skogafoss waterfall landscape iceland
snow seljalandsfoss waterfall iceland
budakirkja black church iceland moors
vatnajokull glacier blue ice cave
iceland green  northern lights lagoon
group watching aurora borealis
hraunfossar waterfall streams
icebergs jokulsarlon glacier lagoon iceland
lake myvtn natural baths
group hiking vatnajokull glacier
group glacier hike
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8 Day Iceland Ring Road Tour

Glacier Hiking, Ice Caving, Horse Riding, Whale Watching and more!

🎉 NOW AVAILABLE ALL YEAR ROUND 🎉

Reykjavík
8 days
English
Starts: From your accommodation located in the Reykjavík metropolitan area at 8:00 a.m.
Ends: At the same point at around 8:00 p.m.
Flexible cancellation policy

Briefing

The perfect tour for those who want to discover every natural wonder that Iceland has to offer. On this 8 Day Iceland Ring Road Tour, you'll explore the famous Golden Circle, including stops at Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall or the geothermal area of Geysir. Then you will tour the south coast, with the black Reynisfjara beach or the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and diamond beach.

We will also visit the northern capital, Akureyri and its surroundings, the fjords in the east of Iceland, the cliffs of Arnastapi or the Snaefellsnes peninsula to find hidden places such as the Kirkjufell mountain. During the whole trip we will be accompanied by a local guide so that we do not have to worry about anything and in a group of a maximum of 18 travelers. If you want to know all the details, we invite you to keep reading.

Tour details

Included

  • Professional guide throughout the trip
  • Small groups for a better experience
  • Wi-Fi and Icelandic music during the trip
  • Hotel accommodation
  • Breakfast

Not included

  • Lunch and dinner
  • Optional activities available as an extra

Important information

During this 8-day tour to Iceland, we will have the possibility to do several activities that are not included and are available as an extra.

The minimum age for the hike on the glacier or in the ice cave is 8 years old. If there are children who do not meet this requirement, they must stay with an adult while the others do the activity.

Don't forget to provide us with your hotel during the booking process. This tour includes pick-up from your hotel, but due to traffic restrictions in Reykjavík city, the minibus cannot stop anywhere. Therefore, if it is not possible to pick you up at the door of your hotel, a nearby bus stop will be provided.

Ice caves are a natural and changing phenomenon, every year new caves are formed in the glacier and others disappear. The cave in the photos may not be the one you visit during your trip, or it could have changed.

Cancellation policy

Cancellation must be made 48 hours in advance and 85% of the total price of the tour will be refunded. Any request less than 48 hours before the tour will be non-refundable. 

In the event that due to extreme weather conditions, road conditions or other factors, the tour is cancelled, we will provide another date as an alternative or a full refund.

Tour itinerary

Day 1 - The Golden Circle

Extra activity: Snorkeling in Sifra

Our first stop is between two tectonic plates, Thingvellir National Park, surrounded by snow and with unique geographical features. At this first stop, it is possible to snorkel in the Silfra crevasse as an extra. On the Golden Circle route, our next stop is in the geothermal area of Hakuadalur, where we find Geysir, the geyser that gives its name to all the others, or Strokkur, which erupts every 5 minutes with such force that it reaches a height of 35 meters.

The third stop of this day that completes the Golden Circle is the Gullfoss waterfall, the place where the glacial river Hvítá falls from a height of 32 meters. Gullfoss translates as the Golden Waterfall, and is what gives this tour its name. At the end of the day we will take you to your hotel which is located in a perfect spot to see Northern Lights at night. After this long day, it's time to rest at the hotel and recharge your batteries for the next day.

geyser erupting

Day 2 - South Coast

On this second day, we will head to the south coast of Iceland to visit the incredible Seljalandsfoss waterfall, with a 65-metre-high (213 feet) drop and unparalleled views. But our next destination is not far behind, with a similar height, we will travel to the Skógafoss waterfall. If this day seemed too easy, get ready for a hike through the glacier crevasses.

The last stop of the day is the famous black sand Reynisfjara beach, surrounded by black basalt columns. From here you can also see the rock formations of Reynisdrangar rising from the sea. To finish and rest, we will head back to our hotel in Vik.

basalt colums reynisfjara black sand beach

Day 3 - Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach

Ice and icebergs are what await you today. At Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, icebergs descend from the glacier on their way to the so-called Diamond Beach. And it is not gems that you will find on this beach, but small icebergs stranded on the black sandy beach that form a unique landscape.

We cannot tour this area without also making a stop is the Vatnajökull glacier ice cave, where an experienced guide takes you to visit these unique blue ice caves. Finally, we will travel to the southeast, where our accommodation awaits us, and we can recharge our batteries.

icebergs jokulsarlon glacier lagoon

Day 4 - East Fjords of Iceland

Extra activity: Horseback riding

The time has come to explore the stunning East Fjords of Iceland. The fjords present us with high mountain ridges where we will discover Icelandic history and culture in quiet fishing villages, get up close to the local wildlife, the wild reindeer, and all this while admiring the Vatnajökull glacier in the background. Horseback riding will also be available on this day.

Our next destination is the Hallormsstaðaskógur forest, the longest forest in the country, which offers a multitude of trails to caves, waterfalls and moorlands. Hidden in this forest is Lake Lagarfljót, which is the source of legends about a mysterious creature that lives there. We will spend the night in a small village in the east of Iceland.

wild raindeer east fjords iceland

Day 5 - Lake Mývatn area, Dimmuborgir forest and Námaskarð pass

Extra activity: VÖK Natural Baths

The kind of things that make Iceland unique are what we will see on this fifth day. Lake Mývatn area features lava formations, mud pools, unique geographical formations and the famous Mývatn hot springs. If you've been cold so far, don't worry, things are about to change at our next destination. The Námaskarð Pass offers a geothermal area with high temperatures where the earth boils and a red-orange landscape awaits us.

