9-Day Iceland Winter Guided Tour: Ring Road, Golden Circle & Northern Lights.
This 9-day guided tour covers Iceland’s complete Ring Road in winter, traveling with a group of up to 24. The route takes in the Golden Circle, the south coast from Seljalandsfoss to Reynisfjara, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, the Eastfjords, Dettifoss waterfall, Lake Mývatn, Akureyri and the Tröllaskagi peninsula, Skagafjörður horse country, and the waterfalls and historical sites of West Iceland.
Three dinners are included at countryside hotels. The tour also includes a microbrewery visit and beer tasting in the Eastfjords, admission to the Herring-Era Museum in Siglufjörður, an introduction to Icelandic horses in Skagafjörður, a guided Northern Lights tour on foot, and entrance to the Northern Lights Centre. Airport transfers are included on arrival and departure. A 20% deposit secures your place.
Note: This tour is operated by a partner of Iceland Tours.
Use SAVE10 at checkout for 10% off
On this tour you will...
Complete Iceland's entire Ring Road circuit in winter over 9 comprehensive days
Explore the Golden Circle, south coast glaciers, and Jökulsárlón ice lagoon
Discover the remote and scenic Eastfjords with their dramatic coastal mountains
Visit Lake Mývatn's volcanic landscapes and North Iceland's charming Akureyri
Hunt for the Northern Lights throughout multiple countryside nights
Experience west Iceland's waterfalls and historic Þingvellir National Park
Top attractions
Downtown Reykjavík
Gullfoss
Geysir and Strokkur
Seljalandsfoss
Skógafoss
Vatnajökull Glacier & National Park
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Egilsstaðir
Dettifoss
Lake Mývatn
Goðafoss
Akureyri
Borgarnes
Þingvellir National Park
Deildartunguhver
Why book a guided group trip with Iceland Tours?
Pick from wide range of departure dates
Expert local guidance in English
Travel with like-minded adventurers
24/7 emergency helpline in Iceland
Secure your booking with just a 20% deposit
Handpicked local accommodation options
Your 9-day guided group itinerary
A shared airport transfer brings you from Keflavík Airport to your hotel in central Reykjavík. The rest of the day is yours to explore the city. Hallgrímskirkja church is a short walk from the centre, Laugavegur is the main street for eating and browsing, and the waterfront area around Harpa Concert Hall is worth a look. Your guide will meet the group in the evening for a briefing on the days ahead.
Highlights
Downtown Reykjavík
Hallgrimskirkja
Extra activities
ExtraFlyOver Iceland
UpgradeUpgrade - Arrival via Blue Lagoon
ExtraThe Reykjavík Food Walk
ExtraSky Lagoon Saman Pass with Transfer
The Ring Road journey begins with the Golden Circle. Gullfoss drops in two stages into a canyon cut by the Hvítá river, with ice formations building along the falls and walls through the coldest months. At the Geysir geothermal area, Strokkur erupts every six to ten minutes, shooting water up to 40 metres against a backdrop of snow and steam. The drive through Hveragerði, a town built over an active geothermal field, offers a first glimpse of how close the volcanic activity is to everyday life in Iceland.
The afternoon continues along the south coast. Seljalandsfoss has a path behind the falls when conditions allow. Skógafoss is broader and drops 60 metres with a staircase running up the side. Reynisfjara black sand beach, backed by basalt columns with the Reynisdrangar sea stacks offshore, ends the day near Vík. Dinner is included at your hotel.
The route east runs along the edge of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier, past a series of outlet glaciers descending toward the coast. Skaftafell has hiking trails through birch woodland with glacier and waterfall views, including Svartifoss with its dark basalt column backdrop.
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is where icebergs calved from Breiðamerkurjökull drift through deep water. Winter gives the lagoon a distinctive quality, with lower light and less visitor traffic than in summer. Diamond Beach across the road collects ice on black volcanic sand. Overnight in Höfn, a fishing town known for langoustines.
Leaving Höfn, the Ring Road climbs through Almannaskarð pass before descending into the Eastfjords, where steep mountains drop into narrow inlets. The region sees fewer visitors than the south coast and has a noticeably quieter character in winter. Reindeer occasionally appear on the slopes.
