This is a Fosshotel/Iceland Adventure Self Guided Driving Tour that will let you get to Iceland's best hiking trails and let you set your own pace
15 days / 14 nights for July and August
Iceland is a walker's paradise with landscapes than can range from meandering to challenging. This is summer time tour for walkers or hikers where you’ll be in places that are nicely set up for hikes ranging from 2 hours to all day. Iceland has a nice array of marked hiking trails, that go through a great variety of truly spectacular landscapes. Your first hotel will provide hiking descriptions and some walking maps, and there’s much more information to be picked up at the local Tourist Information centers in each area. Bring good outdoor gear, ready for Icelands famous changeable weather - sturdy footwear and rain gear, day pack and of course, a camera with lots of film!! All accommodations can be reached by small vehicles, but a 4 WD car will get you into the highlands where more walking options await.
Day 0
Leave the US from Boston, Baltimore, JFK, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Halifax or Orlando. Go to sleep - as it’s a short night flight!
Day 1
Welcome to Iceland Grab your luggage and your car, and then hit the road. If time, You could explore the Reykjanes peninsula and soak in teh Blue Lagoon first, (opens at 9 AM) before heading north on Rt 1, towards Borgarfjörður, the Saga Valley. Spend the next 3 nights at Fosshótel Reykholt or similar., where you’ll can use their “well being” center to soak away the flight!
Day 2
West to the unususal landscape around Bifröst - you can walk this unique lava landscape to see Glanni waterfall, Grábrók volcano and lake Hreðavatn, which is ideal for trout fishing.
Day 3
Just east from Reyholt is the lava waterfall Hraunfossar, and Húsafell with numerous delightful places for walking. Strútur mountain (about 3 hours) is a possibility with a great view from the top. Snowmobiling on Langjokull glacier can be done here, too!
Day 4
Back to Rt 1, where the dramatic mountain pass at Hofduvorheidi brings you out in north Iceland. You’ll come into Skagafjörður, the Valley of the Horses. The Vatnsnes Peninsula to the north has many short and beautiful hiking routes. Explore the seal colony at Hindisvík. Spend the next two nights at Fosshótel Áning in Saudakrokur or similar.
Day 5
You can get a great view of the area, and the highlands from atop Maelifell, nearby in Varmahlid. It’s good to visit the turf church Víðimýri and the old turf manor farm Glaumbær to see life in Icelands not-so-distant past.
Day 6
You’ll head east towards Akureyri, with time to visit Siglufjörður and Ólafsfjörður on the way. Nice views and good short walking options from here. You should stop in Akureyri, Icelands second city, and Goðafoss, the waterfall of the Gods, before arriving to spend 2 nights at Fosshótel Laugar / Húsavík or similar.
Day 7
The local Tourist Info office will have plenty of walking ideas, long and short, so you can explore the natural wonders of Lake Mývatn, the hot springs at Námaskarð and the lava fields at Krafla.
Day 8
Consider taking a whale watch from Húsavík and see the small Whale Museum. Drive around Tjörnes Peninsula to Hljóðaklettar for an enjoyable walk on the way to Ásbyrgi and Dettifoss Europe’s most powerful waterfall. Then further east to Egilsstadir area, where you’ll spend the next 2 nights at Fosshótel Hallormsstaður / Reyðarfjörður or similar.
Day 9
Egilsstadir has lots of walking possibilities. Explore Lake Lögurinn and many trails in Hallormsstaður Forest, one of Icelands few real forests. There’s a comfortable hike to Fardagafoss waterfall or Hengifoss waterfall (1,5-2 hours).
Day 10
Enjoy the dramatic fjord landscape and fishing villages as you drive slowly through the East Fjords heading towards Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull, with walking ideas along the way. Overnight at Fosshótel Vatnajökull near Hofn or similar.
Day 11
Drive along the south coast and enjoy many natural wonders including the glacial lagoon at Jökulsárlón, Skaftafell National Park, where you could take a 2 hour hike to Svartifoss waterfall, to the rock Sjónarsker and the rim of Skaftafellsjökull glacier. West of Vik, you could stop at Reynishverfi and Dyrhólaey with its black beach and many puffins, further west there are many impressive waterfalls like Skógarfoss and Seljalandsfoss. Spend 3 nights at Fosshótel Mosfell in Hella or Fosshótel Nesbúð in Nesjavellir
Day 12
Þjórsárdalur valley has lots in store - many waterfalls such as Gjáinn, Hjálparfoss and Háifoss, all dominated by the powerful volcano Hekla. You could take the 7 km hike up Heka (and 7 km back!) for a spectacular hike. Lots of other ideas, too. The Viking Age farm at Stong is worth a visit, if time allows. Also, some good restaurants nearby!
Day 13
Visit Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir hot springs, Kerið volcanic crater, Þingvellir National Park all with great hiking paths.
Day 14
The Hengill area, shaped by volcanic activiey has a great variety of challenging hiking trails which you could try, before heading into back to Reykjavik. Overnight at a Fosshótel in Reykjavík or similar.
Day 15
Morning to relax, see Reykjavik, do museums, shops, pools or the Blue Lagoon. Drop car at airport and hop on the plane for home!
There's a PDF with The Hiking Tour and other Adventure Type Drives
