Iceland Itinerary Advice
Jan 29th, 2008, 03:54 PM
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Iceland Itinerary Advice
I am just about to book flights to Reykjavik for our honeymoon in late June. We're going to spend 11 days in Iceland. I had initially planned out the following itinerary for 10 days, but the prices have dropped on flights if I extend by a day. Can you please review and let me know where you would add another night (in the same place, or a stop that I haven't included)?
Your input is greatly appreciated!
Day 1: arrive early morning, pick up rental car. . .spend day at Geysir, Gullfoss & Thingvellir. . .drive to Budir (Snaefellnes Peninsula) for one night
Day 2: spend morning around Snaefellnes Peninsula, ending up at Stykkisholmer for lunch. . .drive toward Sauderkroder, Tindastoll, Hofsos, and neighbouring fjords . .end up at Husavik for two nights
Day 3: Myvatn NP, Krafla, Bjarnaflag. . .maybe do the Lofthellir cave exploration tour?
Day 4: whale watching boat tour in morning, Jokulsargljufer NP in afternoon. . .drive to Seydisfjordur for one night
Day 5: kayaking from Seydisfjordur in morning. . .drive to Jokulsarlon Lagoon for afternoon. . .spend two nights in Skaftafell
Day 6: Ingolfshofdi bird tour, Skaftafell NP for rest of day
Day 7: ice walking on Svinafellsjokull. . .drive toward Vik for one night
Day 8: Dyrholaey and surroundings. . .Skogafoss. . .drive to Reykjavik for two nights
Day 9: Superjeep tour of Thorsmork or Landmannalaugur (any votes for which one we should do?)
Day 10: wander Reykjavik, visit Blue Lagoon and geothermal areas. . .late afternoon flight
So, that was the 10-day plan. . .where would you add another day?
Thanks again!
Stevie
Your input is greatly appreciated!
Day 1: arrive early morning, pick up rental car. . .spend day at Geysir, Gullfoss & Thingvellir. . .drive to Budir (Snaefellnes Peninsula) for one night
Day 2: spend morning around Snaefellnes Peninsula, ending up at Stykkisholmer for lunch. . .drive toward Sauderkroder, Tindastoll, Hofsos, and neighbouring fjords . .end up at Husavik for two nights
Day 3: Myvatn NP, Krafla, Bjarnaflag. . .maybe do the Lofthellir cave exploration tour?
Day 4: whale watching boat tour in morning, Jokulsargljufer NP in afternoon. . .drive to Seydisfjordur for one night
Day 5: kayaking from Seydisfjordur in morning. . .drive to Jokulsarlon Lagoon for afternoon. . .spend two nights in Skaftafell
Day 6: Ingolfshofdi bird tour, Skaftafell NP for rest of day
Day 7: ice walking on Svinafellsjokull. . .drive toward Vik for one night
Day 8: Dyrholaey and surroundings. . .Skogafoss. . .drive to Reykjavik for two nights
Day 9: Superjeep tour of Thorsmork or Landmannalaugur (any votes for which one we should do?)
Day 10: wander Reykjavik, visit Blue Lagoon and geothermal areas. . .late afternoon flight
So, that was the 10-day plan. . .where would you add another day?
Thanks again!
Stevie
Jan 30th, 2008, 09:42 AM
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I would read these 2 threads. I followed most of what DKW recommeded and had a great time... but read my as well, b/c DKW left a few things out.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=3467002
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34873850
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=3467002
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34873850
Jan 30th, 2008, 09:44 AM
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I posted the wrong link before - http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34670021
Feb 1st, 2008, 12:26 PM
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Looks like Iceland is a popular honeymoon destination this year. We'll be on our honeymoon there around the same time.
I would consider spending day hiking into Thórsmörk and stay at one of the cabins there.
Nadia
I would consider spending day hiking into Thórsmörk and stay at one of the cabins there.
Nadia
Feb 4th, 2008, 08:51 AM
#5
Hi canadienne,
we too have been planning an iceland trip,in our case with the family too.
we ended up confining ourselves to the western end of the country because of the distances involved in getting round the "ring road" which I discern you are planning to do.
The day which i would worry most about is DAy 2 - snaefellnes to Husavik is quite a stretch, especially in half a day. my globetrotter map says tht borganes to Akureyri is 315km - and they i think are closer together than your intended departure and arrival points. why not put your extra day in here and stop somewhere en route?
regards, ann
we too have been planning an iceland trip,in our case with the family too.
we ended up confining ourselves to the western end of the country because of the distances involved in getting round the "ring road" which I discern you are planning to do.
The day which i would worry most about is DAy 2 - snaefellnes to Husavik is quite a stretch, especially in half a day. my globetrotter map says tht borganes to Akureyri is 315km - and they i think are closer together than your intended departure and arrival points. why not put your extra day in here and stop somewhere en route?
regards, ann
Sep 26th, 2008, 06:53 PM
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A long overdue update. . .
We spent 12-days on the Ring Road and loved every minute of it.
Ann was correct that Budir to Husavik was a very long driving day, but none of the others felt too long. There are just sooo many opportunities to pull off the road and explore, that it breaks up the driving.
It was expensive, but so lovely. Once outside of Reykjavik, we felt like we had the whole country to ourselves. . .which is perfect for a honeymoon.
We can't recommend Iceland enough!
We spent 12-days on the Ring Road and loved every minute of it.
Ann was correct that Budir to Husavik was a very long driving day, but none of the others felt too long. There are just sooo many opportunities to pull off the road and explore, that it breaks up the driving.
It was expensive, but so lovely. Once outside of Reykjavik, we felt like we had the whole country to ourselves. . .which is perfect for a honeymoon.
