Ultimate 8-Day Self-Drive Tour of Iceland’s Game of Thrones Shooting Locations

Now it's time for the real adventure to begin and for you to start discovering the sights of Iceland and Westeros alike.

You will start your travels by visiting the Golden Circle, which features Iceland's three most famous attractions: Thingvellir National Park, Haukadalur Geothermal Valley, and Gullfoss Waterfall.

The first stop will be a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Thingvellir National Park. A famous rift that runs through the park and gives it its distinctive appearance is formed by the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates pulling apart. You can walk in-between the two continents as you descend into the Almannagja rift, which might be a familiar sight to you.  

The rift is featured in Game of Thrones more than once. Most recognizably, it is the valley known as the Bloody Gate, leading up to The Eyrie that Sandor Clegane, also known as the Hound, takes Arya Stark in hopes of reuniting her with her aunt in the Vale of Arryn. Sansa and Littlefinger made the same journey later.

Thingvellir also sets the stage for the scenes in which Ygritte and Tormund Giantsbane meet the cannibal Thenns once Jon Snow has betrayed them, showing the versatile landscape this national park offers.

After a while in the Vale, you will move to the next attraction, the Haukadalur Geothermal area. Here, you can find the hot spring for which all geysers get their name, Geysir. While Geysir is largely dormant now, Strokkur is now the main feature that blows water up into the air up to 66 ft (20 m) every 5-10 minutes.

Moving on, you will visit Gullfoss, the second most powerful waterfall in Europe and certainly one of the most impressive. Rushing from the glacial river Hvita, it plummets down into the canyon below in three tiers, filling the air with its mighty roar. 

As if visiting those remarkable places isn't enough, you can also make a full adventure of the day and join an excursion. You could take a snorkeling trip in Silfra fissure, which is filled with phenomenally clear glacial water that has been filtered by volcanic rocks. If you would prefer something more adrenaline-fueled, you can opt to go snowmobiling on Langjokull glacier for an exhilarating exploration of these icy giants.

For those who want to try the trusty transport of the Westerosi, you can meet the Icelandic horse, which also features in Game of Thrones. Put yourself in Arya's saddle as you admire the gorgeous untouched Icelandic landscape as you ride over the land.

You will overnight in the region of Selfoss

You will start the day by continuing along the south shore.

You'll continue east towards Seljalandsfoss, an impressive waterfall tumbling from the great heights of the interior. There is a cavern behind the waterfall, giving you the unique opportunity to walk behind it and admire its grandeur from all angles. A little further is the Skogar hamlet, standing by the Skogar waterfall, which legends say holds a treasure.

The next stop should be at Dyhólaey for your chance to spot a puffin in the summer months and admire the impressive rock arch standing strong in the sea. Keep in mind though, that Dyrholaey might be closed in height of summer to preserve the nesting grounds.

The next stop you might recognize as Eastwatch by the Sea. This is the black beach at Reynisfjara, which will look a lot more inviting when it's not infested with wights or the Night King himself. Take your time to admire the iconic Reynidrangar sea stacks and the epic basalt column cliffs, looking out over the vast expanse of the North Atlantic.

Follow the coastline to Skaftafell Nature Reserve, an impressive valley filled with waterfalls, forests, glacial tongues, and basalt columns nestled under the crown of Iceland's largest glacier Vatnajokull. There you can experience the age-old ice first hand and gear up for a glacier hike on one of the many glacial outlets. 

The high ice might be familiar, but this place is also known as North of the Wall. You will fare better though, for unlike Jon Snow, you will have a certified glacier guide, crampons, and a helmet to assist you on your path. 

Leaving Skaftafell, you will head to the enchanting Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, where icebergs, some as big as houses, float majestically out to sea. You can get closer to these white giants by taking a zodiac boat tour which offers you an intimate, speedy experience or a more chilled-out amphibian boat tour.

Only a short walk away lies the Diamond Beach, where the icebergs wash up on the shore, making for a stark scene in contrast with the black sand. After a day of exploration, you will spend the evening in this enchanting area, near the village of Hofn.

Today will be filled with wide and open visuals of the eastern fjords, as you'll zig-zag your way through the vales and mountain passes of the eastern fjords. 

Just before you enter the East, you will pass the picturesque Stokksnes headland and Vestrahorn mountain, which stands as the gatekeeper to the east. For a brisque morning walk, the sands there are sure to impress. 

