4 Days Self-Drive Idea to the Highlands, Golden Circle and Reykjanes Peninsula

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4 Days Self-Drive Idea to the Highlands, Golden Circle and Reykjanes Peninsula

Combine adventure and relaxation in this 4-day self drive trip to the Highlands, Golden Circle and Reykjanes Peninsula.

If you are up for an adventure but don’t want to go extreme and still need room for relaxation, this 4-day self drive idea with a rental car from Thrifty is the right one for you. You not only stay in a luxurious hotel called the Hotel Highland, but you also get to explore the Gullfoss-Geysir area where you can do some snorkeling or other outdoor activities. For some relaxation, you can go to the Blue Lagoon that will leave you energized and educated. Plus, of course, you will have the chance to get a glimpse of the famous Northern Lights.

THE 4 DAYS ITINERARY

Day 1 – Arrival in Keflavik, Iceland and Check-In in Hotel Highland

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Depending on your flight, you can arrive in Keflavik Airport at around late afternoon (4 or 5pm) to do the necessary things needed for your 4-day vacation. The first thing to do is get your rental car in Thrifty and do the drive to Hotel Highland in the interior of the Icelandic Highlands. Once checked in, you can unpack, eat dinner and lounge at the hotel restaurant that serves gourmet food made from the purest and finest local ingredients prepared by international chefs. Then, you can just relax for the rest of the night by exploring its surroundings or---given the chance---have a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Here is the map for Day 1.

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Day 2 - Gullfoss – Geysir Tour and Snorkeling

You can leave the Hotel Highland early in the morning since it will take almost three hours to get to Gullfoss (Golden Falls), the undisputed queen of Icelandic waterfalls located in the canyon of the Hvita river. Once there, you can ask Reykjavik Excursions to take you to the Gullfoss-Geysir tour. This amazing tourist destination is very famous because the water rushes down the three steps of lava layers with breathtaking power and splendor. The flow of the water and how it “vanishes” in the crevice that is obscured from view is one of the things that makes it magnificent and will leave you at awe. After touring this, you will have the opportunity to taste and feast in the traditional Icelandic meat soup and lunch of the Gullfoss café.

Source: JasonParis

The next part of the tour is the geothermal area of Geysir , which is known to be The Great Geysir. It is known to sprout boiling water of various formations that goes up to 70 meters in the air and the ground gurgles and bubbles. There are also various hot springs in the vicinity and you can try for relaxation before you snorkel in the Silfra fissure.

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Before the day ends, it is good to visit Thingvellir, which is home to Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland. It is one of the best parts to do for this day because it is relaxing and exotic at the same time. Dividing is also an option here and if you have diving equipment, you can dive into The Silfra fissure---one of Iceland’s best-kept secrets because it combines crystal clear waters and blissful shades of blue. The best part here is you don’t have to be stressed while diving as you will feel weightless as you float your way into the lazy and peaceful current.

Source: Vidar - Aqua-Photos.com

The day ends by going back to Hotel Highland and having your dinner in their restaurant and bar. Lounge a bit and prepare for the next day tour before going to sleep. Below is the map of Day 2:

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Day 3 - Reykjanes and Blue Lagoon

This day is about touring simple yet interesting attractions. You can check out from Hotel Highland and start driving towards Reykjanes, a peninsula and volcanic system, and start explore at 2-3 attractions. We would suggest The Leif the Lucky Bridge near Grindavik that is known as the boundary mark of the Eurasian and North American continental tectonic plates. You can also visit fishing towns such as Grindavik and eat at a great restaurant or just explore the town.

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After the touring and being out in the sun the past days, it is time to relax and be energized by going to the Blue Lagoon. You can get water massages and beauty treatments or have a day tour with the establishment. Either way, you can spend the rest of the remaining day here so you can feel energized and serene. There are various services to choose from in Blue Lagoon that will match your preferences and tastes.

