Beautiful 11-Day Winter Tour of the Ring Road with Snaefellsnes Peninsula

On the second day of your winter vacation in Iceland, you'll explore further afield with the fantastic Golden Circle sightseeing route. 

The Golden Circle sightseeing route is the most popular tour option for travelers in Iceland and is an excellent way to begin your tour of the country. This tourist route spans around 190 miles (300 kilometers) and is home to three world-renowned natural attractions.

Your first stop on the Golden Circle tour is the UNESCO World Heritage site, Thingvellir National Park. 

Being the original location of Althingi, the first democratically elected parliament in the world, Thingvellir National Park is an essential site to the history of Icelanders.

It is also a fascinating area for geologists and nature lovers. 

The Mid-Atlantic Rift runs through the Thingvellir National Park, and it is one of the only places in the world where you can see the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. 

After Thingvellir National Park, you will head to Haukadalur geothermal area, home to the bubbling hot spring Geysir, from which all geysers take their name. Although Geysir is dormant these days, its neighbor, Strokkur geyser, remains active. 

The photogenic Strokkur geyser erupts routinely every five to ten minutes, ensuring your chance to see this natural spectacle on display. On average, the dramatic water eruption reaches a height of around 66 feet (20 meters).

The mighty Gullfoss waterfall ("Golden Falls") is your final stop on this Golden Circle tour. 

The glacial river, Hvita, plunges approximately 105 feet (32 meters) down two tiers of this dramatic feature, creating a loud and misty experience that culminates into one of the most powerful sights in the country.

On-site are large viewing decks where you can enjoy admiring and photographing this majestic Icelandic waterfall.

You will spend your second night at accommodation in South Iceland. If the skies are clear, you might see the celestial display of the northern lights.

The third day of your winter holiday in Iceland takes you to the South Coast, one of the most visited regions in the country. 

The South Coast of Iceland is one of the country's most beautiful areas, with many ancient valleys, snow-covered mountains, cascading waterfalls, and delicate glacial rivers.

First on your itinerary are two of the country's most beloved waterfalls, Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss. Although both measure over 197 feet (60 meters) and are equally spectacular, they could not be more different. 

Seljalandsfoss waterfall has a narrow stream, falling over a concaved cliff you can fully encircle. A small cave behind its water curtain lets you see the waterfall from behind or at any angle you want.

Meanwhile, Skogafoss waterfall boasts a much broader and more powerful cascade at around 82 feet (25 meters). If you're visiting on a sunny day, you have a good chance of seeing a rainbow above its mist.

You will then try glacier hiking on the mighty Solheimajokull glacier, one of Iceland's most beautiful ice caps. An expert guide leads this adventure, so even first-timers can join. 

Your guide will also provide you with all the necessary equipment, including crampons and a helmet for your safety.

You will explore intricate ice sculptures and deep, pale crevasses. Those who reach the top will have access to a panoramic view of the surrounding scenery and region. 

You will then find yourself in the countryside near the sleepy fishing village of Vik, only a short distance from the black sand beach, Reynisfjara. 

Here, visitors are quickly fascinated by the strange basalt stacks that line the cliff faces and the tumultuous energy of the Atlantic waves. Don't get too close, however, as the waves at Reynisfjara black sand beach are unpredictable.

You will spend the night in South Iceland.

On day three of your minibus tour around the Ring Road, your guide will take you to the Vatnajokull National Park. 

Vatnajokull National Park is Europe's largest ice cap, covering at least 10% of Iceland's landmass.

Inside Vatnajokull National Park, you'll discover some of Iceland's most prized natural features, including the Skaftafell Nature Reserve and the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.

As you travel across the black sand desert, Skeidararsandur, you will see Skaftafell Nature Reserve slowly appear over the horizon. The nature reserve is easily distinguishable by its forested slopes, jutting cliff edges, and static ice sheets. 

Passing lush green vegetation, you will travel under Iceland's highest peak, Hvannadalshnjukur mountain, in the Oraefajokull glacier volcano.

Only a short distance further is "the crown jewel of Iceland," Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. Here, enormous icebergs break away from the overlying Breidamerkurjokull glacier, falling into the lagoon below before drifting into the Atlantic Ocean.

Visitors here can enjoy viewing different sizes of icebergs, some as large as buildings. You may even see the lagoon's resident seal colony.

From the glacier lagoon, you can walk a short distance across the road to Diamond Beach, the shoreline on which some of the lagoon's icebergs wash up. As the ice chunks glisten in the sun on the black beach, they look like precious stones on a velvet blanket.

You'll then discover one of the country's dazzling ice caves. Stepping into this aqua-marine underground world is undoubtedly one of the more unique experiences available in Iceland, if not the world.

An experienced guide will take you on a super jeep ride to your destination, a blue ice cave in Vatnajokull. This crystal blue ice cave is open from October to April.

This winter season, two beautiful ice caves have been discovered in the Vatnajokull National Park: the Western Ice Cave and the Eastern Ice Cave. On this amazing adventure, you will get to visit the best ice cave accessible on the day, taking into account the weather conditions and visibility to ensure the ultimate ice-caving experience.

If traveling before these months or depending on the weather, you might visit another ice cave of the same beauty.

Overnight, you will be staying in an accommodation in South Iceland.

On day eight of this winter adventure in the land of fire and ice, you will discover the attractions that make up the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. The peninsula is often called "Iceland in miniature" due to its diverse landscapes, featuring glaciers, lava fields, waterfalls, and coastal cliffs.

This enchanting region has inspired many books and works of art. Today, you'll find out why many prominent writers have referenced this area in their literary works. Some have even been adapted into movies.

First is a stop at the Gerduberg cliffs. This impressive wall of hexagonal basalt columns looks like something out of Game of Thrones, and you can walk right up to rocks for photos.

Then, it is off to the golden sand beach of Ytri-Tunga. Golden sand beaches are a rarity in Iceland, as most are volcanic and feature black sands. However, the seals are the main attraction, often swimming in the ocean or relaxing on the shore.

You'll be able to see the Snaefellsjokull glacier throughout your journey across the peninsula. This glacier stands at 4,744 feet (1,446 meters) above sea level.

Snaefellsjokull glacier volcano will grow larger and larger before your eyes as you navigate toward your other stops for the day, including the Djupalonssandur black beach and Mount Kirkjufell. The glacier inspired Jules Verne's novel "Journey to the Centre of the Earth." 

If you want to, you can also visit Vidgelmir cave. Vidgelmir cave is one of the country's largest lava caves, featuring an underground dome with various colorful volcanic rocks naturally decorating the interior. 

You can add this optional experience during the booking process.

You'll then return to your accommodation in West Iceland. 

You can spend another evening searching for northern lights while unwinding in a hot tub, the perfect way to relax after a day of sightseeing.