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Just 5% deposit needed
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Iceland Ring Road: Best of the Best
8 days / 7 nights
- 4.9
- (11 reviews)
Take the Iceland road trip of a lifetime
In just over a week, you’ll see Iceland’s top-hit natural attractions, including Lake Mývatn, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir hot springs, and the Gullfoss waterfall.
Enhance your adventure with some uniquely Icelandic experiences, savor a dip in the famous Blue Lagoon spa and a chance to sample modern Icelandic cuisine in Reykjavík.
It’s hard to pack much more awesome into a week, so what are you waiting for?
Travel style
Self-drive
Trip length
8 days / 7 nights
Vibe
Dream trip
Season
Summer (1 Apr–31 Oct)
Transport
Rental car
Starts from
Reykjavík
Tour code
SD01
On this tour you will...
- Get behind the wheel and set your own pace
- Dive into the natural delights of North Iceland
- Walk to the edge of Europe’s largest glacier
- Follow Iceland’s legendary Ring Road route
- Witness the power of majestic waterfalls
- Have the chance to bathe in hot springs
Top attractions
Arnarstapi
Kirkjufell
Hraunfossar and Barnafoss
Deildartunguhver
Akureyri
Dimmuborgir
Lake Mývatn
Goðafoss
Dettifoss
Húsavík
Vík í Mýrdal
Skaftafell
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Seljalandsfoss
Skógafoss
Geysir and Strokkur
Þingvellir National Park
Gullfoss
Why book a self-drive trip with SAMATRIP™?
- Start your tour on the date that suits you
- Secure your booking with just a 5% deposit
- Handpicked local accommodation options
- 24/7 emergency helpline in Iceland
- New rental cars with 2 drivers as standard
- Best Price Guarantee
Your 8-day self-drive itinerary
Day 1 – Welcome to Iceland
Day 2 – Waterfalls and Akureyri, the capital of the north
Day 3 – Goðafoss waterfall and Lake Mývatn
Your whole day is dedicated to the marvels of the Lake Mývatn Nature Reserve, one of Iceland’s most inspiring natural wonders. On your way there, make sure to stop at the impressive Goðafoss waterfall, known as the ‘Waterfall of the Gods’.
At Lake Mývatn, you could explore the otherworldly lava fields of Dimmuborgir. Then, head to the nearby Krafla volcano system where you’ll find bubbling mud pools, hot springs, and steaming lava fields.
And why not end your day with a dip in the geothermal waters of the Mývatn Nature Baths, with amazing views over the lake?
Day 4 – Dettifoss waterfall and Ásbyrgi
Your day starts in the beautiful Mývatn area. Make your way to the charming village of Húsavík before driving the Tjörnes peninsula coastline. On the way, you can make a quick stop at the extremity of the peninsula to enjoy the view and spot some seabirds.
The journey then continues to the eastern part of Iceland, with a few stops along the way, for your next stay.
Day 5 – Eastfjords
Day 6 – Skaftafell, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, and waterfalls
Your next stop is Iceland’s scenic southeast. After passing various, outlet glaciers belonging to Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice cap, you’ll arrive at the stunningly surreal beauty of Jökulsárlón, a glacier lagoon. This exceptional sight sits at the foot of Iceland’s highest mountain, Hvannadalshnúkur.
Skaftafell is another area definitely worth a visit. This oasis, surrounded by glaciers and black sand plains, offers a broad range of options for great hiking. Continue through Kirkjubæjarklaustur village, the Eldhraun lava field and the Mýrdalssandur plain, before you arrive in the Vík area.
Day 7 – Waterfalls and the Golden Circle
Continue westbound to the south coast of Iceland and explore the Golden Circle, which takes you to the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland: Gullfoss, Geysir, and Þingvellir National Park. On your way back to Reykjavík you will pass the magnificent waterfalls, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss.
Your day will end in Reykjavík where you will spend your last night in Iceland.
