Make the most of your time in Iceland with this extensive 10-day self-drive tour. Throughout your adventure, you will discover all the famous natural wonders Iceland has to offer and many sights you may not even know to exist. Travel around Iceland on your own schedule and enjoy a complete adventure.
This self-drive package helps you save money without sacrificing any of the experiences. You will drive around the entire Ring Road, taking you around the country, including the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and the famous Golden Circle. Better yet, it offers full comfort – your accommodation will always have an ensuite bathroom, and breakfast is included.
Best of all, you have total freedom to choose where to drive and when to leave. There are no bus schedules or impatient tour guides to worry about. You’re free to spend as much time in each spot as you’d like, taking in Iceland at your own pace.
At Guide to Iceland, we want you to experience the best of the natural beauty this country has to offer. We hope you’ll leave feeling revitalized and exhilarated by the beauty of the Icelandic landscape. To help with this, we’ve handpicked hidden locations across the land where you can be almost entirely alone, far from noisy people or busy streets. These are included in our travel plan, which you’ll receive after you book.
Customize your vacation during booking so that it’s precisely what you’ve been dreaming of. On your way around the Golden Circle, snorkel in the space between two continental plates, go snowmobiling on Langjökull glacier, or explore the inside of a volcanic magma chamber (if you’re here between May and November). You can also take a tour of an ice cave in Mýrdalsjökull glacier and visit the world-famous Blue Lagoon Spa.
Furthermore, you could hike atop a glacier or board a ship to see the giants of the deep in the whale watching capital of Europe. You can also get the lay of the land with a horse riding trek, journey into dark lava caves, or even walk inside man-made channels within Langjökull glacier.
Check out how many stunning sights and activities you can see and do in Iceland on this fantastic trip!
Check availability by choosing a date.
Collect your car at the international airport in Keflavik before driving to your accommodation in downtown Reykjavik.
On your way to Iceland’s capital city, you could choose to make a stop at the Blue Lagoon. This world-renowned spa is known for its healing waters, vivid azure colors, and luxurious treatments. It is located in the middle of a moss-covered lava field, giving it an otherworldly atmosphere. If you add the Blue Lagoon, it will be arranged according to your flights. If there is no time to visit the lagoon today, it can be added to another day. Your travel consultant will be able to arrange this for you. There is still plenty to see and do in Reykjavik and the Reykjanes Peninsula if you have extra free time.
After settling in your hotel in Reykjavik, make the most of your proximity to one of Europe’s most vibrant city centers. Explore the abundance of museums, galleries, restaurants, and bars to your heart’s content.
Spend the night in the beautiful city of Reykjavik.
Day two sends you off to some of the best-known natural phenomena in Iceland on the Golden Circle route. The first stop on the Golden Circle tour is Thingvellir National Park. Here, you can walk between the rift valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and explore an area that played a huge role in Iceland’s heritage. Its history as the site of the world’s first representative parliament site has warranted its place on the UNESCO world heritage list. You can even opt into a snorkel in the crystal clear fissure Silfra, which runs right between the tectonic plates.
Next up is the geothermal valley of Haukadalur, where you can see the geysers Strokkur and Geysir amongst many beautiful hot springs. Only a few miles away is Iceland’s most popular attraction, the powerful waterfall named Gullfoss. A pathway takes you right to the water’s edge, where you can get a real sense of the enormous, natural power of the falls.
You also have the chance to go on an optional snowmobile tour on Langjokull glacier. You’ll be picked up at Gullfoss waterfall. This is an excellent way to add some adrenaline to your trip – and to see some sweeping glacial vistas. You can also book a horse ride on this day if neither of these appeals to you.
Spend the night in or near the quiet Selfoss region.
On day three, you will take in the sight of two majestic waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. Further down the coast near the town of Vík, take a slight detour to admire the black volcanic beach, Reynisfjara, and the dramatic Dyrhólaey and Reynisdrangar rock formations. This is also a great place for puffin watching.
Today, you have the opportunity to have a glacier adventure! You can race across Sólheimajökull glacier tongue on a thrilling snowmobile tour or, if you’d like, you can visit a natural ice cave in Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Only accessible via super jeep, this is the only cave that is open to visits all year long.
You’ll also have the choice of two glacier hikes today. You can either start early and breathe in the fresh mountain air on top of Sólheimajökull glacier; nothing will wake you up and get your adrenaline pumping like a morning visit to a glacier. Or you can end your day with a late afternoon hike at Skaftafell Nature Reserve, where you can walk through the white expanse of an outlet glacier in the beautiful Vatnajökull National Park.
