Others

Services of your tour leader and driver Transportation in custom built overland truck Diesel, mechanics, repairs and any other costs relating to the vehicles Use of our own group cook tent, seating and cooking equipment 15 breakfasts & 15 evening meals All accommodation costs (100% camping) National Park entry fees when we enter as a group with our vehicle Local transportation costs (if required)

Guide

1 driver/guide is supplied and one cook is supplied on this tour.

Meals

Eating well is a very important factor on our tours and good food is vital for everyone’s health and well-being so we always strive to prepare healthy, wholesome and plentiful meals. 15 breakfasts and 15 evening meals are provided during this tour and will be prepared from our own kitchen on the truck. For lunch we usually stop at a supermarket or a restaurant giving you a chance to taste the local fare too. Lunch is at your own expense. When it comes to shopping and cooking we will divide ourselves up into groups of 3 or 4 people (depending on group size) who will shop for and prepare the day’s meals and clean up at the end. This will work out that you roughly get to cook once a week (depending on numbers). Fresh food is generally available daily so we try to eat meat and vegetables for every main evening meal. We do also cater for vegetarians but we cannot cater for fussiness. In these group situations everybody must appreciate we cannot cater for individual likes and dislikes. Don’t worry if you are not a gourmet cook as your crew are also always there to give advice. All our vehicles are equipped with a small fridge which is used for the cook group’s food only. For personal food and drinks we have cooler boxes for everyone to use. Cleanliness plays an important role throughout this expedition and your crew will make sure an acceptable level of general hygiene is maintained throughout your journey to ensure the wellbeing of the group.

Accommodation

You will spend 100% of your time on this tour in your tent camping. We use designated campsites with amenities every night on this tour so you will have shower facilities and ablutions available daily. From past experience we have found that people prefer to supply their own tents as they are then not forced to share and they can pick a tent that suits their needs. As a general rule try and choose a good quality, lightweight, compact, waterproof & windproof tent that is easy to erect, take down and carry.

Transport

We will be travelling in a custom-built Madventure overland vehicle 100% of the time on this tour. Our vehicle can accommodate up to 26 people. Comfort and safety is of course a big factor during expeditions of this length and nature so all our vehicles have high-backed coach seats with safety belts. The seating is on the upper level of the vehicle giving you an almost 360° view of the surrounding scenery. Our vehicles are designed to allow sufficient luggage storage and are also equipped with lockers to keep all your gear safe. Our long range diesel and water tanks ensure our self sufficiency in remote areas and the equipment we take with us is also of vital importance. In case of a breakdown we are equipped with a good selection of spare parts as well as a comprehensive tool kit to undertake any necessary repairs on our own as and when we need to. There may also be times when we get stuck in the sand or mud when travelling off road so all necessary recovery equipment such as sand mats, cables, ropes, shovels and pickaxes are also on board. We usually carry 400 litres of treated drinking water and we are equipped with a good kitchen which includes all cutlery, plates, cups, pots and pans, utensils, gas cooker, BBQ grate, tables, etc. Our vehicles are also equipped with a small fridge which is used for the cook group’s breakfast and dinner food only. For personal food and drinks we have cooler boxes for everyone to use. Comfortable fold up chairs are provided for outdoor seating and we also have a large cook tent to keep us dry on those rainy days. Our vehicles are equipped with USB charging points only so try and bring all of your important electronic devices such as telephone, tablet and head-torch to charge from a USB socket. We do not have a 120V or 240V power supply on the vehicle but you will have the opportunity to charge your 120/240V electronic equipment at the campsites we stay at. We carry a comprehensive first aid kit for emergencies but we do recommend you bring your own for general use.

