4x4 vehicle in front of vulcano Eyjafjallajökull in spring 2010

Iceland Summer Trophy

Self Drive Tour with Guide between 63°N - 66°N! Date: 21 AUG - 28 AUG 2012

The Iceland Trophy Summer Edition 2012 is a self-drive tour showing Iceland off the beaten track. The tour takes you mostly to places in uninhabited areas of Iceland far away from civilization. On adventurous trails participants use modified 4x4 self-drive vehicles (Land Rover Defender 110, bigger tires 38", Snorkel, VHF radio intercommunication, GPS, air compressor) which were especially designed for demanding terrain. On this tour participants discover the Icelandic highlands and see for instance glaciers, black deserts, waterfalls, nature baths, volcanoes and lava fields. However we have also included some well know destinations like, National Park Thingvellir, hot spring Geysir and waterfall Gullfoss. We will cross Iceland through the highlands to the area north of glacier Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier and explore this barren moon landscape. The travelers are accompanied by a professional driver guide ensuring safety and giving them detailed information about the country, its nature and culture. During the tour you stay in remote huts and cook your own meals with the help of your driver guide. At the end of the tour all participants gather up for a goodbye dinner in a restaurant and receive a certificate stating that they have successfully taken part in the challenging Iceland Trophy Summer Edition.

Day 1: Arrival

Flight to Iceland and transfer from Keflavik airport to Reykjavik. Check - in at your accomodation in Reykjavik. Use the day to explore Iceland`s capital by your own, check out bars, restaurants and the vibrant nightlife of Iceland`s capital..

Day 2: Golden Circle with a highland touch - Hveravellir

Our Iceland Trophy staff will pick you up in the morning from your hotel in Reykjavík and bring you to our headquarters. Before the tour starts we will hold a briefing on off-road techniques and driving skills in Iceland, the car equipment as well as discussing the schedule of the tour. We board the Defenders driving out of town towards the famous sights of National Park Thingvellir. North of there we will encounter the first rough terrain close to the mountain Hlöðufell and turn into Linuvegur track close to Langjökull glacier where we get acquainted with our utility vehicles. We visit the Geysir area with ever-spouting Strokkur and the majestic waterfall Gullfoss, and having seen these sights we make our way into the interior. We stay overnight in the mountain huts of Hveravellir and enjoy a bbq dinner in the mountains. After dinner we suggest you relax and treat yourself with a cold drink in the nature bath just outside the hut.

Day 3: Eyfirdingavegur north of Hofsjökull

We leave the mountain track Kjölur behind and turn onto the trail Eyfirdingavegur north of Hofsjökull, a hardly ever travelled road with a tough crossing at the river Blanda and more rivers ahead. The highland expertise of our Iceland Trophy staff will get you safely through these waters. We pass the hut Ingolfsskali and stay overnight in the mountain hut in Laugafell. We enjoy the evening in the great outdoors and take a bath in the warm and natural geothermal pool.

Day 4: Sprengisandur – Mödrudalsöraefi

We leave Laugafell behind and drive with our convoy onto the historic track Sprengisandur and down Bardardalur valley back to civilization. We will pass the beautiful lake Mývatn before coming to Mödrudalsöraefi plateau where we find our accommodation at Mödrudalur, Iceland’s highest farm over sea level.

Day 5: Kverkfjöll

We begin the day with a stop at Saenautasel a restored 19th century’s heath cottage and visit Laugavalladalur where we have the unique opportunity to take a natural shower in a geothermal waterfall. We visit the breathtaking canyons Hafrahvammagljufur close to the huge hydropower dam at Karahnjukar before we venture towards the mountain range and geothermal area Kverkfjöll, at the north eastern edge of glacier Vatnajökull. Once there we have a hike to an ice cave and we stay one night at the Kverkfjöll hut.

Day 6: Askja and Southern Gaesavatnaleid

We leave Kverkfjöll and drive north to Askja crater. We go for a hike up to the crater visiting Öskjuvatn and those, who dare, take a warm bath in the crater of Viti (Hell). From there we take the rough trail Southern Gaesavatnaleid which leads us adventurously along the edge of Vatnajökull over the challenging „Flaedur“, the origin of the river Jökulsa a Fjöllum again into Sprengisandur route. Here we stay overnight at the close-by hut Nyjidalur.

Day 7: Thjorsardalur - Reykjavik

We follow the Sprengisandur route down to Thjórsárdalur where road number one takes us back towards Reykjavík, stopping on the way for beautiful sites like Gjain “The Gorge” and Hjalparfoss waterfall. We turn back to our vehicles and drive down to the seashore restaurant Fjörubordið and enjoy a lobster meal together before heading back to Reykjavík. Drop off at your accommodation in Reykjavik.

Day 8: Departure

Shuttle to Keflavik International Airport and individual flight back to the UK.

Weather- and roadconditions may affect the choice of the route taken!

Dates + Prices

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