Skaftafell Nature Reserve is great for any outdoor enthusiast, particularly if you enjoy hiking. There are many excellent tracks and trails, including one that leads to the stunning Svartifoss waterfall, which plunges over a wide cliff of hexagonal basalt columns.
On your way to your accommodations in the Vatnajökull area, you’ll pass the beautiful Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon where enormous icebergs that have broken off a nearby glacier float peacefully on the serene lagoon. Don’t worry; you will have plenty of time tomorrow to explore this area further if you are too knackered after today’s adventures.
Explore the stunning Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon today, one of Iceland’s most beautiful spots. If you so desire, you can hop on an optional boat tour, which takes you on a meandering path through the lagoon, amongst stunning icebergs of all shapes and sizes. You can choose between an amphibious boat and a smaller zodiac.
Make sure you stroll down to the black sandy beach nearby, affectionately named Diamond Beach due to the number of sparkling icebergs scattered along it.
Finally, you’ll start on a zigzagging journey along the Eastfjords, passing tranquil fishing villages and sweeping coastal landscapes along the way.
Spend the night in the secluded Egilsstaðir area.
The driving on day five brings you north to Lake Mývatn, which is known for its geothermal landscapes, including the Námaskarð hot springs, the Skútustaðagígar pseudo-craters, the Dimmuborgir lava formations, and Volcano Krafla, one of Iceland’s most visited volcanoes.
After exploring these many wonders, relax by taking a dip in the soothing geothermal waters of the Mývatn Nature Baths. You will spend the night in the Myvatn region.
Use the sixth day to explore a little more of Lake Mývatn and its unique surroundings. A drive through the Jökulsárgljúfur part of Vatnajökull National Park, with a visit to the Ásbyrgi canyon. This is a fascinating horseshoe-shaped indentation in the landscape. Local legends say that this was caused by the Norse god Odin’s eight-legged horse ‘Sleipnir’ planting a giant hoof on the ground.
You could also visit the mighty Dettifoss waterfall. Detiffoss is believed to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Its giant towering size and mighty rumble make it an impressive stop. Dettifoss was also featured at the beginning of the 2012 Ridley Scott sci-fi film Prometheus.
You could then head to the Northern town of Húsavik. This seaside village is unofficially referred to as the whale watching capital of Europe. From Húsavík, you can take a trip out into the northern waters to spot some of these gentle giants of the sea. If you would like to go whale watching, there are two options. You could take a traditional whale watching tour or opt for a smaller Rib Boat tour, which will allow you to get even closer to these spectacular sea mammals.
If you would love a bit of relaxation in Húsavík, you could choose to visit the Húsavík GeoSea Baths. This spa experience is a little different from other geothermal spas in Iceland. The waters of GeoSea are from the ocean. The warm salty waters have been said to contain reparative qualities, and you will enjoy them with some impressive views of the surrounding landscape.
You will then spend the night in Akureyri.
On day seven, you’ll have more time to explore the area around Akureyri.Before you move on from the area, you could choose to add some activities to your day. If you haven’t had the chance yet to go whale watching, you can take a whale watching tour from Akureyri. You could also choose to see some of the natural sites of the area while riding an Icelandic horse on a horseriding tour.
You will then pass through the beautiful, mountainous area of Tröllaskagi, to the old herring-fishing village of Siglufjörður, and then to Hofsós, where you can enjoy the incredible scenery while relaxing in the town’s thermal pool.
If you like local Icelandic handicrafts or traveling with children, we recommend a stop at Stórhóll farm, where the gallery Rúnalist is located. Children can play with and pet some sheep, goats, horses, ducks, chickens, rabbits, dogs, and cats while you browse the crafts showroom, filled with handmade items of natural wool, salmon leather, or cod skin.
Spend the night in nearby Sauðárkrókur.
Head to Snæfellsnes peninsula today. On the way, you will pass the rolling hills of Vatnsdalshólar and the beautiful Þingeyarkirkja church.
You might also want to stop at a longhouse at Eiríksstaðir, home of the infamous Viking Erik the Red, father to Leif the Lucky, the first European to sail to North America. You can also pay a visit to Stykkishólmur, a picture-perfect fishing village overlooking Breiðafjörður Bay.
Here, you can travel out to a small island, accessible from the harbor. This is Súgandisey, and you’ll see a wonderful panorama of the town, the sea, and the surrounding mountains from here.
