Iceland's Ring Road Self-Drive Vacation

Itinerary for the Iceland Ring Road Holiday on your own in a rental car

Day 1 - Arrival in Iceland
Depending on your arrival time you may want to stop at the Blue Lagoon for a relaxing soak.  The afternoon is then spent exploring Reykjavík downtown.  You can also choose to pick up the rental car at the airport, at an additional cost.
Optional: Private Super Jeep tour of the Reykjanes peninsula, where you explore the vast, Lunar-like lava fields, see the amazing colours of the geothermal hot spring areas and go to the Blue Lagoon.  Learn more about the tour here 
Accommodation: A centrally located hotel in Reykjavík.  Your self-drive package will be in the reception.

Day 2 - The Golden Circle
After picking up your rental car you head to Thingvellir national park, where the Icelandic parliament was founded and you can clearly see where the tectonic plates are slowly drifting apart.  You then drive east to visit Gullfoss, the golden waterfall, and Geysir hot spring area where you'll watch the geyser Strokkur spout boiling water into the air.
Optional: An hour long horseback riding tour from Geysir, where you get to enjoy the benefits of the Icelandic horse and its five type of gaits.
Optional: An ATV tour from Geysir to explore the natural wonders of the area.
Accommodation: Hotel by Geysir area
Note: You can read more a about the Golden Circle and see photos on our Golden Circle Super Jeep Tour page

Day 3 - Kjolur Mountain Track
In the morning you'll head off the main road and into the wilderness of the highlands.  Traveling across Kjolur mountain track, which lies between the two glaciers of Langjokull and Hofsjokull, you take a photo stop at Kerlingafjoll mountain.  Midway across the track is Hveravellir where there's enormous geothermal heat in the ground and you'll find colorful hot springs such as Blaihver and Graenihver as well as a natural outdoor geothermal pool where you can have a relaxing soak.  You then go north through the town of Akureyri and stop at Godafoss waterfall before heading to Lake Myvatn.
Accommodation: Hotel by Lake Myvatn

Day 4 - Lake Myvatn and it's Surroundings
Today you have the benefit of staying at the same hotel for two nights, so you don't have to spend time packing and unpacking.  The day is spent exploring the Lake Myvatn area, seeing sites such as Dimmuborgir lava formations,
Krafla caldera and Namaskard hot spring area.  This area is also the home of over 2.000 birds in the summer.  There has been a lot of volcanic activity by Myvatn and there's a lot of geothermal heat in the ground.  In the afternoon it's perfect to go for a relaxing soak in the Myvatn Baths.
Optional: Whale watching tour from Husavik, which has the highest success rate of spotting whales in Iceland.
Accommodation: Hotel by Lake Myvatn

Day 5 - Jokulsargljufur National Park
Driving east, you go to Jokulsargljufur national park and spend the morning and early afternoon hiking there and exploring the area.  The national park is home to Dettifoss
waterfall and Hljodaklettar where you'll find Karl and Kerling, two large rocks formations that
resemble a man and a woman.  Other sights include the three waterfalls of Selfoss,
Hafragilsfoss and Rettarfoss. From Jokulsargljufur you drive through Modrudalsoraefi, the most
remote area of the Icelandic Ring Road which is quite barren with wonderful big vistas.
Accommodation: Hotel in Egilsstadir 

Day 6 - Eastern Iceland
From Egilsstadir you drive south along the magnificent fjords of the rugged coastline and enjoy the vista of majestic mountains.  This part of the country is rather rural, with small fishing villages nestling by the Ocean.  On the way you can stop at Stodvarfjordur and see Petra's Stone Museum.
Optional: Boat trip to Papey island, where hundreds of puffins and other birds make their nest in the summer.
Accommodation: Hotel by Hofn in Hornafjordur 

Day 7 - The Vatnajökull Region
From Hofn you travel towards Vatnajokull, Europe's largest glacier.  You'll stop at Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon for a boat ride among the majestic icebergs.  You then continue to Skaftafell national park where you spend the rest of the day hiking, taking photo stops at places like Svartifoss waterfall.
Accommodation: Hotel by Skaftafell or Kirkjubaejarklaustur

Day 8 - Southern Iceland
Traveling along the south coast you'll visit Dyrholaey peninsula which is shaped like an arc that stands out to sea.  From the peninsula you have a breathtaking view on a sunny day of Reynisdrangar, lava formations that stand out from the ocean as well as Myrdalsjokull glacier and the surrounding countryside. 
Further west you stop at the two waterfalls of Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss. 
At Seljalandsfoss you can take a short path that leads behind the free falling waterfall and
feel the spray and drizzle on your face.  
You return to Reykjavik in the afternoon and drop off your rental car.
Optional: Snowmobiling on Myrdalsjokull glacier. 
Accommodation: Hotel in Reykjavik

Day 9 - Departure from Iceland
If your flight is early in the morning, you take a taxi or the flybus to the airport.
However, if your flight is in the afternoon it's ideal to visit the Blue Lagoon on the way to the airport. You can do this on your own, with the Flybus or take our Lunar Landscape Super-Jeep tour.  

 It's no problem to extend your stay in Iceland, either by spending additional nights in Reykjavik or in the countryside.  If you decide to stay longer in Reykjavik you can take a day tour out of the city to see places you didn't visit on the self-drive tour.  We have a number of Super Jeep day tours  which can take you to areas unaccessible to regular cars. We especially recommend the Thorsmork tour, which is a great 4x4 adventure to one of Iceland's most beautiful places. 

