8-Day Summer Self Drive Tour Around the Ring Road | Golden Circle, Glacier Lagoon, Remote East Iceland & Akureyri

Your plane will land at Keflavík International Airport, located in the middle of a moss-covered lava field. Pick up your bags and then your rental vehicle at the airport and make your way through this desolate landscape towards Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík.

A short drive from the city is the famous Blue Lagoon Spa where you can unwind after your flight if you reserved a ticket during the booking process. With its warm, mineral-rich waters, soothing atmosphere, and stunning, volcanic scenery, the Blue Lagoon is the perfect place to start your adventure in Iceland.

Once you’ve arrived in the capital, check into your hotel and explore the city if you are not too tired after your travels. A short distance of your accommodations is the downtown area with the famous Laugavegur Shopping Street and Harpa Concert Hall. You can make use of the Midnight Sun and explore until very late in the evening, but keep in mind that you have a busy day on the road tomorrow so make sure to get a good night’s sleep.

Highlights Today:

• Reykjavík – Iceland’s quirky and colourful capital

Optional Activities:

• Unwinding at the Blue Lagoon Spa

Today, you’ll leave the city behind and head out into the countryside. Your first stop will be the famous Golden Circle route where you’ll visit Þingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall. 

After you’ve completed the Golden Circle, drive the southern coastline towards Vík Village. En-route, visit the stunning waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, and the black sand beach of Reynisfjara. 

If you wish to add some excitement to this day, you have a few options from which to choose. You could get to know the Icelandic horse on a riding tour around the beautiful countryside. Icelandic horses are both friendly and intelligent, which makes this the perfect activity for the whole family.

There is also the possibility of snorkelling at Silfra Fissure in Þingvallavatn Lake. Þingvellir National Park is located on the boundaries of the N-American and the Eurasian tectonic plates. At Silfra, you will have the opportunity to snorkel in crystal clear glacial water between the two continents. 

Your last option is a thrilling snowmobile ride on top of Langjökull Glacier. You’ll race across the white ice cap on a powerful snowmobile while the adrenaline surges through your veins. Half-way through, you’ll stop to admire the stunning view on top of this country’s second-largest glacier. 

You’ll end the day at accommodations in or near the village of Vík. 

Highlights Today:

• Þingvellir National Park – Known for its dramatic beauty and Viking history
• Geysir Geothermal Area – Home of erupting geysers including Strokkur which goes off every 5-10 minutes.
• Gullfoss Waterfall – A gorgeous cascade which drops into an ancient canyon.
• Seljalandsfoss Waterfall – Falls over a cave which you can enter for a unique view of the waterfall.
• Skógafoss Waterfall – You can walk right up to the wall of water of this large and powerful cascade.
• Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach – A hauntingly beautiful beach of jet black sand and powerful waves.

Optional Activities:

• Snorkelling in crystal clear waters between continents at Silfra Fissure.
• Snowmobiling on top of Langjökull Glacier.
• Meet the Icelandic Horse on a Riding Tour.

You can start today with a unique adventure: visiting an authentic ice cave. From Vík village, you’ll board a large vehicle, known as a super jeep, which will take you to a nearby glacier. The glacier, Mýrdalsjökull, is located above the volcano Katla. Don’t worry about Katla though; all Icelandic volcanoes are intensely monitored. Once there, you’ll get to step inside the dark but glittering ice cave and take amazing photos. 

You will then continue your journey East, driving past the beautiful Skaftafell Nature Reserve. Here, you’ll have the option to have another ice-adventure: glacier hiking. At Skaftafell, black sands meet white ice and green flora. Accompanied by a trained glacier guide, you’ll hike up the ice cap to admire the breathtaking scenery of this beautiful nature reserve. 

Your destination today is the stunning Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and adjacent Diamond Beach. Here, you’ll have the option to take a boat ride on the lagoon. You can either take a slower amphibian boat ride, perfect for families and photographers, or a speedy Zodiac boat tour. You’ll sail between the massive icebergs, perhaps seeing a seal or two swimming in the icy water.

