Circumnavigate Iceland while traveling the island's famous Ring Road. Hike along a pristine glacier, stand in awe at the base of tumbling waterfalls, board a boat in search of whales from Dalvik, and have a chance to ride across Langjokull Glacier on a snowmobile. Your trip concludes in Snaefellsnes, where you can explore an atmospheric fishing village surrounded by spectacular cliffs, unique black-pebble beaches, and Trek through the remote Icelandic Highland. This tour showcases some of the best of Iceland's natural wonders in just 8 days. Return to Reykjavík after an exciting week of exploration!
* For private tour departure dates and pricing, visit the Best of Iceland - Private Tour itinerary page.
Highlights
Circumnavigate Iceland while driving the Ring Road
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
On the first day of the tour, experience a range of contrasts as you tour on the Golden Circle and part of the South Coast route. The tour includes visiting the historic Thingvellir National Park to learn about Iceland's Viking history and geothermal elements. Next, visit the hot spring paradise in Haukadalur, home to the active Strokkur and the world-renowned Geysir. The tour also includes a stop at the stunning Gullfoss, the Golden Waterfall.
After these attractions, visit the famous Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which is unique because you can walk behind it, and its brother, the Skógafoss waterfall. The tour continues along the South Coast, passing glaciers and volcanoes before reaching the beautiful Reynisfjara black sand beach. This mystical basalt wonderland is truly unforgettable, with its Reynisdrangar basalt stacks in the ocean, the strong waves, the lava cave carved into a tuff mountain, and the volcanic ash sand beach.
Stay overnight in a country hotel near Kirkjubæjarklaustur, a charming village in Iceland's south.
After enjoying breakfast with the group, it's time to leave the hotel and move on to the next adventure. Today's journey will continue along Ring Road One towards the East, exploring Skaftafell and Vatnajökull National Parks. Iceland has three national parks, and you can see all of them on this tour. In these parks, you can witness amazing sights such as Iceland's highest peak, Hvannadalshnúkur, the striking Svínafellsjökull and Falljökull outlet glaciers, and the stunning Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
During today's tour, hike one of the two outlets from Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier. A certified glacier guide will lead the way, providing the necessary equipment and ensuring a safe and exciting experience. The glacier tongues are incredible, with crevasses, moulins, and breathtaking views to explore. Guides are happy to answer questions and share their knowledge about this natural wonder.
After the hike, you can relax and enjoy the stunning view of the glacier lagoon, where multi-colored icebergs and blocks float quietly in the water. The icebergs break off from the Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier and drop into the lagoon, where they melt and eventually end up on the pitch-black volcanic sand beach called Breiðarmerkursandur. The beach is often called the Diamond Beach, as the icebergs sparkle like diamonds in the sun. It's a must-visit spot on the tour.
In the evening, stay in comfortable accommodation in a pleasant seaside town in the southeast.
The minimum age requirement for a Glacier Hike is eight years old.
Day 3: East Fjords | Djúpivogur | Wilderness Center | Egilsstaðir
Today, the tour continues through the Eastfjords in Iceland, with the majestic Vatnajökull glacier in view throughout the journey. The scenery becomes more dramatic and intense as the roads wind through the mountains. The day's destination is Egilsstaðir, known for the Lagarfljót River, where the Icelandic equivalent of the Loch Ness monster is said to reside. The guide will share stories about the mythical giant Largarfljót worm, part of Icelandic folklore. Along the way, stop at Djúpivogur, a small fishing village with a black sandy beach and abundant birdlife. Djúpivogur is a welcoming community committed to eco-friendly practices.
The day's adventure will conclude at the Wilderness Center, a hub for history and culture in Northern Europe's vast wilderness. You can experience Iceland's natural heritage, folklore, and traditions. The visit will explore the on-site museum and delve into the Icelandic people's rich history and survival in the land of fire and ice, from the Vikings to the rural farmers. After exploring the exhibits and taking in the beautiful surroundings, unwind and soak in the complimentary hot pots, soaking pools designed and built in the same manner as in the time of the Vikings, utilizing the geothermal power of the earth the center is situated on—a perfect way to relax after a day of exploration.
Accommodation for the night is arranged in or near Egilsstaðir.
Day 4: Stuðlagil Canyon | Mývatn | Godafoss | Akureyri
The journey begins in Egilsstaðir, a charming town east of Iceland. From here, the travelers drive to Stuðlagil Canyon, one of the world's most enchanting basalt rock formations. The next destination is the Námaskarð geothermal area, where you can witness colorful mud pools and fumaroles emitting steam and hot gases. Then, stop at Lake Mývatn, a stunning lake surrounded by picturesque landscapes.
