Home / Multi-Day Tours / Around Iceland / Express Iceland Road Trip: 8 Days
Our Express Iceland road trip is an ideal self-drive tour for those who want to visit all the major attractions in Iceland in a short amount of time. With pearls like Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss the golden waterfall, the town of Akureyri, Geysir spouting spring, Skaftafell National Park and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon that are all visited. This 8-day tour is one of the most popular of all our Iceland self-drive holidays.
If you are interested in receiving more information about this tour, please click on the “Request a quote” widget on the left side of the page. A quick form will open up where you will provide us with more information about your travel expectations. You will then be connected with your specialized travel agent who will assist you throughout the planning a provide a fully detailed quote.
Please note that this itinerary can be adjusted and customized to meet your travel needs and preferences. The package can also be offered as a privately guided tour if a self-drive option is not what you had in mind for your Iceland experience.
SD-01
May - Sept
Self-Drive
8 days / 7 nights
Iceland
Welcome to Iceland and to your Iceland road trip in 8 days. Once you arrive in Keflavik national Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel in the heart of Reykjavik. After you have checked in to your hotel and received your travel documents, we would like to have an optional private information meeting during office hours at our headquarters. Explore the pearls of the city in the afternoon before staying the first night in the world’s northernmost capital. If you arrive early, you might be interested in optional day tours such as whale watching from Reykjavík Harbour or relaxing at the Blue Lagoon.
Today your Express Iceland self-drive holiday starts! You will pick up your rental car in the morning and start your day by driving to Þingvellir National park. Because of its beauty and its geological and historical value, Þingvellir was accepted as UNESCO’s heritage site in 2004. After exploring the treasures of the park, head south to see Geysir Spouting Spring and Gullfoss waterfall to complete the “Golden Circle”. Enjoy the afternoon seeing the sizzling hot springs and geysers and the force of the great waterfall. Make your way to the south coast of Iceland. Stay the night at a hotel/guest house/cottage in the Hvolsvöllur/Vík area.
Reykjavík
Hvolsvöllur/Vík
~290 km/180 miles
Today you will head to the famous Skaftafell National park. After breakfast and packing you will drive east to the picturesque waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógarfoss. Above the waterfalls looms the mighty Eyjafjallajökull where the great volcanic eruption took place in 2010. Drive along the south shore to Dyrhólaey natural reserve where you can find one of the best seabird colony in Iceland. You will cross Mýrdalssandur and Eldhraun which is the largest lava field ever to flow on earth. When arriving to Kirkjubæjarklaustur take a look at the amazing Fjarðárgljúfur, a narrow and beautiful canyon and one of our favorite hidden treasures in Iceland. After passing Skeiðarársandur you will arrive at Skaftafell in the Vatnajökull National Park. We recommend the easy hiking trail to Svartifoss waterfall, that is surrounded by beautiful and pitch black basalt columns
Hvolsvöllur/Vík
Skaftafell area
~266 km / 165 miles
Your Express Iceland self-drive holiday continues by exploring the place many people consider is the greatest sight of Iceland, Jökulsárlón or The Glacial Lagoon. Jökulsárlón is a lagoon at the roots of Vatnajökull which is Europe’s largest glacier and on the lagoon are icebergs that has broken off the glacier floating around. During summer time you can take an optional boat tour on the lagoon that we highly recommend. After Jökulsárlón you will pass the village Höfn which is known for being the lobster (langoustine if you will) capital of Iceland so if you are passing by during lunch hour, we recommend stopping at the Hotel Höfn for a lobster feast or lobster soup. After passing Djúpivogur, you will explore the East Coast of Iceland. If you have time, you can drive up to Kárahnjúkar Dam, a project that caused a great stir in Iceland when it was being built. Near by Egilsstaðir, there is a small forest called Hallormsstaðarskógur, the largest forest in Iceland. Stay the night in Egilsstaðir.
Skaftafell area
Egilsstaðir
~423 km / 262 miles
Today will be a busy day so we suggest leaving early from Egilsstaðir. Drive from Egilsstaðir through Möðrudalsöræfi to Lake Mývatn. We recommend that you take route 864 and explore Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. A little further down the road, you’ll find Ásbyrgi Canyon that our forefathers believed was an ancient hoof print, made by Sleipnir – Odin’s eight legged horse. Then drive to Húsavík where you can take an optional whale watching tour before arriving at Mývatn. Around the Mývatn area, you will find amazing attractions such as the Námaskarð pass, the Lavafield of Dimmuborgir, Krafla Volcano and the Nature Baths of Mývatn. Stay the night in Mývatn.
