Iceland 10 Days Ring Road, Road Trip

Welcome to your Iceland self-drive tour. After you have gathered your luggage and cleared customs, you get transferred to your accommodation in Reykjavik. Within walking distance from your hotel you’ll find many of the highlights of this vibrant capital. A must stop for every visitor is the Hallgrímskirkja, one of the most famous landmarks in Reykjavík. For a small fee it is possible to go to the top of the bell tower, which offers great views over the city. Other must-see places in Reykjavik are the Perlan building and Harpa Music & Conference centre. You stay for the night in an accommodation in the city centre.

Today you receive your rental car. Before leaving town, we would like to invite you to an optional private information meeting in our office. Start your self-drive adventure by driving east towards the amazing Þingvellir National Park. This area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rich with its incredible natural beauty and history. At Þingvellir you can also take the short walk to Öxarárfoss, a relatively small but attractive waterfall. Continue to the famous Geyser geothermal fields with hot springs and bubbling mud pools. Watch a “performance” by Strokkur geyser, as it spouts water and steam up to 30 meters into the air. Afterwards you will head to Gullfoss waterfall to complete the formal Golden Circle. Gullfoss’s total height is 32 meters in two drops. From there, make your way towards the South Coast. Stay overnight in the Hella area. 

Today you will enjoy a day full of sightseeing on the South Coast. After breakfast, start driving east where you first pass Hvolsvöllur. Here you find the Lava Museum which we highly recommend visiting (optional). It is an interactive exhibition about the volcanoes in Iceland. Next stop is at the impressive Seljalandsfoss waterfall. This waterfall has a 60-meter drop and is one of the best-known waterfalls in Iceland. Continue to Skógar where you’ll find the picture perfect Skógafoss. It is one of the country’s biggest waterfalls. Drive further east to the mighty Mýrdalsjökull glacier and enjoy optional activities such as glacier hiking or snowmobiling with professional guides. Drive further along the south shore to the village of Vík. Once there, visit the black volcanic beach of Reynisfjara with a view of the Reynisdrangar ocean cliffs. You stay for the night in this area.

After breakfast, continue to Skaftafell, a part of the Vatnajökull National Park. Skaftafell is a lush green oasis between a mighty glacier and vast black sand beaches. You’ll find there many interesting hiking trails, including one to the waterfall Svartifoss. Continue to the spectacular Jökulsarlon glacial lagoon where huge ice bergs break from the glacier and slowly float to the open ocean. There, you can join an optional boat tour between the beautiful icebergs rising from the cold waters. You should also stop at the so called “Diamond Beach” where icebergs from the lagoon drift ashore and create the most magical setting. After that, continue to the village of Höfn where you stay for the night.

Time to explore the tranquil East Fjords of Iceland. Start by driving to Djúpivogur, a small and cosy fishing town. Another charming town is Stöðvarfjörður. It is home to Petra’s Stone Collection. Petra was a local lady who collected various natural stones throughout her life, the stones that now make up her stone collection. The collection is very impressive and well worth a visit (optional). The next town is Fáskrúðsfjörður. This town was formerly a setting for a French sailboat fishery and French influence can still be found there. Some of the older houses have been preserved and even the street signs are both in Icelandic and French. Continue your drive to the town of Egilsstaðir where you will stay for the night.

Today you explore the natural highlights around lake Mývatn. Mývatn is a volcanic lake in Northern Iceland. Around the Mývatn area you will find amazing attractions. You should not miss Námaskarð, a huge geothermal area with hot sulfuric mud springs and steam springs. Other interesting places to see are the Dimmuborgir lava formations, Krafla volcano and the Skútustaðir pseudo craters. In the evening, we recommend a soak in the Mývatn Nature Baths, the North’s answer to the Blue Lagoon (optional). You stay for the night in this area.

After a full day of sightseeing yesterday there may still be some sights around the Mývatn area that you would like to explore in the morning. After that, you will start your drive to Akureyri. Akureyri is Iceland's second largest city, after the greater Reykjavík area. On your way, you can visit one of the most spectacular waterfalls of Iceland. The name Goðafoss can be translated roughly to The Waterfall Of The Gods. This waterfall flows over a 30-meter wide horseshoe-shaped rock that rises in the center separating the waterfall in two. Once in Akureyri, you can explore the town. Do not miss the chance to climb up the stairs leading to the church of Akureyri. Located on a hill it offers a great view over the centre of the city. Another interesting stop is the Botanical Garden containing almost every plant that grows in Iceland. You stay for the night in this area.

It is time to continue your self-drive tour around Iceland. Leave Akureyri behind and start making your way to the beautiful Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Sights in this area include the Berserkjahraun lava field, the famous shark museum in Bjarnarhöfn and the picturesque Kirkjufell mountain. Continuing, you’ll find the Snaefellsjökull glacier, the Djúpalónssandur pebble beach, Arnarstapi and Hellnar and the old church in Búðir. It is also possible to add activities here, such as a visit to the Vatnshellir Lava Cave, a whale watching tour or a Viking Sushi boat tour. You stay for the night in the area.

After exploring Snæfellsnes it is time to drive back direction Reykjavik. On the way you may want to stop at the Eldborg crater, rising 60 meters above its surroundings. An easy hike though the lava field brings you to the ridge of the crater. You can also look at the highlights of West Iceland. Sights along the way are Hraunfossar waterfalls, Deildartunguhver (the largest hot spring in Europe) and the Settlement Center in Borgarnes. Once heading back to Reykjavík, you can either take the scenic Hvalfjörður Fjord route where you can stop and hike up to the famous Glymur waterfall or if you want to return directly to Reykjavik take the Route 1 underwater tunnel. Arrive in Reykjavik, return the car and stay the night in central Reykjavik. 

This is your last day in Iceland and your self-drive holiday has come to an end. Check out of your hotel in the morning. Transfer to Keflavik International in time for your flight home. If you are leaving in the afternoon you can visit the Blue Lagoon on your way to Keflavík Airport (optional). Soak in the restorative waters of the lagoon that is situated in the middle of a pitch-black lava field. Have a safe and enjoyable trip back home!