Jeep Adventure Through Iceland's Highlands

Description

15 Days of Pure Adventure—Explore both highland routes, Kjölur and Sprengisandur. Insider tip: Askja!
Top Highlights: In addition to the Golden Circle and the volcanic Mývatn region, you’ll experience the warm hot springs of Landmannalaugar and the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.

Travel with Katla Travel—Your Benefits

1. Consultation by phone or video call, personalized itinerary suggestions

2. Always easy to reach: Service hotline during your trip in Iceland

3. Icelandic-German team of travel consultants passionate about Iceland—we’ve been combining your wishes with our expertise for over 25 years.

4. Compiled by us for you: Detailed travel documents with insider tips

Included services—price starting at €4,819 per person

1. Flight with Icelandair from your chosen airport, including taxes; 1 checked bag (23 kg) and 1 carry-on bag (10 kg)

2. 14-day car rental, e.g., Toyota Land Cruiser 250 (GFAR), including CDW supplemental insurance with reimbursement of the deductible in the event of damage

3. 14 nights’ accommodation in traditional local lodgings, including breakfast (not on the day of departure), with private shower/toilet

4. Digital travel documents, including route descriptions with insider tips

5. On-site service hotline (German-speaking)

6. CO₂ offsetting for the flight

Itinerary – 15 days / 14 nights

Day 1 – Capital City Reykjavík

Arrival in Iceland. Pick up rental car.

Reykjavík is the world’s northernmost capital. It’s small, lively, and rich in culinary and cultural experiences. The city offers everything you’d expect from a major city: history, festivals, concerts, museums, restaurants, cafés, and bars. Highlights include the Harpa Concert Hall, the magnificent panoramic view from the tower of Hallgrímskirkja, and the interactive “Wonders of Iceland” museum in Perlan.

Overnight stay: e.g., Hotel Lótus

Day 2 – Golden Circle

The Colorful Diversity of the Famous Golden Circle

Iceland’s oldest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Þingvellir is not only popular with travelers but also holds great significance for the locals. Whether it’s the lush green of summer or the red and yellow hues of fall, the rocks of the Almannagjá Gorge not only showcase the iconic geology of drifting continental plates but also preserve the history of Icelanders since the island’s settlement.

Overnight stay: e.g., Flúðir Guesthouse

Day 3 – Kjölur Highland Road

Before the adventurous drive along the Kjölur highland road begins, you’ll pass the famous “golden waterfall” Gullfoss and the geothermal area home to the namesake of all hot springs, “Geysir, ” which delights spectators every 20 minutes with a column of water shooting skyward.

The Kjölur highland road winds through uninhabited terrain between the Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers and across sandy deserts. Halfway along the route, you’ll reach the Kerligarfjöll area, with its many colorful rhyolite mountains and wonderful hiking opportunities. For anyone looking to bathe in natural hot springs, we recommend a stop at Hveravellir— a geothermal area with hot springs.

You’ll arrive in the Skagafjörður horse-breeding region. In addition to numerous horseback riding stables, the region also offers historical attractions. Be sure to visit the remarkable turf-roofed farmstead and Glaumbær open-air museum. Here you’ll learn a lot about the lives of Icelanders in days gone by. The same goes for the bishop’s seat of Hólar, home to Iceland’s oldest stone church. You shouldn’t miss Grettislaug, the warm pool of the legendary hero Grettir—don’t forget your swimwear!

Overnight stay: e.g., Hofsstaðir Country Hotel

Day 4 – Akureyri, the Capital of the North

On your way to Mývatn , you’ll drive through Akureyri— the largest city in the north. It’s picturesquely situated on the Eyjafjörður fjord and is just 50 km south of the Arctic Circle. The Hafnargata pedestrian zone with its colorful wooden houses, the harbor, the impressive Akureyrarkirkja church, and the Botanical Garden with its extensive collection of native and Greenlandic plants are among the city’s most beautiful sights.

Before reaching the volcanic Mývatn region, you’ll visit the impressive Goðafoss waterfall ( “Waterfall of the Gods”).

Overnight stay: e.g., Stöng Guesthouse

Day 5 – Volcanic Natural Wonders at Lake Mývatn

Hardly any other part of the country offers such a wealth of natural wonders as the geologically very young area around LakeMývatn. Marvel at the forces and forms of nature. The rugged, black lava fields in the Krafla region fascinate young and old alike.

So do the colorful and bubbling high-temperature area of Námaskarð, Hverfjall Crater with its view over Lake Mývatn, the bizarre lava labyrinth of Dimmuborgir, and the unusual pseudocraters of Skútustaðir. The Earth Lagoon Myvatn geothermal spa offers the perfect way to end the day .

Overnight stay: e.g., Stöng Guesthouse

Day 6 – The Diverse Diamond Circle Region

The Grenjaðarstaður Regional Museum, with its turf-roofed farmstead and church, offers a glimpse into the often modest living conditions of the past.

Next up, something completely different—the lively coastal town of Húsavík, with whale-watching tours, a whale museum, the Saltvík horse ranch on the coast, and the Geosea geothermal sea bath. You’ll be amazed by fascinating natural wonders such as the steep, horseshoe-shaped Ásbýrgi Gorge, the bizarre basalt columns and formations of Hljóðaklettar ( Echo Cliffs), and the massive Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall.

