One-week Winter Self-Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland & Golden Circle

Day two of this winter tour takes you to the Golden Circle, Iceland's most famous driving route that spans 190 miles (300 kilometers). Many travelers visit the area because of its proximity to the Icelandic capital and its three spectacular attractions.

The first stop on this trio of attractions is the UNESCO World Heritage site Thingvellir National Park. This is where Viking settlers founded the nation's parliament, Althingi, in the year 930 AD. The park is also in a rift valley where two tectonic plates are drifting apart, causing cracks and fissures in the terrain as they tear up the surrounding landscape.

One of those fissures, Silfra, is located on the boundary of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. It's filled with crystal clear meltwater from Langjokull, Iceland's second-largest glacier. The fissure is a popular snorkeling site, and during the booking process, you can opt for a tour to enjoy the unparalleled visibility of the blue waters of Silfra. Participants need to be comfortable in the water and be able to swim.

Next is the Geysir geothermal area, home to Iceland's most famous water feature, the erupting hot springs. The geyser Strokkur spouts boiling geothermal water 66 feet (20 meters) high in the air every 5-10 minutes, showing you the full power of Icelandic nature.

From there, you'll move on to the Gullfoss waterfall, where you'll witness glacial water from the Hvita river plunging 105 feet (32 meters) into a dramatic gorge. This Icelandic waterfall is a sight to behold, especially in winter when its sides are adorned in ice and snow.

If you elected to do so during the booking process, you could join a super jeep excursion at Gullfoss, which will take you to Langjokull, the glacier that feeds the Hvita river. Once there, you will race across the snowy plains of the ice cap on a snowmobile.

After a day of sightseeing and adventures, you'll head to your accommodation in Southwest Iceland.

On day three, you'll explore the natural wonders on Iceland's South Coast, where you'll see picturesque waterfalls, stretches of black sand beaches, and magnificent glaciers. It's a long day full of rewarding experiences.

Start the day by driving towards Seljalandsfoss waterfall, a high, narrow cascade that plunges 197 feet (60 meters) over a concave cliff. Seljalandsfoss is easily spotted from the road long before you reach it, so you can feel the excitement grow as you get closer and closer.

You'll then go to another equally impressive waterfall, Skogafoss. This cascade is much broader than Seljalandsfoss and has a more classic look. You can walk at the base of the falling water and feel the cold mist on your face.

As you drive this stretch of road, the infamous Eyjafjallajokull glacier volcano and its big brother, Myrdalsjokull glacier, will tower over you. If you'd like to get up close and personal with glaciers, you can opt for a glacier hike on the latter's outlet glacier.

Near Myrdalsjokull lies the small village of Vik. This coastal town is near Reynisfjara, a gorgeous black sand beach with towering cliffs of basalt rock columns. Out in the ocean rise the 217-foot (66-meter) high Reynisdrangar sea stacks.

You'll continue your journey east from Vik toward Europe's largest glacier, Vatnajokull. This massive ice cap has many features, but the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon is the most prominent.

Spend time at Jokulsarlon and marvel at the enormous icebergs that have broken off the Vatnajokull glacier and drifted towards the open ocean. In the winter, many seals gather at the mouth of the lagoon to catch fish or laze on the icebergs. You can also book a boat tour to enjoy the magnificent scenery up close.

A short walk away is Diamond beach, where ice chunks polished by the ocean wash up on shore and glisten in the sunlight, resembling the precious stones that give the beach its name.

You'll spend your night in comfortable accommodation in Southeast Iceland.

Halfway through your winter drive in Iceland, you’ll get to explore the vast wilderness of the Eastfjords further. 

The Icelandic Eastfjords is known for its wealth of diverse wildlife. On your travels in this region, keep an eye out for herds of reindeer, as this is the only region in Iceland where you can find them in the wild and snowy valleys.

Close to Egilsstadir are some of the most popular attractions of the East, the forest Hallormsstadaskogur and the great Lake Lagarfljot.

The forest is Iceland’s largest wooded area. Numerous hiking trails lead to waterfalls, streams, cliffs, moors, and coves. You could also hike to the serene lake Lagarfljot to try to catch a glimpse of its famous resident, the great wyrm monster, which is a cousin to Loch Ness.

After exploring the East to your heart’s content, you’ll move on to the North. Make your way towards the various sites of Lake Myvatn, situated in an area of active volcanism. Freestanding lava pillars and pseudocraters dominate the lake’s landscape. 

The surrounding region is no less spectacular, as an eruption some 2,000 years ago formed the entire area.

You can also visit Dimmuborgir, a vast lava field of cliffs and pillars that create a strange and beautiful labyrinth of oddly shaped rock formations. Close by is Namafjall, a high-temperature geothermal area of bubbling mud pools and steaming fumaroles.

An excellent way to unwind after traveling is to soak in the mineral-rich waters of the Myvatn Nature Baths. Enjoy your time there, surrounded by nothing but the unspoiled nature of the Myvatn area. 

If the sky is clear of clouds, the aurora borealis might visit you as you soothe aching muscles in the geothermal waters of the baths.

You’ll be spending the night in comfortable North Iceland accommodation.