The Dimmuborgir lava formations, known as the 'dark cities,' are the next stop on the journey. These towering lava forms were created when the roof of a giant lava tube collapsed. Standing amidst the lava formations is an eye-opening experience that many visitors find unforgettable.
The journey continues around Lake Mývatn on the way to Akureyri, stopping at the stunning Goðafoss Waterfall, also known as the waterfall of the gods. Then head to the Mývatn Nature Baths, a peaceful spot where you can relax in warm geothermal waters or explore the nearby saunas and relaxation areas. (Optional extra)
Accommodation for the night is arranged at a countryside hotel in Akureyri, the second-largest city in Iceland.
Day 5: Whale watching in Dalvík | Siglufjörður | Tröllaskagi | Laugarbakki
After spending a night in the charming city of Akureyri, continue your journey towards the West before heading back down South. Your first stop is in Dalvík, renowned for its exceptional Whale Watching Tours. The tour guides are highly experienced and help you spot various marine life, including humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and even blue whales.
The journey then took you along Tröllaskagi, the Troll Peninsula, where you can witness the picturesque farm life and quaint villages. One of these villages is Siglufjörður, which held significant importance in Icelandic history. Once a booming herring fishing hub, Siglufjörður's rich history and character from those times are still well-preserved. After a short stop in the Sail Fjord, continue your journey through Skagafjörður and Húnavatnassýsla, both famous for their colorful Icelandic horses.
Your accommodation for the night is a cozy country hotel near Laugarbakki.
Day 6: Borgarfjörður | Reykholt | Hraunfossar | Borgarnes
Wake up in a beautiful lave paradise in the Borgarfjörður area of West Iceland. In 2016, Lonely Planet named the area one of the best travel destinations. The day's first stop is the Grábrók Volcanic Crater, an unusual but favorite spot for many tourists. The short hike to the top of the crater is well worth it, as the trail and the final view are both breathtaking.
Next, visit Europe's most powerful hot spring, Deildartunguhver. This hot spring provides over 90% of the hot water used in the area and is famous for its rainbow colors.
After that, head to the Hraunfossar waterfalls and witness the beauty of the ice-cold glacial water cascading down rapidly. The Barnafoss waterfall is also worth visiting. It is known for its intense blue colors and pitch-black lava pathway.
The day's final stop is Smoky Hill or Reykholt, where you can learn about Iceland's history. This was home to Snorri Sturluson, a 12th-century scholar who wrote Snorra-Edda, a unique insight into life in the Viking times.
After a day of wonders, drive through the beautiful Borgarfjörður countryside and drop off at your hotel near Borgarnes.
The tour takes you to the picturesque Snæfellsnes Peninsula, often called "miniature Iceland" for its stunning natural beauty. The area has a diverse landscape, including a volcano with glaciers surrounded by rugged lava fields, dramatic rocky beaches, sea stacks, and one of Iceland's largest colonies of seals.
The journey continues through the peaceful countryside, offering breathtaking views of mountains and oceans. Two charming coastal fishing villages, Arnarstapi and Hellnar, are very close. You can explore a beautiful natural harbor, columnar rock formations, arch rocks, and basalt caves and enjoy lunch at a cozy café with a stunning coast view (food and drinks not included).
The next stop on your tour is Snæfellsnes National Park, where you can briefly hike through the mossy terrain and take in the awe-inspiring sights of the Snæfellsjökull glacier towering above. The tour also includes visiting the unusual and massive Lóndrangar sea stacks that dominate the landscape and the striking Djúpalónssandur beach with its beautiful black sand and intriguing lava formations.
As the tour draws close, you can pause at Kirkjufell, the well-known Church Mountain, one of Iceland's most recognizable landmarks. The symmetrical mountain, surrounded by picturesque waterfalls, creates a serene and idyllic scene that looks like it was taken straight out of a postcard.
Finally, return to Reykjavík for your included accommodation in a hotel located in the capital area.
Day 8: Reykjavík - Icelandic Highlands
1 Breakfast
Please note that the tour schedule varies depending on the season. In the summer, experience the Landmannalaugar Super Jeep Tour in the Central Highlands of Iceland from mid-June to mid-October. From mid-October to June, take a shared group tour and snowmobiling at Langjokull Glacier.
Once the adventure concludes, return to Reykjavík and be taken to your chosen drop-off point around 9 p.m.
The minimum age requirement for Snowmobile is eight years old.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days prior to departure by Bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
This was my first experience with Adventure Life - and I couldn't have been more pleased with the trip. The guides and local staff in both Buenos Aires and Uruguay were terrific - extremely helpful and accommodating. I really enjoyed meeting the friendly staff in Buenos Aires in person (I left my bags with them for the afternoon).
Karen Snider
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
1 day ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
3 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
4 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
