Bestseller
Discounted prices

Iceland Ring Road: Best of the Best

Bestseller
Discounted prices
8 days / 7 nights
Reynisfjara with the Reynisdrangar sea stacks by sunset
The Reykjavík skyline next to the Tjörnin pond on a sunny day
A person standing behind the plume of the Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Reynisfjara with the Reynisdrangar sea stacks by sunset
The Reykjavík skyline next to the Tjörnin pond on a sunny day

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?

Travel styleSelf-drive
Trip length8 days / 7 nights
VibeDream trip
SeasonSummer
(1 Apr–31 Oct)
TransportRental car
Starts fromReykjavík
Tour codeSD01

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

View the winter version of this trip

Top attractions

The skyline of Akureyri, North Iceland

Akureyri

The Hraunfossar waterfall in winter covered in ice

Hraunfossar and Barnafoss

Lake Mývatn in its autumn colors

Lake Mývatn

The Dettifoss waterfall in autumn

Dettifoss

The village of Djúpivogur seen from a distance

Djúpivogur

Vik Church with Reynisdrangar sea stacks in the distance

Vík í Mýrdal

Mountains in the Skaftafell Nature Reserve on a cloudy day

Skaftafell Nature Reserve

Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon at sunrise with a pink sky

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

The edge of the Vatnajökull glacier

Vatnajökull Glacier & National Park

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

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

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

The Tjörnin pond in Reykjavík in summer

Downtown Reykjavík

Extra activities

The Sky Lagoon at sunsetExtra

Sky Lagoon Pure Pass

Riders on FlyOver Iceland above a virtual waterfallExtra

FlyOver Iceland

Staying inAkureyri area
Driving distance460 km (286 mi)

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.

Staying inMývatn area
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 inEgilsstaðir area
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 inHöfn area
Driving distance260 km (162 mi)

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.

Staying inVík/Skógar area
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 glacier 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.

Staying inReykjavík
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 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.

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

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

Special offer
Best price

Adults

Ages 12+

2

Children

Ages 2-11

0

Infants

Ages 0-1

0

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.

Soon you’ll be able to add these customizations yourself on our website. Until then, just let us know in the ‘Special requests’ field at checkout if you want to add activities or extra days to your trip.

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.

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