Stunning 8 Day Self Drive Camping Trip with the Complete Ring Road of Iceland

Day two sees you embark on the famous Golden Circle tour before you reach the south coast. Begin with a visit to Þingvellir National Park, where you can walk the valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, and discover the original site of the world's longest running representative parliament. You can also opt for a snorkelling tour here, in the crystal clear ravine Silfra.

Next up is the Haukadalur geothermal valley, home to the great Geysir—the original “geyser”. Its more active neighbour, Strokkur, erupts every ten minutes or so, sending boiling water up to 20 m (66 ft) high, and the area is dotted with bubbling hot springs and steaming fumaroles.

End the circle with a visit to the mighty Gullfoss waterfall; you can approach it right to its edge to observe its incredible scale and power. From here, you can also take the option of going on a snowmobiling tour on Langjökull glacier. If that does not appeal, look into booking a horse-riding tour.

Following this, head to the south coast and visit one of Iceland's most beautiful waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss, which you can walk all the way around. The towering Skógafoss waterfall is also nearby. Further along the coast, stop to admire the black volcanic beach at Reynisfjara, and the dramatic Dyrhólaey rock formations. Other sights along the route include the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which will be on your left-hand side.

Spend the night at a campsite in Vík village.

Day three should be spent travelling to, and marvelling over, the many sights of the beautiful Skaftafell area of Vatnajökull National Park. Before you depart, however, you can opt for an ice cave tour, where you'll explore a dazzling cave in Mýrdalsjökull glacier. 

At Skaftafell, hiking enthusiasts will truly be in their element. There are plenty of challenging tracks and trails to be found, including one that leads to the beautiful Svartifoss waterfall. This fall tumbles down unique basalt columns, which inspired the design of Reykjavík's Hallgrímskirkja church.

This is also an ideal place to go glacier hiking, allowing you to behold some incredible views. It's an unforgettable experience, which comes highly recommended.

Backtrack a little to a campsite near the town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur on the South Coast where you will spend the night.

On your fourth day, continue your drive eastward to what is one of Iceland’s most famous attractions and primary photo spots, the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. Here you can enjoy a boat cruise amongst the serenity of the icebergs, the shapes and colours of which will take your breath away. There are zodiac and amphibious boats to choose from. Even if you choose not to take either, however, you'll have incredible views from the shore.

Don't miss a walk down to the Diamond Beach, where these icebergs wash up on the black shore like glistening jewels. Also, keep a keen eye out for the seals that call the lagoon and beach home.

After exploring this beautiful area, continue your journey to the Eastfjords. This is an incredibly beautiful area of jagged mountains, tranquil villages and stunning coastline. Spend the night at a campsite in one of those charming towns of the Eastfjords.

Start the day early and drive to the Lake Mývatn area, a hotbed of volcanic landscapes, which includes the Námaskarð Pass, the Skútustaðagígar pseudo-craters, and Mt. Krafla. Take a stop at Dimmuborgir, the 'Dark Fortress', named as such because the lava in the area twists into strange and unreal shapes which resemble a crumbling castle, complete with towers and turrets.

After a long day on the road, take a dip in the soothing geothermal waters of the Mývatn Nature Baths, before spending the night at a campsite just outside of Akureyri town.

Use day six to further explore Lake Mývatn and its unique surroundings. Highly recommended is a drive through the Jökulsárgljúfur region of the Vatnajökull National Park, stopping at sights such as the Ásbyrgi canyon and Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Another great way to spend some time is a visit to Húsavík, renowned as the whale watching capital of Europe. You can opt for an incredible whale watch here, and even upgrade it to include puffins.

After making the most of these sights, head towards Akureyri. Just be sure to stop and appreciate the mighty Goðafoss waterfall on the way.

Known as 'the capital of the North,' Akureyri is a charming town with a plenty of shops and museums, as well as one of the world's northernmost botanical gardens. Enjoy the area, before either returning to your campsite just outside of town, or heading to a new one in one of the pleasant villages on the Tröllaskagi Peninsula.

Your seventh day should be spent exploring the best that West Iceland has to offer. It is a fairly long drive from the north-west to the capital, but there is a lot to see along the way. Be sure to visit the Icelandic stone citadel at Borgarviki, as well as Deildartunguhver, the largest hot spring in Europe. Along the coast, stop to admire the mesmerising Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls, or visit the Settlement Centre in Borganes.

There are two very different caving tours you can opt for on this day. You can enter the man-made tunnels carved into the side of Langjökull glacier, or else the natural lava tubes of Víðgelmir.

At the end of the day, make your way to the town of Akranes where you'll find your last campsite on this journey.

Be sure to drop your car back at the airport in time for your flight home. 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.