Head North or South?

Thorn Tree forumCountry forumsScandinavia & the NordicsIceland
Enter custom title (optional)
This topic is locked
Last reply was
1.3k
…
Send as an e-mail
Send as an e-mail
dhughey
dhughey

My friend and I will arrive in Iceland next Tuesday (May 25th) and will rent a regular (non-4x4) car for 7 days. We're not going to make any specific plans but figure it out as we go. We'll likely spend 2 days in Reykjavic and the rest outside the city. We're trying to decide whether we head to the Northern part of the island or the Southern part. We're up for any and all kinds of activities - active or otherwise.

Any suggestions on which part of the island would be preferable considering the time of year (last week of May), the amount of time we have and any issues that the erupting volcano could cause?

View last reply
Report
1
borkur
borkur

My advice is: After two days in R.vik area, drive up to Myvatn in one day (whole day´s tour, leisurely driving) and stay there for three nights. (dimmuborgir guesthouse or Vogafjos accommodation are my favorites)

Spend two days exploring the Myvatn region, including whale watching from Husavik and Dettifoss, if roads are open.
Then drive down to Hofn in one day, along the fjords. Stay in Hofn area, my favorites are: Asgardur accommodation in Hofn, down by the harbour, a gem !! and Gerdi guesthouse, near the Ice lagoon.
The last day drive to Reykjavik, via the glaciers, and the volcanic area, a long but exiting day. Absolutely safe in spite of the ,,ashy areas" you have to drive through, (less than one hour drive, if you do not stop.
The winds are blowing from the south today, so there is no ash fall there right now, but even if the wind are from the north it is alright to drive through.
B-)

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
2
iviehoff
iviehoff

Just a small adjustment to what B says, I would suggest, unless the weather is horrible enough to suggest urban activities on arrival, that you leave Reykjavik to the end. This is because timings can be upset in Iceland by weather, etc. And so it is safer to leave yourself a little time in hand at the end of the period.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
3
ruslendingur
ruslendingur

I would also drive around starting from the day one and leaving Reykjavik at the end. At least then you'll find Reykjavik to be a big town :))))
If you do that - I mean only one day (or less) in Reykjavik - you should go around Snaefellsnes as well.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
4
dhughey
dhughey

Thanks for all the great advice. As soon as we exit the airport, we're going to drive to the Myvatn area and spend three nights there before continuing around the ring road, ending up in Reykvavik for our last 2 nights. Should be a great trip! Thanks again,

Derek

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
5
ruslendingur
ruslendingur

Well then you might start your trip right from Keflavik airport by driving to Reykjavik not on rather boring direct road - but using alternative route (extra 70 km but it's worth of a day tour)
It's easy to drive, impossible to be lost and you'll pass such places like
http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/ruslendingar/view/286169?page=1
or
http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/ruslendingar/view/196768?page=7
or
http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/ruslendingar/view/233232?page=0

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report

This topic has been locked by a moderator.

Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner