Iceland review - 2015, Page 103

ICELAND REVIEW 101
An excellent way of enjoying the highlands
is with the Iceland On Your Own coach
passport, provided jointly by Reykjavík
Excursions and SBA Norðurleið. The pass lets
you travel almost anywhere you like, as much as
you like, and whenever you like.
EXPLORING THE HIGHLANDS
In the vast, uninhabited highlands this means you
can ride scheduled coach services and explore
the equal-parts strange, breathtaking, eerie, and
majestic landscape at your leisure. There’s loads
to see and experience in Iceland’s unique interior
and you could lose yourself in calm contempla-
tion. But thanks to the reliable coach service, you
won’t get lost in real life.
Most highland routes close in autumn, winter,
and spring—but provide a world of exploration in
summertime; aided by knowing exactly when the
next coach will get to you, where it’s headed, and
that your Iceland On Your Own pass means you
can climb aboard without paying the driver. Stay
a night or two in a beautiful spot, hike from one
location to another, or cram your agenda with
destinations, all for the same price.
SEVEN DIFFERENT PASSPORTS
There are seven different Iceland On Your Own
passports, all giving access to at least some part
of the highlands. But if the interior of Iceland is
your priority, the Highland Circle Passport is for
you. With it you can make one circular loop of the
highlands, taking the Sprengisandur and Kjölur
routes—and it’s up to you in which order.
The Highland Circle allows you to hike or
bike your way around pearls like Skaftafell in
Vatnajökull National Park, Landmannalaugar geo-
thermal area and hot springs, Kerlingarfjöll moun-
tains, and Lake Mývatn.
The Highlights Passport is another popular
choice. With an emphasis on the highlands
and South Iceland, the pass lets you take the
Sprengisandur and Kjölur routes, but also stretch-
es southeast to places like Jökulsárlón glacial
lagoon, and northeast to Dettifoss waterfall and
Húsavík—the whale watching capital of Europe.
With the Highlights Passport you just need to
choose between the 7, 9, 11, 13 or 15-day ver-
sions, and then you’re free to travel wherever you
like, whichever direction you like, and however
many times you like. Simple!
Iceland On Your Own allows you to explore all
the options on offer and then book tours online
or in person.
Once you have your passport you can look
forward to clean, comfortable and safe coach-
es, guaranteed seats, automated GPS-activated
audio guides so you don’t miss anything good,
and 10 percent off any other coach routes that
aren’t included in your chosen passport, but
which you really want to travel.
ioyo.is
Highland travel in Iceland requires good planning and reliable transport—
and that’s where Iceland On Your Own can help.
Freedom with Peace of Mind
SPECIAL PROMOTION HIGHLANDS