Iceland Ring Road & Snæfellsnes Self-Drive - 10 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.

The Snæfellsnes Peninsula on day 2 is one of the most rewarding ways to open a 10 day Iceland self-drive tour. Often called "Iceland in miniature," it brings together glaciers, coastline, volcanic landscapes, and charming fishing villages in a single peninsula, giving you a well-rounded first impression before the main Ring Road journey begins.

You will visit the mystical Snæfellsjökull glacier, the one that inspired Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth, and see Kirkjufell mountain, recognizable to many from its appearances in Game of Thrones. Along the coast, formations like Djúpalónssandur black pebble beach and the Lóndrangar rock pinnacles give you a sense of the raw geological forces that shaped the island.

You will also pass through Stykkishólmur and Arnarstapi, two of the peninsula's most appealing coastal villages, and stop at Ytri Tunga beach, a favourite spot for seal watching. Starting the tour here means you arrive at the more famous Ring Road attractions with real context for what makes Iceland's landscapes so distinctive.

The itinerary is structured to avoid the feeling of rushing between highlights. Day 2 on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula sets a comfortable pace before the route heads north through the scenic Borgarfjörður region toward Akureyri. From there, you explore the Diamond Circle in northern Iceland, travel through the eastern fjords, and eventually reach Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon before finishing on the famous south coast.

Because each region is given its own dedicated time, you are not simply ticking off sites. You have space to linger, adjust your stops, and experience each area on its own terms. Beginning with Snæfellsnes also means your first full day of driving introduces Iceland's coastal and glacial character in a manageable loop, building confidence for the longer drives ahead on this 10 days around Iceland self-drive.

The reputation is well earned. Kirkjufell is widely considered the most photographed mountain in Iceland, and the classic composition from Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall, where the 463-metre cone-shaped peak frames the falling water, genuinely delivers on what you see in photos.

For the best light, aim for early morning around 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. or evening between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. when the sky is softer and shadows fall more interestingly. In summer, the midnight sun extends golden-hour conditions for hours, giving you considerably more flexibility than you might expect. Winter visitors have the added chance of photographing the Northern Lights behind the mountain. A tripod is worth bringing, and it is worth walking the perimeter of the parking area to find the angle that works best for you.

The Snæfellsnes Peninsula has a strong range of optional activities that complement the standard sightseeing stops well.

The Vatnshellir lava cave takes you 35 metres underground into an 8,000-year-old lava tube. Helmet and headlamp are included and the tour runs about an hour. It is accessible to most fitness levels and offers a geology that is completely different from ice caves, with dark passages and striking rock formations rather than blue glacial walls.

Glacier walks on Snæfellsjökull are available with experienced guides who provide all necessary equipment. Whale watching tours operate from Stykkishólmur, where you can spot orcas and various other species in Breiðafjörður bay. Horseback riding along the peninsula's beaches gives you a genuinely Icelandic experience, and kayaking around Kirkjufell offers perspectives of the mountain that you simply cannot get from the road. Your accommodations are arranged when you book this self-drive tour, giving you the flexibility to add activities that fit your interests and schedule.

Visiting Snæfellsnes on day 2, while you are fresh and the whole trip is still ahead of you, shapes how you experience everything that follows. The peninsula introduces Iceland's coastal character, its volcanic geology, and its fishing village culture before you have seen the more widely publicised Ring Road landmarks.

Stops like Djúpalónssandur beach and the Lóndrangar rock formations give you an early reference point for what makes Iceland's landscapes unusual. By the time you reach the south coast waterfalls or the glacier lagoon later in the trip, the Snæfellsnes experience makes those places feel like part of a coherent story rather than a checklist. Catching seals at Ytri Tunga on day 2, when wildlife sightings still feel genuinely exciting, is also a genuinely good reason to schedule it early.

The key practical difference is availability. While ice caves on glaciers like Vatnajökull are seasonal and depend on temperature and conditions, Vatnshellir on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula operates throughout the tour season because it is a lava tube, not an ice feature. That consistency matters when you are planning a self-drive itinerary in advance.

The geological character is also very different. Where ice caves impress with translucent blue walls and frozen formations, Vatnshellir descends 35 metres into dark volcanic rock shaped by flowing lava around 8,000 years ago. The passages, colours, and textures are distinct from anything else on this 10 day Iceland ring road tour. The tour runs about an hour, includes helmet and headlamp, and does not require a high level of fitness. It is less crowded than many of the more prominent cave experiences in Iceland, which is worth noting if you prefer a quieter visit.

Plan at least 2 to 3 hours in Stykkishólmur. It is one of the most authentic coastal towns in Iceland and a natural hub for the northern part of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

The colorful harbor-front buildings are genuinely photogenic, and the short walk up to Súgandisey Island lighthouse rewards you with panoramic views across Breiðafjörður bay. The town has kept a real fishing village character without becoming overly touristified, so it gives you a more honest picture of Icelandic coastal life than some of the more heavily visited spots. There are good restaurants serving fresh seafood, local craft shops, and the Norwegian House cultural center for anyone interested in local history. In summer, boat tours into the bay offer some of the best puffin watching in Iceland.

During the operating season, the tour benefits from extended daylight that makes it much easier to explore the wide range of landscapes on the itinerary, from the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and Borgarfjörður to the Diamond Circle in north Iceland, the eastern fjords, and the south coast.

In summer, lupine flowers colour the roadsides purple and puffin colonies are active along the peninsula coastlines. The long golden light during peak season also creates unusually good photography conditions that can last well into the evening. If you are specifically interested in Northern Lights, Iceland Tours also offers dedicated winter Ring Road tours designed around aurora viewing, with shorter daylight hours and the conditions that make the lights most visible. You can explore those options in the 10 days around Iceland Northern Lights self-drive.

Snæfellsnes National Park centres on the Snæfellsjökull glacier and the coastal areas surrounding it. Within and around the park, the itinerary covers Djúpalónssandur black pebble beach, the golden sands at Ytri Tunga, the striking Lóndrangar rock formations, and the coastal cliffs around Hellnar and Arnarstapi. Marked hiking trails, tide pools, and viewpoints are accessible throughout.

Be aware that some locations have begun introducing parking fees or facility charges as tourism infrastructure develops, so it is worth budgeting a small amount for those. Optional add-ons in this area include whale watching excursions from coastal towns. Your accommodations are arranged as part of this 10-day self-drive Iceland tour, and you can discuss adding specific activities when you book.

The itinerary is built around giving both the Ring Road and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula proper time rather than treating either as a side trip. Starting with Snæfellsnes on day 2 means you experience the Gerðuberg basalt cliffs, the villages of Hellnar and Arnarstapi, and the atmosphere around Snæfellsjökull glacier before turning north toward Akureyri and the Diamond Circle.

From there, the route continues through the eastern fjords to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and then along the south coast, taking in the waterfalls and black sand beaches that are often people's defining memory of Iceland. The structure means that by the end of the 10 days, you have covered the country's essential landscapes in a logical sequence without either region feeling rushed. Not ready to self-drive? You can explore similar routes on a 10-day guided group Ring Road tour as well.