The crown jewel of the Snæfellsnes peninsula is the Snæfellsjökull glacier and volcano, nestled in the heart of a national park. If you would like to add some more adventure, you can choose to add a snowcat tour of this glacier as an extra activity. You will be taken to the foot of the mountain before you ascend the snowy slopes and eventually reach the top, ready to take some incredible snapshots.
Nearby are many beautiful attractions, such as Djúpalónssandur beach and the picturesque towns of Hellnar and Arnarstapi.
Spend the night at charming accommodation on Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
On day nine, you can explore West Iceland with its diverse attractions, including the Icelandic settlement exhibition in Borgarnes, and Deildartunguhver, the largest hot spring in Europe.Further along, be sure to visit the captivating Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls.
History buffs may also enjoy visiting Snorrastofa, the medieval research institute in Reykholt, where the politician, poet, and historian Snorri Sturluson wrote the Norwegian kings’ saga Heimskringla in the 13th century. He is also famous for writing the bible of old Norse mythology, Edda.
On this day, you can opt for one of two exciting caving tours. You can explore the incredible man-made ice caves at Langjökull, or take a lava tube adventure into Viðgelmir cave. You can also explore the inside of a magma chamber on the incredible ‘Into the Volcano’ tour.
On the way back to Reykjavik, take a short break at Fossatún, a waterfall said to be guarded by a troll woman named Drifa, before spending another night in the capital.
It’s time to say goodbye. Today you will drop your car off at Keflavik Airport and head home. For those who have a later flight and choose to visit the Blue Lagoon today, you will finish off your stay unwinding before you head to the airport. This is the perfect place to relax as you bathe in the warm, mineral-rich waters as you look back on the incredible adventure you have just taken in the land of fire and ice. If your flight is later, there are plenty of things to do in Reykjavik; the Whales of Iceland and FlyOver Iceland experience are particularly recommended.If you have an early flight back home, we wish you a pleasant journey.
Self-drive tours begin either in Reykjavík City or at Keflavik International Airport. A valid driver’s license is required, along with a one-year-long on-road experience. Please be aware that your itinerary may be rearranged to better fit with your arrival date and time.
Although it is summertime, the Icelandic weather can be very unpredictable. Please bring appropriate clothing.
See our accommodation levels below and our preferred accommodation partners under each day in the daily itinerary. Bookings for one person will be arranged in single rooms, and bookings for two or more people will share a twin/double or triple room(s). Teenagers and children will be arranged in the same room with parents. If additional room(s) is needed, additional costs will incur. Guide to Iceland will provide you with the best available accommodation at the time of your booking from our preferred partners. Please keep in mind that hotel quality in Iceland varies among locations and availability is highly limited. If our preferred partners are fully booked at the time of your booking, we will find another suitable accommodation for you of similar level. Please note that not all locations offer quality level accommodation. Comfort level accommodation will be arranged at those particular locations, which is reflected in the quality level upgrade price. We always do our best to accommodate special requests, which may incur additional costs. Press choose a date to find availability.
Below you can see the car rental options available for this self-drive tour. All our vehicles are new or current models, of maximum 2 years of age. Super Budget levels come with standard CDW insurance, while all other levels also include Gravel Protection (GP), and Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW) insurances. Please note that off-road driving is illegal for all types of cars. All levels come equipped with a GPS and free Wi-fi. You can enjoy unlimited data with the Wi-Fi device, which can be connected to up to 10 devices at once. The car rental will provide 24-hour roadside emergency services. Age requirement for each level can be found below. For all levels, the driver must possess a valid driving license for at least one year before the date of the rental. We recommend Budget 4X4 level for summer driving and Comfort 4X4 for winter driving.
We always try to help travelers fulfill their dream vacation. If you need to change the details of your trip, you can do so by pressing the ‘Click here to edit booking’ button on your electronic voucher. This electronic voucher will be sent to your email upon booking.
Please bear in mind the best services with the best prices and highest ratings get fully booked quickly in Iceland. Completing your booking will ensure the best availability and pricing for your trip. Please find a summary of our cancellation policy and terms of service below. For further information, please see our Terms and Conditions.
Cancellation Due to COVID-19 Related Reasons
If you place a booking on Guide to Iceland but test positive on arrival to Iceland or if your flight to Iceland is canceled due to COVID-19, you will get a full refund.
Alternatively, you can choose to reschedule your trip to another date.
In order to get the full refund, if you test positive on arrival, please contact us via email with your booking details and your test result within 4 hours after you receive the test result.
In order to get the full refund, if your flight gets canceled due to COVID, please contact us via email with your booking details and your flight cancellation confirmation prior to your scheduled flight departure time.
