Burial Rites Road Trip

The Burial Rites Road Trips 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.  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 be able to explore Vatnsnes Peninsula in northern Iceland, where most of the events that inspired the novel took place.  Vatnsnes is a hauntingly-beautiful area where the land, sea and sky seem to merge.  In addition to historical locations that inspired Burial Rites, Vatnsnes is home to spectacular natural wonders, a large colony of seals, and historical events from the Viking era. Each location you visit will be detailed in your Iceland Travel Companion app, further enhancing your experience.

You will also have the chance to explore the less-travelled Troll Peninsula, Akureyri and Lake Myvatn area, plus Iceland’s lively capital, Reykjavik.

Highlights

• Visit the hauntingly beautiful Vatnsnes Peninsula
• Immerse yourself in the historical locations that inspired Hannah Kent’s award-winning novel Burial Rites
• 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.

Siglufjodur. 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. Akureyri, 45 minutes by air or a five-hour drive from Reykjavik, is a natural base for travellers with a whole world of nature right on its doorstep. Akureyri makes an ideal choice for winter breaks, with some of the finest ski slopes in Iceland as well as opportunities for snowmobiling, horse rentals, ice fishing and Northern Lights hunting.

What you get:

• Flexible stress-free travelling. With a comprehensive map and your own vehicle, drive at your own pace and choose your own stops and activities along the way.
• Digital itinerary with the Iceland Travel Companion App pre-installed on a tablet.
• An electronic version of the Iceland Travel Road Guide. Prior to your arrival, we will send you an electronic version of our Iceland Travel Road Guide. You can start preparing yourself for your upcoming Iceland trip and be prepared for your Iceland adventure.
• 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.

What to bring:

Learn more about what to pack for you Iceland adventure here.

**Please note that the package price is based on 6×24 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 necessary unless you choose to return the car in Reykjavik and use our Flybus departure transfer.

Included

• Accommodation for 6 nights
• 6 Icelandic style breakfasts (except for arrival day)
• Rental car for 6 days with CDW, theft protection, unlimited mileage, VAT (Types of Car recommended: car cat 2.0 or higher)
• GPS system and no charges for an additional driver
• Airport Service Charge
• Fuel Discount Card
• Car pick up/drop off at Keflavik International Airport
• 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:
  • Thousands of points of nature sites, historic places, and road side services that can be filtered to suit your interests
  • Highlight section for each day of the tour
  • Your hotel bookings with check-in and check-out dates
  • Safety guidelines and the apps of the Icelandic Meteorological Office and The Icelandic Road Administration
  • A map view of the Iceland road trip
  • In-app purchase feature to book day tours or activities directly into the app
  • Iceland Travel Road Guide about Iceland in English, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and French

Not Included

• Breakfast on arrival day
• International airfare
• Petrol/gasoline
• 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”

Important

• 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
• Learn about packing essentials for your trip to Iceland here.
• Please note that this package can only be booked online.
• 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.
• 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.