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Self Drive 14 days Majestic Fjords

Dimmuborgir Welcome to ! To make your stay in Iceland more enjoyable, we would like to draw your attention to the following:

△ This booklet contains a standard itinerary. If you have Sat Nav added nights, please note that the itinerary has not been customized to show such amendments.

△ This itinerary is a guideline for your travel in Iceland. The Speed Limit route may vary according to your overnight stay and road conditions, especially during April/May and September/ October. Seat Belts △ Even with the long daylight, you will not be able to visit every nook and cranny nor enjoy all the fun things sug- gested. Please choose between the sites mentioned Road Map depending on your interest as time limits your possibilities.

△ The kilometer/mile distance per day is not precise. The distance may vary depending on the location of your Bin the Litter accommodation and the detours you take each day.

△ On your accommodation itinerary you will find a detailed address list, describing how to reach your accommoda- One Lane Bridge tions. The accommodation itinerary also has a reference number, which is valid as your voucher. Official hotel check-in time is 14:00-18:00. If you arrive any later, it’s Watch out for Animals courteous to notify the hotel.

△ Breakfast is always included during your stay, but no other meals. Many of the rural hotels and guesthouses offer a Gravel Roads nice dinner at a reasonable price.

2 Self Drive Majestic Fjords A few favourites from the trip

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Majestic Fjords Self Drive 3 Ísafjörður Siglufjörður Day 1: 9-10 11 7 6 Arrival Akureyri Mývatn 5 Pick-up your rental car and explore Reykjanes Stykkishólmur 8 Egilsstaðir Peninsula 12 ➠➠Approximate driving distance: 4 104 km / 64 miles Reykjavík 1 Höfn Keflavík 13 Kirkjubæjarklaustur Please see your Iceland Travel Itinerary for 2 3 details about your overnight stay Hveragerði

pon your arrival in Iceland you’ll find your Vík Urental car help desk in the arrival hall at Keflavik Airport. The desk is open every day algae mask bring out the skin’s inner glow! from 5:00am – 5:00pm and again from 9:00pm- Kindly note that the Blue lagoon is very 1:00am. The staff will advise you where to find popular year around and therefore you should your vehicle. book ahead. If you are arriving early enough in the day If you are not relaxing in the lagoon at the we recommend driving along the southern beginning of your trip you continue on road coast of the Reykjanes peninsula. Start your number no. 43 until you find your way to journey with a soak in the Blue Lagoon. Follow Grindavik. Take a left onto road no. 427 and road no. 41 towards Reykjavik until you find explore the southern coastline on your way to road no. 43, leading south towards Grindavik. Hveragerdi. Before you reach Mt Þorbjorn you make a Follow this winding road along the right turn to the Blue Lagoon area. To make it shoreline, past stand-alone houses, lava rock easier you can just follow the steam rising up formations, and endless sea views. Take a quick through the air! At the Blue Lagoon you can detour on road no. 42 to Krysuvik Geothermal wash of the jet lag and relax in the milky waters Area and Kleifarvatn Lake, which are a part of of the Lagoon and perhaps enjoy a glass of the the Reykjanes fissure zone. famous Blue Lagoon cocktail while you let the Continue on your journey on road no. 427

4 Self Drive Majestic Fjords until you reach road no. 38 which will take are considered among the finest examples of you to the charming village of Hveragerdi. the results of tectonic movements in the world. The village is one of the few sites in the world It is the area where the tectonic plates for located directly on top of a geothermal area Europe and America meet, and one can literally and because of its many greenhouses heated by see the ridge between the continents. This is hot water from nearby springs it is often called also the former site of the oldest parliament in the flower village. the world, Alþingi. It was founded in Þingvellir in 930 and there most of the greatest moments of Icelandic history took place over a period of 750 years. In the 18th century a major earth- Day 2: quake took place at this location, after which the parliament was transferred to Reykjavík. Þingvellir, , Geysir, Flúðir/ It may interest you that Þingvellir, in 2004, was inscribed upon the List of UNESCO World National Park of Geological Wonders (UNESCO), Heritage Sites concerning the Protection of the Exploding Geysers, Massive Waterfall World Cultural. ➠➠Approximate driving distance: 170 km / 106 miles While in Þingvellir you should visit: Please see your Iceland Travel Itinerary for Lögberg (The Law Rock), the law speaker, the details about your overnight stay president of Lögrétta (the Low Council) stood oday you’ll drive east out of Hveragerdi there, facing the gathering below to recite the Tand drive along road no. 1 and road no. 36 laws during the period when the old Alþingi to Þingvellir National Park. was held at Þingvellir. Þingvellir National Park is of great eco- logical, geological and historical interest. The Neðrivellir where Lögrétta was, the most park itself is situated in a stunning volcanic important institution of the ancient parlia- landscape of mountains and lava flows, on the ment, the Alþingi, where the “goðar”, the local border of Iceland’s largest lake. Surrounding chieftains, and bishops gathered to debate, the lake are impressive faults and gorges that pass new law and amend old ones. These two

Majestic Fjords Self Drive 5 sites are on the eastern side of the Almannagjá who refused to be baptized in the cold water gorge. of Þingvellir, were brought to Laugarvatn to be baptized in the warm spring. Here you can Drekkingarhylur (Drowningpool) in Öxará enjoy the hospitality of the Fontana Spa. River, where women found guilty of adultery You continue your tour to the beautiful were drowned. Gullfoss and Geysir region. You drive to the Geysir area, which is by road no. 35. It is a Öxarárfoss waterfall, a beautiful waterfall in colourful geothermal field in a 3 km2 (1.2 mi2) the Öxará River, which falls thunderously over a area where hot springs and geysers are abun- steep slope at the edge of the Almannagjá rift. dant. Geysir spouting spring is the world’s largest geyser, whose name is the generic Þingvallakirkja Church, from 1859, situated term for this strange phenomenon. Geysir, on the spot where one of the first churches in believed to have formed in the thirteenth cen- Iceland was built around 1016, shortly after the tury, has a bowl 18m (59 ft) in diameter with a Icelanders converted to Christianity in the year 20m (66 ft) deep chamber below. Its eruptions 1000. are majestic and after the big earthquakes in 2000 it has erupted several times. A smaller, From Þingvellir you will drive via Lyngdals­ adjacent hot spouting spring, Strokkur, is a heiði on road no. 365 to the lake Laugarvatn popular attraction, erupting at 5–10 minute area. Laugarvatn is a geothermal area, and it intervals. The whole area contains a variety is said that when Christianity was legalized in of hot springs and bubbling pools. Please be the year 1000, the chieftains from the north careful around the hot springs and around

