Drive around Iceland in just one week? Why not! The Ring Road is a delight to drive – well maintained and largely free of traffic. Barely an hour will pass on this slick self-drive when you won’t be pulling over to admire a stunning stretch of coastline or thundering waterfall. You’ll stay in seven must-see locations and have our iDiscover digital guide to enhance your trip.
Seven days to drive the Ring Road
Two weeks would be better as per our Around Iceland holiday, but if time is limited, and you want to see as much of Iceland as possible, this holiday features several key highlights. Some drives are lengthy, but if you enjoy a road trip this itinerary is incredibly rewarding – offering fabulous scenery, comfortable accommodation, optional excursions and even time for relaxing in a geothermal lagoon or two.
The Magnificent Seven
After a night in Reykjavik, your first full day takes in the Golden Circle – Geysir, Gullfoss waterfall and Thingvellir World Heritage Site. Next, you’ll explore the sublime South Coast with its black-sand beaches, bird cliffs, waterfalls and glaciers, before spending time at Vatnajokull National Park – famous for its colossal icecap and the iceberg-strewn lagoon of Jokulsarlon. You will then take a world-class coastal drive through the East Fjords before heading west towards Lake Myvatn where you can relax in the geothermal Nature Baths or visit Husavik for a whale-watching trip. A long drive the following day ends at the magnificent Hotel Husafell. All too soon, perhaps, you’ll be returning to Keflavik airport – but not before a chance to take a dip in the Blue Lagoon.
Itinerary
Fly to Keflavik Airport. Collect your rental vehicle and drive to Reykjavik for an evening of exploration and an overnight stay in Iceland’s capital city which blends modern with traditional.
Explore the natural wonders on the famed Golden Circle route: the tectonic rip in the earth’s crust at Thingvellir, the thundering falls of Gullfoss and the bubbling Geysir geothermal area.
Optional Experiences
Secret Lagoon
Diving Silfra Day Tour
Snorkelling Silfra Day Tour
Continue along the south coast and admire the views, including Seljalandsfoss, one of Iceland’s best-known waterfalls and the Myrdalsjokull icecap, where you may wish to take an optional snowmobile trip (pre-bookable – please contact our team). You may also choose to visit the little museum at Skogar and the famous waterfall with an impressive 60 metre drop (perhaps walk the path to the top). Explore the Reynisfjara pebble beach with its caves and basalt formations. Investigate the bird cliffs at Dyrholaey, (closed from 1 May 25 June so as not to disturb nesting birds), and walk along its black sand beach.
Optional Experiences
Lava Centre
You will be spoilt for choice today as there is much to see and do in the area: walking in the stunning Skaftafell National Park; discovering the Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon with its immense icebergs (boat trips are pre-bookable – contact us for further details). Perhaps take an optional snowmobile trip on Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajokull – one of many excursion options.
Optional Experiences
Ice Adventure on Vatnajokull Glacier
Snowmobiling on Vatnajokull Glacier
Blue Ice Experience
Boat Trip on the Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon
Spend the day exploring the sweeping fjords of the east coast and the delightful fishing villages of Djupavogur and Seydisfjordur. Overnight in the nearby town of Egilsstadir.
Continue to the Myvatn region; with a possible visit enroute to Iceland’s highest farm with a cafe and turf buildings at Modrudalur. Visit the relaxing Nature Baths (the north’s answer to the Blue Lagoon) or venture up to the pretty village at Husavik and experience a thrilling whale watching trip on an old fishing boat (prebookable – contact us for details).
Optional Experiences
Myvatn Nature Baths
Husavik Whale Watching Boat Trip
Forest Lagoon
Drive across the northern countryside, famous for its horse breeding, and then south towards Husafell in the region of Borgarbyggd. Spend the night at Hotel Husafell, where you can expect excellent service, gourmet cuisine and comfortable rooms, surrounded by a mountainous landscape.
Optional Experiences
Into the Glacier - Ice Cave in Langjokull
Krauma Geothermal Baths
Drive back towards Keflavik, taking a detour to the Blue Lagoon to bathe in its soothing geothermal waters (entrance fee at additional cost), before dropping off the vehicle at the airport and taking the afternoon flight home.
Optional Experiences
Blue Lagoon
Prices & departures
What's Included
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Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
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Daily breakfast
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Car rental throughout with unlimited mileage
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No charge for additional driver
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24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
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No surcharge guarantee
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Full financial protection
From £1370 Excluding Flights
7 Nights
May-Sep
Prices are per person based upon 2 sharing, subject to availability. Your Travel Specialist will confirm the exact price based upon your tailored requirements, inclusions, and travel dates.
Make this trip yours
Every trip you see here can be adapted to suit you using inside-out knowledge to create one-off experiences created just for you.
Eric
Faroese Islands explored
Countries visited
We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch.