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Iceland Round Trip: 10 Days Round Tour

This great Iceland travel package is our most popular self-drive tour to date.  It takes you on a round trip of Iceland to many of the island’s finest natural wonders. Places visited include Þingvellir national park, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Gullfoss & Geysir, Lake Mývatn and the amazing Snæfellsnes peninsula. If you are looking for the ideal Iceland self-drive vacation, this might be the one for you.

If you are interested in receiving more information about this tour, please click on the “Request a quote” widget on the left side of the page. A quick form will open up where you will provide us with more information about your travel expectations. You will then be connected with your specialized travel agent who will assist you throughout the planning a provide a fully detailed quote.

Please note that this itinerary can be adjusted and customized to meet your travel needs and preferences. The package can also be offered as a privately guided tour if a self-drive option is not what you had in mind for your Iceland experience.

Tour Code

SD-02

Season

May - Sept

Travel Style

Self-Drive

Duration

10 days / 9 nights

Location

Iceland

Accessibility

Moderate

Included

  • 9 nights accommodation (budget/comfort/quality) with breakfast
  • Rental car of your choice for 8 days with unlimited mileage, CDW & VAT
  • WiFi hotspot in your rental car for easy internet access
  • 1 extra driver for each rental car
  • Transfer from Keflavik International Airport to your accommodation in Reykjavík (private or by bus)
  • Optional private information meeting with our travel consultant in Reykjavik before your tour starts
  • Big, handwritten, detailed map with route, recommendations and accommodations highlighted
  • Transfer to Keflavík International Airport with pickup at your accommodation in Reykjavik upon departure (private or by bus)
  • 24-hour emergency service
  • Taxes and service fee

Not Included

  • Flights to/from Iceland
  • Meals and drinks at restaurants and entrance fees (unless otherwise agreed upon)
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Gasoline
Day 1 | Arrival/Reykjavik

Your Iceland self-drive vacation is about to begin. Once you arrive at Keflavik International Airport and clear customs, you will be transferred to your accommodation in the city centre in Reykjavík.

After you have checked in to your hotel and received your travel documents, we would like to have an optional private information meeting during office hours at our headquarters. Explore the pearls of the city in the afternoon before staying the first night in the capital of the north. If you arrive early, you might be interested in optional day tours, such as whale watching from Reykjavík Harbor or relaxing at the Blue Lagoon. Overnight in the heart of Reykjavik.

Day 2 | The Golden Circle

Today your Iceland travel begins for real! Pick up your rental car in the morning and start your day by driving to Þingvellir National Park. Because of its beauty and its geological and historical value, Þingvellir was accepted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.  This is the site where the Vikings first assembled in ancient times. After exploring the treasures of the park, head south to see Geysir Spouting Spring and Gullfoss waterfall to complete the “Golden Circle”. Enjoy the afternoon seeing the sizzling hot springs and geysers and the force of the great waterfall. Drive to the south coast and stay the night at a hotel/guest house/cottage in the area.

Day starts in

Reykjavík

Day ends in

Hvollsvöllur/Hella

Driving distance

~237 km / 147 miles

Day 3 | The South Coast

Today you will explore the beautiful south coast of Iceland. After breakfast and packing, drive east to the picturesque waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. Above the waterfalls, you can get a glimpse of Eyjafjallajökull where the great volcanic eruption took place in 2010. You can even enjoy an optional snowmobile tour on the glacier. Drive along the south shore to Dyrhólaey natural reserve where you can find one of the best seabird colonies in Iceland. You will cross Mýrdalssandur and Eldhraun before arriving in Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Don’t forget to take a look at the amazing Fjaðrárgljúfur just before reaching the village, a narrow and beautiful canyon and one of our favourite hidden treasures of Iceland.  Overnight in Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

Day starts in

Hvollsvöllur/Hella

Day ends in

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Driving distance

~155 km / 96 miles

Day 4 | Vatnajökull National Park and Glacier Lagoon

Today you will head to the famous Skaftafell area, located in the Vatnajökull National Park. After passing Skeiðarársandur you will arrive at Skaftafell. We recommend that you take the easy hike to Svartifoss waterfall that is surrounded by beautiful pitch black basalt columns or the 3 hour hike to Kristínartindar Peaks. Stop at Svínafellsjökull glacier fall, where the opening scene of Batman Begins was filmed.  Head east to the glacial lagoon Jökulsárlón that comes from the roots of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier. If the conditions are favorable, you can take an optional boat tour where you will sail between the icebergs while the local guides tell you the story about this great phenomenon. Stay overnight in the area around Höfn in Hornafjörður.

Day starts in

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Day ends in

Höfn

Driving distance

~203 km / 126 miles

Day 5 | East Iceland

Time to travel the tranquil and beautiful East Fjords of Iceland. After passing Djúpivogur, you will explore the east coast. Travel through tranquil coastal villages towards the largest village in the east, Egilsstaðir. On the way, you might want to stop and have a look at Petra’s mineral collection in Stöðvarfjörður fjord. Nearby Egilsstaðir, there is a small forest called Hallormsstaðarskógur. In the ancient times, it was believed that a large worm-monster lived in the lake by the forest, our very own Loch Ness monster.  If you manage to snap a photo of it you are in for some seriously good rewards.  Stay one night in Egilsstaðir.

