13 Day Budget Self Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland with Waterfalls & the Westfjords

Your second day sees you leaving the city behind you and kicking off your Iceland adventure with the Golden Circle.

First up is Thingvellir National Park, a World Heritage site located in a breathtaking and visible gorge between two worlds where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet. Here you can add a snorkeling tour in Silfra fissure to your day for a chance to enjoy one of the top diving sites in the world.

The next sight en route is geothermal Haukadalur Valley, home to bubbling mud pools, steam vents, hot springs, and active geysers. Watch Strokkur erupt naturally every few minutes as high as 66 ft (20 m) in the air.

The last major highlight of the Golden Circle is Gullfoss Waterfall, or the Golden Falls, which the route is named after. A platform will take you to the edge of the falls, where you can see their beauty and feel their thundering power beneath your feet.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can head out from Gullfoss to go snowmobiling on top of Langjokull glacier or opt for a horseriding tour with the gentle and friendly Icelandic horses.

After an exciting day stock full of sights, you'll spend your night in the area of Selfoss.

Day three sees you trail along Iceland's south coast. Your first recommended stop will be at Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, which offers up the rarity of an accessible cave to enjoy the view from behind the cascading water. Close by is Skogafoss Waterfall, one of the biggest in Iceland, with a drop of 197 ft (60 m).

Continue down the road to reach the magnificent glacier Solheimajokull, where you can opt for both a glacier hike and a snowmobile excursion. If you wish to see inside a glacier instead of venturing across its surface, you can explore an authentic ice cave in Myrdalsjokull's ice cap.

When you reach the idyllic coastal village of Vik, make sure to check out the black sand beach Reynisfjara, where the eerie black sea stacks Reynisdrangar lie visible just offshore. Vík is also an excellent stop for enjoying refreshments and stretching your legs.

You'll spend the night here.

On day four, you'll take in the breathtaking sights of Skaftafell, belonging to the great Vatnajokull National Park. Hiking enthusiasts are in for a treat around these parts since many tracks and trails dot the area.

One recommended route is the path leading up to the waterfall Svartifoss, where it stumbles down a wall of black hexagonal basalt columns that were the very inspiration for the architecture of Hallgrimskirkja Church in Reykjavik. Here is also another option for a glacier hike if you have missed it so far.

Down the road, you'll reach what has been called the crown jewel of Iceland's natural wonders, the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. Here, large icebergs have broken off one of Vatnajokull's outlet glaciers and gathered to float serenely to the sea. For a closer look, you can opt for two different boat rides on the lagoon itself, one on an amphibious vessel and another on a zodiac.

Just a stone's throw away from the lagoon, you'll find the Diamond Beach, a stretch of black sand where chunks of ice have gathered from the lake to sparkle like gemstones on a black satin bed.

Your final destination for the day will be at the village of Hofn, where you'll spend the night.

Day five will see you zig zag through the stunning and desolate East Fjords, where great mountain passes and steep hills meet with hidden villages and sandy plains for a landscape straight out of a fairytale science fiction novel.

Today includes a lot of driving but also a lot of opportunities for solitude and reconnecting with nature. These parts are also home to roaming wild reindeer and incredible birdlife, including puffins during their nesting season.

You decide where to stop en route until you reach the township of Egilsstadir, where you'll spend the night at a nearby accommodation.

On day six, you'll drive through the breathtaking Modrudalur Heights to your next destination of Lake Myvatn. There will be plenty to see on your way, including Jokulsargljufur Gorge and the most powerful waterfall in Europe, the thundering Dettifoss.

When you reach Myvatn, you'll find its landscape uniquely formed by geothermal activity, boasting of visionary lava fields, pseudocraters, tuff volcanoes, and hot springs. The rocky citadel of Dimmuborgir is also a stunning site.

After exploring this stunning area to your heart's content, you can soak in the Myvatn Nature Baths or embark on a whale-watching tour in Husavik, often referred to as the whale-watching capital of Europe.

By the end of the day, you'll find yourself in the charming and bustling town of Akureyri, where you'll spend the night.

