Reykjavík: capital city. Hotspot. Harbour charm.
Welcome to Reykjavík, the world’s northernmost capital. Colourful streets, low-rise houses, village charm and hipster flair: immerse yourself in one of the most compact, sustainable and extraordinary cities on earth. We bet that Reykjavík will have won a place in your heart even before you check in at the hotel “The Reykjavik EDITION” in the harbour, right next to the world-famous glass Harpa concert hall.
After the drivers' briefing, the hotel’s picture-perfect rooftop terrace beckons with an excellent aperitif – and a breathtaking panoramic view of the harbour, the sea and the mountains. The icing on the cake of your arrival day: a spectacular Welcome Dinner featuring regional delicacies.
Reykjavík, Thingvellir National Park, Nesjavellir: walk between continents.
First breakfast with a sea view – first driving day in the Porsche Cayenne Electric. After the introduction to the vehicles, you will drive along the coast to the sparkling “Hvalfjörður”, one of the country’s largest fjords. At the “Hvammsvik Nature Resort”, with its hot springs, you will take a leisurely break for photos and a coffee. Once you have captured those picture-perfect shots, the focus returns to the joy of driving as you continue northwards: a deep-blue fjord to your left, endless rocky landscapes to your right.
Next stop: the village of “Borgarnes”, home to 2,000 residents, where you will be treated to authentic Icelandic cuisine and fresh, local ingredients. During a lunchtime stroll in the Thingvellir National Park, you will marvel at the meeting point of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates and literally walk between the continents. As unforgettable as your destination for the day: the “ION Adventure Hotel”, set amidst a surreal landscape of lava and geothermal features. You round off the day with an aperitif, a fabulous dinner and a breathtaking view.
Nesjavellir, Bláskógabyggð, Haukadalur: wonderfully quirky Iceland.
After breakfast, you will set off for the first highlight of the day’s tour: the “Hellisheiði” geothermal power station, one of the largest of its kind in the world. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of sustainable energy generation. High voltage guaranteed. Afterwards, you will sample fragrant rye bread at a geothermal bakery – fresh from the ground. Uniquely Icelandic.
Fancy some more extravagant culinary delights? Head to the family-run, legendary “Friðheimar” farm. Treat yourself to homemade tomato specialities and a wonderfully flavourful lunch menu. Right in the middle of the greenhouse. Your final jaunt of the day ends at the “Hótel Geysir” by the famous “Strokkur”, which erupts every 6 to 10 minutes. You can do that too. You will fly by helicopter to the glacier, where an ice cave is waiting to be explored. Back at the hotel, fine delicacies are served – along with important information about tomorrow’s off-road adventure.
Haukadalur, Kerlingarfjöll, Haukadalur: off-road, over rivers and rocks.
First off-road driving day. The roads are becoming more challenging. The driving pleasure more intense. On your journey north into the Icelandic highlands, you will soon realise that the Porsche Cayenne Electric also performs impressively even away from tarmacked roads. You will navigate the varied landscape of the central highland region of “Kerlingarfjöll” with ease. If Thor is on your side and the weather cooperates, you will be treated to breathtaking views of the Langjökull glacier.
Scree, potholes and thrilling river crossings – whatever lies beyond the next hilltop or bend, you can rely on your electric companion’s off-road capabilities without a doubt. At the luxury “Highland Base Hotel”, treat yourself to an exquisite lunch and sublime views. On the return journey to the hotel, weather permitting, a photo stop at the famous “Gullfoss” waterfall awaits you. After arriving at “Hótel Geysir”, there will still be plenty of time to admire the spectacular display of the “Strokkur” geyser.
Haukadalur, Landmannalaugar, Hvolsvöllur: amidst colourful mountains and hot springs.
Today, we head south off-road through the Icelandic highlands. In the “Landmannalaugar” geothermal nature reserve, you will be amazed as you make your way through the rhyolite mountains, lava fields and hot springs. A breathtakingly surreal spectacle of colour. When the imaginary lunch bell rings, you will take your seat in a vintage school bus and enjoy an authentic light lunch in a truly distinctive setting. These charming classic vehicles blend surprisingly harmoniously into the surreal landscape. Afterwards, a walk or a dip in a hot spring is on the agenda.
As you journey south, the drive-in cinema experience continues. Starring: the mighty Mýrdalsjökull glacier, the pitch-black sand plains, the rugged south coast and your Porsche Cayenne Electric. The infamous Eyjafjallajökull ensures a cinematic finale to your off-road adventure, complete with heroic river crossings. At “UMI Hotel”, you will enjoy a wonderful dinner as well as a breathtaking view of the fiery colossus that, back in 2010, brought Europe’s air traffic to a standstill.
Hvolsvöllur, Stokkseyri, Grindavík: a day full of spine-tingling moments.
After the adrenaline-fuelled off-road experience of the past few days, you switch back to sport mode – on roads that are actually recognisable as such. Yet it remains spectacular. The next iconic landmark soon comes into view in front of your windscreen: the remains of the US Navy DC-3 aircraft that made an emergency landing here in 1973. Thanks to a special permit, you can drive right up to within a few metres of the wreckage, glistening in the black lava sand – and marvel at the post-apocalyptic-looking scenery from the comfort of the driver's seat
The next highlight is not long in coming: “Seljalandsfoss” is one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls and a short footpath lets you walk right round it. A fabulous experience that is a real rarity. Over lunch at the langoustine restaurant “Fjöruborðið”, you will feast on the very finest seafood – right by the sea. The only thing to top it all off is a festive Farewell Dinner featuring Michelin-starred cuisine at the legendary hotel “The Retreat at Blue Lagoon”. A dream in blue.
Grindavík: your blue marvel as you wave farewell.
Just 20 kilometres separate the hotel “The Retreat at Blue Lagoon” from Keflavík Airport. And yet your return flight still feels light years away. Over your final breakfast, you will gaze pensively at the bizarre landscape of black lava fields, which contrast spectacularly with the milky-turquoise waters of the lagoon. And all around, steam rises into the air. The perfect setting to lose yourself once more in your fondest travel memories from the past few days.
And so the morning slips by as you drift off into a dreamlike state. This breathtaking experience is guaranteed to remain a cherished memory for the rest of your life. Just like the many other magical Icelandic experiences on this trip.
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The travel route at a glance.
