9-Day Ultimate Iceland Ring Road and Westfjords Adventure

After a morning pickup, we’ll head straight to the Golden Circle, the country’s most famous tourist route. The first stop is Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can walk in a rift valley between two tectonic plates. From there, we head to the Geysir Geothermal Area, where bubbling hot springs surround Strokkur, Iceland’s most active geyser. The last Golden Circle stop is Gullfoss waterfall, where a two-tiered cascade plunges into a deep canyon. 

Next, Route 1 takes you along the scenic South Coast. Stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall and walk the path behind the cascade if conditions allow. Then it’s on to Skógafoss and its 60 m (197 ft) drop. On clear days, glacier-topped mountains show in the distance, and the spray from the falls forms single or double rainbows. 

Before the day ends, we’ll visit Reynisfjara black-sand beach to see its basalt columns and the Reynisdrangar rock formations offshore. This beach is known for its powerful sneaker waves, so don’t turn your back to the ocean. Overnight at a hotel near Kirkjubæjarklaustur village.

Today is all about glaciers. After breakfast, we’ll head east, passing Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which hides the Katla volcano beneath its ice. On the way, we cross the Eldhraun lava field, a vast, moss-covered terrain formed by one of the largest lava flows in history during the 1783 eruption. 

Next up, Vatnajökull National Park, home to Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull. You’ll gear up and hike on one of its outlet glaciers. See ice formations, crevasses, and blue ice from up close. Then, you’ll visit Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and watch how icebergs, calved from Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, drift across the water. These ice chunks wash up on the nearby Diamond Beach and sparkle in the sun like gemstones. You’ll spend the night at a hotel on the South Coast.

After a filling morning meal, we’ll follow the Ring Road into the Eastfjords, a stretch known for sharp mountain peaks, quiet fjords, and small coastal villages. This area feels far from the usual paths. 

We’ll explore Djúpivogur, a quiet fishing village with just a few hundred residents. On the way, we’ll make a quick stop in Egilsstaðir, the largest town in East Iceland, set along the Lagarfljót river. The area is home to a local legend, the Lagarfljót Worm, a serpent-like monster said to lurk in the depths of the river.

You’ll spend the rest of the day at the Wilderness Center, a quiet hideaway located right by the edge of Northern Europe's biggest wilderness. You’ll have free access to the museum’s exhibitions and enjoy meals made from fresh local ingredients. To finish the day, you can relax in the on-site spa. Soak in a geothermal hot spring and warm up in a Finnish sauna. You’ll spend the night at the Wilderness Center hotel, with rustic furnishings and a cozy atmosphere.

Today, we’ll travel from East to North Iceland with multiple scenic stops along the way. First up is Stuðlagil canyon, where basalt columns rise above the turquoise waters of the Jökla river. You’ll see the canyon from its rim, with dark, geometric rock formations set against blue-green water. 

Next, the scenery changes to the steam-filled Námaskarð geothermal area, with bubbling mud pools and mineral-stained fumaroles, where hot gases escape from the ground. From there, we’ll travel around Mývatn, a shallow lake with over 50 small islands shaped by volcanic activity and known for its diverse birdlife.

As an optional extra, you can visit Earth Lagoon (formerly Myvatn Nature Baths), often called the “Blue Lagoon of the North.” Enjoy geothermal pools, steam baths, and volcanic landscapes. 

Later, we’ll stop at the Dimmuborgir rock formations, created when the roof of a massive lava tube collapsed and left behind towering lava pillars. You’ll visit Goðafoss, the crescent-shaped waterfall, before continuing to Eyjafjörður, a fjord surrounded by high mountains. Tonight’s accommodation is at a country hotel in Akureyri, with time to explore this fishing town in the north.

In the morning, get ready for an exciting whale-watching boat tour from Eyjafjörður Fjord. With a 98% success rate, common sightings include humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, and other ocean wildlife.  