6 Self Drive Majestic Fjords the waterfall and stick to the hiking­paths. columns before heading for Stöng, the exca- You continue your journey further north vated ruins of a Viking-age farmhouse in a fair to Gullfoss waterfall, the “Golden Waterfall”. state of preservation. If you walk on the path It is a beautiful double-folding fall that many along the brook you will enter a beautiful ravine believe to be the most scenic in Iceland. It called Gjáin, which can easily be compared with thunders 32m (105 ft) over a fault into a gorge, paradise. It offers miniature landscape, brooks which measures 2.5km (1.5 miles) in length and and waterfalls where harlequin ducks can up to 70m (230 ft) deep in places. often be spotted and you can have a perfect You head back and return to road no. 35 relaxation. If you have time continue on a rug- and turn south. Turn left at a junction to the ged road to the 120m (394 ft) high Háifoss, road no. 31 to visit the bishopric at Skálholt, Iceland’s second highest waterfall, falling thun- which played a major role in Icelandic history derously into a sheer-walled gorge (please note from the year 1056 to 1796, when the bishopric you must hike some distance to see Háifoss). moved to Reykjavík following a great series of Turn back to road no. 32 going north until earthquakes. you reach the junction of road no. 26 and no. 32. Fun things to do Now you have two possibilities, you can River Rafting on the river Hvítá take an optional detour to Landmannalaugar Duration: 3- 4 hours or head straight to road no. 1. Arctic Rafting, tel. 562 7000. Snowmobile tour on Langjokull Glacier Please note! Duration: 2.5-3 hrs △ The road to Landmannalaugar and Eldgjá Mountaineers of Iceland, tel. 562 7000 is usually open from mid-June till the end of August. Day 3: △ The road to Landmannalaugar is not suit- able for small cars, a 4WD jeep is needed, Þjórsárdalur, Skógar, Vík, as you need to ford (cross) rivers. Kirkjubæjarklaustur △ Please make sure that your petrol tank is full and that you have packed a picnic Hekla Volcano, Thundering Waterfalls, Puffin lunch before entering the road. Colony, Black Sand Beaches, Lava Fields ➠➠Approximate driving distance: 300 km / 186 miles Detour to Landmannalaugar: Please see your Iceland Travel Itinerary for details about your overnight stay f you decide to take the optional detour to rom your accommodation turn into road I Landmannalaugar, drive road no. 26 north Fno. 30 and to road no. 32 to Þjórsárdalur and take a turn to road F208. Landmannalau- valley, with its landscape of sharply contrast- gar, one of Iceland’s natural jewels, has streams ing birch woods, sandy lava fields, rivers and of geothermal and spring water that comes waterfalls. Follow the course of the mighty from under a high wall of lava and mix to make Þjórsá, Iceland’s longest river and the most streams and pools of just the right temperature important source of electricity in the country. for bathing. Though the altitude is over 600m, the At the entrance to the Þjórsárdalur valley, you river banks are covered in grass and flowers. The can stop for a short climb to the top of Gauk­ very colourful rhyolite mountains surrounding it shöfði, a rocky crag with the mighty river at make this area quite unique. Just before reaching its foot and a splendid view of Hekla, Iceland’s Landmannalaugar you could drive right up to the most famous volcano. You will see the beautiful side Ljótipollur, which is an impressive explosion waterfall Hjálparfoss, framed in twisted basalt crater with a lake inside.

Majestic Fjords Self Drive 7 After the stop in Landmannalaugar you keep road no. 26 where you can learn about volcanism on going on road F208 leading to Eldgjá. Eldgjá is in general and the history of mount Hekla. Open a 40km long volcanic rift reaching from the Mýrd­ daily 10:00-22:00, tel. 487 8700. alsjökull glacier to the mountain Gjátindur. Mt. Hekla is without a doubt Iceland’s most It is most impressive at the northern end where famous volcano. It is still very active, erupting it is 600m (1968 ft) wide and 200m (656 ft) most recently in 1970, 1980, 1981 and in 1991. deep. Extensive lava fields have come from Eldgjá The last eruption started on 26th February in and spread over the lowlands of Meðalland, 2000 and lasted for 12 days; the lava from this Landbrot and Álftaver. The lava at Álftaver is eruption covers approximately 18 km2 (47mi2). the oldest. Instead of a classical volcano cone, Hekla is Continue to road no. 1. You will come back part of a rather squat series of ridges, although to road no. 1 about 23km west of Kirkjubæjar- this is usually hidden behind a thick bank of klaustur. clouds that earned Hekla its menacing name, which means the hooded one. Soon after the If you do not take the detour, take a right turn settlement period, in 1104, Hekla showed that to road no. 26 and drive down that road to road it was a presence to be feared as it erupted no. 1. While driving on road no. 26 you will be without warning and devastated 20 farms in passing through a dramatic scenery as you are in the Þjórsárdalur Valley. Indeed the volcano’s the proximity of the volcano Hekla (to your left). fame grew so much that the Europeans in the The lunar-like landscape is in most parts covered middle Ages believed it was the gateway to with thick layers of ash and lava. There is an hell. The volcanic eruptions from Hekla are interesting Hekla exhibition at Leirubakki at spectacular as the mountain is 1,493m (4897 ft)

8 Self Drive Majestic Fjords high and towers over the lowlands of the south fish life, houses a rock and minerals collection and Continue your tour through the fertile farm- an aquarium. From mid-May until mid-September lands of the south, towards the east through the museum is open daily from 10:00-17:00 but the small villages of Hella and Hvolsvöllur, less in other months, tel. 481 1997. where trade and services are the main occupa- Beautiful walks in Vestmanneyjar includes a tions. walk to the southern tip of the island “Stórhöfði” This is the region where one of the best for puffin- and bird sightseeing and hike up to known Icelandic classical Sagas, the “Story of Helgafell and/or Eldfell volcano. Brennu Njáll” is set. You have the opportunity to Back on the ferry and you find yourself again visit the Saga Centre in Hvolsvöllur where you on the main-land. can learn more about the sagas, tel. 487 8781. Continue on road no. 1 and a stop at the Rising ahead of you now is the cone shaped spectacular waterfall , 40m (131 Eyjafjallajökull glacier and volcano, 1666m ft) high, is recommended. There you can actu- (5465 ft). On a clear day you can see the West­ ally walk behind the waterfall, but be careful as man Islands to your right. it might be slippery. There is a ferry to the Westman Islands, Shortly after you pass Seljalandsfoss water- sailing from Landeyjarsandur. Therefore it is fall, you can pay a visit to the famous visitor easy to take a detour to the Westman Islands, a centre at Þorvaldseyri farm, tel. 487 5757, small archipelago with around 15 small islands, which gained world-wide attention, during the largest one has a population of the volcanic eruption beneath Eyjafjallajökull around 4.000 inhabitants. Glacier. During the eruption, thick layers of ash fell to the ground and rivers flooded its banks, Detour to the Westman islands: damaging the farmlands, hot water pipes and water barriers of the nearby farms. The farmer, few kilometres east of Hvolsvöllur, turn Mr Olafur and his family, have extraordinary A right when you see the ferry sign and drive images on display, showing the farm and its sur- towards the ocean. The ferry “Herjólfur” offers rounding before, during and after the eruption. several departures per day, please call 481 2800 Drive onwards to Skógar, where you can for information about the schedule and prices. visit the Folk museum and Skógafoss waterfall, You can either leave your car behind at the har- 60m (197 ft) high, one of the most impressive bour or take it along on the ferry. The duration of waterfalls in the country. The popular Folk the trip is about 30 minutes in good weather. museum is open daily from 09:00-18:00 during Once in the Westman Islands, you should visit June-August but less in other months, tel. 487 Eldheimar – a volcano museum of remem­ 8845. brance, tel 488 2700. The exhibition focuses on Mýrdalsjökull is Iceland’s fourth largest gla- the 1973 volcanic eruption in , cier. Glacier tongues creep down its sides to the without a doubt one of Iceland´s biggest natural lowlands, the most prominent being Sólhei­ disaster. The highlight of the exhibition is a house majökull. Under the south-eastern side of the that has been delicately excavated. Eldheimar glacier is Katla, a sub glacial central volcano, also houses the exhibition with all avail- buried deep under 400m (1312 ft) of ice. The able information about this unique island, which is caldera is 10km (6.3 miles) in diameter. Since on the UNESCO World Heritage List. the , Katla has erupted A boat tour around the islands is a must for 16–20 times at an average interval of 40–80 all bird and nature lovers, please call Viking Tours years, melting the glacial cap and causing for further information, tel. 488 4884. They offer catastrophic floods in the plains below. All of various tours, such as the popular circle tour, whale this has in the course of time created the vast watching and deep sea fishing. Mýrdalssandur desert on the south-eastern A visit to the Museum of Natural History is side of the glacier. Katla last erupted in 1918. recommended, that offers insight into the bird and Continue the journey and pass Dyrhólaey,

