Iceland Itinerary Suggestions?

[GilliC]

We finally put together a tentative itinerary for our 10 days in Iceland, and this is what we've come up with. Any suggestions? Is there something fantastic that we're missing or something we should change?

Day 0
- Late night arrival, airport bus to Reykjavik
Day 1
- pick up 4WD rental car
- tour descending into dormant volcano (12:00)
- drive to Vik
Day 2
- Sólheimajökull glacier walk
- Skógar folk museum & Skógafoss waterfall
Day 3
- drive to Jökulsárlón
- Jökulsárlón iceberg cruise
- hiking in Skaftafell National Park
- stay near Höfn
Day 4
- Drive along eastern fjords to Mývatn
Day 5
- Ásbyrgi canyon
- Hljóðaklettar echo rocks
- Dettifoss waterfall
Day 6
- explore Mývatn lake area
- Mývatns Nature Baths (the natural version of the Blue Lagoon in the north)
- Leirhnjúkur boiling mud pots
Day 7
- whale watching in Húsavík
- Goðafoss waterfall
- drive to Ayureyri
Day 8
- explore Ayureyri
- horse riding in Skagafjörður
Day 9
- drive Kjölur route over the highlands
- Hveravellir hot springs
Day 10
- Geysir
- Gullfoss
- snorkeling over the continental rift at Silfra / Þingvellir
Day 11
- return rental car
- Blue Lagoon
- late afternoon flight

I didn't plan a lot of time in Reykjavik itself, because it's the easiest to get to and therefore the most likely place to return. There's always the option to do a stopover on a flight to/from the US, so I wanted to use this chance to visit parts of the country that are harder to reach.

[smwrocks420]

I can't remember really well, but isn't the entrance for Skaftafell before Jokulsarlon? Google maps isn't being very helpful with roads in Iceland. So you might have to go hiking before the iceburg cruise. I remember a cool trail in the park that goes by a huge waterfall, it was really neat. It's one of the major trails, so it should be easy to find.
If you're staying in hostels, there are a couple really close to the park that are good. I had trouble finding a place to stay in Hofn, even during the off season.
I only went from Reykjavik to Hofn, so I can't speak of the northern loop, but it all looks really cool. And I agree about Reykjavik, it's neat but I think the rest of the country is so much more impressive.

[GilliC]

Aug 8, 2012 22:12:13 GMT -5 smwrocks420 said:

If you're staying in hostels, there are a couple really close to the park that are good. I had trouble finding a place to stay in Hofn, even during the off season.

This makes me feel so much better! There's nothing available, and I'm kicking myself for putting it off! It feels better knowing that it's always difficult and it's not just my poor planning to blame.

Where did you stay? We were hoping for private rooms, but at this point, I'd be happy to have a sleeping bag accommodation and a shower, because I'm thinking we might need to pack a tent and stay in the park with its pay toilets & showers!

[smwrocks420]

www.hostel.is/Hostels/Hvoll/

I went in 2006 so my memory is a little fuzzy. I had driven all the way to Hofn couldn't find a place to stay so planned to head back and stay in Vagnsstadir, but it was early enough to make it to Hvoll. They have private rooms too, so that might work out for you.
I just think Hofn is one of those weird places that are constantly booked up.

[lo]

One of my favorite days was when we took the ferry to Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands).

[Redpoppy]

I don't recall the specifics of where my brother and SIL stayed, but they brought a tent and had no issues finding a place to pitch it. They have some beautiful photos from a volcanic island they stayed on, tent in a grassy field high above the ocean.

When we went we only went as far as Jokulsarlon. Your trip sounds like a lot of fun!

[GilliC]

I ended up finding a farmhouse with an available room in Hofn, so that was a huge relief! But then I couldn't find anything in Skagafjörður! And I realized that we didn't have enough time to drop off the rental car on the last day. So there was a bit of shuffling and we might not make it to Husavik or riding in Skagafjörður. Oh well. Things to do next time!

This went from being a completely relaxed, no planning trip to one of the most detailed itineraries I've ever made! It seems like a place you should book well ahead!