Blue Lagoon Comfort Entry
Comfort entry to the Blue Lagoon near the airport, with a silica mud mask, a towel and a first drink. An easy first or last stop, close to the airport.
$160 per person
Road Trip · Iceland
Iceland Ring Road: 10 Days
One loop around the island, and a little bit of everything.
- 10 days / 9 nights
- Loop from Keflavík (KEF)
- Self-drive
Attractions
What you will see as you travel the route, day by day, and how to make the most of each stop.
8sights on the route
9hotel nights around the Ring Road
1Jökulsárlón boat tour
1whale-watching tour
Keflavík→Golden Circle→South Coast→Jökulsárlón→East Fjords→Mývatn→Húsavík→West Iceland→Keflavík
1Leg 1
The Golden Circle
The classic first loop
Þingvellir National Park
Why it is worth itA national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site where you walk through a rift valley between the North American and Eurasian plates. Iceland’s parliament first met here in 930.
Insider tipWalk the Almannagjá gorge path between the rock walls; it is an easy, mostly level walk.
Geysir and Strokkur
Why it is worth itThe geothermal area that gave every geyser its name. Strokkur erupts every few minutes, so you will not wait long.
Insider tipStand upwind of Strokkur so the spray does not soak you, and stay on the paths; the water is boiling.
Gullfoss
Why it is worth itA powerful two-tier waterfall on the Hvítá river that drops into a deep canyon.
Insider tipBring a waterproof layer for the lower path; the spray carries a long way.
Optional add-on
Blue Lagoon Comfort Entry
Comfort entry to the Blue Lagoon near the airport, with a silica mud mask, a towel and a first drink. An easy first or last stop, close to the airport.
$160 per person
Optional. Not included in the trip price.
2Leg 2
The South Coast
Waterfalls and black sand
South Coast waterfalls
Why it is worth itThe Ring Road’s south coast is lined with waterfalls dropping off old sea cliffs, including Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, right by the road.
Insider tipBring a waterproof jacket; you get wet near the falls.
Black sand beaches
Why it is worth itBlack volcanic sand, basalt columns and sea stacks, with Reynisfjara the best known.
Insider tipStay well back from the water at Reynisfjara. Sneaker waves there are dangerous.
Optional add-on
Solheimajokull Glacier Walk
A guided walk on the Solheimajokull glacier on the South Coast, with crampons, ice axes and helmets provided. About 3 hours.
$230 per person
Optional. Not included in the trip price.
3Leg 3
The Southeast and Jökulsárlón
Icebergs
Jökulsárlón boat tour
Why it is worth itA glacier lagoon full of icebergs that break off Breiðamerkurjökull, an outlet of the Vatnajökull ice cap. Your boat tour takes you out among the ice.
Insider tipCross the road to Diamond Beach, where chunks of ice wash up on the black sand.
4Leg 4
The East Fjords
Quiet roads
The East Fjords
Why it is worth itQuiet roads around deep fjords, with small fishing villages along the way.
Insider tipFill the tank whenever you pass a gas station; they are farther apart here.
5Leg 5
Lake Mývatn
Volcanic country
Optional add-on
Earth Lagoon Myvatn Entry
A soak in the geothermal Earth Lagoon at Lake Myvatn, formerly the Myvatn Nature Baths, with volcanic views all around.
$105 per person
Optional. Not included in the trip price.
6Leg 6
The North and Húsavík
Whales in the north
Whale watching from Húsavík
Why it is worth itHúsavík, on Skjálfandi Bay, is known as one of the best places in Iceland to see whales.
Insider tipDress warmer than you think; it is cold out on the bay, even in summer.
The order of stops can shift with the weather, and access to some sites can change with the season or local conditions. See Day by day for the full plan.
Why this trip
If you want to see how much Iceland changes from one region to the next, the Ring Road is the way to do it. In ten days you go from the Golden Circle and the South Coast to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, the East Fjords, Lake Mývatn and the North, then back through the West.
- Jökulsárlón boat tourIcebergs on the glacier lagoon, with a boat tour among the ice.
- Whale watching from HúsavíkA whale-watching tour in the North.
- Lake MývatnVolcanic landscapes around the lake, with a soak at the Earth Lagoon as an optional add-on.
- Optional add-onsA guided glacier walk on the South Coast and Blue Lagoon entry, if you want them.
Trip at a glance
- Length
- 10 days / 9 nights
- Starts / ends
- A loop from Keflavík Airport (KEF)
- Pace
- Road trip, with hotels along the route
- Best time to go
- May to September, when roads are easiest and the boat and whale-watching tours run
- Great for
- Travelers who want to see it all
- Accommodations
- Comfort Plus
- Flights
- Not included. You book; timing tips in your pre-trip guide
Day by day
Days 1 and 10 are travel days. In between, you drive the loop in this order, with hotels along the route. How many nights you spend in each area is set with you, and timing can shift with the weather.
