Arctic Coast Way - Winter Highlights

north iceland coastline near husavik winter istk

Arctic Coast Way – Winter Highlights

from £923 excluding flights

7 nights
Jan-Apr, Oct-Dec

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Highlights

iceland north siglufjordur open roads rth

Drive along the scenic and wild coastline

iceland northern lights over lake myvatn rth

Optimum countryside location for viewing the northern lights

north iceland humpback whale tail husavik gt

Spot humpback whales on a boat trip from Husavik

iceland north east lake myvatn frozen landscape rth

Discover pseudo-craters and mud pools at Lake Myvatn

north iceland siglufjordur siglo hotel exterior at night rth

Visit the picturesque town of Siglufjordur location for the TV series 'Trapped'

Why this trip...

north iceland view over lake myvatn summer rth

Fly direct to North Iceland

Choose to fly direct to Akureyri from London Gatwick or Manchester with Easyjet (Oct - Mar)

Explore at leisure

With the route, transport and accommodation sorted, each day offers the freedom to explore

Tailor made

This itinerary can be tailor made to suit you and is intended to give you a guideline of what is possible in a given timeframe

Overview

This winter self-drive itinerary follows a section of north Iceland’s scenic touring route, the Arctic Coast Way. Highlighting the dramatic landscapes of the north, you’ll explore coastal roads and geo-thermal oddities, take a winter whale watching trip and relax in natural spas. Meet the locals as you visit tiny villages along the route and watch out for the northern lights each evening.

Arctic Coast Way – Coast of Fishing Towns and Heritage

Cultural riches flourish in the heart of this section of the Arctic Coast Way. Expect some great hospitality and excellent opportunities to taste ‘the catch of the day’.

Husavik

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.

Siglufjordur

The small fishing town of Siglufjordur sits on a narrow fjord of the same name. Its heritage lies in the herring industry, but it has achieved more modern fame as the location for Iceland’s acclaimed TV series ‘Trapped’.

Akureryi

With the first and last nights spent in the gateway to the north, you’ll have time to discover some of Akureyri’s many facets: its local museums, botanic gardens and bustling harbour, as well as time to relax in the new Forest Lagoon.

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Itinerary

Fly to Akureyri and collect your rental vehicle, before making your way to your hotel for an overnight stay. Spend the rest of the day exploring this interesting town, which has a good range of shops and restaurants, a busy fishing port and a selection of museums.

north iceland aerial view of godafoss winter rth

Icelandair Hotel Akureyri

Icelandair Hotel Akureyri offers 101 comfortable, modern rooms in the northern town of Akureyri.

Drive to Husavik for time to explore this beautiful fjord town or visit the Geo Spa for a relaxing bathe (payable locally). Three nights at Hotel Cape Husavik.

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).

Perhaps take a morning whale watching trip and visit the Husavik Whale Museum. Drive to Asbyrgi for walk in the horseshoe canyon or return to Lake Myvatn for another visit.

north iceland aerial view of husavik harbour winter istk

Retrace your route via Akureyri and then enjoy a leisurely drive along the shores of Eyjafjordur, perhaps stopping to visit the unusual baths at Beer Spa (payable locally). Continue to Siglufjordur where you will spend the next two nights at Hotel Siglo.

Siglo Hotel, Siglufjordur

Located on a sleepy waterfront in Siglufjordur, this hotel offers a chic and stylish base for exploring Iceland's north.

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 harbourside buildings and take time to watch the world go by.

north iceland eyjafjordur near akureyri sunset istk

iceland north akureyri view along eyjafjordur rth

iceland north godafoss winter sunrise istk

Follow the coast road back to Akureyri for a final night stay. You may wish to visit the new Forest Lagoon geothermal baths (payable locally).

Make your way to the airport for your flight home today.

This holiday can also be arranged with flights into Reykjavik – please contact us for details.

Accommodation Options

The properties mentioned in the itinerary have been included in the prices shown, however, with a choice of accommodation available in most locations, we can tailor make to suit your personal preference.

Discuss your options with our Travel Specialists

Excursions

Iceland

Classic Whale Watching, Akureyri

from £88

3 hours | Year round

Experience and get close to the incredible humpback whales of the Eyjafjord.

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Iceland

Husavik Whale Watching Boat Trip

from £82

3 hours | Mar-Dec

Husavik, in North East Iceland, is recognised as 'Europe’s Whale Watching Capital' and is also home to the fascinating Whale Museum.

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Iceland

Myvatn Nature Baths

from £44

Variable hours | Year round

Soak in milky-blue geothermal waters whilst taking in the magical views of the area around Lake Myvatn in north east Iceland.

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Iceland

GeoSea

from £41

2 hours | Year round

Reconnect, decompress, and enjoy Icelandic nature in a rare union of mineral-rich seawater and heat from the Earth's core.

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Prices and Departures

Price from £923 excluding flights

Airfares vary widely and are quoted separately to the holiday price, starting from around £250pp return with Icelandair and British Airways, though may be lower with Play or EasyJet. We'll provide the best fare available at the time of enquiry, which tend to be cheaper the earlier you book.

UK Airports with flights direct to Iceland are Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. We can also arrange flights from non-UK destinations. Discover more »

Iceland Volcano Disruption Protection
We are proud of our excellent reputation for looking after our clients, without question. Should the unexpected occur our team of dedicated Travel Specialists are on call 24/7 to make any necessary alternative plans at no cost to you.

What's Included

Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
Daily breakfast
4WD Car rental throughout with unlimited mileage
No charge for second driver
24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
No surcharge guarantee
Full financial protection

This itinerary starts from around £923 per person, based on 2 sharing a room with private bathroom in standard hotels, and rental of an intermediate vehicle.

Prices may vary depending on departure date and booking date, as well as any changes to the included components. The final cost of a tailored holiday will be based on the level of accommodation, size of vehicle, included activities, travel season, and how far in advance it is booked. We will confirm the exact price for your holiday in your individual quotation, based on your chosen travel dates and inclusions.

* Choice of Vehicles

We can offer a wide range of rental vehicles for this holiday – our team will be happy to talk you through the options and provide a quote for the most suitable category based on your individual requirements.

4WD

We would always recommend a 4WD for winter travel, but many clients also prefer the greater security and comfort that a larger vehicle provides year round – upgrade your vehicle from as little as £10 per person, per day.
Go electric

With a selection of electric cars now available including the Kia Niro and Volkswagen ID.3, you can choose to upgrade from as little as £12 per person, per day. We recommend this option for summer only, due to the colder temperatures in winter affecting battery range.

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24/7 On Trip Support

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The World's Great. Pass it On

To mark our 40th anniversary, we've launched our Education Bursary Fund to help disadvantaged school children experience the wonders of travel. A percentage of revenue from every holiday booked will go into the bursary fund to pay for at least 40 students to join one of our school trips abroad.

Arctic Coast Way – Winter Highlights

Highlights