Iceland Ring Road Northern Lights Self-Drive - 8 Days

On a self-drive trip with Iceland Tours, everything is pre-arranged before you arrive. Your rental car, accommodation, and any booked activities are confirmed in advance, so when you land at Keflíavík Airport you can collect your keys and get on the road without any logistics left to sort out. All you need to manage is your own time each day.

Every trip comes with a detailed day-by-day itinerary created by our Reykjavík-based travel team, giving you a clear route, suggested stops, and things to do and see at each stage. You can follow it closely or adapt it as you go. The important thing is staying within reasonable distance of your accommodation each night, which is already booked for you throughout the trip.

Every car also comes with a portable Wi-Fi device (Mi-Fi), so navigation and staying connected are both covered from day one. If anything comes up during your trip, a 24/7 emergency helpline staffed by our local Reykjavík team is available throughout your journey. You can explore our full range of Iceland self-drive tours to find the right length and route for your trip, or read more about how car rental in Iceland works before you book.

Daylight varies throughout Iceland's winter season. December and January offer 4-5 hours of daylight (approximately 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM), while February and March extend to 8-10 hours, giving you more time to explore.

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.

Yes. Every self-drive trip can be extended with additional nights in Reykjavík or elsewhere along the route. If you have a particular interest or a region you want to spend more time in, we recommend getting in touch with our travel team before you book. This way we can advise on what’s possible, flag any additional costs, and make sure your preferences are built into the booking from the start. This means a smoother process and no amendment fees down the line.

The itinerary itself provides a well-tested route and daily plan, but the self-drive format gives you genuine flexibility to adjust your pace, linger at stops you enjoy, or take side routes as conditions allow. The structure handles the logistics so the day-to-day decisions remain yours.

If you are looking at a range of itinerary lengths or want to compare what is covered across different trips, you can browse the full Iceland self-drive tour collection or get in touch with our Reykjavík-based team through the contact page to talk through your options.

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.

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.

Although Iceland’s weather can sometimes get in the way, it’s perfectly possible to have a safe self-drive trip in winter. The main roads are cleared regularly and there is good 4G coverage in most of the countryside if you need it.

That said, roads can sometimes close in winter if there are storms or heavy snowfall. When you book with Iceland Tours, you’ll get access to a 24/7 helpline while you’re in Iceland. Rest assured that help is at the end of the phone when you need it.

We’ll often contact you proactively if we think your trip will be affected by bad weather and adjust your plans accordingly. This means you’ll always stay safe and get the most out of your trip, no matter the weather.

Every Iceland Tours self-drive package includes the following as standard: a rental car of your choice with unlimited mileage, collision damage waiver, authorization for a second driver, and a portable Wi-Fi device. Accommodation at your chosen level is booked for every night of the trip, and continental breakfast is included daily. You also receive a detailed day-by-day itinerary built by our local travel experts, along with access to a 24/7 emergency helpline staffed by our Reykjavík-based team throughout your trip. Carbon offsetting of your tour is included, and all VAT, taxes, and service fees are covered.

What is not included: international flights, fuel and parking, personal travel insurance, the Iceland Road Tax (a small charge collected at pickup), food and drink beyond breakfast, and attraction entrance fees unless otherwise stated on your specific tour page.

Iceland Tours has been organizing self-drive trips in Iceland for over 40 years and is Travelife-certified for sustainable operations. When you book a package with us rather than piecing together a trip independently, every element of the logistics is handled in advance by people who know the country well, so you can focus on the trip itself. See our accommodation page and car rental page for more detail on what is available at each level, and visit our why book with us page for a full overview of what sets Iceland Tours apart.

When you book a self-drive package with Iceland Tours, you choose from three accommodation levels: Budget, Comfort, or Quality. All three include continental breakfast every day.

Budget accommodation is guesthouses and country hotels with shared bathrooms, a practical and affordable choice that still puts you in well-located, locally run properties.

Comfort moves to a selection of hotels, guesthouses, and country and farmhotels with private bathrooms, offering a comfortable step up in quality and facilities.

Quality represents the best available accommodation in each area from our selection. This typically means four-star hotels or superior rooms at three-star properties, though in more remote parts of Iceland, where the options are naturally more limited, it means the highest-quality property available in that location. Breakfast is included at all levels.

