Day 1: Keflavik – Borgarnes

Due to the late morning arrival at Keflavík we will only have half the day to look for birds on our way to Borgarnes. Quick stops at Sandgerði and Garður on the Reykjanes peninsula will produce the very first of countless Arctic Tern, breeding Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Common Snipe and Common Redshank just to name a few. There is a possibility of Glaucous Gull while Arctic Skua might be around looking for food. A drake Black Duck has taken residency at Garður, and although it is often secretive in summer, if it is present in the area we should manage to see it. After an easy start to the trip we will drive onwards to Borgarnes for our first night.

Day 2: Borgarnes – Grundarfjordur

Our first stop after breakfast will hopefully produce White-tailed Eagle, while Common Shelduck will be an easy target in the same area. On our way to the Snæfellsnes peninsula we will drive by numerous ponds and lakes which hold good numbers of breeding Red-throated Diver, scattered pairs of Great Northern Diver and various waterfowl. Whooper Swan are easily spotted while the abundant Red-necked Phalarope is hard to overlook. Today will also be the day to look for the Icelandic race of Black-tailed Godwit. We will end the day at a seabird colony, which should produce our first of the trip, among the more common alcids. Night at Grundarfjörður.

Day 3: Grundarfjordur

Early morning will take us to Ólafsvík from where we will take a whalewatching trip. This trip is the most reliable one in Iceland for Blue Whale, but of course such magnificent creatures can never be guaranteed. There should also be plenty of seabirds, e.g. Northern Gannets and countless Fulmars. After lunch we will explore the coastline around Ólafsvík. Glaucous Gulls are among the most common gulls in this area and whilst scanning the flocks of gulls we might encounter the occasional Iceland Gull. Great Cormorants and European Shags sit on the skerries and dry their wings. Night at Grundarfjörður.

Day 4: Grundarfjordur – Breidavik

We will take a ferry to the remote northwest fjords of Iceland (Vestfirðir). Midway across the bay we will stop for a few hours on a small inhabited island. This site offers great photographic opportunities as most birds are tame and easily seen, such as the noisy Common Redshank, Black Guillemot and Snow Bunting. In the evening after reaching the other side of the bay we will drive to our next destination, Breiðavík.

Day 5: Breidavik – Flokalundur

The morning will be spent at one of the most spectacular places in Iceland (and Europe!). Latrabjarg is our largest seabird colony which extends over a 14 km long cliff. You will be astonished by the numbers, sounds and smell of seabirds along the cliff and Puffins are so tame here that you can almost pick them up with your bare hands! While Snow Buntings feed on the clifftops, thousands of Brünnich’s Guillemots, Common Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwakes throng the cliffs. Moulting Harlequin Ducks can occasionally be seen at the western tip of the cliff, which is also the westernmost point of Europe. Later in the day we will drive through the west fjords and look through flocks of Common Eiders for the occasional wanderer (such as King Eider) on our way to Flókalundur where we’ll spend the night.

Day 6: Flokalundur – Gauksmyri

Much of the day will be spent driving through spectacular scenery en rote to Gauksmýri, passing numerous waterfalls and impressive fjords. White-tailed Eagles can be seen along the way as well as Iceland’s smallest bird, the Winter Wren that inhabits the birch scrub. We should arrive in time at Gauksmýri to do some birding on the local pond before dinner. Horned Grebe and various species of wildfowl breed on the pond. Night at Gauksmýri.

Day 7: Gauksmyri – Myvatn

Today we head off to Mývatn (Midge Lake). On the way we will look for families of Pink-footed Geese along a glacial river while tree plantations around Akureyri, the capital of north Iceland, might produce Goldcrest, a recent settler in Iceland, and Common Redpoll. Arriving at Mývatn in late afternoon will give us a chance to have a quick look at the local specialities, such as Harlequin Duck negotiating the rapids on the River Laxá and Barrow’s Goldeneye on territories both on the river and lake. Night at Mývatn.

Day 8: Myvatn

The whole day will be used for exploring the lake’s wildlife and landscape. Around 14 species of ducks breed around the lake of which Barrow’s Goldeneye, Harlequin Duck, Long-tailed Duck and Common Scoter are the most sought-after species. By scanning through the flocks we might stumble on a Ring-necked Duck or American Wigeon which are seen annually in the area. This is also one of the most reliable places for Gyr Falcon that come to the lake’s shore in search of food. In between all those birds we will have a look at hot sulphur springs, lava fields, pseudo-craters and many other interesting geological features. Night at Myvatn.

Day 9: Myvatn - Husavik

We will have an early start and drive north-east from Mývatn towards Europe’s largest waterfall Dettifoss. From there we’ll head towards Húsavík where a whalewatching trip will be taken in the afternoon. On the way, Arctic Skuas, Great Skuas and Puffins will be seen in numbers while the occasional Rock Ptarmigan might cross the road. Night at Husavik.

Day 10: Husavik – Geysir

This day will take us through the highlands of Iceland, a vast wasteland of black volcanic sand and lava fields. At one point the road passes between two glaciers, Hofsjokull and Langjokull. Whilst the birdlife is sparse in this harsh area, the scenery is magnificent. At the end of the day we will visit the waterfall Gullfoss and then Geysir where we will spend the night.

Day 11: Geysir – Reykjavík

Leaving Geysir will take us toward Þingvellir National Park. This is the meeting place of the Eurasian and North American continental plates and was also the site of the Icelandic parliament which was founded here in 930. A few pairs of Great Northern Divers breed on the lake and if we are lucky we might see a hunting Merlin fly by. From Þingvellir we will drive to the capital of Iceland where specialities include the only breeding population of Common Blackbird. Night in Reykjavík and there will be some free time to walk around the centre of the city.

Day 12: Reykjavik – Keflavik

A midday flight from Keflavik gives us the morning to do some birding. We will concentrate on good birding spots near the airport which should produce the trip’s only Manx Shearwaters and possibly European Storm-petrels and we might even see Minke Whale and White-beaked Dolphins from land.