🗓 7/8-Day Ring Road Itinerary (by Car or Camper)
Start/End: Reykjavík | Best Time: May–September | Total Distance: ~1,300 km
📍 Day 1: Reykjavík → Vík
Drive time: ~2.5–3 hours
Seljalandsfoss – A waterfall you can walk behind for a unique perspective.
Skógafoss – A powerful 60m cascade with a rainbow on sunny days.
Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck – The remains of a US Navy DC-3 on a black sand beach.
Reynisfjara Beach – Dramatic black sands and basalt columns, home to puffins in summer.
Dyrhólaey – A promontory offering views of the arch rock and endless coastline.
Overnight: Vík area
📍 Day 2: Vík → Höfn
Drive time: ~4 hours
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon – A fairytale-like green gorge with hiking trails.
Skaftafell (Vatnajökull NP) – Scenic hiking area under Europe’s largest glacier.
Svínafellsjökull – An accessible glacier tongue with dramatic ice formations.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon – Icebergs drift from the glacier to the sea.
Diamond Beach – Glittering chunks of ice scattered across black sand.
Overnight: Höfn
📍 Day 3: Höfn → Egilsstaðir (via East Fjords)
Drive time: ~4–5 hours
Djúpivogur – A quiet fishing village with quirky egg-shaped sculptures.
Breiðdalsvík & Fáskrúðsfjörður – Scenic fjord towns with French fishing history.
Petra’s Stone Collection – A legendary display of Icelandic minerals.
Vök Baths (optional) – Floating geothermal pools on a serene lake.
Overnight: Egilsstaðir
📍 Day 4: Egilsstaðir → Mývatn
Drive time: ~2.5 hours
Dettifoss – The most powerful waterfall in Europe.
Hverir Geothermal Area – Boiling mud pots and sulfurous steam vents.
Krafla Volcano – Crater landscapes and lava fields.
Lake Mývatn – A volcanic lake dotted with pseudocraters and rich in birdlife.
Mývatn Nature Baths – Milder, less crowded alternative to the Blue Lagoon.
Overnight: Mývatn or Húsavík
📍 Day 5: Mývatn → Akureyri (via Húsavík)
Drive time: ~3 hours
Húsavík (optional) – Iceland’s whale watching capital.
Goðafoss – A wide and graceful “Waterfall of the Gods.”
Akureyri – Lively northern town with cafes, a church, and gardens.
Overnight: Akureyri
📍 Day 6: Akureyri → Vatnsnes Peninsula
Drive time: ~3.5 hours
Skagafjörður – Horse country with farms and heritage museums.
Glaumbær Turf Houses – Traditional 18th-century Icelandic farmstead (optional).
Vatnsnes Peninsula – Secluded region ideal for seal watching.
Hvitserkur – A basalt sea stack shaped like a dragon drinking water.
Overnight: Hvammstangi area
📍 Day 7: Vatnsnes → Snæfellsnes OR Reykjavík
Option A: Snæfellsnes Peninsula (Add 1 day)
Option B: Return to Reykjavík directly
Snæfellsjökull Glacier – Glacier-capped volcano at the peninsula’s tip.
Kirkjufell Mountain – Iconic, perfectly symmetrical peak near waterfalls.
Arnarstapi – Clifftop walk with basalt arches and sea views.
Búðir Church – A tiny black church in a lava field.
Overnight: Snæfellsnes (if Option A) or Reykjavík
📍 Day 8 (if needed): Snæfellsnes → Reykjavík
Drive time: ~2.5 hours
Reykjavík – Explore Iceland’s capital: Hallgrímskirkja, Harpa, and street art.
Blue Lagoon (optional) – Geothermal spa near the airport for one last soak.