Egilsstaðir
Mývatn
~308 km / 191 miles
Start the day early by exploring Mývatn and surroundings before heading for Akureyri. On your way to Akureyri (the “capital of the North”) stop and enjoy the charming Goðafoss Waterfall. Akureyri is a very charming town located in the Eyjafjörður Fjord. We recommend exploring the Botanical Garden, Akureyri geothermal swimming pool and water park, Hof Culture & Music Center and having ice cream in Brynja Store (the world famous in Iceland). From Akureyri, you can take a day tour to Grímsey Island and cross the Arctic Circle or go on a whale watching tour. Drive south from Akureyri into Eyjafjörður Fjord where you’ll find lush farmlands, beautiful churches, the Christmas Garden and a farm that produces its own ice cream! Enjoy a nice dinner at one of many gourmet restaurants to be found in Akureyri. Stay the night in or around Akureyri.
Mývatn
Akureyri
~91 km / 57 miles
Today you will be heading back to the capital. Before finishing your ”ring road”, you might want to take a look at the highlights of West Iceland. Sights along the way are the volcanic crater Grábrók, Hraunfossar waterfalls, Deildartunguhver (the largest hot spring in Europe) and the settlement center in Borgarnes. Please note that driving into Borgarfjörður fjord takes an additional two hours. Once heading back to Reykjavík, you can either take the route #1 via the underwater tunnel or the Hvalfjörður fjord route where you’ll find the Glymur waterfall (the highest waterfall in Iceland with 198 meter/650 feet drop). The hike up to the waterfall is not an easy one but very rewarding. Arrive back in Reykjavik late afternoon and return the rental car. Stay the night in central Reykjavik.
Akureyri
Reykjavík
~382 km / 240 miles
Your last day in Iceland! How time flies when you’re having fun. Transfer to Keflavik airport in time for your departing flight. If you have an afternoon flight you can either do some last minute shopping or stop by the Blue Lagoon (optional) to relax before your flight. Have a safe journey home and you are always welcome again for any of our tours or another Iceland self-drive holiday!
Budget accommodations include shared facilities in guest houses, country hotels, farmhouses, etc. In some cases, the rooms might be equipped with a TV and a washbasin. The in-room amenities are limited and basic but they all adhere to a high standard of cleanliness.
Breakfast is included.
Comfort accommodations offer access to private facilities (shower and toilet). This type of lodges belongs to the 3-star hotel category. Most of these properties have an in-house restaurant. This section offers an upgrade in comfort and service compared to the budget category. Breakfast is included.
Quality accommodations offer private rooms with en-suite shower/bath and toilet. These rooms are the best available accommodations in 4-star hotels or the highest quality lodges in each region. Luxury accommodations - the highest class of lodges, suites, and penthouses - are available upon request. Breakfast is included.
Luxury accommodations include Suites and high-end rooms in Quality Accommodations. These types of lodges and resorts provide an upscale look and personalized services.
Classy, elegant, and comfortable, luxury accommodations strive to offer a first-class experience and top-quality services to ensure a truly extraordinary and memorable stay.
Type: Compact
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 2
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: Intermediate Wagon
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: SUV Economy
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 3
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: SUV Full Size Intermediate
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: SUV Full Size
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: VAN
Passenger: 8
Luggage: 5
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Harpa is the famous concert hall and conference center located in Reykjavik. The building features a distinctive and original colored glass facade inspired by the basalt landscape of Iceland. Its unique architecture makes it one of Reykjavik most loved landmarks.
Hallgrímskirkja Church is most certainly Reykjavík´s best-known landmark. The white concrete Church whose image is printed in many postcards, dominates the city. As a matter of fact its tower can be seen from almost every corner of Reykjavík. Its distinctive and futuristic exterior made the Church one of the most visited spots in Reykjavík.
This sublime museum displays artifacts from the settlement to the modern age of Iceland history. The exhibition gives you an excellent and enlightening overview of Iceland's history and culture. The museum functions as the center for the preservation of Iceland´s national heritage. It counts about 300,000 artifacts and nearly four million photographs in its collation.
