9-Day Iceland Self-Drive Tour with Akureyri to the Golden Circle

• Upon arrival in Reykjavik, take a domestic flight to Akureyri. In good weather, this 45-minute flight offers an astounding view of Iceland's mountainous interior.
• After picking up your car at the airport, drive to the pleasant fishing village of Húsavík.
• Depending on the time, you can also stop in Akureyri, with its colourful houses and charming centre, with the cathedral sitting on top of the town.

Overnight in a charming guesthouse.

• The second day starts with a fantastic whale-watching trip from Húsavík harbour. Húsavík is the best place for encountering these majestic creatures of the sea.
• Drive to Mývatn in the afternoon and start discovering its beautiful volcanic sites.
• Hike to see the Dimmuborgir lava formations before bathing in the evening at Mývatn Nature Baths, where you can enjoy a relaxing time in the warm pool.

Overnight in a small hut by the lake.

• Today you will be visiting the pearls of Mývatn - Hverfell crater, Krafla caldera, the mud pots of Námaaskarð, the enchanted forest of Höfði, and more.
• You will have the opportunity to return to the warm Nature Baths to relax again at the end of this eventful day.

• Today, you are heading east.
• You will stop to visit and walk in the canyon of Jökulsárgljúfur (Iceland's Grand Canyon!) and have the chance to admire Europe's most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss. A day of great experiences awaits.

• Drive from the East Fjords to the South Coast, where you will find many lovely places to visit.
• We recommend a walk along the harbour in the small village of Djúpivogur. Enjoy the view at the lighthouse of Hvalnes, where you may have the chance to spot seals, and visit Lón - a lagoon inhabited by hundreds of swans in the summertime.
• After arriving at your guesthouse in the afternoon, we suggest making a short trip in the evening to the glacial lagoon of Jökulsárlón, located some 10 minutes farther on. Although it is on the program for the next day, this is such a fantastic place that you will not be bored discovering it under different light conditions.

• You can spend some more time around the glacial lagoon Jökulsárlón. Do not forget to walk along the beach as well, where the icebergs have washed ashore.
• Head west, and you will soon arrive at another, smaller lagoon, Fjallsárlón. For most of this day, you will be driving near Europe's biggest glacier, Vatnajökull. Many so-called glacial tongues descend from the glacier to the lowlands, with impressive crevasse formations visible from the road - or, better yet, close up if you want to go for a walk, for example to the Svínafellsjökull glacial tongue.
• If you are lucky enough to have a clear sky, you will be able to see Iceland's highest peak, Hvannadalshnjúkur.
• The next stop is Skaftafell National Park and a beautiful hike up to Svartifoss waterfall (2-3 hours) for those who wish.

• Today you will be driving through the fantastic lava field of Eldhraun - the most extensive lava field of historical times on earth, formed by the Laki eruption in 1783.
• We recommend stopping at Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon and hiking up Mount Hjörleifshöfði for the spectacular view of the black volcanic ash shoreline. Then it is time for a meeting with the puffins in Vík!

• Walk along the black sand beach at Reynisfjara and admire the giant wall of basalt organs.
• Stop at Skógarfoss and Seljalandsfoss.
• Now it is time to turn the jewels into gold and begin your visit to the Golden Circle.
• Admire the mighty Gullfoss waterfall, the ever-surprising Geysir, and the beautiful Thingvellir National Park.

• On your arrival in Reykjavík, you are back in civilisation.

End of the tour.