Iceland is well-known for its rough terrain, erratic weather, and breathtaking natural scenery.
Choosing the most suitable rental car for your vacation is therefore crucial to guaranteeing a secure and happy experience.
Here is a guide on how to pick the ideal rental car in Iceland for all weather and seasonal situations.
The size of your group is the most important factor to take into account when selecting a rental car. A tiny car can be enough if you're going alone or with only one other person. Nevertheless, if you're taking a larger group, you might want to think about renting an SUV or a van.
You should pick a car with four-wheel drive if you intend to travel on dirt roads or over mountainous areas. On slick roads and rough terrain, this will provide you with more traction and control.
The kind of rental car you should select depends on the season you visit Iceland.
You'll want a car with heating to keep you warm during the winter and winter tires installed.
To stay comfortable on hot days during the summer, you might wish to purchase a car with air conditioning.
Off-road driving is absolutely forbidden in Iceland, and violators risk severe fines.
Before renting from a certain rental company, make cautious to review any limits on where you can drive their vehicles.
Accidents can occur, therefore being ready is crucial.
Make sure to review the insurance plan offered by the rental business and pick one that offers full protection in the event of an accident or damage to the car.
In Þórsmörk, there are a variety of short and long hikes that may last anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 hours to as long as 6 hours or more.
Each hike offers a distinct perspective and degree of challenge.
But, as the carrot at the end, they all share stunning scenery and breathtaking views.
Following are some excellent guides that you can hike in Þórsmörk:
Finally, before selecting a rental automobile, think about your luggage requirements.
A larger vehicle, such as an SUV or van, may be required if you are traveling with a lot of luggage or equipment.
Háifoss, which drops 128 meters (420 feet), is one of Iceland's tallest and most impressive waterfalls.
Its name can be translated as "The Tall Falls "Sitting in a narrow gorge leading into the Iceland Highland
from the valley Þjórsárdalur,
through which the river Fossá "Waterfall river" flows.
Falling off a two-million-year-old cliff your breath will be taken away by the overpowering majesty of this spot, which is surrounded by rocky terrain with dark colors.
Traveling east from Reykjavik, follow the Ring Road route 1.
Once you've passed through the town of Selfoss you'll turn left onto Road 30 and drive that road for about 16km.
Then you turn right onto Road 32, and follow this road for 17km to reach the magnificent valley of Þórsárdalur and up a hill to the highlands.
Keep an eye out for a sign on your left into road 332, where a rocky mountain path will lead you to the waterfall.
A 4X4 vehicle is required to get you to Háifoss.If your vehicle only has 2WD Read the following passage
.GPS: 64.207986, -19.686853
The final section of the F-road 332 is extremely difficult for 2WD vehicles, thus you should not even try it.
It would likely cause damage to your automobile and cancel your insurance at the same time.
Instead, you can leave your 2WD car at the Gljásteinn Hólaskógur Hostel and walk the remaining distance to the waterfall.
This is the nearest place to the waterfall where you can park.
A reasonable pace will allow you to trek to the waterfall in 1 to 1.5 hours from the parking lot of the hostel, which is about 5.7 kilometers (3.5 miles) away.
The road is primarily level during this distance, in a moderate incline.
GPS: 64.169510, -19.675696
Aldeyjarfoss is located in North Iceland's Skjálfandafljót river in the uppermost parts of the Bardardalur valley, along the Sprengisandur highland road.
It plunges tons of glacial water, and debris into a turbulent, pool of glacial water at a 20-meter drop, passing through a small canyon surrounded by twisted basalt columns.
It is a spectacular sight due to its power, rumbles, enormous basalt columns, and proximity, yet the waterfall's nature overpowers whatever aesthetic appeal it could have.
Since Aldeyjarfoss is close to Goðafoss waterfall, we'll provide you instructions from there so you can get there whether you're coming from Reykjavik, Egilsstaðir, or Akureyri.
If you need better instructions, check out Goðafoss.
First, we must advise that you are sure your rental car—preferably a 4X4—is permitted to go on F-roads (2WD can be enough on a dry summer day)Take Route 842 from Godafoss and follow the river up for about 40 kilometers.
This gravel road in the Bárðardalur valley is rugged although the drive is straightforward, take caution since there are sheep scurrying about.
At the Mýri farm, turn left and continue road F26 until you reach the waterfall.
If it is not a dry summer day, you will probably require a 4X4 to go all the way to the waterfall from here.
If you don't have a four-wheel drive and the conditions appear shady, you may park here and walk the rest of the way.
It should take roughly 40 minutes.
GPS: 65.366564, -17.336951
Close to Aldeyjarfoss, there is a camping ground and a guesthouse to choose from.
Hamrar Camping ground offers all of the basic accessories, such as a washing machine, a kitchen area, a toilet, and a variety of showers and other facilities.
