Iceland Ring Road: 9 days

Welcome to Iceland! Once you have arrived and made it through customs at Keflavík International airport, you will be transferred to your accommodation in the heart of Reykjavík. If you arrive in the early morning or around noon, you are very welcome to visit our office for any last-minute questions regarding your tour or Iceland in general. If you arrive in the afternoon but would still like to stop by and briefly go over your itinerary and documents, you can come over tomorrow morning, after having received your rental car, just before you leave town. For your first day in Iceland, we recommend exploring some of the major landmarks of Reykjavík, such as the Hallgrímskirkja church tower, the viewing deck of Perlan, Harpa – music and conference center and the famous sculpture Sólfarið by the sea, located close to Harpa. In the evening, you can dine at one of several gourmet restaurants to be found in Reykjavík’s city center and afterward, you will find that most cafes and bars are open till 01:00. For your first night in Iceland, you will be staying at a hotel/guesthouse in downtown Reykjavik, within walking distance from most major attractions and restaurants within the city limits.

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Today your Iceland travel begins for real! You will pick up your rental car in the morning and start your day by driving to Borgarnes. After passing the town of Borgarnes, you have a choice between getting a glimpse of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, visiting sites such as Kirkjufell mountain, the shark museum in Bjarnarhöfn and the town of Stykkishólmur, or joining a guided glacier tour from Húsafell, visiting the man-made ice tunnel of Langjökull glacier and seeing Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls. Even though your next accommodation is only approx. 190 km from Reykjavík, unfortunately, you would not have time to do both. The glacier tour needs to be booked in advance, so this is a decision that needs to be made beforehand. Either way, for your next night, you will be staying in the Laugarbakki/Hvammstangi area. If you still have some free time in the afternoon, you might want to visit Kolugljúfur canyon, located just a short drive from your accommodation. Other famous attractions to be found on your way are Deildartunguhver hot springs and Hraunfossar, a series of beautiful waterfalls.

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Today you will be driving through northern Iceland, all the way to the beautiful Lake Mývatn. Along your way, there are various sights to be seen. Make sure to get an early start though, as today’s drive is pretty long. If you are up for a little detour right away, you should drive north, 40 km up road 711 to Hvítserkur, which is a large basalt stack, along with the eastern shore of Vatnsnes peninsula. This is a popular attraction and photo stop, but the roads are a bit rough, so you probably won’t bump into any large tour buses on your way. Continue to Varmahlíð where you will find the old turf church of Víðimýri. Further ahead you will reach the charming town of Akureyri, Iceland’s second largest urban area. Here you will find the northernmost botanical garden in the world, the Christmas Garden and a very nice geothermal swimming pool with hot tubs and waterslides for the kids. Finally, it’s time to drive to the Mývatn area where several tourist attractions await, such as the lava fields of Dimmuborgir, Námafjall geothermal area, Krafla powerplant and the pseudo craters of Skútustaðir. In the evening, we recommend visiting the Mývatn Nature Baths and relax under the stars or midnight sun. Stay the night in a hotel/guesthouse nearby.

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If you have yet to visit any of the sights in the Mývatn area, you can start your day by doing so. Then, it is time to travel to the tranquil and beautiful East Fjords of Iceland. But first, a detour to witness the most powerful waterfall in Europe; the mesmerizing Dettifoss, with its nearly 45m fall, causing a massive sound and crashing spray all around. The road to Egilsstaðir, capital of the East, is a straight drive past the black sand desert. However, those who are feeling adventurous will find plenty of other detours to enjoy. On the coastline, there are many small, coastal villages that are worthy of a visit. Enjoy off-the-beaten-path villages such as Vopnafjörður, where you can visit Bustarfell, a folk museum in a well-preserved turf building originally from 1770. You can also make your way to the town of Seyðisfjörður, considered to be one of Iceland’s most picturesque towns – because of its historic wooden buildings and natural scenery. You will also find plenty of hiking trails in this area for you to enjoy at your own leisure. In Egilsstaðir, you can visit Lagarfljót and try to spot Iceland’s version of the Loch Ness monster; Lagarfljótsormurinn. Stay the night in or around Egilsstaðir.

