Ultimate Ring Road & Westfjords Self-Drive Tour - 14 Days

On a camping trip around Iceland, you’ll have your own rental car and camping gear. Simply follow the detailed itinerary provided, adding in a few extra stops if you like.

You’ll spend the first night of your trip at a hotel in Reykjavík. The next morning you’ll enjoy an included breakfast before heading into the countryside for your camping adventure.

Each night, you’ll pitch your tent at a campsite and settle in for a sleep under the summer skies. Lots of campsites have facilities like toilets, showers, communal kitchens, and even Wi-Fi. Some even have extras like on-site hot tubs or laundry facilities.

Booking at least a few weeks before your travel date gives us enough time to confirm your preferred accommodation and finalize your itinerary. We are unable to accept bookings with less than one week’s notice.

For summer travel between June and August, booking several months ahead is strongly recommended. Accommodation in rural areas fills up quickly during peak season, and popular activity add-ons like glacier walks and whale watching can sell out well in advance. Booking early also lets you lock in your preferred car type and accommodation tier before availability narrows.

You only need a 5% deposit to secure your trip, with the balance due closer to your departure date. This low-deposit model means you can confirm your plans early without a large upfront commitment. If your plans change, our cancellation policy offers up to a 95% refund up to five days before arrival, with the retained 5% converted into a long-valid travel credit you can use on a future booking. See our how to book with us page for full details.

Most international driving licenses are accepted in Iceland. You need to be at least 20 years old to rent a standard car, or 23 years old for larger vehicles like 4x4s and vans, and you must have held a valid license for at least one year. You will also need to present a credit card in the main renter’s name when collecting your vehicle.

An International Driving Permit is only required if your license is not in Latin script, for example if it is in Arabic or Chinese characters. If you are unsure whether your license qualifies, our team is happy to advise before you book.

Iceland drives on the right, with speed limits and distances in kilometers. Roundabouts are common, especially around towns, and in rural areas you may encounter single-lane bridges, gravel roads, and sheep on the road. Our detailed itinerary includes route guidance for each day, and the portable Wi-Fi device means you can use live navigation throughout the trip. For a full overview of what to expect behind the wheel, see our guide to driving in Iceland and our page on car rental in Iceland.

Absolutely! You can extend your stay in Iceland with extra days before or after your camping trip. Use these to fit in adventure activities like ice caving, or bus tours to attractions near the city.

If you want to customize the actual itinerary of your camping tour, this is possible for an additional fee.

Optional activities are available to add during the booking process, and you will be shown exactly what is on offer for each day of your trip at checkout. Popular additions include glacier walks, whale watching, ice cave tours, lava cave explorations, horseback riding, and geothermal spa visits.

Adding activities through Iceland Tours at the time of booking means everything is coordinated with your itinerary and accommodation in advance, rather than arranging things independently on arrival. This is particularly worth considering for activities that require guides or have limited availability, since spots can fill up during peak season.

If you would like more activities built directly into the itinerary rather than added as extras, our 10-Day Active Ring Road & Snæfellsnes Self-Drive is structured with more activity inclusions as standard. You can also read more about planning your trip on our Iceland travel guide.

Iceland drives on the right, with steering wheels on the left side of the car. Speed limits are posted in kilometers per hour. The rules of the road broadly follow European conventions, but there are a few things worth knowing before you set off.

Roundabouts are very common throughout Iceland, particularly in and around towns. Traffic already in the roundabout has right of way, and if you are in the inner lane of a multi-lane roundabout, you also have priority over vehicles in the outer lane. In rural areas, you may encounter one-lane bridges, blind hill crests, and gravel roads on some secondary routes.

During summer, sheep roam freely and often wander onto the road, so be prepared to slow down and give way when you encounter them. In East Iceland during winter, you may also encounter reindeer. Your trip comes with a portable Wi-Fi device for navigation, and our detailed itinerary notes specific things to watch for on each leg of the route.

If you are planning a winter trip, our local team monitors road and weather conditions and is reachable 24/7. For a comprehensive overview of driving conditions, road types, and seasonal considerations, see our guide to driving in Iceland.

One good thing to know is that some attractions in the Westfjords are only accessible via gravel roads. These are generally not a problem, but you should drive more slowly and look out for potholes.

You might find it easier to navigate the gravel roads in a larger car such as a jeep. That way you’ll be higher up off the road for a better view, and will have better suspension for a more comfortable ride.

