Blue Lagoon, Westfjords & Ring Road Self-Drive Around Iceland
This 12-day self-drive covers the full Ring Road circuit and takes in two regions that most Iceland tours leave out: the remote Westfjords and the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Blue Lagoon Comfort admission is included on your arrival day, so you can settle in before the driving starts.
The itinerary runs clockwise from Reykjavík, crossing to the Westfjords by the Baldur ferry and returning via Akureyri, the Eastfjords, Jökulsárlón, and the south coast. You’ll reach Ísafjörður, Dynjandi, Lake Mývatn, Dettifoss, Skaftafell, and the Golden Circle, with all accommodation pre-booked and continental breakfast included throughout.
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On this tour you will...
Get to explore every corner of Iceland
Head off the beaten track in the Westfjords
Discover the Snæfellsnes peninsula at your own pace
Marvel at glaciers and waterfalls on the south coast
Complete the classic Golden Circle touring route
Visit spectacular North Iceland and the Eastfjords
Top attractions
Blue Lagoon
Látrabjarg
Dynjandi
Ísafjörður
Akureyri
Lake Mývatn
Dettifoss
Ásbyrgi
Stuðlagil canyon
Kirkjufell
Arnarstapi
Hraunfossar and Barnafoss
Deildartunguhver
Djúpivogur
Vík í Mýrdal
Vatnajökull Glacier & National Park
Seljalandsfoss
Skógafoss
Þingvellir National Park
Geysir and Strokkur
Gullfoss
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 12-day self-drive itinerary
After landing at Keflavík airport, collect your rental car and head to the Blue Lagoon for your included Comfort admission before continuing into the city. The geothermal pool sits on the Reykjanesnes peninsula, roughly 20 minutes from the airport, and makes a natural first stop on the way to Reykjavík rather than a separate trip.
Once you arrive in the capital, check into your accommodation and take the evening at your own pace. Reykjavík is compact and easy on foot: the harbor, Hallgrímskirkja, and the main shopping street are all close together. Rest well before the journey north begins tomorrow.
Highlights
Blue Lagoon
Downtown Reykjavík
Hallgrimskirkja
Extra activities
IncludedBlue Lagoon Comfort Admission
ExtraFlyOver Iceland
ExtraSky Lagoon Saman Pass
ExtraPuffin Watching
ExtraClassic Whale Watching from Reykjavík
ExtraThe Reykjavík Food Walk
ExtraHorse Riding from Reykjavík
ExtraInside the Volcano tour from Bláfjöll
ExtraLava Show Reykjavík
Leave Reykjavík and head north into the Borgarfjörður region before turning west onto the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. The Borgarfjörður area has deep roots in Icelandic saga history and a couple of natural features that are worth stopping for. Hraunfossar filters through a lava field directly into the river below rather than falling from a cliff, creating an unusual cascade along a long stretch of bank. Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful geothermal spring, produces 180 litres of boiling water per second and sits just off the main road.
From Borgarfjörður, head west onto the peninsula. Gerðuberg is a long wall of basalt columns where the geometric rock face runs cleanly along the roadside. Arnarstapi is a small coastal village with sea arch formations and birdlife along the cliff path toward Hellnar. The black pebble beach at Djúpalónssandur has the rusted remains of a British trawler among the rocks and old lifting stones used to test the strength of prospective fishermen.
Throughout the day, Snæfellsjökull glacier sits at the western tip of the peninsula. The glacier-capped stratovolcano inspired Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth and is the centrepiece of a national park that covers the tip of the peninsula. Spend the night in the Snæfellsnes area.
The day begins with the Baldur ferry from Stykkishólmur across Breiðafjörður Bay to the southern Westfjords. The crossing takes around three hours and sails past the hundreds of small islands that fill the bay. Seals are often visible on rocky outcrops and seabirds are common throughout the crossing. The ferry carries your rental car, so the transition into the Westfjords is straightforward.
