7-Day Action Packed Vacation | The Ring Road of Iceland and Reykjavik

On day two, you will begin your once-in-a-lifetime Icelandic adventure around the country’s Ring Road. You’ll be picked up bright and early by your knowledgeable guide, and set out to marvel over the countless sites of the South Coast. This region is somewhat of a microcosm of Iceland due to the incredible amount of diversity that can be witnessed in just a few hours.

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Inland, you will be exposed to the glaciers of Eyjafjallajokull, Myrdalsjokull and, towards the end of your journey, Vatnajokull, the largest ice cap in Europe. Out to sea, you’ll witness spectacular coastal features, such as the jagged Westman Islands, the Reynisdrangar sea stacks and Dyrholaey rock arch. The black sand beaches are beautiful in and of themselves, particularly at Reynisfjara.

There are also plenty of stunning waterfalls along this stretch, three of which you’ll come to early in your journey. Seljalandsfoss is most known for its serenity and the unusual cavern behind it; Gljufrabui is hidden in a small gorge and overlooked by most, and Skogafoss is renowned for its incredible power.

You’ll discover a fourth waterfall towards the end of your trip when you stop at the spectacular nature reserve of Skaftafell. Svartifoss, which is surrounded by bizarre columns of black basalt rock, is but one of many incredible features here, alongside lava landscapes, serene lagoons, and many glacier tongues.

The adventurous are welcome to add a glacier hiking tour onto their time in Skaftafell, to scale the spectacular Svinafellsjokull glacier and expose themselves to some unbelievable views.

After exploring the incredible range of sites south Iceland has to offer, you’ll retire for the night in a hotel in the south-east.

On your third day, you will first explore the wonders of Vatnajokull glacier, starting at the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. This magnificent lake is filled with enormous icebergs, which slowly cruise from a crumbling outlet to the ocean. Many seals call this spectacular place home, only adding to the delightful sights here.

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A short walk from the lagoon is the Diamond Beach, where the icebergs finally wash up on the black sands, glistening beautifully as they slowly melt into the surf.

Depending on when you book this action-packed Icelandic vacation, you will be able to enjoy one of two unforgettable experiences. Those travelling between November and March can travel to the ice caves beneath Vatnajokull, and explore their magnificent depths. Alongside witnessing the Northern Lights, the ice caves are Iceland’s most incredible winter phenomenon.

Summer travellers, meanwhile, will be able to board a zodiac boat and witness Jokulsarlon from a whole new perspective.

After enjoying what is sure to be one of your most memorable moments in Iceland, you’ll continue your journey along the Ring Road. You will no doubt notice a dramatic drop in the number of other tourists as you leave the south and enter one of the country’s most remote regions.

The East Fjords boast some of the most stunning views Iceland has to offer; as you drive and stop off at the beauty spots, you’ll be exposed to magnificent seascapes, towering mountains and more of the mighty Vatnajokull.

This region is made all the more beautiful with its wildlife; the fjords are full of seabirds, the waters home to seals, and it is the only place in the country where you can see wild reindeer.

At the end of your exploration of this untouched region, you’ll reach the sleepy capital of the East, Egilsstadir. Be sure to enjoy the mystical Lake Lagarfljot adjacent to the town before retiring for the night.

Your fourth day of this Icelandic adventure will take you to the incredible North Iceland. As you leave the East Fjords, you’ll travel through the volcanic landscapes of the northern reaches of Vatnajokull National Park, and can marvel over the otherworldly terrain.

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If you are travelling outside of the winter months, you will stop along this route to visit Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss. Over a hundred metres wide and thundering into an ancient canyon, its stark beauty and awesome force make it one of the region’s most defining sites.

The main area you will spend today exploring, however, is the diverse Lake Myvatn. Actually a series of lakes, the site is not only a hotspot of the country’s unique fauna and flora, but its geological and geothermal marvels.

Pseudocraters, towers of basalt and even the ‘lava fortress’ of Dimmuborgir create a stark contrast with the serenity of the waters, and steam can be found seething from many volcanic pockets.

