Iceland Ring Road Winter Adventure with Snæfellsnes

10 days / 9 nights
icicles and waterfall tumbling down rock face with snow on the ground
Steam rising from Deildartunguhver hot spring during winter
A snowy road on the Snæfellsnes peninsula
icicles and waterfall tumbling down rock face with snow on the ground
Steam rising from Deildartunguhver hot spring during winter

The ultimate Iceland winter road trip

On this epic 10-day Iceland winter adventure, drive the Ring Road and take in the country’s incredibly diverse landscapes. See glacier-topped mountains, frozen-solid waterfalls, and boiling water erupting from the ground!

This tour will take you to Iceland’s North and Eastfjords, including the unmissable Lake Mývatn area. There you’ll find the Dimmuborgir caves, filled with naturally hot water, as featured in Game of Thrones.

Travel styleSelf-drive
Trip length10 days / 9 nights
VibeUltimate
SeasonWinter
(1 Nov - 31 Mar)
TransportRental car
Starts fromReykjavík
Tour codeSD15

On this tour you will...

  • Explore the Golden Circle in its winter costume

  • Follow the south coast route to glacier country

  • Circle the Snæfellsnes peninsula with its epic coast

  • Wind through the picturesque Eastfjords region

  • See active geysers gushing and hot springs bubbling

  • Marvel at gigantic, powerful waterfalls

View the summer version of this trip

Top attractions

Lake Mývatn in its autumn colors

Lake Mývatn

The Goðafoss waterfall in summer

Goðafoss

The skyline of Akureyri, North Iceland

Akureyri

The edge of the Vatnajökull glacier

Vatnajökull Glacier & National Park

The Gullfoss waterfall in summertime

Gullfoss

A rainbow over the Skógafoss waterfall on a sunny day

Skógafoss

The Seljalandsfoss waterfall covered in icicles

Seljalandsfoss

View over the Fellabær neighborhood of Egilsstaðir

Egilsstaðir

Mountains in the Skaftafell Nature Reserve on a cloudy day

Skaftafell Nature Reserve

Þingvellir National Park, Iceland, in autumn colors

Þingvellir National Park

The Strokkur geyser erupting in winter against a sunset

Geysir and Strokkur

Vik Church with Reynisdrangar sea stacks in the distance

Vík í Mýrdal

Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon at sunrise with a pink sky

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

The Tjörnin pond in Reykjavík in summer

Downtown Reykjavík

Why book a self-drive trip with Iceland Tours?

  • Start your tour on the date that suits you

  • 24/7 emergency helpline in Iceland

  • Secure your booking with just a 5% deposit

  • New rental cars with 2 drivers as standard

  • Handpicked local accommodation options

  • Best Price Guarantee

Your 10-day self-drive itinerary

Staying inReykjavík
Driving distance50 km (31 mi)

Your memorable Icelandic adventure begins the very moment you arrive at Keflavík Airport. You will pick up your rental vehicle and drive to the capital, Reykjavík, for your first night in Iceland.

Highlights

The Tjörnin pond in Reykjavík in summer

Downtown Reykjavík

Extra activities

Riders on FlyOver Iceland above a virtual waterfallExtra

FlyOver Iceland

The Sky Lagoon at sunsetExtra

Sky Lagoon Pure Pass

Staying inSnæfellsnes area
Driving distance300 km (186 mi)

Today you’ll drive around the stunning Snæfellsnes peninsula. You‘ll discover sites such as Eldborg volcanic crater, the Gerðuberg cliffs, and the quaint hamlet of Búðir. You can also stop by Djúpalónssandur and its historical shipwreck remains. Don‘t miss the views up the famous and majestic Snæfell volcano and surrounding glacier.

Staying inBorgarfjörður area
Driving distance205 km (127 mi)

From Stykkishólmur, you will head toward the fjord of Borgarfjörður. This area is characterized by vast lands, sweeping views of the Langjökull glacier, and magnificent waterfalls. All set against a rich cultural background straight out of an Icelandic saga.

Staying inAkureyri area
Driving distance315 km (196 mi)

Today’s itinerary takes you to North Iceland. You’ll drive through farm fields and the Skagafjörður region known for Icelandic horse breeding. In fact, you are sure to spot several beautiful and fluffy horses in the fields as you drive to Akureyri. We recommend taking some time to visit the museum at Glaumbær, one of the few turf farmhouses that has been properly preserved in Iceland.

Staying inMývatn / Húsavík area
Driving distance120 km (75 mi)

There are more natural wonders on the program today! Your first stop is at the impressive Goðafoss waterfall, known as “the waterfall of the gods,” before heading onwards to the Mývatn area. Along the way, you can visit several awe-isnpiring sites such as Dimmuborgir, a mesmerising lava field labyrinth, and the ancient pseudo-craters of Skútustaðir.

Staying inEgilsstaðir area
Driving distance180 km (112 mi)

This morning you continue your journey to East Iceland. You might like to visit the amazing boiling mud pools and steam vents of Námaskarð, before stopping by the Krafla area, where a series of volcanic eruptions took place from 1975 to 1984. You’ll then travel on to the village of Egilsstaðir. If you are lucky you might see some of the local wildlife, including reindeer and arctic fox.

Staying inHöfn area
Driving distance185 km (115 mi)

Explore the Eastfjords starting with Reyðarfjörður, where you’ll find a quaint and interesting World War II museum. You’ll then drive to Fáskrúðsfjörður. With its French heritage, you’ll be able to spot French street names. Later, you’ll follow the coast south to reach Höfn.

Staying inVík area
Driving distance275 km (171 mi)

Your next stop is Iceland’s scenic south-east. You‘ll first pass by various outlet glaciers belonging to Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice cap. You’ll then arrive at the stunning Jökulsárlón, a lagoon famous for its bogging icebergs. This exceptional sight sits at the foot of Iceland’s highest mountain, Hvannadalshnúkur.

Skaftafell Nature Reserve is another must-see area. This oasis, surrounded by glaciers and black sand plains, offers a broad range of options for impressive hikes. Continue through the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, the Eldhraun lava field, and the Mýrdalssandur plain before arriving in the Vík area.

Staying inReykjavík
Driving distance300 km (186 mi)

Today, you will take in some of the top highlights of the south coast. Start the morning by admiring the powerful Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls.

Later, marvel at the attractions of the famous Golden Circle. First, the imposing Gullfoss waterfall, followed by the steaming power of Geysir. Here you can witness the Strokkur geyser propel warm water in the air every 5-10 minutes. Last but not least, the Þingvellir National Park. This is where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, creating this impressive landscape.

You‘ll end the day in Reykjavík for your last night in Iceland.

Driving distance50 km (31 mi)

It is now time for you to say goodbye to Iceland and fly home after an amazing journey through some of the world’s most picturesque landscapes. Drive back to Keflavík Airport and return your rental car. If your flight is later in the day, you might want to enjoy a last stroll around Reykjavík or visit one last museum or attraction in the city.

What’s included?

Detailed itinerary

Budget, Comfort, or Quality accommodation every night

Continental breakfast every day

Rental car of your choice for 9 days

2 authorized drivers as standard

Unlimited mileage

Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi

Collision damage waiver

24/7 emergency helpline when you’re in Iceland

VAT, taxes & service fees

Flights to Iceland

Fuel & parking charges

Food & drink, unless otherwise stated

Attraction entrance fees, unless otherwise stated

Personal travel insurance

Best price

Adults

Ages 12+

2

Children

Ages 2-11

0

Infants

Ages 0-1

0

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.

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.

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 your travel documents to you.

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.

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.

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