The day includes a stop at Breiðdalsvík to visit a local microbrewery that grew out of a community project to revive a former warehouse. Beer tasting and a conversation with locals about life in this remote corner of Iceland are part of the visit. The day ends near Egilsstaðir, East Iceland’s largest town. Dinner is included.
The route crosses the Möðrudalsöræfi highland plateau, a remote interior landscape that in winter feels genuinely isolated. Dettifoss is fed by Vatnajökull meltwater through the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river and drops 44 metres over a wide cliff with considerable force. Winter conditions can produce ice formations around the gorge edge. Access depends on road conditions and cannot be guaranteed.
The Námaskard geothermal area near Lake Mývatn has bubbling mud pools and steam vents with mineral-stained ground. The Skútustaðagígar pseudo-craters sit on the lakeshore. Goðafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods, is on the road to Akureyri, Iceland’s northern capital at the head of Eyjafjörður, the country’s longest fjord.
Today follows the coastal roads of the Tröllaskagi peninsula, passing between steep mountains with views across toward the Arctic Ocean. Siglufjörður sits in a narrow fjord with some of Iceland’s finest restored timber buildings from the early 20th century. The Herring-Era Museum documents the period when the town transformed into a boom settlement during the herring rush, with recreated processing facilities and period atmosphere. The afternoon is free in Akureyri to explore independently.
Skagafjörður is one of Iceland’s main horse-breeding regions and the day includes a structured introduction to the Icelandic horse breed, including its distinctive fifth gait, the tölt, which has made it prized for centuries. The route continues through Blönduós and across the Holtavörðuheiði plateau into Borgarfjörður, a region with a rich presence in the Icelandic sagas. Dinner is included at your hotel near Borgarnes.
Deildartunguhver produces boiling water at a high flow rate and pipes it to towns as far as 64 kilometres away for heating. Hraunfossar filters up through lava rock and flows into a river in a long series of small cascades. Barnafoss nearby narrows through a rocky passage with a local legend attached to it.
Þingvellir National Park closes the Ring Road circuit. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the location of Iceland’s original parliament founded in 930 AD, and the visible meeting point of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Almannagjá gorge runs between the two continental masses, with ice formations in the walls in winter. The drive back to Reykjavík completes the full circuit.
A shared airport transfer collects you from your hotel and takes you to Keflavík Airport. Breakfast is included. If you have a later flight, the team can advise on options for spending remaining time in the city.
What’s included?
Combination (Comfort & Quality) accommodation every night
Continental breakfast every day
3 dinner buffets or two-course dinners in the countryside featuring local cuisine (Days 2,4,7)
Airport transfer
Local transport with guidance in English
Entrance to the Northern Lights Centre
Microbrewery tour including beer tasting
Admission to Herring-Era Museum
Introduction to Icelandic horses
Guided Northern Lights tour on foot
24/7 emergency helpline when you’re in Iceland
Carbon offsetting of your tour
VAT, taxes & service fees (ex. Road Tax)
Flights to Iceland
Food & drink, unless otherwise stated
Attraction entrance fees, unless otherwise stated
Personal travel insurance
Stay in well-located hotels and guesthouses that are highly rated by visitors and handpicked by experts.
On this trip, you’ll stay at the following hotels or similar:
Winter 2025-2026
- Day 1 – Radisson RED Hotel
- Day 2 – Hotel Dyrhólaey
- Day 3 – Hotel Höfn
- Day 4 – Hotel Valaskjálf
- Day 5 – Hotel Akureyri - Skjaldborg
- Day 6 – Hotel Akureyri - Skjaldborg
- Day 7 – Hotel Hamar
- Day 8 – Radisson RED Hotel
Customer reviews
Read what real customers had to say about this tour
FAQs about our guided group trips
On this type of tour, you’ll travel around Iceland by bus with the same driver-guide for the length of your trip. Guided group tours are a great way to make like-minded friends, as you’ll spend time with the same travelers for your whole vacation.
