Iceland Complete Circle Private Tour

8 days / 7 nights
The skyline of Akureyri, North Iceland
Seljalandsfoss, Iceland
An Icelandic church against a summery green mountain
The Dimmuborgir lava formations in North Iceland
The edge of the Vatnajökull glacier

Discover the Ring Road on with your own private guide

On this trip of a lifetime, you’ll explore the Ring Road with a local driver-guide. With their insider knowledge and passion for Iceland, you’re sure to have a memorable experience!

Travel stylePrivately guided
Trip length8 days / 7 nights
VibeIntimate
SeasonSummer
(1 Apr–31 Oct)
TransportRental car with driver
Starts fromReykjavík
Tour codePT02

On this tour you will...

  • Head to Snæfellsnes peninsula, home to a glacier-topped volcano

  • See dazzling icebergs bob out to sea from Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon

  • Hear the folk tales surrounding mysterious spots like the Dimmuborgir lava field

  • Check out awe-inspiring waterfalls like Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, and Dettifos

  • Look out for whales and puffins as you trace the country’s stunning coastline

  • Dive into the local culture, food scene, and nightlife in downtown Reykjavík

Top attractions

The Tjörnin pond in Reykjavík in summer

Downtown Reykjavík

The Gullfoss waterfall in summertime

Gullfoss

Þingvellir National Park, Iceland, in autumn colors

Þingvellir National Park

The Strokkur geyser erupting in winter against a sunset

Geysir and Strokkur

A rainbow over the Skógafoss waterfall on a sunny day

Skógafoss

The Seljalandsfoss waterfall covered in icicles

Seljalandsfoss

The Snæfellsjökull glacier at sunset

Snæfellsjökull Glacier & National Park

Gatklettur rock arch at Arnarstapi

Arnarstapi

A man standing below Kirkjufellsfoss

Kirkjufell

The black sand of the Djúpalónssandur beach

Djúpalónssandur

Skaftafellsjökull glacier in Vatnajökull National Park

Skaftafell

Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon at sunrise with a pink sky

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

A row of houses at the Glaumbær turf farm

Glaumbær turf farm

The skyline of Akureyri, North Iceland

Akureyri

The Hraunfossar waterfall in winter covered in ice

Hraunfossar and Barnafoss

Water coming out of colorful rocks at Deildartunguhver hot spring

Deildartunguhver

The Krafla crater on a sunny day

Krafla and Leirhnjúkur

The Dimmuborgir lava formations in North Iceland

Dimmuborgir

Lake Mývatn in its autumn colors

Lake Mývatn

The Goðafoss waterfall in summer

Goðafoss

The Dettifoss waterfall in autumn

Dettifoss

View over the Fellabær neighborhood of Egilsstaðir

Egilsstaðir

Trees in the lush Ásbyrgi canyon

Ásbyrgi

The harbor in the fishing village of Húsavík

Húsavík

The town of Reyðarfjörður, East Iceland, seen from above

Reyðarfjörður

Vik Church with Reynisdrangar sea stacks in the distance

Vík í Mýrdal

The village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur on a sunny day

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

The Eldhraun lava field showing moss-covered lava rocks

Eldhraun lava field

Why book a privately guided trip with Iceland Tours?

  • Let your own driver take you around Iceland

  • Expert local guidance in English

  • Start your tour on the date that suits you

  • 24/7 emergency helpline in Iceland

  • Secure your booking with just a 5% deposit

  • Handpicked local accommodation options

Your 8-day privately guided itinerary

Your 8-day privately guided itinerary
Staying inSnæfellsnes area
Driving distance302 km (188 mi)

Your memorable Icelandic adventure begins today. Your personal driver-guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to explore the natural wonders of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. You will discover several sites including the Eldborg volcanic crater, Gerðuberg basalt columns, Búðir, and Djúpalónssandur with views of the majestic Snæfell volcano.

Highlights

Gatklettur rock arch at Arnarstapi

Arnarstapi

A man standing below Kirkjufellsfoss

Kirkjufell

The Snæfellsjökull glacier at sunset

Snæfellsjökull Glacier & National Park

The black sand of the Djúpalónssandur beach

Djúpalónssandur

Extra activities

A group exploring the Vatnshellir lava caveExtra

Vatnshellir Cave Tour

Staying inBorgarfjörður area
Driving distance205 km (127 mi)

From Stykkishólmur, the guide will take you to the south-west of Iceland towards Borgarfjörður, an area rich in heritage as its vast lands served as the setting for many Icelandic sagas. It is also home to gorgeous waterfalls and the Langjökull glacier.

Staying inAkureyri area
Driving distance315 km (196 mi)

Today‘s itinerary takes you north as your guide drives you through thick farm fields and the Skagafjörður region, which is known for Icelandic horse breeding. You will surely encounter several of these adorably stocky horses grazing in the fields along your way to Akureyri. Before you reach the “capital of the north”, you will take a few detours such as the Vatnsnes peninsula where you can spot seals, and Glaumbær, a turf-house museum, among other sights.

