Ultimate Ring Road & Westfjords Camping Adventure

14 days / 13 nights
View over Dyrholaey beach
Icebergs in Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Mountain view from a tent at sunset in Iceland
The Dettifoss waterfall in autumn
Puffins on the Látrabjarg sea cliffs

Immerse yourself in nature on this 2-week getaway

If you want to get off the beaten track and explore Iceland’s most remote corners, this is the trip for you. And with camping gear and a rental car included, you’ll have everything you need on this 14-day adventure.

Discover hidden gems in the Westfjords, North Iceland, and Snæfellsnes peninsula. And of course, you’ll also check out the top spots on Iceland’s much-loved Ring Road. Get ready for an unforgettable road trip with jaw-dropping views at every turn.

Travel styleCamping
Trip length14 days / 13 nights
VibeAdventure
SeasonSummer
(1 Jun–31 Aug)
TransportRental car
Starts fromReykjavík
Tour codeCSD03

On this tour you will...

  • Get up close to volcanoes and glaciers in national parks

  • Explore the wild Westfjords, home to puffins and Arctic foxes

  • See geysers, waterfalls, hot springs, and more  

  • Walk along black sand beaches on the stunning south coast

  • Pitch your tent at campsites in beautiful locations

  • Dive into the local culture and visit the buzzing capital, Reykjavík

Top attractions

The Tjörnin pond in Reykjavík in summer

Downtown Reykjavík

Gatklettur rock arch at Arnarstapi

Arnarstapi

The black sand of the Djúpalónssandur beach

Djúpalónssandur

A man standing below Kirkjufellsfoss

Kirkjufell

The Hraunfossar waterfall in winter covered in ice

Hraunfossar and Barnafoss

Water coming out of colorful rocks at Deildartunguhver hot spring

Deildartunguhver

A kittiwake flying above cliffs in the Breiðafjörður bay

Breiðafjörður bay

Puffins on the Látrabjarg sea cliffs

Látrabjarg

The town of Ísafjörður on a sunny day

Ísafjörður

Multiple cascades of the Dynjandi waterfall in summer

Dynjandi

The village of Hólmavík at sunset

Hólmavík

The skyline of Akureyri, North Iceland

Akureyri

A row of houses at the Glaumbær turf farm

Glaumbær turf farm

Lake Mývatn in its autumn colors

Lake Mývatn

The Dimmuborgir lava formations in North Iceland

Dimmuborgir

The Goðafoss waterfall in summer

Goðafoss

The Krafla crater on a sunny day

Krafla and Leirhnjúkur

The Dettifoss waterfall in autumn

Dettifoss

Trees in the lush Ásbyrgi canyon

Ásbyrgi

View over the Fellabær neighborhood of Egilsstaðir

Egilsstaðir

The harbor in the fishing village of Húsavík

Húsavík

Vik Church with Reynisdrangar sea stacks in the distance

Vík í Mýrdal

The Eldhraun lava field showing moss-covered lava rocks

Eldhraun lava field

The village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur on a sunny day

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon at sunrise with a pink sky

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

The edge of the Vatnajökull glacier

Vatnajökull Glacier & National Park

Skaftafellsjökull glacier in Vatnajökull National Park

Skaftafell

A rainbow over the Skógafoss waterfall on a sunny day

Skógafoss

The Seljalandsfoss waterfall covered in icicles

Seljalandsfoss

The Strokkur geyser erupting in winter against a sunset

Geysir and Strokkur

The Gullfoss waterfall in summertime

Gullfoss

Þingvellir National Park, Iceland, in autumn colors

Þingvellir National Park

Why book a camping trip with Iceland Tours?

  • All camping gear included

  • Hotel stay in Reykjavík on your first night

  • 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

Your 14-day self-drive camping itinerary

Staying inReykjavík
Driving distance50 km (31 mi)

Arrival at Keflavík Airport. Pick-up your rental vehicle and drive to Reykjavík for your first night’s stay 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

whale breaching in front of orange and yellow sunsetExtra

Classic Whale Watching from Reykjavík

An Atlantic puffin perched on a cliff in IcelandExtra

Puffin Watching

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 inCampsite in Snæfellsnes area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance300 km (186 mi)

Today you will be discovering an interesting area, rich with cultural and historical heritage. In Borgarfjörður you must visit the splendid waterfalls of Hraunfossar, where the water flows out from beneath a lava field into the river below, Reykholt, where the 13th century author Snorri Sturluson lived, and Deildartunguhver, Iceland’s largest hot spring (in terms of water production per second). 

