12 Day Northern Lights Winter Self Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road with Snaefellsnes Peninsula

On day two, you will head out onto the most popular tourist trail in Iceland: the Golden Circle. The three sites along this route are world-renowned, and for a good reason.

Your Golden Circle adventure begins with Þingvellir National Park, the first of the three National Parks you will drive to, and the only one that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The reason for this is its history, being the original site of what is now the world's longest-running, ongoing Parliament. However, it is located right between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, leading to some spectacular geology.

At Þingvellir, you can opt for a snorkelling tour in Silfra fissure. The water from the spring here is incredibly pure, creating some of the clearest visibility on earth, and drysuit equipment make the experience not only possible but very enjoyable.

Next on the route is the Geysir Geothermal Area. This is home to the active geyser Strokkur, which erupts every five to ten minutes to heights of over 66 ft (20m). There are also many hot springs and mud pools to admire in this scenic valley.

The final site of the Golden Circle is Gullfoss Waterfall. This massive feature is immensely powerful, thundering down a canyon in two tiers. There are multiple viewing platforms, allowing you to admire and photograph it from several different angles.

You can elect to take a snowmobiling tour from Gullfoss; this exhilarating experience will take you up Langjökull glacier and across the otherworldly surface of an ice-cap.

While the places listed above are the main three sites of today, you can reference your itinerary to find other places of note in the area, such as Kerið Crater Lake and the Secret Lagoon at Flúðir.

You will spend the night near Hvolsvöllur.

On day three, you will travel across the length of the South Coast. There are many places to see today, so make sure you rise early.

The first features of note are waterfalls. The two most iconic of these are Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss. The former has a very classic shape and structure but is notable for its width and power. It is possible to approach it right to where the water is falling. Seljalandsfoss is famed for its unusual formation. However, it is both high and narrow and cascades over a depression eroded into the cliff.

On your way onwards to Vík, you will encounter some mighty glaciers, where you can opt for an exciting tour; an exhilarating snowmobile ride across Mýrdalsjökull.

Next along the route is Reynisfjara Beach, a beautiful stretch of black-sand coastline. It boasts of some fascinating lava formations, such as Dyrhólaey rock arch and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks.

It is highly recommended that you go a little off route to the Skaftafell Nature Reserve. Once a National Park in its own right, it is surrounded by dramatic peaks and glacial tongues and filled with forests, lava fields, and hiking trails. One trail which comes well-recommended will take you to Svartifoss waterfall, which falls amongst a series of unique, hexagonal basalt columns. You can also take a glacier hike in this area, which you can opt for during booking.

After marveling over the sights here, you will continue your journey and head to Jökulsárlón. It is a glacier lagoon, filled with enormous icebergs that have calved away from a tongue of the mighty Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice cap. Watching them is mesmerizing, made all the more enjoyable for the seals that call the area home. A visit to the nearby coast is also worthwhile, as it is here that these bergs wash on the shore after reaching the ocean; as such, it is called the Diamond Beach.

Finally, you will retire either near Jökulsárlón, or a little further east at Höfn.

On day four, prepare to head south-east to the little-visited but wondrous Eastfjords, where you will have an awe-inspiring ride between the mountains and ocean. One of Iceland’s most remote regions, there is a wealth of untouched beauty here that is simply breathtaking.

Before taking off, however, if you are traveling between October and March, you can opt for an ice caving tour in Vatnajökull glacier. These unique natural caves are formed when the summer rivers create tunnels and cave systems under the massive glacier. In winter, the rivers retreat, leaving the caves accessible to exploration. This is a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Once you are ready to head to the Eastfjords, the road will take you past two of Iceland’s most dramatic peaks, Eystrahorn and Vestrahorn. These spots are particularly popular amongst avid photographers, so keep your cameras ready as you pass them. The settlement of Djúpivogur also makes for an interesting stop. It has a modern, outdoor art display along the edge of its coast called ‘the Eggs of Merry Bay’ that warrants a look.

Once at your destination of Egilsstaðir, you can head to the coast to witness the fjords that make this area so renowned. One such place you could go to is Borgarfjörður Eystri, where there are many available hiking trails.

You will spend the night in Egilsstaðir.

On your fifth day, prepare to head to the North. You don’t have to leave the Eastfjords right away though. While still around Egilsstaðir, you could also visit Lake Lagarfljót. Despite its serene appearance, it is said to hold a monstrous wyrm, legends of which far out-date references to its cousin in the Loch Ness. Beside the lake is Iceland’s largest forest, Hallormsstaðaskógur.

You will leave the East Fjords by traveling Route 1 through the country's interior, where you can expect to see some magnificent Highland views. When inland, look out for wild reindeer; they only live in this part of Iceland.