Majestic Fjords Self Drive 9 a magnificent rocky headland with sheer cliffs. from the sands and are topped by the Mýrd- It is the southernmost point of Iceland and at alsjökull glacier. The area has rich birdlife with the tip of it, is a huge wave cut gap which boats the country’s largest nesting colony of arctic can sail through. The headland is known for terns just east of the village. In the cliffs west its bird life and is certainly worth a visit. It is of the village you will see countless puffins, kit- about 5km (3 miles) from road no. 1 on road tiwakes and fulmars mainly during the months no. 218, about 8km (5 miles) before you arrive of May, June and July. to Vík village. Dyrhólaey is a bird sanctuary and Please be careful when walking in the nest- closed for any traffic during breeding season ing area of the arctic terns as they are very from ca. 1st of May until 25th of June each protective of their eggs and their young ones. year. Please note that the road to the top is Intruding those areas one can expect dive- not always recommendable as it is very steep. bombing attacks, where they do not hesitate to If it has been raining severely, the road turns pick with their pointed beak on one’s head. To muddy and is not recommended for smaller avoid getting hurt, please put a stick, umbrella cars and inexperienced drivers. One has to be or something long above your head since they very careful walking on top of Dyrhólaey, as no attack the highest point. fences protect you from falling, so do not walk Reynisdrangar: These are high rocks or close to the edge. needles in the sea at the base of Reynisfjall Before reaching Vík, there is another recom- Mountain, supposedly formed when two trolls mended detour to the so-called Reynishverfi were trying to drag a three-mastered ship to by turning right on road no. 215. Reynishverfi land. When daylight broke they turned into offers a beautiful black beach and impres- stone. The needles rise 66m (216 ft) above sea sive basalt column. At one place you can even level and can be seen from Vík. see and go into a cave called Hálsanefshellir Heiðarvatn: A lake that lies not far from formed by the sea through the thousands of Vík. It offers good trout fishing and is a nice years. Depending on the tides the cave may not area for walking. Please note that you will need always be accessible. a permit for fishing. You continue your trip to Kirkjubæjarklaus­ Please note: tur, an area of great beauty, a growing resort As much as this stretch of black sand looks with a number of historical spots. You drive innocent, it’s open to the Atlantic Ocean on road no. 1 across the south-eastern part and is known for extremely vicious waves of Iceland through the impressive Skaftárel­ and strong currents. You should therefore dahraun lava field, which was created in the be extra careful, comply with warning volcanic eruption at Laki Craters, supposedly signs at all times and keep away from the the biggest lava field on earth coming from shore line. only one eruption, and which is now all covered with moss. You will drive onwards to the quiet village of Vík, which is situated in the mild and fertile Fun things to do Mýrdalur valley which is the southernmost Snowmobile Tour of Mýrdalsjökull glacier borough in Iceland. The western border is Duration: 1 hour marked by the glacial river, Jökulsá, to the Arcanum, tel. 487 1500 / 893 3445 east by the river Blautakvísl, and to the south Glacial Walk on Crampons from Sólheima- by black, volcanic beaches and the Atlantic jökull, with the possibility of some ice-climb- Ocean. Mýrdalur is a farming area with about ing for those willing enough to try 600 inhabitants, 330 of them in the village of Duration: 1.5 or 3.5 hours Vík. It is an area of great contrasts. Lush green Icelandic Mountain Guides, tel. 587 9999 or pastures lie between vast black volcanic sands. 899 9982 Rugged mountains, scarred by deep gullies, rise

10 Self Drive Majestic Fjords Day 4: or sightseeing are some of the options. The Tourist Information Center in Kirkjubæjarklaus- Skaftafell – Jökulsárlón – Höfn tur, at Klausturvegur 29, tel. 487-4620 can also give you further information on what to do in Europe’s Largest National Park and Glacier, Gla- Kirkjubæjarklaustur. cial Lagoon with Icebergs On the way from Kirkjubæjarklaustur to ➠➠Approximate driving distance: Skaftafell National Park you have a great 200 km / 124 miles opportunity to see an interesting basalt column formation at Dverghamrar, please look for a Please see your Iceland Travel Itinerary for sign on the right hand side of the road. Then details about your overnight stay drive past Núpsstaður, an old farm surrounded irkjubæjarklaustur was the site of a by magnificent cliffs, where you will find one of Kconvent in earlier times, a fact reflected the oldest churches in Iceland with a turf-cov- in place name like Systrastapi, and ered roof. You will also drive past Lómagnúpur; Systravatn, meaning Sisters’ Rock, Sisters’ an impressive 688m (2.257 ft) high precipice. Falls and Sisters’ Lake, respectively. You can After passing Lómagnúpur, Skeiðarársan­ have a look at the famous Kirkjugólf or church dur sand plains will appear. Following a volcanic floor, at the northern part of Kirkjubæjarklaus- eruption in Vatnajökull glacier in October 1996, tur, although it is believed that it was never millions of tons of water and ice flooded over a floor in a church. It is the surface of huge Skeiðarársandur. The flood washed away large basalt columns. It is worth a closer look. Near parts of the road and destroyed two bridges. Kirkjubæjarklaustur you will see numerous hills, Preliminary repairs were made and the road Landbrotshólar, but they make up the biggest opened again in December, only two months area of pseudo craters in Iceland. after the eruption. Some of the icebergs that The area has a lot to offer the visitor; hik- the flood carried with it were as large as three ing, swimming in the local swimming pool story houses.

Majestic Fjords Self Drive 11 Skaftafell National Park is a masterpiece on to Jökulsárlón where it is possible to take a of seemingly impossible contrasts of nature. breathtaking cruise amongst floating icebergs On the one hand you have the Skeiðarársandur on the fantastic 180m (590 ft) deep glacial plains, vast stretches of black sandy waste- lagoon. The icebergs break off enormous ice land and volcanic debris borne from volcanic lobes, advancing down deep valleys from the eruptions from underneath the icecap of Vatnajökull icecap. The ice from the glacier is Vatnajökull. On the other hand you have the over 1000 years old, but the lagoon has largely enormous icecap of Vatnajökull with its valley been formed last century, as the glacier has glaciers descending like fingers in all directions. retreated in the warmer climate. Sometimes In the middle lies Skaftafell plateau, like a ver- you can see seals by the coastline of the lagoon. dant oasis, where you can see gorges with clear At the travel service in Hólmur, before brooks and beautiful waterfalls, birch woods, reaching Höfn, you can visit a café and Mini­ a wealth of wild flowers and lush vegetation. A Zoo with all the usual Icelandic farm animals, walk on the marked paths along the gorges for horses, sheep, dogs, cats, and more. Open a look at the waterfalls is a must for all visitors. daily, 09:00-17:00, tel. 478 2063. The most majestic is , “Black Falls” Brunnhóll farm and guesthouse makes a plunging over a wall of symmetrical basalt delicious stop on the way to Höfn, since the columns that recall organ pipes. farm is known for its own production of home- There is an alternative for those who have made ice-cream, tel. 478 1029. difficulty walking up to the Skaftafellsjökull Höfn is a bustling fishing and fish process- glacier (wheelchair accessible). For further ing port, as well as a commercial centre, with information please ask at the information considerable farming in the neighbouring area. centre in Skaftafell. In Höfn there is an interesting local exhibition Continue your tour and drive from Skaftafell worth seeing. The visitors have the opportunity