Heading to Snæfellsnes peninsula you should visit the beautiful places all around the peninsula; for example Búðir, Arnarstapi and Hellnar on the way to your accommodation in the Snæfellsnes area.

Staying inCampsite in Southern Westfjords area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance240 km (149 mi)

From Stykkishólmur you take the car ferry Baldur across the scenic Breiðafjörður bay to the West Fjords. Today you start your visit of some of the most secluded places in Iceland, where steep mountains and deep fjords are predominant. 

Visit Látrabjarg, a huge bird cliff and on the way back you can stop at the folk museum of Hnjótur. Accommodation in Southern Westfjords area.

Staying inCampsite in Northern Westfjords area (camping fee not included)
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 and drive along the dramatic fjords at the foot of steep cliffs. 

Dynjandi is a beautiful waterfall that lies in the northern arm of the fjord Arnarfjörður. You continue toward the north until you reach the village of Flateyri and from there you drive on to reach your accommodation near the Ísafjörður town.

Staying inCampsite in Hrútafjörður area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance360 km (224 mi)

From Ísafjörður, you continue your journey of the Westfjords. You drive along the numerous small fjords of Ísafjarðardjúp passing Vigur island on the way. After Steingrímsfjarðarheiði heath you reach the northwest region. 

You arrive in the village of Hólmavík where you can visit an interesting museum dedicated to the ancient Icelandic magic. Continue along the Hrútafjörður fjord until you arrive at your accommodation in the region.

Staying inCampsite in Akureyri area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance200 km (124 mi)

You continue your journey along Húnaflói and Skagafjörður region which is known for horse breeding, and many Icelandic horses can be seen grazing in the fields of the Skagafjörður valley. 

Just before arriving at the village of Varmahlíð, you can make a stop at Víðimýri church, a small traditional turf church. Then, you can make your way just north of Varmahlíð to visit the Glaumbær museum, which is one of the best preserved turf farmhouses in Iceland. 

Heading towards Eyjafjörður fjord, the road takes you through the deep valleys of North Iceland before you arrive in Akureyri area for your overnight stay.

Staying inCampsite in Mývatn/Húsavík area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance130 km (81 mi)

In the morning you can spend some time in Akureyri before heading to 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, you will have the opportunity to take a look at the picturesque Goðafoss waterfall. 

At Mývatn, there are various exciting places of interest that you can visit, such as the Skútustaðir pseudo-craters and the mysterious lava formations of Dimmuborgir. Two nights in or near the Mývatn area.

Staying inCampsite in Mývatn/Húsavík area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance65 km (40 mi)

The whole day is dedicated to the marvels of Lake Mývatn Nature Reserve. One of its main attractions is the Námaskarð geothermal area where you will find bubbling mud pools and hissing steam vents. 

You must not miss the Krafla area with the crater Víti and the Leirhnjúkur area. This leads you to a small geothermal area and then to a line of craters surrounded by chaotic black lava fields. Later on you can venture a walk up to the top of Hverfjall crater or dip into the geothermal water of the natural baths located east of the lake.

Staying inCampsite in Egilsstaðir area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance310 km (193 mi)

You start your day by driving to the charming fishing village of Húsavík. Then you drive along the coastline of the Tjörnes peninsula and if the weather conditions are good, you can make a small stop at the extremity of the peninsula to enjoy the view and spot some seabirds. 

Your next stop is Ásbyrgi, a horseshoe-shaped gorge with its impressive rock walls and abundant vegetation. 

Heading south from Ásbyrgi the road leads you to the mighty waterfall Dettifoss where you will feel the earth tremble beneath the force of the glacial water. The road continues across the lunar landscape of Möðrudalur highlands until you reach the fertile valley of Hérað where the village of Egilsstaðir lies.

Staying inCampsite in Höfn area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance270 km (168 mi)

Now it is time to discover the Eastfjords: starting towards the fjord Reyðarfjörður where a small history museum about World War II is situated. In Stöðvarfjörður there is Petra’s stone collection, a private collection which includes most of the Icelandic minerals. 

As you continue you might want to make a stop in the village of Djúpivogur, located in a charming setting. 

Now you continue along the fjords towards southeast Iceland; at times the road hangs precariously high on the mountain slopes. Finally you drive through the tunnel of Almannaskarð to arrive in the Höfn region where you will stay for the night.

