Our recent 8 day Iceland ring road tour was one of the most amazing traveling experiences we’ve ever had. Visiting any foreign country is always exciting and new but Iceland brought that sensation to a new level. The sheer number of utterly unique natural phenomenon in the “land of fire and ice” that can’t be seen anywhere else in the world is a solid indicator of what to expect. The geological history of Iceland alone provided innumerable moments one isn’t likely to experience elsewhere . . . at least not in one place.
Because of its history, Iceland provides unequaled visual and physical delights. I could be volcanic ash black sand beaches, flat top mountains caused by the water weight of glaciers or even hundreds of miles of centuries old lava fields slowly healing from numerous volcano eruptions. Large swaths of Iceland have no trees due to the Vikings deforesting the entire country. This has led to homes and buildings built using concrete, distinctly lacking in shape and character, contributing to the many brightly colored structures throughout the country. The unique nature of melting glaciers and active volcanoes means every time you visit Iceland it could be quite different.
This post spotlights each day of our 8 day Iceland Ring Road Tour. Each day includes links to other posts that provide additional information, including video and pictures, of each day’s highlights. Please enjoy!
Arctic Adventures
Our 8 day Iceland Ring Road Tour came about after months of research, planning, budgeting and reading hundreds of reviews. Our research led us to select a local company, Arctic Adventures (AA). The only negative reviews we saw were about communication but, having gone through the tour, we understood better some of the unique challenges the island creates. Weather, and other geological occurrences, can be a factor for where it makes sense to visit on any given day despite the time of year. There are advantages, and disadvantages to visiting in each season as well. We chose July for the milder weather but that meant we missed out on the ice cave exploration.
AA caps their 8 day Iceland Ring Road Tour at 18 people which proved an ideal group size. We were transported all week in a comfortable 18-seat minibus (with WiFi) by our self-proclaimed “not politically correct” tour guide, Aaron. A good amount of the week is spent in the minibus and, in addition to the natural beauty surrounding us each day, Aaron kept us entertained with stories and information about his amazing country as well as both modern and traditional Icelandic music. Nightly accommodations and free breakfasts, are included on the 8 day Iceland Ring Road Tour along with some moderate (though not very challenging) hikes to see waterfalls and explore glaciers.
Day 1: Reykjavik
Our direct flight from RDU arrived at Keflavik International Airport in Reykjavik early on a Sunday morning. After leaving our bags at the front desk of the Reykjavik Lights Hotel, we began exploring Reykjavik. My itinerary was (too) aggressive but it did allow us to see virtually every cool site Iceland’s capital city had to offer. We saw the Hallgrímur’s Church with its Leifur Eiríksson Statue, Rainbow Street, the unique architectural delight of Church of Seltjarnarne, Þúfa, Harpa Concert Hall, the iconic sculpture Sun Voyager and the historic Höfði House. We enjoyed a fantastic hot dog at the Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur as well as an amazing dinner with Pronto Pasta in the Borg29 mathöll (food court). We strolled the Sculpture & Shore Walk and spent an hour in the historical Saga Museum featuring wax figures that show the story of Iceland.
Day 2: Golden Circle
We enjoyed a fantastic complimentary breakfast at our hotel and, at 8 am sharp, Aaron swung by in the minibus and so began our 8 day Iceland Ring Road Tour. After picking up the rest of our fellow travelers we headed southeast on Iceland’s infamous Ring Road. Our first full day on the road covered both the Golden Circle and Iceland’s south coast. We first visited the historically important Þingvellir National Park then the geological wonders of Lake Laugarvatn and Geysir Center.
Next, we were overwhelmed by three of the most spectacular waterfalls we’ve ever seen; “Golden” Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, the falls you can walk behind and the powerful simplicity of Skógafoss. The day ended with the awesome Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach with its vertical basalt columns and caves, the moss covered cliffs and dual spires rising up out of the surf. Our first night on the road was spent at the Hotel Dyrhólaey in southern Iceland overlooking the Mýrdalur valley and Dyrhólaey peninsula. This first day was the most aggressive one of the 8 day Iceland Ring Road Tour and what a way to get started!