After disembarking, the landscape changes immediately. The Westfjords are Iceland's oldest geological region, shaped by glaciers rather than volcanic activity, and the difference is visible in the rounded mountains and deep fjord walls. Rauðisandur is one of the stops on this stretch, a beach with reddish and golden sand formed from crushed shells rather than the volcanic black sand found elsewhere in Iceland. The surrounding mountains and the colour of the water give it a character unlike anywhere else on the route. Explore more of the southern Westfjords before settling into your accommodation for the night.
Continue north through the Westfjords, where the roads wind along fjord edges and over mountain passes between valleys. The driving here is slower than the Ring Road but the scenery is consistently engaging, with steep fjord walls dropping to the water on one side and open heath on the other.
Dynjandi is the main stop of the day and one of the most impressive waterfalls in Iceland. The main drop falls 100 metres and widens from 30 metres at the top to 60 metres at the base, giving it a fanned shape that is unlike most other waterfalls in the country. Six smaller cascades run down the same hillside below it, and a path climbs alongside all of them. The name means thunderous in Icelandic, which gives a reasonable sense of what to expect at close range.
Continue toward Ísafjörður, the largest town in the Westfjords and the regional hub. There are good restaurants and shops here if you want to stock up before the more remote stretches ahead. Spend the night near Ísafjörður.
Today covers some of the least-visited terrain in Iceland as you travel through the Strandir coast on the eastern side of the Westfjords. The roads here are narrower and the settlements fewer than anywhere else on this itinerary. The route follows the fjords of Ísafjarðardjúp, the large fjord system that cuts deep into the Westfjords peninsula, with mountains rising steeply from the water on both sides.
Látrabjarg, Iceland's westernmost point, is one of Europe's largest seabird cliffs and is particularly known for razorbills and puffins during the summer nesting season. The cliffs run for several kilometres and the birds nest close enough to the edge to photograph without specialist equipment.
The day ends as you begin to leave the Westfjords behind and head southeast toward the Hrútafjörður area on the border with north Iceland. The transition in landscape from the fjord country to the broader agricultural valleys of the north is noticeable over the final stretch of driving.
Drive east from the Hrútafjörður area toward Akureyri, passing through the Skagafjörður region on the way. This is some of the most productive farmland in Iceland and one of the country's main horse-breeding areas. Icelandic horses graze in the fields throughout this stretch and the landscape is noticeably greener and more open than the Westfjords country you have just come through.
The Vatnsnes Peninsula is a worthwhile detour if conditions allow. Seal colonies rest on the rocks along the shore and Hvítserkur, a 15-metre basalt sea stack near the northern tip, is visible from the road. Glaumbær turf farm gives a well-preserved example of traditional Icelandic architecture, with grass-covered roofs that were standard construction here until the twentieth century.
Akureyri sits at the head of Eyjafjörður, Iceland's longest fjord, and is the main urban centre in the north. The botanical gardens are worth a visit if you have time, they demonstrate what grows at this latitude given the right shelter and care. The Forest Lagoon geothermal spa is also available as an optional add-on. Spend the night in or near Akureyri.
If you have time before leaving Akureyri, the town centre is worth a short walk. The harbour area and the main shopping street are close together and the botanical gardens are a short drive from the centre.
Head east toward Goðafoss, where the river drops around 12 metres across a broad curved face. The name, meaning Waterfall of the Gods, comes from an event in the year 1000 when a lawspeaker threw his Norse idols into the falls after Iceland adopted Christianity.
Continue to the Lake Mývatn area, one of the most geologically active regions in Iceland. The lava formations at Dimmuborgir were created when a lava flow hardened around steam vents thousands of years ago, leaving a landscape of pillars, arches, and hollowed columns. The Skútustaðir pseudo-craters on the southern shore formed when lava flowed over wetland, causing steam explosions that left behind small circular depressions. The Krafla volcanic system includes the Leirhnjúkur lava field, still warm underfoot in places, and the Viti crater lake. The Námaskarð geothermal area on the pass above the lake has steaming fumaroles and sulphur deposits in shades of yellow and orange. Spend the night in the Mývatn area.
Drive north from Mývatn to Húsavík, a fishing town on Skjálfandi Bay and Iceland's best-known base for whale watching. The harbour is small and the setting attractive, with views across the bay toward the mountains on the far shore. Whale watching tours run from the harbour as an optional add-on.
