Take the Iceland road trip of a lifetime
This is our most popular vacation package to Iceland. On this 8-day road trip around Iceland’s Route 1, you’ll journey through epic landscapes studded with hot springs, fjords, and glaciers.
In just over a week, you’ll see Iceland’s top-hit natural attractions, including Lake Mývatn, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir hot springs, and the Gullfoss waterfall.
You’ll also get some uniquely Icelandic experiences, including a dip in the famous Blue Lagoon spa and a chance to sample modern Icelandic cuisine in Reykjavík.
It’s hard to pack much more awesome into a week, so what are you waiting for?
On this tour you will...
Get behind the wheel and set your own pace
Follow Iceland’s legendary Ring Road route
Dive into the natural delights of North Iceland
Witness the power of majestic waterfalls
Walk to the edge of Europe’s largest glacier
Have the chance to bathe in hot springs
Top attractions
Akureyri
Hraunfossar and Barnafoss
Lake Mývatn
Dettifoss
Djúpivogur
Vík í Mýrdal
Skaftafell
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Vatnajökull Glacier & National Park
Gullfoss
Þingvellir National Park
Geysir and Strokkur
Why book a self-drive trip with Iceland Tours?
Start your tour on the date that suits you
New rental cars with 2 drivers as standard
24/7 emergency helpline in Iceland
Handpicked local accommodation options
Secure your booking with just a 5% deposit
Best Price Guarantee
Your 8-day self-drive itinerary
Your memorable Iceland adventure begins the very moment you arrive at Keflavík Airport. Once you pick up your rental vehicle, you’ll head directly for Reykjavík and your exciting, first night in Iceland.
Highlights
Downtown Reykjavík
Extra activities
ExtraSky Lagoon Saman Pass
ExtraFlyOver Iceland
ExtraPuffin Watching
ExtraClassic Whale Watching from Reykjavík
ExtraThe Reykjavík Food Walk
ExtraHorse Riding from Reykjavík
ExtraInside the Volcano tour from Bláfjöll
Your next day’s journey continues toward 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 flow from the lava bed into the river below. You’ll then continue your journey toward Akureyri, passing through Skagafjörður, known for exceptional horse breeding; in fact, many stunning, Icelandic horses can be seen on your drive.
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?
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.
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 glacier 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.
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 back to Reykjavík you will pass the magnificent waterfalls, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss.
Your day will end in Reykjavík where you will spend your last night in Iceland.
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
Budget, Comfort, or Quality accommodation every night
Continental breakfast every day
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
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 Ring Road: Best of the Best.
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.
