Ultimate Iceland Highlight Hitter: 8-Day Ring Road Tour

The first day is all about contrasts as you will do the Golden Circle tour along with the first part of the South Coast, a route which takes you to the historical Thingvellir National Park to get to know a little about the Viking history and the geothermal element here in Iceland, second the hot spring paradise in Haukadalur home to the active Strokkur and the world-renowned Geysir, the namegiver to all the geysers in the world. Next there is the stunning Gullfoss or the Golden Waterfall which is truly an amazing sight and has a lot of history and different viewing angles that you simply must try!

The day will also include stops at the famous Seljalandsfoss waterfall “the one you can walk behind” and its brother, the endless power source of Skógafoss waterfall. From there the trip continues along the South Coast, past glaciers and volcanoes before reaching the alluring Reynisfjara black sand beach, this mystical basalt wonderland is one of these places that you will remember a lifetime. The Reynisdrangar basalt stacks in the ocean, the strong waves, the lava cave carved into a tuff mountain and the volcanic ash sand beach is sure to capture any heart!

The night will be spent in a country hotel near Kirkjubæjarklaustur, a charming village in Iceland’s south. 

After breakfast with the group, it’s time to check out and head east—because today is packed with natural wonders. 

We continue along the Ring Road, entering Skaftafell and Vatnajökull National Parks. Iceland has three national parks—Þingvellir, Vatnajökull, and Snæfellsjökull—and this tour brings you to them all. In today’s region, you’ll spot incredible sights like Iceland’s highest peak, Hvannadalshnúkur, along with the striking outlet glaciers Svínafellsjökull and Falljökull. 

From April to October, this day includes a glacier hike led by a certified glacier guide on an outlet of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier. Equipped with all the necessary gear, you’ll step out onto the ice and explore its deep crevasses, moulins that tunnel into the glacier, and endless shades of white and blue. Our guides love sharing their knowledge—so don’t hesitate to ask questions. 

From October to mid-April, the glacier hike is replaced with a visit to the Crystal Ice Cave, a naturally formed cave within Vatnajökull Glacier. Each year, meltwater carves new passageways into the ice, creating shimmering blue formations that change with the seasons.  

After your glacier adventure, the group heads to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. This massive lake is filled with icebergs that have calved from Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier, drifting gently through the lagoon. It’s a calm and surreal scene, with icy shapes floating in soft blues and whites. From the lagoon, we visit the nearby Diamond Beach. Here, those same icebergs wash up on the black volcanic sand, glittering like jewels in the sun—a perfect place for a walk and unforgettable photos. 

In the evening, we settle in for the night at a cozy accommodation in a small, welcoming town in the southeast. 

Today we take on the Eastfjords in Iceland as we continue our tour. Vatnajökull will still continue to follow us the beginning of the route providing truly spectacular scenery. The roads starts to twist and turn and the mountains get closer and steeper as the travel takes you into the Eastfjords. Our point of interest is Egilsstaðir where the mystical Lagarfljót River flows, home to the “Icelandic Loch Ness Monster”.  Tales of the giant Largarfljót worm, which is said to show itself from time to time, are firmly established within Icelandic folklore tales and the guide will tell you all about it. Egilsstaðir is often called the capital of the East but many find the smaller villages to host the strongest charm and so along the way the way we stop off at Djúpivogur, a small and really remote fishing village. The North Atlantic waves wash over the black sandy beach and a rich birdlife thrives in the area. Djúpivogur is home to just over 1100 people greatly outnumbered by the wildlife around. As a community Djúpivogur is known for its reputation as welcoming and being strongly committed to eco issues.

We will finish the day by reaching the Wilderness Center, a historic hub and museum in Northern Europe's vast wilderness. Here, you can enjoy outdoor activities and exhibitions, experiencing authentic Icelandic life. Explore exhibits on highland living and Icelandic history at the museum for free during your stay! After your adventures, unwind in the warm pool at the bathing house and stay in charming historic buildings while enjoying local cuisine.

The accommodation for the night will be in Egilsstaðir.

Out of the Reindeer Kingdom in the East and into the Icelandic Horse Paradise in the North. Today we drive from the charming Egilsstaðir to Stuðlagil Canyon, one of the world’s most enchanting basalt rock formations.