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

More natural wonders are on the program today! Our first stop is at the impressive Goðafoss, known as “the waterfall of the gods”. Before heading to Mývatn, you will visit several awe-inspiring attractions such as the Dimmuborgir lava field labyrinth and the pseudo-craters of Skútustaðir. You will also get to walk through one of Iceland‘s largest sulphurous hot spring areas, the solfataras of Námaskarð.

Staying inEgilsstaðir area
Driving distance275 km (171 mi)

Before heading east, you will continue exploring the northern part of the country. The peninsula of Tjörnes has many surprising sites in store for you. There is the lush green area of Ásbyrgi, a horseshoe-shaped gorge, and the impressive Dettifoss with a fall so powerful that you will feel the ground shake under your feet.

Staying inHöfn area
Driving distance185 km (115 mi)

Today you discover the East Fjords. Your driver will start towards Reyðarfjörður, where you could visit a small but interesting World War II history museum. Then you‘ll continue along the fjords toward south-east Iceland. At times, the roads are perched high on the mountains giving exceptional views. Finally, you‘ll pass through the tunnel of Almannaskarð to arrive in the Höfn region for an overnight stay.

Staying inVík area
Driving distance275 km (171 mi)

Our next stop is Iceland’s scenic south-east. After passing various outlet glaciers belonging to Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice cap, you‘ll arrive at the stunning, surreal beauty of Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon. This exceptional natural attraction sits at the foot of Iceland’s highest mountain Hvannadalshnúkur. It offers the unique possibility to explore it up close by taking a guided boat tour between the floating icebergs.

Next you get to visit Skaftafell, an oasis surrounded by glaciers and black sand beaches with a broad range of options for spectacular hiking. You‘ll then continue through Kirkjubæjarklaustur, the Eldhraun lava field and the Mýrdalssandur plain before arriving in the Vík area.

Driving distance300 km (186 mi)

Today, your guide will drive along the south coast of Iceland, exploring many breathtaking landmarks such as Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls. You‘ll also explore the highlights of the Golden Circle with its three-tiered Gullfoss waterfall, geyser area where Strokkur ejects its warm water column in the air every 5-10 minutes, and the famous Þingvellir National Park.

After visiting Þingvellir, it is now time to head back to the capital where your private Iceland adventure ends. If you are staying extra nights in the capital, we can help you plan some optional activities. Please contact your travel consultant for more information.

What’s included?

Comfort or Quality accommodation every night

Continental breakfast every day

Rental car of your choice for 8 days

Private driver-guide

Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi

24/7 emergency helpline when you’re in Iceland

VAT, taxes & service fees

Flights to Iceland

Airport transfer

Accommodation in Reykjavík

Food & drink, unless otherwise stated

Attraction entrance fees, unless otherwise stated

Personal travel insurance

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 private guided trips

All of our private guided tours start in Reykjavík. Here your driver-guide will pick you up from your accommodation and you’ll hit the road.

With your enthusiastic guide leading the way, you will head out into the Icelandic countryside. As you’re immersed in the country’s incredible nature, you’ll learn from your guide about the places you’re visiting.

Once you’ve arrived at your accommodation for the night, you and your guide will say goodbye until the morning. You’ll have time to yourself to enjoy dinner and recharge before the next day’s adventure.

At the end of your tour, you’ll be dropped off back at your hotel in the capital.

Good to know: Our private tour packages do not include hotel stays in Reykjavík at the start or end of the tour, or a transfer from the airport as standard. If you’d like us to arrange this for you, please let us know in the ‘Special requests’ box at checkout.

You’ll get to meet your guide for the first time when they collect you from your hotel in Reykjavík. Over the course of your trip, you’ll have the chance to get to know them and swap stories and jokes!

Guidance is in English as standard, although if you would like a guide that speaks a different language, please let us know in the ‘Special requests’ box at checkout.

We can’t guarantee that a guide that speaks a language other than English will be available for your selected tour dates, but we’ll do our best to honor your request.

It’s normally possible to book a guide that speaks Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch, or a Scandinavian language. Note that there may be an additional charge for a non-English-speaking guide.

In Iceland, tipping is not commonplace in restaurants, hotels, taxis, and the like.

That said, if your guide goes above and beyond to make your tour extra special, they would graciously receive a tip. Just know that it’s not expected, so it’s totally up to you.

You can customize your trip to Iceland with extra days in Reykjavík at the start or end of your trip. This is your chance to pack in day tours and activities like snowmobiling and ice caving.

If you want to customize the itinerary of your actual guided tour, contact us and we’ll be happy to help. Just so you know, there’s an extra fee for this service. See our terms and conditions for all the details.

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