Day 10 – Departure
What’s included?
- Detailed itinerary
- Budget, Comfort, or Quality accommodation every night
- Continental breakfast every day
- Rental car of your choice for 9 days
- 2 authorized drivers as standard
- Unlimited mileage
- Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi
- Collision damage waiver
- 24/7 emergency helpline when you’re in Iceland
- Carbon offsetting of your tour
- VAT, taxes & service fees
- Flights to Iceland
- Fuel & parking charges
- Food & drink, unless otherwise stated
- Attraction entrance fees, unless otherwise stated
- Personal travel insurance
FAQs about our self-drive trips
How does an Iceland self-drive trip work?
On a self-drive trip with SAMATRIP™, you’ll be at the wheel of the rental car of your choice and free to go pretty much where you want, whenever you want.
We provide a detailed itinerary to help you plan your route and where you want to stop along the way. But it’s up to you whether you want to stick to it or go your own way. If you do take detours, make sure that you aren’t too far from your accommodation on any given night.
That said, it’s a good idea to stick to the suggested itinerary if you’ve never visited Iceland before. Created by our Reykjavík-based travel experts, it contains plenty of things for you to and see and do on each leg of your trip. One thing’s for sure: you won’t be short on ideas!
You also get unlimited in-car Wi-Fi, so you can stay connected and use maps on your phone for navigation.
When should I book my trip?
It’s best to book your trip at least a few weeks before you travel. This gives us enough time to organize your preferred accommodation and itinerary. For this reason, we’re unable to accept bookings with less than 1 week’s notice.
In the summer, which is the most popular time of year, booking a few months ahead is a good idea. In certain parts of the countryside, accommodation options are more limited and can be booked up well ahead of your trip.
Can I drive in Iceland and what kind of license do I need?
You have to be at least 20 years old to rent a car in Iceland, or 23 years old for larger vehicles like jeeps and vans. You’ll need to have held a valid driver’s license for at least 1 year and present a credit card when you collect your car.
You don’t need an International Driving Permit unless your license is not in Latin script (for example, Arabic or Chinese).
Find out more about car rental in Iceland.
Can I customize this self-drive trip?
Yes! It’s possible to add extra activities or extend your trip with additional nights in Reykjavík or the countryside. Check the itinerary above to see what activities are available on what day.
Can I add extra activities to my package?
Of course you can add extra adventures! We want you to be able to get the absolute most out of your trip to Iceland, so you can pick optional extra activities at checkout. You’ll be shown exactly what’s on offer for each day of your trip.
And if you feel like you just don’t have enough time to fit it all in, you can also add extra days.
How do you drive in Iceland?
The rules of the road in Iceland are similar to most other countries, although there are some local quirks that you might not be familiar with.
Iceland drives on the right and steering wheels are on the left side of the car. Distances and speed limits are given in kilometers only.
Roundabouts are very common in Iceland, especially in towns. If you’re not familiar with these, make sure you understand how to give way (yield) to other traffic.
In the countryside, you might encounter sheep on the road, or even reindeer in East Iceland. You may also come across gravel roads, single-lane bridges, and blind summits.
When will I receive my travel documents?
Once you’ve paid your deposit for your trip, we’ll finalize bookings for your accommodation, rental car, and any activities. As soon as we receive confirmation of everything, we’ll email your travel documents to you.
We aim to finalize everything within a few weeks of receiving your booking request, but in busy periods this might take longer. That said, you’ll always receive all of your documents before your departure date.
When and where can I pick up my rental car?
You’ll be able to pick up your rental car at Keflavík International Airport from the arrivals hall. Before your trip, we’ll send you information about where to go in the terminal to collect your keys.
Make sure you have your driver’s license and credit card ready when you collect your vehicle.
If you land late at night, you can use the out-of-hours phone at the pick-up desk to contact someone who will be able to help you.
