Arctic Coast Way – North Coast Highlights

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 Hotel 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.

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.

In pictures

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. Spend two nights at Hotel Siglo.

Take a boat trip on the fjord, visit the Herring Museum and soak up the relaxed atmosphere of this picture-postcard village. Hotel Siglo 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.

Take a boat trip on the fjord, visit the Herring Museum and soak up the relaxed atmosphere of this picture-postcard village. Hotel Siglo 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.

In pictures

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 at Husavik Cape Hotel.

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 at Husavik Cape Hotel.

In pictures

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. Overnight at Hotel Nordurljos.

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. Overnight at Hotel Nordurljos.

In pictures

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. Overnight at Lake Hotel.

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. Overnight at Lake Hotel.

In pictures

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. Overnight at Hotel Reykjavik Centrum.

Transfer to Keflavik airport for the flight home, perhaps stopping off at the Blue Lagoon en route.