In-Depth 10-Day Summer Self-Drive Tour of the Ring Road of Iceland with Waterfalls & Glaciers

On your second day, you'll embark upon Iceland's most popular tourist route, the Golden Circle.

The first destination on the Golden Circle route is theThingvellir National Park. This beautiful place of ravines, springs, forest, and lava fields is between North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. 

It's also the only UNESCO World Heritage Site on Iceland's mainland. The park earned the distinction because it was where Iceland's parliament, Althingi, was founded in 930 AD.

Next, you'll visit the Geysir geothermal area, about 37 miles (60 kilometers) from the park. It is home to the geyser Strokkur, which erupts to heights that regularly exceed 66 feet (20 meters) every five to 10 minutes. While waiting for it to go off, you can admire the surrounding hot springs and fumaroles.

Finally, you'll come to Gullfoss waterfall, about six miles (9.7 kilometers) from Geysir. It's the most iconic waterfall in the country. Plunging into an ancient valley and throwing off clouds of spray, the waterfall has come to define Iceland's beauty and incredible power.

On this day, you can also join one of three tours. The first is a riding tour where you can meet the Icelandic horse and ride through beautiful fields. 

The second tour is at Thingvellir, home of Silfra, a ravine with crystal-clear spring water. You can snorkel here as the water provides over 328 feet (100 meters) of visibility. Snorkeling participants need to be comfortable in the water and be able to swim.

Lastly, you can go on a snowmobiling tour on the magnificent Langjokull glacier from the Gullfoss waterfall. You'll also have time today to see other lesser-known destinations detailed in your itinerary. These could include waterfalls, mountains, geothermal areas, and many villages. 

The most notable is Kerid crater lake, with its vivid contrasts you must see to believe.

After an eventful day, you'll spend the night in a hotel in Southwest Iceland.

On day three, you’ll start your journey along the South Coast, a stretch lined with countless attractions.

The first of these you will stop at are three waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss, Gljufrabui, and Skogafoss.

The first two are unique and located right next to each other. Of the two, Seljalandsfoss is the more famous. It measures 197 feet (60 meters) tall and has a cave behind it that will allow you to encircle it fully. Meanwhile, 0.56 miles (900 meters) away is Gljufrabui, hidden inside a cleft in a mountainside and falling into a fantastical grotto.

The third waterfall you’ll visit is Skogafoss, one of the biggest and most powerful in Iceland. It’s 82 feet (25 meters) wide and cascades from 197 feet (60 meters). Check out the water as it hits the ground, as you may see a double rainbow when the sunlight reflects through the waterfall.

You’ll notice mighty glaciers to your left as you travel between these. One of these is Eyjafjallajokull, which erupted in 2010. Interestingly, the incident disrupted air travel in Europe, creating extensive flight cancellations.

Another is Myrdalsjokull, the third-largest glacier in Iceland. It covers nearly 600 square kilometers (232 square miles). Because of its sheer size, the glacier conceals the Katla volcano.

You can join a hiking tour today toward one of the tongues of Myrdalsjokull, with a glacier walk on Solheimajokull. Alternatively, you can choose a tour to ascend the glacier to explore a magnificent ice cave.

You’ll then continue onto the black sand beach of Reynisfjara. It’s a stunning stretch of coastline with fascinating geology. Just offshore are two towering rock stacks called Reynisdrangar that are said to be petrified trolls. 

Your final major destination is the Dyrholaey cliffs and rock arch. It is a magnificent coastal feature, though its biggest draw in summer is the puffins. The area becomes a nesting ground for puffins, making it one of the best places for bird-watching from the shore.

With another exciting day in the books, you’ll spend the night in a countryside accommodation in South Iceland.

On your fourth day, you'll see two of Iceland's most incredible natural sites: the Skaftafell Nature Reserve and the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.

Skaftafell sits in the shadow of Europe's largest glacier, Vatnajokull, and is full of diverse landscapes. There are many trails and tracks in Skaftafell, and you can take hikes to go to beautiful waterfalls and magnificent glacial tongues. 

One tour you can join features a hiking trail that leads to an ice cap for unbelievable views of the surrounding area. If you're up to the challenge, the hike toward the glacier is about five miles (eight kilometers) long. It also goes up 1,280 feet (390 meters).

As you explore Skaftafell, you'll see the contrasting but beautiful scenery of white glaciers, lush flora, and black sand. Another notable trail in the area is the one leading to the Svartifoss waterfall. Also called the "black waterfall," Svartifoss cascades into hexagonal basalt columns, a unique sight to marvel at.

Following this, you'll head to the glacier lagoon, about 35 miles (57 kilometers) further east. Jokulsarlon is a spectacular, vast lake filled with enormous icebergs from Vatnajokull. It's also home to many seals that stay on the ice.

Jokulsarlon is often considered the crown jewel of Iceland's nature, and walking around the shores will treat you to various wonders. If you wish to get a better view of the icebergs, you can take a  boat tour to immerse yourself further in a slower amphibious vessel or RIB speedboat.

While you are here, remember to visit Diamond Beach, which sits adjacent to the lagoon. It is where the icebergs end their lives after they've washed up on shore here. They melt in the sun and glisten like precious gemstones, which earned the beach its name.

As you end another thrilling day, you'll find your accommodations for the night in either the area near Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon or the nearby town of Hofn in Southeast Iceland.

On day five, you'll explore the Eastfjords. It is one of Iceland's least traveled regions, so you will avoid most of the crowds and be able to enjoy the area in peace.