12 Self Drive Majestic Fjords to experience and learn about the area, the Day 5: nature and the basic glaciology.It's located in the visitor centre in Höfn, Djúpivogur, Reyðarfjörður, Egilsstaðir

Fun things to do Narrow Fjords, Steep Mountains, Picturesque Coastline, Mineral Collection Trout fishing, close to Kirkjubæjarklaustur Duration: Variable ➠➠Approximate driving distance: Efri-Vík farm, tel. 487 4694 300 km / 186 miles Glacial Walk in Skaftafell Please see your Iceland Travel Itinerary for Duration: 2.5 hours details about your overnight stay Icelandic Mountain Guides, tel. 587 9999 or 899 9982 oday you will drive the Eastern Fjords Boat Tour on the Jökulsárlón Glacial Tonwards to Egilsstaðir. Lagoon Eastern Iceland is a very mountainous Duration: 30-40 min region of deep fjords isolated from each other Jökulsárlón, tel. 478 2222 or 899 5920 by sheer mountains. There is very little volcanic Jeep tour or Snow Scooter Tour on Vatna­ or geothermal activity there as the region is jökull Glacier geologically the oldest part of Iceland. The Duration: 3 hours and 15 minutes region is heavily eroded and therefore there are Jöklajeppar (Glacier Jeeps), tel. 478 1000 or many interesting minerals and semi-precious 894 3133 stones to be found there. 4WD Quad Biking in Hoffell The Eastern Fjords are renowned for the Duration: 1.5 hours history of brave French, Belgian, and Spanish Vatnajökull Travel, tel. 894 1616 fishermen who fished cod in the seas off the

Majestic Fjords Self Drive 13 coast of the eastern shores from the beginning on the northern outskirts of the town. of the 17th century. An Icelandic farmer com- From Fáskrúðsfjörður continue your journey piled the world’s first dictionary of the Basque to Reyðarfjörður. On the way to Reyðarfjörður language in the 17th century in order to be able on the road no. 96 you should see seabirds and to communicate with some of them. possibly also seals. You also have the option of Before you come to the Almannaskarð taking the shortcut through the tunnel straight tunnel you can take a little detour down the to Reyðarfjörður. road to the right marked “Stokksnes”. At the Reyðarfjörður is the largest of the Eastern end of that road, down at the shore, you will Fjords. It served as one of the largest Allied find seabirds, arctic terns and possibly seals out bases during World War II. In the village at the on the cliffs. You then drive east through the base of the fjord where there is a small museum Almannaskarð tunnel. If the weather is good of war memorabilia called the Icelandic War- an option is to drive to a view point on the east time Museum, tel. 470-9063. A little bit outside side of the tunnel. There you can enjoy the of the town a big aluminium smelter producing beautiful scenery towards the west. You will annually 350.000 tons of aluminium, owned see the glacial tongues running down from the and run by Alcoa, was opened in 2007 provid- main icecap to the lowlands. ing jobs for 400 people. Continue your tour to Continue through the Lón area, which many Egilsstaðir. consider to be one of the most beautiful sites in Egilsstaðir is situated some distance inland, Iceland. The road then leads north to Djúpiv- on a fertile plain on the border of Lake Lagar­ ogur, at the southern opening of Berufjörður fljót, which is a huge glacial river. According fjord, which is known for its zeolite-crystals. to local legends, similar to those about Loch Djúpivogur is a beautifully situated, pic- Ness in Scotland, you might expect to see a sea turesque fishing town. If you can, take a walk serpent called Lagarfljótsormurinn reputedly around this beautiful area, please ask for a living in the lake. Egilsstaðir is a natural center hiking map of the area in the shops. Djúpivogur for regional social services and transportation might be an interesting choice for birdwatchers to many of the towns and villages in the eastern because there you can experience unspoiled part of Iceland. nature where you can see the bulk of Icelandic You can make an interesting visit to Hall­ birds in their natural environment without dif- ormsstaður, a government forestry station in ficulties such as long walks or extra travelling. the beautiful Hallormsstaðaskógur, where 80 Mammals such as seals and reindeer can also be species of trees from various parts of the world seen there frequently. In Djúpivogur are two are growing. Hallormsstaðaskógur is the largest birdwachting houses that every birdwatcher forest plantation in Iceland. From Egilsstaðir to can use to take a closer look. You can get more Hallormsstaður the distance is 26km (16 miles), information in their information centre in but if you have the time to drive around the Langabúð. lake, which is altogether 84km (52 miles), we You will continue your journey through recommend a stop on the other side of the lake, Breiðdalsvík and on to Stöðvarfjörður, where 20km (12,5 miles) from Hallormsstaður, called you can visit the famous Rock Collection of Skriðuklaustur. The building was designed by Petra Sveinsdóttir, tel. 475-8834. Over 90% the German architect Fritz Höger and built in of the stones in her collection were found in 1939 for the writer Gunnar Gunnarsson. Today Stöðvarfjörður and the surroundings. From it is an institute which enables artists, writers Stöðvarfjörður follow road no. 96 north to and scholars to stay temporarily to work, but a Fáskrúðsfjörður. Fáskrúðsfjörður used to be part of it is open for the public. If you are here the base for the French fishermen. The French in the afternoon, you will have the opportu- built a hospital and a chapel there and 49 nity to enjoy one of the finest refreshments in French and Belgian fishermen lie buried in the Iceland. Everything is home-made and served cemetery at Krossar, situated on the seashore by the local women.

14 Self Drive Majestic Fjords Seyðisfjörður is only 27km (17 miles) away Day 6: from Egilsstaðir along road no. 93. It is a beauti- ful town worth visiting, situated in a deep, , Ásbyrgi, Húsavík, Mývatn 18km (11 miles) long fjord of the same name. Europe’s Most Powerful Waterfall, Glacier Carved Trading started in Seyðisfjörður in 1834 and in Gorge, Whale Watching the latter part of the 19th century it became, for a while, one of the largest towns in Iceland. ➠➠Approximate driving distance: Many beautiful Norwegian-style houses date 310 km / 193 miles from that time. Every week the car ferry MV Please see your Iceland Travel Itinerary for Norröna of Smyril Line comes to Seyðisfjörður. details about your overnight stay Fun things to do oday you will continue your journey Boat Tour to Papey from Djúpivogur Tand drive on road no.1 over the eastern Duration: 4 hours, boat leaves at 1 pm every day highlands, heading for Lake Mývatn. You drive Papeyjarferðir at 478 8838 or 866 1353. over the desolation of Jökuldalsheiði heath, a

Majestic Fjords Self Drive 15 mountain pastureland containing many lakes, of Möðrudalsfjallgarðar, renowned for their at a mean altitude of 500m (1640 ft), and mystical beauty. Stefán from Möðrudalur, a where you will be able to see fine examples of beloved naïve-style painter, used to live here. tundra. Remains of settlements dating from Möðrudalur and its charming Mountain Café is 1841–1946 can be seen on the plateau, for just a little detour from the main road on road many of the inhabitants of this area fled to no. 901. America after a volcanic eruption in the Askja caldera in 1875. Please note! If you take road no. 901 instead for no. 1, △ If you are not travelling between mid­ you can take F907 and drive few kilometres June and mid­September, please note in the south direction. There you will find that the road no. 901 can be closed. the small turf farmhouse, Sænautasel, which △ The roads to Dettifoss are usually just is worth the visit. It dates to 1843 and was open from mid­June to mid­September, farmed until 1943 except for the period of because of wet and muddy conditions 1875-1880 when the ash from the Askja erup- caused by melting snow and ice. tion made the site unliveable. The farming and the life on this high heath was extremely Please ask locally for information on road difficult and poor and consisted more or less of conditions before leaving Egilsstaðir. trying to keep the sheep alive from year to year. If the roads to Dettifoss are closed, you The farm has been restored by the local com- must take road no. 1 to Lake Mývatn and on to munity and is kept open in summer, showing Húsavík by road no. 87 and no. 85. antiques from bygone times in their proper set- If the roads are open, continue your journey ting. Traditional refreshments are also available northwards by taking road no. 862 (4x4), until at Sænautasel. you reach Jökulsárgljúfur Canyons National You continue over the barren highlands Park, the largest and most rugged gorge in