Next, we head to the surreal Námaskarð geothermal area, filled with colorful mud pools and fumaroles wafting clouds of steam and hot gases and with the geothermal mindset already in place we make a stop at Lake Mývatn.

Fresh and clean from the awesome natural baths we continue to the Dimmuborgir lava formations, known as the ‘dark cities’, some of these lava forms will tower above us like fairytale giants. Dimmuborgir was formed when the roof of a giant lava tube collapsed. The feeling of standing in Dimmuborgir is like no other and many talk about the experience as one of the most eye-opening ones in Iceland.

We continue our drive around picturesque Lake Mývatn on the way to Akureyri, making a stop at the stunningly beautiful Goðafoss Waterfall, known as the waterfall of the gods.

As an optional extra, you can visit the Earth Lagoon (formerly Myvatn Nature Baths) (optional extra), often called the "Blue Lagoon of the North." These geothermal pools are filled with mineral-rich water from 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) below the surface. You can also enjoy a swim-up bar and steam baths - it’s the perfect spot to enjoy the warmth coming straight from the earth’s core. In Jan–July 15th 2026, Forest Lagoon replaces the Mývatn Nature Baths due to renovation.

We will stay at a country hotel in Akureyri, the second-largest city in Iceland.

After a night spent in the beautiful Akureyri, the capital of the North we start making our way onwards West before going back down South. The first stop of the day is an exciting one as Eyjafjörður is home to the most amazing Whale Watching Tours, known as the place with the greatest success rate and the place to see the most variety in marine life!

You will step on a boat led by absolute experts to chase whales, dolphins, and vivid birdlife and your guide will make sure you get the absolute most out of the experience. Humpback whales, dolphins, and porpoises are the most common but Blue Whales and seals are often seen as well.

The road then takes us along the Tröllaskagi. Troll Peninsula and you will see the adorable farm life and little villages along the route, one of them being the vibrant Siglufjörður. There we will make a stop and get to know this important place in Icelandic history.

In the early part of the twentieth century, this village was known as the herring fishing capital of the Atlantic. People rushed to cash-in on the boom, and the town had somewhat of a gold-rush atmosphere. Today, the great shoals of herring are long gone, but the rich history and character of those times in Siglufjörður are very well-preserved. After a photogenic stop in the Sail Fjord (Siglufjörður) we travel onwards through Skagafjörður and Húnavatnassýsla both known for their endless fields of colorful Icelandic horses.

Your accommodation for the night will be at a country hotel in Laugarbakki.

Today we wake up in a lave paradise in the Borgarfjörður area in West Iceland which won Lonely Planet’s award for one of the best travel destinations in 2016. Our first stop of the day is quite unusual for most travelers but one of our very favorite, the lesser known but completely miraculous Grábrók Volcanic Crater. The hike to the top to look into the crater is a short one and well worth it as both the trail and the final view are like something from a movie.

The next stop on the road shows a completely different side to the power of Icelandic nature, after the volcanic power there is the geothermal. We are visiting Europe’s most powerful hot spring, Deildartunguhver. This rainbow colored hot spring provides over 90% of the hot water utilized in the area.

Back on the road, we are heading towards Hraunfossar waterfalls where ice cold glacial water drips at a rapid speed down in a cascade forming the most awe-inspiring sight. The sister fall to Hraunfossar is the wonderful Barnafoss waterfall known for its intensely blue colors and pitch black lava pathway.

The final stop of the day is at Smoky Hill or Reykholt which serves as a very important factor in Iceland’s history as it was home to one of Iceland most remarkable poets and historians. Snorri Sturluson was a 12th-century scholar who wrote Snorra-Edda which for is truly a unique insight into life in the Viking times.

After a day of wonders you are driven through the very pleasant Borgarfjörður countryside, you are dropped off at your hotel in Borgarnes.

Today, we will explore the beautiful Snæfellsnes Peninsula which has earned the nickname “miniature Iceland” for a very good reason. This region features all of the most remarkable natural attractions that Iceland is so famous for. The scenery is incredibly diverse. Snæfellsnes has a stunning, glacier-capped volcano surrounded by rough lava fields. Some of Iceland’s most dramatic rocky beaches and sea stacks are found here, along with one of the largest seal colonies.

