Turn Back or Forge Ahead?
 

So - I have a small dilemma. I have an itinerary sorted out (below), that leaves us with only two nights before flying home, and places us roughly halfway on the Ring Road. Do you think that we should keep going with little time for stops, or return the way we came (I posted previously, but didn't get any responses). Thanks!

Day 1: Arriving red-eye 4 a.m. ish: Pick up regular rental car at airport. Options; Drive around the peninsula., Golden Circle tour., Blue Lagoon or other relaxing experience, whale watching or kayaking.... Check in earlyish to Start Hotel near airport.

Days 2 and 3: Julia's Guesthouse, near Selfoss. Landmannalager tour and Golden Circle if we haven't done this on day 1.

Days 4 and 5 Drive to Vik area. Overnight Thakgil, campground cabins.

Days 6 and 7: Hofn area, Nonhammar cabins

Day 8: Nordursild Guesthouse in Seydisfjordur, for drive around the east fjord and nearby lake, hiking, kayaking, etc.

Days 9 and 10: Backtrack?

You got a ton of response on your first thread

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ips-needed.cfm

Maybe top that one and add your new questions to it.

Yes, people were here were fabulous, Janis, and their information helped tons! That's why I'm shamelessly coming back for more advice. I tried topping the old thread with revisions, but I think it got overlooked as being resolved.

Hmmm its a tricky one..even though forging ahead is longer I would do that..you won´t have time to stop anywhere apart for rest breaks, but the road between Egilsstadir and Myvatn in the north cuts inland and this is the only opportunity to experience the interior od Iceland, a spooky almost alien landscape that has to be seen!

Weather could be a factor though, so if this trip is taking place earlier than May then check the weather conditions before driving anywhere. http://www.vegagerdin.is/english

Oh, great, thanks, mikey! Now that I've more or less resigned myself to retracing our steps, you've given me another angle to consider, lol! Would we need a 4x4 for the route between Egilsstadir? I' guessing not. We're going in early-mid June.

If you really are considering going all the way around without backtracking, you should re-arrange the first part of your schedule to squeeze an extra day out. This could be done by not backtracking to (or hanging around near) Start hostel.... seems like a very odd location choice, particularly if you are doing all/part of the circle... you practically pass julia's on the way back. Another very viable option would be to eliminate one night in hofn in favor of moving up the east coast.

Adding at least one extra day to complete the circle would make a big difference. By the way, you could do whale watching in the north (husavik) instead of on day 1, too.

Our thinking was that at 4 a.m., when our flight gets in, we might not have much energy for driving. But yes, I agree, Roam. At this point we'd have to redo our entire itinerary in order to squeeze that extra day in. Possible ....

Also, we'd like to do a Superjeep daytrip into the interior of Landmannalaugar on our second or third day. This can leave from near Selfoss (Julia's). The remaining day we'd do the circle.

I guess that I'd try to squeeze the day out by Hofn then but still consider different first night accommodations... I just doubt you will end up by the airport that night.

Thanks, Roam. I'm considering changing the beginning of the trip to include the city.

Happy to add to your dilemma Cattail!!

No need for a 4x4 for that stretch between Egilsstaðir and Myvatn - just about all non-mountain roads are accessible in Iceland in June with a small 2WD