5 Day Guided Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland with Waterfalls & Black Sand Beaches

The second day takes you further east on Route 1 past vast expanses of grey glacial river outflows, known locally as the Sandar, with the landscape alternating between pancake-flat sand deltas and velvet moss-covered lava fields.

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Soon, we come to the stunning Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, where immense, ghost-blue icebergs seperate from Breidamerkurjokull glacier, dropping into an enormous 25 square kilometer lake, from where they will ever so slowly make their way onwards to the Atlantic Ocean beyond.

This is a serene and surreal place, featured in James Bond's 'Die Another Day', providing incredible images for your camera, with ever-changing vistas as the wind and water-sculpted bergs gently meander, occupied occasionally by sunbathing seals and resting birds.

On the other side of the road from the glacier lagoon of Jokulsarlon lies yet another spectacular scene – the Diamond Beach. Here, the icebergs finally meet the crashing surf and start to break down into ever smaller pieces, taking on fantastic shapes as unique as a snowflake.

We’re now leaving the tourist crowds behind as we journey onwards into the sheer-sided Eastfjords, a more peaceful and tranquil region, dotted here and there with picturesque fishing villages and dominated by majestic mountains.

There are Instagram-worthy stops at the striking mountain range of Vestrahorn and at one of the oldest ports in Iceland, Djupivogur, where fishing traditions date back to the 16th century.

During the longer days in the summer months, we will also take in the newly-discovered Studlagil Canyon with its striking basalt columns, finishing with an overnight stop in Egilsstadir, the capital of the eastern region.

On the way, the ever-changing Icelandic landscape will continue to take your breath away, but be sure to keep your eyes open for wild reindeer too, as they are often seen in this part of the country, where fewer people live.

Optional extras:

Depending on the season, you can also choose to add a visit to an ice-cave here or to take an amphibian boat tour and get in amongst the icebergs. Alternatively, you might prefer to luxuriate at a geothermal spa instead.

During the winter months, from November to March, you can opt for a thrilling Super-Jeep ride right across the glacier to reach the natural wonder known as the Blue Ice Cave. A three-hour expedition allows you to descend beneath the Breidamerkurjokull glacier and see the fabulous frozen formations close-up, assisted by local guides, and equipped with appropriate safety gear.

In the summer, from May to September, you will have the chance to take a 45-minute amphibious boat tour among the floating bergs, looking out for seals swimming in glacial waters or lolling about on the beach.

Another year-round option is to relax in the warming waters of Vok Baths, set on the beautiful Lake Urridavatn. Hot springs buried deep under the lake heat these man-made pools, allowing visitors to soothe any aches and pains from days of wonder and exploration.

The third day takes you northwards through the lunar landscapes that surround the geological treasure trove that is Lake Myvatn, with its stark beauty, majestic lava formations, flat-topped mountains, and lakes which are well known for their birdlife.

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Sitting right on the Mid Atlantic Ridge, Myvatn is one of the largest lakes in the country, and one of the most active geothermal zones too, where countless hot springs and mud pots can be explored if you take the chance for a hike around the area.

For Game of Thrones fans, the Grjotagja geothermal cave will be a great attraction, while the jagged lava fields of Dimmuborgir with its easy walks will captivate others. Another option is Hverir, a moon-like realm where you can pick a path between sulfurous steaming multi-coloured mud pots.

Finish off this epic day with visits to the beautiful waterfalls at Selfoss, Godafoss, and, in the summer months, the most magnificent waterfall in the country, the awesome Dettifoss.

Heavenly Godafoss is not the largest or most powerful waterfall in the country. Still, it has great significance as the site where pagan symbols were cast away into the clear blue-green waters of the Skjalfandafljot river forever when Iceland decided to become a Christian nation.

Dettifoss (accessible between April and October) is nearly 50 meters high, and a hundred meters wide, with plumes of spray that can be seen from far off in the distance as the most powerful waterfall in Europe thunders its milky glacial waters onwards.

This part of Iceland offers you continually changing landscapes, from verdant fjord side pasturelands into brown-hued lava fields, azure-blue lakes and rivers, snowy peaks, and bubbling mud pots.

The fourth day begins in the lovely city of Akureyri – the cute capital of the North, nestling in the longest fjord in Iceland. Sitting just outside the Arctic Circle and dominated by her hillside cathedral, Akureyri offers you a wide array of cozy cafés, seafood restaurants and funky art galleries.

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Just a few miles away across fertile green farmlands, and passing one impressive mountain after another, is the snug little fjord side village of Dalvik. Here you’ll have an option to enjoy a whale watching tour in one of the best places in the world to find these marine mammoths in their natural environment, in both the winter and summer months.

After your memorable encounters with these wildlife wonders, we will take you to the Vatsnes Peninsula to see the famously photogenic dragon-shaped sea stack at Hvitserkur, which some say looks like it is drinking from the sea.

In the summer months from April to October, we will also squeeze in a visit to the Kolugljufur Canyon with its plunging scenic waterfalls.

On your last day, you will explore the Borgarfjordur area in West Iceland, a region rich in waterfalls, extraordinary lava formations and much more.

We’ll also visit the lava waterfalls of Hraunfossar, where hundreds of rivulets stream off the lava field to create one of the most breathtaking views in Iceland. Nearby lies Barnafoss, the Children's Waterfall, where a tragic tale of loss is to be told, and Deildartunguhver – the most powerful hot spring to be found anywhere in Europe. Last stop is at Husafell - a hikers paradise.

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Optional extra:

You can explore the depths of the colourful Vidgelmir Lava Cave, an extraordinary opportunity to delve deep into the lava formations that lie just beneath the surface, with nearly 1600 multi-coloured meters to walk in wonder.