The picturesque Arctic Coast Way is a newly-christened, 900 km touring route in North Iceland, which features in Lonely Planet’s “Best in Europe 2019 Guide”. A lesser-visited coastline than its southern counterpart, the scenery is equally dramatic and inspiring. Discover winding roads that hug clifftops, trace peninsulas and skirt deserted beaches. Encounter the locals in the 21 tiny villages that dot the route. Visit in spring or summer when the coast is bathed in the golden light of the midnight sun. Or early autumn with the chance of witnessing the aurora.
Divided into three sections, this itinerary covers the entire route. Should you wish to focus in more detail on any section, adapting the itinerary to your personal preference then please call us to discuss.
Coast of Sagas and Mythology
The western section of the Arctic Coast Way introduces visitors to Arctic wildlife. Enjoy an atmospheric coastline and the seals and birds that call it home, and a land where wild horses roam. Follow in the footsteps of lore and legend and at Hvitserkur, discover a 15m high basalt stack, believed to be a troll petrified in eternity by the sun.
Coast of Fishing Towns and Heritage
Cultural riches flourish in the heart of the Arctic Coast Way. This section of the route consists of clifftop roads, mountain tunnels, bridges and ferries connecting a string of quaint fishing villages and their inhabitants. Expect some great hospitality and excellent opportunities to taste ‘the catch of the day’. Festivals, fisheries and quirky museums are also on the agenda including the fascinating Whale Museum at Husavik. From here, Europe’s whale watching capital, head out into Skjalfandi Bay and spot minke and humpback, possibly even a blue whale. Dolphins, porpoises and enchanting puffins also compete for camera space.
Coast of Elemental Nature
On the eastern section of the Arctic Coast Way, be prepared to leave the tourists behind. Serenity rules along with moody landscapes, offshore sea stacks, deserted beaches covered in driftwood, fossils and birds. Lots of them. Take a detour inland to explore along the Diamond Circle route including beautiful Lake Myvatn, the mud pools and steaming solfataras at Namaskard and more otherworldly geological wonders. The Nature Baths, mighty Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall and Asbyrgi Canyon also feature and are must-visits before heading back up to the quiet coast and the northernmost point on Iceland’s mainland, close to the Arctic Circle. Big skies, wild seas and panoramic views abound.
Itinerary
Fly to Keflavik, collect your rental car and head north to Husafell on a 2.5 hour journey that passes Reykjavik and Mt Esja. If time allows take the scenic drive around this stunning Hvalfjordur, or for more direct journey, drive through the tunnel to reach the north side of the fjord. Overnight in the village of Husafell.
Head north, through fertile farmlands and over the mountain pass to the northern shores of Hunafloi, the start of the Arctic Coast Way. Spend two nights at Laugarbakki.
Take an optional seal watching boat trip off the coast Hvammstangi (bookable locally) and visit the Icelandic Seal Center, which provides information Vatnsnes area and its marine inhabitants. Visit Kolugljufur waterfall and make a photo stop at Hvitserkur, an impressive basalt rock stack that some say, resembles a dragon stooping to take a drink from the sea – but talk to the locals and you’ll discover it is really a petrified troll. There is also an opportunity to visit KIDKA, a knitting and sewing company that produces knitwear out of Icelandic wool for its own clothing line.
Drive along the Arctic Coast Way and through the villages of Blonduos, Saudarkrokur where you can visit the 1238 : The Battle of Iceland museum and Hofsos where you can visit the Icelandic Emigration Museum. Continue along the dramatic North Atlantic coastline to the small town of Siglufjordur where you will spend two nights.
Take a boat trip on the fjord, visit the Herring Museum and soak up the relaxed atmosphere of this picture-postcard village. Visit Hotel Siglo which has an outdoor hot tub and a wonderful restaurant overlooking the marina. Find some excellent cafes dotted amongst Siglufjordur’s historic and colourful harbour side buildings and take time to watch the world go by.
