Iceland review - 2015, Qupperneq 89

ICELAND REVIEW 87
Iceland On Your Own is Reykjavik Excursions’ and SBA Norðurleið’s
joint bus passport scheme. It allows you to travel almost wherever
you want in Iceland, whenever you want.
In remote East Iceland this means you can hop on and off
scheduled coach services and explore the dozens of different
fjords at will. In fact, there’s nothing to stop you exploring them
one per day and traveling the short distance in between by coach,
if you really want to. Total freedom.
This freedom comes with the security of knowing exactly when
the next coach will be along, where it is going, and that you have
already paid to use it—but also that you aren’t losing any money
if you decide to stay where you are for another day. This sort of
freedom and security is invaluable in very sparsely populated areas
like beautiful East Iceland.
Iceland On Your Own offers a variety of different coach
passports, as well as the possibility to buy individual tickets online,
at booking offices, or directly from the driver.
The Circle Passport is increasingly popular and allows you to
travel either clockwise or anti-clockwise around the country,
taking in many of the greatest natural attractions along the way.
This passport is not to be confused with a simple Ring Road trip,
as it deliberately takes the spectacular Highland route between
Reykjavík and Akureyri—something few people in rental cars ever
get to see. The passport is valid for one circuit of the country
and it doesn’t matter how long you take or how many stops you
choose to make.
The Highlights Passport is another popular choice. Aptly named,
it lets you go almost wherever you like. With a particular emphasis
on the Highlands and South Iceland, the pass also stretches out
east to places like the unforgettable Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon,
Dettifoss waterfall and other gems in Vatnajökull National Park.
With this passport you simply choose between the 7, 9, 11, 13
or 15-day options and then you are free to travel wherever you
like, whichever direction you like, however many times you like.
It’s that simple.
Iceland On Your Own offers easy online or in-person ticket
purchase and pick-up service, clean, comfortable and safe
coaches, guaranteed seats, automatic GPS-activated audio
guides so you don’t miss anything good, and 10 percent off many
other coach routes not included in your particular passport that
you desperately want to travel.
ioyo.is
ICELAND ON YOUR OWN
Finally, there is a way of combining the peace-of-mind of coach travel with
the thrill of total freedom—and it’s called Iceland On Your Own.
WELCOME TO NORÐFJÖRÐUR
Clockwise from top left: Dettifoss waterfall; a puffin in Papey; taking pictures at Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon; Hverarönd geothermal area.
SPECIAL PROMOTION
THE PEACEFUL EAST