Not included:

Optional

Mt. Kirkjufell - free Shark museum - £10 Berserkjahraun lava fields - free Latrabjarg bird-cliffs - free Dynjandi waterfall - free Holmavik Witchcraft Museum - £10 Godafoss waterfall - free Myvatn Lake - free Hverfjall Crater - free Myvatn Nature Baths - £38 Krafla crater - free Hverir geothermal area - free Husavik whale watching tour - £60 Husavik puffin & whale watching tour - £100 Dettifoss waterfall - free Askja caldera - £185 Jokulsarlon Iceberg Lagoon - free Diamond Beach - free Amphibian boat trip on Jokulsarlon Iceberg Lagoon - £35 Zodiac boat trip on Jokulsarlon Iceberg Lagoon - £60 Skaftafell hiking - free Skaftafell glacier trekking - £60 Reynisfjara black sand beach - free Skógafoss - free Seljalandsfoss - free Geysir - free Gullfoss waterfall - free Thingvellir National Park - free Fagradalsfjall active volcano hike - free

Insurance

It is compulsory that every person who travels with Madventure obtain travel insurance for the complete duration of the tour. Proof of travel insurance must be shown before joining a tour. You may be covered under your credit card’s travel insurance so it might be worth checking with your credit card provider first. There are various travel insurance companies to choose from and a Google search will bring up a vast selection but for a comprehensive reliable policy that includes Covid Cover and Medical Repatriation we recommend a London based company named Campbell Irvine, Telephone: +44 20 7938 1734, https://microsite.campbellirvinedirect.com/madventure/. They are familiar with what we do so if you mention Madventure and the tour you are travelling on they should be able to provide excellent cover for you. For people based in North America a company called Allianz offers good cover – Telephone: +1 866 884 3556, www.allianztravelinsurance.com If you choose to obtain your travel insurance through another company please ensure you read the small-print and make sure your policy includes Covid Cover and Medical Repatriation.

Flights

No flights included or expected during this tour.

Others

Personal travel insurance Personal spending money (£150 – £200 per week recommended) Visas (most nationalities do not require a visa to enter Iceland) Lunches Accommodation upgrades Entrance fees to optional sites and parks Any optional activities Any flights (no flights expected during this tour) Airport transfers Tent, roll mat, sleeping bag & pillow Tips (GBP £50 per crew member recommended)

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Reykjavik
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Reykjavik

Today we all meet at the Reykjavík Campsite and a pre-departure meeting will be held at 18H00 for those who would like to attend.

An early arrival on day 1 will ensure you allow enough time to have a wander around Iceland’s colourful capital city Reykjavík which is home to some superb museums, historic buildings and lively pubs.

Dinner will be provided at the campsite this evening after the pre-departure meeting so feel free to attend and meet your fellow travellers over dinner and drinks.

Our first night will be spent camping at the Reykjavík Campsite.
Day 2 Snæfellsnes Peninsula - Kirkjufell - Berserkjahraun Lava Field - Shark Museum
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Snæfellsnes Peninsula - Kirkjufell - Berserkjahraun Lava Field - Shark Museum

We depart Reykjavík Campsite at 0800 and head north to the beautiful Snæfellsnes Peninsula where the mammoth Snæfellsjökull Glacier dominates the centre of the peninsula and offers a beautiful backdrop to the surrounding scenery.

In the morning we journey around the peninsula, first visiting the sights at Arnarstapi, where there are rock arches and basalt columns, backed by a black pebble beach, before stopping for lunch at the small fishing port of Ólafsvík.

After lunch we continue to the dramatic 463m tall Kirkjufell Mountain, walk amongst the other-worldly lava fields at Berserkjahraun and learn all about Greenland Sharks at the Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum.

Tonight we camp in Stykkishólmur.
Day 3 Westfjords - Látrabjarg Sea Cliffs - Puffins
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Westfjords - Látrabjarg Sea Cliffs - Puffins

Today we take a drive along dramatic coastal scenery to reach the remote Westfjords and Látrabjarg Sea Cliffs, Europe’s most westerly point home to millions of sea-birds including Skuas, Arctic Terns, Guillemots, Eider Ducks, Razorbills and of course the iconic Atlantic Puffins!

