This is a more extreme version of one of the best and easiest ways to explore Iceland; namely to take on what Icelanders call Hringurinn or The Ring Road. By taking on this tour you both get to experience the breathtaking Icelandic highlands and get all the advantages of following Route 1 around most of the island. Accordingly, in a relatively short time you can see numerous of Iceland’s more accessible main attractions, while also visiting remoter areas where you can enjoy wilderness on your own.
Day 1: Ring Road 4X4
Arrival and a quick visit to Iceland’s capital.
One of our friendly drivers will be at Keflavík 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 South Coast
Driving distance approx. 220 km / 137 mi.
The glaciers and volcanic beaches of Southern Iceland
Today your journey begins! After driving over Hellisheiði and past the villages of Hveragerði and Selfoss, 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 getting to know 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 definitely not recommended (it is actually prohibited and very dangerous) the view from 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 your accommodation in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.
Day 3: Skaftafell and the Glacier Lagoon
Driving distance approx. 290 km / 180 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 favorite 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 will stay in a hotel or guesthouse.
Day 4: East Iceland and Lake Mývatn
Driving distance approx. 415 km / 258 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 of Djúpivogur and the capital of East Iceland: Egilstaðir. 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 5: Jökulsárglúfur National Park and the Great Giants of Húsavík
Driving distance approx. 200 km / 124 mi.
Yesterday surely did not suffice for you to explore the surroundings of Mývatn, so today can also be employed to e.g. 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 that 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, is you prefer to stay on dry land Húsavík boosts of an excellent whale museum and lovely cafés and restaurants in the harbor area. Heading back for 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 6: Akureyri and the Northwest
Driving distance approx. 200 km / 124 mi.
Northern city life and the Icelandic horse.
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. There are many amazing walking paths on the peninsula and all of its villages have their own charm, including the minuscule Hofsós, which is hidden just a little off the main road. Before heading towards the highlands tomorrow go to your accommodation at the Varmahlíð/Sauðárkrókur area.
Day 7: The Highlands
Make sure to get an early start today since you have got a long day ahead of you. The Icelandic Highlands are not easy to cross, and a 4×4 vehicle and precautions are always necessary. However, in the olden days when the only transport available was a horse (if you were lucky) then all journeys through there were extremely perilous and indeed many did perish on the way. At Beinahóll (“Bonehill”) traces of the many horses and sheep that died there, along with their caretakers, can still be seen, and the story of the brothers from Reynisstaðir is often told near to this supposedly haunted location. Also, a place of both legends and ghost stories, one of the most interesting stops on Kjalvegur is Hveravellir, a geothermal region where visitors can bathe and walk around the numerous hot springs in the area. Near there are the remains of the hut of one of Iceland’s most famed outlaws. Before reaching the domain of the “Golden Circle” you have the opportunity to stop at either (or both) Kerlingarfjöll and Hvítárnes, major highland landmarks, characterized by the stunning colors and extreme beauty so unique to Iceland. On the border of the highlands, there lies the famous waterfall Gullfoss, which is usually the last stop on a typical Golden Circle. You are, however, embarking on a rather different version of this most popular route in Iceland and the next stop will be the mother of all hot springs Geysir. Although Geysir now most lies dormant you will not be disappointed for its neighbor Strokkur erupts approximately every 5 minutes. After such a long day it is best to leave the last major stop of the circle for tomorrow and have a good rest in the Laugarvatn area.
Day 8: A drive between two National Parks
An enigmatic glacier, environmentalism, and rocky beaches.
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 snorkeling 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 snorkeling between continents. From there you head back to Road One, however, instead of heading towards Reykjavík you turn north and take on Snæfellsnes the home of the enigmatic Snæfellsjökull which has supposedly attracted aliens, universal forces and of course visitors to the center of the Earth! First, of your stops there will be at the gorgeous rock formations at Gerðuberg, where you can also visit a ölkelda, a natural resource of mineralized water. On your way to your accommodation by Hellnar a visit to Búðir is recommended, there you can have a nice walk in the lava fields and get a great cup of coffee at the beautiful local hotel. Once you have settled at your accommodation, take a walk to near by town Arnarstapi, through one of the most amazing walking paths of the peninsula.
Day 9: Snæfellsjökull National Park and the Green Globe Community
After a stop at the Hellnar Visitor’s Centre, you can continue your exploration of Snæfellsnes by getting to know the tip of the peninsula, while gazing at the lovely glacier. 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, and the impressive Lóndrangar. The largest town of 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 and swim in the lovely swimming pool, which contains some of the best swimming water in Iceland for it is full of beneficial minerals. 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.
Day 10: The Saga Circle
Driving distance approx. 270 km / 168 mi.
Today take on the so-called “Saga Circle” which includes a visit the historic site of Reykholt where there is a medieval research institution named Snorrastofa after the Saga documenter Snorri Sturluson, the “Lava waterfalls” Hraunfossar and Barnafoss along with Deildartunguhver, which is the largest hot spring in Europe. Other sights along the way include e.g. the crater Grábrók and the Settlement Exhibition in the town Borgarnes. On your way back to Reykjavík you can either take a short cut through the tunnel Hvalfjarðargöng or take the slightly longer but very beautiful road through Hvalfjörður. After a long and exciting day head for Reykjavík where you can stay in a hotel or guesthouse and perhaps have a late night swim.
Day 11: 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 travelers needs. The reason for which we have 1 category without private facilities is because 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 devite the travel season in 3 different seasons. We are more flexable 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 note 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 now space for luggage when four persons are travelling togather.
Additional Equipment
-GPS navigation system (Free of charge)
-Mobile phone (Free of charge)
-Ipad with 3G internet around the island (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?
Please fill out the form below.
We highly recommend icelandselfdrive.com for arranging a visit to Iceland and specifically for setting up the tour, arranging hotels, advising on attractions and, of course, the rental car. The entire experience was amazing from start to finish. While they were a bit slow to respond...More