Ring Road & Arctic Coast Way

After breakfast in Reykjavík, your road trip to the north begins. The route takes you through sprawling farmlands to your destination, the Skagafjörður region.

Before you arrive, take a few detours to see some sights. In Borgarnes, you can learn about Viking history. Further along is Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring.

Not far from here, discover Hraunfossar and Barnafoss, 2 dazzling waterfalls. Then, drive through the Vatnsnes peninsula, known for its cute seal colonies.

If there’s time, visit Glaumbær, an old turf-roofed farmhouse, and take a dip at the Grettislaug geothermal pool.

It’s time to join the Arctic Coast Way! Set off from Skagafjörður into the Tröllaskagi peninsula. Get ready to see towering mountains, plunging valleys, and majestic ice caps.

The drive continues past more otherworldly landscapes and into the Hjaltadalur valley. Nestled here is the town of Hólar, featuring a famous church with a long history.

Your next stop is Hofssós, a quaint village with a famous harbor.

Pass through Siglufjörður, one of Iceland’s most northern towns, and the villages of Ólafsfjörður and Dalvík.
Later, you’ll arrive in Akureyri, nicknamed the ‘Capital of the North’.

Head out from Akureyri and make your way to Goðafoss, the ‘Waterfall of the Gods’. Then head to Húsavík, famous for its wildlife and the GeoSea thermal baths.

Later, get back on the road and head to Lake Mývatn. This area is all about volcanic activity, past and present.

Get up close to the Dimmuborgir lava fields, where sky-high rock formations will take your breath away.

Then, discover the Krafla volcano system with its bubbling mud pools. For a hit of adrenaline, check out Leirhnjúkur, an active volcano crater.

End your day by relaxing at Mývatn’s Nature Baths (optional, not included).

Start your morning at thundering Dettifoss, a set of falls so powerful you’ll feel the ground shaking.

A little further along is Hljóðaklettar, or ‘Echo Rocks’. And don’t miss Ásbyrgi, a vast horseshoe-shaped crater steeped in folklore.

Spend some time discovering Jökulsárgljúfur, a stunning canyon in Vatnajökull National Park. You’ll be rewarded by spectacular waterfalls tumbling into deep ravines.

Then, hit the road along the Arctic Coast Way. Travel through the Melrakkaslétta peninsula to Raufarhöfn, Iceland’s most northern settlement.

Look out for the Arctic Henge, or Heimskautsgerðið, a awe-inspiring stone monument that’s slowly being built in honor of Norse mythology.

Today, your Arctic Coast Way adventure ends with a drive along the Langanes peninsula.

You might want to stop and explore a hiking trail or wander along a beach. The natural beauty of this area makes it a photographer’s dream.

Later, continue past Selárdalslaug, a geothermal pool where you could go for a dip. Not far is Vopnafjörður, a village perched on a fjord with a jaw-dropping coastline.

Your destination is the town of Egilsstaðir in East Iceland. It’s the largest settlement in this region, but still has a population of less than 3,000!

It’s time to explore Iceland’s least-visited region. Set off south towards Reyðarfjörður, a small town with a fascinating war museum.

Continue on your journey, following the edges of the fjords on an incredible stretch of road. The views are out of this world!

If you’d like, you can make another stop in the cute harbor village of Djúpivogur. Look out for Eggin í Gleðivík, or ‘The Eggs of Merry Bay’, 34 sculptures of local bird eggs.

The final part of your journey takes you through the Almannaskarð tunnel. On the other side is the Höfn area, where you’ll spend the night.

You have plenty of thrilling stops to choose from today as you make your way west.

The road takes you around the southern edge of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice cap, until you reach the surreal Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.

Close by, stop in the Skaftafell nature reserve, an oasis of giant glaciers and black sand beaches.

Get back on the road and continue on. Along your way, you could stop to explore the picturesque Kirkjubæjarklaustur village and the nearby Eldhraun lava field.

For one final stop, discover the Mýrdalssandur outwash plain before you head to your destination, the Vík í Mýrdal area.

Finish your Iceland adventure with a bang by ticking off the iconic Golden Circle route.

This small ring of attractions is world-famous for a reason! Begin at Gullfoss, or ‘Golden Falls’, a thundering 2-tiered waterfall.

Then, discover Geysir, a geothermal region where the word ‘geyser’ came from. Witness the powerful Strokkur spray hot water into the air.

Next up is Þingvellir National Park and the Mid-Atlantic Rift, where 2 tectonic plates are slowly drifting apart.

As you head back to Reykjavík, you’ll pass by 2 more amazing waterfalls, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss.

Your incredible adventure has come to an end! If you’ve got time before your flight, check out some more of the city’s attractions.

As well as shops and cafés, there are 2 nearby thermal spas, Sky Lagoon and the Blue Lagoon. Why not visit one of them to relax ahead of your journey home?