Iceland Ring Road: Complete Self-Drive Adventure - 8 Days

On a self-drive trip with Iceland Tours, you’ll be at the wheel of the rental car of your choice and free to go pretty much where you want, whenever you want.

We provide a detailed itinerary to help you plan your route and where you want to stop along the way. But it’s up to you whether you want to stick to it or go your own way. If you do take detours, make sure that you aren’t too far from your accommodation on any given night.

That said, it’s a good idea to stick to the suggested itinerary if you’ve never visited Iceland before. Created by our Reykjavík-based travel experts, it contains plenty of things for you to and see and do on each leg of your trip. One thing’s for sure: you won’t be short on ideas!

You also get unlimited in-car Wi-Fi, so you can stay connected and use maps on your phone for navigation.

It’s best to book your trip at least a few weeks before you travel. This gives us enough time to organize your preferred accommodation and itinerary. For this reason, we’re unable to accept bookings with less than 1 week’s notice.

In the summer, which is the most popular time of year, booking a few months ahead is a good idea. In certain parts of the countryside, accommodation options are more limited and can be booked up well ahead of your trip.

You have to be at least 20 years old to rent a car in Iceland, or 23 years old for larger vehicles like jeeps and vans. You’ll need to have held a valid driver’s license for at least 1 year and present a credit card when you collect your car.

You don’t need an International Driving Permit unless your license is not in Latin script (for example, Arabic or Chinese).

Find out more about car rental in Iceland.

Yes! It’s possible to add extra activities or extend your trip with additional nights in Reykjavík or the countryside. Check the itinerary above to see what activities are available on what day.

Of course you can add extra adventures! We want you to be able to get the absolute most out of your trip to Iceland, so you can pick optional extra activities at checkout. You’ll be shown exactly what’s on offer for each day of your trip.

And if you feel like you just don’t have enough time to fit it all in, you can also add extra days.

The rules of the road in Iceland are similar to most other countries, although there are some local quirks that you might not be familiar with.

Iceland drives on the right and steering wheels are on the left side of the car. Distances and speed limits are given in kilometers only.

Roundabouts are very common in Iceland, especially in towns. If you’re not familiar with these, make sure you understand how to give way (yield) to other traffic.

In the countryside, you might encounter sheep on the road, or even reindeer in East Iceland. You may also come across gravel roads, single-lane bridges, and blind summits.

For all the info on how to handle these, see this guide to driving in Iceland.

Once you’ve paid your deposit for your trip, we’ll finalize bookings for your accommodation, rental car, and any activities. As soon as we receive confirmation of everything, we’ll email you, letting you know your travel documents are available in our portal.

We aim to finalize everything within a few weeks of receiving your booking request, but in busy periods this might take longer. That said, you’ll always receive all of your documents before your departure date.

You’ll be able to pick up your rental car at Keflavík International Airport from the arrivals hall. Before your trip, we’ll send you information about where to go in the terminal to collect your keys.

Make sure you have your driver’s license and credit card ready when you collect your vehicle.

If you land late at night, you can use the out-of-hours phone at the pick-up desk to contact someone who will be able to help you.

You also have the option to collect your rental car in Reykjavík, if you’re planning to spend some extra days in the city before your trip starts. If you’d like to do this, please let us know in the ‘Special requests’ box at checkout.

Yes, you can easily collect your rental car from Reykjavík instead of Keflavik Airport.

During the booking steps on our website, just let us know you'd prefer your pick-up/drop-off location to be in the city centre. We'll take care of it for you, no problem.

Just a quick heads-up: if you request different pick-up and drop-off locations (e.g. collect from the airport, drop off in the city, or vice versa) there's a one-way fee of around ISK 7.900 ISK (EUR 60). You'll pay this directly to the rental company when you pick up the car.

