11 dages adventure-biltur langs Ringvejen på Island

After recharging from your travels, your adventure around Iceland will begin. Your first attractions will be found along a popular sightseeing route close to the capital, the Golden Circle.

The first on your agenda is Thingvellir, a national park located between two tectonic plates. Walking in this no-man's-land that belongs to no continent is a beautiful experience due to its abundant forests and waterways. Furthermore, it has a fascinating history - Iceland is a bastion of democracy. It has had a representative assembly since it was first founded here in 930 AD.

While in Thingvellir, one of three tours on offer can be joined. In one of the ravines torn open by the movement of the tectonic plates is a beautiful freshwater spring you can snorkel in. Protected by a drysuit, you'll be privy to vividly blue underwater views, with visibility exceeding 328 ft (100 m). Furthermore, the water is so clean you can drink it as you swim.

After Thingvellir, you will continue to the Geysir Geothermal Area. Home to the geyser of Strokkur, this steaming valley is a fantastic place to observe the strange phenomena created by Iceland's volcanism. Every five to ten minutes, it will erupt steam and water into the sky with breathtaking beauty and power.

Just five minute' drive from Geysir, you'll find the spectacular waterfall of Gullfoss. Formed by a glacial river flowing from the ice cap of Langjokull, it thunders into a valley that opens unexpectedly through a landscape of rural bliss.

From the car park at Gullfoss, you can opt for a second tour, snowmobiling. After taking a super jeep up the slopes of Langjokull, you'll set off on a thrilling adventure across its icy surface. Snowmobiling is great for anyone who wants to get their adrenaline pumping and wishes to be privy to some magnificent views.

Your third option for today's tour is a horseback ride. Icelandic horses are lovely creatures. Their small stature and gentleness help ease newcomers into the activity, whereas their unique gait and stamina make this excursion just as inviting for experienced riders.

After enjoying the attractions that define the Golden Circle and an unforgettable excursion, you can address your itinerary to locate many other attractions in the area. Kerid is a particularly notable example. It is a beautiful lake of azure waters nestled in an enormous crater of red rocks.

Once you've finished your travels, you'll retire in or around the beautiful village of Selfoss.

On the fourth day of your holiday to Iceland, you'll travel along the South Coast as you officially begin your Ring Road adventure. If you went to the Highlands the day before, you will have seen a few of these sites en route but will now have an opportunity to explore them with the justice they deserve.

The first three attractions are all magical waterfalls. Seljalandsfoss falls before a gaping cavern, allowing you to witness its gentle stream from unusual angles. Glufrabui, meanwhile, is hidden in a little grotto off the beaten track, away from the eyes of most tourists. Skogafoss is the most powerful of the three. It stands at 197 ft (60 m) tall and smashes into a river below with incredible force.

If you elect to take a glacier hiking tour, you will head to the outlet of Solheimajokull after viewing these features. A tongue of the greater Myrdalsjokull, climbing it is an excellent way to witness the gleaming landscapes of the ice cap, its unusual and dramatic features, and great views over the south. Furthermore, it sits beside Eyjafjallajokull, the subglacial volcano that erupted in 2010.

As you continue along the South Coast, wildlife enthusiasts will want to detour to the Dyrholaey rock arch and cliffs. Not only is this a monumental site, but it is another excellent puffin-watching destination, with thousands of nesting pairs overlooking some beautiful ocean views.

Right by here is another picturesque coastal attraction, Reynisfjara beach. This black sand shore boasts the dramatic geological feature of Reynisdrangar, an enormous pair of basalt towers that are said, in Icelandic folklore, to be two trolls frozen by the light of the morning sun.

By the beach is the charming village of Vik, where you can stop for refreshment, and, if you select so when booking, head on an ice-caving tour on Myrdalsjokull. A super jeep will take you to the summit of the spectacular ice cap, where you will enter its beautiful and fascinating depths.

Once you are ready, you'll continue along the South Coast through some stunning lava fields. There is a sightseeing stop where you can stop here to explore. You'll then come to the magnificent Fjadrargljufur canyon. Three hundred and twenty-eight feet (100 m) wide and 1.2 miles (2 km) long, this verdant valley has lovely hiking trails and a scenic, low river flowing through it.

