10 Day Iceland Itinerary – Ring Street & Extra

David Beckam

Our 10-day Iceland itinerary uncovers what makes this land so distinctive from the most well liked must-see points of interest at the Ring Street, to out-of-the-way puts whole with never-ending scenic indulgence and thrilling reports. Right here’s how you can spend 10 days in Iceland.

Iceland is a singular vacation spot. Perched at the mid-Atlantic ridge the place the Earth’s crust is skinny, it’s a volcanic wonderland. Black lava fields drop from towering volcanos, sulphurous vents scar the land and vibrant mountains upward thrust above crystal-blue lakes.

It’s a stunningly stunning nation.

The Ring Street which circles the outside has transform a ceremony of passage for lots of street trippers. However to realize the facility of nature and the utter desolation of the rustic, our 10-day itinerary comprises jaunts into the central highlands the place the crowds disappear, and the landscapes are at their most opulent.

We’ve incorporated a day-by-day damage down, plus tips for how you can prolong this 10-day itinerary and extra studying that will help you plan an epic Iceland tour.  

For extra concepts, learn our Iceland itinerary tips and our whole information to the most productive issues to do in Iceland.

Reserving your go back and forth by means of the hyperlinks in this web page (or on our e-book web page) will earn us a small fee, at no further value to you. Thank you to your reinforce – Paul & Mark.

jokulsarlon lagoon iceland 1

IN THIS GUIDE

10-DAY ICELAND ITINERARY OVERVIEW


DAY 1 – REYKJAVÍK & REYKJADALUR HOT SPRINGS

Keep – Reykjavík | Shuttle – None


Spend the morning exploring the streets of captivating Reykjavík. Within the afternoon head to Hveragerði. From right here a 1-hour hike takes you to Reykjadalur thermal river the place you’ll soak within the naturally heated water whilst staring out at wonderful surroundings.

Wintry weather – In wintry weather spend the night time looking for the Northern Lighting fixtures at the outskirts of Reykjavík. This Northern Lighting fixtures Bus Excursion comprises unfastened access to the Aurora Museum at the day of the excursion and it’s totally transferable if the excursion doesn’t pass forward because of unhealthy climate.  

Summer season – In the summertime, profit from Reykjavík’s cool bar scene. Kaffibarinn is a café through day and a bar through evening with steady DJ units and cocktail satisfied hour. Veður Bar has a big selection of beer and wines in a snug area with satisfied hour from 4pm to 7:30pm.

WHERE TO STAY

DAY 2 – GOLDEN CIRCLE & SECRET LAGOON

Keep – round Selfoss | Shuttle – 4 hours


Nowadays, go away Reykjavík and get started with the Golden Circle – a 3-hour, 30-minute round force that visits a few of southwest Iceland’s premier points of interest.

Stops come with Thingvellir Nationwide Park the place a fissure runs thru Iceland’s ancient parliament, Geysir the place geysers erupt each ten to 15 mins, and Gullfoss, an impressive and stunning Icelandic waterfall.

End the day on the Secret Lagoon geothermal pool close to the city of Flúðir. It’s one among our favorite scorching springs in Iceland and stays delightfully herbal.

WHERE TO STAY

  • Lodge Rangá – a contemporary, spacious lodge with an onsite observatory that’s very good for viewing the northern lighting fixtures.
  • Álftröð Guesthouse – a really perfect price guesthouse with the entire amenities you wish to have for a at ease keep.

DAY 3 – LANDMANNALAUGAR OR THÓRSMÖRK

Keep – close to Hella or Holt | Shuttle – 5 hours ( go back for Landmannalaugar); 20 mins force to the Thorsmork bus forestall at Hvollsvöllur for Thórsmörk.


Iceland is known for dramatic surroundings, however the most productive of its spectacular landscapes is within the highlands. It’s a wild and faraway a part of the rustic however two of the most productive spaces are out there from the southwest. Nowadays, head into both Landmannalaugar or Thórsmörk.

Landmannalaugar – Landmannalaugar is a space of colorful mountains within the Fjallabak Nationwide Park. It has very good mountain climbing with superb perspectives and a geothermal pool set below a cooled lava go with the flow. The force there passes Haifoss waterfall; the picture-perfect canyon of Sigöldugljúfur; and the volcanic crater of Ljótipollur. Learn extra in our Landmannalaugar Information.