• See what kind of rental cars are available in Iceland.
• Get the lowdown on driving with our ultimate guide to renting a car in Iceland.

Once you have paid your deposit, we begin finalizing your accommodation, rental car, and any booked activities. As soon as confirmation is received from all partners, we will email you to let you know your travel documents are ready to access in our booking portal.

We aim to have everything confirmed within a few weeks of receiving your booking. During busy periods this may take a little longer, but you will always receive your complete documents before your departure date. Your documents include your full day-by-day itinerary, accommodation details, rental car pickup information, and contact details for our 24/7 in-Iceland helpline.

If you have questions about your booking at any point before your trip, you can reach our Reykjavík-based team through the contact page. Iceland Tours has been organizing Iceland trips for over 40 years, and our local team is available to help with any questions about your itinerary or preparations.

Your rental car can be collected from the arrivals hall at Keflavík International Airport. Your travel documents will confirm the name of the car rental company and advise you to proceed to their service desk in the arrivals hall. Have your driver’s license and credit card in the main renter’s name ready when you arrive.

Rental car desks at Keflavík operate at different hours depending on the provider. If your flight arrives outside standard desk hours, the rental company will typically have made arrangements given your expected arrival time. Your travel documents will include a contact number if you need assistance on arrival.

Your car comes with unlimited mileage, collision damage waiver, and authorization for a second driver as standard, along with the portable Wi-Fi device included with every trip. If you are planning to spend extra days in Reykjavík before your self-drive begins, you also have the option to collect your car from the city rather than the airport. See question 9 for details.

Yes. If you prefer to pick up your rental car in Reykjavík rather than at Keflíavík Airport, simply let us know in the special requests field during checkout and we will arrange it for you.

This is a practical option if you are arriving early and want to spend time in the city before your self-drive itinerary begins. Reykjavík has a lot worth exploring, from the iconic Hallgrímskirkja church and the waterfront Harpa concert hall to the city’s well-regarded restaurant scene. Our downtown Reykjavík and Reykjavík attraction pages are a useful starting point for planning those extra days.

If you request different pick-up and drop-off locations, for example collecting in the city and returning at the airport or vice versa, a one-way fee of around ISK 7,900 (approximately EUR 60) applies. This is paid directly to the rental company when you collect the car.

To give you freedom to be spontaneous and ability to choose your favorite spots, bookings at campsites are not included with our camping packages. You’ll get info on the best campsites in each area in your travel documents.

If you want to get inspired, check out this guide to camping in Iceland which is packed with recommendations.

Most campsites don’t require advance bookings. Fees are reasonable and comparable to other countries.

Good to know: Although it is possible to wild camp in Iceland, you need the landowner’s permission and camping isn’t allowed in protected natural areas. With that in mind, we strongly recommend using designated campsites.

Although Iceland is located near the Arctic Circle, it’s not too cold to camp in a tent there in the summertime. Winter temperatures and weather conditions mean it’s not a year-round activity though.

The warmest months are June and July, which see temperatures of around 12–15°C (54–59°F). It can be chillier at nighttime, but with a sleeping bag and warm clothes, you’ll stay nice and toasty.

There are no dangerous wild animals, like bears or wolves, to worry about. That said, you should be aware of natural hazards that you might not have experienced before. These include high winds, hot springs, and strong tides.

The safest way to sleep in a tent in Iceland is to stay on designated campsites, and there are plenty of these around the country.

Many campsites in Iceland have toilet and shower facilities, especially the larger ones. In more remote regions or on smaller campsites, there may be no facilities, or toilets only.

There’s no way to get closer to nature than by setting up your tent under the open sky. Travel to Iceland on a camping trip and you could:

• Take a road trip around the entire Ring Road (Route 1)
• See the Strokkur geyser erupt on the Golden Circle route
• Hop between jaw-dropping waterfalls on the south coast
• Witness the forces of nature at work at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
• Relax and unwind in hot springs and geothermal spas
• Discover ‘Iceland in Miniature’ on the Snæfellsnes peninsula
• Be charmed by the magic of Lake Mývatn in North Iceland
• Walk along black sand beaches, like the famous Reynisfjara
• Learn all about Viking history at Þingvellir National Park
• Explore Iceland's breathtaking scenery on foot on a day hike

If you’re after even more inspiration, check out this blog on Iceland’s summer must-sees and must-dos.

When you book a camping package with Iceland Tours, there’s no need to bring your own tent, sleeping bags, mattress, or cooking equipment.

