Drive Through Iceland in Your Own Private Car

   
 
 

Ring Road Highlights

Iceland Self Drive Tour

8 Days / 20 locations in Iceland

2024 Departures
DailyMay 1st to May 31st
Prices From$1915 per Person Double
2024 Departures
DailyJune 1st to June 24th
Prices From$2530 per Person Double
2024 Departures
DailyJune 25th to August 26th
Prices From$2790 per Person Double
2024 Departures
DailyAugust 27th to September 30th
Prices From$2530 per Person Double
2024 Departures
DailyOctober 1st to December 31st
Prices From$2020 per Person Double
2025 Departures
DailyJanuary 1st to April 30th
Prices From$2020 per Person Double

Ring Road Highlights” is one of our bestselling car rental packages, giving you the chance to visit all of Iceland’s main attractions in eight days. Discover the legendary natural wonders and magical landscapes that make Iceland so special.

Travel around Iceland in just eight days, taking in the highlights of the Ring Road. Throughout this tour you will discover magical Iceland’s legendary natural wonders, majestic landscapes and unique charm. If you upgrade to a 4WD vehicle you can opt to traverse the uninhabited interior of Iceland via the unpaved Kjolur highland track (mid-Jun – August; subject to weather conditions.

Itinerary

 
Day 1     Keflavik - Hveragerdi
Accommodation: Ork Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Approximate distance: ca100km / 62miles

Once you have landed at Keflavik Airport, please pick up your luggage and head through customs. Collect your rental car at the airport and proceed to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time in Iceland, we suggest that you take some time to explore the Reykjanes Peninsula (a UNESCO GeoPark site) before you head to Reykjavik.

Reykjanes is a great introduction to Iceland’s unique geology and volcanoes. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge dividing the European and North American tectonic plates cuts through the area. You’ll see unusual and stunning craters, lava cliffs, fissures and the Mid-Atlantic ridge itself. You can even walk on a bridge that divides Europe and North America. We also recommend a stroll in the surreal Gunnuhver area where you can view quirky colorful mud pools and steam vents bubbling away. If you are a Viking history buff, we recommend the Viking World museum, famous for the Íslendingur, a Viking ship replica that sailed between Iceland and North America in 2000.

Several charming fishing villages and lighthouses dot the peninsula, and the area has a reputation for tasty seafood fresh from the ocean. Reykjanes is home to the renowned Blue Lagoon, and you might enjoy the chance to relax in the soothing azure waters. Important: admission to the Blue Lagoon needs to be booked in advance. We can help you with that.

Drive along mystical lava landscapes of the South Coast road to the charming village of Hveragerdi for your overnight. The road takes you past rocky beaches with thundering waves. Hveragerdi is perfect for getting to know typical small-town Icelandic culture, but with a unique twist. Hveragerdi is one of the few sites in the world located directly on top of a geothermal area and, because of its many greenhouses heated by hot water from nearby springs, it is often called the “flower village.”

Overnight in the Hveragerdi area.

Please note check-in for most hotels begins at 14:00 – 16:00 (2:00pm-4:00pm).

Optional:

Visit the Blue Lagoon

Panorama ATV tour on Reykjanes Peninsula

 
Day 2     Thingvellir - Geysir - Vik
Meals: Breakfast

National Park with Geological Wonders (UNESCO) – Exploding Geysers – Puffin Colony – Black Sand Beaches of the South Shore

Approximate driving distance: 395 km / 245 miles

Enjoy a day visiting the natural wonders of the Golden Circle region. Visit Thingvellir National Park, site of the ancient Icelandic Viking parliament and a jewel of nature. Here you can see the meeting point between the North American and Europe continents. Many important historical events happened here. Several walking trails and hiking trails take visitors to historical points of interest.

Gullfoss is considered by many visitors to be Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls. Geysir is an active geothermal field with many bubbling steam vents and spouting hot springs, including the famous Strokkur geyser.

Drive along the south shore, viewing Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss, two amazing waterfalls that each have a special charm.

Next visit the black sand beaches around Vik and the area’s Myrdalsjokull glacier. Depending on your schedule, you can take a snowmobiling or ATV tour in the area. In the area is also Dyrholaey*, a former island that is known for its excellent bird watching, including puffins (puffins generally seen in Iceland between mid-May and early August).