And if that doesn't sound magical enough, at Dimmuborgir, our next stop, we will visit lava pillars with peculiar shapes that remind many of trolls, elves and other mythical creatures. If this is too much excitement for you, and you want to relax, add for an extra fee the entrance to the VÖK Natural Baths. On the way to our accommodation, we will also make a stop at the Goðafoss waterfall. Before you go to sleep, we recommend you to take a look at the sky because there is a chance to see Northern Lights from here.

godafoss waterfall snow landscape

Day 6 - Exploring North Iceland

This sixth day is the most relaxing of all, and to recharge our batteries we will spend the day visiting the city known as the Capital of the North, Akureyri. We will also take a trip to the small town of Hauganes, a place with much to discover and where a stroll along the harbor and its black sandy beach is a must.  Crossing the harbor, a whale watching boat will take us out to sea to observe humpback whales and other marine giants. In the evening, we will return to Akureyri for the night.

akureyri humpback whale tail

Day 7 - Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Extra activity: Víðgelmir cave tour

On the seventh day, we will visit the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Our first stop will be at Gerðuberg, an ensemble of hexagonal basalt columns. As a contrast to everything we have learned, we will visit the white sandy beach of Ytri-Tunga, which is unusual for Iceland, as most beaches are black sand. Did I mention that Ytri-Tunga is also a seal colony?

Then we head to Djúpalónssandur beach, although to get there we have to cross a labyrinth of lava pillars. We continue our adventure on the Snaefellsjökull glacier with a visit to the Arnarstapi, Hellnar cliffs and Búðakirkja black church.

Our next stop is the volcanic cave of Víðgelmir, the cave that inspired Jules Verne to think of a journey to the center of the earth. For an extra charge you can descend into the cave yourself and experience the adventure, but don't worry, the cave doesn't go that low.

To end our day, we drove even further into the Snaefellsnes Peninsula to visit the iconic Kirkjufell mountain. If this destination sounds familiar, it's because you've travelled beyond the wall to reach the arrowhead-shaped mountain in Game of Thrones.

kirkjufell mountain snaefellsnes peninsula

Day 8 - Drive to the West and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in depth

On our last day we return to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and visit western Iceland, our first stop will be at Deildartunguhver, the largest hot spring in Europe. There you will see steam and boiling water rising from the ground. The surface surrounding the spring has a reddish color due to the steam and minerals in the area.

Time for a bit of history, our next stop is Reykholt, birthplace of Snorri Sturluson, a character with great impact on Icelandic history as a poet, legislator and scholar. And in case you haven't had your fill of waterfalls, our next two stops are two very different but equally special waterfalls. Hraunfossar is a series of streams emerging through dark lava fields and Barnafoss, meanwhile, is a bright blue stream cascading down a narrow gorge. 

Save your strength because we saved the best for last, the tour of the active volcano Fagradalsfjall. Our journey will end in Reykjavík where it began, after having travelled around Iceland in 8 days and having lived an unforgettable experience.

orange landscape hraunfossar waterfalls

What to bring to 8 Day Iceland Ring Road tour

  • Warm clothing (first layer)
  • Waterproof clothing (second layer)
  • Hiking boots (available for rent when booking)
  • Swimsuit and a towel

Where does the tour 8 Day Iceland Ring Road start

At the time of booking, you will have to choose one of the many bus stops or even your own hotel in Reykjavík as a pick-up point for us to pick you up.

Questions & Answers

  • How does the pick-up work?

    Pick-up is available free of charge from any of the designated bus stops in the Reykjavík city area, from which you will have to choose one at the time of booking. If you let us know your hotel, we also offer a pick-up service from most hotels in the capital city, or if this is not possible due to traffic restrictions, we will tell you the nearest bus stop. If you still have any doubts about the pick-up, do not hesitate to contact us.

  • What should I wear during the tour?

    During the winter we recommend you wear: warm clothes as a first layer, waterproof outdoor jacket and trousers, hiking boots with ankle protection, a hat and gloves. Make sure you don't wear jeans for the hike in the cave, once they get wet they will take a long time to dry and therefore leave you cold.
  • How difficult is the 8 day Iceland tour?

    The tour is of easy difficulty except for a few specific activities. Our glacier hikes are considered easy to moderate difficulty for anyone in good physical condition. If you can walk for approximately 1 hour up and 1 hour down on uneven surfaces, there should be no problem. In addition, you will walk with a professional guide who will assist you at all times. If you still have specific questions about this glacier hike or any of the activities, contact us.

  • What is the minimum age for the hiking activities?

    The minimum age for the hike on the glacier or in the ice cave is 8 years old. If there are children who do not meet this requirement, they must stay with an adult while the others do the activity.
  • How does bad weather affect my trip?

    For many Icelanders, it is a fine day, when in other parts of the world it is considered bad weather. In most cases, suitable waterproof clothing and hiking boots should be enough to withstand the frequent Icelandic rain during the whole 8 days. In the event of extreme weather conditions preventing the tour from taking place, an alternative date or a full refund will be offered.
  • Is breakfast included?

    Yes, breakfast is included after each night of accommodation. Lunch and dinner are left to you to try Icelandic food where you like it best.
  • What is the maximum group size?

    The maximum number of travelers is 18. We try to create small group sizes to enhance the experience.
  • Which hotels will we stay at?

    Accommodation changes with each tour depending on factors such as availability, season or price. But they all include breakfast and even the possibility to enjoy Northern Lights from the hotel. If you want additional information, please contact us.

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