This tour is a deluxe version of one of the best and easiest ways to explore Iceland; namely to take on what Icelanders call Hringurinn or The Ring Road. The great advantage of following Road 1 around the island is that in a relatively short time you can see all of Iceland’s main attractions such as the glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón, national parkSkaftafell, the ebony beach of Vík, the lava pillars and wildlife of Lake Mývatn, the great giants of Húsavík, historic Reykholt area, the mystical Snæfellsjökull along with the indispensable detour “The Golden Circle” where you will find the famous Geysir, the rift valley in Þingvellir and the magnificent Gullfoss
Day 1: Reykjavik – Iceland Ring Road
Arrival and a quick visit to Iceland’s capital.
One of our friendly drivers will be at Keflavik airport ready to welcome you and take you to your accommodation in Reykjavík. Our capital is a great city to explore on foot; however, if you wish to take a bus tour of the greater Reykjavík area we can certainly arrange that for you. You could also use the day to visit one of the cities excellent museums or have a scenic view of Reykjavík from the tower of church Hallgrímskirkja.
Accommodation: Guesthouse, apartment or hotel in Reykjavík
Day 2: The Golden Circle
Driving distance approx.260 km / 155 mi.
A day packed with the most visited and celebrated landmarks of Iceland.
After an early delivery of your rental car, the route is set for Þingvellir Iceland’s first National Park. There you can take a walk through one of the most amazing rift valleys in the world which also used to hold the Icelandic parliament from 930 to 1798. With plenty of time on your hands snorkelling in the rift Silfra is recommended, this is one of the top scuba diving destinations of the world due to its amazing clarity and the fact that you are actually snorkelling between continents. The next destination is the mother of all hot springs Geysir. Although Geysir now most lies dormant you will not be disappointed for its neighbour Strokkur erupts approximately every 5 minutes. Thereafter a visit to Gullfoss waterfall will close The Golden Circle (on a sunny day take care to look for rainbows in the surrounding drizzle). Then you will head back towards the Ring Road for accommodation.
Day 3: The South Coast
Driving distance approx. 230 km / 139 mi.
The glaciers and volcanic beaches of Southern Iceland
Back on Road 1, the first visit will be to (and behind) the beautiful Seljalandsfoss followed by a stop at the minuscule village Skógar famous for its folk museum and another great waterfall, Skógarfoss. After such breathtaking waterfalls, you will continue past Eyjafjallajökull towards Vík, Iceland’s southernmost village. You can look forward to seeing there one of the most extraordinary beaches in the world. Although swimming is not recommended (actually prohibited and dangerous) the view on the ebony volcanic beach of Vík is more than enough to satisfy any visitor. This scenic place which faces the Atlantic on one side and volcano Katla on the other is awe-inspiring and if you get a chance to talk to one of its friendly inhabitants be sure to ask them about the regular evacuation drills performed there and the folktales related to the majestic Reynisdrangar and island Dyrhólaey. The following stop will be at glacier Mýrdalsjökull where you will have the opportunity to go on a guided glacial hike. From there you will drive over the black sands of Mýrdalssandur before reaching the last stop of the day at the majestic canyon Fjaðrarárgljúfur before reaching today’s accommodation in a hotel, hut or guesthouse in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.
Day 4: Skaftafell and the Glacier Lagoon
Driving distance approx. 300 km / 185 mi
The Icelandic Alps with a twist and a boat ride amidst icebergs
Today you will head towards Skaftafell a part of Vatnajökull (the largest glacier in Europe) National Park. Skaftafell is a favourite hiking and camping ground for many Icelanders and is far known for its picturesque mountain landscape. The next stop after the Skaftafell is Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon which has severed as a shooting location for Hollywood blockbusters such as ‘Die Another Day’, ‘Tomb Raider’ and ‘Batman Begins’. A guided boat tour of the lake is recommended in order to get a better view of the icebergs and to learn a little bit more about the visible effects that global warming has had on the lagoon. Last stop of the day is the village of Höfn where you can stay in a hotel or guesthouse.
Day 5: East Iceland and Lake Mývatn
Driving distance approx 425 km / 268 mi.
Tranquillity, tundra and leashed and unleashed power in an Icelandic Dreamland
On the 4th day, you will undertake a little over 400 km which is actually not that much given that the entire East Coast of Iceland will be explored. This beautiful and diverse drive will take you past the lovely fishing village ofDjúpivogur and the capital of East Iceland: Egilsstaðir. Before reaching Egilsstaðir you will find the largest forest in Iceland Hallormstaðarskógur or if you are interested in hydrothermal energy a visit to the controversial Kárahnjúkar Plant will certainly prove to educate (there exists a documentary about the construction of the plant called Dreamland or Draumalandið which looks at the matter from the environmentalist’s perspective). The drive towards Lake Mývatn from the Eastfjords is a spectacular one through the rough tundra landscape of Jökuldalur and Möðrudalsöræfi. Once in the Mývatn area, such attractions as the pass of Námaskarð, volcano Krafla, the mystical Dimmuborgir (Dark cities) lava fields and Dettifoss (the most powerful waterfall in Europe) await your arrival. This is truly an extraordinary region which merits an overnight stay for further exploration during morning hours.
Day 6: Jökulsárglúfur National Park and the Great Giants of Húsavík
Driving distance approx 210 km / 129 mi.