To witness these geothermal forces at their most extreme, you’ll include a visit to the smoking fumaroles that define the barren Namaskard Pass. To experience them in a far more relaxing way, you can organise admission into the luxurious Myvatn Nature Baths, which sit on the edge of a lake, when booking.

After enjoying the diversity of Myvatn, you’ll make your way to the Capital of the North, Akureyri. En route, you have another powerful waterfall to marvel over - Godafoss - or the Waterfall of the Gods. Famous for its beauty, it also has a fascinating thousand-year history that you can read about on-site.

Once at Akureyri, those who aren’t exhausted from their action-packed day can explore the quirky town, which is famous for its architecture, beautiful nature, and plentiful cultural sites, before retiring.

On the fifth day of your Iceland Ring Road adventure, you’ll slowly make your way back to Reykjavik; there is plenty to see and do en route, however. The first stop of the day will be at the nearby fishing town of Dalvik, which is one of the country’s best places to go whale watching.

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If you chose to add such an excursion onto your day, you have a great chance of spotting a range of species of dolphin and whale; in summer, even rare creatures such as Orcas, Blue Whales and Fin Whales are spotted on occasion. In between sightings of these gentle giants, there is plenty of birdlife to admire, and the surrounding nature is breathtaking.

Following this fantastic opportunity, you will travel to another wildlife hot-spot, this time famous for its numerous seal colonies: the Vatnsnes Peninsula. You’ll be able to learn more about these adorable creatures at the Icelandic Seal Centre, and explore the charming village it’s located in, Hvammstangi.

The Vatnsnes Peninsula is also famous for being home to the fascinating, much-photographed monolith of Hvitserkur. Stood alone in a shallow coastal bay, it closely resembles an elephant drinking from the seas with its trunk.

If you are travelling between April and October, you will also stop at the Kolugjufur Canyon to admire its stunning waterfall as you leave North Iceland. Otherwise, you will drive through the rural, idyllic nature of the west and reach Reykjavik at around 22:00, finishing your incredible Ring Road adventure.

On the sixth day of your week-long Icelandic vacation, you have six options for how to spend it. If you want a day to relax after your travels, you can choose to stay in the city and soak up the culture of Reykjavik. If, however, you are seeking to pack in as many sites and adventures into your holiday as possible, you have three equally appealing excursions to choose from.

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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!

The Golden Circle sightseeing adventure is a great choice for those eager to see more of the sites that make Iceland so famous; it is, after all, the most popular tourist trail in the country. It boasts the magnificent Gullfoss Waterfall, the hot springs and geysers of the Geysir Geothermal Area, and Thingvellir National Park, a historic, natural wonderland located directly between the tectonic plates.

You can combine this with an evening visiting the spectacular Fagradalsfjall volcano, which is currently erupting on the Reykjanes Peninsula. This 5-hour-long hiking excursion will provide you with an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime perspective of this primordial phenomenon.

If you’d prefer a longer day tour, you can instead immerse yourself into one of west Iceland’s most diverse and spectacular areas, the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. This region has waterfalls, beautiful stretches of coastline, abundant wildlife, towering mountains, historic villages, abandoned hamlets and is crowned by the world-famous Snaefellsjokull glacier, which sits in a National Park of its own name.

A final option for today is to embark on the Into the Volcano tour, an excursion only found in Iceland. On this adventure, you’ll take a mining lift into what was once the magma chamber of an active volcano, to marvel over its scale and vivid colouration. These chambers usually collapse after an eruption, making this an incredible opportunity.

After your final adventures, you’ll spend a final night in Reykjavik.

This is the last day of your action-packed week-long holiday in Iceland. You’ll board the Flybus back to the airport in time for your flight, though if you didn’t have time for the Blue Lagoon on your first day, you can instead organise it for now.

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There are few better ways to unwind from all the adventure than in the spa’s luxurious pools, saunas and steam rooms.

If you have a later departure and want to continue to pack as much as you can into every day, the capital has a wealth of museums, galleries, parks and boutiques you can explore, and is famous for its public art and architecture. Those who would rather enjoy natural beauty can easily find it in the capital city, at places such as the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula.

Regardless of how you spend your last day, you can depart knowing you covered as much ground as possible over your week in Iceland, and can enjoy your flight reminiscing over the incredible memories you made.