Categories Summer Tours Iceland Self Drive Vacations Adventure & Eco Travel Self Drive Tours

Do you have just a few days to experience the essentials of Iceland? We’ve planned this fun itinerary to give you that opportunity.

If you just have 6 days to visit Iceland and you want to get the basics of what makes Iceland so awesome, Ring Road Express is for you! Visit the incredible sights on the Ring Road on this 6-day experience. Explore dramatic landscapes sculpted by ancient glaciers and volcanoes, visit sights of historical or cultural significance, or simply bask in the midnight sun in one of Iceland’s many geothermal heated pools and springs.

Looking for a longer road trip with less driving and more time in each destination? Check out Ring Road Highlights or Around Iceland!

Price is based on a Cat. 2 car.

Itinerary

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 and the site of two of Iceland’s most recent eruptions in 2021 and 2022. You’ll see unusual and stunning features around the peninsula, including 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.

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 the southern coast of the Reykjanes Peninsula to the charming village of Hveragerdi for your overnight. This village 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.” There are plenty of outdoor and wellness activities to enjoy here, and several restaurants with a unique local focus. Overnight in Hveragerdi.

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

Optionals:

Blue Lagoon Entrance

Panorama ATV/Quad tour in Reykjanes

(Approximate distance: 100 km / 62 miles, with Reykjanes Peninsula 130 km / 81 miles)

Approximate Distance:

400 km / 249 miles

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

This is a day of waterfalls! Enjoy visiting the natural wonders of the Golden Circle and South Shore areas. 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 waterfall. 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 amazing basalt columns of Reynisdrangar.

Drive through the surreal lava fields of Eldhraun, the largest single flow of lava recorded in history, on your way to the town of Kirkjubaejarklaustur.

Overnight in the Kirkjubaejarklaustur area.

Optionals:

Silfra Snorkeling (Meet on Location)

Kayaking by Solheimajokull Glacier

Solheimajokull Glacier Walking Tour (from Basecamp)

Fontana Geothermal Baths

Secret Lagoon

Approximate Distance:

385 km / 239 miles

Europe’s Largest National Park – Glacial Lagoon with Icebergs – Picturesque Coastline

Today you’ll be in the vicinity of southern Vatnajokull National Park, the largest part in Western Europe. The park takes its name from massive Vatnajokull glacier, and you’ll see it through the day.

Continue across black sand plains created by glacial activity. Explore Skaftafell, a green oasis nestled below the great Vatnajokull glacier. Skaftafell is part of Vatnajokull National Park. 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. Perhaps you’ll try some of these langoustines for yourself in one of Hofn’s restaurants.

Drive along the rugged, scenic coastline of the Eastfjords region. Drive to Egilsstadir, one of Iceland’s youngest towns and the largest community in East Iceland.

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 Eastfjords area.

Optionals:

Optional Tours

Amphibian Boat Tour on Glacial Lagoon (from the lagoon)

Glacier Wonders – Glacier Hike in Skaftafell

Vök Geothermal Baths

Approximate Distance:

315 km / 196 miles

Highland Desert – Europe’s Most Powerful Waterfall – Bizarre Lava Formations

Travel across the Modrudalsoraefi highlands renowned for their stark, untouched beauty towards Dettifoss, Europe’s mightiest waterfall. Important: Road 864 is a gravel road, and you need to pay attention to warning signs in the area if road conditions are not good for driving

Explore the highlights of the Lake Myvatn area, including the colorful sulfurous slopes of Namaskard, the mystical volcanic formations at Dimmuborgir, the pseudo craters at Skutustadir, 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.

Overnight in the Akureyri area.

Optionals:

Myvatn Nature Baths

Approximate Distance:

485 km / 303 miles

Folk Museum – Lava Waterfalls – Iceland’s Colorful Capital

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 enchanting Borgarfjordur area, known for Viking history and wooded volcanic landscapes. 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 and enjoy the evening in Iceland’s vibrant (and only) city.

Overnight in Reykjavik.

Optionals:

Krauma Nature Baths

Sky Lagoon Pass

Approximate Distance:

50 km / 30 miles

Return to Keflavik International Airport.***

Drive back to Keflavik International Airport.** We recommend departing your hotel in Reykjavik no later than at least 3 hours before your flight departure. It takes approximately 1 hour to drive to the airport, and check-in will start 2 hours before your departure.

If you did not visit the Blue Lagoon earlier but have some free time today, you might want to use the opportunity en route to the airport. For this detour, please be sure to allow for at least 2-2,5 hours extra so you’ll have ample time at the lagoon. Your rental car should be returned to the airport service area, which is located only 2 minutes from the airport building. A shuttle will then transport you to the departure hall.

***Please note that the package price is based on 5 x 24-hour rental days starting at the time of rental. If your flight arrives early on day 1 and departs late on day 6, an additional supplement will be charged unless you choose to return the car in Reykjavik when the 5-day rental is up and use our airport transfer.

Notes