8-Day Iceland Ring Road Tour: Reykjavik, Akureyri, Golden Circle & South Coast

4.6
(91 reviews)
Reykjavik, Iceland

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8 days (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

Want to make the most of your visit to Iceland? Then this is the tour for you. Travel the popular Icelandic Ring Road and see all that this land of fire and ice has to offer in just 8 days. Make unforgettable memories as you experience shimmering glaciers, spouting geysers, breathtaking waterfalls, glacier lagoon, whale watching and so much more. Your first and last nights are spent in Reykjavik offering you the chance to  explore the capital of this beautiful island on your own.

What's Included

Glacier hike on Vatnajokull Glacier
Guided minibus tour
Small group guarantee
Breakfast
Whale watching in Eyjafjörður Fjord
Hotel room with bathroom & breakfast for 7 nights
Free wi-fi on board
Hengifoss Waterfall Hike
Entrance fee to Mývatn Nature Baths (Optional extra)
Food & drinks (Except breakfast at the hotels)
Single room fee (Optional)

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

Please note that we only serve the pick-up locations specified in our pick-up list below. Due to traffic restrictions, we are not allowed to pick up from hotels in the city center nor from private Air BnBs. If your pick-up location is not on our pick-up list then we kindly ask you to find the closest pick-up point to your accommodation from our list:

22 Hill Hótel – Brautarholt 22-24.
Arctic Comfort Hótel – Síðumúli 19.
BSÍ Bus Terminal – Vatnsmýrarvegi 10.
Bus Hostel Reykjavík – Skógarhlíð 10.
Bus pick up/drop off nr.1 – City Hall, Vonarstræti
Bus pick up/drop off nr.3 – Lækjargata (outside Hard Rock Café)
Bus pick up/drop off nr.4 – Miðbakki
Bus pick up/drop off nr.5 – Harpa Music Hall
Bus pick up/drop off nr.6 – Safnahúsið (The Culture House)
Bus pick up/drop off nr.8 – Hallgrímskirkja Church
Bus pick up/drop off nr.9 – Snorrabraut
Bus pick up/drop off nr.12 – Höfðatorg
Bus pick up/drop off nr.13 - Rauðarárstígur
Bus pick up/drop off nr.14 – Skúlagata
Cabin Hótel – Borgartún 32.
Eyja Guldsmen Hotel – Brautarholt 10.
Grand Hótel Reykjavík – Sigtún 38.
Grayline – Main bus terminal - Klettagarðar 4.
Hilton Reykjavík Nordica – Suðurlandsbraut 2.
Hótel Ísland – Ármúla 9.
Hotel Ørkin – Brautarholti 29.
Icelandair Hotel Reykjavík Natura – við Hlíðarfót, Nauthólsvegur 52.
Kex Hostel – Skúlagata 28.
Klettur Hótel – Mjölnisholt 12-14.
N1 Gas Station – Ártúnshöfði
Radisson Blu Hótel Saga – við Hagatorg.
Reykjavík City Hostel – Sundlaugavegur 34.
Reykjavík Lights Hotel – Suðurlandsbraut 12.
Skarfabakki – Cruise Ship, Reykjavik Harbor, 105 Reykjavik

Itinerary

Duration: 8 days (approximately)
    Day 1

    Reykjavik

    1 stop
  • 1
    Hallgrimskirkja

    Your 8 day tour starts in the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik. Explore the capital in your own time. Stroll the popular Laugavegur shopping street, visit museums or relax at one of the local swimming pools. Reykjavik has a great selection of cafés and restaurants that are sure to give your taste buds a real treat.

    8 hours • Admission ticket free
    • Day 2

    Golden Circle and South Coast

    8 stops
  • 2
    Hallgrimskirkja

    On day 2 you will be picked up by your guide from your centrally located hotel.

  • 3
    Golden Circle Route

    This tour is all about waterfalls, hot springs and rich heritage. Visit the famous Golden Circle including 3 of Iceland´s top attractions, , Thingvellir National Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Geysir hot spring area and Gullfoss Waterfall

    5 hours • Admission ticket free
  • 4
    Pingvellir National Park

    Explore the historical and geological wonders of Thingvellir National Park

    40 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 5
    Site de Geysir

    See Strokkur geyser spout water up from the ground at Geysir Hot Springs.

    30 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 6
    Gullfoss

    Admire Gullfoss Waterfall, one of Iceland's most popular waterfalls. Before continuing to the South Coast.

    1 hour • Admission ticket free
  • 7
    Seljalandsfoss

    Your first stop on the South Coast will be Seljalandsfoss Waterfall.

    30 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 8
    Skogafoss

    Next up is Skógafoss Waterfall a very admirable waterfall.

    30 minutes • Admission ticket included
  • 9
    Kirkjubaejarklaustur

    Your day will end at your accommodation for the night in the area of Krikjubæjarklaustur.

    • Day 3

    Vík - Skaftafell - Glacier Lagoon - Höfn

    5 stops
  • 10
    Reynisfjara Beach

    Visit Reynisfjara black sand beach and see Reynisdrangar basalt columns

    40 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 11
    Vatnajokull Glacier

    Enjoy a glacier hike at Europe´s largest glacier, Vatnajökull.

