Iceland Complete Circle

12 days / 11 nights
Kirkjufell and its reflection at sunset
Látrabjarg Cliffs, Icelandic Westfjords
Seljalandsfoss in Iceland
Landscape around Lake Mývatn in Iceland
Goðafoss on a summer day
Puffins on the Látrabjarg cliffs in West Iceland
Goðafoss on a summer day
Puffins on the Látrabjarg cliffs in West Iceland
Kirkjufell and its reflection at sunset
Látrabjarg Cliffs, Icelandic Westfjords
Seljalandsfoss in Iceland

Venture around the Ring Road and beyond

On this 12-day self-drive tour, you’ll visit every corner of Iceland. As well as completing the full Ring Road route, you’ll venture off it to the wild Westfjords and spectacular Snæfellsnes peninsula.

This is a dream road trip around Iceland – in fact it’s hard to pack more of the country into 12 days. You’ll have the freedom to set your own pace and stop wherever you like. And you’ll combine popular must-see attractions with places that are more off the beaten path.

Travel styleSelf-drive
Trip length12 days / 11 nights
VibeUltimate
SeasonSummer
(1 May–30 Sep)
TransportRental car
Starts fromReykjavík
Tour codeSD22

On this tour you will...

  • Get to explore every corner of Iceland 

  • Head off the beaten track in the Westfjords

  • See ‘Iceland in Miniature’ on the Snæfellsnes peninsula

  • 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

Puffins on the Látrabjarg sea cliffs

Látrabjarg

Multiple cascades of the Dynjandi waterfall in summer

Dynjandi

The town of Ísafjörður on a sunny day

Ísafjörður

The skyline of Akureyri, North Iceland

Akureyri

Lake Mývatn in its autumn colors

Lake Mývatn

The Dettifoss waterfall in autumn

Dettifoss

Trees in the lush Ásbyrgi canyon

Ásbyrgi

A man standing below Kirkjufellsfoss

Kirkjufell

Gatklettur rock arch at Arnarstapi

Arnarstapi

The Hraunfossar waterfall in winter covered in ice

Hraunfossar and Barnafoss

Water coming out of colorful rocks at Deildartunguhver hot spring

Deildartunguhver

The village of Djúpivogur seen from a distance

Djúpivogur

Vik Church with Reynisdrangar sea stacks in the distance

Vík í Mýrdal

The edge of the Vatnajökull glacier

Vatnajökull Glacier & National Park

The Seljalandsfoss waterfall covered in icicles

Seljalandsfoss

A rainbow over the Skógafoss waterfall on a sunny day

Skógafoss

Þingvellir National Park, Iceland, in autumn colors

Þingvellir National Park

The Strokkur geyser erupting in winter against a sunset

Geysir and Strokkur

The Gullfoss waterfall in summertime

Gullfoss

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 12-day self-drive itinerary

Your 12-day self-drive itinerary
Staying inReykjavík
Driving distance50 km (31 mi)

Your memorable Icelandic adventure begins the very moment you arrive at Keflavík Airport. After picking up your rental vehicle, you head for the capital 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 Saman Pass

An Atlantic puffin perched on a cliff in IcelandExtra

Puffin Watching

whale breaching in front of orange and yellow sunsetExtra

Classic Whale Watching from Reykjavík

Close up of a hand holding a hot dogExtra

The Reykjavík Food Walk

Group on a horse riding tourExtra

Horse Riding from Reykjavík

A group of people being lowered into a lava cave © Inside the VolcanoExtra

Inside the Volcano tour from Bláfjöll

Staying inSnæfellsnes area
Driving distance300 km (186 mi)

You start the day today by visiting the culturally and historically rich Borgarfjörður area. The landscape is made of vast fields and waterfalls which water seems to magically flow from the lava bed into the river below. Heading now to the Snæfellsnes peninsula many exciting visits await you along the way: from Gerðuberg an impressive wall of basalt column, Arnarstapi, Djúpalón and its pebble beach famous to Hellnar and many more on the way to your accommodation in the Snæfellsnes area.

Staying inSouthern Westfjords area
Driving distance240 km (149 mi)

Your day begins with a 3 hours ferry ride from Stykkishólmur across the Breiðfjörður bay to the reach the south coast of the Westfjords, where you visit Rauðisandur among others, a beautiful and unique beach where the reddish colour of the sand contrast with the landscape around.  Spend the night in Southern Westfjords area.