After whale watching, we continue to Siglufjörður, Iceland’s northernmost town with a colorful harbor. It was known as the country’s herring capital in the early 20th century. From there, you’ll travel around Tröllaskagi (the Troll Peninsula) and visit small villages that reveal what life is like in the northern parts of the country. 

Our drive then passes through active farming areas on the way to Laugarbakki village, with a stop to explore Skagafjörður fjord, dotted with islands. You’ll stay at a cozy hotel in the Laugarbakki area.

Today, the Ring Road takes you to West Iceland, one of the country’s most traveled regions. We’ll focus on the Borgarfjörður fjord area, which packs in many classic stops. The day begins with a short hike to the Grábrók volcano crater for wide views over the surrounding lava fields. 

After the hike, we’ll head to Reykholt village. It was once home to one of the world's greatest medieval writers, and one of the most well-known Icelanders, Snorri Sturluson. Next is Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring, where geothermal water is used to heat homes in nearby towns like Borgarnes and Akranes.

From there, we continue to the Hraunfossar waterfall, where countless small streams pour out from the Hallmundarhraun lava field, and visit Barnafoss waterfall. We’ll also stop at Sturlureykir farm to pet fluffy Icelandic horses and get to know their friendly personalities.  

On our way to Reykjavík, we’ll take the scenic route via Hvalfjörður (Whale Fjord). You will spend this night at the hotel in the capital.

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up at your hotel in Reykjavík and head north along Route 1. The first stop is Eiríksstaðir Museum, a reconstructed Viking longhouse. Step inside and you’ll get a real feel for the world of Leifur Eiríksson, explorer and settler of Iceland. 

From there, the road takes you deeper into the Westfjords through Vatnsfjörður Nature Reserve, where the coastline turns quieter and more rugged. You’ll also visit the Garðar shipwreck, an excellent photo stop. Its rust-stained hull rests on a black-sand beach with green hills rising behind it.

Later, you’ll reach Látrabjarg, the largest seabird cliffs in Europe, set above the meeting point of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. You might spot a large puffin colony that has come here to nest. The day finishes at Breiðavík beach, a wide stretch of golden sand framed by blue water and green hills. Overnight at a comfortable hotel nearby, Hótel Flókalundur or similar.

In the morning, we’ll drive to Rauðisandur beach, a 10 km (6.2 mi) stretch of red-tinted sand, rare in Iceland. Such color comes from crushed scallop shells, which have slowly accumulated on the shore over the centuries. 

Our journey continues into the Fossfjörður valley and Dynjandi waterfall. This waterfall is the largest in the Westfjords. It’s a multi-tiered cascade, with a short walking path and several viewpoints along the way. Then, on to the Önundarfjörður pier, a simple wooden walkway reaching into the fjord. With turquoise water, pale sand, and mountains all around, it’s an excellent place to slow down for a bit.

The day begins at Ósvör Museum, a restored 19th-century fishing station. Turf houses and preserved rowboats show how Icelanders lived and worked in the past. Just nearby is the Óshólar lighthouse, with its photogenic red-orange tower. 

From here, you’ll follow the Seven Fjords Route, winding through fjord after fjord as the coastline and mountain ridges keep changing outside the window. Next is the Arctic Fox Center, a research site dedicated to Iceland’s only native mammal. Soon after, we’ll stop at the Hvítanes seal colony. You might see these adorable animals gather on coastal rocks between Hestfjörður and Skötufjörður fjords.

Before leaving the Westfjords, you’ll stop at the Gervidalsá, a fast-flowing waterfall. Then it’s back toward the capital, with one final highlight in West Iceland, Grábrók crater. A walk along its rim opens expansive views over lava fields and volcanic plains. You’ll return to Reykjavík in the evening, with drop-off at your original pick-up point.

Your safety is our priority. Sometimes the itinerary or hotels may change slightly due to weather conditions. Your guide always chooses the safest, best possible route based on weather and road conditions. 

This experience combines two separate tours. If one part (either the Ring Road or the Westfjords) gets cancelled, the other will still be available for you to join.