Around the Island

On this tour, drive around Iceland and experience its spectacular natural landscapes. Travel through the West, head north, explore the East, and spend the final days in the South, seeing some of the country’s most breathtaking sights. This tour is available year-round, though road conditions from November to March can be challenging, and travel during this period is not recommended.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Reykjavík
Arrival in Reykjavík and accommodation in a centrally located hotel. For early arrivals, a guided walking tour with a Viking is recommended to explore the city's highlights and hidden gems.

Day 2: Reykjavík – Borgarnes
Drive to Borgarnes with a detour along the Golden Circle, visiting Þingvellir National Park, Geysir, and Gullfoss waterfall—some of Iceland’s most famous natural wonders. Accommodation in a hotel in Borgarnes.

Day 3: Borgarnes – Akureyri
Continue toward Akureyri with stops at Glanni waterfall, said to be the home of elves and trolls, and Glaumbær Museum (not included), housed in historic turf-roofed farm buildings. Accommodation in a hotel in Akureyri.

Day 4: Akureyri
A day at leisure in Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland. Explore the charming town centre, museums, and galleries. A whale-watching tour in Eyjafjörður is highly recommended, offering the chance to see humpback whales, mink whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbour porpoises.

Day 5: Akureyri – Mývatn
Drive to Mývatn, a stunning lake in an area of active volcanism. Visit the Mývatn Nature Baths, walk around the craters, and explore unique volcanic rock formations. Along the way, stop at Goðafoss, one of Iceland’s most spectacular waterfalls, or Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Accommodation in a hotel in Mývatn.

Day 6: Mývatn – Egilsstaðir
Journey eastward, stopping at the lava formations of Dimmuborgir, which resemble a landscape from a fairy tale. A must-see detour is Stuðlagil Canyon, where striking black basalt columns contrast against the blue-green river. Arrive in Egilsstaðir, the largest town in East Iceland, located on the banks of the Lagarfljót River. Accommodation in a hotel in Egilsstaðir.

Day 7: Egilsstaðir – Höfn
Continue south through East Iceland toward Höfn í Hornafirði. Stops along the way include Litlanesfoss, known for its basalt columns, and Seyðisfjörður, a picturesque town with colourful 19th-century wooden houses. Accommodation in a hotel in Höfn.

Day 8: Höfn – Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Visit Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, a breathtaking natural wonder at the edge of Vatnajökull National Park, where luminous blue icebergs drift in the water. A boat tour on the lagoon is recommended. Nearby, Skaftafell offers the chance to join a guided glacier hike on Falljökull Glacier, part of Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull. Accommodation in a hotel in Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

Day 9: Kirkjubæjarklaustur – Reykjavík
Drive back to Reykjavík along the South Coast, stopping at Reynisfjara black sand beach, Seljalandsfoss waterfall, and Skógafoss waterfall. A short horse-riding tour at one of the farms along the way is recommended to meet Iceland’s famous horses. Accommodation in Reykjavík.

Day 10: Departure
Departure according to the flight schedule. For later flights, a stop at the Blue Lagoon for a final soak is recommended before heading to Keflavík Airport.

Tour Details

Accommodation

9 nights in selected hotels with breakfast

Excursions & activities

Entrances to museums and activities not included. This can be offered as a supplement.

Transport & Transfers

Rental car is not included. This can be offered as a supplement. If you prefer private transfers to Torfhus and back, that can also be arranged. Please ask us for an offer.

This is a sustainable trip

Find out why

Local tip

On your way along the east coast we do recommend a detour to Borgarfjörður eystri, a small village with 100 inhabitants, which is home to two kinds of lovely creatures that are in our hearts – more than 1000 elves and about 10000 pairs of puffins.