You’ll get to stay in accommodation around the country, and some tours include a few evening meals too. After a day’s exploring, you’ll go back to your private room and meet your guide and group the next morning to continue your trip.
All of our guided group tours start and finish in Reykjavík.
A 9-day winter tour provides excellent chances for Northern Lights viewing, with multiple countryside nights away from light pollution significantly increasing your odds. Most tours include 6-7 nights outside Reykjavík, providing numerous opportunities over different weather conditions. Your guide actively monitors aurora forecasts and weather, taking you out when conditions are favorable. However, Northern Lights require three factors: dark skies (present throughout winter nights), clear weather (variable in Iceland), and solar activity (unpredictable). While sightings can never be guaranteed, the multiple-night approach means most travelers on 9-day winter tours successfully see the aurora at least once. Some nights might offer spectacular displays, others may be clouded out, and some may show faint auroras. The longer your tour, the better your statistical chances, making 9 days far superior to shorter trips for aurora viewing.
There are 2 group sizes available:
- Small group: Up to 19 people
- Standard group: Up to 32 people
Small groups offer a more intimate travel experience, whereas standard groups are more wallet-friendly.
You’ll likely be with people from a whole mix of backgrounds, from different countries and of different ages. Your guide will entertain you with fun facts and jokes as you journey around Iceland. It’s almost guaranteed you’ll be laughing along with your group!
There will most probably be a mix of solo travelers, couples, and small groups of friends and family.
The luggage restrictions on this guided group tour are as follows:
- 1 suitcase or large bag per person for clothes and overnight items
- 1 day bag for essential items, like a camera, extra clothes, and valuables
Each day your luggage will be loaded onto the bus. In the evening, you’ll take all your bags with you to your room.
Our guided group tours have fixed start dates and itineraries. While it’s not possible to customize the actual tour, you can tailor your trip with extra days and activities before or afterwards.
For example, you could add a couple more days in Reykjavík at the end of your trip. Fill these with day tours or exciting activities like ice caving and snowmobiling.
On a guided group tour, you’ll learn a lot about Icelandic history, nature, and culture from experienced tour guides. You’ll find their passion for the country infectious and gain a perspective on life in Iceland from these travel experts.
Guided group tours also mean you don’t need to worry about driving yourself on unfamiliar roads. They’re a fantastic way to explore Iceland if you want to meet like-minded travelers too.
That said, guided tours are by no means the only way to experience Iceland. If you’d prefer something more customizable, you could go for a multi-day tour by bus. Or if you want to set your own pace on a road trip, it’s hard to beat a self-drive tour.
Another option is a privately guided tour. This combines the experience of a locally guided tour with the intimacy of traveling in your own private group.
On an Iceland guided tour, you can expect to travel by bus in a small or large party. You can choose your preferred group size when you book.
Iceland small group tours are more intimate, whereas standard group tours are more wallet-friendly. The maximum number of people in a small group is 16, and 36 in a standard group.
Your driver-guide will lead the entire trip, which includes stays in the Icelandic countryside. Each day you’ll explore a new part of Iceland and enjoy commentary from your guide between stops.
As you’ll be with the same group of people throughout your trip, you’ll have the chance to socialize with fellow travelers and make friends (maybe even for life). There’s nothing like diving into Iceland’s epic nature for a bonding experience!
All of the guided Iceland vacation packages featured here include local transport, accommodation, breakfast, airport transfers, and activities. Some also include dinners in the countryside, so check the specific package for details.
You can customize your guided trip with extra days in Reykjavík at the start or end of your vacation. Use these to pack in day tours or an evening Northern Lights tour. You could even pay a relaxing visit to the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon.
In general, tipping is not as commonplace in Iceland as in some other countries. While tour guides would never expect to be tipped, they would receive them gratefully.
You can start planning your Iceland adventure right on this page. Browse the guided vacation packages above until you find the one for you.
Next, check departure dates on the tour page. Guided group tours have fixed dates and durations, although you can extend your trip with extra days in Reykjavík if you like. This would be your chance to add activities, like exploring an ice cave or bathing in hot springs.
