Self Drive
Iceland Ring Road Slow & Steady
In this 9 night/10 day self guided tour you will visit the most iconic highlights of Iceland as well as having the freedom to make your own discoveries.
- Trees planted 16
- Available all year
- Duration 10 days / 9 nights
- Departure Keflavík International airport
- Distance driven Approx. 1980 km / 1230 miles
What you'll experience.
Take it slow on the Iceland Ring Road Slow & Steady self drive road trip, and experience all the amazing attractions found around the Iceland ring road.
In this 9 night/10 day self guided tour you will explore the most iconic highlights of Iceland. This tour will give you the freedom to explore Iceland on your own time and make your own discoveries.
Discover the famous Golden Circle and South Coast of Iceland, the majestic fjords of the East and the great history of the North.
Highlights of this tour will include (and many more):
| Gullfoss, the golden waterfall |
| Seljalandsfoss, take a walk behind the waterfall for great photographic opportunities |
| Reynisfjara, black sand beach |
| Skaftafell National Park |
| Jökulsárlón, glacier lagoon |
| Majestic fjords of the East |
| Stuðlagil canyon |
| Ásbyrgi canyon |
| Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe |
| The magical area of Mývatn lake |
| Hraunfossar and Barnafossar waterfalls |
| Surtshellir lava caves |
| The dynamic and interesting city of Reykjavík |
An Iceland ring road self drive tour is the perfect way to discover what Iceland is all about. Doing a self drive tour with one of our itineraries will help you explore Iceland and not miss out on anything. You will be in full control of your journey, no hassle and no crowded buses!
A detailed itinerary will be provided once booking has been confirmed. Please note that adding optional activities may change the itinerary slightly.
To request a price quote for this tour, please fill out the request form, and we will send you a price quote based on your preferences.
Don’t want to drive yourself? Check out our selection of guided multi-day tours here.
Tours that might also interest you
Rental car selection.
If you are planning on driving in Iceland during winter, between September and May, we highly recommend choosing a 4x4 vehicle for your safety and to make your vacation more enjoyable. The weather in Iceland can change suddenly and you could encounter snow or sleet. Some roads are also not accessible for smaller vehicles but can be reached on 4x4´s.
To ensure your safety on our self-drive tours in Iceland, we only provide 4WD cars from 1st of October through March, due to possible snow, slush, and other hazardous road conditions.
Included in rental rate
- Unlimited mileage
- CDW (Collision Damage Waver)
- SCDW (Super Collision Damage Waver)
- GP (Gravel Protection. Includes damages to windscreens, headlights and the car)
- TP (Theft Protection)
- Extra driver option (when suitable)
- 4G WiFi with unlimited data to stay connected during your tour
- VAT 24%
Can be added in the booking process
- Liability waiver for carefree travelling
Small car: ISK 3.590 per day
Medium/Large car: ISK 4.690 per day - SAAP (Sand and Ash Insurance)
Recommended for those travelling the south coast.
Rates depend on the size of the rental car.
ISK 1.650 per day - GPS navigation system
Some cars have free GPS systems on board
1.550 ISK per day - Roadside assistance waiver
ISK 800 per day - Booster seat
Free of charge - Baby seat
0 - 13 kg - ISK 4.000 per rental - Child seat
15 - 36 kg - ISK 4.000 per rental
Accommodations.
You can choose from four main categories of accommodations in the booking request process, Comfort, Quality, Quality+ and Luxury. Breakfast is included in all categories.
Included in final tour price.
Included
- Accommodation for 9 nights with breakfast
- Rental car of your choice for 10 days including CDW, SCDW, TP, GP, SAAP, Extra driver, 4G Wifi dongle with unlimited data and VAT 24%
- Detailed personal itinerary
- Carbon offseting (16 trees planted)
- Taxes and service fees
- Personal and professional service
Not included
- Flight to/from Iceland
- Personal travel insurance
- Gasoline/petrol and tunnel fees
- Meals and drinks beside breakfast
- Entrance fees unless otherwise stated
- Optional activities listed in booking request process
Map.
Itinerary.