To make sure you stay comfortable throughout your trip, here’s a packing list you can follow when you're planning your Iceland trip:

• Warm thermal layers
• Wooly hat and gloves
• Sturdy, waterproof hiking boots
• Extra socks
• Flashlight
• Battery pack to charge your phone
• Washbag
• Sun lotion and midge repellent
• Sunglasses
• Sleeping mask (if you’re sensitive to light)
• Swimming gear, including towel

Carbon offsetting is already included as standard with every Iceland Tours package. We have partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to cover the carbon footprint of the tour itself, so there is nothing extra you need to do or pay.

Iceland Tours is Travelife-certified, meaning our operations are independently assessed against sustainability standards covering environmental, social, and supply chain criteria. This certification reflects a commitment to responsible travel that goes beyond carbon offsetting, including how we select local accommodation and activity partners.

Carbon offsetting for international flights to and from Iceland is not included in the tour package, but your airline may offer offset options at the time of booking, or you can arrange this through a local or national environmental fund. For more on how we approach sustainable travel, see our sustainability policy and our article on responsible and sustainable travel in Iceland.

This is the most comprehensive Iceland camping tour available, covering both the full Ring Road and the remote Westfjords over two weeks. The shorter 7, 8, and 10-day tours stick to the Ring Road circuit, but this 14-day itinerary takes you into regions most visitors never see. You will spend several days exploring the Westfjords, including a ferry crossing of Breiðafjörður Bay, visits to Europe's largest bird cliffs at Látrabjarg, the spectacular Dynjandi waterfall, and small fishing villages that feel completely untouched. If you have two weeks in Iceland and want to go well beyond the typical tourist route, this is the trip that does it.

Your package includes a rental car for 13 days with unlimited mileage, two authorized drivers, in-car Wi-Fi, and a collision damage waiver. You get a complete camping gear kit for 12 nights, covering a tent, sleeping bags, air mattress, camping stove, coolbox, and cooking equipment. There is a hotel stay in Reykjavík on your first night with continental breakfast included. Tickets for the Baldur ferry to the Westfjords are also part of the package. On top of that, you receive a detailed itinerary, carbon offsetting for the tour, and access to a 24/7 emergency helpline. Campsite fees, fuel, food, and attraction entrance fees are not included.

It depends on what kind of experience you want. A shorter Iceland itinerary of 7 or 8 days covers the Ring Road highlights efficiently, and most travelers are very happy with that. But if you have two weeks in Iceland, you unlock regions that shorter trips simply cannot reach. The Westfjords alone are worth the extra time. They are genuinely remote, with dramatic fjords, towering cliffs, and a sense of isolation you will not find anywhere else in the country. A 14-day Iceland itinerary also means a much more relaxed pace on the Ring Road portion, with shorter daily drives and more time to explore each area thoroughly.

The Westfjords are one of Iceland's most remote and least visited regions, and they are a major highlight of this tour. You will take the Baldur car ferry across Breiðafjörður Bay to reach them, which is an experience in itself. Once there, you will visit Látrabjarg, a massive bird cliff where you can see puffins up close during summer. You will drive along winding roads tracing dramatic fjords backed by steep cliffs, visit the magnificent Dynjandi waterfall cascading in tiers down a mountainside, and explore the town of Ísafjörður. You will also pass through Hólmavík, home to an intriguing museum about Icelandic magic and witchcraft. The Westfjords require a few days of dedicated exploration, which is why they are only included in this longer tour.

Your first night is at a hotel in Reykjavík, and then you camp for 12 consecutive nights at sites around the country. On your final night (Day 13), you return to Reykjavík and camp there before your departure. The camping gear provided covers everything you need for all 12 nights, including a 2-3 person tent (with a second tent provided for groups of four), sleeping bags, an air mattress, a camping stove, coolbox, and cooking equipment. Campsite bookings are not included, which gives you the flexibility to choose your own spots each night. Your travel documents include recommendations for the best campsites in each area.

You do not strictly need a 4-wheel drive, but it is worth considering. Some attractions in the Westfjords are accessible only via gravel roads, which are generally manageable but can have potholes and rough patches. A larger vehicle like a jeep gives you better suspension for a more comfortable ride on these roads, plus a higher vantage point for the scenery. You choose your rental car during the booking process, so you can select a vehicle that suits your comfort level. For the Ring Road portion of the trip, a standard car is perfectly fine.