After that, simply follow the checkout instructions to complete your booking. You’ll receive a confirmation email straight away, followed by your travel documents closer to your departure date.
You can check dates on the individual tour pages. Guided tours are available in a small or large group, with separate departure dates for each.
There are weekly or fortnightly departures throughout the popular summer and winter seasons. Make sure you book in advance as spaces can sell out quick.
Because guided group tours have fixed departure dates, it’s a good idea to book your vacation package before your flights. Once you’ve received the confirmation from Iceland Tours, you’re clear to book with your preferred airline.
That said, you might want to do a rough check for flights before you book your package to get a feel for what’s available.
Iceland is well connected to Europe and North America with daily direct flights to lots of major cities.
When visiting Iceland, it pays to pack smart and be prepared. The weather is changeable and conditions are likely to be different to what you’re used to at home.
Here’s an Iceland packing list that’s good for all seasons:
- Warm, waterproof coat
- Toasty inner layers
- Hat, scarf, and gloves
- Sturdy hiking boots
- Sunglasses
- Moisturizer and lip balm
There’s plenty to enjoy on a guided tour of Iceland. The great thing about them is that you can access locations you never would have known about. And you can travel to seemingly out-of-reach regions, like the Icelandic highlands.
Here’s just some of what you could get up to on an Iceland group tour:
- Chase the Northern Lights in a remote countryside spot
- Tour the legendary Ring Road route
- See bubbling hot springs on the Golden Circle
- Explore ice cave country in Vatnajökull National Park
- Hop between stunning waterfalls on a south coast tour
- Follow in the footsteps of Vikings at Þingvellir National Park
- Watch an active geyser, Strokkur, erupt before you
- Admire freshly calved icebergs drift gently out to sea
- Roam the black sands of Reynisfjara beach
- Soak up culture and nightlife in downtown Reykjavík
- Dive into the country's food scene at Iceland's best restaurants.
Need more inspiration? Check out this Iceland Travel Guide.
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.
The tour includes seven nights of Quality accommodation, continental breakfast daily, five two-course dinners at countryside hotels on days two through six, a shared airport transfer on arrival and departure, all transport with an expert English-speaking guide, admission to Friðheimar greenhouse, the LAVA Centre, Skógar Folk Museum, and the Northern Lights photo exhibition in Fáskrúðsfjörður, 24/7 emergency helpline support, and carbon offsetting of the tour. International flights, personal travel insurance, and most attraction entrance fees are not included. A 20% deposit secures your place.
Multiple countryside nights provide opportunities for Northern Lights viewing away from city light pollution. Your guide monitors aurora forecasts and takes the group out when conditions are favourable. The tour includes a dedicated guided Northern Lights tour on foot as part of the itinerary. Aurora sightings depend on solar activity, cloud cover, and weather and cannot be guaranteed. The tour runs from mid-October through early April, covering Iceland’s full aurora season.
The main differences are duration, group size, and itinerary. This tour runs for nine days and accommodates up to 24 travelers, making it more accessible in price. The 8-day tour is limited to 16 travelers and offers a more intimate experience. This tour covers additional ground including Siglufjörður and the Herring-Era Museum, the Tröllaskagi peninsula, a microbrewery visit, and an introduction to Icelandic horses in Skagafjörður. The 8-day tour includes more dinners (five vs three) and focuses more tightly on aurora hunting with nights specifically chosen for dark sky potential. If group intimacy is a priority, the 8-day tour suits better. If a more comprehensive itinerary at a lower price point appeals, this one covers more ground.
The visit to Dettifoss depends on road and weather conditions and cannot be guaranteed. The road to the waterfall can be affected by ice, snow, and closures during the winter months. Your guide monitors conditions and will advise the group on the day. If access is not possible, the route continues without this stop.
Extra nights in Reykjavík can be added at the start or end of your booking during the checkout process. Additional time in the city allows you to add optional activities such as a glacier hike, ice cave tour, Blue Lagoon visit, Sky Lagoon, snowmobiling, or an evening whale watching tour. The team can advise on what pairs well with this itinerary when you enquire.