Yesterday surely was not enough for you to explore the surroundings of Mývatn so today can also be employed e.g. to examine pseudo craters, the extraordinary Jökulsárglúfur and its canyon Ásbyrgi, the rock formations Hljóðuklettar and the beautiful Rauðuhólar. However, if you are in the mood for some activity then fishing in Laxá (note “Salmon River”) would be an ideal activity. Still, if you want to see something more impressive than the gorgeous salmon of this prolific river the perfect next stop would be Húsavík, the whale capital of Iceland. A whale watching tour is recommended there; however, if you prefer to stay on dry land Húsavík boosts of an excellent whale. Heading back to your accommodation in Mývatn a great end to the day would be a relaxing swim in the Mývatn Nature Baths (sometimes called the Green Lagoon as a contrast to its Southern counterpart).
Day 7: Akureyri and the Northwest
Driving distance approx. 210 km / 129 mi.
From Mývatn the road lies to Iceland’s second largest urban area Akureyri after a quick stop at the waterfalls of the gods; Goðafoss. Akureyri is a vibrant city with plenty of restaurants, museums and swimming pools as well as a spectacular view. From Akureyri, you can continue towards Tröllaskagi ( “Troll-peninsula”) where a must-see is the historic village of Siglufjörður and its awards winning herring museum. Next stop will then be the valley of Skagafjörður which is known as “The Mecca of the Icelandic Horse”. If you have time and are interested then there is no better place to go horse riding and getting to know the friendly local breed. Along the way keep your eyes open for the supposedly “Countless Mounds” of Vatnsdalshólar and have a quick stop at the characteristic church Þingeyrakirkja. Enjoy your accommodation in the Húnaflói area.
Day 8: The Northwest
Driving distance approx. 250 km / 162 mi.
Vikings and Saga heroines
From Húnaflói you will head towards Hvammsfjörður and visit the living Viking Museum at Eiríksstaðir where you will travel back a thousand years to the birthplace of Leif Ericsson (or Leifur Eiríksson in Icelandic) the first European to set foot in America. From there you can enjoy a complimentary visit to the geothermal pool Guðrúnarlaug in Sælingsdalur which is named after an Icelandic heroine of the area. Stay in a hotel or guesthouse in Snæfellsnes or Reykholt.
Day 9: Snæfellsjökull National Park and the Green Globe Community
Driving distance approx. 290 km / 180 mi.
An enigmatic glacier, environmentalism and rocky beaches.
Take on Snæfellsnes the home of the enigmatic Snæfellsjökull which has supposedly attracted aliens, universal forces and of course visitors to the centre of the Earth! The largest town on the peninsula is Stykkishólmur which is definitely worth a visit and if you stop there make sure to hike the short distance up to the village’s lighthouse. You can also take a boat ride from there to the island of Flatey which bustles which small-town life in the summer. Stykkishólmur along with the peninsula’s other communities have been the first in Iceland and Europe to obtain a Green Globe certification. The surroundings of Snæfellsnes have inspired its 4000 inhabitants to maintain a greener lifestyle, which is quite understandable giving the area’s diverse flora and fauna, lava fields and of course its magnificent volcano/glacier. There are also magnificent caves in the area for which a guided expedition can be organized. Furthermore, it has such beautiful attractions as the bay of Dritvík, the stony beach Djúpalónssandur, Lóndrangar and Arnarstapi cliffs as well as the interesting Visitor’s Centre at Hellnar. Head towards Reykjavík for a good night sleep in a guesthouse, apartment or hotel.
Day 10: Departure
Thank you for your stay!
On the last day, we will provide transfer to Keflavik airport with FlyBus. If your flight is in the afternoon you can explore the city further, visit shopping mall Kringlan or what we would recommend would be to stop at the Blue Lagoon and get to know this unique place while treating yourself to some relaxing spa treatment after a week full of activities. Thank you for your stay and we look forward to seeing you again!
Different accommodation choices
There are 2 different types of accommodation we provide. Simple (private) and Comfort. These are aimed to fit most travellers needs. The reason for which we have 1 category without private facilities is that when travelling in Iceland you spend almost no time at the hotel. Our most common accommodation is Simple (private) but that gives you the privacy you want but still for a very reasonable price.
Comfort
The Comfort Class is for those who like to travel comfortably and with a touch of exclusivity whenever possible. The accommodation will always be at a respected hotel or guesthouse with a private room and private facilities. Breakfast included.
Simple Class
The Simple Class is for the traveller who would like a reasonable amount of privacy, but who also isn’t concerned with all the frills. This option is the ideal compromise between economy and luxury. Accommodation is provided in a hotel, guesthouse, or hostel in a private room without facilities. Breakfast is included.
Seasons
We divide the travel season in 3 different seasons. We are more flexible on the price in the low and shoulder season so please contact us for an offer if you are travelling in these 2 seasons.
The Summer season is from 1st of June-31st of August.If you are ordering outside that timeframe then contact us for a better price
Our rental cars
We offer wide variety of rental cars and can provide cars that are not listed below on request: If you are interested in driving in the highlands of Iceland the smallest car you can take is the Suzuki Jimny, That is also by far the most common car but you have to know that it only fits 2-3 persons since there is no space for luggage when four persons are travelling together.
Additional Equipment
-GPS navigation system (Free of charge)
-Mobile phone (Free of charge)
-Ipad with 3G internet (Free of charge)
Service Included
-Pickup from Keflavik Airport and transfer to your accommodation in Reykjavik
-Meeting with your travel consultant
-Map of Iceland
-24-hour service phone
-Free dropoff at Keflavik airport at departure.
-Taxes and service fees
Do you want more information regarding prices or customization of this tour?
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We just got back from our 7Day 6Night Ring Road Iceland Tour. It went very well and we were happy with the service we received. A few months ago, I was like you all - just sitting in front of the computer having no idea...More