Around Iceland in winter

Day 1: Reykjavik to Snæfellsnes  (approx. 200 km)
Departure West. After the bypass of the Whale Fjord, the road crosses the marshy tundra of the Borgarnes region and reaches the base of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, a narrow  snowy mountain range jutting far into the ocean, pointing west as a finger with the magnificent volcano Snæfellsjökull -the glacier of Snowfell-crowning its tip.

Day 2: Snæfellsnes Peninsula (approx. 195 km)
The legendary Snæfellsjökull volcano crowned by a majestic immaculate glacier, rushes out of the ocean like a boreal Fuji-Yama. It is the entrance passage of the legendary "Journey to the Center of the Earth" by Jules Verne. Hike to the tip through desolate lava fields covered with moss and lichen contrasting with the pure white snow. Hiking (and bird watching from the end of March) on the basalt cliffs of Arnarstapi, then to the deserted black pebble beaches of Djúpalónsandur. The bay of Grundarfjördur is famous today for its beautiful solitary and lonely Kirkjufell mountain that attract photographers in any season since it became a celebrity on the net. It is true that it is beautiful!
The road finally reaches the prety fishing harbour of Stykkishólmur

Day 3: Vatnsnes Peninsula (approx. 200 km)
Drive east through a beautiful empty area along the bay of Breidafjordur dotted with innumerable islets and reefs. Then by the Swan Plateau the trail reaches the North Coast. In Hvammstangi there is the possibility in option of visiting an interesting small museum devoted to pinnipeds. The road then passes around the Vatnsnes peninsula through vast snowy coastal moors where one meets the herds of stuffed horses, so much their fur is thick in winter. At the farm of Ósar "the Estuaries"  we can observe a large colony of harbour seals and the photogenic and strange reef (a dike ) of Hvítserkur.

Day 4: Skagafjördur - Tröllaskagi - Siglufjörður - Akureyri (approx. 290 km)
Continue to the horse breeding fjord Skagafjörður, where we visit the old farm Glaumbær with its perfectly preserved and maintained traditional peat construction. Rounding the Giants Peninsula Tröllaskagi by the old village of Hofsós and its old tarred wood warehouses, facing the impressive tabular islands Drangey and Málmey. The road reach the isolated fjord Siglufjörður, former centre of the herring fisheries, village at the world’s end. Visit the museum in the old canneries devoted to the great era of herring fishing. The new tunnel, completed in 2010, allows us to reach the majestic Eyjafjörður Fjord, at the bottom of which lies the small town of Akureyri.

Possibility to end your journey at Akureyri, to stay there overnight and fly to Reykjavik the next morning

Possibility to start  your journey here by flying from Reykjavik to Akureyri, stay overnight there and the next morning drive in 6 days (or more) to Reykjavik as described below

Day 5: Akureyri - Goðafoss - Mývatn (approx. 120 km)
> Early morning flight to Akureyri for participants registered on 6-day Eastern Route. Your guide will welcome you up at Akureyri airport. On to Mývatn via the old farm of Laufás with its perfectly preserved and maintained traditional peat construction., then Goðafoss, , a magnificent cataract partly or completely frozen in this season. It is in the "Fall of the Gods" from a promontory that an early Christian leader threw the effigies of the old pagan gods of the Nordic pantheon for the chagrin of Thor and Odin. We discover the shores and volcanoes of Lake Mývatn. Strange formations of lava, pseudo craters, bubbling sulphur pots and fumaroles, and the impressive lava chaos of Dimmuborgir. At the end of winter, in very early spring, when the lake ice begins to thaw, countless flights of wild ducks converge to this shrine of birdlife, a paradise for ornithologists where both American and European species coexist. (Optional outdoor spa bath in the middle of volcanoes (Nature Baths www.jardbodin.is)

Day 6 : Möðrudalsöræfi Plateau  (approx. 80 km)
On the high desert plateau of Möðrudalsöræfi, amidst the wet tundra, is one of the most isolated farms at the highest altitude in Iceland. Naïve, charming architecture amidst a magnificent, vast and hostile landscape. White immensity where emerges alignments of small volcanic cones under a steel sky that is dyed orange red or antique rose at dawn and dusk. We can sometimes meet large herds of wild reindeer.

Possibility to end your journey at Egilsstadir, to stay there overnight and fly to Reykjavik the next morning

Possibility to start  your journey here by flying from Reykjavik to Egilsstadir, stay overnight there and the next morning drive in 4 days (or more) to Reykjavik as described below

Day 7: The East Fjords (approx. 220 km)
The road descends from the plateau, along the interminable glacial valley of Jokulsdalur. It ends up reaching the wooded area of Egilsstaðir, a small village on the shore of the long turquoise lake of Lagarfljót. The legend hides an aquatic monster, close cousin of Nessi in Scotland. From Egilsstadir, the route leads to the Eastern Fjords. Fáskrúðsfjörður, for nearly two centuries was a port of call and vital supplies for the fleets of Bretagne and French Flanders. The mountains that surround the fjords of Stöðvarfjörður and Berufjörður are particularly beautiful and impressive. Visit the pretty fishing port of Djúpivogur "deep bay", and the old trading post in one of the most beautiful scenery of mountains and sea in the region.