16 Self Drive Majestic Fjords Iceland, through which flows Jökulsá, one of You drive road no. 85 round the Tjörnes the country’s mighty glacial rivers. Once there, peninsula, famous for its fossiliferous layers you should visit: and bird life, to Húsavík. Húsavík is situated in a picturesque fjord Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall, surrounded by majestic mountains white with contrasting strikingly with the smaller water- snow, even in summertime, and is a commercial falls of Hafragilsfoss and Selfoss. centre for the agricultural area, as well as a busy fishing port. The Húsavík Whale Museum Hólmatungur Nature Reserve, also at road a museum on cetaceans in Iceland provides F862 with beautiful, colourful rock formations information on whale species, their evolution and rich flora. and biology, whale stranding and the history of whaling. Open from 8:30-18:30 in May-Sep- The Nature Reserve of Hljóðaklettar (The tember but less in other months, tel. 414 2800. Echo Cliffs) on road F862 from Ásbyrgi, a Recommended cafés and restaurants in great labyrinth of crags and rock formations Húsavík are Gamli Baukur located right at the which, like other strange rock formations and pier in a charming house made mainly of drift canyons in the National Park, is the result of wood and Salka restaurant. catastrophic floods and water erosion Take road no. 85 and 87 or 845 to Lake Mývatn depending on your accommodation. Ásbyrgi, at road no. 861, a natural horseshoe- shaped rock enclosure, whose impressive walls Fun things to do reach a height of 90m (295 ft), sheltering fertile Whale Watching from Húsavík and lush vegetation. Duration: 3 hours Norðursigling tel. 464 7272

Majestic Fjords Self Drive 17 Day 7: and 140m (459 ft) in depth. It stands only 150m (492 ft) above its surroundings so it is not dif- Lake Mývatn, Akureyri, and Siglufjordur ficult to hike to the top. Well worth visiting and exploring by foot. Bizarre Lava Formation, Geothermal Activity, Rich Birdlife, Iceland’s Second Largest City Vogafjós­café: A small café located inside ➠➠Approximate driving distance: a cowshed where you can see the milking of 180 km / 112 miles the cows. It is possible to taste the fresh milk and even try to do some milking. The cows are Please see your Iceland Travel Itinerary for milked twice per day. The emphasis is on home details about your overnight stay made local food such as smoked trout, Moz- ývatn is one of the country’s most zarella cheese from their own milk and geyser Mfascinating places. The unique ecology of bread baked in geothermal heat in the earth. the lake and its unusual environment has made You will find Vogafjós by road no. 1 where it it one of northern Iceland’s greatest attrac- surrounds Lake Mývatn, 10 minutes drive from tions. Lake Mývatn is famous for many things, the village of Reykjahlíð. such as rich bird life, beautiful landscape influenced by volcanic activity and boiling Gamli Bær is a small café with a nice atmos- sulfates. In and near the lake, all the Icelan- phere close to Hotel Reynihlíð, where you can dic duck species, apart from the eider, breed sit outside on a good day during summer. annually, all together 15 species. During the summer the lake is covered with birds, which Námafjall: A mountain ridge singed and boiled utilize the rich fauna and flora in the lake. The by sulphurous vapours. The area is famous for area is protected by international law as a very the colourful solfataras and bubbling pools of important breeding place for different birds. hot viscous mud of amazing patterns and col- Birds to look out for, apart from the ducks, are ours. Please be very careful here and do not get great northern divers, red-necked phalaropes, too close to the bubbling pools as they might Slovenian grebes, red-throated divers, merlins splash hot mud. and gyrfalcons. There are several remarkable natural phe- Grjótagjá: One of Iceland’s most well known nomena in the district worth visiting, such as: chasms, half full of hot water, which made it a popular bathing spot for a long time, but has Skútustaðargígar pseudo craters: A cluster reached too high temperature today for that of colourful and beautifully formed pseudo purpose. Please watch your step if you walk craters situated close to Skútustaðir and easily down to the water. accessible from there by foot. Krafla: A high temperature field with active Höfði, Nature Park: With rich flora, fauna and volcanic craters, where a steam-powered elec- a beautiful view of the lake. tricity generating station has been built.

Dimmuborgir: Translated as “Black Castles”, The Nature­Baths: The geothermal spa called, a landscape of rugged crags and strange lava Mývatn Nature Baths is the latest addition to formations. There are 3 different routes marked the region’s many visitor attractions and are for walking. Please stay on the paths, as this well worth visiting. It contains a unique blend area is like a labyrinth. of minerals, silicates and geothermal micro- organisms. It’s open all year around: 1 June - 31 Hverfjall: A huge explosive tuff crater. It looks August from 09:00 to 24:00 and from 12:00 to like a giant circular stadium with a crater bowl 22:00 in the wintertime. For directions you can of 1,040 – 1,200m (3.411-3.936 ft) in diameter call the baths directly tel. 464 4411, or ask local

18 Self Drive Majestic Fjords hotels and service-centres in the Mývatn area. region, in some parts as close to the surface as 3km (1,9 mile). From the car park, a circular Bird Museum (Fuglasafn Sigurgeirs): A private footpath leads you around the volcano and up collection of birds, now open to the public. For to its summit from where there is a beautiful directions you can call the museum directly, tel. view over the impressive volcanic landscapes 464 4477. surrounding it. This is a very interesting walk but one has to be very careful when crossing Leirhnjúkur: Part of the Krafla fissure com- the high-temperature area. It is important to plex. It is one of the most interesting sights in wear good walking boots. On rainy days there the Mývatn area. A highly active volcano and is considerable mud in the geothermal area and a small but very colourful high-temperature it can become very slippery there, so one has to geothermal field situated west of Krafla, which take extra care when crossing it. last erupted in a series of nine eruptions from 1975–1984. After exploring the Myvatn area, head for Akureyri, via road no 1. On the way to West of it are a series of craters and volcanic Akureyri, the “capital” of northern Iceland, you fissures of the same name. In this area you can will pass Goðafoss waterfall, one of Iceland’s also see the lava fields from 1984, which are most beautiful and renowned waterfalls. still hot. A vast magma chamber lies under the Driving 18 km (11 miles) from Goðafoss