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Once done rejuvenating, you can drive to Hotel Northernlights Inn and check in so you can double check your stuff before leaving Iceland the next day. Here is the map for Day 3:

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Day 4 - Day 4 – Departure from Iceland

Once done with you last-minute preparations, you can drop off your rental car in Thrifty and go to the Keflavik Airport for your departure. Hope you had a wonderful vacation here in Iceland. Below is a map of Day 4:

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3 Days Self Drive Tour To Snaefellsnes

This self drive tour itinerary is for people who want to spend 3 days relaxing in the western part of Iceland. For this itinerary we recommend you book an inexpensive yet luxurious stay at Hotel Brú. Have a relaxing and peaceful time in Iceland by going to the western Peninsula of Snaefellsnes and enjoying the sceneries of Stykkisholmur.

Day 1: Arrival into Keflavik Airport and head to the Blue Lagoon, stay at Hotel Bru

Arriving into Iceland at the Keflavik International Airport, you can make your way to your rental car company. Since you will be tired from your flight, this day is about relaxing and enjoying the beauty of Iceland so our first stop is the Blue Lagoon.

The Blue Lagoon is a 15 minutes drive from the airport and there is a large car park by the entrance. Please book in advance as tickets get snapped up fast. We recommend you try the package with both the Silica and Algae Masks and drink at the swim-up bar. The water massage treatment and beauty treatments here are amazing and will leave you feeling energised and ready for the next few days.

Next, you can drive to Hotel Bru where you can settle for the night. This hotel is one hour and thirty minutes drive from the Blue Lagoon. You will drive through Reykjavik on the way so feel free to stop and take in some sites.

At Hotel Brú try their deliciously mouth watering food at the hotels restaurant known for offering genuine Icelandic cuisine such as lobster soup and Trout. The first night and your first chance to view the Northern Lights, one of the best tourist attractions of Iceland. The hotel offers a wake up call if the lights show up in the middle of the night.

Below is the map for Day 1 for your reference.

Day 2: Snaefellsnes Peninsula

After a good breakfast you hit the road and drive to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Head towards the town of Stykkisholmur in the north of Snaefellsnes, a two hour drive from Reykjavík.

Stykkisholmur is the centre of services and commerce in the area with fishing and tourism as their main income. You’ll find great fish restaurants here to taste their unique and delicious menus. Try Fimm Fiskar, a popular fish restaurants serving Icelandic catfish, puffin, guillemot, seafoods and homemade pasta dishes.

After your meal, drive the circular route around Snaefellsnes. There are a number of attractions which are ideal for photo opportunities. We suggest visiting the Snaefellsjökull National Park at the end of the peninsula. Here you can get a very scenic view of the glacier. You can continue towards Arnarstapi, a small fishing village on the southern coast of Snaelfellsnes. Here you will get to marvel at the authentic and charming Icelandic houses, ragged cliffs and ocean views. The beach area here is also home to large colonies of arctic tern.

Make sure to check out Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall, located a short walk away from the equally beautiful Kirkjufell mountain, Iceland’s most photographed mountain. You will recognise it by it’s unique cone-shape. Kirkjufell is known as ‘Church Mountain’ as it resembles a church steeple and has acted as a landmark for seafarers and travellers over the centuries. This area is very photogenic, you might also recognise this location from Game of Thrones.

Djupalonssandur Black Sand Beach was once a bustling fishing village, when Snaefellsnes Peninsula functioned as one of Iceland’s most active trading ports. Walking down towards Djúpalónssandura Black Sand Beach you will notice four large stones of varying sizes weighing between 23kg (50lbs) and 155kg (342lbs), used as lifting stones to test the strength of fishermen. The stones are named Amlodi (useless), Halfdreattingur (weakling), Halfsterkur (half-strong) and Fullsterkur (full-strong). If you walk around the beach you may discover rusty iron remnants of the 1948 shipwrecked scattered along the beach.

Heading back towards Borganes and Hotel Brú to relax and have another chance to glimpse the Northern Lights.

Day 3: Driving Back to Keflavik Airport

Check out and head back towards Reykjavik. Take a few hours to wander the back streets, taking in the local architecture and street art. Visit Harpa and Hallgrimskirkja, and have lunch or a coffee and cake in one of the many cafes.