Circle Iceland's entire perimeter on this premium Ring Road adventure that combines independent driving freedom with signature experiences you won't want to miss.
This comprehensive 8-day self-drive tour delivers the complete Icelandic experience, wrapping must-see natural wonders together with three signature activities that define what makes Iceland extraordinary.
Your journey begins with an indulgent soak at the world-renowned Blue Lagoon, setting the perfect tone for your Icelandic adventure. From there, you'll navigate Route 1 through dramatic volcanic landscapes, past thundering waterfalls, and along rugged coastlines where mountains plunge into the sea. The North reveals its geothermal marvels at Lake Mývatn and the cascading beauty of Goðafoss, while the remote Eastfjords offer winding roads through fishing villages tucked between steep mountainsides.
The highlight of your southeast exploration includes an exhilarating zodiac boat tour on Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon, where you'll navigate between icebergs calved from Vatnajökull ice cap while learning about glacial processes from expert guides. The nearby Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach provide additional opportunities to witness the ever-changing ice sculptures that make this region unforgettable. As you journey along the South Coast, you'll encounter black sand beaches, powerful waterfalls like Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, and the charming village of Vík.
Your final day ventures beneath Iceland's surface with a guided tour through an ancient lava tunnel, revealing the hidden forces that shaped this volcanic island. Before completing the circle, you'll explore the Golden Circle's iconic trio: the explosive Geysir geothermal area, thundering Gullfoss waterfall, and historic Þingvellir National Park, where tectonic plates create a rift visible above ground.
With accommodations, breakfast, and three premium experiences included, this tour removes the guesswork from planning while preserving your flexibility to explore at your own rhythm. It's the ideal balance between structured experiences and independent discovery.
Use SAVE_10 at checkout for 10% off
valid on all self-drive tours with arrival between April - October 2026. Offer ends soon.
On this tour you will...
Soak in the Blue Lagoon's geothermal waters – included in your tour from the moment you arrive in Iceland
Navigate between icebergs on Fjallsárlón – zodiac boat tour through a stunning glacier lagoon with expert guides
Drive the complete Ring Road – circle Iceland's entire perimeter at your own pace over 8 unforgettable days
Explore an ancient lava tunnel – guided underground tour revealing the volcanic forces that shaped Iceland
Witness the power of Dettifoss – Europe's most powerful waterfall in the remote highlands of North Iceland
Discover Lake Mývatn's geothermal wonders – bubbling mud pools, steaming vents, and otherworldly lava formations
Top attractions
Blue Lagoon
Hraunfossar and Barnafoss
Akureyri
Húsavík
Lake Mývatn
Ásbyrgi
Dettifoss
Djúpivogur
Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Vatnajökull Glacier & National Park
Stuðlagil canyon
Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Vík í Mýrdal
Gullfoss
Þingvellir National Park
Geysir and Strokkur
The Lava Tunnel - Raufarhólshellir
Downtown Reykjavík
Why book a self-drive trip with Iceland Tours?
Start your tour on the date that suits you
New rental cars with 2 drivers as standard
24/7 emergency helpline in Iceland
Handpicked local accommodation options
Secure your booking with just a 5% deposit
Best Price Guarantee
Your 8-day Iceland self-drive itinerary
Your Icelandic adventure starts the moment you clear customs at Keflavík Airport and collect your rental vehicle. Rather than rushing straight to the capital, you'll begin with Iceland's most celebrated relaxation experience at the Blue Lagoon. Sink into the milky-blue geothermal waters, rich with silica and minerals, while volcanic landscapes stretch across the Reykjanes Peninsula around you. The in-water bar and silica mud mask station add to this otherworldly experience. After your rejuvenating soak, it's a short drive to Reykjavík where you'll check into your accommodation and have the evening free to explore the city's vibrant dining scene, perhaps sampling traditional Icelandic dishes or contemporary Nordic cuisine at one of the many excellent restaurants clustered around the city center.
Highlights
Blue Lagoon
Downtown Reykjavík
Extra activities
IncludedBlue Lagoon Comfort Admission
ExtraFlyOver Iceland
ExtraThe Reykjavík Food Walk
ExtraPuffin Watching
ExtraClassic Whale Watching from Reykjavík
ExtraHorse Riding from Reykjavík
ExtraInside the Volcano tour from Bláfjöll
Departing Reykjavík, you'll drive north toward the Borgarfjörður region, home to some of West Iceland's most captivating natural features. While the main route uses the undersea tunnel, consider taking the scenic detour around Hvalfjörður fjord if time permits, offering coastal views and a quieter alternative. Hraunfossar waterfall creates an unusual spectacle where crystal-clear water appears to emerge directly from the Hallmundarhraun lava field, streaming into the glacial Hvítá river through countless small cascades. The nearby Barnafoss, with its narrow canyon and powerful current, offers a contrasting display of nature's raw force. Continuing north through Skagafjörður, you'll notice the region's equestrian heritage as Icelandic horses graze in fields beside the road. This valley has produced some of Iceland's finest riding horses for centuries. Your destination is Akureyri, often called the capital of North Iceland, where you can stroll the botanical gardens or explore the town's cafés and restaurants.