Majestic Fjords Self Drive 19 towards Akureyri you could make a detour to ing, fish processing and trading. In Dalvik, rec- Akureyri by taking road no. 835 to visit the reations such as whale watching and horse rental Laufás Museum. Here you can see one of the are available and there is always the option of country’s best preserved turf/sod farmhouses. visiting the museums in town or try the local The museum is open from mid May until mid swimming pool. The museum is a traditional September from 10:00 – 18:00. From Laufás folk museum with an unusual twist, representing you would continue on road no. 83 to drive to Jóhann Svarfdælingur, known as “the Giant”, Akureyri. once being the tallest man in the world. You Akureyri boasts some of the finest timber can try on his huge shoes and view his especially buildings in the country, beautifully restored. made bicycle and chair, amongst other things. Because of its excellent natural harbour and Continue driving the coastline, through good communications, Akureyri has become the tunnel, to the famous herring town of the northern center of education, culture, trade Siglufjörður. Siglufjörður was an important and industry. Akureyri has a whole street in its herring centre from 1904 to recent times, when centre, Listagil (Art Gorge), devoted to arts, the herring disappeared. A very interesting crafts and design, where it is ideal to visit the museum, offering a glimpse into the glory Akureyri Art Museum. This charming town is days is the “Herring Museum”, recreating located inland at the base of Eyjafjörður Fjord, the town’s bustling harbour of the 1950s. You the longest fjord in Iceland, which means that might be lucky enough to witness a show of Akureyri, together with Egilsstaðir, is one of salting herring into barrels, singing and dancing the two towns in Iceland closest to the center to accordion music on the museum dock. The of the country. This provides Akureyri with a cli- museum is open June-August from 10:00-18:00 mate, which is more continental than oceanic, but less in other months. with colder winters and warmer summers than in most other towns in Iceland. Therefore, in Fun things to do spite of its location, about 70km (44 miles) Full Day Tour to Askja Caldera south of the Arctic Circle, the town is verdant Duration: 11-12 hours with a public park and botanical garden, Lysti­ Mountain View, tel. 464 4142. garðurinn, which was opened in 1912. It was originally only planted with various kinds of Day 8: trees, but it now also includes over 400 to 450 Icelandic vascular plants. Siglufjordur, Varmahlíð/Hvammstangi/ There are many other interesting places Laugarbakki and museums in Akureyri. One is Nonnahús, a Fertile Farmlands, Folk Museum, Viking Horses museum and former home of children’s writer and Jesuit priest Jón Sveinsson, “Nonni”. (It ➠➠Approximate driving distance: is located at Aðalstræti 54b). Next-door, and 200 km / 124 miles equally interesting, is the Akureyri Museum. Please see your Iceland Travel Itinerary for Akureyri also has a new swimming pool with details about your overnight stay indoor- and outdoor swimming pool, along with a children’s pools, jacuzzis and slides. rom Siglufjörður you will drive on At the Tourist Information Center at the Froad no. 76 and then on road no. 75 to culturhouse Hof, right in the center, you are Sauðárkrókur. On the way you will pass Hof­ able to get yourself a map of Akureyri and other sós village, where you will find beautiful colum- information on Akureyri. nar basalt by the coast and also the Emigration Drive on road no.1 and then turn into road Museum. If you still have time, a visit to the old no. 82, heading north. Just before reaching bishopric in the north, Hólar, is recommended, Dalvík village, you will pass a bird-sanctuary by on road no. 767. The Hólar Cathedral is beauti- the river. The main industries in Dalvík are fish- ful, with many objects dating all the way back

20 Self Drive Majestic Fjords to Catholic times (before 1600 A.D.) first American of European decent, lived at From Sauðárkrókur drive towards Skaga­ Glaumbær in the 11th century. A part of the fjörður fjord and the small village of Varmahlíð museum is a charming café called Áskaffi serv- on road no. 75 and you can pick up the itinerary ing traditional pastries in grandmother’s style from below. of a living room. Skagafjörður fjord and valley you will find Before you head off on road no. 1 to a small village called Varmahlíð. Skagafjörður Húnaflói, we suggest a visit to the small turf stretches from the Arctic Ocean to the high- church Víðimýri, located very close to Var- lands and is one of the “cradles of Icelandic his- mahlíð, but on the other side of road no. 1. It is tory” playing a leading role in the events on the open 09:00 – 18:00 from 1. June - 31. August. 13th century civil war and in cultural develop- Heading towards Blönduós and ments for centuries afterwards. Skagafjörður Hvammstangi on road no. 1, you will pass is one of the most important areas for river some of the finest salmon rivers in Iceland. You rafting in the country, as there are several large will drive past the small town of Blönduós situ- glacial rivers originating from the highland ated on both sides of the glacial river Blanda. interior, ideal for that purpose. Blönduós is a long established trading and Varmahlíð is a small village situated at the service town, and the administrative centre of junction of road no. 1 and road no. 75. the region. We suggest you visit Glaumbær Museum Þingeyrar Church (road no. 721) is worth a on this day, as you have a long drive ahead the visit. At the junction of road no. 721 and road next day. Glaumbær is located on road no. 75 no. 1, you will see numerous small hills, which only about 14km (9 miles) from Varmahlíð - are the result of a landslide, the uncountable watch out for a signpost. This is an old farm Vatnsdalshólar hills. Approximately, 16 km (10 with turf buildings in traditional style, some miles) further west we suggest that you drive parts of which date back to the 18th century. along road no. 718 and go to the spectacular Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir, the first woman Kolugil canyon. You can take road no. 715 on to go to America and who gave birth to the the way back to road no. 1.

Majestic Fjords Self Drive 21 Short detour to Fun things to do Vatnsnes peninsula: Ferry to the Island of Hrísey the ferry line, Hríseyjarferjan Sævar, ake road no. 711 to Vatnsnes peninsula. tel. 695 5544 T The distance from road no. 1 and back to Ferry to the island road no. 1 again is approximately 82 km (51 mile) Duration: 15 min. more or less on a gravel road. The main attraction Horse Show in Skagafjörður here is the Hvítserkur (White Cowl) cliff standing Duration: 1 hour right at the shore. It resembles a fantasy animal Varmilækur Farm, tel. 898 7756 or 453 8021 that is having a drink and reaches a height of 15 Horseback Riding in Skagafjörður meters (50 ft). The name is probably derived from Duration: 1.5 -2 hours the white colour of the bird droppings that cover Hestasport Tours, tel. 453 8383 or 453 8211 Hvítserkur. This area is very peaceful and seals Seal Watching and Sea Angling from can often be spotted here as well as in Hindisvík, Hvammstangi which is right on the end of the peninsula. Tel. 897 9900 Seal Watching In Hvammstangi (on road no. 72) you can Duration: 1 hours and 45 min pay a visit to the Icelandic Seal Centre, open Sea Angling daily from 09:00 to 19:00, June-August, please Duration: 3 hours call tel. 451 2345.

22 Self Drive Majestic Fjords Day 9: fjords are not as good as in other parts of the country, so please drive safely, especially on Hólmavík, Ísafjörður gravel roads. On the way you should stop at Borðeyri, Scenic Coastline, Striking Fjords, Steep Mountains, the smallest village in Iceland! Borðeyri is on Seal and Birdlife Hrútafjörður’s west side, a hamlet on a small ➠➠Approximate driving distance: sandbank. Borðeyri is the district’s service 360 km / 224 miles centre with a local supermarket, a bank and a service station. Please see your Iceland Travel Itinerary for On the way up Strandir you will find a details about your overnight stay number of rivers, rivulets, and small lakes and ou will continue driving on road no.1 to in many places the shoreline is dotted with YStaðarskáli, a popular rest-stop, where driftwood from Siberia. There are quite many you can stop for light refreshments and use and large eider colonies along the coastline the washrooms before taking road no. 61/ (in and the inhabitants collect the down from the 2010 road 61 changed to road 68, road 68 then nests, hunt seals, process the drift wood and do changes back to 61 upon approaching Hólma- some fishing. vík) to the town of Hólmavík. Continue your drive up the magical coast of Please note! Strandir until you reach the town Hólmavík, General road conditions at the western a small village in Steingrímsfjörður fjord. Its

