Ideal for a summer vacation and travelers that love to be on-the-go, this itinerary is for 8 days in Iceland, including your arrival day. The itinerary will have you on the move and changing accommodations every night, with the exception of the last two nights depending on your preference. With a longer trip, you could pace yourself and linger longer along the way.
You will see the variety of landscapes the country offers, from mountains with cascading waterfalls to glaciers that carve their way into glacial lagoons to moon-like vistas with geothermal activity. Along the way, Iceland’s animal life can be seen, whether along the road - horses and sheep - or along the coast - seals, whales, puffins.
This itinerary takes you along the entire Ring Road and over to the Westman Islands, where a huge puffin colony can be observed between April and August. While the most popular tourist sites along the Ring Road and Golden Circle are included in this itinerary, please note that it excludes the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, which is a detour from the Ring Road that some travelers to Iceland make. You can add that destination to your trip by planning for an extra day or eliminating either the Westman Islands or sites in the Golden Circle.
The itinerary includes:
Day 1 - Arrival, relaxation options, and sites in Reykjavik
Day 2 - Make your way up the western part of the Ring Road with options to stop at geothermal spas, a lava cave, a coastal detour to search for seals, and stops at other natural sites along the way. Drive time between 3.5 to 7 hours depending on activities.
Day 3 - Make your way along the northern part of the Ring Road with options to stop at a natural geothermal pool, the town of Akureyri, an awesome waterfall, and the Myvatn Lake area with its geothermal and volcanic sites. Drive time 3.5 hours.
Day 4 - Make your way along the northeastern part of the Ring Road with options to visit Husavik for whale watching, more awesome waterfalls, and the social media-famous Stuðlagil Canyon. Drive time 4 hours.
Day 5 - Make your way along the southeastern part of the Ring Road with options to walk behind a waterfall, see a Viking Village movie set, see a massive glacier and the famous Diamond Beach, and take a beautiful hike. Drive time 5.5 hours.
Day 6 - Make your way along the south part of the Ring Road with options to take a beautiful hike, visit a black sand beach, and see many famous waterfalls. Drive time 3 hours.
Day 7 - Take the ferry to the Westman Islands with options to see puffins, learn about the volcano that changed the island’s landscape, visit an aquarium, and take a hike with magnificent views. Drive time 1 hour.
Day 8 - Spend your last day visiting sites in the famous Golden Circle and hiking to a geothermal river for a final relaxing swim. Drive time 3 hours or less.
The itinerary also includes a packing list of items that are helpful when visiting Iceland.
NOTE - This itinerary may not be ideal for families with small children due to the amount of daily driving.
Ideal for a summer vacation and travelers that love to be on-the-go, this itinerary is for 8 days in Iceland, including your arrival day. The itinerary will have you on the move and changing accommodations every night, with the exception of the last two nights depending on your preference. With a longer trip, you could pace yourself and linger longer along the way.
You will see the variety of landscapes the country offers, from mountains with cascading waterfalls to glaciers that carve their way into glacial lagoons to moon-like vistas with geothermal activity. Along the way, Iceland’s animal life can be seen, whether along the road - horses and sheep - or along the coast - seals, whales, puffins.
This itinerary takes you along the entire Ring Road and over to the Westman Islands, where a huge puffin colony can be observed between April and August. While the most popular tourist sites along the Ring Road and Golden Circle are included in this itinerary, please note that it excludes the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, which is a detour from the Ring Road that some travelers to Iceland make. You can add that destination to your trip by planning for an extra day or eliminating either the Westman Islands or sites in the Golden Circle.
The itinerary includes:
Day 1 - Arrival, relaxation options, and sites in Reykjavik
Day 2 - Make your way up the western part of the Ring Road with options to stop at geothermal spas, a lava cave, a coastal detour to search for seals, and stops at other natural sites along the way. Drive time between 3.5 to 7 hours depending on activities.
Day 3 - Make your way along the northern part of the Ring Road with options to stop at a natural geothermal pool, the town of Akureyri, an awesome waterfall, and the Myvatn Lake area with its geothermal and volcanic sites. Drive time 3.5 hours.
Day 4 - Make your way along the northeastern part of the Ring Road with options to visit Husavik for whale watching, more awesome waterfalls, and the social media-famous Stuðlagil Canyon. Drive time 4 hours.
Day 5 - Make your way along the southeastern part of the Ring Road with options to walk behind a waterfall, see a Viking Village movie set, see a massive glacier and the famous Diamond Beach, and take a beautiful hike. Drive time 5.5 hours.
Day 6 - Make your way along the south part of the Ring Road with options to take a beautiful hike, visit a black sand beach, and see many famous waterfalls. Drive time 3 hours.
Day 7 - Take the ferry to the Westman Islands with options to see puffins, learn about the volcano that changed the island’s landscape, visit an aquarium, and take a hike with magnificent views. Drive time 1 hour.
Day 8 - Spend your last day visiting sites in the famous Golden Circle and hiking to a geothermal river for a final relaxing swim. Drive time 3 hours or less.
The itinerary also includes a packing list of items that are helpful when visiting Iceland.
NOTE - This itinerary may not be ideal for families with small children due to the amount of daily driving.
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