Today centers entirely on the Lake Mývatn area, one of Iceland's most geologically active and diverse regions. Your morning begins with a stop at Goðafoss, the "waterfall of the gods," where the Skjálfandafljót river plunges over a horseshoe-shaped cliff. At Lake Mývatn itself, the Dimmuborgir lava formations create a maze of twisted rock pillars and caves formed during an eruption centuries ago. The Krafla volcanic system showcases Iceland's geothermal power through bubbling mud pots at Leirhnjúkur and the vivid sulfur deposits surrounding Námafjall's steaming vents. The Grjótagjá rift cave, with its geothermal pool inside a fissure, demonstrates how the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart. Consider ending your day at the Earth Lagoon Mývatn, where you can soak in warm, mineral-rich waters while overlooking the lake and surrounding volcanic landscape.
Beginning in the Mývatn area, today's route takes you to Húsavík, a fishing village renowned as Iceland's whale watching capital, though you'll be passing through rather than staying. The coastal drive along the Tjörnes Peninsula provides excellent views across Skjálfandi Bay, with opportunities to stop at viewpoints where seabirds nest on the cliffs during summer months. From here, the landscape transitions as you head toward East Iceland, a less-visited region where the pace of life slows considerably. The route offers glimpses of Iceland's eastern character, where small communities depend on fishing and farming. The winding roads and frequent elevation changes make this a longer driving day, but the relative solitude and changing scenery provide their own rewards. You'll overnight somewhere in the eastern region, with accommodation options ranging from coastal villages to rural settings surrounded by mountains.
The Eastfjords showcase a different side of Iceland, where dramatic mountains drop steeply into narrow fjords lined with tiny fishing communities. Each fjord has its own character, and the road hugs the coastline, sometimes climbing high on mountain slopes with dizzying views to the water below. Reyðarfjörður houses a small but interesting wartime museum documenting the British and American military presence here during World War II, when the fjord served as an important Allied base. As you continue south, the fjords become progressively wider and the landscape more open. The Almannaskarð tunnel marks your transition into the southeast region, emerging near Höfn, a fishing town famous for its langoustine. The accommodation here puts you in position for tomorrow's glacier lagoon adventures, with Vatnajökull's massive ice cap dominating the horizon to the west.
This is arguably the tour's most spectacular day, focused on the glacial wonders of Southeast Iceland. Your included zodiac boat tour on Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon provides an intimate encounter with icebergs and the glacier tongue feeding this smaller, less-visited lagoon. Expert guides navigate between ice formations while explaining glacial processes and pointing out features in the ice. The nearby Jökulsárlón, Iceland's largest and most famous glacier lagoon, allows you to walk along the shore observing icebergs in various sizes drifting toward the ocean. Across the road, Diamond Beach displays ice chunks scattered across black volcanic sand, creating stunning contrasts as waves wash around them. The Skaftafell area, part of Vatnajökull National Park, offers hiking opportunities if time permits. Continuing west past Kirkjubæjarklaustur and the massive Eldhraun moss-covered lava field, you'll arrive in the Vík area for the night, where the black sand beach and Reynisdrangar sea stacks provide evening photo opportunities.
Your morning begins in the Vík area, following the South Coast westward past some of Iceland's most photographed waterfalls. Skógafoss drops 60 meters with tremendous force, often creating rainbows in its spray, while stairs beside the cascade lead to a top viewing platform. Seljalandsfoss offers the unique opportunity to walk behind the falling water (bring waterproof gear), providing perspectives few waterfalls worldwide can match. The route then takes you inland to explore the Golden Circle: Gullfoss, a powerful two-tiered waterfall plunging into a narrow canyon, and the Geysir geothermal area, where Strokkur erupts every few minutes. At Þingvellir National Park, Iceland's parliament was founded in 930 CE and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge creates a visible rift valley where tectonic plates diverge. Your final stop descends into an ancient lava tunnel for your included guided tour. Walking through these underground passages formed by flowing lava thousands of years ago reveals the volcanic forces that built Iceland, with your guide explaining the geological processes that created these hollow tubes. You'll return to Reykjavík for your final night.
Your Ring Road circuit concludes as you drive back to Keflavík Airport, returning your rental vehicle before your departure flight. If your flight schedule permits, you might have time for final souvenir shopping in Reykjavík or a quick visit to any city attractions you missed at the beginning of your trip. The drive to the airport takes about 45 minutes from central Reykjavík, though you should allow extra time for vehicle return and airport procedures. As you depart, you'll carry memories of an island circumnavigated, from geothermal pools and glacial lagoons to volcanic landscapes and coastal villages, having experienced the full diversity of what makes Iceland such an extraordinary destination.
What’s included?
Detailed itinerary
Budget, Comfort, or Quality accommodation every night
Continental breakfast every day
Blue Lagoon Comfort admission (includes towel rental, silica mud mask, 1 drink)
Zodiac boat tour on Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon
Raufarhólshellir lava cave tour
Rental car of your choice for 7 days
2 authorized drivers as standard
Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi
Unlimited mileage
Collision damage waiver
24/7 emergency helpline when you’re in Iceland
Carbon offsetting of your tour
VAT, taxes & service fees
Flights to Iceland
Fuel & parking charges
Food & drink, unless otherwise stated
Attraction entrance fees, unless otherwise stated
Personal travel insurance
FAQs about our self-drive trips
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.
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!
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!
