Itinerary
- Day 1
Keflavik to Reykjavik
You'll land at Keflavik and pick up your rental car for the 50 km drive to Reykjavik, which takes about 45 minutes. Once you're settled into your accommodation in the city center, if your timing works out, the Blue Lagoon makes for a nice optional activity to shake off the travel.
Optional Activities
- Blue Lagoon visit (must be booked in advance)
- Day 2
Golden Circle
Head out on the Golden Circle route to see three major sights. Gullfoss waterfall comes first, then you'll move on to the geothermal area at Geysir and Thingvellir National Park where you can actually walk between the American and Eurasian continental plates. After that, check out Skalholt's historic church and former bishop's seat. Later in the afternoon, try FlyOver Iceland, a flight simulation experience with moving seats that gives you the feeling of flying over the landscape. The drive covers around 330 km over 4.5 hours total.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- FlyOver Iceland experience (flight simulation with pre-show narrations about Iceland's history, mythology and nature)
Landmarks Gullfoss Geysir Thingvellir National Park Skalholt 
- Day 3
Reykjavik to Vik
You'll drive south with some optional stops along the way, including the Hellisheidi geothermal power plant and Hveragerdi if you want to see how Iceland uses geothermal energy. The Lava Center at Hvolsvöllur has interactive exhibits about volcanism worth spending time at. Later you'll reach Seljalandsfoss waterfall, then nearby Skógafoss. Before heading back, detour to Reynisfjara beach with its black sand and distinctive basalt columns. This route covers about 180 km in roughly 3 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Lava Center (interactive exhibition on volcanism in Iceland)
Optional Activities
- Hellisheidi geothermal power plant exhibition
- Hveragerdi geothermal greenhouse visit
Landmarks Hellisheidi Lava Center Seljalandsfoss Skogafoss Reynisfjara 
- Day 4
Vik to Skaftafell Region
The drive takes you through Myrdalssandur, a black lava sand plain that looks otherworldly. You'll stop at Fjardargljufur gorge where there are hiking options available. After that, you'll reach Skaftafell National Park at the base of Vatnajökull glacier. Here you can choose to hike to Svartifoss waterfall or join a guided glacier hike. The driving is relatively short at about 140 km and 1.5 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Fjardargljufur gorge hike
- Svartifoss waterfall hike
- Guided glacier hike in Skaftafell National Park
Landmarks Myrdalssandur Fjardargljufur Skaftafell National Park Vatnajökull Svartifoss 
- Day 5
Skaftafell Region to East Fjords
Start the day at Jökulsarlon glacier lagoon where bright blue ice chunks from the Breidamerkurjökull glacier float toward the ocean. You have the option to take a boat trip closer to the ice and potentially spot seals. Then head to Hoffell farm where you can soak in warm geothermal pools with nice views around you. The drive continues through the East Fjords, passing through fishing villages like Djúpivogur. All told, you're covering around 340 km over 4.5 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Jökulsarlon glacier lagoon boat trip
- Hoffell farm hot water pools visit
Landmarks Jökulsarlon Breidamerkurjökull Hoffell Djupivogur - Day 6
East Fjords to Myvatn Region
You'll leave the coast and head inland toward Egilsstadir, the largest town in the east. Stop by Hallormsstadir, Iceland's main forest area. Next you'll see Dettifoss waterfall where 193 cubic meters of water plunge down each second, and you can view it from both sides of the gorge. After that, move into the Lake Mývatn region and check out the colorful, bubbling solfatar fields at Námafjall. By evening, relax in the Mývatn Nature Bath to end the day. The drive totals around 230 km and 3 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Myvatn Nature Bath (included with towels)
Landmarks Egilsstadir Hallormsstadir Dettifoss Lake Myvatn Namaskard Myvatn Nature Bath - Day 7
Myvatn Region
Spend the day exploring the volcanic area around Lake Mývatn with its unusual pseudocraters and lava formations. Walk through Dimmuborgir, a lava field with fossil formations and strange rock shapes. You'll visit the still-warm Krafla volcano eruption site from 1984, then head to the pseudocraters at Skutustadir where water and lava met explosively. The drive around this zone is short, about 50 km and 1 hour total.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Dimmuborgir lava labyrinth hike
- Krafla volcano walk
- Skutustadir pseudocraters walk
Landmarks Dimmuborgir Krafla Skutustadir - Day 8
Myvatn to Skagafjord Region
You'll see Godafoss, one of Iceland's most beautiful waterfalls, before heading through Akureyri, the northern capital. Later, try the unique Beer Spa in Árskógssandur where you can soak in a tub of beer with optional drinks included. If you're interested, the Herring Museum in Siglufjörður tells the history of the old herring fishing era. This part of the route covers about 170 km over 2.5 hours of driving.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Beer Spa experience in Arskogssandur (relaxation in beer bath, optional cold beer included)
- Herring Museum in Siglufjoerdur
Landmarks Godafoss Akureyri Arskogssandur Siglufjoerdur 
- Day 9
Skagafjord Region to Borgarfjord Region
Drive to Hófsos, a small fishing village on Skagafjörður's eastern shore. There's an optional emigration museum here with stories of Icelanders who moved to America. Next, visit Glaumbaer's old turf church village with traditional grass-covered houses typical of Iceland's past. You'll stop at the Icelandic Seal Center in Hvamatstangi on the Vatnsnes peninsula and can optionally take a seal-watching trip. Then head southwest toward the Borgarfjord region. The drive is roughly 315 km over 4 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Hofsos emigration museum
- Glaumbaer turf houses visit
- Icelandic Seal Center seal-watching trip in Hvammstangi
Landmarks Hofsos Glaumbaer Hvammstangi - Day 10
Borgarfjord Region to Reykjavik
You have two main options today. One is to visit an ice cave on Langsjökull glacier at about 1,300 meters elevation, descending 30 meters into an ice chapel while learning about glaciers and volcanoes. The other option is the Settlement Center in Borgarnes with audiovisual exhibits about Iceland's settlement history. Either way, you'll return to Reykjavik and can explore the city's nightlife scene. The drive back is around 300 km over 4 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Ice cave on Langjoekull glacier (tunnel and ice chapel at 30 meters depth with exhibition on global warming, glaciers and volcanoes)
- Settlement Center in Borgarnes (audiovisual exhibition on Iceland's settlement history)
Landmarks Langjoekull Borgarnes - Day 11
Reykjavik to Keflavik
Head to Keflavik airport to return your rental car and depart. The drive from Reykjavik takes about 50 km and 45 minutes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