*Please note that Dyrholaey is closed during nesting season, from about the middle of May until late June.

Overnight in the Vik area.

Optional:

Snowmobiling on Myrdalsjokull Glacier (from Basecamp)  

Fontana Geothermal Baths - Entrance fee  

Solheimajokull Glacier Walking Tour (from Basecamp)

Silfra River snorkeling

Secret Lagoon

Kayaking by Solheimajokull Glacier

Black Sand Beach ATV tour

Zipline in Vik

 

 
Day 3     Vik - Kirkjubaejarklaustur - Skaftafell National Park - Jokulsarlon
Meals: Breakfast

Lava Fields – Europe’s Largest National Park – Glacial Lagoon with Icebergs – Europe’s Largest Glacier

Approximate driving distance: 285 km / 177 miles

Start the day with a drive through Eldraun, the strange-looking lava field created by one of Iceland’s most devastating volcanic eruptions.

Drive through the village of Kirkjubaejarklaustur, site of a medieval convent. Explore Skaftafell, a green oasis nestled below the great Vatnajokull glacier. Skaftafell is part of Vatnajokull National Park, the largest of its type in Western Europe. Continue across black sand plains created by glacial activity. Stop at the incredible Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon, a filming location for many Hollywood blockbusters. Also in the area is the Diamond Beach, a popular spot for photographers. Then head onwards to the charming harbor town of Hofn, also known as the lobster capital of northern Europe.

Overnight in the Hofn area.

Optional:

Zodiac boat tour on Fjallsarlon Ice Lagoon

Amphipian boat tour on Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Glacier Wonders-Glacier hike in Skaftafell

 
Day 4     Hofn - Egilsstadir
Meals: Breakfast

Narrow Fjords – Steep Mountains – Picturesque Coastline – Intriguing Stone Collection

Approximate driving distance: 265 km / 165 miles

Drive along the rugged coastline of the Eastfjords region. Perhaps you’ll visit Djupivogur village harbor and its unique egg sculptures or Petra‘s famous stone collection at Stodvarfjordur.

You can then either drive straight through Fagridalur to Egilsstadir or head along the coastal Eastfjords, one of the oldest regions in Iceland, shaped by glaciers during the Ice Age. Although many fjords are uninhabited, each fjord has its own grandeur. The natural harbors in the fjords led to the development of fishing villages that have still hung on to a degree of Old-World charm.

Depending on your schedule, you might enjoy the opportunity to swim in the floating pools of a genuine hot spring lake at the Vok geothermal area near Egilsstadir.

Overnight in the Egilsstadir area.

Optional:

Petra's Icelandic Minerals Museum

Vok Geothermal Baths

Local Village Walk in Bakkagerdi (East Iceland)

 
Day 5     Egilsstadir - Dettifoss - Husavik - Lake Myvatn
Meals: Breakfast

Highland Desert – Europe’s Most Powerful Waterfall – Glacier Carved Gorge – Whale Watching

Approximate driving distance: 275 km / 171 miles

Travel across the Modrudalsoraefi highlands renowned for their stark, untouched beauty towards Dettifoss, Europe’s mightiest waterfall. Then travel through the otherworldly canyon landscapes of northern Vatnajokull National Park. Take some time to enjoy the walking trails and viewing points around the magnificent horseshoe-shaped canyon Asbyrgi.

Drive onwards to Tjornes peninsula and the friendly Husavik fishing port, a town made famous recently by the 2020 Netflix movie Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. Husavik is most famous for its excellent whale watching, and we recommend a tour to catch a possible glimpse of whales and dolphins. Today you might also enjoy the opportunity to relax in the soothing warm ocean waters of the GeoSea Geothermal Spa as you look out towards the Arctic Circle. After this beautiful day of natural wonders, head to the Lake Myvatn area for the night. 

Important: Please note Roads 864, 862 and therefore, Road 85 are usually closed during the fall, winter and spring until the end of May (Road opening dates are dependent on the weather conditions). Until these roads are open, please take the scenic Ring Road 1 to Road 87 and on to Husavik.

Please note that Roads 864 and 862 are gravel roads, and you need to pay attention to warning signs in the area if road conditions are not good for driving

Overnight in the Myvatn area.