You also have the option to collect your rental car in Reykjavík, if you’re planning to spend some extra days in the city before your trip starts. If you’d like to do this, please let us know in the ‘Special requests’ box at checkout.
Can I collect my rental car from Reykjavík city centre?
Yes, you can easily collect your rental car from Reykjavík instead of Keflavik Airport.
During the booking steps on our website, just let us know you’d prefer your pick-up/drop-off location to be in the city centre. We’ll take care of it for you, no problem.
Just a quick heads-up: if you request different pick-up and drop-off locations (e.g. collect from the airport, drop off in the city, or vice versa) there’s a one-way fee of around ISK 8,790 ISK (EUR 60). You’ll pay this directly to the rental company when you pick up the car.
What’s included with your self-drive trips?
All of our self-drive tour packages include the following as standard:
- Rental car of your choice, with unlimited mileage
- Basic liability insurance coverage
- Collision damage waiver
- Authorization for second driver
- Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi
- Accommodation level of your choice
- Breakfast every day
- Detailed itinerary crafted by local travel experts
- 24/7 helpline in Iceland, just in case you need it
When you book your vacation on our website, you’ll be able to choose your preferred rental car and accommodation level.
You can see what vehicles are available on this car rental page.
What kind of accommodation is included?
On a self-drive package with Iceland Tours, you can choose from 3 levels of accommodation:
- Budget – Guesthouses and country hotels, with shared bathrooms
- Comfort – Hotels or guesthouses of around 3 stars, with private bathrooms
- Quality – Hotels or guesthouses of around 4 stars, with private bathrooms
Each accommodation level offers different types of rooms. We’ve described them below to help you choose the best one for you. Just keep in mind that not every hotel has all these room types available.
- Single room: one single bed in a room, perfect for solo travelers.
- Double room: a full-sized double bed for 2 people.
- Twin room: a room with 2 single beds that fit 1 person each.
- Triple room: these vary in size and layout, but are designed to fit 3 adults. Triple rooms feature a combination of double, single or sofa beds, depending on the hotel.
No matter which accommodation level you pick, breakfast is included. Read more about the differences between the levels on this accommodation page.
Feel like getting closer to nature? Check out these self-drive camping tours.
What do I need to pack for a self-drive trip?
In Iceland, you can expect all weathers no matter what time of year you visit. With that in mind, it’s good to make sure you’ve got everything you need to stay cozy, warm, and dry.
Here’s a packing list to help you get ready for your trip:
- Tough, waterproof walking boots
- Thermal underlayers
- Sweaters or fleeces
- Waterproof raincoat
- Warm winter jacket
- Scarf, hat, and gloves
- Sunglasses
- Swimwear (for pools and hot springs)
- Lip salve and moisturizer
Can I carbon offset my tour?
No worries! SAMATRIP™ is already offsetting the carbon footprint of your tour package. We’ve teamed up with an environmental fund in Iceland to cover the carbon offset for all our tours.
Carbon offsetting for international flights is not included, but we suggest checking with your airline or through a local environmental fund for options.
Choose your accommodation level
Stay in well-located hotels and guesthouses that are highly rated by visitors and handpicked by experts.
Choose your rental car
Included as standard:
- Collision damage waiver
- 2 authorized drivers
- Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi
- Extra nights
- Please note that your rental car is not included in the cost of any additional nights. Get in touch if you would like to extend your rental car period.
- Your room choices
- The maximum number of rooms you can book online is 4. If you need more rooms, please email [email protected]
- Your activities and day tours
Day 5 – Eastfjords
- Traveler information
Please let us know if someone in our team helped you with your booking.
Terms & conditions
Before making a reservation at SAMATRIP™, we encourage you to read these terms and conditions carefully, as they constitute a contract agreement between SAMATRIP™ and you, from the time the booking is made. The person who makes the booking accepts these conditions on behalf of all the people in the group and is responsible for all payments due.
By submitting a booking you confirm to us that you comply with these arrangements.
Payment
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