We will continue our drive through the peaceful countryside. Breathtaking mountains and ocean views will surround us the entire way. We will stop at two lovely coastal fishing villages, Arnarstapi and Hellnar. These two remarkable sites are very close to each other. A beautiful natural harbor, columnar rock formations, arch rocks, and basalt caves await our exploration. We will visit a cozy café where you will be given the chance to enjoy lunch (food and drink are not included) with a stunning view of the coast.

Next, we head into Snæfellsnes National Park. We will have the chance to go for a short hike through the moss-covered landscape and admire the views of the Snæfellsjökull glacier towering over us.

One of the oddest natural attractions on the peninsula can be seen from kilometers away. The strange, giant Lóndrangar sea stacks dominate the landscape even from a distance. The stacks are 75 and 61-meters (246 and 200-feet) high and together look like a dark castle. It is said that they belong to the elves living in the area so no one dares disturb them.

Our next stop is the dramatic Djúpalónssandur beach. This stunning black sand beach stretches between crazily shaped cliffs and marvelous lava formations. You will get time to explore or to even to try your strength at the “lifting stones.” These stones are used by fishermen who lift them to display their strength. A picturesque shipwreck, the British Trawler, is the other gem of this beach. This mystical and truly enchanting place might one of the top three most remarkable beaches in Iceland.

On our way back to Reykjavík, our next stop will be at Kirkjufell, the famous Church mountain. It is, without doubt, one of Iceland’s most iconic landmarks. The symmetrical mountain with its picturesque waterfalls in the foreground looks like the perfectly idyllic postcard picture.

As we leave the peninsula behind, we return to Reykjavík to drop you off at your hotel in the capital area.

Please note that on this day our activities depend on the season. From mid-June to the end of September, we will take you on the Landmannalaugar Super Jeep Tour in the Central Highlands of Iceland. From October to mid-June, we will go on a snowmobiling tour on Langjokull Glacier (you have to have a valid driver's license). During the summer, we will take off from Reykjavík along the South Coast but this time, we are going straight into the highlands! This region is definitely off the beaten path. 

Past farmlands and the voluminous volcano Hekla we make our way off the Ring Road and into the wild, where variations of flora and fauna vary in incredible ways. We will drive to the vicinity of a lava field formed during a volcanic eruption in the year 2000 eruption. From this mountaintop, you will have the chance to explore as far as the eye can see, with glaciers, volcanoes and untamed nature all around. The Landmannalaugar area is often called a geothermal paradise and its mountains are without equal. Remember to bring a bathing suit as right under the banks of the lava field that sits in the center of the area you will find the most alluring hot baths where you can soak in natural hot waters. This experience is authentic without comparison!

This Highlands excursion is the perfect way to end your tour around the country and will ensure you check those final items off your Iceland bucket list.

During the winter, we will pick you up from your accommodation in Reykjavik with a Super Jeep! We’ll head towards Langjokull Glacier Base Camp, where you’ll be provided all the necessary snowmobiling equipment: helmet, balaclava, and an overall suit.

Then your certified snowmobile guide will show you how to operate a snowmobile. Don’t worry if you don’t have any snowmobiling experience, beginners are welcome!

Langjokull Glacier in the Icelandic Highlands is the second-largest glacier in Iceland. Translated from Icelandic it means “the long glacier.” Loved by locals and travelers alike, the glacier is surrounded by breathtaking panoramic views. Your ride will last for about an hour and you’ll be able to witness the stunning wonderland of Langjokull in winter.

At the end of the day, we will drive you back to Reykjavík and drop you off at your selected drop-off location around 9 p.m.

• From mid-June to the end of September, we will take you on the Landmannalaugar Super Jeep Tour in the Highlands of Iceland. From October to mid-June, we will go on a snowmobiling tour on Langjokull Glacier.
  
  
• All snowmobile drivers need to bring a valid Driving License.
  
  
• Two people ride one snowmobile. If you are on your own or wish to ride solo (a valid driver's license is mandatory), you need to book this and pay an extra 10000 ISK. If you are a solo traveler and don't have a driver's license or a pair with another person, you need to pay an extra 51000 ISK to hire a driver guide.