From Húsavík, head to Ásbyrgi, a horseshoe-shaped canyon at the northern end of the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon system. The near-vertical walls rise around 100 metres and the sheltered floor is densely wooded by Icelandic standards. Continue south to Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe by volume, where the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river drops 44 metres into the canyon below. The force of the water, carrying glacial sediment, is immediately apparent from the viewing platforms on either bank.
Continue east toward your accommodation in the Egilsstaðir area.
The eastfjords are among the quieter parts of the Ring Road, with the road winding along the shoreline and lower slopes as it passes from one fjord to the next. The mountains here rise steeply from the water and each fjord has a slightly different character. Small fishing villages along the route, including Djúpivogur and Reyðarfjörður, give a sense of how much of coastal Iceland has looked for generations.
A World War II museum in Reyðarfjörður covers the Allied presence in Iceland during the war, when the east was used as a base for North Atlantic operations. Reindeer are found in this part of the country and occasionally cross the road in more remote stretches between the fjords, the only place in Iceland where they are found.
The drive through the Almannaskarð tunnel brings you out toward the Höfn area, with views of Vatnajökull's outlet glaciers as you approach the coast. Höfn is known for its langoustine, and there are several restaurants in town worth considering for dinner. Spend the night near Höfn.
Drive west along the south side of Vatnajökull, where a series of outlet glaciers descend from Europe's largest ice cap toward the black sand plains below. The scale of the glacier becomes clear from the road as each tongue comes into view.
Skaftafell, within Vatnajökull National Park, has well-marked trails through birch woodland and across the moraine to glacier viewpoints. The Blue Ice Experience glacier walk is available as an optional add-on and takes you onto the glacier surface with a guide and full equipment.
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon sits a short drive further west, where icebergs calve from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier and drift slowly toward the sea. Seals are regularly seen resting on the ice. Cross the road to Diamond Beach, where ice fragments wash up on black volcanic sand. Continue west through Kirkjubæjarklaustur and across the Eldhraun lava field, one of the largest lava flows in recorded history, now covered in a thick layer of moss. Spend the night in the Vík or Skógar area.
Begin the day on the south coast with two of Iceland's most visited waterfalls. Skógafoss drops 60 metres and you can climb the staircase alongside it to look out over the coast and the plains stretching east. Seljalandsfoss is narrower but has a path that goes behind the curtain of water. The hidden Gljúfrabúi waterfall sits a short walk further along the same cliff face and is worth finding.
Drive inland to the Geysir geothermal area in the Haukadalur valley. Strokkur erupts every 6 to 10 minutes, sending water 20 to 40 metres into the air. The Great Geysir, which gave its name to all geysers, has been dormant since 2003. Continue to Gullfoss, where the Hvítá river drops in two stages into a canyon running at a right angle to the falls.
The final stop is Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet and Iceland's parliament, the Alþing, was established in 930 AD. The Almannagjá rift runs through the park and the site carries as much historical weight as geological interest. Return to Reykjavík for your final night.
Depending on your flight time, you may have a few hours in Reykjavík before heading to the airport. The drive to Keflavík Airport takes around 50 minutes from the city centre. Return your rental car at the airport or, if you arranged city pickup, follow the drop-off instructions in your travel documents.
What’s included?
Detailed itinerary
Budget, Comfort, or Quality accommodation every night
Continental breakfast every day
Rental car of your choice for 11 days
2 authorized drivers as standard
Unlimited mileage
Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi
Collision damage waiver
Blue Lagoon Comfort admission (includes towel rental, silica mud mask, 1 drink) for post April 9,2026 bookings
Tickets for Baldur ferry to Westfjords
24/7 emergency helpline when you’re in Iceland
Carbon offsetting of your tour
VAT, taxes & service fees (ex. Road Tax)
Flights to Iceland
Fuel & parking charges
Food & drink, unless otherwise stated
Attraction entrance fees, unless otherwise stated
Personal travel insurance
Iceland Road Tax
Customer reviews
Read what real customers had to say about Complete Iceland Ring Road Scenic Road Trip - 12 Days.