We can't recommend Iceland enough!
Sep 28th, 2008, 01:10 PM
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Just a few general comments (and then my comments are pasted into you itinerary below)...
You're going to have to hustle... we did a similar itinerary (in reverse in October) and it took 14 days (and we could have used more time). We did this without doing any 'long' organized activities like the super jeep tour, cave tour or kayaking.
Driving distances aren't long, but roads aren't great in many cases (especially in Jokulsargljufer NP).
Day 1: arrive early morning, pick up rental car. . .spend day at Geysir, Gullfoss & Thingvellir. . .drive to Budir (Snaefellnes Peninsula) for one night. Comments: This will be a long day even if your flight gets in ontime. Customs and immigration were very efficient and we had our rental car by 6:15am. The Golden Circle does take time and the drive back to Budir will probably take you another 2 hours. Going to be a long day.
Day 2: spend morning around Snaefellnes Peninsula, ending up at Stykkisholmer for lunch. . .drive toward Sauderkroder, Tindastoll, Hofsos, and neighbouring fjords . .end up at Husavik for two nights. Comments: The peninsula is great and you're going to want to get out and walk. This will take some time. In Stykkisholmer, there is a great bakery/cafe (just as you enter town)... they have a great cinnamon pastry. The climb up the 'Holy Mountain' outside of town is nice. Also, the Elborg splatter crater is cool. The drive to Husavik will take a few hours.
Day 3: Myvatn NP, Krafla, Bjarnaflag. . .maybe do the Lofthellir cave exploration tour? I think Myvatn is worth a whole day between the pseudo craters, Namafjall, Hverfjall, and Dimmuborgir
Day 4: whale watching boat tour in morning, Jokulsargljufer NP in afternoon. . .drive to Seydisfjordur for one night. Comments: The NP is nice... the walk to Dettifoss an the other falls is worth the trip as is the horseshoe crater.
Day 5: kayaking from Seydisfjordur in morning. . .drive to Jokulsarlon Lagoon for afternoon. . .spend two nights in Skaftafell . Comments: The lagoon is very cool!
Day 6: Ingolfshofdi bird tour, Skaftafell NP for rest of day. Comments: In Skaftafell, don't miss the walk to Svartifoss.
Day 7: ice walking on Svinafellsjokull. . .drive toward Vik for one night. Comment: Good plan... the beaches at Vik are neat.
Day 8: Dyrholaey and surroundings. . .Skogafoss. . .drive to Reykjavik for two nights. Comments: Good plan. It's a pretty long drive.
Day 9: Superjeep tour of Thorsmork or Landmannalaugur (any votes for which one we should do?)
Day 10: wander Reykjavik, visit Blue Lagoon and geothermal areas. . .late afternoon flight. Comments: if you have time, add the day at Myvatn and go to the Myvatn Nature Baths instead of Blue Lagoon. Great location and much less touristy.
You're going to have to hustle... we did a similar itinerary (in reverse in October) and it took 14 days (and we could have used more time). We did this without doing any 'long' organized activities like the super jeep tour, cave tour or kayaking.
Driving distances aren't long, but roads aren't great in many cases (especially in Jokulsargljufer NP).
Day 1: arrive early morning, pick up rental car. . .spend day at Geysir, Gullfoss & Thingvellir. . .drive to Budir (Snaefellnes Peninsula) for one night. Comments: This will be a long day even if your flight gets in ontime. Customs and immigration were very efficient and we had our rental car by 6:15am. The Golden Circle does take time and the drive back to Budir will probably take you another 2 hours. Going to be a long day.
Day 2: spend morning around Snaefellnes Peninsula, ending up at Stykkisholmer for lunch. . .drive toward Sauderkroder, Tindastoll, Hofsos, and neighbouring fjords . .end up at Husavik for two nights. Comments: The peninsula is great and you're going to want to get out and walk. This will take some time. In Stykkisholmer, there is a great bakery/cafe (just as you enter town)... they have a great cinnamon pastry. The climb up the 'Holy Mountain' outside of town is nice. Also, the Elborg splatter crater is cool. The drive to Husavik will take a few hours.
Day 3: Myvatn NP, Krafla, Bjarnaflag. . .maybe do the Lofthellir cave exploration tour? I think Myvatn is worth a whole day between the pseudo craters, Namafjall, Hverfjall, and Dimmuborgir
Day 4: whale watching boat tour in morning, Jokulsargljufer NP in afternoon. . .drive to Seydisfjordur for one night. Comments: The NP is nice... the walk to Dettifoss an the other falls is worth the trip as is the horseshoe crater.
Day 5: kayaking from Seydisfjordur in morning. . .drive to Jokulsarlon Lagoon for afternoon. . .spend two nights in Skaftafell . Comments: The lagoon is very cool!
Day 6: Ingolfshofdi bird tour, Skaftafell NP for rest of day. Comments: In Skaftafell, don't miss the walk to Svartifoss.
Day 7: ice walking on Svinafellsjokull. . .drive toward Vik for one night. Comment: Good plan... the beaches at Vik are neat.
Day 8: Dyrholaey and surroundings. . .Skogafoss. . .drive to Reykjavik for two nights. Comments: Good plan. It's a pretty long drive.
Day 9: Superjeep tour of Thorsmork or Landmannalaugur (any votes for which one we should do?)
Day 10: wander Reykjavik, visit Blue Lagoon and geothermal areas. . .late afternoon flight. Comments: if you have time, add the day at Myvatn and go to the Myvatn Nature Baths instead of Blue Lagoon. Great location and much less touristy.