Day 8: Vatnajökull - Jökulsárlón (approx. 200 km)
Between the two majestic capes Austurhorn and Vesturhorn lies the lagoon Álftafjörður, "fjord swans." This is not really a fjord, but a large lagoon where thousands of immature swans arrive early in spring. We are less than 1000 km from the coast of Scotland, this beautiful country where the whooper swans winter. At Höfn in Hornafjörður, the huge Vatnajökull is offered to our gaze. We enter the south coast of Iceland. The beautiful lagoon Jökulsárlón is occupied by a large herd of blue icebergs streaked with intense black. The spectacle of the seals surfing in the current is gorgeous. The massive ice mass Öræfajökull dominates the Skaftafell glacier park. Several phenomenal sub glacial eruptions occurred in recent years, with cataclysmic water releases down the coastal desert, the latest in 1996.

Day 9: Eldhraun - Vík í Myrdal - Eyjafjöll (approx. 285 km)
Surrounding the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur: Eldhraun. This vast expanse of lava is from the phenomenal Laki eruption in 1783-4 (the world’s largest eruption in historical times), not far in the interior highlands, parallel to the fault of Eldgjá. Dependent on snow visit Fjarðárgljúfur gorges and Eldhraun pseudo-craters.
At the time of writing these lines (September 2019), the sub-glacial volcano Katla (kettle) does not stop trembling and crawling cramped under the heavy ice cover of the Myrdalsjökull ice-cap in the south of the country. If an eruption occurs it is almost certain that the glacial break-up will cut off the circular road and the bridges at Vík-i-Myrdal. In this case, after the visit of the Glacial Lagoon the Plan B will be to go up the east fjords and fly back to Reykjavik from Egilsstaðir even Akureyri or from Höfn if an air bridge is established from this locality. (In this case it will be certainly an increase of 200-300 € per person). At the worst we will go back by the road. Of course we will update this program in case this cataclysm triggers, if it triggers
Wandering along the black sand beaches and grassy headlands of Vik in Mýrdal. Following the rapid and accurate flight of Northern Fulmars, above the Arctic Tern colonies, on the basalt cliffs among exuberant Angelica, lots and lots of puffins hurry up-and-fro between the ocean and their burrows. (The puffins and terns are more observable beyond mid-August, but fulmars remain until fall.) Walk on the beautiful beach of black sand Reynisfjara between the famous reefs and the promontory of Reynisdrangar. Dyrhólaey arch with its impressive black basalt. Beautiful waterfalls Skógafoss (optional visit to the Folk Museum Skógar). We flank Mount Eyjafjallajökull, which erupted in April 2010 and disrupted air traffic worldwide. Beyond the graceful Seljalandsfoss fall, we reach the vast pampas of Rangá that stretch to the foot of Mount Hekla

Day 10:  South Coast - Reykjavik (approx. 100 km)
The majestic Hekla volcano, which rises at the end of a grassy plain and marks the entrance to the volcanic highlands, is one of Iceland's best known volcanoes; it is on the edge of the inhabited lands and the desert Highlands.. The large southern pampas-like breeding plain leads us to the famous gushing springs of Geysir and the great cataract of Gullfoss, "the Golden Fall" partly frozen by ice. Arrival in Reykjavik in the middle of the afternoon.

Book your flight as soon as possible! Either with your local travel agent or directly online:

See the Flying to Iceland page in the information section of our website

Your contact for a self-drive project is: Matthildur matta@fjallabak.is tel. 00 +354 824 3072

Your journey: when and how? When you know the exact schedules of your return flights, therefore the exact duration of your trip, then we can establish a first offer and quote for your auto-tour

But then, we will also need to know,

• How many adults and kid(s) (age) you are
• Which vehicle category you would like
• What accommodation category you would consider
• What you would like to do (approximately) as a route
• What is absolutely a must for you (if possible)

Draft route: We can then establish a first draft route and a first indicative rating. The ideal is of course that you have a map of Iceland open in front of you if we are talking together on the phone or on Skype or on Whats App. to discuss the itinerary and the spirit of the trip

Registration / booking confirmation: If this quotation suits you then we will send you a confidential link where you can register online by paying a deposit of 30% of the advertised price

Price and program confirmation: Once your confirmation deposit has been received, we will immediately start booking accommodation. One and two weeks later, we will send you the final itinerary based on the accommodation available which has been confirmed to us as well as the exact price of your self-drive.

Note: the later we reserve the accommodation, the more the choice and availability will decrease

Recommended Travel Gear

Try to go as light as possible and take only essentials. Excess baggage can be a burden to you and to our support personel. Keep in mind that there are limits on how much your duffel bag can weigh because the weight restrictions on international and domestic flights is usually 20 kg (70lbs).

For quantities or quality for each item listed, use your own judgement, based on the expected weather conditions and overall packing/weight restrictions for your luggage.


