Along the Iceland Ring Road – Self Drive

Arrive independently to Keflavik International Airport in Iceland, collect your hire car, and take to the roads. Your accommodation tonight will be in either Reykjavik or nearby in the south of Iceland, so you have the flexibility today to choose whether to explore the city area or the surroundings. We recommend a visit to the famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa (must be booked in advance), although throughout your circumnavigation of Iceland there will be other lesser-known geothermal pools to visit too.

Today might be your best opportunity to tick off some Icelandic bucket-list experiences, including the iconic Iceland “Golden Circle” route which takes in the mighty Gullfoss waterfall, the awe-inspiring Geysir hot spring area to see bubbling hot springs and the famous spouting Strokku, and the memorable Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is certain to impress. We also recommend a stop at the farm Efstidalur between Geysir and Þingvellir which provides delicious traditional food and ice cream.

Please note: the places and areas to visit that are described in this itinerary are suggestions only, based on the location of your accommodation for each night. As this a self-drive itinerary, you have the flexibility to chart your own route, knowing that there is a comfortable bed waiting for you at the end of every action-packed day.

If you didn’t make it to the Blue Lagoon yesterday, you may wish to visit the Secret Lagoon today (about 15 min drive from Geysir) to relax with a morning dip in this geothermal natural pool, before enjoying lunch at the nearby Fridheimar farm. From the foot of Hekla volcano, it is well worth taking a trip to the valley of the Thjorsa River to visit the Viking farm Stöng and spot Game of Thrones locations in the Thjórsárdalur valley.

Your accommodation tonight will be in Vik I Myrdal, and as you make your way to Vik there are a number of iconic areas that we recommend visiting, not least the Seljalandsfoss and Skogarfoss waterfalls which are 2 of Iceland’s most impressive and well photographed sights. You will likely also pass Eyjafjallajökull glacier before reaching Vik and enjoying some exploration around the Reynisfjara black lava beach and its impressive basalt rock formations. You will also be able to see the basalt-shaped pillars Reynisdrangar, and on the small peninsula of Dyrholaey there are great chances of spotting puffins.

Continuing along the Ring Road, you will likely head towards Skaftafell National Park where a whole day can be filled with mountains, volcanoes and glaciers, including the mighty Vatnajökull, Europe’s biggest glacier. The extraordinary Jökulsarlon Glacial Lagoon is absolutely worth a visit, along with the nearby Diamond beach which gets its name from the sight of the glistening icebergs sprinkled along the black sand beach sparkling in the sun. We also recommend visiting Svartifoss waterfall, one of the most popular attractions in the park, and there are plenty of optional activities that can be booked here including kayak tours and boat rides along the lagoon.

Accommodation tonight will be in the Höfn/Jökulsarlon area, so you may also wish to take a scenic drive along the coast outside Höfn which will reward in beautiful views of Vestrahorn, the most photographed mountain in Iceland.

Departing from the fishing village of Höfn and heading towards Egilsstadir, today gives you the chance to explore around the beautiful landscapes of the Eastern Fjords area. The rich birdlife and fascinating ancient geological wonders here will make this a day to remember, and you may wish to stop at the famous stone sculpture of Eggene i Gledivik in Djupavogur. We recommend a drive to Stöðvarfjörður to visit the stone museum of Petra and a further drive to Eskifjordur, one of the most beautiful fjords in Iceland. Other options today could be a boat tour from Djupavogur to the island of Papey or a guided hike to the waterfall Hengifoss by Hallormsstadur.

Accommodation tonight will be in the area of Egilsstadir.

Today it’s time to discover the contrasting desert-like landscapes of the Möðrudalsöræfi area as you enjoy a scenic drive to the Lake Mývatn area. This active volcanic zone offers up a multitude of impressive geological features that are likely to fill your cameras, with bizarre lava formations, sulfuric springs and pseudo-craters offering wonderful photo opportunities. The Mývatn Nature Baths, known as the Blue Lagoon of the North, the “lava town” of Dimmuborgir, and the geothermal area Námaskarð are all definitely worth a visit.

Accommodation tonight will either be in the Mývatn area or Akureyri, so many people will opt to take a whale-watching tour from Akureyri or the nearby fishing village of Húsavík.

Moving west now, you will reach the Skagafjörður area where a visit to Saudakrokur and the fascinating folk museum at Glaumbær is recommended. Horseback riding is very popular here and it may be worth booking a tour to get this authentically Icelandic experience. Hikes and river rafting are other options here and you may wish to drive to Víðidalur near Hvammstangi to see the beautiful Kolugljúfur canyon and its stunning waterfall Kolufossar, along with the iconic Hvítserkur basalt stack that legend states is actually a petrified troll.

Accommodation tonight will be in the Borgarfjörður district.

Your penultimate day will see you travel from Reykholt to Reykjavik, with a multitude of options for stops in between. You may wish to visit Húsafell to take a tour to the Langjökull glacier and into a man-made cave on the glacier, or visit the beautiful waterfalls of Barnafossar and Hraunfossar. You may also wish to visit Deildartunguhver, Europe's largest geometric hot water source, before arriving in Reykjavik to explore around this unique capital city and enjoy the last overnight stay of your trip. We recommend a visit to Hallgrimskirkja church, the Harpa concert hall and Perlan where you can get stunning panoramic views of the city.

Accommodation tonight will be in Reykjavik.

Today you will drive to Keflavik International Airport to return your hire car and take your onward or homeward flights. Should you wish to stay longer in Reykjavik, or discover even more of Iceland, please feel free to enquire about possible extensions to your tour.