One of the biggest advantages of spending two weeks in Iceland is how manageable the driving becomes. Most days on this tour involve between 65 and 300 kilometers of driving, and several days are well under 200 kilometers. Day 5 from Ísafjörður to the Hrútafjörður area is the longest at about 360 kilometers, but even that is broken up with plenty of interesting stops. Compare that to the 7-day tour where some days push 400+ kilometers, and you can see why the 14-day format feels so much more relaxed. You will spend less time behind the wheel and more time actually experiencing the places you visit.

Twelve nights of camping is a significant commitment if you have never done it before, but the tour is set up to make it as easy as possible. All gear is provided, the itinerary tells you where to go each day, and the 24/7 emergency helpline is there if you need help. Your first night at a hotel in Reykjavík eases you in before camping begins on Day 2. That said, if the idea of nearly two weeks in a tent feels daunting, one of the shorter camping tours (7, 8, or 10 days) might be a better starting point. You could also consider the 14-day self-drive with hotel accommodation instead.

This tour is available during the summer season from June 1 through August 31. These are the only months where tent camping in Iceland is practical, and they coincide with the best weather and longest daylight hours. June and July offer the midnight sun experience, meaning it barely gets dark at all. August is also excellent, with slightly cooler evenings and the possibility of Northern Lights appearing toward the end of the month. For a two-week trip covering the Westfjords, June or July is ideal because the gravel roads in remote areas are typically in their best condition.

Campsites in the Westfjords tend to be smaller, quieter, and more basic than what you will find along the main Ring Road. Some have only limited facilities like toilets, while others near larger towns like Ísafjörður are better equipped with showers and cooking areas. The trade-off is the setting. Westfjords camping feels genuinely remote, and you are likely to have far fewer neighbors than at the busier Ring Road sites near Vík or Akureyri. For many travelers, the intimacy and wildness of Westfjords camping is the best part of the entire trip. Your travel documents will guide you to the best options in each area.

Yes, tickets for the Baldur car ferry are included in your package. The ferry runs from Stykkishólmur on the Snæfellsnes peninsula across Breiðafjörður Bay to the Westfjords. The crossing takes approximately three hours and is a scenic experience in itself, sailing past islands and watching for seals and seabirds. You drive your rental car onto the ferry, so there is no need to arrange separate transport on the other side. The ferry schedule varies by season, and your travel documents will include the relevant details for your dates.

Yes, you can extend the trip with additional days and add optional activities during the checkout process. Popular add-ons include whale watching in Húsavík, a boat trip at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, a soak at the Earth Lagoon near Mývatn, and various Reykjavík experiences like the Sky Lagoon. If you want to adjust the actual routing of the itinerary, that is also possible for an additional fee. With 14 days, there is already a lot built in, but the flexibility to add extras means you can tailor the trip to your specific interests.

The route and attractions are essentially the same. The difference is where you sleep and how much you spend. The camping version is significantly more affordable and gives you a much closer connection to the landscape. Waking up in a tent beside a fjord or glacier is a fundamentally different experience than stepping out of a hotel room. The hotel-based version offers more comfort, a proper bed every night, and less setup and takedown each day. If you enjoy the outdoors and want to stretch your budget further over two weeks in Iceland, the camping option is hard to beat. If comfort is a priority, the hotel version might suit you better.

All essential camping gear is provided, so focus on clothing and personal items. Pack warm thermal layers, a high-quality waterproof jacket, sturdy hiking boots, plenty of extra socks, a woolly hat and gloves, sunglasses, sun lotion, midge repellent, a battery pack for your phone, swimming gear for hot springs and pools, and a sleeping mask for the midnight sun. For a 14-day trip, you may also want to bring a small quick-dry towel, a headlamp, and a reusable water bottle. Many campsites have laundry facilities, so you do not need to pack two weeks' worth of clothing. Plan for layers, because Iceland weather shifts quickly and the Westfjords can be particularly windy.

The Ring Road section covers all of Iceland's most famous attractions. You will explore the Lake Mývatn volcanic area, visit Dettifoss (Europe's most powerful waterfall), drive through the scenic Eastfjords, see Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach, hike in Vatnajökull National Park at Skaftafell, walk along the black sand beaches of the south coast, visit the waterfalls Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, and complete the Golden Circle with Þingvellir, Gullfoss, and the Geysir geothermal area. You will also visit the Snæfellsnes peninsula on your way to the Westfjords. With 14 days, you have time to enjoy all of these without rushing through any of them.