Tonight we camp a short distance away from the puffin nesting cliffs at a beautiful campsite close to the deserted Breiðavík beach where anyone brave enough can take a cool dip in the Atlantic Ocean.
Day 4 Westfjords - Shipwreck - Dynjandi Waterfall
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Westfjords - Shipwreck - Dynjandi Waterfall

This morning we will visit the famous Gardar BA64 shipwreck, Iceland’s oldest steel ship that was run aground here in 1981 after decades of faithful service.

The rest of the day is spent exploring the remote Westfjords, one of Iceland’s most beautiful regions and unseen by most tourists as it is so far off the beaten track.

As we hug the roads around the blue fjords we pass through numerous picturesque fishing villages and also visit Dynjandi, the largest waterfall in the Westfjords.

We end the day at a campsite close to the charming capital of the Westfjords, Ísafjörður.
Day 5 Westfjords Scenic Drive - Hólmavík Witchcraft Museum - Thermal Pools
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Westfjords Scenic Drive - Hólmavík Witchcraft Museum - Thermal Pools

Today we continue around the dramatic Westfjords coastline and have lunch in Hólmavík, a small village famous for its Witchcraft Museum.

We end the day camping in the grounds of a country hotel in Húnavellir, close to Blönduós, where you have the option to have a dip in a thermal pool.
Day 6 Tröllaskagi Peninsula - Scenic Route 76 - Akureyri
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Tröllaskagi Peninsula - Scenic Route 76 - Akureyri

We start the day by travelling around the Tröllaskagi Peninsula on Route 76 which is rated as one of Iceland’s most picturesque drives with dramatic coastal and mountain scenery.

At lunchtime we arrive at Iceland’s ‘capital of the north’ Akureyri and have the rest of the day to explore the city’s museums & gardens or just relax in the old town sipping locally brewed craft beer and sampling some of Iceland’s best cuisine.

Tonight we camp close to Akureyri.
Day 7 Goðafoss Waterfall - Lake Mývatn - Hverfjall Volcano Crater
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Goðafoss Waterfall - Lake Mývatn - Hverfjall Volcano Crater

Not far out of Akureyri we spend an hour at the impressive Goðafoss waterfall before continuing to Lake Mývatn, the undisputed gem of the northeast with a landscape full of spluttering mud-pots, weird lava formations, steaming fumaroles and volcanic craters.

Our journey around Lake Mývatn includes stops at Skútustaðagígar craters, lava pillars at Höfði, Dimmuborgir lava fields, Hverfjall volcano crater and Grjótagjá lava caves.

We end the day close to the shores of Lake Mývatn where you have the option to spend the afternoon relaxing at the Nature Baths, the Blue Lagoon of the North.

We will spend tonight camping close to Reykjahlíð village.
Day 8 Lake Mývatn - Central Highlands - Askja Caldera
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Lake Mývatn - Central Highlands - Askja Caldera

Today you have a free day to relax at Lake Mývatn or you have the option of travelling by 4x4 into the Central Highlands to visit one of Iceland’s most spectacular sights, Askja caldera, a sulphur-blue lake born out of the cataclysmic volcanic eruption in 1875. The nearby Viti crater offers the option for a geothermal swim. The journey to Askja takes you through an area that was used by NASA during training for the Apollo program, to prepare astronauts for the lunar missions. This stark, barren and otherworldly landscape is one of Iceland’s many dramatic and unique scenes, and it won’t take long to appreciate why NASA used the area.

We will spend tonight camping close to Reykjahlíð village.

Those who do not wish to do the whale watching tour can spend the day exploring the small town of Husavik, a pretty fishing town with an interesting whale & exploration museum.

We spend tonight camping in the town of Husavik.
Day 9 Hverir Geothermal Area - Krafla Caldera - Húsavík Whale Watching
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Hverir Geothermal Area - Krafla Caldera - Húsavík Whale Watching

This morning we will visit the Hverir geothermal area where we spend an hour walking through a truly unique orangy-red landscape of fumaroles, large mud pools and steam vents.

