8 Day - Iceland Ring Road Tour - Standard Package

Day 1

Make your way to Reykjavík, and check into your accommodation in the afternoon. Free day in Reykjavík.

Day 2

The day starts with a pick-up from your accommodation in Reykjavík. First, we will head out to explore the famous Golden Circle, which includes Þingvellir National Park where Icelanders founded their parliament in the year 930 A.D., the oldest parliament in the world. The Circle includes Geysir hot springs and Gullfoss waterfall. Next, we will drive to the beautiful South Coast. Our first stop is at Seljalandsfoss, a unique opportunity to experience the power and wonder of nature. Don´t view this one from a distance – the walking path will take you directly behind the waterfall itself. Next, we will stop at the scenic Skógafoss, where the water crashes down over sea cliffs that marked the coastline of Iceland long ago. Watch out for rainbows – the incredible spray from this waterfall makes it an ideal spot to catch one or even two at a time. The final stop of the day is at Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, the home of the famous Reynisdrangar peaks, rumored to be the figures of two trolls caught in the sun and turned to stone, and a basalt column cave. After that, we will make our way to a country hotel near the charming village of Vík, where we will rest for the night.

Day 3

The route continues along the South Coast toward Skaftafell, part of Vatnajökull National Park. Here you can join an optional 3-hour guided hike on one of Vatnajökull’s outlet glaciers. The glacier hike runs from April until October 1. From October to April, you can visit the Crystal Ice Cave instead, which is also optional.

Next, we’ll stop at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, where icebergs drift across the water and seals often rest on the ice. Across the road is Diamond Beach, a black sand beach where pieces of ice wash back onto the shore. Tonight’s accommodation is in Southeast Iceland.

Day 4

The scenery continues as we follow the coastline of the East Fjords to Egilsstaðir, a picturesque town on the banks of the Lagarfljót River. On the way there, we will go for a 3-hour hike to Hengifoss, one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland which drops into a striking gorge. Next is Litlanesfoss waterfall – look for the red strata climbing the walls around the waterfall, created by volcanic ash and basaltic lava over thousands of years as the cliff was formed in the heat of many mighty eruptions. We will then make our way to our accommodation for the night.

Day 5

This day is filled with highlights of Iceland. Our first stop is at the magnificent Dettifoss, the largest waterfall in Iceland. Next, we head to the Lake Mývatn area. Here our first stop will be Námaskarð geothermal area, filled with mud pools and fumaroles, which are an interesting geological feature marking a vent for steam and hot gasses in the Earth´s crust. We'll then make a stop at Mývatn Nature Baths, where you have the opportunity to bath in the hot spring pools. The entrance fee can be added when booking or paid on site. For those that don't wish to go in the water, they can stroll around the area and enjoy the views or sit down in the cafeteria. Next up, we will take a walk to the Hverfjall crater, caused by a volcano eruption 2500 years ago, and Dimmuborgir, the “dark cities” of lava formations that tower overhead. We will continue our drive around Lake Mývatn before heading in the direction of Akureyri, with a stop on the way at Goðafoss Waterfall. Our accommodation will be at an inviting country hotel near Akureyri, the second largest city in Iceland.

Day 6

Today starts in Eyjafjörður fjord, where you can join an optional whale-watching boat tour. Humpback whales, dolphins, and harbor porpoises are regularly seen in these waters, and sightings are recorded on about 98% of trips.

From there, the route continues to Siglufjörður, one of Iceland’s northernmost towns. In the early 20th century, the small harbor town was the center of the country’s herring industry, and its colorful waterfront still reflects that history.

Driving around Tröllaskagi (the Troll Peninsula), you’ll follow the coast past mountain ski areas and small fishing villages. Farther along, the road runs through farmland toward Laugarbakki and gives you a look at rural life in North Iceland.

Before reaching the hotel, we’ll make a few stops in Skagafjörður, a wide fjord with several small islands. Tonight’s accommodation is a small hotel in the Laugarbakki area. On clear winter evenings, you can step outside to look for the Northern Lights.

Day 7

On this, our final day, we will find ourselves in West Iceland – an area which Lonely Planet voted as one of the best destinations in 2016. Borgarfjörður has many splendid sights and we will focus on these today. We stop at Deildartunguhver hot spring, the legendary waterfall, Barnafoss, (the Children´s Waterfall), and the Hraunfossar cascade, the atmospheric very low and wide falls where the water emerges, literally straight out of the lava field. Next on the agenda is the historic and picturesque site of Reykholt, home to Snorri Sturluson, the Icelandic historian, lawyer, politician, poet and the author of some Icelandic Sagas. See Snorralaug, Snorri´s pool, dabble your fingers and feel the temperature of the water in the place where Snorri is likely to have bathed. We will drive around scenic fjord, Hvalfjörður (Whale Fjord), on our way to back Reykjavík. We expect to arrive in the city around 5 – 6 pm.

Day 8

Free day in Reykjavík.