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Drive south from Egilsstaðir through the rugged East Fjords of Iceland. On your way to Höfn, you will be visiting a handful of small coastal villages. One of them is Fáskrúðsfjörður, which once served as the main station for French fishermen off East Iceland. To this day you can still spot the French heritage by e.g. road signs and their well-manicured French Quarter. The town of Stöðvarfjörður is famous for its scenery and spectacular mountain peaks. This is also where you’ll find Petra’s Stone Collection – a lifetime collection/display of rocks and minerals, which has become internationally known over time. In this territory, between Egilsstaðir and Höfn, there are often reindeer herders in the area. So, if you’re lucky, you might spot a few along your way. In the charming town of Höfn in Hornafjörður, you will find great lobster restaurants, and because of the reputation and quality of lobster and other seafood around these corners, Höfn is often called the “Lobster capital of Iceland”. In or around Höfn, you will find your accommodation for this evening.

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Let´s hope you’re up for an early start because today will be filled with many of Iceland’s biggest highlights. After breakfast, start driving west to your first stop of the day – Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. During summer, you can take a guided amphibian boat ride between the beautiful icebergs rising from the cold waters. For a little more action, you might choose the zodiac boat tour instead. They travel faster and get you a little closer to the icebergs. Next up, 60 km further west, is Skaftafell National Park. This green oasis, located next to the black Skeiðarársandur desert, and below the white glacier make the contrasts of this area simply breath-taking. We recommend hiking up to Svartifoss, a beautiful waterfall surrounded by dark lava columns. The path there is quite steep, but well worth it, and takes around 40 minutes each way. Now, let’s hope you’re not exhausted already because it’s time to make your way to Kirkjubæjarklaustur village for some more sightseeing. Just a few minutes west of the village you will find Fjaðrárgljúfur, a massive canyon, 100 meters deep and nearly two km long. There are new walking paths beside the canyon and a couple of excellent viewpoints for taking the perfect photo. Next up is the last stretch of the day, the drive to the beautiful Vík area. Take an evening walk on the black volcanic beach of Reynisfjara and from there, witness the mighty Reynisdrangar ocean cliffs. Stay the night in/around Vík.

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Today you will feast your eyes on three of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls and drive around the classic Golden Circle area. If you still have spots to see around Vík, start the day by doing so, and then keep travelling west. First up is Skógafoss, a picture-perfect waterfall with a 60-meter vertical drop, and next to it, the Skógar folk museum which displays interesting artefacts and turf houses from olden times. A half an hour further, the next waterfall awaits. This one is named Seljalandsfoss, surrounded by cliffs and green slopes, and even has a footpath behind the waterfall for a nice 360° view. You can expect to get a little wet when walking around/behind it. The Famous Golden Circle – an area not to be missed on your Iceland Ring Road Trip Now, drive up to the town of Selfoss for a nice lunch before starting the Golden Circle route. The first stop of the circle is Kerið, a volcanic crater partially filled with water. Some choose to take a little detour to the village of Flúðir, where you will find the Secret Lagoon, Iceland’s oldest thermal swimming pool. Next up is the Gullfoss waterfall, which is, in fact, two separate waterfalls, with a combined drop of 32 meters. Close by is the Geysir area, a geothermal field with hot springs and bubbling mud pools. Watch a “performance” by Strokkur geyser, as it spouts water and steams up to 30 meters into the air. The last official stop of the day will be Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, since 2004. Several crucial events in Icelandic history took place at Þingvellir and its geology is just remarkable. Stay the night in the area.

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It’s time for the last leg of your Iceland round tour. Drive south from Selfoss in the direction Eyrarbakki and Stokkseyri, two charming little villages worth visiting. In Stokkseyri you’ll find an excellent seafood restaurant. So, if you’re hungry and craving an early lunch, this is the spot. Drive along the coast and visit the geothermal areas of Seltún and Krýsuvík and the beautiful lake Kleifarvatn. In this are you will also find Gunnuhver mud pools and steam vents right next to the first lighthouse built in Iceland. If museums are your thing, there are plenty to be found in the area. To name a few, there is the Saltfish museum in Grindavík, the Reykjanes Maritime Center and Icelandic Museum of Rock ’n’ Roll, both located in Reykjanesbær. In the afternoon, drive towards the Blue Lagoon and have a dip in its milky blue waters. After a week on the road, you deserve a relaxing soak and perhaps a nice cool beverage while you’re at it. Finally, head back to Reykjavík, return your rental car and check into your hotel in downtown Reykjavík. Go out with a bang, and dine at one of Reykjavík’s finest restaurants.

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Your day of departure has arrived. If you have an afternoon flight, you still have some time for last minute shopping in town, or perhaps a nice lunch somewhere close to your hotel. You will be transferred to Keflavík International Airport in good time for your scheduled flight. We thank you for traveling with Iceland Unlimited and wish you a safe and enjoyable flight back home.

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