Day 1Arrival
Land at Keflavík Airport, pick up your rental car and head to your first hotel.
Leg 1The Golden Circle
Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall.
Leg 2The South Coast
Waterfalls and black sand beaches on the way east, with a guided glacier walk as an optional add-on.
Leg 3The Southeast and Jökulsárlón
Icebergs on the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, with a boat tour among the ice.
Leg 4The East Fjords
Quieter roads, small fishing villages and coastal scenery.
Leg 5Lake Mývatn
Volcanic landscapes around the lake, with a soak at the Earth Lagoon as an optional add-on.
Leg 6The North and Húsavík
Waterfalls of the North and a whale-watching tour from Húsavík.
Leg 7The West
The final stretch of the loop through West Iceland, back toward Keflavík.
Day 10Departure
Return your rental car at Keflavík Airport and fly home.
What’s included
Included
- 9 hotel nights along the route
- A boat tour on the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
- Whale watching from Húsavík
- A day-by-day self-drive itinerary around the Ring Road: the Golden Circle, the South Coast, the Southeast, the East Fjords, Mývatn, the North and the West
- Every hotel and experience in your trip, booked for you
- A pre-trip guide covering travel insurance, packing, money and driving safety
- One point of contact, from booking to landing
Not included
- International flights
- Rental car, fuel, parking and tolls
- Meals
- Travel insurance
- Personal spending
Optional add-ons: Blue Lagoon Comfort Entry ($160 per person), Earth Lagoon Myvatn Entry ($105 per person), Solheimajokull Glacier Walk ($230 per person). Add them in the booking box or in Attractions.
Getting around: For this trip option, self-drive: you book your own rental car if it is not included, and you receive a full day-by-day itinerary with every drive mapped out, so you always know where to go, plus driving-safety tips in your pre-trip guide.
Compare this trip with another
Pick a trip to see it side by side with this one.
Included or in the itinerary Not part of that trip
| Trip | This tripIceland Ring Road: 10 DaysFrom $5,65910 days / 9 nightsBook this trip | Compared tripIceland Highlights: 6 DaysFrom $3,9596 days / 5 nightsView this trip |
|---|---|---|
| The basics | ||
| Length | 10 days / 9 nights | 6 days / 5 nights |
| Price per person (2 sharing a room) | $5,659Own room: $6,019 | $3,959Own room: $4,199 |
| Hotels | 9 nights in hotels along the route | 5 nights at one base near Keflavík Airport |
| Pace | Road trip, with hotels along the route | One hotel base, with day drives out and back |
| Driving | You drive the full loop around the island | Day drives; the South Coast days are long drives, so plan on early starts |
| Starts / ends | A loop from Keflavík Airport (KEF) | Keflavík Airport (KEF) |
| Best time to go | May to September, when roads are easiest and the boat and whale-watching tours run | Year-round. Summer for long days; September to April for a chance at the northern lights |
| Great for | Travelers who want to see it all | Travelers with about a week |
| What’s the same | ||
| Self-drive, with a day-by-day itinerary | Included | Included |
| The Golden Circle: Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss | Included | Included |
| South Coast waterfalls | Included | Included |
| Black sand beach | Included | Included |
| Hotels and experiences booked for you | Included | Included |
| Pre-trip guide: travel insurance, packing, money and driving safety | Included | Included |
| One point of contact, from booking to landing | Included | Included |
| Cancel 90+ days out for 100% trip credit. | Included | Included |
| What’s different | ||
| Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon boat tour | Included | Not part of this trip |
| The East Fjords | Included | Not part of this trip |
| Lake Mývatn | Included | Not part of this trip |
| Whale watching from Húsavík | Included | Not part of this trip |
| Waterfalls of the North | Included | Not part of this trip |
| West Iceland | Included | Not part of this trip |
| A guided South Coast glacier walk | Not part of this trip | Included |
| Blue Lagoon entry | Not part of this trip | Included |
| Reykjanes Peninsula lava fields | Not part of this trip | Included |
| Time in Reykjavík | Not part of this trip | Included |
| Not included on either trip: International flights, rental car (fuel, parking and tolls), meals, travel insurance and personal spending. | ||
| Book this trip | View this trip | |
Gallery
Questions
What if I need to cancel?
Plans change. If you need to cancel, you'll receive trip credit toward another itsTripEasy trip: within 24 hours of payment, 100% trip credit, so you can swap to a different destination; 90 or more days before your trip start date, 100% trip credit; less than 90 days before, no trip credit, unless you added Flexible Cancellation: with it, you get 100% trip credit if you cancel at least 10 days before your trip start date, for a trip you take within 12 months. Other trip credits never expire. To cancel or change your dates, use the cancellation request form. For a date change, choose the reason "I'd like to change my dates".
Do I need a car?
