Iceland Itinerary – The Lion Voyager

Inspiration

SEVEN DAYS ITINERARY - Iceland

TheLionVoyager

Iceland is one of my favourite destinations for a road trip, there is a sensational connection to nature, it is like being in a different planet, the scenery is very beautiful and varies drastically from place to place.
In this post, I’m going to share with you an itinerary of 7 days, the same trip that I have done in June 2019 with two possible extensions, that will drive you on an epic Iceland road trip.
Iceland is generally an easy country to get around, either on a self-drive road trip or as part of a group tour, if you rent a car/van, try to book everything in advance, as Iceland is one of the most expensive countries I have visited so far.
There are two typical itineraries that you can do, the south part of the island from Reykjavík up to the Jökulárlón Glacier or the north area from Reykjavík up to the Lake Mývatn, or if you have enough time (minimum 10 days to fully enjoy it) you can do a full road trip all around the island.

Day 1: Landing in Reykjavík airport, if you land in the morning you can enjoy the afternoon relaxing in the Blue Lagoon or a walk to explore the city of Reykjavík – (sleep in Reykjavík)

Day 2: Start your day visiting the city by foot and the beautiful Hallgrímskirkja church. Before or after lunch you can start to drive north, around one hour and 40 mins and stop by Hraunfossar Waterfalls and Deildartunguhver hot spring – (sleep in the area, in the countryside)

Day 3: The first stop of your day will be Hauganes (around four hours driving north), where you can enjoy few hours of whales watching, really beautiful – (sleep in Akureyri)

Day 4: Just 30 mins away from Akureyri there are amazing places to visit. The spectacular Godafoss Waterfall, one of the best waterfalls in Iceland; Mývatn Nature Baths close to the Lake Myvatn, I highly suggest to visit this bath as well, the views from the natural pools are ten times better than the Blue Lagoon.
Not far from the Lake Myvatn at the foot of the Namafjall volcanic mountain, you need to stop at Hverir geothermal area, one of my favourite sites of the island, a unique wasteland of pools of boiling mud and hot springs, looks like a Mars scenery – (sleep around Lake Myvatn)

Day 5: Start your day visiting Dettifoss Waterfall, the biggest in volume of any waterfalls in Europe, to then start your way back to the south of the island. On the way to Reykjavík, you can do a quick stop for a hike on the Grabrok crater, I really recommend it, there is a very nice view from the top – (sleep in Reykjavík) *

Day 6: Visit the famous Golden circle, on the south-east, where you can see the Gullfoss Waterfall, the Geysir Geothermal area and the Thingvellir National Park, really good spot but way too touristic. In the north of the island there are less tourists, and you still get to see all Iceland can offer – (sleep in Reykjavík)

Day 7: Flight back from Reykjavík airport. **

* Possibility to extend your trip for 2 days with Snaefellsnes peninsula & Kirkjufellsfoss (One of the most photographic hotspot with panoramic views of an iconic waterfall & mountain.

** Possibility to add or amend your trip with a visit to the south part of the island up to the Jökulárlón Glacier, with few beautiful stops such as Seljalandsfoss waterfall and Reynisfjara black sand beach.

Some cool tips you should know about Iceland

01. Hire a car or a van?

Depending on where you’re planning to explore, you need a 4x4 rental car. Renting a regular 2-wheel-drive vehicle, you will risk to not be able to drive everywhere, as your car will not make it in some roads. Campervan rentals are around $110-$150 USD per day, which it can be cheaper than staying in hotels each night. Having a campervan allows you more freedom than traditional camping, as you can cook, eat and sleep all inside the comfort of your van. And you will save a lot of money in food, eat in the restaurant or just a sandwich in the gas station is crazy expensive.

02. When to see the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights, one of the main reasons to visit Iceland in winter. On a clear night, you can see the Northern Lights throughout most of the country from late September to early April, but it’s important to remember that, as a natural phenomenon, seeing them is never a guarantee.

03. Travelling on a budget?

If you are travelling on a budget in Iceland can be hard, but nothing is impossible. Most of the natural sites are free of charge, the only main challenges that you will have are food and hotels. The best way to save money is hire a campervan or a car and sleep in a tent (just in summer time), and plan everything in advance.