Enjoy a leisurely drive along the shores of Eyjafjordur, perhaps visit the unusual baths at Beer Spa, before spending some time exploring Akureyri. The ‘capital’ of North Iceland, this interesting town has a good range of shops and restaurants, as well as botanical gardens and a busy fishing port. You can also visit the Akureyri Art Museum or Folk and Outside Museum located in the city.
Explore the curious volcanic features around Lake Myvatn, pseudocraters at Skutustadir, boiling mud pools at Namaskard, Krafla volcano and the Viti crater. Hike amongst the strange lava formations at Dimmuborgir or hike up Hverfjall and walk around the rim for amazing 360° views of the area. After a long day, relax in the warm, milky waters of the Nature Baths, the north’s answer to the Blue Lagoon (entrance payable locally). Spend two nights in Husavik.
Optional Experiences
Myvatn Nature Baths
Bird Watching at Lake Myvatn Nature reserve
Venture a little further into the Lake Myvatn area and head to Dettifoss. Park the car and walk right up to Europe’s most powerful waterfall, measuring 100m wide and gaze in awe as its silt-laden meltwater, from the Vatnajokull icecap, thunders down 45m into the basalt canyon below.
Take a whale watching trip this morning (optional) and visit the Husavik Whale Museum. Voyaging into Skjalfandi Bay aboard a beautiful wooden vessel, scan the sea for tell-tale signs of minke and humpback whales – a sudden spout perhaps as the whale surfaces to breathe, or a flock of seabirds fussing over fish driven to the surface by feeding whales. With luck you’ll be treated to a close encounter. Humpbacks can be particularly acrobatic, slapping their tails and flukes, spy-hopping or breaching. You may also spot white-sided dolphins and even blue whales. Back on shore visit the museum before driving to Asbyrgi. This horseshoe-shaped canyon, according to Norse legend, was stamped in the ground by Odin’s eight-legged horse Sleipnir; its sheer-sided cliffs shelter a small pond and beautiful birch woodland; a fine spot for a walk and a picnic.
Continue along the Arctic Coast Way to Kopasker, visit the Earthquake Centre and then head further north to Melrakkasletta. Here, beaches full of driftwood, lakes, ponds, moors, basaltic black rock stacks and cliffs dominate the landscape, together with a large number of birds. Commons species to spot include redwing, great skua, red-throated diver, ringed plover, dunlin, ruddy turnstone, red knot, razorbill, northern gannet and great cormorant, and you might even be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the elegant gyrfalcon. Continue to Raufarhofn where you will overnight.
Optional Experiences
Husavik Whale Watching and Puffins Boat Trip
Silent Whale Watching, Husavik
Before leaving Raufarhofn, visit the site of the Arctic Henge project, an impressive monument for Pagan worshippers inspired by our very own Stonehenge. Continue south to Langanes peninsula where majestic sea stacks, the most famous being Storkarl, are full of nesting gannets and guillemots. Further south at Vopnafjordur, make a stop at the beautiful swimming pool by the Sela river, then continue to Egilsstadir. Trace the coastline, climbing high over the Hellisheidi mountain pass, and enjoy the stunning views of the sea and surrounding landscape. Spend the night in Egilsstadir.
Optional Experiences
VOK Baths
It is time to say goodbye to the East of Iceland and fly back to Reykjavik where you will spend the night in the capital.
Transfer to Keflavik airport for the flight home, perhaps stopping off at the Blue Lagoon en route.
Optional Experiences
Blue Lagoon
Prices & departures
What's Included
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Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
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Daily breakfast
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Car rental throughout with unlimited mileage
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No charge for second driver
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24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
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No surcharge guarantee
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Full financial protection
From £2014 Excluding Flights
11 Nights
May-Sep
Prices are per person based upon 2 sharing, subject to availability. Your Travel Specialist will confirm the exact price based upon your tailored requirements, inclusions, and travel dates.
Make this trip yours
Every trip you see here can be adapted to suit you using inside-out knowledge to create one-off experiences created just for you.
Eric
6
Faroese Islands explored
10
Visits to Iceland
We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch.
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