In addition, it offers electricity, a playground, and boat rentals.
Hamrar GPS: 65.670339, -18.100232
Kiðagil Guesthouse, which is a lovely stay in Bárðadalur, is perfect for people seeking a peaceful atmosphere.
Basic amenities including free WIFI, TV room and breakfast.
Kiðagil GPS: 65.519096, -17.458861
You've probably seen photos of this iconic moss-green mountain rising like an emerald pyramid from the black sands of Mælifellssandur in the Icelandic highlands.
This 791-meter-tall volcano was hidden beneath Mýrdalsjökull glacier, Iceland's third biggest glacier, until the glacier retreated at the end of the last ice age, or about 10,000 years ago.
Because of this natural wonder's beauty and photogenic qualities, tourist visits have increased significantly recently, and it has also appeared in movies like Noah and the television show Game of Thrones.
Mælifell is only accessible during the summer months.
Due to impassable F-roads, they are normally only open from June to September.
Keep in mind that due to the numerous river crossings and extremely rough terrain, these F-roads are only possible in a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
That being said, if you rent a car in Reykjavik, the journey takes about three and a half hours or 184km (115 miles).
You drive east on Route 1 of the Ring Road.
Pass through Selfoss, and when you reach Hvolsvöllur, turn left onto Route 261.
Follow this road until it passes the Þórsmörk Nature Reserve, then turn right onto Route F-210.
You will start to see the green pyramid on your left as you travel down that route.
GPS: 63.799827, -18.938369
Langjökull Glacier is Iceland's second-largest glacier.
Hence its name "The Long Glacier" it is not very wide, but covers 950 square kilometers, with a height of mind-boggling 1355 meters (4445 ft).
As a never-ending source of adventure, Langjökull is a popular tourist destination in Iceland, explorable by Super Jeeps or Snowmobiles, and typically includes excursions to captivating Ice Caves, as well as many skiing and hiking possibilities.
The most common route to Langjökull is through the Gullfoss waterfall as an extension of the Golden Circle route.
And what better way to round off a great day than with a snowmobiling adventure on the glacier?
The drive takes About 2 hours and 30 minutes or 159km (100 miles).
From Reykjavik, you go north on Route 1 of the Ring Road through Mosfellsbær, where you take the first exit off the last roundabout to reach Þingvellir National Park.
After crossing the Þingvallavatn Lake, turn left onto 365 Road; continue on this route until you reach Laugarvatn; at this point, it becomes road 37.
This will lead you to the Geysir geothermal region and the Gullfoss waterfall.
As you pass Gullfoss, the route turns into F-road 35.
From this point, the road gets rougher and climbs to Langjökull on your left.
GPS: 64.557938, -19.994015
Langjökull is an ice cave wonderland, with various caverns to select from at all seasons.Ice caves change constantly due to weather and other causes, and can be dangerous if not approached correctly.
It's crucial to hire a local guide if you intend to visit Langjökull in order to guarantee that you're not alone and that you're safe.
Langjökull also features the world's largest man-made ice cave construction.
It enables visitors to explore the area's natural beauty and gain a better understanding of the glacier's processes and beauty in all seasons even when other natural ice caves are unavailable.
Combining that journey with a glacier snowmobile ride is a popular option for making a stylish entrance to the Ice cave.
Langjökull is truly the heart of Iceland, touching on various aspects of Icelandic infrastructure.
Being the primary source of water to several of Iceland's most well-known waterfalls and having an impact on many more.
Waterfalls like Gullfoss, Hraunfossar, and Barnafoss all share Langjökull as their source of water in common as well as Hvítá river.
Even the enormous lake Þingvallavatn gets its water from Langjökull glacier, which includes the Silfra fissure, which was filled with glacial meltwater after filtering through a porous lava field for around 100 to 200 years.
This makes the water crystal clear and explaines the incredible visibility.
Many people are surprised that the glacier feeds the rift because Silfra and Langjökull are more than 50 kilometers away (31 miles).
Askja is situated in the Ódáðahraun lava field's caldera, a massive, desert area that is around 5,000 km2 in size.
When a lava chamber under the Earth's surface filled with molten rock and its ceiling fell during a volcanic eruption, the Askja, a sizable subsidence cauldron, was created.
This region is part of Iceland's national park.
Driving to Askja may be an exciting adventure that you should not take lightly.
Askja may be reached via several different roads, all of which require you to cross rivers.
Because of the terrain and the frequent river crossings, you'll need at least a medium-sized 4x4 to get around.
In some cases, you even need a super jeep 4X4 vehicle with enough clearance and a snorkel.
We'll go through the safest routes below, but remember to always Make sure you check the weather and road conditions before traveling to Askja.
In certain situations, rivers can quadruple in size, making them sometimes impassable.
