Epic 13 Day Self Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland with Snaefellsnes & the Westfjords

Day two begins with a short drive inland to Iceland’s famous Golden Circle.

Before you set out on your adventures today, you have an incredible opportunity that will forever define your impression of Iceland: a 1-hour helicopter tour over the Geldinadalur volcanic eruption. You’ll depart from Reykjavik Domestic Airport, and after admiring the colourful capital and barren Reykjanes Peninsula from above, make your way to this breathtaking phenomenon. Few adventures can compare to witnessing fire and lava rupture from the earth from such an all-encompassing perspective, and this one even includes a short landing by the site!

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Spend the first part of your Golden Circle exploration strolling through the gorge which marks the separation between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, at the Þingvellir National Park. This site is also steeped in history; it is where Icelanders founded their parliament in 930 AD, converted to Christianity in 1000 AD, and declared their independence from Denmark in 1944. You can also opt for a snorkel tour here.

After that, head to the geothermal valley of Haukadalur, an area with hot springs, steam vents, mud pools and geysers. The most famous geyser, which lends all the others their name, Geysir itself, is largely inactive; you can watch its neighbour Strokkur erupt every ten minutes, however, to heights of over 20 m (66 ft).

After taking your time in this area, head just down the road to the mighty waterfall Gullfoss. You can walk to a platform right on its edge, to truly appreciate its awesome power. You can also add an optional snowmobile tour on Langjökull glacier here.

On this day, you can also take the opportunity to meet and ride one a beautiful Icelandic horse.

You'll spend the night in the Hvolsvöllur area.

Day three sees you begin your journey along Iceland's south coast. Visit the majestic Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which offers incredible views from behind the water, as well as stopping at the equally impressive Skógafoss waterfall.

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A little further down the road and you will reach Sólheimajökull, where you can take an optional glacier hike or snowmobiling tour. Both are exhilarating experiences.

Further along the ring road, near Vík, be sure to admire the black volcanic beach Reynisfjara, along with the dramatic Dyrhólaey rock formations. Vík itself is a charming village, and a good place to refuel, stop for a hot cup of coffee or stretch your legs. You can opt for a tour, departing from Vík, where you visit a stunning ice cave in Mýrdalsjökull glacier. After enjoying the sights and the beach, you can continue on.

Other notable places as you make your way east include the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, as well as the quaint, historical village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Spend the night in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur or the Skaftafell area.

Day four should be spent enjoying the many sights and optional activities found within the beautiful Skaftafell area of Vatnajökull National Park. Hiking enthusiasts will be thrilled with the number of tracks and trails, including one that leads to the beautiful Svartifoss waterfall. You can opt for another glacier hike here.

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Next on the road is the incredible Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, where you can watch icebergs break from a glacial tongue and float serenely towards the ocean. It's a place that has attracted keen photographers for years, and you'll get an even better view if you decide to book an optional amphibious boat or zodiac cruise to get as close to the ice as possible. Look for seals playing in the water, or sunning themselves on the rocks.

After enjoying the lagoon, head to the black sands of the Diamond Beach, where these bergs wash up, for even more great photo opportunities.

Spend the night in Höfn.

On day five, you will travel through the incredible East Fjords. As you drive, you will see many idyllic villages hidden at the bottom of deep fjords, nestled between mountain passes and high hills. This area has some of the most remote sites in Iceland, offering lovely opportunities for solitude in glorious nature. It is also has a wealth of wildlife; you can see puffins, reindeer and seals, all as you drive.

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You'll zig-zag your way up and down the mountains, and reach Egilstaðir township, or one of the neighbouring villages, by evening, and spend the night there.

On your sixth day, you'll head over the Möðrudalur heights to one of the gems of the Icelandic nature: Lake Mývatn. Highly recommended is a drive through the Jökulsárgljúfur part of Vatnajökull National Park, where you can visit natural attractions such as Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. At Mývatn, you can visit amazing geothermal sites, mystical lava fields and geothermal baths surrounded by pseudo-craters and tuff volcanos.

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After exploring this incredible region, you can take an optional whale watching tour in the nearby village of Húsavík, renowned as the whale watching capital of Europe, and even upgrade it to include a puffin watching segment in a little RIB. In the evening, you'll head to the town of Akureyri, the northern capital, where you will spend the night.

On day seven, you'll start in the town of Akureyri. Nestled under the Súlur peak, this is a great place to take a little break, to visit the swimming pool or admire thousands of plant specimens at the northernmost botanical garden in the world. If you'd like to spice things up, you could take a horseback ride out along the fjord before continuing your journey, or else jump on a whale-watch from here if you missed it yesterday.

