Relaxing 8 Day Summer Vacation Package in Iceland with a Guided Tour of the Complete Ring Road

You’ll be picked up in the morning by your friendly local guide for your 6-day trip around the countryside. Today’s itinerary covers the three essential stops for all visitors to Iceland: Þingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall, collectively known as the Golden Circle.

First up is Þingvellir National Park, where you can walk between continents. This is because the park is neither located on the Eurasian nor the North American tectonic plates but in a rift valley between. Þingvellir’s stunning scenery reflects its unique location as there are rifts and fissures throughout the valley produced when the tectonic plates move.

At Þingvellir, you can choose to go snorkeling between the two continents at Silfra. The Silfra Fissure sits between the tectonic plates and is filled with water that has been filtered through lava rock for over a century. Snorkeling in a dry suit here is magical because the water visibility is up to 328 ft (100m).

From there, you’ll visit the Geysir geothermal area, where you’ll better have a camera ready. The hot spring, Strokkur, erupts every few minutes in a 66 ft (20m) water column, and a selfie with Strokkur is a must when visiting Iceland.

Finally, you’ll reach Gullfoss waterfall. As soon as you leave the minibus, you will hear the rumbling noise as freezing glacial water plummets down 105 ft (32m) into an ancient canyon. Gullfoss is one of the most breathtaking sites in Iceland and will surely leave you in awe.

You will also make a stop at the Efstidalur farm, a family-owned dairy farm that also has an on-site cafe. Here you can stretch your legs, grab a bite or drink and even taste some ice cream made with milk from the farm’s cows.

After a great first day on the road, you’ll make your way to your accommodations in the Golden Circle area.

After breakfast, it is time to continue your journey. Today, you'll explore the many South Coast attractions, including glaciers, waterfalls, and a black sand beach.

You'll make your way towards the large glacier volcano Eyjafjallajökull. Close by, you'll find Seljalandsfoss, a high and narrow waterfall that falls over a cave in the cliff face. This cave allows visitors to walk behind the falling spring water and get a unique view of the cascade and surrounding countryside.

Then you'll move on to another waterfall, the vastly different but equally beautiful, Skógafoss. This one is wider and more powerful than Seljalandsfoss, and it falls onto a very flat land that allows visitors to walk right up to the wall of water.

Today you will also have the opportunity to visit an ice cave. Ice caves are a naturally occurring phenomenon, and visiting one will transport you to another world. You will see crystal-looking walls of ice marbled with blues and whites. Each one is unique, meaning you will see something not many will have the privilege to.

Another stop on this day is the Dyraholaey sea arch. This rock formation juts out from the coast and into the sea. It is a haven for local birdlife and a great place to get spectacular photos.

Before you head to your accommodation in or near the village of Vík, you will stop at the black sand beach of Reynisfjara. Here you'll see jet-black, volcanic sand, cliffs made of hexagonal columns, massive sea stack rise out of the ocean, and great birdlife. Keep an eye out for puffins, as they are known to nest nearby in the summertime.

Today it is time to head further east into Vantajökull National Park. There, nestled by the foot of the mighty glacier, Vatnajökull, you will find one of the most stunning spots in all of Iceland, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.

This serene lagoon is filled with massive icebergs which have broken off the nearby glacier. These blue and white bergs shimmer in the summer sun as they make their way towards the ocean.

You can add some adventure to your day and take a boat tour on the lagoon if you arrive between May and August. An amphibious boat tour is perfect for those trying to capture fantastic photos of the bergs and the seals, which can often be seen swimming between them.

A short walk away from the lagoon is the Diamond Beach, where icebergs from the lagoon have washed up onshore. Here, they lay in the sun, glistening like diamonds on the black, volcanic sand.

You will also see Skaftafell Nature Reserve, which sits inside Vatnajökull National Park. While here, you will take a hike on a glacier. You will be equipped with everything you need and then ascend a mighty sheet of ice like an arctic explorer. You will have plenty of time at the top to take in the views that surround you.