Majestic Fjords Self Drive 23 inhabitants are mainly employed in the fishing Day 10: industry, agriculture and commerce. Trade began in Hólmavík just before the turn of the Ísafjörður and Surroundings century and the town grew rapidly afterwards. West Fjords, Local Museums, Hiking in Horn- In Hólmavík you can visit the “Witchcraft strandir, only availble June-August, due to boat Museum”, which tells the story of sorcery schedule. and witchcraft in Strandir area from the 17th century, tel. 451 3525. ➠➠Approximate driving distance: You will drive from Hólmavík across the high Variable pass of Steingrímsfjarðarheiði heath into the Please see your Iceland Travel Itinerary for spectacular region of Ísafjarðardjúp. You drive details about your overnight stay along countless uninhabited fjords with beauti- ful coastlines, teeming with seals and bird life, oday you have the day at leisure in to Ísafjörður, the largest town in this area. TÍsfjörður and its surrounding. The beautiful town of Ísafjörður, the Fun things to do regional capital of the West Fjords and their Puffin Watching to Grímsey in Strandir major center of commerce and culture, is situ- Vesturferðir, tel. 456 5111. ated by Ísafjarðardjúp fjord which is the larg- Duration: 3-4 hours est of the West Fjords. Eight narrow and long

24 Self Drive Majestic Fjords inlets cut its southern coast while its north- very lucky, to the haunting bark of the arctic eastern coast has only one prominent inlet. On fox. This is now one of the most popular areas its northern coast, near its mouth, it is deeply for hiking in the country. cut by the magical Jökulfirðir or “glacier’s Ísafjörður boasts a lovely old town centre fjords”, so called because of the Drangjökull with some of the finest timber buildings in glacier situated at their center. the country, beautifully restored. Some of Accessible by boat only: Northeast of these ancient buildings are now a part of Jökulfirðir is the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve the Ísafjörður Maritime and Folk Museum. where nature becomes breathtaking in its Ísafjörður is a popular skiing resort in win- rawness and astonishingly rich vegetation. tertime; while in summer tourists visit the Abandoned by a farming community during the town, not just for its own charm and beautiful first decades of this century, and free from the surroundings, but also for the popular trips to destructive grazing of sheep, plants and wildlife Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, Jökulfirðir and alike thrive on a scale unknown elsewhere in the Island of . the country. In some areas, as for example in The island Vigur has earned a great reputa- Aðalvík bay, you can wade knee-deep in mead- tion and has become a “must” for visitors to ows of wild flowers. In the tranquillity of the the area. It’s like time stands still on the island. fjords you can listen at sundown to the music A leisurely walk around the island gives you an of nature, the sound of seabirds and, if you are opportunity to see an abundance of birds in

Majestic Fjords Self Drive 25 their natural environment. The island is home and the birthplace of independence move- to thousands of birds e.g. eider ducks, arctic ment leader Jón Sigurðsson (the anniversary of terns, puffins and more. whose birthday, June 17th in 1811 is Iceland’s After exploring Ísafjörður you can take National Day) and where there is a memorial road no. 61 to the north to the nearby town of museum to this great statesman. Arnarfjörður Bolungarvík. The harbor in Bolungavík is often abounds with natural wonders and should not bustling with life; boats arriving and people are go unexplored. busy landing the fish, while seagulls and other The most famous of its natural wonders is birds are flying around. Close to Bolungarvík is probably the waterfall , a 100m high the restored fishermen’s hut, Ósvör Museum cataract of unusual beauty. tel. 892 5744. Some kilometres beyond here the road For all the above tours, please call Vesturf- splits in two. Turn into road no. 63 which erðir, Aðalstræti 7, tel. 456 5111. The Tourist leads you through the small fishing villages of Information Centre is housed in the same build- Bíldudalur, Tálknafjörður and the larger town ing, tel. 450 8060. of Patreksfjörður, named after an Irish bishop called Patrick, whose foster son was its first Day 11: settler. Trade began here in 1570 so it is one of the oldest trade posts in the Western Fjords Þingeyri, Bíldudalur, Látrabjarg, and is now the trade and service centre for Flókalundur west Barðarstrandasýsla district. Across the fjord from Patreksfjörður there is Small Picturesque Villages, Striking Waterfall, Red a small museum, Hnjótur in Örlygshöfn, where Sand Beaches, Sea Cliffs with Birdlife it is well worth taking a break and having some ➠➠Approximate driving distance: refreshments. 330 km/ 205 miles Take road no. 62 and then road no. 612 to Látrabjarg, the westernmost point of Iceland. Please see your Iceland Travel Itinerary for Látrabjarg is a 14 km long and up to 450m high details about your overnight stay cliff teeming with different species of nesting he tour continues along the West Fjords, seabirds. In Breiðavík Bay, seals can often be Twhich geologically speaking contains some spotted in the crashing waves. of the oldest parts of Iceland with rock forma- Please be careful, there are no safety tions 13 - 14 millions years old. fences and the soil can be slippery near the You take road no. 60 and drive through edges. the tunnel and over Gemlufallsheiði heath Rauðisandur (“Red Sand”) is an extensive, on to Þingeyri village, the oldest trading post white sandy coastal area southeast of Látra- in the western Ísafjörður district. The name bjarg, thought by many to be one of the most “Þing” indicates an ancient assembly site. Just picturesque places in Iceland. It is ideal for before reaching Þingeyri you drive through strolling along its amazing golden sands and Dýrafjarðarbotn which is a beautiful area beautiful shore. Access is from road no. 614. with a majestic mountain range and consider- The distance from the junction of road no. 614 able flora. Fisheries are the main activity of and road no. 612 is about 17 km, driving via Þingeyri, but there is some commerce and quite bad gravel road and not for those who farming. The area around Þingeyri is of particu- fear heights. lar natural beauty, with high mountains and Please contact Sæferðir, tel. 438 1450 and beautiful scenery. The highland area between confirm your seat in Ferry Baldur for tomorrow. Dýrafjörður and Arnarfjörður to the south is often referred to as the Alps of the West Fjords. You then drive over Hrafnseyrarheiði heath to Hrafnseyri, a church farm in Arnarfjörður

26 Self Drive Majestic Fjords emphasis on shellfish. Trade began in Stykk- Day 12: ishólmur in the late 16th century. Iceland’s first Ferry Baldur, Breiðafjörður, Stykkishólmur, meteorological measurements were made here Borgarnes in 1845 by Árni Thorlacius, who in 1832 built the Norwegian house, a fine timber building Ferry across the Bay, Picturesque Islands with that has been beautifully renovated and houses Birdlife, Quaint Fishing Villages the local folk museum. ➠➠ The Café Narfeyrarstofa is located in the centre of the village in one of those older Please see your Iceland Travel Itinerary for houses. details about your overnight stay While in Stykkishólmur, we recommend the ime is your own until noon. This is an excel- museum Vatnasafn or “Library of Water”, Tlent opportunity to go on an easy hike in tel. 433 8154, in the former library building, the surrounding area. overlooking the ocean on one side and the Then you sail by the ferry Baldur from harbour and town on the other. Ice from 24 Brjánslækur, across the bay of Breiðafjörður, glaciers around Iceland was extracted and the with a short stop in Flatey Island, and on to the results are stored in liquid form inside glass village Stykkishólmur, ca. 3 hours sail. columns scattered through the building. This is Stykkishólmur is the largest town of the a work created by American artist Roni Horn in Snæfellsnes peninsula. It has a fine natural collaboration with Art Angel as a multi–faceted harbour sheltered amongst beautiful rock long-term installation and community centre in formations. Fishing is the main occupation with the town of Stykkishólmur.