Overnight stay: e.g., Stöng Guesthouse

Day 7 – Volcanic Craters in the Highlands: Askja Caldera

Today you’ll explore one of Iceland’s most impressive highland trails. Rising from the vast expanse of the landscape is the “queen” of Iceland’s mountains, Herðubreið. Short hikes—for example, to the Víti explosion crater and Lake Öskjuvatn—will stretch your legs after the long drive over bumpy roads and through fords.

Overnight stay: e.g., Stöng Guesthouse

Day 8 – Sprengisandur Highland Crossing

The highland crossing via Route F26 is one of the most challenging highland trails, which can only be tackled with a large, all-terrain vehicle. At approximately 200 km, it is Iceland’s longest highland route. There are only a few oases in the midst of this barren, rocky desert. In the Bárðardalur valley lies the beautiful Aldeyjarfoss waterfall . The hot spring at Laugafell is also a worthwhile detour , offering a stark contrast to the barren, gray stone desert. Near the Nýidalur hut, the colors shift from gray to green again, thanks to the valley’s diverse vegetation. On a clear day, this day’s route offers a fantastic view of the Askja volcanic massif, the Herðubreið shield volcano, and the Vatnajökull and Hofsjökull glaciers .

Overnight: Highland Center Hrauneyjar

Day 9 – Adventurous Highland Route in the Southern Highlands

From Landmannalaugar via Eldgjá to Kirkjubæjarklaustur— we recommend this challenging highland trail, which features numerous river crossings, for experienced jeep drivers with a large jeep. Landmannalaugar is a breathtaking place known for its landscape of striking color contrasts, the liparite mountains, and the hot springs. The Eldgjá Fire Canyon is the world’s largest eruptive fissure (Road F 208). You can take an approximately 1-hour hike through the canyon, which leads you, among other sights, to the Öræfufoss waterfall.

Overnight stay: e.g., Núpar Fosshótel

Day 10 – Kirkjubæjarklaustur

The small village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur is a good starting point for hikes. At the edge of town, for example, a beautiful hiking trail leads to the Systrastapi cliffs, and a steep, rocky path through the grove leads up to Lake Systravatn, which offers a magnificent view on a clear day.

Overnight stay: e.g., Núpar Fosshótel

Day 11 – Vatnajökull National Park

You can only truly appreciate the sheer size of the Vatnajökull Glacier from above. On a clear day, you can see the massive ice cap from the airplane if you’ve managed to snag a window seat on the right side during your flight to Iceland. But the majestic foothills of the glacier as you drive along the southeast coast are no less impressive. The best photo opportunities are offered by the icebergs that calve from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier tongue, drift through the Jökulsárlón lagoon, and can be found scattered like ice diamonds along the black sand beach.

On Iceland’s southeast coast, nestled beneath the vast Vatnajökull glacier, lies the small town of Höfn , offering a magnificent view of the nearby glacial landscape. Höfn is also home to the Vatnajökull Museum, where you’ll find interesting facts and stories about this fascinating glacial region. Plus, a little gourmet tip: If you’re a fan of lobsters, be sure to dine in Höfn!

Overnight stay: e.g., Nypugarðar Guesthouse

Day 12 – Guided Tours at Vatnajökull

How about an unforgettable boat ride among the icebergs on the Jökulsarlón or Fjallsárlón glacier lagoons in an amphibious or Zodiac boat, or a glacier kayaking adventure on Heinabergslón? Alternatively, the day is perfect for glacier hikes on various glacier tongues of the Vatnajökull Glacier and in Skaftafell. If you’re interested in a bird-watching tour featuring, among others, puffins , take a trip to to explore the secluded headland and the Ingólfshöfði Nature Reserve.

Overnight stay: e.g., Nypugarðar Guesthouse

Day 13 – Return trip along the south coast

Iceland’s southernmost town, Vík, is famous for its fine black sand beach, not least because of the filming of the Netflix series “Katla.” Did you know that trolls who are caught in the sun turn to stone? The striking needle-like rocks of Reynisdrangar, near the black sand beach at Vík, are unmistakable and offer a magnificent view of the often turbulent sea.

One of the most beautiful stretches of southern Iceland lets you experience numerous natural highlights: The black sand beach of Reynisfjara with its cave framed by basalt columns, Cape Dyrhólaey with its diverse birdlife, and the thundering waterfalls of Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, and Kvernufoss.

In Hvolsvöllur, we recommend visiting the extraordinary Lava Center . Here you’ll learn everything about volcanoes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. Informative, exciting, and lifelike!

Overnight stay: e.g., Lækur Hotel

Day 14 – Legendary Coastal and Volcanic Landscapes Along the Reykjanes Peninsula

Today, you should enjoy the unique atmosphere of the Reykjanes Peninsula to the fullest. This volcanically active region has recently attracted a great deal of attention due to the volcanic eruptions in 2021–2023. Many small hiking trails have been created around the new lava field near Fagradallsfjall and Meradalir.

In the hot spring area of Krýsuvík , you can marvel at bubbling mud and hot springs.

Along the way, you can also visit Iceland’s most famous spa resort, the Blue Lagoon (Bláa Lónið in Icelandic)! It offers an unforgettable bathing experience amidst a bizarre lunar landscape of moss-covered lava rock.

Overnight stay: e.g., Konvin Hotel (breakfast not included)

Day 15 – Departure

Today, you’ll return your rental car at Keflavík Airport before your return flight.

The Katla Travel Team wishes you a safe journey home! Góða ferð!