All of our self-drive tour packages include the following as standard:

• Rental car of your choice, with unlimited mileage
• Basic liability insurance coverage
• Collision damage waiver
• Authorization for second driver
• Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi
• Accommodation level of your choice
• Breakfast every day
• Detailed itinerary crafted by local travel experts
• 24/7 helpline in Iceland, just in case you need it

When you book your vacation on our website, you’ll be able to choose your preferred rental car and accommodation level.

You can see what vehicles are available on this car rental page.

On a self-drive package with Iceland Tours, you can choose from 3 levels of accommodation:

• Budget – Guesthouses and country hotels, with shared bathrooms
• Comfort – Hotels or guesthouses of around 3 stars, with private bathrooms
• Quality – Hotels or guesthouses of around 4 stars, with private bathrooms

Each accommodation level offers different types of rooms. We’ve described them below to help you choose the best one for you. Just keep in mind that not every hotel has all these room types available.

• Single room: one single bed in a room, perfect for solo travelers.
• Double room: a full-sized double bed for 2 people.
• Twin room: a room with 2 single beds that fit 1 person each.
• Triple room: these vary in size and layout, but are designed to fit 3 adults. Triple rooms feature a combination of double, single or sofa beds, depending on the hotel.

No matter which accommodation level you pick, breakfast is included. Read more about the differences between the levels on this accommodation page.

Feel like getting closer to nature? Check out these self-drive camping tours.

In Iceland, you can expect all weathers no matter what time of year you visit. With that in mind, it’s good to make sure you’ve got everything you need to stay cozy, warm, and dry.

Here’s a packing list to help you get ready for your trip:

• Tough, waterproof walking boots
• Thermal underlayers
• Sweaters or fleeces
• Waterproof raincoat
• Warm winter jacket
• Scarf, hat, and gloves
• Sunglasses
• Swimwear (for pools and hot springs)
• Lip salve and moisturizer

For more tips on what to bring with you, see this Iceland packing list.

No worries! Iceland Tours is already offsetting the carbon footprint of your tour package. We've teamed up with an environmental fund in Iceland to cover the carbon offset for all our tours.

Carbon offsetting for international flights is not included, but we suggest checking with your airline or through a local environmental fund for options.

Eight days is the sweet spot for completing Iceland's Ring Road! You'll cover the full 1,332 km loop with plenty of time to hit the major highlights without feeling like you're constantly checking your watch. The beauty is that you'll spend less time in each region compared to longer trips, but you'll get that incredible "greatest hits" experience. Starting clockwise from Reykjavík you'll explore the scenic Borgarfjörður region then continue to Akureyri and the Diamond Circle in northern Iceland before heading to the eastern fjords and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and finishing with the famous south coast waterfalls. You won't have time for every single waterfall or highland adventures, but you'll get an amazing taste of everything Iceland has to offer. It's like the perfect Iceland sampler platter!

Our 8-day Ring Road tour takes you clockwise around Iceland which is the perfect route for this timeframe! You'll start by heading north from Reykjavík through the scenic Borgarfjörður region on your way to Akureyri giving you a beautiful introduction to Iceland's countryside and dramatic landscapes. Going clockwise means you'll experience the quieter northern and eastern regions first when you're energized and excited then finish with the famous south coast attractions like Jökulsárlón and the powerful waterfalls when you're most comfortable with Icelandic driving. This direction also gives you the best photo opportunities since you'll be on the correct side of the road for the most scenic pull-offs. The clockwise route just flows naturally for an 8-day adventure!

You're looking at about 3-5 hours of actual driving time per day but spread out with lots of stops, so it never feels overwhelming. The longest drive day is from Reykjavík to Akureyri as you head north through the beautiful Borgarfjörður region around 390 km which gives you incredible scenery and interesting historical stops along the way. Most other days you'll drive 150-250 km between major destinations, which gives you plenty of time to explore waterfalls and take glacier walks and soak in hot springs without feeling rushed. The Ring Road is really well-maintained, and the scenery is so stunning you'll actually look forward to the driving parts because it's like having a constantly changing movie playing outside your windshield!

