8 Day - Iceland Ring Road Tour

Your first day is mostly focused on visiting the fabulous and very famous Golden Circle attractions.

We visit Ingvellir National Park, an incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site with huge geological, historical, and cultural significance. The historic Icelandic Parliament was founded here in 930 CE/AD, called the Aling. This is the oldest still-existing democratic parliament in the world. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates continue to move apart, runs right through Ingvellir. You will see the rugged plate edge of the gorge; this must have been a really dramatic backdrop to the ancient parliamentary sessions! Your next stop is at the Geysir geothermally active area, home to Great Geysir, the famous spouting hot spring that gave us the English word geyser. You will witness Strokkur, the most active hot spring in recent times, blasting powerful torrents of superheated water every 5 to 10 minutes. Steaming fumaroles and hot springs can also be seen around the area. The final Golden Circle attraction before we head along the south coast is the thundering Gullfoss waterfall. Gullfoss means Golden Falls, You will see golden-toned mists rising around the waterfall as the mighty Hvt river crashes through two drops of 11 m and 21 m. Hvt means White River; this raging glacial torrent originates at Langjkull, the second-biggest glacier in Iceland.

On our way to your country hotel, situated near the village of Kirkjubaejarklaustur, we will stop to enjoy two legendary and very beautiful waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. Both are around 60 m high; otherwise, they are very different. Skogafoss waterfall cascades gracefully from the former sea cliffs. Seljalandsfoss is sometimes referred to as the unusual waterfall; a pathway leads behind the curtain of falling water, offering you a unique experience and views. In the end we will visit Reynisfjara black sand beach before heading to our accommodation. 

You will be picked up in Reykjavík at 8:00. Picking everyone up takes up to 30 minutes; depending on where your accommodation is located in Reykjavik, you may have to wait a few minutes. Your patience is much appreciated.

We travel through some extraordinary landscapes and other-worldly scenery on the way to Skaftafell in Vatnajokull National Park. You will see views of the stunning Myrdalsjokull glacier, home to one of the most feared volcanoes of all, the notorious Katla. You will also see another great fire maestro, Eyjafjalljokull. Our journey will take us over the Eldhraun lava field to Skaftafell, a lush green oasis in the midst of black volcanic sand areas. Skaftafell is quite sheltered with flourishing vegetation and birch forests.  

Our specialist glacier guide will lead you on a three-hour glacier hike, giving you the opportunity to explore a stunning glacier tongue of Vatnajkull, the biggest glacier in Europe. You will learn all about this sensational blue/white ice world.

We continue with the theme of ice, onwards to Jkoulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, action scenes from James Bond and other movies have made this the most famous ice lagoon in the world. Feast your eyes on the jaw-droppingly beautiful iceberg filled lagoon and visit the fabulous Diamond Beach. This coal-black beach glitters with shimmering blue/white icebergs washed ashore by the tide, these opalescent forms are extraordinary shapes. You will feel as though you have stepped through a magic doorway into a mystical ice realm with magic landscapes. Your accommodation will be in the South East area.

Today we will explore the East Fjords of Iceland. We continue threading our way along the coastline, driving some narrow roads around Hvalnes, a magnificent and remote peninsula, and the stretch around the Þvottárskriður landslides between Lóns and Álftafjarðar.

We will stop at Djúpivogur, a traditional small fishing village that is also home to a fine outdoor sculpture, Eggin í Gleðivík (meaning The Eggs of Merry Bay).

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After a full day of exploration, unwind at the Wilderness Center! This unique accommodation, just 40 minutes from Egilsstaðir, offers a cozy overnight stay. Immerse yourself in the local history at their wilderness museum, then soothe your muscles in the complimentary hot pots. Winter transforms the area into an aurora borealis wonderland, so keep your eyes peeled for the dazzling Northern Lights!

After the baths, we will relax on the Wilderness Center for the night.

dYour trip will start with a visit to Studlagil Canyon, famous for its dramatic basalt columns flanking a turquoise glacial river. Next, you'll traverse the wilderness of Möðrudalur valley. Your next attraction, the mystical landscapes around Lake Mvatn, has an altogether different character. The scenery will keep getting more surreal! We are heading to the steaming lunar landscapes and bubbling technicolor mud pots at the Nmaskar geothermal area. The steaming fumaroles and sizzling hot springs waft clouds of steam across these other-worldly vistas. There are more extraordinary scenes to come when we take you to see the Hverfjall crater and the unbelievable Dimmuborgir lava formations, known as the Dark Castles!

Now for some relaxation!  Mvatn Nature Baths, the Icelandic name for these baths is Jarbin  unsurprisingly, the hot water comes straight up out of the earth. Bathe in the mineral rich alkaline water (36  40 C), the entrance fee can be paid when booking or on site. Or you could take a stroll to enjoy the wonderful views and take a break in the cafeteria. In Jan–Mar 2026, Forest Lagoon replaces the Mývatn Nature Baths due to renovation. Godafoss, a dreamy crescent shaped waterfall, is our last stop before we continue to Eyjafjrur, the longest fjord in Iceland, rimmed by high mountains. Your accommodation will be at a country.

Sometimes, we can make a short stop in Akureyri, the Capital of the North.  We will begin with a whale-watching tour surrounded by dramatic high mountains, which are home to some of the best ski slopes in Iceland. Your three-hour whale-watching boat trip will depart from either Akureyri or Dalvik harbor. During the tour, you will navigate Eyjafjörður Fjord, heading in the direction that offers the best chances to see humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, minke whales, and occasionally even blue whales. 

Next on the agenda is a drive to Siglufjordur, a beautiful fishing village with an incredible history. This town was overtaken by a Klondike-like gold rush atmosphere in the early 20th century, when the tiny and isolated community became known as the herring fishing capital of the Atlantic. Traveling around Trllaskagi (the Troll Peninsula) you will see stunning ocean scenery and incredibly steep mountains. Your visit to Siglufjordur will give you a fabulous insight into how life was lived in tiny and isolated Icelandic villages. On the way to your hotel for the night you will pass through the farming heartland of Iceland, this is also a big horse farming area. Your Hotel will be in Borgarnes. 

On the 7th day of the tour we head to Borgarfjörður in West Iceland, an area voted as one of the best destinations by Lonely Planet in 2016. Borgarfjörður has a lot to show and we will visit some of the best natural and historical stops. Deildartunguhver hot spring is on our list as well as two waterfalls: Barnafoss (also known as the Children's waterfall) and Hraunfossar which emerges in low cascades straight from a lava field. Before ending the day with scenic views of Hvalfjörður (Whale Fjord) we will also stop at Reykholt, a historic site that was once home to a famous Icelandic historian, lawyer, politician, author of some of the Icelandic Sagas, and poet Snorri Sturluson. We expect to arrive in the city around 5 – 6 pm.

You have another free day to make the most of being in Reykjavik, the stunning capital of Iceland. Check off a few more things on your Reykjavik bucket list there are plenty more options. Maybe, explore the network of cycling and walking paths which thread around the coast and cross-cross the city. The coastal scenery is spellbinding from places such as Seltjarnarnes and Mosfellsbaer, both are easily reached by buses, although it is easy to walk to Seltjarnarness. Grasagarurinn, the Reykjavik Botanical Gardens, are well worth a visit. See the area where the women of Reykjavik used to do their laundry in the hot spring pools. These beautiful gardens are situated next to Laugardalslaug, the largest swimming pool in Iceland. Shop and browse some more, laze in coffee shops or restaurants, visit another museum or gallery, or squeeze in one last amazing adventure activity tour the choice is for you to make!