8-Day Action-Packed Icelandic Adventure | The Ring Road and Reykjavik

Early on day two, you will be picked up from Reykjavik by your guide for the next four days, and begin the first leg of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure: a journey along Iceland’s South Coast. Of all the regions you’ll visit on this trip, this is the most popular due to its multitude of diverse and spectacular sites.

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You will, for example, visit three very different waterfalls early in your travels. Seljalandsfoss is incredibly picturesque, tumbling in a gentle cascade before an enormous cavern. Gljufrabui, meanwhile, is somewhat of a hidden gem, pouring into a grotto out of sight of the main road and thus overlooked by most. Skogafoss is the most powerful of the three, falling from a 60-metre tall cliff with tremendous force.

As you travel between these waterfalls, you’ll get glimpses of many other incredible Icelandic attractions, such as the Westman Islands out to sea, and the glaciers of Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull inland.

You’ll then make a stop at the beautiful black sand beach of Reynisfjara. Here, you can marvel over the basalt sea stacks of Reynisdrangar and the powerful waves as they shatter on the shore. By this site is the quaint village of Vik, where you’ll enjoy lunch.

You will then continue east, through deserts of black sand and by tongues of the mighty Vatnajokull glacier, before coming to your final destination of the day, the Skaftafell Nature Reserve. This spectacular area - once a National Park in its own right before being enveloped into a much larger one - is packed with diverse landscapes, such as lava fields, rivers, glacier outlets and lagoons.

You’ll be led along some of the beautiful hiking trails to witness the reserve’s highlights, such as Svartifoss waterfall, which is surrounded by black basalt columns. If you elect to do so while booking, you can also organise a thrilling glacier hike here.

After a fantastic beginning to your fast-paced Ring Road adventure, you will retire for the night in a hotel in the area.

On the third day of your action-packed summer vacation to Iceland, you will set out to explore the breathtaking, far-flung East Fjords. Before travelling around this little-visited region, however, you will first make a stop at the final attraction of the South Coast, Jokulsarlon.

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Jokulsarlon is the largest glacier lagoon in the country, a giant lake between the coastline and a tongue of the Vatnajokull ice cap. Throughout the year, it is filled with gargantuan icebergs, which break from the glacier then spend months slowly cruising towards the ocean. Their scale, vivid colouration and sheer numbers make a stroll along the shore absolutely mesmerising.

After an exploration here, you’ll briefly nip to the Diamond Beach, where these icebergs wash up on the black sands and glisten in the sun as they slowly melt away.

Depending on the time of year you are travelling, you can then take one of two thrilling adventures. Those coming in midwinter will be able to take an ice caving tour and enter the mesmerising world inside a glacier. If you are coming outside these months, you can instead take a boat tour into the lagoon, to immerse yourself amongst the icebergs.

After your adventure, you will set out into the East Fjords. As Jokulsarlon is the furthest east most travellers go, this region is very remote; you’ll thus be able to marvel over the seascapes, towering peaks and glacier views far from the tourist crowds.

The sites you will visit include the stunning mountain of Vestrahorn, the sleepy fishing village of Djupivogur, and the mysterious Lake Lagarfljot.

At the end of the day, you’ll reach the largest town in the east, Egilsstadir, and retire for the night.

On day four, you will continue your journey around the Ring Road to North Iceland. To get there, you will leave the East Fjords and pass through the northern reaches of the spectacular Vatnajokull National Park. If travelling in summer, you will detour to see the most powerful waterfall in Europe, Dettifoss; otherwise, you will head straight to the beautiful Lake Myvatn.

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Myvatn is the most beloved part of the region, and for far more reasons than the stunning waters that have given it its name. The area has some incredible geology, with lines of perfectly formed pseudocraters, fields of twisted lava, and the basalt fortress of Dimmuborgir.

It also has nearby geothermal areas, such as Hverir and Namaskard Pass, as well as the Myvatn Nature Baths. You can take a dip in the waters of this luxurious spa if you organise a ticket when booking.

In summer, Myvatn also has vibrant flora and an abundance of birdlife.

After being guided around this diverse, incredible area, you will head to ‘the Waterfall of the Gods, Godafoss. Not only is this an astoundingly beautiful feature, but it has a fascinating history that goes back over a millennium, which you can read about on-site.

Finally, you will come to the capital of North Iceland, Akureyri. Be sure to have a look around this cultural hot spot before retiring for the night.