All accommodations are handpicked by our team and pre-booked before your trip begins. In rural Iceland, accommodation options are more limited than in the cities, which is one of the reasons booking ahead matters. Securing your places early as part of a package means you are not left searching for availability in remote areas during peak season. For travelers who prefer something closer to nature, we also offer Iceland self-drive camping tours. Read more about all accommodation options on our accommodation in Iceland page.

Iceland’s weather can change quickly regardless of the time of year, so packing for multiple conditions is the right approach even in summer. The essentials are: waterproof walking boots, waterproof trousers, thermal underlayers, fleeces or warm sweaters, a waterproof rain jacket, a warm outer jacket, and a hat, scarf, and gloves. Sunglasses are useful year-round. Swimwear is worth packing since hot springs and geothermal pools appear throughout the country, and lip balm and moisturizer will be appreciated given the wind.

For practical self-drive needs, your car comes with a portable Wi-Fi device so a phone mount for navigation is useful. A portable power bank is handy for longer days out. If you are visiting in winter, ice scrapers are typically provided with the car, but dressing in proper thermal layers for time spent outside makes a real difference.

For a full seasonal packing guide covering everything from summer hiking to winter driving, see our Iceland packing list. The Iceland in winter guide and our Iceland winter weather and packing article are also useful if you are traveling in the colder months.

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 comprehensive 8-day Ring Road and Northern Lights tour is specifically designed for winter travel, positioning you in prime aurora viewing locations around Iceland's entire coastline. Unlike summer Ring Road tours, this winter adventure takes advantage of Iceland's long darkness hours, giving you multiple opportunities to witness the Northern Lights dancing across rural skies far from city light pollution.

Your Iceland Tours itinerary strategically places you in countryside accommodations around the Ring Road - from Akureyri in the north to Höfn in the southeast and Vík along the south coast. Each location offers excellent Northern Lights viewing potential when conditions align. The complete clockwise Ring Road route means you'll experience Iceland's diverse winter landscapes while maximizing your chances of catching the aurora from different vantage points throughout the week.

This 8-day Ring Road tour covers Iceland's most spectacular attractions across all major regions. You'll witness the mighty Gullfoss waterfall plunging into a dramatic canyon, experience the erupting Geysir hot springs where Strokkur geyser shoots water skyward every 5-10 minutes, and walk through the historical and geological wonder of Þingvellir National Park where tectonic plates meet.

Your Iceland Tours itinerary includes the mystical Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon where enormous icebergs drift in ethereal blue waters, plus Diamond Beach where ice chunks wash ashore like scattered jewels. You'll visit the powerful waterfalls Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss (where you can walk behind the cascade), the "waterfall of the gods" Goðafoss, and the magical Hraunfossar where water flows from beneath lava fields. The Lake Mývatn region adds volcanic wonders including Hverfjall crater, Dimmuborgir lava formations, and bubbling Námaskarð mud pools.

Lake Mývatn represents one of the highlights of your Ring Road adventure, offering an entire day dedicated to exploring Iceland's most geologically active and diverse region. This remarkable area showcases volcanic formations created by thousands of years of eruptions, including the dramatic Hverfjall crater where you can hike to the rim for panoramic views, and the otherworldly Dimmuborgir lava formations that feel like walking through a natural sculpture garden.

Your Iceland Tours itinerary includes the boiling mud pools and colorful steam vents at Námaskarð, plus the Krafla volcanic area where eruptions occurred as recently as 1975-1984. The lake itself features diverse duck species during warmer months, while the nearby Earth Lagoon Mývatn (available as an optional add-on) offer a chance to soak in geothermal waters surrounded by winter landscapes. This concentrated volcanic wonderland provides incredible photo opportunities and insights into Iceland's geological forces.

The Eastfjords section offers one of Iceland's most scenic and culturally rich experiences, taking you through dramatic fjord landscapes and charming fishing villages steeped in history. Your route includes Reyðarfjörður with its fascinating World War II history museum, and the unique town of Fáskrúðsfjörður where French street names reflect the area's maritime heritage from French fishing operations.

This remote region provides excellent opportunities to spot reindeer herds and Arctic foxes, especially during winter months when these animals move to lower elevations. The winding coastal roads offer spectacular mountain and fjord views, while the journey to Höfn positions you perfectly for the next day's glacier region exploration. Your Iceland Tours itinerary allows time to appreciate the Eastfjords' rugged beauty and authentic Icelandic culture away from the more crowded southern attractions.

