This 8 day around the Iceland ‘Ring Road’ tour is a great option for those who want to make the most of their stay in Iceland and experience the best of everything this beautiful country has to offer. As well as all the spectacular locations you’ll visit there will also be a possibility to be able to spot the Northern Lights from late August until April.
During the summer months, when the midnight sun reigns, puffins might be spotted along the coastline. And in the East, we might cross paths with reindeer if we’re lucky.
In September, if time is on our side, we’ll take some time to visit a sheep round-up somewhere in the country side.
To get a more detailed idea of where we’ll go and what we’ll see, please refer to the itinerary below.
During the winter we will extend our glacier hike with a visit to an ice cave.
Please note that during winter we reserve the right to change the itinerary or take a different route with your safety in mind if the weather and/or road conditions are bad.
You get a chance of exploring Reykjavik on your own for the first day of your travel, depending on what time you arrive of course.
Overnight: a hotel / guesthouse in Reykjavik
After pick up in Reykjavik at 8:45, the first day of this round tour will spend exploring the famous Golden Circle. To start with, we visit Þingvellir National park where Icelanders founded their parliament in the year 930. Þingvellir is unique in a geographical sense and is one of UNESCO’s world heritage sites because of its historical significance. Geysir hot spring area is our next destination. Here the spouting hot spring Strokkur and bubbling fumaroles attract visitors all year round. The last of the Golden circle sites is the mighty Gullfoss waterfall. See the dreamlike golden hue rising from the spray of the glacier water rushing into the canyon. On our way to our accommodation, we have the chance to visit both Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls. We will spend the night in a country hotel close to the village of Vík.
Overnight: Country hotel near the village of Vík
We start the day exploring Reynisfjara black sand beach with the glorious Reynisdrangar peaks and basalt column cave. After that, glaciers are on the agenda. We pass Mýrdalsjökull glacier having a possibility of a view of Katla Volcano and drive through Eldhraun lava field on the way to Skaftafell. Skaftafell is a part of Vatnajökull National park and is a true oasis in the black glacier sands with its green birch forest. We will take a three-hour glacier hike, lead by our skilled glacier guides, on one of Vatnajökull’s many outlet glaciers. After our hike at Europe’s biggest glacier, we make our way to the famous Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon where we will explore the lagoon as well as the black sand crystal beach filled with ice from the glacier. Our accommodation will be in a guesthouse in the town of Höfn, known as the lobster capital of Iceland.
Overnight: Guesthouse at Höfn
Today we will explore the East fjords of Iceland. We will continue threading our way along the coastline, driving narrow roads along Hvalnes- and Þvottárskriður landslides. We will stop at Djúpivogur village, a small fishery village that is the home of fine outdoor sculpture – Eggin í Gleðivík (e. The eggs of Marry bay). After that, we will go for an invigorating hike to Hengifoss, Iceland’s second highest waterfall (128m) and Litlanesfoss waterfalls. The hike takes about three hours in total and it takes you to a beautiful gorge where a colorful rock face displays layers from volcanic eruptions in ancient times. After the hike, we make our way to Egilsstaðir, where we will be spending the night in a country hotel.
Overnight: Hotel in Egilsstaðir
We are on our way to the northern part of the country. From Egilsstaðir, we drive over the wilderness of Möðrudalur, the highest inhabited place in the country, at 469 m. We will stop at Dettifoss, Iceland’s most voluminous waterfall before we go to the Mývatn area where we will explore the magnificent landscape around the lake. Here Námaskarð geothermal area, Hverfjall crater and Dimmuborgir formations will be among the highlights. Goðafoss waterfall is the last stop of the day before we make our way to Eyjafjörður fjord where we find our accommodation in a country hotel near Akureyri.
Overnight: Country hotel near Akureyri
In the morning, you will get a chance to explore Akureyri, the capital of the North, before we go for a whale watching tour from Dalvík. During the 3-hour sail tour, you can expect to spot humpback whale, white-beaked dolphins, minke whales, and sometimes even the majestic blue whale, you do also get a chance to try your luck at sea angling. When we come ashore, we drive to Siglufjörður a fishing village and around Tröllaskagi peninsula where you can get a good idea about the life in the small villages around Iceland. Before we reach Borgarfjörður where we spend the last night of this tour we will drive through a thriving agricultural area. The night will be spent in a hotel in the small university community at Bifröst.
Overnight: Hotel Bifröst
On this last day, we will find ourselves in the west of Iceland – an area Lonely Planet voted as on of the best destinations in 2016. Borgarfjörður with all its splendid sights is our main focus. Deildartunguhver hot spring, Barnafoss waterfall and Hraunfossar cascade, flowing from underneath the lava fields are among our stops. As well is the historic site of Reykholt, featuring Snorralaug pool, the home of Snorri Sturluson who is the author of many of the Icelandic sagas. We will drive the picturesque Hvalfjörður Bay on our way to Reykjavík where we will end our tour at 5-6 PM.
Overnight: a hotel / guesthouse in Reykjavik
Like the first day you will get a chance of exploring Reykjavík on your own on your last day of your travels depending on when your flights are.
Overnight: n/a
Read moreFood (other than breakfast)
Please be advised that pick-up from hotels / guesthouses in Reykjavik can start up to 30 minutes before scheduled departure time.
What to bring: Warm outdoor clothing, a waterproof jacket and pants, head wear and gloves. Good hiking shoes are recommended.
Maximum number of participants: 16 persons per guide.
Solo travelers are required to choose single room when they make their bookings.
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