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Iceland Ring Road Adventure with Snæfellsnes
10 days / 9 nights
- 4.9
- (16 reviews)
The ultimate road trip with ‘Iceland in Miniature’
Travel style
Self-drive
Trip length
10 days / 9 nights
Vibe
Ultimate
Season
Summer (1 Apr–31 Oct)
Transport
Rental car
Starts from
Reykjavík
Tour code
SD02
On this tour you will...
- Get to know the Snæfellsnes peninsula in depth
- Soak up history at the site of Iceland’s ancient parliament
- Unwind in the warm waters of naturally heated pools
- Witness the geothermal power of hot springs and geysers
- Walk behind waterfalls and up close to glaciers
- See famous locations from Game of Thrones
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 10-day self-drive itinerary
Day 1 – Welcome to unforgettable Iceland
Your memorable Iceland adventure begins the very moment you arrive at Keflavík Airport. Once you pick up your rental vehicle, you’ll head directly for Reykjavík and your exciting, first night in the Land of Fire and Ice.
Day 2 – The spectacular Snæfellsnes peninsula
Are you ready to explore the natural wonders of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula? Today, you will discover several sites, including the Eldborg volcanic crater, Gerðuberg basalt columns, Búðir, Djúpalónssandur with views of the majestic Snæfell volcano.
Day 3 – From Snæfellsnes to Borgarfjörður
From Snæfellsnes you will head towards the fjord of Borgarfjörður, an area rich with vast lands, that served as the setting for many Icelandic sagas. The area is also home to gorgeous waterfalls and of course the Langjökull glacier where you go for optional activities like a glacier walk, snowmobile ride or visit Into the Glacier, a man-made ice tunnel.
Day 4 – Welcome to Akureyri, the capital of the north
Today’s itinerary takes you north as you drive through thick farm fields and the Skagafjörður region, which is known known for Icelandic horse breeding. You will surely encounter several of the adorably stocky horses grazing in the fields along your way to Akureyri. Before you reach the “capital of the north”, you can make a variety of detours such as the Vatnsnes peninsula where you can spot seals as well as Glaumbær, a turf-house museum among other sights.
Day 5 – Goðafoss waterfall and Lake Mývatn
More natural wonders are on programme today! Your first stop is at the impressive Goðafoss waterfall known as “the waterfall of the gods”. Before heading to Mývatn, you can visit several awe-inspiring attractions such as Dimmborgir the lava formation labyrinth, the pseudo-craters of Skútustaðir and walking through one of Iceland´s largest sulfurous hot spring areas, the Solfataras of Námaskarð.
Day 6 – Ásbyrgi canyon and Dettifoss waterfall
Before heading east, you will continue exploring the northern part of the country. The peninsula of Tjörnes has many surprising sites in store for you: the lush green area of Ásbyrgi, a horse-shoe-shaped gorge, the impressive Dettifoss waterfall with a fall so powerful that you literally feel the ground shake under your feet. On the way to Egilsstaðir, you can choose to detour and drive through the Möðrudalur highland’s lunar landscape.
Day 7 – Eastfjords
Today is the day to discover the Eastfjords. Starting towards Reyðarfjörður, where a small but interesting World War II history museum is located, you continue along the fjords towards Southeast Iceland. At times, the roads are highly perched on the mountains giving an exceptional view. Finally, you drive through the tunnel of Almannaskarð to arrive in the Höfn region where you will spend the night.
Day 8 – Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
Your next stop is Iceland’s scenic southeast. After passing various outlet glaciers belonging to Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice cap, you arrive at the stunningly surreal beauty of the glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón. This exceptional attraction sits at the foot of Iceland’s highest mountain Hvannadalshnúkur and offers the unique possibility to explore it up close by taking a guided boat tour between the floating icebergs.
Skaftafell is another area definitely worth a visit. This oasis surrounded by glaciers and black sand plains offers a broad range of hiking options. You will continue through Kirkjubæjarklaustur, the Eldhraun lava field and the Mýrdalssandur plain before you arrive in the Vík area.
Day 9 – Waterfalls and the Golden Circle
Continue west to the south coast of Iceland, taking in the many breathtaking landmarks such as Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls, the Golden Circle with its three tiered Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir where Strokkur ejects its warm water column in the air every 5–10 minutes and, of course Þingvellir National Park.
Your will continue towards the capital for your last night in Iceland.
Day 10 – Departure
Now it is time to head back home, after an amazing journey through one of the world’s most picturesque landscapes. You will drive back to Keflavík Airport for your flight back home. Depending on your flight time, you may be able to enjoy your last day strolling around Reykjavík.
Or, even better, consider booking an extra night in Reykjavík to really give yourself time to experience all the amazing things Iceland’s capital city has to offer.
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 7 – 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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