The 8-day Ring Road tour during the warmer season from April to October is absolutely incredible with so many advantages! You'll have extended daylight hours from 15-19 hours per day during peak summer which means you can explore attractions from early morning until late evening without worrying about darkness. The weather is much more predictable with temperatures around 10-15°C and minimal chance of road closures due to snow or ice. Summer also brings Iceland's famous lupine flowers that paint the countryside purple, and you'll have the best chance to see puffins (usually between May and August) along the coastal areas. The long daylight hours are perfect for photography with gorgeous golden light that seems to last forever. If you're interested in winter experiences like Northern Lights viewing, we also offer our Ring Road & Northern Lights Road Trip which is specifically designed for the colder months with optimal aurora hunting conditions!

Iceland's weather can be unpredictable but that's part of the adventure and this tour operates during the more stable April to October season! If minor weather issues arise you've got total flexibility with this self-drive tour to adjust your daily schedule. Your accommodation is arranged when you book, which gives you guaranteed places to stay but you can be flexible with timing and sightseeing during each day. Most weather during the operating season is manageable and road closures are rare compared to winter months. The beauty of the self-drive experience is that you can adapt on the fly and sometimes the most dramatic weather creates the most memorable experiences. Our local travel team provides weather resources and driving condition updates to help you make informed decisions throughout your journey!

On day 6 of your clockwise Ring Road tour, you'll reach Jökulsárlón at the perfect point in your journey! By this time, you've experienced the northern Diamond Circle and eastern fjords so when those massive icebergs come into view floating serenely in the lagoon it feels even more spectacular. You'll have plenty of time to explore both the glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach right across the road where crystal-clear ice chunks wash up on the black volcanic sand. Day 6 timing means you're not rushed, and you can watch seals lounging on icebergs or take amazing photos of those incredible blue ice formations. It's positioned perfectly as the grand highlight before you continue toward the famous south coast waterfalls. The clockwise approach means you'll appreciate this natural wonder even more after experiencing Iceland's other diverse landscapes first!

The Borgarfjörður region is your gateway to understanding Iceland's rich history and dramatic landscapes as you head north from Reykjavík to Akureyri! This area is steeped in Icelandic sagas and Viking history with vast farmlands and incredible natural wonders. You'll drive through landscapes that inspired Iceland's most famous stories and you might spot the powerful Deildartunguhver hot spring which is Europe's most powerful geothermal spring producing 180 liters of boiling water per second. The region offers stunning waterfalls like Hraunfossar where water seems to flow directly from the lava rock and Barnafoss with its beautiful blue waters. Borgarfjörður gives you that authentic Iceland experience away from the tourist crowds while you're traveling between major destinations. It's the perfect introduction to Iceland's countryside before you reach the "capital of the north"!

This Ring Road tour offers amazing opportunities to add exciting activities throughout your journey! The most popular addition is the Blue Ice Experience glacier walk in Skaftafell which takes you onto Europe's largest glacier for an unforgettable ice hiking adventure. You can also add whale watching tours from various coastal towns or explore the incredible ice caves that are accessible during certain times of the season. Other popular options include horseback riding on Icelandic horses and visiting local hot springs like the Secret Lagoon. Since your accommodation gets arranged when you book you have flexibility to add activities that match your interests and the season of your trip. The April to October timeframe gives you access to most outdoor activities with long daylight hours perfect for adventure!

This 8-day clockwise Ring Road tour strikes the perfect balance between manageable driving and incredible sightseeing! You'll start your journey through historic Borgarfjörður then experience the quieter northern regions including Akureyri and the Diamond Circle before reaching the dramatic eastern fjords. Day 6 brings you to the spectacular Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon followed by the famous south coast waterfalls and black sand beaches. The clockwise direction means you'll build up to the most iconic attractions gradually while experiencing Iceland's diverse landscapes in the perfect order. Each day offers 3-5 hours of scenic driving broken up with plenty of stops, so you never feel rushed. Your accommodation is arranged to put you in the right locations each night and the April to October season ensures optimal weather conditions and long daylight hours for maximum exploration time!