Burial Rites Road Trip

This beautiful and history-filled itinerary is inspired by the novel, Burial Rites, which is set in the final days of Agnes Magnusdottir, a young woman who was the last person executed in Iceland on January 12, 1830.Hannah Kent’s retelling of Agnes’s powerful story has received international acclaim for its historical detail and ability to draw readers into the setting of 19th-century rural Iceland. A film adaptation starring Oscar-winning Jennifer Lawrence as Agnes is currently in production.

On your trip, you will explore Vatnsnes Peninsula in northern Iceland, where most of the events that inspired Burial Rites took place. Vatnsnes is a hauntingly-beautiful area where the land, sea and sky seem to merge. In addition to historical locations, Vatnsnes is home to spectacular natural wonders, a large colony of seals, and historical events from the Viking era. It is also part of the new Arctic Coast Way, Iceland’s first scenic byway route.

You will also have the chance to explore tranquility and unforgettable natural wonders of the Troll Peninsula and Lake Myvatn area, as well visit colorful Akureyri town and Iceland’s lively capital, Reykjavik.

Iceland Travel recommends that you read the Burial Rites book before you travel.

Highlights

• Immerse yourself in the historical locations that inspired Hannah Kent’s award-winning novel Burial Rites
• Visit the hauntingly beautiful Vatnsnes Peninsula
• Visit a natural fortress used during Viking times
• Learn about how north Icelandic farmers lived during the early 19th century
• Visit the less-travelled Troll Peninsula and explore the charming town of Siglufjordur
• Visit Akureyri and the Lake Myvatn region
• Visit Reykjavik, where you can explore local cuisine and culture and learn about Iceland’s unique history

Places you will get to explore

Reykjavik. Cool, quirky, and cutting-edge, Reykjavik will captivate you. The city’s enticing combination of jaw-dropping nature just outside its doorstep and cosmopolitan delights is mesmerizing. The greater Reykjavik area has about a total of 60% of Iceland’s population.

North Iceland. Dancing along the edge of the Arctic Circle, North Iceland probably sounds pretty cold! Surprisingly, this area experiences some of the mildest temperatures in the country and offers a huge spectrum of scenery to explore, from the soft and gentle to the awesomely spectacular. Rich in history and wildlife, with amazing volcanic landscapes, unusual museums, a wealth of antique farms, fjords and saga sites, it’s no wonder the region was recently named a top European destination by Lonely Planet!

Vatnsnes Peninsula. The Vatnsnes peninsula gives you the best view of Hunafloi Bay’s seal population. Vatnsnes is a peninsula jutting into Hunafloi in northern Iceland. It is surrounded by waters of Midfjordur on the west and Hunafjordur on the east. It is home to one of the largest seal colonies in Iceland, among others at Hindisvik and Osar. Seals have been protected for many years in Hindisvik.

Troll peninsula.  One of most hidden Icelandic gems is Trollaskagi peninsula, a truly astonishing and fascinating kingdom a bit separated from the rest of the country because of the high and dense mountains which cover it all.

Siglufjordur. On a coastal fjord less than 40 kilometres (25 mi ) from the Arctic Circle, the humble town of Siglufjordur was from 1905-1965 the booming fishing capital of Iceland and for a time, the herring capital of the world. Over the years, marine resources dwindled and the once thriving ‘Siglo’ declined in quiet isolation.

Akureyri. Town, 45 minutes by air or a five-hour drive from Reykjavik, is a natural base for travelers with a whole world of nature right on its doorstep.

What you get

• Flexible, stress-free travelling. With our pre-booked hotel nights, comprehensive digital map and your own vehicle, you can choose your own stops and activities along the way.
• Digital itinerary with the Iceland Travel Companion App. Thousands of points of interest with descriptions clearly displayed on your digital map. The points of interest can be customized to suit your interests and individual route.
• With our exclusive Iceland Travel Companion app, you don’t have to worry about missing out and you will always find your way to your hotel after a full day of traveling. It is easy to book day tours and activities in the app when you are on the road.
• Expertise – take advantage of our many years of experience. We plan routes that let you combine driving with good time to explore each area.
• We focus on safety. We use safe cars and plan the best itineraries for road conditions in each season. We also have a 24-hour emergency line if issues arise during your visit.

Included

• Accommodation in a standard room in Reykjavik for 2 nights including breakfast, except arrival day.
• Accommodation in a standard room in North Iceland for 4 nights including breakfast.
• Rental car for 6 days with unlimited mileage, CDW, theft protection and VAT**
• FREE GPS system and no charges for an additional driver
• Car pick up/drop off at Keflavik International Airport
• Airport Service Charge
• Customer Care Service during office hours
• Emergency phone line open 24 hours, including weekdays and public holidays
• Service fee and taxes
• Tablet with our exclusive Iceland Travel Companion. The app includes:
  • Your hotel bookings with check-in and check-out dates.
  • A map view of your entire trip.
  • Thousands of points of interest with descriptions clearly displayed on your map. The points of interest can be customized to suit your interests and individual route.
  • In-app purchase feature to book day tours or activities directly into the app
  • GPS Road Guide in several different languages, safety guidelines and the apps of the Icelandic Meteorological Office and The Icelandic Road Administration, emergency numbers and more.
  • Detailed Travel Booklet – Electronic version in English, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and French

**Please note that the package price is based on 6 x 24-hour rental days starting at the time of rental. If your flight arrives early on day 1 and departs late on day 7, an additional supplement will be charged unless you choose to return the car in Reykjavik when the 6-day rental is up and use our Airport Direct transfer

Please note the ring road today contains a toll tunnel  www.tunnel.is

Not Included

• Breakfast on arrival day
• International airfare
• Petrol/gasoline
• Tolls (tunnels, roads and other route tolls), unless specified.  More information here
• Admissions and activities
• Personal travel insurance (highly recommended)
• Beverages, snacks, lunches, dinners unless otherwise noted in itinerary
• Guaranteed early check-in (check-in time for most hotels in Iceland is 14:00 (2:00 pm)
• Guaranteed late check-out
• Any service not specifically listed under “included”

Accommodation

Choose the accommodation category that best fits your travel style: Quality (best available in each area, with private bathrooms), Comfort (good no-frills hotels with private bathrooms) and (May – September only) Budget (cozy, local-style guesthouses or farms with shared bathroom facilities)

Important

• This package can only be booked on-line
• Must be 21 years of age to rent a car, 23 years of age to rent car category 5.0 or higher
• Car rental types 2.0 and higher recommended for this tour
• A valid driver’s license from the US, Canada or the European Economic Area can be used in Iceland. A license from other countries can be used if it: a) has a valid license number, b) the license holder’s photograph, c) is printed in Latin alphabet characters and d) is valid at the time of travel. Otherwise an international driver’s license is required.
• Our road trip packages are designed by our team of travel experts. They are created for people like you who want to experience the very best of what Iceland has to offer. To get the best value Iceland Travel has to offer, book our road trips online. Please note that changes to the packages will incur a service fee. Your Iceland Travel Companion app will also not reflect the changes.
• With our exclusive road trip app you don´t have to worry about missing out and you will always find your way to your hotel after a full day of traveling. It is easy to book day tours and activities in the app when you are on the road
• Learn about packing essentials for your trip to Iceland here