Cancellation of Day Tours, Bundle Discount Deals, Multi-Day Tours, and Car Rentals
You can cancel your booking with Guide to Iceland up to 24 hours before departure and receive a full refund. This can be done via the ‘Edit Booking’ button in your electronic voucher email.
In case of partial cancellations, such as an activity portion of a multi-day tour getting canceled by the operator, or a tour layout being changed due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances, a partial refund is due. If an activity is changed, the price difference between activities will be refunded, or a percentage stated by the tour operator as the standard refund due to changes in the program of the tour.
Cancellation of All-In-One Self-drives Tours and Holiday Packages Arranged by Guide to Iceland
You can cancel your All-In-One Self Drive or Holiday package arranged by Guide to Iceland up to 24 hours before your scheduled flight’s arrival and receive a full refund. No refund is issued if there are less than 24 hours to your flight arrival time in Iceland.
It is not possible to cancel or alter any individual services within a package within 24 hours of your scheduled flight’s arrival. Please note that this includes reducing the number of participants within a self-drive tour or a package.
In cases where an All-In-One Self Drive or a Holiday Package is disrupted due to official road closure or an Act of God, Guide to Iceland will reroute and or rearrange to the best of our abilities and assist with cancellations, making partial and full refunds when applicable.
Cancellation of Accommodation Bookings
The cancellation policy of your accommodation booking is dependent on your selected pricing option during the booking process. You can find the detailed cancellation policy of your accommodation booking in your email voucher.
To cancel your accommodation booking, select the ‘Click here to edit booking’ button in your electronic voucher email, or contact us via info@guidetoiceland.is with your booking number and the cancellation request.
Please note that if your accommodation booking is a part of an All-In-One Self Drive or Holiday package serviced by Guide to Iceland, you will not be able to cancel it via the button in the electronic voucher.
Cancellation of Flights
If flights are a part of a tour, standard tour cancellation terms apply.
If your flight is arranged independently and not part of an existing product, special terms apply. The terms will be agreed upon prior to your flight booking. For cancellation of such flight bookings, please contact your service agent.
Cancellations due to Weather Conditions
If your tour is canceled by the tour provider due to weather conditions or any other environmental circumstances, you will always receive a full refund. Exempt from this are any rescheduled second tries of tours that have already been serviced as a first departure.
In the case of a volcanic eruption taking place on Icelandic soil stopping you from getting to Iceland, you will also receive a full refund on all products booked on Guide to Iceland. This does not apply if you choose not to visit due to an eruption, however.
How to Cancel or Change a Booking
All cancellations and changes must be made through the voucher that you receive in your email after booking. It will have an edit booking button that allows you to modify and cancel your bookings. After clicking the button you will be taken to a modification page where you can amend your booking details. There will be buttons available both to confirm changes and to cancel your booking. If you can not cancel or modify your booking even though you still have enough advance notice, you can send a cancellation request via email to info@guidetoiceland.is.
Refunds of past services need to be submitted within 15 days after the completion of the tour/package services. All refund requests must be made through email to booking@guidetoiceland.is with the email subject as Refund Request – [Order number]. We do not charge anything for helping you modify day tours, multi-day tours, and car rental bookings as long as the request is made with more than a 24-hour notice but costs can change depending on the new booking details. Please be advised that though we always try our best, due to high demand and low availability, rearrangements are not always possible.
For All-In-One Self-drives and Holiday Packages arranged by Guide to Iceland, please contact your travel agent for any changes needed. We do not charge anything for helping you modify your All-In-One Self-drive or Holiday Package, but please note that costs may change, depending on hotel rates, car rentals, change of included products, etc. In that case, we will seek your approval before finalizing the changes. You will then either be billed with the additional costs or refunded with the difference. In cases where changes reach a form that requires rebookings and tailoring of travel, a service fee of 15% of the total tour price might apply. Please see the full Terms and Conditions for further details.
Please note that changing the number of people in a booking to a smaller number is considered cancellation for the change in the number of pax.
Terms for Accommodation in All-In-One Holiday Packages and Self-Drives Booked with Guide to Iceland
If you are booking an All-In-One Holiday Package or Self-Drive with Guide to Iceland, accommodation will be arranged as follows:
Super Budget level accommodation is set in hostel dormitories or rooms with shared facilities, regardless of the number of participants.
Budget, Comfort, and Quality level accommodation will be arranged as follows: a single traveler will receive a single bedroom; even number groups will receive twin/double rooms, and odd-numbered groups of travelers will be booked into triple rooms.
