Classic Circle Tour of Iceland

Your  Iceland Ring Road Tour starts today! Arrive in Reykjavik. Please let us know if you need to book a shuttle or private transfer.

If you get there early, consider booking a trip to the Blue Lagoon or a day tour. Or you can walk around the historic district, take in some culture at a museum, and then end up with a cup of coffee at a little café or a local restaurant.

Tonight, dinner is on your own. There are many cafes and restaurants in Reykjavik, so going to one of the local restaurants is a great opportunity to get to know Iceland's capital.

Most Icelandic hotels only allow early check-in at 14:00 (2:00 pm). If you cannot check in early, most hotels will be pleased to store your luggage.

Overnight in Reykjavik

After breakfast, meet your guide in hotel lobby. After a quick tour of Reykjavik, head to Iceland's largest lake, Lake Thingvallavatn, and Thingvellir National Park. In the 10th century, the world's oldest still-running parliamentary government was set up at this UNESCO site. It is also where the tectonic plates of North America and Europe meet. You will be able to walk between two continents, which is a unique experience.

The next stop on your trip is Gullfoss, also known as the "Golden Waterfall." From different walking paths, you can get great photos of this beautiful double-tiered cascade. You'll also go to the nearby Geysir hot spring area to see the famous Geysir and Strokkur, as well as many other hot springs and boiling mud pools.

During the day, you'll get a look at how people live in Iceland. Visit an Icelandic family farm where geothermal energy is used to grow tomatoes in an organic way. Visit the greenhouse and try a sweet Icelandic tomato from the farm.

The day ends in Hveragerdi, a nice town in an area with a lot of hot springs. The people who live there have found clever ways to use underground hot springs to heat their homes and grow flowers, fruits, and vegetables in greenhouses.

Dinner and overnight at Hveragerdi area 

Breakfast at the hotel. Find the fascinating Thjorsardalur valley with birch forests, sandy lava fields, rivers, waterfalls, and more. If the skies are clear, you can also view Mt. Hekla, the spectacular and beautiful volcano that towers above the region. Visit Stong to see a copy of a Viking longhouse buried by the Hekla volcano.

Drive through the picturesque farmlands of Iceland's South Shore. Stop to see the beautiful Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, each with a distinct personality.
Continue on to Dyrholaey* and the black-sand beaches of Reynisfjara, with their crashing waves. Finish the day in Vik, Iceland's southernmost town.

Dinner and overnight in the Vik area.

*Please keep in mind that Dyrholaey is closed from mid-May to the 25th of June for the bird breeding season.

Breakfast at your hotel. Today you will be in a world of glaciers! You’ll be visiting the southern area of Vatnajokull National Park, named after Europe’s largest glacier. The total park area covers almost 14% of Iceland, making it the largest national park in Western Europe. Drive through vast sand plains created by glacial outwashes as you head east. Visit the national park’s famous Skaftafell area, a site of outstanding natural beauty. Enjoy the views of rich green landscapes and black sands dominated by several magnificent glaciers. You’ll also see Svinafellsjokull, one of the most beautiful glacial “tongues” that are slowly creeping down from Vatnajokull.

Visit Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon where you’ll enjoy the breath-taking sight of icebergs floating in the fantastic 180m (591 ft.) deep glacial lagoon. You also have the option of enjoying a boat tour amid the ice bergs (must be booked in advance). Nearby is the dramatic beauty of the Diamond Beach, named for the shrinking icebergs that settle on the black sands before drifting out to sea.

Your overnight is in Hofn, a fishing port in the shadow of Vatnajokull glacier. Dinner is on your own. Hofn has a nice selection of restaurants and cafes. The local specialty is langoustines (Norway lobsters).

Overnight in Hofn.

Optional Tour- You MUST book and pay for this tour in advance  to ensure a spot for you on the tour. Let us know if you want to take this tour during the booking process.

Breakfast at your hotel. Drive from Hofn through Almannaskard pass, stopping to admire the majestic coastline. Continue to the towering mountains plunging vertically into the sea that form the magnificent East Fjords. We’re sure you’ll love the amazing views, so keep your camera ready. You will also pass villages, each with its own special history and charm. One of these is the tiny village of Breiddalsvik. Your group will visit the Beljandi Microbrewery and sample some of the wonderful beer. The local community came together in 2017 to transform a rustic warehouse into a charmingly quirky brewery. You’ll meet one of the townsfolk and get a feel for life in a small Icelandic town, as well as see how great beer is made.

The road brings you to Egilsstadir town, located near Iceland’s largest forest and a lake said to be home to a legendary (friendly) monster.

Optional Tour – book and pay for this experience in advance for your convenience and to ensure a spot for you on the tour. Let us know during the booking process.

Dinner and overnight stay in the Egilsstadir area.