Day five marks the end of your Ring Road adventure, though promises to be packed with excitement.

Your first stop on your way back to Reykjavik from Akureyri will be at the village of Dalvik. It is highly recommended to add a whale watching tour here when booking, as the surrounding waters are pregnant with life; not only are you likely to see Humpback Whales in summer, but also dolphins, puffins and even orcas.

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Furthermore, the mountains around the fjord that this tour is conducted in are dramatic and spectacular, keeping you in awe between sightings.

After this, you will continue along the beautiful coastline of North Iceland, stopping next at the Vatnsnes Peninsula. This stretch of land is the best place in Iceland for finding colonies of seals, and you will be able to learn all about them at the Icelandic Seal Centre.

Vatnsnes is also renowned for being home to a strange, dramatic monolith named Hvitserkur. A photogenic feature, many compare it to a drinking elephant, a dragon or a dinosaur, although folklore dictates that it is, in fact, a frozen troll.

After marvelling over its unique beauty, you will drive through the scenic countryside of west Iceland back to Reykjavik, where you will be based until the end of your holiday.

Though your journey around Iceland’s Ring Road may be over, you still have plenty of opportunities for adventure. While you are welcome to relax from 4 intense days of sightseeing by chilling in the capital, those who are eager to see as much of Iceland as possible have many tours they can choose from.

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For a limited time, it is possible to start your the day in Iceland with an awe-inspiring helicopter journey over the volcanic eruption at Fagradalsfjall. Those seeking to start their holiday with a life-changing experience that personifies the majesty of the Land of Ice and Fire should not miss this chance. You’ll lift off from Reykjavik’s Domestic Airport, marvel over the capital’s features and nature from above, before crossing the Reykjanes Peninsula to the beautiful, primordial eruption site. After circling it a few times, you’ll even make a landing to admire it from a new angle.

Alternatively is a classic Golden Circle tour. The Golden Circle trail is the most popular tourist route in the country, boasting three incredible sites: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area and Gullfoss Waterfall. Considering you have fully encircled the country, a visit here would mean that you had managed to see all of Iceland’s most iconic attractions in just six days.

After this, you can choose to spend your 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.

Alternatively, you could embark on a tour of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. You’ll be able to see glaciers and volcanoes, such as the world-famous Snaefellsjokull; fascinating formations such as Mount Kirkjufell and the Londrangar sea stacks; countless historic fishing villages; and some incredible stretches of coast. Because of its diversity, the peninsula is nicknamed ‘Iceland in Miniature’.

Finally, you could book an Inside the Volcano tour. Available only in one volcano, and only in Iceland, this thrilling excursion will have you take a mining lift into the cavernous magma chamber of a dormant volcano. Not only is the scale breathtaking, but the colouration of the rocks and the uniqueness of the opportunity make this a highly sought-after experience.

After one of these fantastic adventures, you can enjoy the city’s culture before retiring for the night.

The penultimate day of your fast-paced holiday in Iceland can also be as relaxed or as action-packed as you like. You could unwind from all the adventure over the past six days by staying in the capital, or organise one final experience.

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Two of these options are the same as yesterday: a sightseeing tour around ‘Iceland in Miniature’, the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, or a descent into the magma chamber of a sleeping volcano. Instead of the Golden Circle, however, your other option is a helicopter tour, which you will take from the domestic airport in Reykjavik.

This aerial trip will not only get your adrenaline pumping, but provide you with an incredible view over the capital city and its surrounding nature. The focus on your flight will be largely on the thriving geothermal areas around Reykjavik. Weather allowing, this adventure will also include a touchdown on one of the nearby mountains, where you can marvel over some incredible vistas while appreciating the fact that no other tourists will be within sight.

Coming back into the capital, over its colourful tin rooftops and striking landmarks, will provide you with some fantastic final memories of Iceland.

Of course, however, you will still have an evening to enjoy in the city before returning to your hotel.

Today is the last day of your Icelandic vacation. You will need to take your pre-organised shuttle bus back to the airport in time for your flight, which you can enjoy reminiscing over the incredible sites you have seen.

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Considering the action-packed nature of this trip, you will no doubt be proud of the fact that you truly made the most of every moment, and will have plenty to discuss with your fellow travellers.

Of course, those with a late departure don’t need to rush, and can instead use the time to say a final farewell to Reykjavik. Purchase the last of your souvenirs, visit one more museum or simply unwind from all the adventure in one of the city’s popular pools.

Have a safe flight home and come back soon!