (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 the Egilsstaðir for 3 nights.

Day 13

After yesterday’s long drive, this is a rather relaxing day, visiting Borgarfjörður Eystri, a lovely small village along the north-eastern coast, famous for colourful rhyolite mountains, semi-precious stones which are used to make very beautiful souvenirs and the charming puffins (until mid-August).

Day 14

Today you make an excursion into the eastern highlands, driving along lake Lögurinn to the highlands, where you drive past Kárahnúkar, where a new power plant is built.   From there you continue to Mt Snæfell (1.833 m) at the north-east corner of Vatnajökull glacier. Return to Egilsstaðir in the late afternoon.

Day 15

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

Note: driving outside official tracks is prohibited by law in Iceland because of damage to the environment. Driving through rivers is not covered by insurances.

Note: we reserve the right to reverse the itinerary.

Pictures from Iceland