Accommodation for children and teens is arranged so that they lodge with their guardians, either in a baby cot or on an additional bed in the room. Should the number of children and teens exceed the number of adults traveling with them, the exceeding number of children/teens will be subject to full adult prices.
Please note that you can contact us at any time to make changes to your accommodation level. Additional charges may apply.
Car rental terms
All drivers must be a minimum of 20 years of age and have had a driver’s license for at least one year. For certain vehicles, the minimum age might be 23 or higher. It is the responsibility of the client to understand and honor the driver’s minimum age. Please note that rentals are not obliged to honor a rental should the driver not meet the age requirements.
Upon receiving the rental vehicle, a valid driver’s license in the Latin alphabet and a credit card must be presented. You will be asked to sign a contract with the car rental. We advise you to read this contract carefully and make sure that you are aware of the different insurances that you choose, what you are insured for, self-risk, and more.
Please note that a security deposit from a valid credit card of the driver might be required upon pick up. The amount may vary depending on the car rental and the car model. Please contact the rental agency directly for further information. Upon return of the car, the deposit will be returned to you, provided the conditions of the car are the same as when picked up.
Please note that the car rental agreement will be between the renter and the car rental agency, and any disputes regarding damages, etc. will need to be resolved between the two parties. Guide to Iceland cannot be liable for what you have agreed upon with the car rental company.
Guide to Iceland cannot be liable to any losses, damages, injuries, accidents, death, or sickness during your stay in Iceland. All matters related to damages to the car are dealt with directly with the car rental. If you have any complaints about one of our car rental partners please send us an email to info@guidetoiceland.is and we will help you protect your rights.
Pickups
During the booking process, you will be able to choose a pickup location and time. If you do not show up for the scheduled pickup time and location stated on your booking, your reservation is non-refundable.
If you do not know your pickup location at the time of booking, you can choose to update your pickup location later, up to 24 hours before departure. Click on the link in your voucher email to update your pickup location and other details. Please call the number listed on your voucher if you do not receive a confirmation of your pickup location update.
Terms of payment
You can pay in USD, EUR, GBP, and ISK on Guide to Iceland. The displayed amount in other currencies is converted from the Icelandic Krona amount to your chosen currency based on the live currency exchange rate of the Icelandic central bank.
If you choose to pay with one of the 4 above-mentioned currencies, you will pay the displayed amount. If you cancel your booking and receive a refund, the refund will be the same amount in the same currency.
If you choose to pay with a currency other than the 4 above-mentioned currencies, the amount you pay is based on the Icelandic krona price and the exchange rate applied by your own bank. If you cancel your booking and receive a refund, the refund will be based on the same Icelandic krona amount and the exchange rate applied by your bank at the time of the refund.
Guide to Iceland does not charge any booking or transaction fees. We can not be held liable to any losses in currency exchange during transactions, nor any third-party transaction fees that may occur at the time of payment and/or refund.
When you reserve online a full payment is charged to your credit card. To reserve for group bookings and packages of more than 15 people, you can also contact us by email and make a 15% down payment. We will then start reserving your trip to secure you the best price. The rest of your payment must reach us 30 days before your arrival.
If your reservation amounts to more than 300,000 ISK, you can contact us and do a 50% deposit, and pay the remaining 50% one month before your arrival in Iceland. Should the final payment be not received, your booking will be canceled and your deposit will be fully refunded.
You can also split the payment between two or more credit cards. Please contact info@guidetoiceland.is for down payment and split payment requests.
Best Price Guarantee
At Guide to Iceland, we offer Best Price Guarantee on our products. It ensures that you will get the lowest price of the product you purchase on Guide to Iceland. Should you find a lower price of the exact same product elsewhere, you can contact us and get a refund of the price difference.
Please note that our Best Price Guarantee only applies to the exact same product, meaning that the product is from the same service provider. If there are more than one service provider offering products of a similar nature, such as a tour with the same itinerary, a rental car of the same model, products from different providers are not considered the same product and will not be price matched.
General terms
Guide to Iceland cannot be liable to any losses, damages, accidents, injuries, death, or sickness during your trip. The same applies to any changes in trip schedule due to weather, strikes, or any other force majeure. Service providers reserve the right to change routes, schedules, and itineraries if needed because of weather, road conditions or should the necessity arise because of unforeseen reasons or circumstances.
We advise all travelers to purchase comprehensive travel insurance to minimize possible losses due to unforeseeable situations during their travel. Guide to Iceland does not offer any travel insurance, so please contact your preferred private travel insurance company.
If you have a complaint about any of our partners please contact us at info@guidetoiceland.is and we will help protect your rights.
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