We continue to the impressive Krafla caldera, a beautiful sight in a region of extreme geothermal activity where you can walk up to the crater rim and look down into the turquoise waters within the crater.

A couple of hours away on the north coast we reach the town of Húsavík, undeniably the best place in Iceland to go whale watching. Those who wish to see these magnificent creatures up close can spend the afternoon whale watching on a boat tour where you have the chance to see humpbacks, minke and blue whales.

Those who do not wish to do the whale watching tour can spend the day exploring the small town of Húsavík, a pretty fishing town with an interesting whale & exploration museum.

We will spend tonight camping in the town of Húsavík.
Day 10 Dettifoss & Selfoss Waterfalls - Seyðisfjörður
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Dettifoss & Selfoss Waterfalls - Seyðisfjörður

Today we will drive through the Vatnajökull National Park, to visit a huge canyon that ends at Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss. Standing on the edge overlooking this gushing torrent is an experience not to be missed!

Just upstream from Dettifoss you will find Selfoss waterfall, well-worth the half hour trek for outstanding views.

In the afternoon we will continue to Seyðisfjörður, a picturesque little town in eastern Iceland situated at the end of a fjord surrounded by steep mountains and famed for its rainbow street. The town is a step back in time and is crammed with 19th century timber buildings, quaint coffee shops and traditional restaurants.

We will spend this evening camping in the heart of Seyðisfjörður.
Day 11 Gufufoss - Vestrahorn - Höfn
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Gufufoss - Vestrahorn - Höfn

This morning we will stop to see the beautiful Gufufoss waterfall before we take the scenic route through the mountains to reach the south coast.

We will stop for lunch in the small fishing village of Djúpivogur, a pretty village nestled on the side of a fjord. From here, we continue the drive along Iceland’s spectacular eastfjords, eventually reaching one of the country’s most iconic sights, Vestrahorn. On a clear day you can see this majestic mountain range rising out of the sea to produce one of the most stunning vistas on the island!

Further along the coast we reach the town of Höfn, where we spend the night.
Day 12 Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon - Hofskirkja - Skaftafell National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon - Hofskirkja - Skaftafell National Park

Driving along this part of the south coast we have a good chance of spotting wild reindeer before reaching one of Iceland’s most iconic sights, the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Here you have the option to take a boat trip amongst the ancient icebergs and walk along Diamond Beach, a stretch of black sand littered with icebergs.

Further along the coast we encounter the fairytale-like church of Hofskirkja, the last turf church ever built in Iceland.

Our final destination today is Skaftafell National Park where we will spend 2 nights camping to allow us enough time to visit this amazing area of outstanding beauty.
Day 13 Skaftafell National Park - Hiking - Glacier Trekking
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Skaftafell National Park - Hiking - Glacier Trekking

Today is a great day to get your hiking boots on and hit one of Skaftafell’s many hiking trails that lead to incredible views of glaciers, waterfalls and mountains. The more adventurous can put on their crampons and go glacier trekking. The less adventurous can kick back and enjoy a cold beer with a magnificent view.

We will spend this evening camping in Skaftafell National Park.
Day 14 Vík - Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach - Skógafoss Waterfall - Geysir
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Vík - Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach - Skógafoss Waterfall - Geysir

From Skaftafell we continue to the remote seaside village of Vík where you have time to shop for some Icelandic souvenirs before heading over the hill to the world-famous Reynisfjara black sand beach. Enormous basalt stacks, dramatic rock arches, roaring Atlantic waves and stunning panoramas make this one of the world’s most highly rated non-tropical beaches and a great place for us to have lunch.

This afternoon we continue to the spectacular Skógafoss waterfall, one of Iceland’s largest and most famous.

Later in the day we also visit Seljalandsfoss, a unique waterfall distinguished by the fact that you can fully encircle the falls via a path that leads you behind the cascading water and out the other side.

