From Reykjavik: 8-Day Summer Tour Around Iceland by Minibus

Come along on a fantastic summer adventure with this 8-day tour around the Ring Road and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Our tour guide will show you the very best of Iceland’s natural attractions. You will then spend your nights in comfortable country hotels as the midnight sun lights up the evening sky.

To make this fun-filled trip even more extraordinary, you can spice up your days of sightseeing with adventures.

Day 1 - The Golden Circle

First, visit Þingvellir National Park where the two tectonic plates, the North American and the Eurasian plates, are moving away from each other. Few places in the world offer a better and clearer view of this massive geographic activity. The biggest natural lake in Iceland is also located at Thingvellir National Park and hosts a great variety of fish and bird life. Thingvellir is furthermore an important place for Icelandic national history. At Thingvellir Icelanders founded their parliament in 930 AD where the chieftains had their annual meeting every summer. 

From Þingvellir you will drive for a short time to the next attraction which is Geysir geothermal area. There you can see Strokkur hot spring gushing out boiling water every 5 minutes or so. 

Next up is Gullfoss waterfall (The Golden Falls), one of Iceland's most iconic waterfalls that has a drop of 32 meters over two tocky tiers. On a sunny day, you can see the glacier Langjökull in the distance and enjoy a rainbow in the mist of the waterfall. 

At the end of the day you will visit Seljalandsfoss waterfall, famous for the pathway all around the waterfall. 

After a good day of sightseeing, we retreat to our located near the Golden Circle.

Day 2: South Coast, Waterfalls and Katla Ice Cave

Your second day includes the beautiful south coast of Iceland. On this day you'll pass by farmlands, rivers and picturesque waterfalls. Throughout the day you'll have the waves of the Atlantic ocean on your right side and there will be plenty stops for taking photographs and exploring the amazing scenery.  

You'll visit Seljalandsfoss and the powerful Skógarfoss Waterfall, where you can either go right up to the waterfall or hike up the 527 steps to witness the amazing view over the South Coast. 

Moreover, this tour includes a captivating visit to the awe-inspiring Katla Ice Cave, offering you an unforgettable experience and a Glacier Hike. Spend the night in the South nearby Vik area. 

The last stop of the day will be Reynisfjara Black Beach where you can breath the ocean air while exploring the extraordinary basalt stacks. The accommodation of day 2 will be in, or close to, the town of Vík.

Day 3: Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach

This day will very likely be one of the highlights of your trip. You'll travel further east along the South Coast, through the desert of Skeiðarársandur, passing another national park, Skaftafell. 

All the way east, you'll stop at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, one of the most iconic locations in Iceland. In Jökulsárlón, marvel at big and small icebergs breaking off from Breiðamerkurjökull glacier floating in the lagoon. If you look really well you might spots some seals that live in the lagoon. 

On this day you'll have the unique opportunity of taking a boat tour among the icebergs.

At the end of the day you'll visit the amazing Diamond Beach where the icebergs previously floating in the Glacier Lagoon have washed up to the beach making small diamonds. 

This night is spent in the area of Vatnajökull glacier.

Day 4: The Eastfjords

Today, continue further east towards the East Fjords of Iceland. The East Fjords is one of the most spectacular and untouched regions of the country. In this area, you will feel peace and tranquillity from nature around you. While driving here you might even spot wild reindeer!  

There are loads of interesting stops on this day as you head further east, such as the Djúpivogur forests, Lagarfljót lake, the charming fjords of the East and small fishing villages. At the end of the day you can relax in the VÖK Baths. 

The night will be spent in the Eastfjords area.

Day 5 - Mývatn and the North East

After breakfast, head north towards Lake Mývatn and the nearby geothermal area. You'll visit Dimmuborgir (Dark Castles) an area that is known for its strange rock formations, some look like a dark fort but others may look like a church. 

Next you'll visit Stuðlagil Canyon view point and then Dettifoss Waterfall.

At the end of the day you can stroll around Akureyri, the capital of the north. 

Day 6 - The North with Whale Watching

First, we head out to Hauganes, that is the home of only about 140 people, This is a really charming and peaceful village. You can spend some time strolling around the black sand beach or walk on the harbor. Next, you’ll see Dimmuborgir and Goðafoss. You’ll spend the night in Borgarnes.

This is before going on a 3h whale watching tour where you'll have the opportunity of seeing Humpback Whales, Minke Whales, Harbour Porpoise and White Beaked Dolphins. These are the most commonly spotted whales around.

Day 7 - Snaefellsnes Peninsula

On this day of the Iceland Circle you will explore Snæfellsnes Peninsula with its great surroundings. The first stop of the day will be Gerðuberg cliffs, from there you will go to Ytri-Tunga white sand beach. White beaches are not common in Iceland so this is a really interesting stop.

Next stop will be Djúpalónssandur, black pebble beach. Yo get to the beach you will have to walk through a maze of free standing lava pillars. Throughout the day you will have Snæfellsjökull glacier watching over you. Snæfellsjökull was used as the entrance to the center of the earth in Jules Verne's classic sci-fi novel. 

The last but not at all least stop of the day is the most photographed mountain in Iceland, Kirkjufell. You'll spend the night in the town of Stykkishólmur.

Day 8 - West Iceland
On the final day of your 8 days around Iceland you'll explore the valley of Borgarfjörður in West Iceland. The first attraction of the day is Europe's most powerful hot spring, Deildartunguhver, where bailing water is bubbling from the ground, you will feel the heat from the hot steam.

Next stop is Reykholt, one of the most important historical locations in Iceland. This was the home of Snorri Sturluson who was one of the most significant figures of the Middle Ages. After leaving Reykholt you will see two waterfalls, Hraunfossar and Barnafoss. Hraunfossar is a series of rivulets that stream through the dark lava field.

Barnafoss waterfall is a light blue waterfall that rushes through a narrow gorge. You will have the option of going under the ground and visit the lava cave of Víðgelmir one of Icelands largest lava cave. 

After exploring Borgarfjörður this 8-day tour has come to an end. You will end the tour in Reykjavík in early evening. We do not recommend flying from Iceland in the evening of the last day in case of any delays due to weather. We rather recommend exploring Reykjavík, the northernmost capital in the world.

Please note:

Solo travelers will receive a single room. Reservations for 2 people will be allocated a double room. For bookings of 3 or more, triple rooms will automatically be allocated. For example, a group of 8 will receive 2 triple rooms and 1 double.

It can happen, in the case of extreme weather, that an activity is cancelled. If your chosen activity is cancelled, we will assist you with rearranging or booking other activities when possible, and any potential price difference will be refunded to you.

Please note that only pick up and drop-off from designated pick up locations in the greater capital area is available, not from Keflavík International Airport. Therefore, we do not recommend attempting to start this tour on your arrival day in Iceland.

Arrival time back to Reykjavík at the end of your tour can vary depending on weather and traffic. It is highly recommended that you do not book your flight home the same night as bad weather or delays could affect your journey. Please be sure to arrange accommodation for this evening and an airport transfer the next day to take you to Keflavík International Airport for your departure.