You will then head on to your first destination of the North and one of its most popular locations, the incredible Lake Mývatn region. Once at Mývatn, you can start to explore its many sights. As you will have all day here tomorrow, however, it may be nice to take a break from constant sightseeing and traveling to bask in the healing waters of the Mývatn Nature Baths.

You will spend your night by the lake.

Today, you will explore the diverse sites of the Mývatn area. The lake itself is beautiful, particularly due to the odd geological formations that rise from its waters. However, it is but one of many local attractions.

You can also visit the lava formations at Dimmuborgir, otherwise known as the ‘Dark Fortress’, which are both fascinating and haunting. You can walk along the edges of the pseudo-craters Skútustaðir, and up the Höfði Peninsula, for some beautiful panoramic views. There are also many geothermal hot spots in the area, most notably around Mount Námafjall.

Fans of the HBO Series Game of Thrones will particularly enjoy that most of the scenes north of ‘the Wall’ are filmed around here. You can even visit the cave that contains one of the franchise’s love scenes, the hot-spring lava tunnel of Grjótagjá.

If you want to add more fun to your day, you can opt for a dog sledding tour. The kennel at Heiði welcomes visitors, and the fluffy Huskies are more than willing to take you for a ride in the beautiful countryside.

You will spend another night in Mývatn.

You will continue along the North today through some spectacular scenery. Your next destination is Akureyri, known to the locals as the capital of the North.

The drive over here can take less than two hours, but there are plenty of detours to be made en route. You could head to the town of Húsavík and stop at the Ystafell Transportation Museum on the way back. The waterfall Goðafoss is also well worth a stop.

Once you reach the minuscule capital, you can explore its robust cultural scene and head out to dinner at one of its numerous renowned country restaurants.

You will spend the night in Akureyri.

On day eight, you remain based in the capital of the North, Akureyri. Feel free to explore this beautiful town of approximately seventeen thousand people, with its impressive church, a botanical garden, several museums, shopping streets, and many bars and restaurants. However, if you want to immerse yourself in nature, you could opt to go to the town's ski slopes or the nearby Kjarnaskógur woods.

You could also drive along the Tröllskagi peninsula, which is home to numerous villages and valleys. This journey will take you by the fjord Eyjafjörður, through the quaint settlements of Ólafsfjörður and Dalvík.

You will spend the night in the capital of the North.

On your last day of traveling the North, you will aim for your destination of the town Sauðárkrókur. You will pass through impressive valleys and see the mountains of the North in all their power.

You'll continue through the vast fjord of Skagafjörður as well, and you can even visit the tiny settlement of Hofsós, where you can overlook the magnificent cliffs and serene ocean from the village's incredible swimming pool known as the Infinity Pool.

You will then continue to the settlement of Sauðárkrókur, where you will spend the night.

On day ten, get ready to head to the one and only Snæfellsnes Peninsula. The area is only a few hours away, but your itinerary will direct you to many fascinating places en route. For example, you could visit the Seal Centre at Hvammstangi.

The greater Snæfellsnes area has boundless marvels to behold so that you can save some of its explorings for the following day. However, the most notable feature is Snæfelljökull, the mighty glacier and volcano on the peninsula's tip.

This incredible landmark is the central point of the Snæfellsnes National Park and has inspired writers and artists for generations; most notably, it was the setting for both Halldór Laxness's novel 'Beneath the Glacier' and Jules Verne's novel 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth'.

You will have a full day of exploration before retiring for the night in a settlement on the peninsula, such as in Stykkishólmur.

Once at the peninsula, you will find an even greater wealth of things to see; it is often called ‘Iceland in Miniature’ due to the incredible diversity found here. Notable sites include Kirkjufell, Iceland’s most photographed mountain; the seal colony on the beach near the farm of Ytri Tunga; the haunted lava fields of Berserkjahraun lava field; and the Djúpalónssandur black pebble beach.

Your destination for the journey’s end is Reykjavík City. En route, you could detour to different sites of West Iceland, such as the historical towns of Borgarnes and Reykholt, the waterfalls Fossatún, Barnafoss, and Hraunfossar, and geothermal areas such as the Deildartunguhver hot spring.

You can also opt for several adventures; venturing inside a lava tube in Víðgelmir Cave or entering a stunning, man-made ice tunnel in Langjökull Glacier. Both options ensure geological wonders to behold. 

After a day packed with sightseeing and adventure, you will return to Reykjavík for the night and enjoy its cultural downtown scene once more.

For your departure day, you will need to deliver your car back to Keflavík airport in time for your flight. For those who have a later flight and choose to visit the Blue Lagoon today, you will finish off your stay unwinding before you head to the airport. This is the perfect place to relax as you bathe in the warm, mineral-rich waters as you look back on the incredible adventure you have just taken in the land of fire and ice. If your flight is later, there are plenty of things to do in Reykjavik. If you have an early flight back home, we wish you a pleasant journey.