Breakfast at your hotel. As you head toward Lake Myvatn today, you will be surrounded by the vast, empty, and hauntingly beautiful Modrudalsoraefi highland desert plateau. Your route takes you by the historical Modrusalsoraefi, located at the highest altitude of any working farm in Iceland.

Stop at Dettifoss, the largest and most powerful waterfall in Europe. Continue to the Namaskard Pass, an area with boiling mud pools of vibrant colors. We often feel like we are visiting another planet when we come here, and you may feel the same way. It’s such a surreal experience!

Walk along the pseudo-craters at Skutustadir and peek into Grjotagja, a cave with underground hot springs.

Explore the peculiar lava formations at Dimmuborgir. They look as if they were built by fantasy creatures. Legend says that elves live here, so be respectful during your visit.  You’ll see why the surreal Myvatn area has become famous as a movie location.

Dinner and overnight stay in the Myvatn area.

Breakfast at your hotel. Start your day’s adventure with visiting sites in the Myvatn area. Next, head to magnificent Godafoss waterfall, one of North Iceland’s most important symbols. You will also learn how the waterfall got its interesting name.

Afterwards, you’ll head to Akureyri, the colorful northern “capital“ of Iceland. The town has charming buildings and a beautiful view of the Eyjafjordur fjord. Though small in size, Akureyri has a lively cultural scene.

The rest of the day is open for you to explore Akureyri. If you’re interested in culture, check out the trendy Listagil area, the “Art Canyon.” You can stroll the street here, browsing art galleries and stopping in at one of the friendly cafes or pubs for delicious, locally sourced food. Several museums are worth a visit. The botanical garden is open year-round; many visitors find it interesting that a garden so close to the Arctic Circle has such a large variety of plants. Akureyri also has a nice variety of restaurants, so you’ll enjoy the chance to dine out tonight.

Overnight in Akureyri. Dinner is on your own.

Breakfast at your hotel. Icelanders consider the Skagafjordur area to be one of the country’s finest places for horse breeding. Enjoy an introduction to the unique Icelandic horse breed with its special fifth gait – the tolt. This horse breed has remained unchanged since Viking times.

Cross the Holtavorduheidi plateau taking you into West Iceland. Drive through Borgarfjordur, a region that has been getting international recognition for its lovely volcanic and wooded scenery and for its Viking history. Walk up to the top of Grabrok crater for an amazing view. Listen to the powerful rushing waters of Deildartunguhver, Europe’s mightiest hot spring area. Stop to admire the beautiful Hraunfossar waterfalls, where brightly blue water rushes through black lava formations. Nearby is Barnafoss, a waterfall with even more brilliantly blue colors. There is an interesting and poignant legend associated with this waterfall.

Breakfast at your hotel. Icelanders consider the Skagafjordur area to be one of the country’s finest places for horse breeding. Enjoy an introduction to the unique Icelandic horse breed with its special fifth gait – the tolt. This horse breed has remained unchanged since Viking times.

Cross the Holtavorduheidi plateau taking you into West Iceland. Drive through Borgarfjordur, a region that has been getting international recognition for its lovely volcanic and wooded scenery and for its Viking history. Walk up to the top of Grabrok crater for an amazing view. Listen to the powerful rushing waters of Deildartunguhver, Europe’s mightiest hot spring area. Stop to admire the beautiful Hraunfossar waterfalls, where brightly blue water rushes through black lava formations. Nearby is Barnafoss, a waterfall with even more brilliantly blue colors. There is an interesting and poignant legend associated with this waterfall.

Dinner and overnight stay in the Borgarfjordur area.

Breakfast at your hotel. Today you will explore the amazing variety of natural landscapes in Snaefellsjokull National Park. The park’s crown jewel is Snaefellsjokull glacier itself, which covers a dormant volcano that last erupted in 250 AD. In addition, you’ll also see Kirkjufell, one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland. Walk along the uniquely pebbled seascape of Djupalonssandur beach. At the picturesque harbor village of Arnarstapi, you can observe magnificent basalt rocks in stacked formations.

One Icelandic Saga mentions that Snaefellsnes and its people are protected by a benevolent half troll who lives high on the glacier. You might even find a sense of magic and healing energy in this beautiful peninsula.

During the day, your group will visit Bjarnarhofn Shark Museum, where you’ll learn about “hakarl,” the cured shark meat specialty that Icelanders have enjoyed since Viking time. You can even try some for yourself (if you dare).

At the end of the afternoon, your motor coach heads back to Reykjavik. Your guide will bid you farewell at your hotel.

Overnight stay in Reykjavik. Dinner is on your own.

Breakfast at your hotel. Please note that this might be a light breakfast if you are taking an early morning flight. Transfer on your own to the international airport for your departure flight. The airport transfer is not included, but we are happy to help you arrange shared or private transfers.

We recommend you depart your hotel no later than three hours before your departure flight. We wish you a pleasant trip back to your homeland and hope to see you in Iceland again!