Day 3: Glacial Lagoon
The Hotel Dyrhólaey had an excellent breakfast buffet to fuel us for the busy day ahead. We began with a closeup look at the Skaftareldahraun area of the Eldhraun Lava Field, the largest lava field in the world covering several hundred miles. After a stop to see Foss a Sidu, the sideways waterfall, we headed to the Vatnajokull National Park for one of the highlights of our 8 day Iceland Ring Road Tour . . . hiking on the Svinafellsjökull Glacier. The hike is exhilarating but could be considered difficult if you aren’t in reasonably good physical shape.
Next up were three of the most unique and beautiful places on the planet, Fjallsàrlón, the Mountain River Glacier, Diamond Beach and the iconic Jökulsarlón Glacier Lagoon. Words, or even pictures, can’t adequately capture the sheer magnificence of these natural phenomenon. We then headed north along the coast to Höfn where we enjoyed a wonderful dinner and excellent nights rest at the Hótel Höfn.
Day 4: Eastern Fjords
After yet another hearty (free) breakfast buffet we visited Stokksnes Beach which featured the breathtaking Vestrahorn Mountain and an opportunity to walk on water. At the base of the mountain we experienced an abandoned movie set depicting a Viking Village. Further up the coast we stopped at the bright orange Hvalnes Lighthouse then Fauskasandur Beach with its magnificent rectangular rock monolith that sits stoically right at the shore’s edge.
Next up was the small fishing village of Djúpivogur for lunch at Vid Voginn and the outdoor art exhibit “Eggs of Merry Bay”. The rest of the day was spent visiting three waterfalls, off the beaten path Fossárdalur and a 3-mile hike to see both Litlanesfoss and the 3rd tallest waterfall in all of Iceland, Hengifoss. After a quick stop at the historic home of Gunnar Gunnarsson, Skriðuklaustur we settled into the Wilderness Center Hotel for the evening. In fact, we were the first overnight guests ever at this secluded and homey hotel overlooking a small tributary in Egilstaðir.
Day 5: Northern Iceland
Day 5 of our 8 day Iceland Ring Road Tour began with the easily accessible Rjúkandafoss located directly off the Ring Road. About an hour and a half northwest we experienced the mighty Dettifoss, considered to be the most powerful waterfall in all of Europe. We were lucky to have a sunny day that produced amazing rainbows on the south side of “The Collapsing Waterfall”. Next stop was the famous Mývatn Nature Baths where we spent a few hours relaxing in the soothing hot springs. We next strolled through the amazing Dimmuborgir. If you appreciate a variety of rock formations then this stop is priceless. A quick lunch at Dalakofinn Restaurant and we were prepared for Goðafoss, aka “The Beauty” and “Waterfall of the Gods”. This almost 100’ (30 m) wide falls is fed by the Vatnajokull glacier which means the water flow remains pretty constant all year round. Our nightly accommodation, the Stórutjarna Hotel in Akureyri, is a boarding school that doubles as a hotel in the summer.
Day 6: Whale Watching
Less than an hour north of Akureyri is the tiny coastal village of Dalvik and home to some of the best whale watching in Iceland. We spent a few hours in the Eyjafjörður fjord and were rewarded with sightings of whales, seals, dolphins, porpoises and puffins. From our boat we also saw the colorful Hrólfsskersviti Lighthouse and the magnificent Mígandifoss. Back on land we enjoyed a warm lunch at the olde worlde Gisli Eirikur Helgi Kaffihûs Bakkabrædra featuring fish soup, fresh backed bread and piping hot (and strong) coffee. We next went further north all the way to the Arctic Line to the fishing town of Siglufjörður located in the Troll Peninsula. Finally we visited the Glaumbaer Farm & Museum with its quaint chapel, living museum and Laufás turf roofs. Our last night of our 8 day Iceland Ring Road Tour found us at the Hótel Laugarbakki where, directly upon arrival, our heads hit the pillows not to be heard from till breakfast.