Luggage for overland journeys 

• Extra bags clearly marked with your name can be kept in the Reykjavik hotel or in our store local office for pick-up at the end of the trip
• Large duffel bag (60/80 liters) sturdy and water-resistant, not exceeding 15 kg
• Daypack (30 to 50 liters)

Clothing

You’ll need to bring comfortable and adequate clothing to protect you from cold and wet weather, such as polypropylene, capilene, or pile. Wool and wool/synthetic blends are also suitable – though wool, if wet, dries slowly compared to synthetic fabrics. We discourage the use of cotton in wet conditions it dries very slowly. 

When layering, the innermost layer should be long underwear. The middle layer can be a synthetic turtleneck or wool shirt, and pants. The outermost layer must be a breathable waterproof jacket such as a good quality Gore-Tex wind/rain parka and over-pants.


Clothing and travel Accessories all the year around

• Regular underwear. Synthetics are easier to wash and dry
• Short-sleeved synthetic or cotton/synthetic T-shirts
• Synthetic thermal underwear
• Full-length pants, quick-drying synthetic fabric
• Long-sleeved, synthetic or wool shirt
• Wool or synthetic socks
• Synthetic fleece sweater or jacket
• Gore-Tex rain/wind parka
• Gore-Tex rain/wind pants
• Wool hat
• Gloves (wool or pile)
• Down jacket from September to May (optional)

Accessories

• Swimsuit and towel for hot spring bathing and swimming pool
• Toiletry kit—soap, toothbrush, and so on.
• Personal first aid kit
• Moisturising lotion. (The air in Iceland is very dry)
• Sunglasses
• Swiss Army-type pocket knife (Must be kept in duffle bag, not in hand luggage, when flying !)
• Half liter capacity unbreakable water bottle or thermos
• Binoculars for bird watching, seals and whales (from March to September)
• Hiking poles. Highly recommended
• Optional but recommended
• Repair kit with needle, thread, and safety pins
• Reading and writing material
• Your favorite snack food such as raisins or chocolate
• Protein supplements for vegetarian

Specific equipment for summer (May to September)

• Hiking boots, medium-weight, all leather, with padded ankle, good arch support, and a lug sole traction. Your hiking boots should be waterproof, well broken in, and suitable for rocky terrain or possibly snow
• Short gaiters easy to put on Highly recommended.
• Hiking shorts, quick-drying synthetic fabric
• Hiking trousers, quick-drying synthetic fabric
• Medium-weight synthetic fleece sweater or jacket
• Sun & rain hat
• Sunscreen and lip protection (The sun in Iceland is much more intense than you probably imagine)
• Teva-type sandals for river crossing. Absolutely recommended!
• Spare pair of prescription glasses, prescription sunglasses, or contact lenses (but not only lenses, as wind-blown dust can make them very uncomfortable)
• Headlamp or small flashlight with spare batteries (from August only)
• Netting hood, head net or bug bucket hat * (optional, can be purchased in Iceland / see explanation bellow)

Specific equipment for winter (Oct. to April)

• Canadian winter boots or warm trekking shoes
• Cleats for snow and ice adaptable to your shoes
• Warm synthetic fleece sweater or jacket
• Warm fleece trousers
• Silk socks (optional)
• Silk gloves (specially recommended for photographers)
• Warm waterproofed shell gloves or mitt
• Headlamp or small flashlight with spare batteries
• Ski goggles

When lodging in Hotels and Inns (Comfort Discovery)

• Casual elegant sportswear for evenings at the hotels
• Moccasin type shoes or lightweight sports shoe or slipper

When lodging in hostels and huts (Rustic Discovery)

• Hiking shoes are not allowed inside accommodation
• Moccasin type shoes or lightweight sports shoe. But your Teva-type sandals for river crossing can also be used inside
• Comfortable sleeping bag +5°C to +15°C / 32°F to 60°F which can be opened all the way to be used also as comforter
• Cotton sheet for hut’s mattress
• Pillow if you can’t sleep without one (optional)
• Towel and flannel for toileting and shower (or high density synthetic-chamois
• Eye shades. Highly recommended from April to July!
• Pile/fleece pants, ideal for around the camp
• Headlamp or small flashlight with spare batteries (no need from May to July included)
• 1 or 2 good bottles of wine or a bottle of something stronger (can be bought at duty free at arrival in Iceland and in few places around the country)

Camera, tablets, smart-phones

• Camera bag
• Light telescopic tripod and cable release for camera (Longs exposures for Northern Lights from mid-August)
• Replacement batteries for electrical devices
• Additional memory card
• Adapter for electrical plug (European standard)

*About netting hood    There are no mosquitoes in Iceland (yet), but at the beginning of summer midges swarms invade the lowlands rivers banks and lakes as Lake Mývatn “lake of midges”. With global warming midges begin to colonize now some wet areas of higher ground covered by vegetation. The outbreak periods are short but not really accurate. It is hell for the hapless hiker who found a windless day in clouds of these very angry bugs You will not regret to have brought with you, gloves, a long-sleeved shirt and above a netting hood that you put on over your head rain hat or sun hat. You probably will not have to use it, but you’ll be relieved to have it just in case … and it’s not a huge investment.