Thórsmörk – 3 valleys converge forming a dramatic barren region of impressive surroundings at Thórsmörk. Massive moss-covered mountains dwarfed through even larger glaciers are divided through a swathe of black rivers. It’s a hiker’s paradise however even a brief 40-minute stroll can take you to a few superb viewpoints. Learn extra in our Thórsmörk Information.

WHERE TO STAY

  • Lodge Rangá – a contemporary, spacious lodge with an onsite observatory that’s very good for viewing the northern lighting fixtures.
  • The Storage – cool Icelandic stick with totally provided kitchens, personal toilets and laundry amenities.

DAY 4 – SKÓGAFOSS, DYRHÓLAEY & VIK

Keep – close to Hrufines | Shuttle – round 1 hour, half-hour


On day 4, head east alongside the Ring Street to seek advice from a few of Iceland’s easiest waterfalls. Seljalandsfoss is a 60-metre drop that you’ll stroll in the back of, Gljufrabui is a smaller waterfall hidden in the back of rocks, and Skógafoss is a gorgeous 25-metre-wide cascade.

Every other half-hour’ force brings you to Dyrhólaey. This peninsula has nice perspectives of the black sand seaside and very good puffin viewing.

Another concepts for day 4 –

  • Stroll at the black sand seaside of Reynisfjara below basalt columns
  • Pressure up the tough street to Katla for amazing perspectives of the canyon
  • Take an Ice Cave excursion and Glacier Hike from Vik
  • Stroll to the wrecked DC-3 Aircraft at Sólheimasandur to your Instagram shot

WHERE TO STAY

  • The Storage – cool Icelandic stick with totally provided kitchens, personal toilets and laundry amenities.
  • Lodge Katla – a contemporary at ease accommodation simply outdoor Vik with a excellent scorching bathtub and sauna
  • Glacier View Guesthouse – a 40-minute force from Vik overlooking the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier with well-decorated rooms.

DAY 5 – SKAFTAFELL & JÖKULSÁRLÓN

Keep – Vestrahorn | Shuttle – 3 hours


Nowadays head east alongside the south coast to the a long way southeast of Iceland. This force takes you below the flanks of Vatnajökull Glacier, the most important ice cap in Europe. First forestall on the moss-covered Eldhraun Lava Box, then on the stunning Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon the place a river has minimize a jagged trail throughout the gorge.

Subsequent, pass to Skaftafell Nationwide Park to hike along the Vatnajökull glacier. In 45 mins (each and every means) you’ll see Svartifoss, some of the stunning waterfalls in Iceland. In 1 hour quarter-hour (each and every means) you’ll achieve the Sjónarnípa perspective which overlooks the glacier.

Then seek advice from the paranormal Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon and the huge ice cubes at the black Diamond Seashore.

Finish the day at Vestrahorn taking footage of the pointed mountains reflecting within the tidal lagoon.

WHERE TO STAY

Viking Café is the one lodging in Vestrahorn the place you’ll get up proper beside the mountain. For different choices, learn our information to the easiest puts to stick in Iceland.

DAY 6 – EASTFJORDS & SEYÐISFJORDUR

Keep – Seyðisfjordur | Shuttle – 3 to 4 hours


Spend this morning getting break of day pictures of Vestrahorn to go with the sundown pictures you were given the day prior to this.

Then start the lengthy force (3 to 4 hours) up the east coast of Iceland on Course 1 (the Ring Street).

In the summertime months, when the street is open, it’s nicely value taking the shortcut between Breiðdalsvik and Egilsstaðir on Course 95. It’s about an hour shorter and the surroundings, if anything else, is healthier.

Simply ahead of Egilsstaðir take a detour at the 931 west to Hengifoss. From the automobile park it’s a 1-hour hike (each and every means) to the waterfall and the primary half-hour is slightly steep, however the pink rings etched into the rock framing the cascade make it one of the crucial most pretty falls in Iceland.

There are a number of great puts to stick within the house, however our pick out is Seyðisfjordur. It’s an additional 30-minute force each and every means from Egilsstaðir, however this vibrant the town perched on the finish of a fjord provides nice perspectives and the force there’s breathtaking.

Dinner Tip – The pizza and native beer at Skaftfell Bistro are very good.

WHERE TO STAY

DAY 7 – STUÐLAGIL CANYON AND MÝVATN

Keep – Mývatn | Shuttle – round 3 hours


Get started nowadays at Stuðlagil Canyon which was once printed simplest in 2009 after a dam compelled water ranges to drop. All of the main points are on our Stuðlagil Canyon information together with the most productive viewpoints.