Finally, you will reach the historic settlement of Kirkjubaejarklauster, where you will retire for the night.

On day five of your eleven-day holiday to Iceland, you'll enjoy the wonders of Vatnajokull National Park in the southeast. This area is defined by the glacier of Vatnajokull, which is the largest ice cap in Europe and has created some spectacular scenery.

This is best experienced at your first destination for today, the Skaftafell Nature Reserve. The hiking trails here are truly wonderful, taking you through diverse landscapes of lava fields and forests and to some spectacular attractions. Most notable is the Svartifoss waterfall, which steams down a cliff of hexagonal black columns, and the Svinafellsjokull glacier tongue.

It is possible to organize another glacier hiking tour on this magnificent outlet renowned for its incredible formations and vivid colors. This would be a particularly great option if you went ice caving yesterday, though still enticing for those who hiked Solheimajokull due to their dramatic differences.

Once you have enjoyed the magnificent Skaftafell Nature Reserve, you'll head to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. One of the country's most famed and beloved sites, this lake separates one of the tongues of Vatnajokull from the ocean. As the outlet breaks apart, the lagoon fills with countless, colossal icebergs that, over months, cruise their way to the sea.

When they finally reach the ocean, they are washed onto the adjacent Diamond Beach. Though overlooked by many guests, this is a spectacular place due to the way the icebergs glisten as they melt and contrast with the dark sands.

Both of these sites are magical to walk along and admire from land, but those who want to get so close to the icebergs that they can touch them can organize one of two boat tours into Jokulsarlon. An amphibian boat tour will keep you largely out of the splash zone, though a zodiac tour will provide a more personal and up-close experience.

Thankfully, today you do not need to choose between taking the glacier hike or a boat tour. You'll have time to do both.

Today, guests seeking hidden gems will find plenty in the area, but none more spectacular than the Fjallsarlon glacier lagoon. Though slightly smaller than Jokulsarlon, far fewer visitors to Iceland make an effort to reach it, allowing you to enjoy the views over the icebergs, and take photographs without any crowds blocking you.

At the end of the day, you'll continue along the South Coast to the beautiful coastal town of Hofn, where you'll retire for the night.

On the seventh day of your eleven-day Icelandic holiday, you'll travel out of the east and enjoy the beautiful sites of the north. Before departing the region, however, you may want to check your itinerary for some final sites around Egilsstadir. For example, you could travel to the magical fjord of Borgarfjordur Eystri, renowned for its spectacular wilderness, folklore, and wildlife.

However, your first main destination in the north is the waterfall of Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful falls. Not only is its force and scale breathtaking, but the dramatic black valley it surges into has an ominous beauty. Just up and downriver are two more waterfalls, Hafragilsfoss and Selfoss, which are just as striking.

You'll then head to the Myvatn area, the most popular part of the region for its diversity and geothermal wonder. The stunning lakes here are thriving with unique flora and fauna. Birdwatchers, in particular, will want to look out for the many freshwater species that frequent the waters.

Those fascinated by geology will also find many sites to admire. There are pillars of basalt rising from the lakes, rows of pseudocraters around the shores, and the nearby Dimmuborgir lava fortress. Not only was this one of the Icelandic locations used in Game of Thrones for its dramatic appearance, but it is also central to the national folklore, being home to the notorious Christmas trolls.

There are two nearby locations where you can marvel over the geothermal forces of the north. The first is Namaskard Pass, a barren mountain plateau with many fumaroles belching volcanic gasses into the sky. The smell of sulfur, lack of life, and lingering steam give this place an otherworldly air.

The second is the Myvatn Nature Baths. Located on the edge of the lakes, this is another wonderful geothermal spa where you can soak in the naturally heated, mineral-rich waters. If you want the chance to unwind here, be sure to select admission when booking.

Once you have enjoyed these sites of the north, you'll retire in the Lake Myvatn area, ready for more northern adventures tomorrow.