For this trip option, self-drive: you book your own rental car if it is not included, and you receive a full day-by-day itinerary with every drive mapped out, so you always know where to go, plus driving-safety tips in your pre-trip guide.
Are flights included?
Flights are up to you; check your selected trip option to see whether a rental car is included, and your pre-trip guide includes timing tips so everything lines up.
Can the trip be customized?
Yes, right in the booking box: add up to 3 extra nights at the start or end of your trip and choose how many travelers share each room.
Optional add-ons
Make your trip a little more special. Add one here or in the booking box. Tours are priced per person; private guides, transfers and tastings for two are one price per booking. Each add-on goes into your cart as its own item.
Earth Lagoon Myvatn Entry
A soak in the geothermal Earth Lagoon at Lake Myvatn, formerly the Myvatn Nature Baths, with volcanic views all around.
$105 per person
Solheimajokull Glacier Walk
A guided walk on the Solheimajokull glacier on the South Coast, with crampons, ice axes and helmets provided. About 3 hours.
$230 per person
Good to know
- Weather and nature. Weather, road and natural conditions are outside anyone’s control and can change quickly. They may change the plan, close roads, or delay, shorten or cancel tours and activities, and the order of days may shift.
- Your choices. You are responsible for your own decisions, safety and choices while traveling, including how and when you drive, which activities you take part in, and following local guidance, posted warnings and your guides’ instructions.
- Photos. Photos on this page are for inspiration. They may not show the exact location, hotel, season or conditions of your trip.
- Not included. You book your flights, plus a rental car if it isn’t part of your selected trip option. Your trip details show when a car is included.
You may also like
Iceland Highlights: 6 DaysIceland · 6 days / 5 nightsFrom $3,959 per person
Iceland Whales & Waterfalls: 6 DaysIceland · 6 days / 5 nightsFrom $3,689 per person
Iceland Northern Lights & Glaciers: 6 DaysIceland · 6 days / 5 nightsFrom $3,599 per person
Norway Fjords Escape: 7 DaysNorway Fjords, Norway · 7 days / 6 nightsFrom $5,609 per personSIGNATURE TRIP · ICELAND
Iceland Ring Road: 10 Days
One loop around the island, and a little bit of everything.
Sample itinerary, fully customizable
LENGTH
10 days / 9 nights
STARTS / ENDS
A loop from Keflavík Airport (KEF)
PACE
Road trip, with hotels along the route
BEST TIME TO GO
May to September, when roads are easiest and the boat and whale-watching tours run
GREAT FOR
Travelers who want to see it all
PRICE
$2,399
FLIGHTS
Not included. You book; I share timing tips
Why I love this trip
If you want to see how much Iceland changes from one region to the next, the Ring Road is the way to do it. In ten days you go from the Golden Circle and the South Coast to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, the East Fjords, Lake Mývatn and the North, then back through the West.
What's included
9 hotel nights along the route (one double room each night)
Blue Lagoon entry
A guided glacier walk
A boat tour on the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
Whale watching from Húsavík
Mývatn Nature Baths
A day-by-day self-drive itinerary around the Ring Road: the Golden Circle, the South Coast, the Southeast, the East Fjords, Mývatn, the North and the West
Booking of every part of your trip, by me
A pre-trip guide covering travel insurance, packing, money and driving safety
One point of contact, from booking to landing
Not included: International flights · Rental car, fuel, parking and tolls · Meals · Travel insurance (I recommend it) · Personal spending
Getting around: Self-drive. You book your own rental car, and I plan the drives and share driving-safety tips in your pre-trip guide.
Your trip, day by day
Days 1 and 10 are travel days. In between, you drive the loop in this order, with hotels along the route. We'll set how many nights you spend in each area together, and timing can shift with the weather.
DAY 1
Arrival
Land at Keflavík Airport, pick up your rental car and head to your first hotel.
LEG 1
The Golden Circle
Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall.
LEG 2
The South Coast
Waterfalls, black sand beaches and your guided glacier walk on the way east.
LEG 3
The Southeast and Jökulsárlón
Icebergs on the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, with a boat tour among the ice.
LEG 4
The East Fjords
Quieter roads, small fishing villages and coastal scenery.
LEG 5
Lake Mývatn
Volcanic landscapes and a soak at the Mývatn Nature Baths.
LEG 6
The North and Húsavík
Waterfalls of the North and a whale-watching tour from Húsavík.
LEG 7
The West
The final stretch of the loop through West Iceland, back toward Keflavík.
DAY 10
Departure
Return your rental car at Keflavík Airport and fly home.
Make it yours
The Ring Road covers a lot of ground. We can add nights, slow things down, swap in a private guide, or skip what doesn't interest you.
✈️ Flights and rental cars aren't included. You'll book those yourself, and I'm happy to share timing tips so everything lines up.
Ready to loop the island?
Tell me about your group and dates, and I'll tailor the route for you.