From Stuðlagil, observe the Ring Street northeast to the Mývatn house primarily based across the village of Reykahlíð. There are plenty of other volcanic oddities to look within the house and they all are indexed on our Mývatn information. For this afternoon, we propose you discover the effervescent dust pots of Hverir and/or the steaming lava fields and volcanic crater at Krafla.

Spend the night time soaking within the geothermal swimming pools of the Mývatn Nature Baths.

WHERE TO STAY

  • Fosshotel Myvatn – a contemporary at ease chain lodge with just right amenities and an on-site eating place
  • Lodge Laxá – trendy lodging clear of the city making it the very best location to look the Northern Lighting fixtures                 

DAY 8 – HUSAVÍK & DETTIFOSS

Keep – Mývatn | Shuttle – 2 to a few hours


Nowadays, head north on Course 87 and discover the fishing the town of Husavík.

From Might to September, this is among the easiest puts on the planet to identify whales. They are able to frequently be noticed from the coast, however building up your possibilities through taking a Conventional Whale Staring at Boat Excursion. In July humpback whale sightings are virtually assured and from April to August puffins can also be noticed fishing within the waters.

Within the afternoon head again to Mývatn by means of course 85 and 864, the place there are a couple of spots to forestall at the means –

  • Ásbyrgi is a singular horseshoe-shaped canyon that stretches 3.5 kilometres lengthy and 1.1 kilometres large.
  • Hljóðaklettar is a selection of basalt columns diverging in more than one instructions growing swirls, spirals, roses and arches which are identified to provide haunting acoustic results. 
  • Dettifoss is the most important waterfall through quantity in Iceland and some of the tough in Europe. It plunges 44 metres right into a canyon making a watery spectacle.

WHERE TO STAY

  • Fosshotel Myvatn – a contemporary at ease chain lodge with just right amenities and an on-site eating place
  • Lodge Laxá – trendy lodging clear of the city making it the very best location to look the Northern Lighting fixtures                 

DAY 9 – NORTH ICELAND EXPLORE

Keep – Blönðuós | Shuttle – 3 hours


It’s a 3-hour force alongside the Ring Street from Mývatn to the city of Blönðuós. At the means, forestall at Goðafoss, some of the horny waterfalls in Iceland.

For the remainder of the day, there are a number of alternatives –

  • Consult with extra of the volcanic points of interest round Mývatn such because the pseudo craters or the lava cave and fissure at Grjótagjá ahead of you allow for Blönðuós.
  • Pop into the fishing the town of Akureyri for lunch and a walk alongside the harbour.
  • Pressure a loop across the Trollaskagi Peninsula the place the street twists and turns round steep bends among pretty surroundings (upload 1 hour half-hour to the force).
  • When you’ve got a 4×4 you’ll take a detour (50 mins each and every means at the F26) to the waterfalls of Aldeyjarfoss & Hrafnabjargafoss 

WHERE TO STAY

There are few higher puts to stick within the north coast than Brimslöð Atelier. This guesthouse has superb night time foods on a shared desk and breakfast is very good.

DAY 10 – FAGRADALSFJALL VOLCANO & BLUE LAGOON

Keep – Blue Lagoon | Shuttle – 4 hours


Nowadays, take the 3-hour, 40-minute force from Blönduós to Fagradalsfjall Volcano, the website of Iceland’s most up-to-date eruption. Should you don’t in finding anything else at the means, you’ll forestall for lunch again in Reykjavík.

A spread of various mountain climbing trails be offering magnificent perspectives of the steaming black lava fields at Fagradalsfjall. The nearest perspective to the eruption is the Meradalir Perspective by means of Stórhóll which takes round 4-5 hours to finish. All of the main points are in our Fagradalsfjall information.

Finish the day soaking within the upmarket geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon. There are many amenities together with eating places, a 5-star lodge, remedy spa and present store. Front together with the silica dust masks, towel and 1 drink is ISK 8,490 ($58 / £50 / €59). Complex bookings are required – bluelagoon.com

WHERE TO STAY

The Blue Lagoon is a 20-minute force to Keflavík airport, so if in case you have a past due flight, you’ll head house after a soak. Differently, right here’s the place you’ll keep close by:

  • Northern Gentle Inn – a full-service lodge together with a wellness spa and eating place simply 5 mins from the Blue Lagoon.
  • Lodge Berg – a sensible lodge with in my opinion designed rooms simply 2.2 miles from Keflavík Airport
  • Raven’s Mattress – a unusual mattress & breakfast in a transformed cow area with unique wood beams and an out of doors terrace simply 7 mins from Keflavik Airport.  