Staying inCampsite in Kirkjubæjarklaustur/Vík area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance285 km (177 mi)

After passing various outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice cap, you will arrive at the glacial lagoon, Jökulsárlón. This is an exceptional sight at the foot of Iceland’s highest mountain, Hvannadalshnjúkur. You can walk along the banks of the lagoon or take a 30-40 min boat trip to admire the fantastically-shaped icebergs. 

Skaftafell is another area worthy of your attention. This oasis surrounded by glaciers and black sand plains has many hiking possibilities. Later, continue your drive to Vík/Kirkjubæjarklaustur for your overnight stay.

Staying inCampsite in Selfoss/Hveragerði area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance130 km (81 mi)

Today you can start by taking a look at the black sand beach of Reynisfjara, famous for the Reynisdrangar rock stacks that rise from the sea and for its basalt columns. 

Dyrhólaey cape is the southernmost point of Iceland. A small road takes you to the top of this 120 m high sea cliff where you often can see a large number of puffins.

Please note: Dyrhólaey is closed during nesting season from May 15 til June 23 and that from mid-August the puffins will have gone to sea!

Continuing westbound you arrive at Skógar and pass Skógafoss waterfall, one of the highest in Iceland. As you continue towards Hella you pass Seljalandsfoss, a waterfall behind which you can actually walk!

Staying inCampsite in Reykjavík (camping fee not included)
Driving distance200 km (124 mi)

Now it is time to visit some of the most interesting and famous areas of Iceland. You drive through the village of Flúðir to reach the famous geothermal area of Geysir where the Strokkur hot spring ejects its water column high into the air every 5–10 minutes and where numerous small springs boil and bubble. Close by is Gullfoss, surely the country’s most famous waterfall. 

Continue towards Þingvellir, considered one of the geological wonders of the world, where you can see the effects of the tectonic plate movements which have opened various cracks and fissures in the earth’s crust. It was here that the Icelandic parliament was founded in the 10th century.

Driving distance50 km (31 mi)

Drive back to Keflavík Airport for your flight back home, or book an extra night in Reykjavík, the vibrant capital of Iceland!

What’s included?

Detailed itinerary

Camping gear for 12 nights (tent, sleeping bags, air mattress, stove, coolbox, cooking equipment)

Budget accommodation for 1 night with continental breakfast

Rental car of your choice for 13 days

2 authorized drivers as standard

Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi

Unlimited mileage

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

Campsite bookings & fees

Fuel & parking charges

Food & drink, unless otherwise stated

Attraction entrance fees, unless otherwise stated

Personal travel insurance

Your accommodation

More info

Stay in well-located hotels and guesthouses that are highly rated by visitors and handpicked by experts.

Budget accommodation for 1 night (room without private facilities) and Camping gear for the rest of the stay. 

Our camping gear pack includes the following items:

  • 1-4 person tent
  • Sleeping bags
  • Air mattress
  • Camping stove
  • Coolbox
  • Cooking equipment

Good to know: Camping packages don’t include admission to campsites or fees for use of their facilities.

Don’t take our word for it

See what hundreds of fellow travelers have to say about their trips with Iceland Tours.

Read customer reviews

FAQs about our camping trips

On a camping trip around Iceland, you’ll have your own rental car and camping gear. Simply follow the detailed itinerary provided, adding in a few extra stops if you like.

You’ll spend the first night of your trip at a hotel in Reykjavík. The next morning you’ll enjoy an included breakfast before heading into the countryside for your camping adventure.

Each night, you’ll pitch your tent at a campsite and settle in for a sleep under the summer skies. Lots of campsites have facilities like toilets, showers, communal kitchens, and even Wi-Fi. Some even have extras like on-site hot tubs or laundry facilities.

To give you freedom to be spontaneous and ability to choose your favorite spots, bookings at campsites are not included with our camping packages. You’ll get info on the best campsites in each area in your travel documents.

If you want to get inspired, check out this guide to camping in Iceland which is packed with recommendations.

Most campsites don’t require advance bookings. Fees are reasonable and comparable to other countries.

Good to know: Although it is possible to wild camp in Iceland, you need the landowner’s permission and camping isn’t allowed in protected natural areas. With that in mind, we strongly recommend using designated campsites.

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.

Absolutely! You can extend your stay in Iceland with extra days before or after your camping trip. Use these to fit in adventure activities like ice caving, or bus tours to attractions near the city.

If you want to customize the actual itinerary of your camping tour, this is possible for an additional fee.

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.

Adults

Ages 12+

2

Children

Ages 2-11

0

Infants

Ages 0-1

0

#icelandmyway

See what travelers like you have been up to lately on Instagram.