Camping Around Iceland: Best of the Best

8 days / 7 nights
Icelandic horses and mountains in Reyðarfjörður, Iceland.
Svínafellsjökull, an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull
A tent set up next to Lake Mývatn
A man standing below Kirkjufellsfoss
Akureyrarkirkja (the Akureyri church) in the evening

Take a classic Iceland road trip, sleeping in the open air

Camp your way around Iceland’s famous Ring Road on this 8-day summer tour. We provide the gear and a set of wheels, so you can focus on getting close to the country’s spectacular nature.

Get ready to pitch your tent and sleep under the midnight sun! There’s no better way to experience Iceland’s nature than to sleep in the midst of it. You’ll leave with memories of a lifetime, and a longing to come back.

Travel styleCamping
Trip length8 days / 7 nights
VibeAdventure
SeasonSummer
(1 Jun–31 Aug)
TransportRental car
Starts fromReykjavík
Tour codeCSD01

On this tour you will...

  • Stay on campsites close to nature around the country

  • Dive into the natural delights of North Iceland

  • Explore the wonders of Vatnajökull National Park

  • Complete the famous Golden Circle route

  • Wind through the lush green Eastfjords

  • Get up close to hot springs, waterfalls, and glaciers

Top attractions

The Gullfoss waterfall in summertime

Gullfoss

The Strokkur geyser erupting in winter against a sunset

Geysir and Strokkur

Þingvellir National Park, Iceland, in autumn colors

Þingvellir National Park

The skyline of Akureyri, North Iceland

Akureyri

Lake Mývatn in its autumn colors

Lake Mývatn

The Hraunfossar waterfall in winter covered in ice

Hraunfossar and Barnafoss

Water coming out of colorful rocks at Deildartunguhver hot spring

Deildartunguhver

The Dimmuborgir lava formations in North Iceland

Dimmuborgir

The Dettifoss waterfall in autumn

Dettifoss

Trees in the lush Ásbyrgi canyon

Ásbyrgi

The harbor in the fishing village of Húsavík

Húsavík

View over the Fellabær neighborhood of Egilsstaðir

Egilsstaðir

The edge of the Vatnajökull glacier

Vatnajökull Glacier & National Park

Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon at sunrise with a pink sky

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Vik Church with Reynisdrangar sea stacks in the distance

Vík í Mýrdal

A rainbow over the Skógafoss waterfall on a sunny day

Skógafoss

The Seljalandsfoss waterfall covered in icicles

Seljalandsfoss

The Tjörnin pond in Reykjavík in summer

Downtown Reykjavík

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 8-day self-drive camping itinerary

Your 8-day self-drive camping itinerary
Staying inReykjavík (included)
Driving distance50 km (31 mi)

Your memorable, Iceland adventure begins the very moment you arrive at Keflavik Airport. Once you pick up your rental vehicle, you’ll head directly for Reykjavik and your exciting, first night in Iceland.

Highlights

The Tjörnin pond in Reykjavík in summer

Downtown Reykjavík

Extra activities

The Sky Lagoon at sunsetExtra

Sky Lagoon Saman Pass

Riders on FlyOver Iceland above a virtual waterfallExtra

FlyOver Iceland

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 Akureyri area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance460 km (286 mi)

Your next day’s journey continues towards the northern part of Iceland, ending in the north’s capital, Akureyri. 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. You’ll then continue your journey towards Akureyri, passing through Skagafjörður, known for exceptional horse breeding; in fact, many stunning Icelandic horses can be seen on your drive.

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

Your whole day is dedicated to the marvels of the Lake Mývatn Nature Reserve, one of Iceland’s most inspiring natural wonders. On your way there, make sure to stop at the impressive Goðafoss waterfall, known as the ‘Waterfall of the Gods’.

At Lake Mývatn, you could explore the otherworldly lava fields of Dimmuborgir. Then, head to the nearby Krafla volcano system where you’ll find bubbling mud pools, hot springs, and steaming lava fields.

And why not end your day with a dip in the geothermal waters of the Mývatn Nature Baths, with amazing views over the lake?

Staying inCampsite in Egilsstaðir area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance330 km (205 mi)

Your day starts in the beautiful Mývatn area. Make your way to the charming village of Húsavík before driving the Tjörnes peninsula coastline. On the way, you can make a quick stop 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 along the way, for your next stay.

Staying inCampsite in Höfn area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance260 km (162 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 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.

Staying inCampsite in Vík/Skógar area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance300 km (186 mi)

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 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 inCampsite in Reykjavík (camping fee not included)
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 or an extra night in there to experience all the amazing things that the city has to offer.

What’s included?

Detailed itinerary

Camping gear for 6 nights (tent, sleeping bags, air mattress, stove, coolbox, cooking equipment)

Budget accommodation for 1 night with continental breakfast

Rental car of your choice for 7 days

2 authorized drivers as standard

Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi

Unlimited mileage

Collision damage waiver

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

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Infants

Ages 0-1

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