Majestic Fjords Self Drive 27 Day 13: At the western end you will find the strato volcano Snæfellsjökull. Snæfellsjökull is Snæfellsnes, Borgarfjörður, Reykjavík considered to be one of the most beautiful glaciers in Iceland, and believed by many to Picturesque Waterfalls, Europe’s Most Powerful have supernatural powers. Snæfellsfjökull first Hot Spring, Scenic Fjord became famous after the publication in 1864 ➠➠Approximate driving distance: of Jules Verne’s Journey to the Centre of the 360 km / 220 miles Earth. The glacier itself and its surroundings were established as a National Park in the year Please see your Iceland Travel Itinerary for of 2001. details about your overnight stay Take road no. 574 going west. At the tip ontinuing from Stykkishólmur, you take of the peninsula, near Dritvík, look for a sign Croad no. 58 and road no. 54 along the saying “Djúpalónssandur”, a small inlet used northern coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. as a landing for small fishing boats in earlier It is a good idea to take the short detour on centuries. The fishermen got wages according road no. 577 to the farm and museum of Bjar­ to their strength; measured on weight-stones, narhöfn, where you can see a small church and still to be seen down by the landing. Here the may learn how to take care of shark once pulled roar of the ocean cannot cover the sound of the out of the water, tel. 438 1581. seagulls constantly on the move. Continue your journey through the small You drive by the romantic little fishing vil- fishing villages on the northern shores of the lages of Hellnar and Arnarstapi, both known peninsula, Grundarfjörður and Ólafsvík. for their coastal rock formations in the shapes Hellissandur, a busy fishing village stands of arches, caves, stacks, as well as cliffs alive on the edge of the sea on an elevated coastal with huge colonies of birds. At Hellnar there plateau near the outermost tip of the peninsula is a small café by the seashore, worth visiting. adjacent to another seaside fishing village Rif Here in Hellnar you can visit the Snæfellsjökull that faces the open sea. In medieval times, Rif National Park’s Visitor Centre, which displays was an important trading port. a part of the country’s trade history and the The Snæfellsnes peninsula is volcanic in geology, geography and animal life of the park. many places, with older rock types in between. It also serves as an information centre and is

28 Self Drive Majestic Fjords open daily from mid May to Mid September ing rock face with high uniform basalt columns. 10:00- 18:00. It is one of the longest rock faces in the coun- In Arnarstapi local fishermen can be seen try. Look for a sign with Ytri-Rauðamelur on the fishing and landing the catch of the day. A left hand side. suggested walk is from one of the islands An interesting site on the right hand side is most picturesque harbours along the basalt Eldborg, a perfectly-shaped crater; there is a cliffs, ravines and grottoes, which surround marked hiking path all the way to the top of the Arnarstapi pier, towards the man-made stone crater from the farm Snorrastaðir. The walk is troll Bárður Snæfellsás. There are myriads of relatively comfortable and takes about 1 hour. birds in the ravines, especially kittiwakes. Be Keep on going in direction to Borgarnes, careful of two things; walk only on the path the largest coastal community in Iceland that to avoid falling into the ravines and be aware is not dependent on fishing. The town is built of the arctic terns nesting close to Bárður on a scenic headland jutting into the pictur- Snæfellsás. Another recommended walk, esque fjord Borgarfjörður, close to the spot, especially for bird watchers is from Arnarstapi Borg, where the Viking poet and warrior, Egill to Hellnar. Approx. 45 min. walk. Skallagrímsson, the main character of one of Drive further along road no. 574 and road Iceland’s most famous Sagas, Egil’s Saga, lived no. 54 to Búðir, which is picturesquely situated in the 10th century. by the shore, surrounded by Búðahraun lava. It’s a good idea to visit the Icelandic Settle­ This is a unique place to walk in the sandy ment Centre in Borgarnes, tel. 437 1600, which lava fields, see the charming black church and opened in 2006. The museum is operated in stroll on one of the few yellow beaches of three buildings. The main floor of the centre Iceland. Here you get endless possibilities for houses an exhibition entitled “The Settlement photographing. You continue on road no. 54 of Iceland”. eastwards. Turn to road no.1 and then take road no. At the junction of roads no. 54 and 56, you 50 towards Reykholt in Borgarfjörður, and will find a small shop and a cafeteria. It might stop at the hot spring Deildartunguhver on be a good place for a break. the way. Deildartunguhver is probably largest If you haven’t seen basalt column so far you hot spring in the world with 180 litres of 98°C should stop at Gerðuberg, which is an interest- (208 Fahrenheit) hot water every second. It is

Majestic Fjords Self Drive 29 provides reception, souvenirs and information for tourists. A little bit further than Reykholt along road nr.518 are the picturesque waterfalls Hraun­ fossar, as they pour from under a lava field, in succession of cascades, in to the river Hvítá. Barnarfoss waterfall is nearby. You have the choice between either tak- ing the tunnel ( approx. ISK 1000 per car), or continuing south along the beautiful coastline of Hvalfjörður, one of Iceland’s longest fjords (30km / 19 miles), on road no. 47. During World War II, Hvalfjörður became one of the most important Allied naval bases in the North Atlantic as a refuelling station for the Allied fleet. The many large oil tanks around the village of Miðsandur, often the cause of much tourist curiosity, are indeed remnants of this refuelling station. This was later converted into Iceland’s only whaling station, which operated until 1986. Leaving Hvalfjörður you will drive along the base of the beautiful Mt. Esja (918m or 3.011 ft) into the city of Reykjavík. For those that have some time to spare in Reykjavik we suggest that you visit Laugardal­ slaug swimming pool or one of the many swim- ming pools in Reykjavík. There is also a botani- cal garden and family park in the Laugardalur area you might enjoy visiting. You can also browse around the old city center of Reykjavík, with its many shops, galleries, museums, cafés and restaurants. Recommended sites to visit if walking are: Hallgrímskirkja Church, the City located a bit north of the junction of road no. Hall, Tjörnin Lake, the harbor area, Harpa 50 and road no. 518, which lead to Reykholt. At conference and music hall, and the sculpture the car park you can purchase fresh tomatoes, Sun Voyager. A little bit outside of the center grown in the local greenhouses and packed for you can visit Perlan and the Höfði House. travellers who stop at Deildartunguhver. If you have not planned any extra activities Your next stop will be Reykholt. Reykholt is in Reykjavik and would like to add an experi- a school center today and one of Iceland’s most ence to your stay there, be sure to take a look noteworthy historical sites. Snorri Sturluson at our day tours selection on our web (1178–1241), the best known Icelandic Saga www.icelandtravel.is. writer and scholar, lived in Reykholt, where he wrote famous works such as Heimskringla, Fun things to do Snorra Edda and perhaps Egil’s Saga. In Snow Scooter tour to Snæfellsjökull Glacier Reykholt you will find the exhibition Snor- from Arnarstapi rastofa, which is a culture- and medieval center Snjófell, tel. 435 6783 founded in memory of Snorri Sturluson. Snor- Duration: 1.5 hours rastofa manages various research projects and

30 Self Drive Majestic Fjords Day 14: way to the city on day one, but have time to spare today you might want to use the oppor- Departure tunity en route to the airport. For this detour, please be sure to allow for at least 2-2.5 hours eparture from your accommodation extra to make sure you’ll have ample time at Dis recommended 3 hours before the the lagoon. departure of your flight, as it takes approx. 1 The rental car should be returned to the hour to drive to the airport and check in will airport service area which is located only 2 start two hours before your departure. minutes from the airport building. A shuttle will If you did not visit the Blue Lagoon on your then transport you to the departures hall.

We at Iceland Travel hope you have enjoyed your stay in Iceland and wish you a safe journey back home.

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Majestic Fjords Self Drive 31 Iceland Travel Skógarhlíð 12 Tel +354 585 4300 icelandtravel.is IS-105 Reykjavík Fax +354 585 4390 Iceland