Winter driving on this 8-day Ring Road tour requires extra caution but follows Iceland's best-maintained routes that are regularly cleared by snowplows. The Ring Road (Route 1) is Iceland's primary highway and receives priority for snow removal, making it accessible throughout winter with proper preparation and vehicle equipment. Your Iceland Tours package includes collision damage waiver, unlimited mileage, and 24/7 emergency helpline support for urgent matters.

Road conditions can change rapidly in winter, so flexibility is essential. Iceland Tours monitors weather conditions during business hours and will contact you proactively if adjustments are needed to ensure safety. For urgent assistance outside business hours (such as on weekends), you can contact the 24/7 helpline. Daily driving distances are planned to be manageable even in winter conditions, typically 2-4 hours between destinations with plenty of stops for sightseeing. The dramatic winter landscapes, snow-covered mountains, and frozen waterfalls make every mile spectacular, turning driving into part of the adventure rather than just transportation.

Your 8-day Ring Road tour includes strategically selected accommodations in countryside locations that maximize Northern Lights viewing opportunities while providing comfort after days of winter exploration. You'll stay in charming hotels and guesthouses in towns like Akureyri (north Iceland's capital), the Lake Mývatn area (excellent for aurora viewing due to minimal light pollution), Egilsstaðir in the Eastfjords, Höfn near Vatnajökull glacier, and Vík along the dramatic south coast.

Each accommodation location offers different Northern Lights viewing advantages - from the Mývatn area's minimal light pollution to the south coast's dramatic backdrop of glaciers and black sand beaches. Your Iceland Tours package includes Budget, Comfort, or Quality accommodation levels, all featuring continental breakfast and strategic positioning away from major cities' light pollution. Many properties have outdoor areas perfect for aurora watching, and rural locations mean you can often spot the Northern Lights right from your accommodation.

This winter Ring Road adventure offers a completely different but equally spectacular experience compared to summer tours, with unique advantages for travelers seeking Iceland's most dramatic seasonal beauty. While summer tours benefit from midnight sun and easier driving conditions, winter tours provide exclusive access to Northern Lights viewing, frozen waterfalls draped in icicles, snow-covered volcanic landscapes, and a magical atmosphere that transforms familiar attractions into winter wonderlands.

The 8-day winter duration allows for more leisurely exploration despite shorter daylight hours, giving you time to fully appreciate each region's winter character. Iceland Tours' winter itinerary includes the complete Ring Road experience, letting you witness Iceland's seasonal contrasts - from steaming geothermal areas against snow-covered surroundings to the pristine beauty of glacier lagoons in their winter setting.

Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon reaches peak beauty during winter months when your Iceland Tours adventure visits this crown jewel of the Ring Road. Winter transforms the lagoon into an even more surreal landscape - the contrast between bright white icebergs and deep blue glacial water becomes more dramatic, while surrounding snow-covered mountains create a pristine arctic atmosphere impossible to experience in summer.

The nearby Diamond Beach showcases ice chunks polished to crystal clarity against black volcanic sand, creating stunning photo opportunities in the soft winter light. Your daytime visit allows you to fully appreciate these spectacular ice formations and the dramatic landscape surrounding Europe's largest glacier, Vatnajökull. The winter setting provides a sense of being in one of Earth's last wilderness frontiers.

Absolutely! This self-drive format provides excellent flexibility to enhance your 8-day Ring Road adventure with spontaneous discoveries and optional experiences. You can add activities like soaking in the Earth Lagoon Mývatn's geothermal waters or exploring the region's accessible volcanic features at your own pace.

The tour's comprehensive routing allows for spontaneous Northern Lights chasing - if aurora forecasts are favorable, you can extend evening drives to optimal viewing locations or adjust your schedule for early morning displays. You might choose to spend extra time at key attractions or add extra nights in Reykjavík at the tour's end. The 24/7 helpline is available for urgent matters to ensure you stay safe during your journey.

For the best Northern Lights opportunities on this 8-day Ring Road tour, plan your visit during the prime November and February-March window when Iceland experiences substantial darkness hours combined with more manageable road conditions. This timing offers excellent chances for aurora viewing while maintaining better accessibility around the complete Ring Road circuit.

Iceland Tours recommends booking this popular winter itinerary well in advance, especially for travel during Northern Lights season when accommodation availability is limited in countryside locations. The complete Ring Road circuit requires strategic planning for winter road conditions, making early booking essential for securing optimal accommodations and rental vehicles equipped for winter driving. The 8-day duration provides multiple opportunities to experience clear skies somewhere along the route, significantly increasing your chances of witnessing spectacular Northern Lights displays across Iceland's diverse landscapes.