You can visit the quintessential fishing villages along the remote fjords and dramatic mountainscapes as you travel the East. Notable mentions are the town of Faskrudsfjordur, with its well-maintained houses from the late 1800s, and the picturesque town of Seydisfjordur, embraced by steep mountains that open to a great natural port.

Another option is to go inland and walk in the largest forest in Iceland, Hallormsstadarskogur, on the shores of Lagafljot, a beautiful lake rumored to be inhabited by the Lagarfljotsormurinn worm, Iceland's own Loch Ness Monster. 

Today will end in the Egilsstadir area, where you can rest after a long day of travel and exploration.

Today your adventure will continue as you follow the ring road to travel North and Beyond the Wall. You will start by crossing the Modrudalsoraefi heights, getting a glimpse of Iceland's harsh highlands before descending into the unearthly Myvatnssveit area.

On your way, you can make a small detour and visit the impressive Dettifoss waterfall. This thundering beast of a waterfall is the most powerful waterfall in Europe, plunging with intense force past the hexagonal basalt columns of the surrounding cliffs into the canyon below.

A bit further lies Lake Myvatn, offering near endless things to see, such as the primordial Namaskard Geothermal area and the Skutustadagigur pseudocraters. A place well worth the visit is the dramatic lava fields at Dimmuborgir. Be careful though, there might be wildlings around,  as Mance Rayder and his tribe of wildlings held camp in this area.

Nearby is also Grjotagja cave. For years, it served as a bathing spot for locals, but recently it has been known for more 'delicate activities,' with Jon Snow apparently knowing a thing or two, after all. Though Grjotagja itself is closed as it's too hot to enter at this moment, you will have the opportunity to take a dip in the Myvatn Nature Baths and relax in a geothermally heated lagoon with breathtaking panoramas.

Continuing west, you will pass the lovely Godafoss waterfall, a location of legends and lore, before entering the Eyjafjordur area and reaching the town of Akureyri, where you will stay on this night.

Today you will be moving on, heading southwest and to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. It is often called 'Iceland in miniature' due to its diverse geography. Today will offer you a wide scale of incredible sights.

Passing the picturesque harbor town of Grundarfjordur, you will see a familiar landmark looming over the town - Kirkjufell Mountain. This sharp comb of cliffs strikes a hard triangular feature as you pass it by. Recently, the mountain has become known as the Mountain-like-an-Arrowhead.

Towering over the humble town, the Arrowhead Mountain is shown in its green glory as Children of the Forest create the very first White Walker. It is the same mountain that the Hound sees in the fire when leading Jon Snow and his brave group Beyond the Wall to capture a wight as proof of the Army of the Dead.

In summer, the mountain is more impressive than terrifying, and so is the rest of the peninsula. As you continue along the coast, you will get closer to the Crown Jewel of the peninsula, Snaefellsnesjokull glacier, and its surrounding park. There, you can visit the beautiful black beach Djupalonssandur and the dramatic cliffsides of nearby towns Arnarstapi and Hellnar.

You will stay the night on the peninsula.

Start your day by exploring the sights in the Borgarfjordur area. A visit to the Hraunfossar waterfalls is highly recommended. Its serene water flow trickles slowly through the lava field cliffs in stark contrast to the tumultuous Barnafoss waterfall just a stone's throw away.

Borgarfjordur is also the home of Europe's most powerful hot spring, Deildartunguhver, which provides most of the hot water to heat homes in nearby towns Borgarnes and Akranes. You can indulge in the hot water there with a visit to Krauma spa and geothermal baths. Alternatively, if you fancy a bit more adventure, you can go caving in one of Iceland's largest lava caves, the massive Vidgelmir, in the Husafell lava fields near Eiriksjokull glacier. 

If you find yourself with free time upon your arrival in Reykjavik, why not take a walk around the city center and grab a meal in town or just enjoy the quirky and ever-dynamic Reykjavik nightlife.

The Stark words resonate with the foreboding, which is your departure from magical Iceland. If you have an afternoon flight and extra time, you can check out the magnificent Reykjanes peninsula and its hidden treasures of the vast lava fields before heading to the international airport.

There, you will return your car and take your flight home or onto your next adventure, leaving Westeros for now until next summer.