Day starts in

Höfn

Day ends in

Egilsstaðir

Driving distance

~256 km / 159 miles

Day 6 | Lake Mývatn

Today you will drive to the amazing and almost surreal Mývatn area. Drive from Egilsstaðir through Möðrudalsöræfi route to Lake Mývatn. We recommend that you take the Dettifoss Road and explore Dettifoss Waterfall (the most powerful in Europe) and Ásbyrgi Canyon. After that drive to Húsavík, where you can take an optional whale watching tour before continuing to Lake Mývatn. Please note that we recommend a 4×4 vehicle if you are taking the longer route to Mývatn via the Dettifoss Road.  Around the Mývatn area, you will find amazing attractions such as the colourful Námaskarð pass, the Skútustaðir pseudo craters, the Dimmuborgir lava formations, Krafla volcano and the Natural Baths of Mývatn. Stay the night in Mývatn.

Day starts in

Egilsstaðir

Day ends in

Mývatn

Driving distance

~336 km / 209 miles

Day 7 | From Mývatn to Akureyri

Start the day early by exploring the sights around Lake Mývatn before driving to Akureyri. On your way to Akureyri (the “Capital of the North”) stop and enjoy the charming Goðafoss waterfall. In Akureyri we recommend that you visit the Botanical Garden, an oasis in the heart of this charming town. Also recommended is the Akureyri Church, situated on a hilltop overlooking the center of town. After a full day of sightseeing, it’s always popular to spend the afternoon in the town’s outdoor geothermal swimming pool & water park.  A drive into Eyjafjörður fjord is well worth doing. There you will find a lush agricultural area, old churches and a farm that produces the best ice cream in Iceland, straight from the cows’ udders… well, almost!

It is possible to take a flight from Akureyri airport to Grímsey island and cross into the Arctic Circle. We recommend booking that tour well in advance. Overnight in or around Akureyri.

Day starts in

Mývatn

Day ends in

Akureyri

Driving distance

~99 km / 62 miles

Day 8 | From Akureyri to Snæfellsnes Peninsula

It’s time to continue your Iceland travel. Leave Akureyri behind and start making your way to the beautiful Snæfellsnes Peninsula. On the way you can stop in the Skagafjörður Fjord and enjoy an optional riding tour. Visit Borgarvirki natural fortress before reaching Snæfellsnes. On Snæfellsnes, you can choose from a variety of activities such as horseback riding, hiking, a bird watching-cruise (in summer), or whale watching from Stykkishólmur Village or simply relax and take in the Snæfellsjökull glacier’s alleged supernatural energy. The Snæfellsjökull glacier in the Snæfellsjökull National Park was the setting for Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth.  Stay in a hotel or guesthouse in Snæfellsnes area.

Day starts in

Akureyri

Day ends in

Snæfellsnes area

Driving distance

~429 km / 266 miles

Day 9 | West Iceland & Return to Reykjavik

Experience the unique Snæfellsjökull National Park, with amazing bird life, lush valleys, and rugged lava fields. It is ideal to drive around the peninsula, exploring Dritvík Cove, Lóndrangar Cliffs as well as Hellnar Cliffs and Arnarstapi with its bursting bird-life and the small villages on the coast. After exploring Snæfellsnes it’s time to continue to Reykjavik.  Before finishing your “ring road”, take a look at the highlights of West Iceland. Sights along the way are the volcanic crater Grábrók, Hraunfossar waterfalls, Deildartunguhver (the largest hot spring in Europe) and the settlement centre in Borgarnes.

Once heading back to Reykjavík, you can either take the scenic Hvalfjörður  Fjord route where you can stop and hike up to the famous Glymur waterfall or if you want to return directly to Reykjavík take the Route 1 underwater tunnel.  Arrive in Reykjavik, return the car and stay the night in central Reykjavik.

Day starts in

Snæfellsnes area

Day ends in

Reykjavik

Driving distance

~356 km / 221 miles

Day 10 | Departure

Your Iceland travel is coming to an end. How time flies when you’re having fun. Transfer to Keflavik International Airport in time for your departure flight back home.

If you are leaving in the afternoon you can visit the blue lagoon on your way to Keflavík Airport (optional). Soak in the restorative waters of the lagoon that is situated in the middle of a pitch black lava field.  Your luggage will be kept safe while you are relaxing in the lagoon. After that, you will be dropped off at Keflavík International Airport. Have a safe journey home!

Budget

Budget accommodations include shared facilities in guest houses, country hotels, farmhouses, etc. In some cases, the rooms might be equipped with a TV and a washbasin. The in-room amenities are limited and basic but they all adhere to a high standard of cleanliness.
Breakfast is included.

Comfort

Comfort accommodations offer access to private facilities (shower and toilet). This type of lodges belongs to the 3-star hotel category. Most of these properties have an in-house restaurant. This section offers an upgrade in comfort and service compared to the budget category. Breakfast is included.

Quality

Quality accommodations offer private rooms with en-suite shower/bath and toilet. These rooms are the best available accommodations in 4-star hotels or the highest quality lodges in each region. Luxury accommodations - the highest class of lodges, suites, and penthouses - are available upon request. Breakfast is included.

Luxury

Luxury accommodations include Suites and high-end rooms in Quality Accommodations. These types of lodges and resorts provide an upscale look and personalized services.
Classy, elegant, and comfortable, luxury accommodations strive to offer a first-class experience and top-quality services to ensure a truly extraordinary and memorable stay.

Volkswagen Golf


or similiar

Type: Compact
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 2
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)

Kia Ceed Wagon


or similiar

Type: Intermediate Wagon
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)

4×4 Hyundai Kona


or similiar

Type: SUV Economy
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 3
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)

4×4 Kia Sportage


or similiar

Type: SUV Full Size Intermediate
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)

4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser


or similiar

Type: SUV Full Size
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)

Hyundai H1


or similiar

Type: VAN
Passenger: 8
Luggage: 5
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)

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