Staying inNorthern Westfjords area
Driving distance88 km (55 mi)

Today you continue up north along the Westfjords, one of the most remote regions of Iceland. The landscape is breathtaking as you cross mountains and heaths driving along the dramatic fjords at the foot of amazing cliffs. You stop along the way at the majestic Dynjandi waterfall that lies in the northern arm of the fjord Arnarfjörður. You continue your route towards the north until you reach the village of Flateyri and onwards to reach your accommodation near the Ísafjörður town.

Staying inHrútafjörður area
Driving distance360 km (224 mi)

Today your journey through the most remote places in Iceland continues. Next up is Strandir, the eastern part of the Westfjords.  You experience the spectacular landscape while driving along the numerous small fjords of Ísafjarðardjúp and passing Vigur island along the way.

Staying inAkureyri area
Driving distance200 km (124 mi)

Your next day’s journey continues toward the northern part of Iceland, ending in the north’s capital Akureyri passing through Skagafjörður, known for exceptional horse breeding. You might see a lot of Icelandic horses along the way in the many farm lands during your drive.

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

In the morning you can spend some time in Akureyri before heading towards the Lake Mývatn area. It is undoubtedly one of Iceland’s most renowned areas due to its volcanic activity and its amazing bird life.
On the way to Mývatn, we recommend visiting the impressive Goðafoss waterfall known as “the waterfall of the gods”.

Staying inEgilsstaðir area
Driving distance330 km (205 mi)

Your day starts with a visit of the charming fishing village of Húsavík before driving along the coastline of the Tjörnes peninsula. You might like to make a quick stop on the way at the extremity of the peninsula to enjoy the view and spot some seabirds. The journey then continues to the eastern part of Iceland with a few stops on the way for your next evening’s stay.

Staying inHöfn area
Driving distance270 km (168 mi)

Today is the day to discover the Eastfjords. Start towards the fjord Reyðarfjörður where a small-but-fascinating World War II history museum is located, and continue along the fjords toward southeast Iceland. At times, the road hangs high on the mountain slopes offering spectacular view. Finally, you drive through the tunnel of Almannaskarð to arrive in the Höfn region where you will spend the night.

Staying inVík/Skógar area
Driving distance280 km (174 mi)

Your next stop is Iceland’s scenic southeast. After passing various outlet glaciers belonging to Vatnajökull, which is Europe’s largest ice cap, you’ll arrive at the stunningly surreal beauty of Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon. This exceptional sight sits at the foot of Iceland’s highest mountain, Hvannadalshnúkur.

Skaftafell is another area definitely worth a visit. This oasis surrounded by glaciers and black sand plains offers a broad range of options for great hiking. Continue through Kirkjubæjarklaustur village, the Eldhraun lava field and the Mýrdalssandur plain before you arrive in the Vík area.

Staying inReykjavík
Driving distance300 km (186 mi)

Continue westbound to the south coast of Iceland and explore the Golden Circle, which takes you to the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland: Gullfoss, Geysir and Þingvellir National Park. On your way you will pass the magnificent waterfalls, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss.

Your day will end in Reykjavík where you will spend your last night in Iceland.

Driving distance50 km (31 mi)

It seems as if your journey to fabulous Iceland only began a moment ago but now it is time to head back home driving back to Keflavík Airport for your flight. Depending on your flight’s time, you may be able to squeeze in a last day in Reykjavík to experience all the amazing things that the city has to offer.

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

Tickets for Baldur ferry to Westfjords

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

Customer reviews

Read what real customers had to say about Iceland Complete Circle.

Overall rating for this trip
4.9
based on 17 reviews
C
Chris - Canada
September 13, 2023 - Verified booking
We booked a year in advance and did a 12 day self drive tour. The booking experience was easy. The communication with staff was impeccable. Staff always responded quickly and with extreme friendliness. 10 stars! We had one complaint with one of our night stays and Iceland Tours handled it with
S
Steven - United States
August 31, 2023 - Verified booking
My tour and overall experience with Iceland Tours was outstanding. Our travel Marie Villard was great at communicating and very helpful. All pre-arrangements with rental car and lodging were perfect and seamless. The entire experience lived up to all our high expectations. The trip was marvelous,
F
Fiona - Australia
August 18, 2023 - Verified booking
Everything was well organised and easy. A fabulous holiday. Any time I contacted Iceland Tours they got back to me as soon as they could with everything I needed to know. Thankyou.

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.

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