ICELAND ITINERARY EXTENSIONS

MAELIFELL

Iceland’s dramatic inexperienced volcano, Maelifell, rises out of a sea of black ash and stone making a impressive desolate scene. There are three ways to get right here, two of that are very achievable. Get admission to is from Hrifunes, simply east of Vík, so Maelifel may well be added in after day 4 of this itinerary. All of the main points are in our Maelifell information.

HAHFRAHVAMMAGLJÚFUR

Hahfrahvammagljúfur is a steep-sided canyon within the highlands accessed through a bumpy however very achievable mountain street. A couple of miles away, the thermal river of Laugavallalaug is one among our favorite scorching pots in Iceland. Get admission to is close to Hengifoss or Stuðlagil so this may well be added ahead of or after day 4. Extra information about visiting Hahfrahvammagljúfur are in our Iceland highlands information.

ASKJA

One of the difficult adventurous day journeys is to the calderas and craters of Askja. You’ll want a minimum of a medium-sized 4×4, a way of journey, and the facility to keep watch over the ones jangling nerves. Get admission to is close to Mývatn so that you must squeeze a go back and forth to Askja in ahead of or after day 7. Learn extra in our Askja information.

KERLINGARFJÖLL

A mountain vary concealing vibrant hills and steaming vents, Kerlingarfjöll is a paranormal position. The mountain street right here is simple to force and makes a very good course between Blönðuós, Gullfoss, and Reykjavík, moderately than by means of the Ring Street. Kerlingarfjöll may well be added to this itinerary after day 9. Learn extra on our Kerlingarfjöll information.

SNAEFELLSNESS PENINSULA

The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is at the western tip of the rustic and is frequently described as a mini-Iceland. Right here you’ll discover a glacier, basalt columns, and dramatic coasts. In our opinion the points of interest are much less just right in comparison with different portions of Iceland, so we’d save Snaefellsnes to your 2d go back and forth. On the other hand, it’s handy to Reykjavík at simply 2 hours’ force away.  Permit 1 to two days.

WESTFJORDS

Stretching out into the Atlantic Ocean, the Westfjords are a chain of rugged peninsulas and big mountains together with impressive however faraway surroundings. They come with one of the crucial easiest bird-watching cliffs in Europe and beautiful native bars and eating places. Permit a minimum of 2 days.

HOW TO PLAN AN ICELAND ITINERARY

Right here is a few extra studying that will help you plan your epic Iceland itinerary.

DISCOVERY

At the start, if you’re in discovery mode, our information to the most productive puts to seek advice from in Iceland additionally comprises 32 cool, fairly adventurous and carefully relaxing issues to do.

To get a really feel for what you’ll see within the highlands, learn our information to the highest puts within the Iceland Highlands.

Iceland is understood for spectacular waterfalls; we’ve collated a listing of our most sensible 15 waterfalls in Iceland after 4 visits to the rustic.  

PRACTICALITIES

For common recommendations on making plans your itinerary together with a breakdown of the other areas, when to head and the way lengthy you are going to want, learn our Iceland go back and forth making plans information.

As this 10-day itinerary is a street go back and forth, learn our information on using in Iceland with useful guidelines, plus recommendation on how you can e-book your automobile condo.

If you wish to head into the highlands you’ll wish to shuttle at the mountain roads that are unmaintained gravel tracks. Our F-roads in Iceland information has the entire data you wish to have.

MORE ICELAND READING

Iceland is a superb vacation spot for semi-adventurous travellers who love to get off the crushed monitor and immerse themselves in surprising surroundings. Right here’s some extra studying from us to assist plan your adventure to the land of fireplace and ice.

Should you discovered this information helpful, we’d adore it if that you must observe us on Instagram.

ALL ICELAND CONTENT


COOL ICELAND DESTINATIONS

Reykjadalur Thermal River

The right way to seek advice from the Fagradalsfjall Volcano

Mountaineering to Stuðlagil Canyon

The right way to seek advice from Vestrahorn, Iceland

Visiting Thórsmörk within the highlands


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Complete guide for spending 10 days in Iceland including what to see and do, where to stay and how to get around.

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