FAQs about our self-drive trips
This Iceland 12 day itinerary is the ultimate comprehensive Iceland experience. Unlike shorter tours that focus only on the Ring Road, this extended itinerary includes the complete Ring Road circuit plus two spectacular regions that most Iceland tours miss: the remote Westfjords and the dramatic Snæfellsnes Peninsula. You'll explore every corner of Iceland from popular attractions like the Golden Circle and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon to off-the-beaten-path destinations like Rauðisandur beach and the majestic Dynjandi waterfall. The extra days mean you can travel at a more relaxed pace, spending more time at each location without the rush of condensed itineraries.
The Westfjords are one of Iceland's most spectacular and least-visited regions, making them an extraordinary addition to your Iceland 12 day itinerary. This remote area offers dramatic fjords carved by ancient glaciers, towering sea cliffs teeming with birdlife, and stunning natural beauty without the crowds found elsewhere. You'll experience the breathtaking Dynjandi waterfall cascading down multiple tiers, unique Rauðisandur beach with its distinctive reddish sand, and charming fishing villages like Ísafjörður that preserve traditional Icelandic culture. The scenic Baldur ferry crossing from Snæfellsnes to the Westfjords is an adventure in itself. Among Iceland tours, this itinerary stands out for including this wild, untamed region that showcases Iceland's raw natural beauty.
Absolutely not! Iceland has such incredible diversity that an Iceland 12 day itinerary allows you to truly experience the country without feeling rushed. With 12 days, you'll visit volcanic landscapes at Lake Mývatn, explore remote fjords in the Westfjords, walk on black sand beaches, get close to massive glaciers, witness countless waterfalls, and discover charming villages. Each region offers completely different scenery and experiences. Many travelers who choose shorter Iceland tours wish they had more time to explore. This itinerary strikes the perfect balance between comprehensive coverage and comfortable pacing, giving you time to take spontaneous detours, enjoy longer hikes, and truly absorb each location rather than just snapping quick photos before rushing to the next stop.
The Iceland 12 day itinerary involves approximately 2,000+ kilometers of driving, averaging 3-5 hours per day depending on your route and stops. While this is more total distance than shorter Iceland tours, the daily driving is actually quite comfortable because you have 12 days to spread it out. The Westfjords section includes more winding roads and dramatic coastal routes that require slower speeds, but the spectacular scenery makes every kilometer enjoyable. You'll have plenty of time for breaks at viewpoints, waterfalls, and small villages. The self-drive format gives you complete control over your pace, so you can split longer driving days with frequent stops or extend your time at locations that captivate you most.
Your Iceland 12 day itinerary includes tickets for the Baldur ferry, which crosses Breiðafjörður Bay from Stykkishólmur on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula to the southern Westfjords. This scenic 3-hour ferry journey is an integral part of the experience, offering stunning views of countless islands dotting the bay. The crossing saves significant driving time while providing a unique maritime perspective of Iceland. Your rental car travels with you on the ferry, making the transition seamless. Many travelers find the ferry ride to be a highlight of their trip, with opportunities to spot seabirds and enjoy the dramatic coastal scenery. It's one of the special touches that makes this one of the most comprehensive Iceland tours available.
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.
While this 12-day itinerary already includes Blue Lagoon Comfort admission on Day 1, you can add further activities at checkout. Popular additions include glacier hiking at Skaftafell, Mývatn Nature Baths, whale watching from Húsavík, ice cave explorations (winter), horseback riding, and snorkelling in Silfra fissure. The 12-day format gives you enough flexibility to add activities without feeling rushed. You can also extend with extra nights in Reykjavík before or after your tour. Our Reykjavík-based team is happy to advise on what works best for your travel dates and interests.
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.
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.
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.
One good thing to know is that some attractions in the Westfjords are only accessible via gravel roads. These are generally not a problem, but you should drive more slowly and look out for potholes.
You might find it easier to navigate the gravel roads in a larger car such as a jeep. That way you’ll be higher up off the road for a better view, and will have better suspension for a more comfortable ride.
- See what kind of rental cars are available in Iceland.
- Get the lowdown on driving with our ultimate guide to renting a car in Iceland.
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.