Travel all around Iceland and see the main sights

Lake Myvatn
- Hot spring areas & volcanoes
- Myvatn baths
- Birdlife in the summer
- Dimmuborgir lava formations

Kjolur highland route
- Mt Kerlingafjoll
- Hveravellir

Skaftafell National park
- Svartifoss waterfall
- Iceland's highest peak

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

The Golden Circle
- Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss

Eyjafjallajokull & Myrdalsjokull glaciers

Seljarlandsfoss, Skogafoss & Godafoss waterfalls

Akureyri

Egilsstadir 

Prices for the Iceland Ring Road self drive vacation

All rates are total for 2 people staying in a double room with private facilities.
For other room types or more rooms, please contact us for rates.

Summer season prices (June through August):
Skoda Octavia 4wd or similar: ISK 404900
Toyota Land Cruiser 4wd or similar: ISK 541900
Land Rover Defender 4wd or similar: ISK 581400

Shoulder season prices (May and September):
Skoda Octavia 4wd or similar: ISK 290200
Toyota Land Cruiser 4wd or similar: ISK 380200
Land Rover Defender 4wd or similar: ISK 404400

Winter season prices (October through April):
Skoda Octavia 4wd or similar: ISK 198200
Toyota Land Cruiser 4wd or similar: ISK 267900
Land Rover Defender 4wd or similar: ISK 370300

Included:
Rental car for 7 days with CDW insurance, GPS and unlimited milage
Accommodation for 8 nights in 2-3* hotels and guesthouses.
Breakfast
A detailed Road Atlas and a map with your route marked out
An Icelandic cell phone with all necessary numbers

Excluded:
Optional activities
Meals other than breakfast
Fuel

Available dates for the Ring Road Self -drive holiday

Iceland is expecting a record number of visitors in 2012. Both Lonely Planet and National Geographic have selected Iceland as the top destination.  The peak season is from mid June through August and already many hotels in the countryside are fully booked. We have secured a few rooms so we can guarantee some departures.

Ring Road Self-drive package 1
June 19: Hotel Odinsve in Reykjavik
June 20: Hotel Geysir
June 21: Hotel Gígur at Lake Myvatn
June 22: Hotel Gígur at Lake Myvatn
June 23: Hotel Herad in Egilsstaðir
June 24: Hotel Vatnajokull near Hofn
June 25: Hotel Skaftafell
June 26: Hotel Odinsve in Reykjavik

Ring Road Self-drive package 2
June 30: Hotel Odinsve in Reykjavik
July 1: Hotel Geysir
July 2: Hotel Norðurland in Akureyri
July 3: Hotel Gígur at Lake Myvatn
July 4: Hotel Herad in Egilsstaðir
July 5: Hotel Vatnajokull near Hofn
July 6: Hotel Skaftafell
July 7: Hotel Odinsve in Reykjavik

Ring Road Self-drive package 3
July 7: Hotel Odinsve in Reykjavik
July 8: Hotel Geysir
July 9: Hotel Norðurland in Akureyri
July 10: Hotel Gígur at Lake Myvatn
July 11: Hotel Herad in Egilsstaðir
July 12: Hotel Edda
July 13: Hotel Skaftafell
July 14: Hotel Odinsve in Reykjavik

Ring Road Self-drive package 4
July 11: Hotel Odinsve in Reykjavik
July 12: Hotel Geysir
July 13: Hotel Norðurland in Akureyri
July 14: Hotel Gígur at Lake Myvatn
July 15: Hotel Herad in Egilsstaðir
July 16: Hotel Vatnajokull   
July 17: Hotel Skaftafell
July 18: Hotel Odinsve in Reykjavik

Ring Road Self-drive package 5
July 14: Hotel Odinsve in Reykjavik
July 15: Hotel Geysir
July 16: Hotel Norðurland in Akureyri
July 17: Hotel Gígur at Lake Myvatn
July 18: Hotel Herad in Egilsstaðir
July 19: Hotel Vatnajokull
July 20: Hotel Skaftafell
July 21: Hotel Odinsve in Reykjavik

Ring Road Self-drive package 6
July 28: Hotel Odinsve in Reykjavik
July 29: Hotel Geysir
July 30: Hotel Norðurland in Akureyri
July 31: Hotel Gígur at Lake Myvatn
August 1: Hotel Herad in Egilsstaðir
August 2: Hotel Vatnajokull
August 3: Hotel Skaftafell
August 4: Hotel Odinsve in Reykjavik 

Ring Road Self-drive package 7
July 31: Hotel Odinsve in Reykjavik
August 1: Hotel Geysir
August 2: Hotel Norðurland in Akureyri
August 3: Hotel Gígur at Lake Myvatn
August 4: Hotel Herad in Egilsstaðir
August 5: Hotel Vatnajokull
August 6: Hotel Skaftafell
August 7: Hotel Odinsve in Reykjavik

Ring Road Self-drive package 8 (Fully booked)
August 11: Hotel Odinsve in Reykjavik
August 12: Hotel Gullfoss
August 13: Hotel Norðurland in Akureyri
August 14: Hotel Gígur at Lake Myvatn
August 15: Hotel Herad in Egilsstaðir
August 16: Hotel Vatnajokull
August 17: Hotel Skaftafell
August 18: Hotel Odinsve in Reykjavik

Dates from January to May and again September to December should not be a problem, just send us your desired dates to info@NatureExplorer.is