Arrival at Keflavík airport and car rental pickup. You will start your adventure by driving through the lava fields of the Reykjanes peninsula towards the town of Selfoss. Depending on your arrival time an optional visit to the Blue Lagoon can be added. Tickets to the lagoon are very limited so it is necessary to book well in advance. You can also add an optional RIB safari or an ATV excursion from Þorlákshöfn, a small fishing village on the South coast of Iceland. You will spend your first night in the greater Selfoss area. Km driven: 95
Take the day early and head to Hveragerði where you can take a hike to Reykjadalur valley and bathe in the geothermal river that runs through it. After a refreshing bath under the open air, you will head to Þingvellir National Park the first stop in the famous Golden Circle tourist route. At Þingvellir you can go for an optional snorkeling session in Silfra fissure. Silfra is located between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates so in a sense you are swimming between two continents. Your next stop will be at Geysir geothermal area to see the spouting hot spring Strokkur and other boiling hot springs. You will then head to the waterfall Gullfoss for some amazing photo opportunities. You will spend the night in the Flúðir area. Km driven: 155
After breakfast you will drive to the South Coast of Iceland. Your first scheduled stop will be at the stunning waterfall Seljalandsfoss where you can stretch your legs and walk behind it for some unique photo opportunities. A little further East is the picturesque waterfall Skógafoss. There you can walk up to the top for an amazing view of the area. On your way to Skógafoss you will drive passed the ice cap volcano Eyjafjallajökull glacier that caused international aviation to come to a halt in march of 2010. Just East of Skógafoss you can go for an optional glacier walk at Sólheimajökull outlet glacier. Your next stop will be at the abandoned plane wreck at Sólheimasandur beach for some great photos. You will then drive on to Reynisfjara black sand beach to marvel at the powerful North Atlantic ocean crashing on the beautiful basalt columns. You will spend the night in the Vík/Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.Km driven: 145
Your first scheduled stop of the day will be at Skaftafell National Park. There are many great hiking trails in the area which will take you to many interesting attractions such as Svartifoss waterfall and Skaftafellsjökull outlet glacier. Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon will be your next stop. There you can see icebergs that have crumbled from the mighty Vatnajökull glacier float ever so slowly towards the ocean. If you’d like, a boat ride on the lagoon in an amphibian boat can be arranged. You can also add a glacier hike or an ice climbing session on the glacier. You will keep heading East and spend the night in the Höfn area. Km driven: 270
On this day you will enter the Eastfjords of Iceland and their majestic mountain ranges. You will drive towards the town of Djúpivogur which is a part of the Cittaslow movement (http://www.cittaslow.org/network/djupivogur). There you can walk around town and enjoy a variety of artwork and collections from locals. Around the Djúpivogur area there are many interesting places to stop by and visit. Afterwards you will drive to Breiðdalsvík a tiny fishing village where you have the option to go fishing on a small fishing vessel. You will then drive to Stöðvarfjörður where you can stop and take a look at Petra’s world famous stone & mineral collection. You will continue driving the beautiful fjords onward to Fáskrúðsfjörður where you can enjoy a walk around this charming fishing village and absorb its rich history and culture. You can also take a look at the Auroras Iceland museum that is located in the town. You will then proceed to Reyðarfjörður and then finally Egilstaðir where you will spend the night. Km driven: 250
After breakfast you will hit the road again and head North towards Húsavík, the whale watching capital of Iceland. Take the day early and start the day with a visit to the stunning Stuðlagil canyon. Afterwards you will make stops at the awe-inspiring Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe, and the beautiful Ásbyrgi canyon. When you arrive in Húsavík we highly recommend adding an optional whale watching tour and see these gentle giants in their natural habitat. You will spend the night in Húsavík. Km driven: 250
After breakfast you will head to Mývatn lake, famed for its natural beauty and diverse wildlife. There are many interesting hiking trails in the area and a visit to the geothermal area by Námafjall is of course highly recommended. At Mývatn you can add a visit to the Mývatn Nature Baths. Afterwards you will head back on the road and head to Akureyri, the biggest town in Iceland outside the capital area. On your way you will make a stop at Goðafoss waterfall, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. In Akureyri you can add an optional whale watching tour in Eyjafjörður fjord. After your visit in Akureyri you will drive the Tröllaskagi peninsula towards the town of Siglufjörður and eventually to Varmahlíð where you will spend the night. On your way to Varmahlíð we recommend a stop in Hofsós and visit the local swimming pool. The view from the pool is extraordinary and quite the experience. Km driven: 370
Today you will make your way South. You will head straight to the Borgarfjörður area to see the Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls and other beautiful attractions. You can also add an exciting excursion to the man made ice cave in Langjökull glacier. An optional caving tour to the lava cave Víðgelmir is also available. You will spend the night in the Húsafell/Reykholt area. Km driven: 250
After breakfast you will make your way to Reykjavík where you will spend your final night. You will drive the Hvalfjörður fjord where you can go for a hike to Glymur, Iceland’s highest waterfall. You can also make a stop at the old whaling station before heading to Reykjavík. In Reykjavík you can add plenty of activities (see list below) or just enjoy the day walking around the city soaking in the unique atmosphere. Km driven: 145
Sadly, today marks the end of your vacation in Iceland. You will head to Keflavík International Airport, return your rental car and depart. Km driven: 50
393.990 ISK