Laugavegur is the main shopping street in Reykjavik and it is located in the heart of the city. Its name means literally „wash road“ as this was once the route to the hot springs where many Icelanders took their clothes to launder. Today it is a vibrant and innovative street filled with designer ateliers, tourist gift shops, bars, and restaurants.
Reykjavík Old Harbour is fast becoming the new lively center of the city. There you will find museums such as Maritime Museum, the Northern Lights center and the Whales of Iceland exhibition. The harbour, which is quickly transforming into a modern city space, is also home to restaurants and cafes. A local favourite is ice cream shop Valdís, which makes fresh ice cream every morning and always offers new flavours.
Þingvellir National Park is the most important historic and geological sites in Iceland. The area is part of a fissure zone running through Iceland, being situated on the tectonic plate boundaries of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Major events in the history of Iceland have taken place at Þingvellir and today the entire area is a protected national treasure.
Gullfoss, also called the Golden Waterfall, is one of the most iconic gems of the likewise named Golden Circle. The waterfall is located in the upper part of the River Hvíta. Gullfoss is actually two separate waterfalls, the upper one has a drop of 11 meters and the lower one 21 meters.
Geysir is the famous hot spring area located in the Haukadalur valley. The main attraction is known as Strokkur, which erupts energetically at regular intervals of 10 minutes or so its boiling waterjets can reach as high as 30 meters.
Kerið is a volcanic crater lake located in the area called Grímsnes in the South of Iceland, along the famous Golden Circle route. The crater walls are steep and often covered with Icelandic moss. The inside of the crater is a lake whose water is aquamarine colored due to the minerals from the soil. The crater is 55 meters deep and about 3000 years old.
Seljalandsfoss is one of the most famous and visited waterfalls in Iceland. It located along the South Coast of the Country right by the road n. 1. The waterfall is part of the Seljalands river that originated from the famous volcano glacier Eyjafjallajökull. The waterfall is approximately 60-meter high and it is famous for its path that leads visitor behind its powerful water flow.
Skógafoss is a waterfall located on the Skógá river on the South Coast of Iceland. This picture-perfect waterfall descends 60 meters from the cliffs. Before pouring down the cliffs becoming the famous waterfall, the river flows through the Skógárgil gorge.
The famous promontory named Dyrhólaey is located in the south coast of Iceland. From this peninsula, that once was a volcanic island, the views are stunning. Glacier, lava columns, the open sea. The highlight of this area is the lava arch that is standing in the ocean. Dyrhólaey is also well known for its puffin colonies during the summertime.
Reynisfjara is a famous black sand beach in the South of Iceland, just next to the village of Vik. Black sand, lava formations, and basalt columns make it a popular stop for all visitors.
Reynisdrangar cliffs are towering basalt-type rock formations situated near the shore of Reynisfjara black sand beach, on the South Coast of Iceland. The folk legend wants them to be the rocky representation of two trolls turned into stone after being caught by the sunlight after dawn.
Skogár Folk Museum is located next to the Skógafoss waterfall, in south Iceland. It consists of a cultural heritage collection of folk craft artifacts and examples of typical Icelandic turf farmhouses.
Please visit the museum's webpage for further information. https://www.skogasafn.is/
Jökulsárlón is a large glacial lake located in the Southeast of Iceland on the edge of the Vatnajökull National Park. The Lagoon developed into a lake after the glacier started receding from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The lake can be seen from Route 1 between Höfn and Skaftafell. The lagoon offers outstanding views of the ice cap and it is one of the most spectacular and loved, natural destinations in all Iceland.
Höfn is an Icelandic fishing town located in the southeastern part of the Country. The town, the second largest in the southeastern part of Iceland, offers scenic views of Vatnajökull (the largest ice cap in Europe by volume). The main economic activities in Höfn are fishing and tourism. The location is also well known for its culinary tradition with lobster being the most acclaimed specialty of the area.
Búlandstindur is a mountain in Easter Iceland of 1069 meters above sea level. It is a pyramid-shaped stack of basaltic strata.
The newly named Diamond Beach is a popular site for visitors in recent years. The icebergs floating out of the glacier lagoon wash up on the black beach and visitors get a chance to get up close with crystal clear ice.