Optional:

Whale Watching (from Husavik)  

Husavik Silent Whale Watching (Carbon Neutral Tour)

Big Whale Safari and Puffins in RIB boats (from Husavik)

GeoSea Geothermal Sea Baths in Husavik

 
Day 6     Lake Myvatn - Akureyri - Skagafjordur
Meals: Breakfast

Bizarre Lava Formations – Geothermal & Volcanic Activity – Rich Birdlife – Waterfall “Of the Gods”– The Capital of North Iceland

Approximate driving distance: 165 km / 103 miles

Explore the highlights of the Lake Myvatn area, including the mystical volcanic formations at Dimmuborgir, the pseudo craters at Skutustadir, the colorful sulfurous slopes of Namaskard, and the Hverfjall volcanic crater. Perhaps you might relax with a visit to the azure blue Myvatn Nature Baths, where you can enjoy the soothing waters and the natural steam baths and sauna.

Drive on to Godafoss, a lovely half circle-shaped waterfall with a connection to Icelandic Vikings. Continue on to Akureyri, the charming “capital” of North Iceland.

Please Note: The Ring Road route today contains a toll tunnel. More information is provided.

Overnight in the Akureyri area or Northwest Iceland.

Optional:

Myvatn Nature Baths

Whale Watching from Dalvik

 
Day 7     Varmahlid - Reykholt - Borgarnes - Hvalfjordur
Meals: Breakfast

Fertile Farmlands – Glacial Rivers – Folk Museum – Scenic Fjord

Approximate driving distance: 490 km / 305 miles

Drive through the historical region of Skagafjordur, renowned for horse breeding. You might visit the old farmstead at Glaumbaer a great example of traditional Icelandic turf house architecture. A museum exhibit inside shows how Icelanders lived for centuries in houses like this. Continue to the bay of Hunafloi, where you might visit the Seal Centre and perhaps take a seal watching tour.

Then head across Holtavorduheidi plateau, entering the Borgarfjordur area. Visit the beautiful Hraunfossar lava falls and Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot springs. Near Deildartunguhver is Krauma, the intriguing “fire and ice” geothermal spa that uses water from the springs.

Drive to Reykjavik, arriving in the evening.

Overnight in Reykjavik.

Alternative Route for Today: Another option if you are traveling between mid-June and August and have a 4WD vehicle is to travel across the barren wasteland on the Kjolur highland road to the geothermal wilderness oasis at Hveravellir before driving to Reykjavik. This historical route heads through a landscape of black sands, high mountains, and two magnificent glaciers. (If you take the Kjolur option, the alternative distance would be 410 km, 255 miles and about 6 hours.)

Important information about Kjolur – Please note that a 4WD vehicle is needed for this unpaved mountain track- Car Category 5.0 or higher. The Kjolur track is generally open mid-June through August, openings subject to weather and road conditions.

Optional:

Krauma Nature Bath

Sky Lagoon Pass

 
Day 8     Reykjavik - Keflavik
Meals: Breakfast

Arrangements end after breakfast.

 

Notes

Price in USD per person in double room with private facilities with recommended Compact Car (cat 2) May- September and medium SUV, 4WD (cat 5.0) for October- April. Inquire for rates on other car categories.

LATE ARRIVAL SUPPLEMENT FOR PASSENGERS ARRIVING LATE EVENING/NIGHT. YOU STAY THE FIRST NIGHT AT AIRPORT HOTEL AT KEFLAVIK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT INSTEAD OF HOTEL IN HVERAGERDI.

Please note that the package price is based on 7 x 24-hour rental days starting at the time of rental. If your flight arrives early on day 1 and departs late on day 8 an additional supplement will be neccessary unless you choose to return the car in Reykjavik when the 7day rental is up and use our flybus departure transfer.

Prices reflect recommended Category 2.0 car.

Winter tours include 4wd only.

Price Includes
24-Hour Iceland Travel Emergency Line Assistance While You Are in Iceland
Our Unique Iceland Travel App
Authorization for Two People to Drive the Rental Car During Your Trip
Car Pick-Up/Drop-off at Keflavik International Airport
Accommodation in a Standard Room for 7 Nights
Icelandic Breakfast (except Arrival Day
Rental Car for 7 Days With Unlimited Mileage, Cdw, Theft Protection and Vat
Price Does Not Include
 Optional Excursions
 Air
IT$-0923

1.28.15.WP26