Day 7: Western Iceland
The last full day on our 8 day Iceland Ring Road Tour began with a self tour of the spectacular 3,400 year old Grábrók Crater. After a nice cardio walk up, and around, the crater we headed for our last set of waterfalls. Barnafoss is technically a cascade but stands out due to its power and the numerous lookout spots, each providing different perspectives of the water raging through the jagged rock cliffs. Just a few meters west is the stunningly beautiful Hraunfossar with its multiple mini-springs flowing for almost 3,000’ (900 m) along a massive pillow lava field into the rushing Hvítá river.
Next we visited the stables at Sturlureykir, a horse farm where we learned what made Icelandic horses different than European, Asian and American breeds. We got a chance to pet and feed the horses which is always a thrill. It is also the site of the first geothermal capture for energy purposes in Iceland. Our last official group activity was 2-hour horseback ride at the Laxnes Horse Farm in Mosfellsdalur. While the scenery on the ride wasn’t spectacular the horses were. They are smaller than North American horses but have a beautifully elegant gait and a pleasant demeanor. Finally we arrived back in Reykjavik and a final stay at the Reykjavik Lights Hotel.
Day 8: Reykjavik
A mid-afternoon flight meant we only had the morning to further explore Reykjavik. As Hallgrímur’s Church was closed during our previous visit we decided to revisit for a chance to see the inside and take the elevator to the tower for a bird’s eye view of Rekjavik. Another walk down Skólavörðustígur, Rainbow Street then a quick visit around Austurvöllur and we were ready, reluctantly, to board our bus at the BSI Bus Terminal Reykjavik for the airport and a return flight back home to North Carolina.
Ring Road
One of the coolest things about Iceland is the Ring Road that serves as a coastal path that incorporates most all of inhabitable Iceland. As we explored the “Land of Fire and Ice” in our minibus most of our journey was along, or just off of, the Ring Road. Around the airport is all lava fields and somewhat barren. As you head east away from Reykjavik the first thing you notice is fewer and fewer automobiles and more and more mountains. While there are plenty of amazing jagged mountain tops, the islands glacial activity has produced a large number of flat-topped mountains. The Ring Road is scattered with isolated homes often situated at the base of a mountain, occasional white water rapids like the Systrastapi Rock cascade and even a glacier or two. In the summer the weather is mild averaging between 50°-60°F (10°-16°C) with periods of sunlight peeking through the generally overcast sky and occasional rain.
You’ll also see a great number of waterfalls appearing as you look inland at the mountains. It is estimated that more than 10,000 waterfalls could exist in Iceland though we only saw closer to 100 during in our 8 day Iceland Ring Road Tour. There’s also an overabundance of sheep in Iceland, perhaps well over a million, many to be seen near the road, the fields and even along the mountainsides. There are also horses though not in the same numbers. There are a few long stretches of barren land and open lava fields that are a perfect time to catch up on your sleep. Another thing you’ll notice is, with the exception of one stretch along the east coast, a distinct lack of trees. In fact, the oldest tree in Iceland is just 150 years old. But, not to worry, the mountains and volcanoes are stunning and plentiful.
To say our 8 day Iceland Ring Road Tour was spectacular would still be an understatement. We’ve never experienced such a wide range of utterly unique places within a span of just 8 days. Between the waterfalls, the way the geothermal and volcanic activity have shaped the landscape, the unique towns and historic sites, the beaches and lighthouses and the city of Reykjavik . . . you are left speechless and humbled.
There is so much more we couldn’t fit into our 8 day Iceland Ring Road Tour that we will likely return but in the winter. We can’t wait to explore the interior highlands with their ice caves and see some frozen waterfalls. Have you been to Iceland? We’d love to hear about your personal favorite areas and moments!