You’ll spend the night at accommodations in the Jökulsárlón area. 

Highlights Today:

• Skaftafell Nature Reserve – Known for its scenic landscapes and many hiking trails.
• Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon – A serene lake where enormous icebergs float on their way to the ocean.
• Diamond Beach – A black sand beach where icebergs from the lagoon wash up on shore and glitter in the sunlight.

Optional Activities:

• Exploring Katla Ice Cave
• Glacier Hiking at Skaftafell Nature Reserve
• Amphibian Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
• Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Now it is time to explore the beautiful east fjords of Iceland. You’ll drive winding roads with the glittering ocean on one side and jagged mountains on the other. Your destination today is the East’s largest town, Egilsstaðir. 

The drive is very scenic, and you will pass many charming towns and villages along the way. You will notice how considerably less crowded this part of Iceland is, providing you with a chance to experience the raw Icelandic nature in almost complete isolation. 

You will end your journey in or near the town of Egilsstaðir which sits on the banks of the narrow lake Lagarfljót which is said to hide a terrible monster within its murky waters.

Highlights Today

• Höfn – A fishing town in South-West Iceland, famous for its langoustine restaurants.
• Stokksnes – The black sand beach at Stokksnes with the stunning Mt. Vestrahorn is a fantastic photography stop.
• Djúpivogur – A small town in East Iceland, known for its stunning scenery and beautiful outdoor artwork.
• Hallormsstaðaskógur Forest – The largest wooded area in a mostly treeless country, great for picnics. 
• Hengifoss Waterfall – Third largest cascade in Iceland. Surrounded by black, basaltic strata with thin, red layers of clay between them.
• Lake Lagarfljót – Might contain a terrible wyrm monster, similar to Scotland’s Nessie.
• Egilsstaðir – Largest settlement in the eastern region with just over 2,000 inhabitants.

Today, you’ll explore the geothermal regions of northern Iceland. After breakfast, make your way to the Mývatn area where you’ll see smoke billowing out of steam vents, bubbling mud pools, a hot spring inside a cave, and a labyrinth of lava. 

A short drive from the Mývatn area is the town of Húsavík. This quiet, little settlement is known as the ‘Whale Watching capital of Iceland’ as many of the country’s 24 species of whales and dolphins make the ocean just offshore their home. 

Today, you’ll have the option of adding a whale watching tour from Húsavík to your trip. You can either go on a traditional whale watching tour or add on puffin watching as well where you’ll visit an island known as ‘Puffin Island’. 

Another option today is to unwind in the warm waters of Mývatn Nature Baths. Its mineral-rich waters are said to do wonders for your skin, and the view of the surrounding geothermal area only adds to the spa’s allure. 

You will spend the night in the vibrant town of Akureyri, stopping at the beautiful Goðafoss Waterfall on the way there.

Highlights Today:

• Dettifoss Waterfall – Europe’s most powerful waterfall
• Lake Mývatn – A beautiful lake where you’ll find freestanding lava pillars and pseudocraters.
• Hveravellir Geothermal Area – The landscape here resembles more that of Mars than Earth with its bubbling mud pools and steam vents. 
• Dimmuborgir Lava Field – A natural maze of giant but stunning lava rocks and hills. 
• Grjótagjá Hot Spring – A bright blue hot spring inside a cave which was also a location used in the popular HBO series Game of Thrones.
• Húsavík – A small and charming town on the banks of Skjálfandi Bay.
• Goðafoss Waterfall – A breathtaking arch-shaped cascade with a rich history.

Optional Activities:

• Whale Watching in Húsavík
• Whale and Puffin Watching in Húsavík
• Relax at the Mývatn Nature Baths

You’ll wake up in Akureyri, the largest settlement outside of the Greater Reykjavík Area. You can start the day by exploring this charismatic town by walking up to its famous Akureyrarkirkja church or explore the town’s famous (and questionable) fast-food culture.

You could also start the day by setting sails in search of the giant whales off the coast of Akureyri. The town sits on the banks of Eyjafjörður which is known for its humpback whale population. However, there are also other species which can be found in the area such as dolphins, porpoises, minke whales and even orcas. 