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You will then continue out onto the Troll Peninsula and follow the coast to fishing villages such as Siglufjörður, Dalvík and Hofsós

You can visit the tiny town of Hofsós and the old Hólar cathedral, before finally reaching your stop for the night near the village of Blönduós.

Today’s journey is characterised by the seemingly endless fjords and towering mountainsides that flank the road to Ísafjörður. There are few more beautiful sights in the worlds.

Along the way, you could stop at the rolling hills of Vatnsdalshólar, the Borgarvirki natural fortress, and the Glaumbær Folk Museum. The Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft Museum, located in Hólmavík, and the Sorcerer’s Cottage, a short drive away, are a nice way to spend some time. The hot pools in Drangsnes are also well worth a visit.

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Once you reach Ísafjörður you can find some of the oldest houses in Iceland, dating back to the mid-18th century. A dinner at Tjöruhúsið comes highly recommended.

Spend the night in the Ísafjarðardjúp area.

Day nine is full of Icelandic history and staggering views. Begin by heading to Dýrafjörður, where you will find the trail of the Viking saga hero Gisli Súrsson, as well as the Skrúður botanical garden.

Continue to Hrafnseyri, and visit the museum dedicated to another hero, Jón Sigurðsson, who was influential in Iceland’s battle for independence from Denmark.

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Afterwards, stop to take some photos at the impressive cliff of Látrabjarg, rising to 444 m (1456 ft); this is arguably the westernmost point of Europe. While there, you can take a closer look at Iceland’s many species of nesting seabirds, including puffins and razorbills; they are not afraid of you at all, so you will get some amazing photographs.

Spend the night in the Vesturbyggð areas, near Patreksfjörður or Breiðavík.

On day ten, take the Baldur ferry from Brjánslækur across Breiðafjörður Bay, all the way to the village of Stykkishólmur on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. The price of the ferry is included in your tour, and you can even take your car across at no additional fee.

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You can choose to stop on the island of Flatey, and spend a few hours enjoying the peace and tranquillity. It is incredibly remote; only two families stay here year-round.

From Stykkishólmur, you can start to explore some of the many wonders of Snæfellsnes. It is sometimes called 'Iceland in miniature' because so many of the nation's distinctive features can be found here, from dramatic beaches to hot springs to imposing cliffs. The region is watched over by Snæfellsjökull glacier, at the heart of the national park.

Spend the night in the Snæfellsnes area.

Snæfellsnes peninsula has so many beautiful spots and fun activities that it's impossible to appreciate the area with just a quick drive through.

There are many unique sights around, including the Snæfellsjökull glacier, the photogenic Kirkjufell mountain, Dritvík cove, Djúpalónssandur beach, and the small villages of Arnarstapi and Hellnar. Keep your camera in hand, and spend the day hiking and exploring.

Spend another night in the Snæfellsnes area.

Day twelve is spent exploring West Iceland, with its diverse range of sights and attractions, including the Icelandic settlement exhibition in Borgarnes, and Deildartunguhver, the largest hot spring in Europe.

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Further along, be sure to stop at the beautiful Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls. History buffs may also enjoy a visit to Snorrastofa, the medieval research institute at Reykholt, where the famous chieftain and poet, Snorri Sturluson, wrote the saga Heimskringla in the 13th century.

On the way back to Reykjavik, take a short break at Fossatún, a waterfall said to be guarded by a troll woman named Drífa.

Also on this day, you can opt into one of two caving tours. The first is a traditional excursion, where you explore the dark, underground world in Viðgelmir lava tube. The second is anything but traditional; you will walk through man-made channels right into Langjökull glacier. Both are beautiful and thrilling activities.

A third choice is to descend into Þríhnúkagígur volcano, for an unbelievable opportunity to see the inside of a magma chamber.

While it may seem that you have packed your holiday with all you can by the evening of your last full day in Iceland, no trip to the country would be complete right now without a visit to the currently erupting Fagradalsfjall volcano. Thankfully, there is a guided hiking trip to the site you’ll be able to make it in time for! This breathtaking phenomenon provides a once-in-a-lifetime window into the incredible forces that define Iceland, and there is no greater final impression of the Land of Ice and Fire than this experience!

Spend your final night in the capital, Reykjavík.

On what is your final day, be sure to leave enough time to drop your car off before your departure.

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.