Luxury Iceland Road Trip

Your journey begins, of course, in Iceland’s iconic capital, Reykjavik. The first leg of your journey is a great opportunity to rest up and enjoy a few creature comforts before you venture a little further off the beaten track, and you’ll have ample opportunity to do just that at your hotel, the stylish Apotek Hotel. A contemporary hotel housed in a historic pharmacy building, it encapsulates the mixture of history and contemporary culture which makes Reykjavik such an exciting place – and its central location makes it perfect for exploring the city for yourself.

Highlights nearby include the imposing Hallgrimskirkja, a Lutheran church and icon of Icelandic architecture; the more humble National Cathedral; and the Reykjavik City Hall. The bustling shopping district of Laugavegur is right on your doorstep, too.

Picking up your car, you’ll embark on the scenic drive to Iceland’s southern coast, where your experience of the country’s famously striking landscapes begins in Vik. Some of the natural wonders around this seafront village include Dyrholaey, a dramatic sea arch home to puffins and other sea birds; Reynisfjara, a striking black beach; and Reynisdrangur, a huge formation of basalt columns which rise impressively into the air from the end of the sand.

You’ll spend two nights at Icelandair Hotel Vik, a comfortable contemporary hotel whose restaurant offers fantastic gourmet Icelandic cuisine. A range of tours depart from the hotel, although it’s perfectly possible to set out on your own and explore the region with your 4x4. Other attractions nearby include the Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls.

After two nights in Vik, it’s time to hit the road again and make for Hof, a region of unspoilt farmland in south-eastern Iceland. Your home for the night is Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon, which – as the name suggests – is just the place for exploring the famous Glacier Lagoon, a beautiful lake dotted with glacial icebergs. The other star attraction in this part of the country is the Vatnajokull National Park, home to the mighty glacier of the same name as well as the Svartifoss and Skaftafell waterfalls. Vatnajokull is the largest glacier in Europe, and incredibly takes up almost one tenth of Iceland itself: exploring it by snowmobile, jeep, or even on foot is a remarkable experience.

Next up, you continue your journey east to the town of Seydisfjordur, in Iceland’s spectacular Eastfjords region. Unsurprisingly, this area is characterised by its scenic fjords, and exploring them on a boat trip is a must on this leg of your journey. Seydisfjordur’s natural beauty has long attracted artists of all stripes, and today the town is, perhaps surprisingly, something of a creative hotspot – head to the Skaftfell Cultural Centre to check out some of the work of local artists. You’ll spend a night here at Hotel Aldan, a restored 19^th-century hotel which retains its heritage status in its traditional décor.

The next leg of your road trip sees you heading for northern Iceland, and the unspoilt wilderness of the Myvatn region. Lake Myvatn, which gives the area its name, is often described as the ‘Blue Lagoon of the North’, and it offers similar opportunities to bathe in geothermal waters without the crowds of Reykjavik’s famous attraction. Other highlights include Dimmuborgir, a complex of huge lava cliffs and rock formations, and the huge Krafla caldera, which last erupted back in the 1970s.

Your home for two nights in Myvatn is Hotel Laxa, a stylish and modern retreat with fantastic regional food. The hotel’s remote location means clear skies and quiet nights – perfect for basking in the famous Midnight Sun during the summer months (although you still might want to wrap up warm!)

On the penultimate stop of your journey, you’ll head further west and back to the coast, as you make for the seaside town of Blonduos. You’ll spend the night here at Brimslod Atelier, a family-run cottage-style hotel where good food is very much on the agenda. Owners Inga and Gisli are passionate about Icelandic cuisine, and have even released their own cookbooks on foraging and cooking. Under their guidance, you’ll experience a slice of traditional Icelandic country life, learning all about how people here have sourced, preserved and prepared their food since time immemorial. You’ll also have the opportunity to hike, cycle and fish in the unspoilt countryside, before coming home to spend the night in a cosy rustic cabin.

Your adventure ends on Iceland’s western coast, in the fishing village of Stykkisholmur on the beautiful Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Here, you’ll have more opportunities to explore the stunning fjords, which are dotted with tiny islands and remote villages; skiing, snowmobiling or even hiking on the majestic Snaefellsjokull glacier are all on offer too. It’s even possible to explore an 8000-year-old lava tube, Vatnshellir, which tunnels underneath the glacier. In the town itself, there’s a surprising amount of cultural activities on offer, from art installations at the Library of Water to the exhibits of the Volcano Museum. At the Shark Museum you can even sample fermented shark, and other delicacies of so-called ‘Viking sushi’. After two nights enjoying the tastes, sight and sounds of the Westfjords from your stylish base at Hotel Egilsen, where you'll be treated to some traditional Icelandic cuisine, your journey reaches its end, and you’ll fly home.