Iceland Ring Road & Westfjords Grand Tour

Your memorable Iceland adventure begins the very moment you arrive at Keflavík Airport. Once you pick up your rental vehicle, you’ll head directly to Reykjavík for your exciting, first night in the Land of Fire and Ice.

Today you will be discovering an interesting area, rich with cultural and historical heritage. As you head toward Borgarfjörður, we recommend stopping by the magnificent, Hraunfossar waterfalls, where the water seems to magically flows from the lava bed into the river below. 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 on the peninsula.

Today you will be exploring the natural wonders of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and the stunning Snæfell Glacier. This journey is perfect for nature lovers where you will explore the adventurous world of the ocean, coastline and beach.

Drive along the coast and visit many popular sites such as the basalt pillars of Gerðuberg, Búðir with its small wooden church surrounded by a lava field, Arnarstapi, a small fishing village where you can have a look at the fascinating rock formations by the old pier and Djúpalónssandur, a black sand beach.

On the north part of the peninsula you will drive along the shore of the Breiðafjörður bay, passing through charming fishing villages.

Your day will start with a boat ride on the Baldur ferry, taking you to the beautiful Westfjords. You will depart in the morning from Stykkishólmur, heading to Patreksfjörður and sailing through Breiðafjörður bay.

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 Flateyri and from there you drive on to reach your accommodation near the Ísafjörður town.

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

Today your journey will take you up north to the town of Akureyri. First you will go by Hvammstangi where you can see some seals and the Skagafjörður valley. This area is known for it´s horse breeding and many Icelandic horses can be seen grazing. A fun extra stop is also to take a small detour to Hvítserkur, a 15m high basalt stack.

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, plan to stop at the impressive, Goðafoss waterfall, known as “the waterfall of the gods”.

Your whole day is dedicated to the marvels of the Lake Mývatn Nature Reserve, renowned as one of Iceland’s most inspiring, natural wonders. Of particular interest are two steam baths built for superb relaxation that sit straight on top of a geothermal area; the sulphur-free steam rises up through holes in the floor. Typically the temperature is around 50°C (120°F) and the humidity is close to 100%. Guests can take a few turns in the steam baths and cool down in the outdoor shower in between.

Your day starts in the charming fishing village of Húsavík. After Húsavík, you will drive the Tjörnes Peninsula coastline, where you can 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.

The day is for relaxing or for excursions around Egilsstaðir. It is worth making a trip to Bakkagerði, or walk around the lake Lögurinn and Hengifoss Waterfall for hiking. Accommodation as on the previous day.

Today is the day to discover the Eastfjords. Starting toward the fjord Reyðarfjörður, where a small-but-fascinating World War II history museum is located, you continue along the fjords toward 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 spend that night.

Your next stop is Iceland’s scenic southeast. After passing various, outlet glaciers belonging to Vatnajökull, 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 National Park 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.

Today you can start by taking a look at the black sand Reynisfjara beach, 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 that Dyrhólaey is closed during nesting season from May 15 til June 23 and 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 Selfoss you pass Seljalandsfoss waterfall and you can actually walk behind it.

Today you will explore and marvel at the attractions of the famous the Golden Circle. First, the imposing Gullfoss waterfall, followed by the steaming power of Geysir. Here you can witness the Strokkur geyser propel warm water columns in the air every 5-10 minutes. Last but not least, the Þingvellir National Park. This is where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, creating this impressive landscape.

Later, you’ll reach Reykjavík where you will spend your last night in Iceland.

Reykjavík offers a wide range of sights to visit and lots of activities. Among the things you can visit in Reykjavík are the old city center where you can walk by the lake, Tjörnin, visit the Town Hall, and walk through the Austurvöllur square, where the Parliament building stands, and down to the harbor.

You can stroll along the main street Laugavegur to have a look at the shops and the art galleries and find a restaurant or a café to your liking. Do not miss the church Hallgrímskirkja or the dome Perlan, a modern building from where you have a magnificent view over the whole city.

There are several museums worth visiting in Reykjavík, for example the National Museum of Iceland near the University, the National Gallery of Iceland and the Reykjavík Art Gallery (includes 3 different collections).

A whale-watching tour from Reykjavík harbor is also a wonderful experience or you can take a half-day excursion from Reykjavík to the Reykjanes Peninsula, taking you to the geothermal springs in Krýsuvík.

Now it’s time to head back home, after an amazing journey through one of the world’s most picturesque landscapes.  You will drive back to Keflavík Airport for your flight back home. Depending on your flight time, you may be able to enjoy your last day strolling around Reykjavík. Or, even better, consider booking an extra night in Reykjavík to really give yourself time to experience all the amazing things Iceland’s capital city has to offer.