Day seven finds you waking up in the Capital of the North, Akureyri, so feel free to explore the grounds by visiting the cafés, the museums, the swimming pool, or the botanical gardens. You can also kickstart your day with a horseback ride before continuing your journey or a whale watching tour if you missed it the day before.

Once you're ready, you'll continue your journey to the Troll Peninsula, Trollaskagi, where you'll trail the coastline and pass several charming fishing villages such as Siglufjordur and Hofsos. The latter of these boasts of a nationally famous 'infinity pool' that comes highly recommended.

A great photo stop is at the ancient Holar cathedral before you reach your destination of the Saudarkrokur area, which is where you'll spend the night.

On day eight, get ready to venture through the seemingly endless fjords of the West and witness the incredible landscapes en route to your next destination of Isafjordur, the largest settlement in the Westfjords.

On your way, you can behold the scenic hills of Vatnsdalsholar, the columnar basalt fortress Borgarvirki or the hot pools of Drangsnes. These parts of the island have a history of witchcraft and magic, so if that sounds up your alley, you can pay a visit to the Sorcerer's Cottage or the Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft Museum in Holmavik.

Once you reach Isafjordur, you'll fall for the town's unique charm, 18th-century buildings, and otherworldly lobster soup at Tjoruhusid.

You'll spend the night in the area of Isafjardardjup.

Get ready to acquaint yourself with Icelandic history on day nine, where you'll traverse the trail of one of the greatest Saga heroes, the outlaw Gisli Sursson. On your route to Dyrafjordur, you can also visit the botanical garden Skrudur.

A museum dedicated to Jon Sigurdsson, one of Iceland's prime fighters for independence, awaits you in Hrafnseyri before you'll reach the westernmost point of Europe at Latrabjarg Cliffs.

A myriad of birds nest in these cliffs, including razorbills and puffins. Humans don't easily spook these adorable creatures, so you'll get a chance to venture close and snap some incredible photos.

You'll find your accommodation in the area of Vesturbyggd, close to the villages Patreksfjordur and Breidavik.

A real treat awaits you on day ten, where a ferry ride from Brjanslaekur across Breidafjordur Bay is included in your package. The Baldur ferry will take you to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, where it makes port in Stykkisholmur, but we suggest you stop at Flatey island to enjoy the serenity and tranquility.

Once you reach Stykkisholmur, you can pack your day by exploring the incredible scenery of Snaefellsnes, often called 'Iceland in miniature' since it boasts of such bounteous and diverse landscapes.

Mount Kirkjufell, Snaefellsjokull Glacier, ancient fishing villages, hot springs, lava caves, cliffs, and dramatic coastlines are all on your schedule. You'll have plenty of time to explore the area further the following day, so take your time at each location.

You'll spend the night in the Snaefellsnes area.

On day eleven, you can get better acquainted with this beautiful peninsula and sightsee your heart out.

Visit the villages Arnarstapi and Hellnar, awe at the castle-like structure of basalt columns Londrangar, explore the Dritvik Cove, or walk on the black pebbles that cover Djupalonssandur Beach. The possibilities are endless, so remember to pack your camera.

You'll spend another night at Snaefellsnes.

On day twelve, you've almost come full circle, so spend it exploring the west coast and its numerous attractions, such as the settlement exhibition in Borgarnes.

Other notable stops are Deildartunguhver, the hot spring with the highest flow in Europe, and Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls.

At Reykholt, you can locate the medieval research institute Snorrastofa, former home to the one and only Snorri Sturluson, a local poet, chieftain, saga writer, and arguably the most influential scholar of the Middle Ages.

Before reaching Reykjavik, you are advised to make one last stop at the waterfall Fossatun, which, according to legend, is guarded by a troll woman named Drifa. You can also opt for three different caving tours, into the lava tubes of Vidgelmir, inside a human-made ice tunnel of Langjokull Glacier, or through the magma chamber of Thrihnjukagigur Volcano.

You'll spend your final night in Reykjavik City.

Your journey comes to an end. Be sure to drop off your car at Keflavik Airport in due time before your departing 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.