Alternatively, you can opt for a riding tour through the beautiful and mountainous North-Iceland countryside. Icelandic horses are friendly and intelligent creatures and have a rich history which dates back to the Vikings. 

After bidding farewell to Akureyri, make your way to the ‘Troll Peninsula’, Tröllaskagi. There you’ll find many charming towns and villages worth a stop, such as Siglufjörður and Hofsós. You can also make a stop at the Beer Spa found on the Troll Peninsula where you can unwind in a tub filled with warm beer, said to to wonders for your skin. 

You’ll spend the night in the north-west region, near the town of Hvammstangi. En route, you can stop at the strange looking rock stack Hvítserkur.  Some say it looks like a dragon, others say it looks like an elephant but it is actually a petrified troll.

Highlights Today:

• Akureyri – A lively and energetic town which is home to around 20,000 people.
• Siglufjörður – A small town on the Tröllaskagi Peninsula, famous for its award-winning herring-era museum.
• Hofsós – The infinity pool at this village is a highly recommended stop.
• Hvítserkur Rock – a large basalt rock protruding from the ocean.
• Hvammstangi – A charming village known for its Seal Center museum.

Optional Activities

• Horse Riding in North Iceland
• Whale Watching in Akureyri
• Unwinding at the Beer Spa

It is now time to head back to Reykjavík city, but not before having a few adventures in West Iceland first. Make your way through farmlands filled with sheep and horses towards the two stunning but vastly different waterfalls; Hraunfossar and Barnafoss. 

Close by, is Europe’s most powerful hot spring, Deildartunguhver, and one of the biggest lava caves in the world, Víðgelmir. You can add a tour of Víðgelmir during the booking process and explore the strange colours and stalagmites found within.

Alternatively, you can join a tour to the ice cave tunnels in Langjökull Glacier. You’ll meet your guides at the basecamp or in a nearby town. From there, you’ll be transported in a large vehicle up the glacier where you’ll enter the man-made tunnels which go deep inside the ice cap. Once inside, you’ll see spectacular blue colours of the ice and learn all about the glaciers of Iceland.

Back in the city, you have the day to explore the vibrant downtown area or unwind at your hotel room. If, however, you want to have one last adventure, you can add on a tour where you’ll go inside an inactive volcano. The tour will take you to a volcano outside of Reykjavík where you’ll be lowered down in a lift into the empty magma chamber. 

You will then spend the night in Reykjavík. 

Highlights Today:

• Hraunfossar Waterfalls – A series of trickling creeks streaming out of a lava field.
• Barnafoss Waterfall – A bright blue, rapid waterfall just a short walk away from Hraunfossar.
• Deildartunguhver Hot Spring – A powerful hot spring with ferociously boiling water and rising steam pillars.
• Reykholt – A historical settlement, once home to one of the world’s greatest medieval writers.

Optional Activities:

• Visiting the Ice Cave Tunnel in Langjökull
• Stepping inside Víðgelmir Lava Cave
• Exploring Inside the Volcano (May 10th to October 31st)

You’ve now encircled the whole Ring Road, and so there is nothing left but to say ‘goodbye’ to Iceland and start planning your next trip to this land of Ice and Fire. 

If your flight leaves in the evening or afternoon, you will have some time to explore Reykjavík a little before you head to the airport. We recommend that you take a stroll down Laugavegur Shopping Street and check out the street art found on the buildings there. 

If you didn’t have time on your arrival day, you could also schedule a visit to the Blue Lagoon on this day. That way, you will arrive at Keflavík Airport feeling relaxed and rested. 

We hope you had a fantastic time in Iceland. “Sjáumst Seinna”.

Highlights Today:

• Laugavegur Shopping Street – Where you’ll find an array of cafés, restaurants, bars and shops.
• Harpa Concert Hall – An architectural wonder located near the harbour.
• Hallgrímskirkja Church – Reykjavík’s iconic landmark building

Optional Activities:

• Visiting the Blue Lagoon Spa.