    3 hours • Admission ticket free
  • 12
    Glacier Lagoon

    Stop by at the magical Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

    30 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 13
    Fellsfjara

    Next up is the neighboring Diamond Beach.

    15 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 14
    Hof

    Your day ends at your accommodation for the night in the south-east area.

    • Day 4

    East Fjords - Djúpivogur - Wilderness Center - Egilsstaðir

    5 stops
  • 15
    Port of Djúpivogur

    Day 4: Stop at Djúpivogur, a small charming fishing village, before putting your hiking shoes on for a 3 hour hike to the stunning Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss waterfalls.

    1 hour • Admission ticket free
  • 16
    Litlanesfoss

    Enjoy hike to the stunning Litlanesfoss

    20 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 17

    Admire Hengifoss Waterfall

    20 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 18

    You will spend your night at a country hotel in the area of Egilsstadir

  • 19
    Wilderness Center

    Wilderness Center: 40 min from Egilsstaðir. Stay overnight, experience wilderness, museum & free hot pots!

    12 hours • Admission ticket free
    • Day 5

    Studlagil - Mývatn - Nature Bath - Godafoss - Akureyri

    7 stops
  • 20
    Godafoss

    Admire Godafoss waterfall

    20 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 21
    Akureyri International Airport

    On this day you will visit the capital of the north, Akureyri and get the chance to opt for a relaxing visit to Myvatn Natura baths for a small fee.

    1 hour • Admission ticket free
  • 22
    Myvatn Nature Baths (Jardbodin vid Myvatn)

    You can opt for a relaxing visit to Myvatn Nature baths for a small fee. For departures until May 26th, 2026, Forest Lagoon replaces the Mývatn Nature Baths due to renovation.

    1 hour • Admission ticket not included
  • 23
    Akureyrarkirkja

    You will spend the night in the area of Akureyri.

  • 24
    Studlagil canyon

    The basalt column canyon towers over a turquoise glacial river, making for one of the most stunning sights in the country. The canyon is located in the upper part of Jökuldalur Valley in East Iceland. This rolling valley is known for its many sheep farms.

    30 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 25
    Námaskarð

    We head to the steaming lunar landscape of the Námaskarð geothermal area where you will see boiling hot springs, technicolour bubbling mud pots and steaming fumaroles.

    20 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 26
    Dimmuborgir Lava Formations

    And see the amazing Dimmuborgir Lava formations, also known as the Dark Castles

    30 minutes • Admission ticket free
    • Day 6

    Whale watching in Eyjafjörður Fjord - Siglufjörður -Tröllaskagi - Bifröst

    4 stops
  • 27
    Akureyrarkirkja

    Explore Akureyri, the capital of the North before continuing your way to Dalvik.

    2 hours • Admission ticket free
  • 28
    ArcticSeaTours

    Enjoy a whale watching tour from Dalvik and experience the majestic gentle giants of the sea.

    3 hours • Admission ticket included
  • 29
    Siglufjörður

    The charming town of Siglufjordur will also be visited on this day.

    1 hour • Admission ticket free
  • 30
    Borgarnes

    You will end your day at your accommodation in the area of Borgarnes.

    • Day 7

    Borgarfjörður - Reykholt - Hraunfossar - Hvalfjörður - Reykjavik

    4 stops
  • 31
    West Region

    You'll visit an area which was Lonely Planet voted as one of the best destinations in 2016. The day will begin with a short hike up to Grábrók, a volcano crater. Borgarfjörður offers lots of amazing sights.

  • 32
    Hraunfossar

    You'll be visiting the Hraunfossar waterfall where the ice-cold water pours out of the lava.

  • 33
    Reykholt

    The final stop is at Reykholt - an important place in the history of Iceland, particularly in medieval times. We will show you Snorralaug, the hot spring pool which bears the name of Snorri Sturluson, the 12th/early 13th century scholar, lawyer, historian and saga writer.

  • 34
    Hvalfjörður

    On the way back to Reykjavik you'll drive around the scenic fjord, Hvalfjörður (Whale Fjord).

    • Day 8

    Reykjavík

    1 stop
  • 35
    Laugavegur

    Explore the capital on your own and make sure to make the mot of your time in the vibrant city of Reykjavik.

    8 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Minimum age: 8
  • From late summer to April there can be a chance to see the Northern Lights painting the sky with vivid swirls of colour.
  • In winter we can include an ice cave visit as well as a glacier hike.
  • What to bring: Warm outdoor clothing, a waterproof jacket and pants, headwear and gloves. Good hiking shoes are recommended.
  • This tour includes a shared room. If you are a solo traveler and do not wish to share a room with another participant of the same gender then you can upgrade to a single room by contacting the operator directly after booking.
Supplied by Arctic Adventures

Tags

Nature and Wildlife Tours
Multi-day Tours
Bus Tours
Private and Luxury
Adventure Tours
Additional fees
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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Rating

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