At the end of the day we reach Geysir, the place after which all other geysers are named, where we spend the night at a campsite with a view over a steaming landscape.
Day 15 Gullfoss Waterfall - Geysir - Þingvellir National Park - Grindavík
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Gullfoss Waterfall - Geysir - Þingvellir National Park - Grindavík

We start the day with a visit to Iceland’s most iconic waterfall, Gullfoss. This powerful waterfall plummets down 32 metres in 2 stages into a rugged canyon, an awesome spectacle.

A short drive away we now visit Geysir where you have time to wander through an extraordinary landscape of bubbling hot springs and steaming fumaroles. The geysers have been active for perhaps 800 years and still erupt regularly enough for you to get a natural geothermal shower during your visit!

We continue to Þingvellir National Park where the American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet to form an incredible fissured rift valley. This is also Iceland’s most important historic site where the vikings established the world’s first democratic parliament.

We end the day at Grindavík, a beautiful Icelandic fishing town on the south coast of the Reykjanes Peninsula where we camp near the town centre. If the weather is good we may decide to visit the active Fagradalsfjall volcano this evening.

PLEASE NOTE: This last night at Grindavík is subject to change depending on the volcanic activity in the area.
Day 16 Fagradalsfjall Active Volcano - Reykjavík
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Fagradalsfjall Active Volcano - Reykjavík

We start the final day of the tour with a visit to the active Fagradalsfjall volcano which has been erupting intermittently since early 2021. A 20 minute walk takes us up to the steaming lava fields where you can see a valley filled with molten rock and the scars of where it flooded down the valley sides. This is a once in a lifetime experience you will never forget!

Our tour ends upon arrival back in Reykjavík in the mid-afternoon. Accommodation is not provided tonight as many people fly home today but should you wish to spend tonight in Reykjavik you are welcome to stay at the Reykjavík campsite where the tour officially ends. For anyone who does stay in Reykjavík tonight we usually have a group farewell dinner at a local restaurant close to the campsite.
Day 17 Day 17: Fagradalsfjall Active Volcano - Reykjavik
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 17: Fagradalsfjall Active Volcano - Reykjavik

We start the final day of the tour with a visit to the active Fagradalsfjall volcano which has been erupting intermittently since early 2021. A 2 hour hike past steaming lava fields brings you to a viewpoint over the active volcano where you can see glowing magma erupting out of a fissure and flowing down to the valleys below. This is a once in a lifetime experience you will never forget!

Our tour ends upon arrival back in Reykjavik in the early afternoon. Accommodation is not provided tonight as many people fly home today but should you wish to spend tonight in Reykjavik you are welcome to stay at the Reykjavik campsite where the tour officially ends. For anyone who does stay in Reykjavik tonight we usually have a group farewell dinner at a local restaurant close to the campsite.

+14

16 days tour

Iceland Group Overland Tour

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Iceland Group Overland Tour

Reykjavik

Snæfellsnes Peninsula - Kirkjufell - Berserkjahraun Lava Field - Shark Museum

Westfjords - Látrabjarg Sea Cliffs - Puffins

Westfjords - Shipwreck - Dynjandi Waterfall

Westfjords Scenic Drive - Hólmavík Witchcraft Museum - Thermal Pools

Tröllaskagi Peninsula - Scenic Route 76 - Akureyri

Goðafoss Waterfall - Lake Mývatn - Hverfjall Volcano Crater

Lake Mývatn - Central Highlands - Askja Caldera

Hverir Geothermal Area - Krafla Caldera - Húsavík Whale Watching

Dettifoss & Selfoss Waterfalls - Seyðisfjörður

Gufufoss - Vestrahorn - Höfn

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon - Hofskirkja - Skaftafell National Park

Skaftafell National Park - Hiking - Glacier Trekking

Vík - Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach - Skógafoss Waterfall - Geysir

Gullfoss Waterfall - Geysir - Þingvellir National Park - Grindavík

Fagradalsfjall Active Volcano - Reykjavík

Day 17: Fagradalsfjall Active Volcano - Reykjavik

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