You will end your day at accommodations near Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.

On your fifth day, you'll head into one of the least visited regions of Iceland, the Eastfjords. The East is rarely visited not because of its lack of beauty but rather its distance from the capital, Reykjavík.

Today's view will consist of tall mountain ranges with jagged cliffs to the west and the wild Atlantic Ocean to the east. Your road will lead you to remote fishing villages where nothing seems to have changed in over a century.

Your local guide will stop at some of their favorite places in the East and tell you about the area's interesting history and folklore.

One place you will stop in is the quaint town of Djúpavogur. In this peaceful town, you will visit on's Rock Collection, a beautiful curation of precious stones and gems from around the area. The collection has been meticulously maintained and showcases the different kinds of geological samples in the east.

At the end of the day, you will arrive at Egilsstaðir, the largest town in East Iceland.

Near Egilsstaðir, you will see a rare sight in Iceland: a forest. Over the past few days, you might have noticed a lack of trees in the country as Iceland is famous for having very few. However, Hallormsstaðaskógur is Iceland's largest forest with 80 different species of tree.

After exploring the forest and the nearby Lake Lagarfljót, you will head to your accommodations in the area where you will spend the night.

You can, however, elect to add some adventure to your day with a horseback riding adventure.

Now it is time to head north. Before you head off, however, you can immerse yourself in the glorious geothermal waters of the Vok Baths. This geothermal spa is immersed in a lake and surrounded by mountains.

Otherwise, your first stop today will be an impressive one, Dettifoss waterfall.

This cascade earned international fame after appearing in the opening sequence of Ridley Scott’s sci-fi Prometheus. It is also considered the most powerful waterfall in Europe, and the rumbling noise from the waterfall will surely echo in your ears as you head to your next destination.

You will stop at Ásbyrgi canyon, a luscious area once believed to have been created by Odin’s eight-legged horse, Sleipnir. From there, you will head to the quiet fishing town of Húsavík, where you can explore the old harbor or walk about this charming settlement.

You will explore Námaskarð pass, a geothermal area in the Lake Mývatn area. The strange landscape is filled with steaming fumaroles and bubbling mud pots, reminding most of Mars rather than planet Earth.

Next, you will travel to the idyllic town of Akureyri. Along the way, you will make a stop at the Goðafoss waterfall. This incredible landmark is also the location where Iceland adopted Christianity around 900 AD.

You will spend the night in Akureyri.

Today you will take an incredible sightseeing trip back to Reykjavik. You will say goodbye to Akureyri and head towards the quaint northern town of Hauganes.

Hauganes is a small and beautiful town on the longest fjord in central northern Iceland, Eyjafjörður.

This is a place of picturesque beauty and a great place to take a stroll around and take in the local sites and culture.

For fans of marine life, a whale-watching tour is included in this adventure. You will board a boat in Hauganes and head out into the fjord in search of the gentle giants of the sea.

Once you have finished in Hauganes, you will then head towards Hvítserkur. This rock formation holds a famous local tale of a troll wading through the shore, looking to cause some trouble. He forgot to keep track of time, and when the sun rose, he was stuck there forever after being turned to stone. Today Hvítserkur is one of the most photographed landmarks in this part of the country, and you will soon see why.

You will then move on to your accommodation in Reykjavík.

Now it is time to bid farewell to Iceland, but you’ll hopefully now have a head full of memory and a camera full of photos.

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. You could check out the National Museum to learn about the Vikings who used to rule the country. Alternatively, you could visit the National Gallery to see beautiful works by some of Iceland’s most renowned artists. If you have an early flight back home, we wish you a pleasant journey.

When it is time to leave, you’ll hop aboard a bus that will take you again through the rugged lava fields of the Reykjanes peninsula back to Keflavík International Airport.

Have a great flight home, and come back soon.