Djúpivogur is home to one of the most notable works of art found on the ring road around Iceland. „The Eggs of Merry Bay“ are located on the old harbor and were unveiled in 2009, the artist Sigurður Guðmundsson created 34 eggs out of granite that is identically shaped to the eggs of birds that nest in the area. Another feature of this small fishing town is the majestic mountain Búlandstindur that towers over at 1069 meters and is has been dated to be over 8 million years old.
Dettifoss is a waterfall in Vatnajökull National Park in Northeast Iceland. It is part of the Diamond Circle and it is the considered the most powerful waterfall in Europe. The water of the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river descends from the nearby Vatnajökull glacier and falls for more than 44 metres, causing a massive, crashing spray. This the largest waterfall in Iceland in terms of volume discharge.
Mývatn is a volcanic lake in northern Iceland. It is located in a geothermal area not far from Krafla volcano. The lake was formed by a volcanic eruption therefore the surrounding area is characterized by lava pillars and craters. The lake is also well known because of the rich waterbirds fauna that populates it.
Dimmuborgir is a field of unusually shaped lava formations located east of Mývatn in Iceland. The area consists of caves and rock formations resembling an ancient collapsed fortress. The lava tubes were formed by a lava lake flowing in from a large eruption in the Þrengslaborgir and Lúdentsborgir crater row to the East. The legend wants Dimmuborgir to be connecting earth with the infernal regions.
Skútustaðir is a chain of volcanic pseudo craters in the Mývatn area. They were formed by gas explosions when boiling lava flowed over the cool, wet surfaces about 2,300 years ago.
Mývatn Nature Baths, located in the popular Lake Mývatn Geothermal Area, is an impressive man-made hot-spring. The characteristics of the water are unique in many ways. It contains a large amount of minerals, is alkaline and well suited for bathing.
Goðafoss Waterfall is located in the Barðardalur area in the northeastern region of Iceland. The water of the river Skjálfandafljót falls from 12 meters height. The river originates in the Icelandic Highland and runs from the highland through the Bárðardalur valley. It is amongst Iceland larger waterfalls.
Akureyrarkirkja is an outstanding Lutheran Church in Akureyri designed by Guðjón Samúelsson. It is located in the center of the city, overlooking the town from the top of a hill.
Akureyri Art Museum is located in the center of Akureyri city, hosted in a building considered a major example of Bauhaus architecture.
Akureyri botanical garden is located in the southern part of the city, in North Iceland. The garden is exceptional for its extreme northern location. This is also known as a site of scientific research where it has been proven that shrubs, trees and other plants can survive on the edge of the Arctic.
Akureyri is the main town of northern Iceland. It is located at the base of Eyjafjörður Fjord and is the second largest urban area of Iceland. Akureyri is well known to be an important port and fishing center.
Grábrók Crater is the larger of three craters in a volcanic fissure belonging to the volcanic system of Ljosufjoll. Grábrók is located in the fjord of Borgarfjörður in West Iceland.
Hraunfossar is a series of waterfalls coming from underneath Hallmundarhraun, a lava field formed by an eruption of the volcano situated under the glacier Langjökull. The waterfalls pour into the Hvítá river. Hraunfossar is located near Húsafell and Reykholt.
Barnafossar, also known as Bjarnafoss, is a series of rapids coming from out of the surrounding lava plains. The name means "Children´s falls".
Deildartunguhver Hot Spring is the largest hot spring in Europe. It provides all hot water for the neighbouring villages.
Glymur is a stunning waterfall located in Botnsdalur valley in Hvalfjörður. It is the second highest waterfall in Iceland, with the cascade of 198 m.
Reykjavík is the capital and biggest city of Iceland with a population of approximately 124,000. It is the northernmost capital in the world. Despite its small size, you can find many attractions and museums, making Reykjavik a popular destination.
The Blue Lagoon is a famous geothermal spa located in Reykjanes peninsula nearby the International Airport of Iceland. It was formed during an operation at the nearby geothermal power plant. Reservations in advance are necessary for those who are planning a visit.
Laugavegur is the main shopping street in Reykjavik and it is located in the heart of the city. Its name means literally „wash road“ as this was once the route to the hot springs where many Icelanders took their clothes to launder. Today it is a vibrant and innovative street filled with designer ateliers, tourist gift shops, bars, and restaurants.