The Eastfjords are defined by gigantic mountains, stunning ocean views, coastal towns, and diverse wildlife. It's a majestic coastline stretching 75 miles (120 kilometers) from Berufjordur in the south to Borgarfjordur Eystri in the north.

As you drive along the area, you'll see puffins flying around. You may also encounter seals on the coast and dolphins and whales in the waters. East Iceland is also the only place to see reindeer as they roam free here.

Moreover, East Iceland is home to idyllic towns hiding at the bottom of deep fjords. It has many dense forests and beautiful lakes that contribute to its fantastic scenery.

While there are no activities to book today, there's so much to see and many hidden gems to explore. You'll be grateful to have the whole day free, as you can stop in many sleeping fishing villages that dot the area. You can also hike in Hallormsstadaskogur, Iceland's largest national forest.

The forest covers about 740 hectares of land and has two camping areas you can visit: Atlavik and Hofdavik. The first area is found in the inner part of Hallormsstadaskogur, while the second is a site offering more luxurious services.

Another essential stop to visit is Lake Lagarfjlot, about 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) from Hallormsstadaskogur. The lake is known for its fishing opportunities and impressive natural beauty. It's also famous for its folklore, with many Icelanders believing it to be where a beast lives.

The monster is called the Lagarfljot Wyrm and is considered by many as the Loch Ness Monster's cousin. People also claim that the beast disrupts the lake's surface.

After visiting the lake, you'll drive to Eastfjord's largest town, Egilsstadir. It sits on the banks of Lagarfjlot and has many shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions.

You will spend the night in one of the accommodations in East Iceland.

You can spend your sixth day in one of two ways. First, you can further enjoy the peaceful and beautiful Eastfjords before heading to the Lake Myvatn area in the evening. Second, you can head straight to Myvatn to explore more of its sites. You will, however, still have tomorrow to enjoy this area.

Regardless, there are some incredible places you should stop to explore en route to Myvatn. For example, you can see Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe, in an ancient, beautiful gorge. 

Dettifoss has an average water flow of 6,186 cubic feet (193 meters cubed) per second. It drops from 150 feet (45 meters) with a width of 330 feet (100 meters). The waterfall cascades toward the Jokulsargljufur canyon.

Interestingly, the Myvatn area also boasts rich wildlife. You’ll find different bird species, led by harlequin ducks that love to nest in the area. Check out the ducks’ unique white markings that made others call them the “white-eyed divers.”

Moreover, you’ll find the arctic fox, Iceland’s only native mammal. It’s a type of fox with a thick white, blue, or brown coating. These colors also change depending on the current season.

Aside from abundant wildlife, the Lake Mayvatn area is also dynamic in terms of volcanic activity. It has various lava fields, tuff volcanoes, pseudo-craters, and geothermal springs.

An interesting stop to consider is Dimmuborgir, a lava expanse east of Lake Myvatn. Dimmuborgir features ridges, columns, and caves made of lava rocks. These features gave it a castle-like appearance and the nickname “Dark Fortress.”

In addition, its popularity further increased when it was featured in the hit HBO series “Game of Thrones.”

Meanwhile, about 6.8 miles (11 kilometers) from Dimmuborgir are the Skutustadagigar pseudo-craters. These fascinating wonders were formed around 2,300 years ago when boiling lava flowed over the wetlands, creating gas explosions.

If you have a 4WD vehicle, you can visit the enormous, verdant Asbyrgi canyon. You’ll see the canyon in all its glory, highlighted by its shape resembling a horseshoe. Folklore also says that the canyon was formed after one of the horses of the Norse god Odin stomped its foot on Earth.

You may also drive to the sulfuric geothermal area at Namaskard Pass. Here, you’ll see hissing steam with strange colors filling the air.

When you reach your accommodation in Northeast Iceland, you can spend the evening exploring the surroundings or bask in the gorgeous Myvatn Nature Baths.

You’ll have all of day seven to explore the Lake Myvatn region thoroughly. You can give each site the time it deserves without rushing your schedule.

The region has a wealth of things to see, starting with the lake itself. It’s nearly six miles (9.5 kilometers) long and four miles (6.5 kilometers) wide. It also spreads across 14 square miles (36.5 square kilometers), making it the fourth-largest lake in Iceland. 

Despite its size, Lake Myvatn is shallow, and the river and lake draining is known for char, salmon, and trout fishing.

The area is worth spending time in due to its bountiful birdlife and bizarre geological formations. You can head to the Dimmuborgir lava fortress for even more geology, where the lava rocks form ridges, columns, and caves. Their shapes resemble a castle, earning the fortress its nickname, “Dark Fortress.”

Additionally, the area was used in the shooting of Game of Thrones.

Also nearby is the hot spring lava cave Grjotagja, about 2.5 miles (6.4 kilometers) from the lava fortress. The cave is considered a hidden gem of North Iceland because finding the thermal spring can be challenging. Like the lava fortress, the cave was also used as a filming location for the Game of Thrones series.

Meanwhile, about 9.3 miles (15 kilometers) from Grjotagja are the Skutustadagigar pseudo-craters. These fascinating wonders were formed around 2,300 years ago when boiling lava flowed over the wetlands, creating gas explosions. You can walk along the rim of these craters and marvel at this fantastic phenomenon.

You’ll spend another night in Northeast Iceland, giving you another opportunity to bask in the Myvatn Nature Baths if you choose. With temperatures ranging from 97 to 104 F (36 to 40 C), dipping in the baths is an excellent way to relax after a long day of sightseeing.