Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Iceland: the Ring Road, Glacier Lagoon and Lake Myvatn
9 days from Reykjavik: the Golden Circle, two nights near Vik, Jokulsarlon by boat, the East Fjords, two nights at Lake Myvatn and a short flight back from Akureyri.
9 days · Round trip from Reykjavik · up to 12 guests
Icebergs on the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:J%C3%B6kuls%C3%A1rl%C3%B3n_glacier_lagoon,_Iceland,_20240719_1141_2541.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 9 days, 8 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Reykjavik
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Longest drive
- 4 h on day 2No drive day is longer than 4 hours.
- Activity level
Moderate
Walks of 1 to 5 km most days on uneven and often wet paths; the longest is about 1.5 hours to Svartifoss and back with a steady climb, and the rocky path to the edge of Dettifoss. The roughly 500 steps at Skogafoss and the Hverfjall crater rim are optional. Up to about four hours a day in the minibus, broken by stops, and you can stay with the vehicle at any stop.
- Meals included
- 8 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 1,450 (estimated price)
- Season
- April to October
Highlights
Why this trip
- Reynisfjara at about 8:30, before the day coaches from Reykjavik, with two nights near Vik
- Out among the icebergs of Jokulsarlon on an included amphibian boat, then Diamond Beach across the road
- The walk up to Svartifoss in its frame of basalt columns at Skaftafell
- Vestrahorn from the black dunes of Stokksnes, then a whole day along the East Fjords
- Lunch at the highland farm of Modrudalur and Dettifoss from the canyon edge
- Two nights at Lake Myvatn: Hverir early, Dimmuborgir and the Nature Baths included
- A 45-minute flight back from Akureyri instead of a five-hour drive, and a free evening in Reykjavik
What makes this trip different
Short drives, all published
Every drive is listed day by day, and none is longer than 4 hours.
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 1,450 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
The longest drive is 4 h, on day 2.
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Reykjavik
Keflavik International Airport to your hotel in Reykjavik
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Reykjavik
- Drive about 45 min
Fly into Keflavik International Airport (KEF), about 50 km from Reykjavik across the lava fields of the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Morning
Many flights from North America land early in the morning, so we arrange your transfer into the city and ask the hotel to hold your bags until your room is ready; early check-in is something we request but cannot promise. The day is yours to sleep, walk the old centre between the harbour and Hallgrimskirkja, or swim at one of the city's geothermal pools, where locals sit in the hot tubs in all weathers.
Evening
In the early evening your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for a short briefing on the week ahead: how the days are paced, what to wear for wind and rain, and how the drives are broken up. Then we walk together to a welcome dinner in the centre, a first chance to try Icelandic lamb or fish and to meet the people you will share the minibus with.
Included
- Transfer from Keflavik International Airport (KEF) to your hotel
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Welcome dinner in central Reykjavik
Free time: Free until the evening briefing
The Golden Circle and down to Vik
Reykjavik to Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, then south to Seljalandsfoss and Vik
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Vik
- Drive about 4 h
We leave Reykjavik at 8 am to reach Thingvellir National Park, about 45 minutes away, before most of the day buses. Iceland's parliament, the Althing, first met here in 930, and the park is listed by UNESCO. Walk down through the Almannagja rift, along the edge of the North American plate, to the Law Rock and the Oxararfoss waterfall. It is about an hour on to the Geysir geothermal field, where Strokkur erupts every few minutes, and ten minutes more to Gullfoss, where the Hvita river drops in two steps into a narrow canyon.
Afternoon
Lunch is included near Gullfoss. In the afternoon we drive south through farm country to Seljalandsfoss, which faces west and is at its best in afternoon light; when the path is free of ice you can walk behind the curtain of water, so keep a rain jacket handy.
Evening
We reach our hotel in or near Vik in the early evening. This is one of the two longest driving days, about four hours, split by five stops.
Included
- Thingvellir National Park with your guide: Almannagja, the Law Rock and Oxararfoss
- Geysir and the Strokkur geyser
- Gullfoss
- Lunch near Gullfoss
- Seljalandsfoss in the afternoon light
Activity: Short, well-made paths at Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss. The path behind Seljalandsfoss is wet and slippery; waterproofs help.
Reynisfjara, Dyrholaey and Skogafoss
Vik to Reynisfjara and Dyrholaey, then west to Solheimajokull and Skogafoss, and back to Vik
- Breakfast
- Stay in Vik
- Drive about 1.5 h
A short driving day, and the reason we stay two nights. We are at Reynisfjara, ten minutes from Vik, by about 8:30, before the day coaches from Reykjavik: black sand, the basalt columns of the Gardar cliff and the sea stacks of Reynisdrangar offshore. The waves here are dangerous, with sneaker waves that run far up the beach without warning, so we follow the warning signs and keep well back from the water. Next is Dyrholaey, the headland with a great sea arch, where puffins nest on the cliffs from about May to August; parts of the headland can close to visitors during the nesting season. Then we walk to the snout of Solheimajokull, a glacier tongue flowing from the Myrdalsjokull ice cap, and drive on to Skogafoss, a 60 m fall that throws out rainbows on sunny days.
Afternoon
Lunch at Skogar is your choice. We are back in Vik by mid-afternoon, with the rest of the day free to walk the beach, climb to the church above the village or rest.
Included
- Reynisfjara black sand beach early, before the day coaches
- Dyrholaey headland and sea arch
- Walk to the snout of the Solheimajokull glacier
- Skogafoss
Optional experiences
- Guided glacier walk on Solheimajokull with crampons (extra, price shown at booking)
Easier option: Skip the walk to the glacier snout and wait in the minibus, then see Skogafoss from the bottom.
More active option: Climb the roughly 500 steps beside Skogafoss to the top and walk the first stretch of the Fimmvorduhals trail past the waterfalls upstream.
Free time: Afternoon and evening free in Vik
Activity: Reynisfjara has dangerous waves: stay well back from the water at all times.
Skaftafell, Jokulsarlon and Diamond Beach
Vik across Eldhraun to Skaftafell, then Jokulsarlon and Diamond Beach, ending in Hofn
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Hofn
- Drive about 4 h
We drive east across the Myrdalssandur outwash plain and the moss-covered Eldhraun lava field, laid down by the Laki fissure eruption of 1783 and 1784, with a coffee stop in Kirkjubaejarklaustur. At Skaftafell, part of Vatnajokull National Park, listed by UNESCO in 2019, we walk up through birch scrub to Svartifoss, a waterfall framed by dark basalt columns: about 1.5 hours there and back, with a steady climb.
Afternoon
Lunch is included near Skaftafell. In the afternoon we reach Jokulsarlon, the lagoon at the foot of the Breidamerkurjokull glacier, and go out among the icebergs on an amphibian boat, about 40 minutes on the water, often with seals hauled out on the ice. Across the road on Diamond Beach, pieces of ice carried out to sea wash back onto black sand.
Evening
The last hour is an easy drive along the foot of the ice cap to Hofn, a fishing town known for its langoustine, where dinner is included tonight.
Included
- Eldhraun lava field and Kirkjubaejarklaustur
- Skaftafell and the walk to Svartifoss with your guide
- Lunch near Skaftafell
- Amphibian boat trip on Jokulsarlon
- Diamond Beach
- Dinner in Hofn
Easier option: Skip the climb to Svartifoss and walk the flat path from the Skaftafell visitor centre towards the Skaftafellsjokull glacier.
Activity: The Svartifoss path climbs steadily on gravel; good shoes help. Life jackets are provided on the boat.
Vestrahorn and the East Fjords
Hofn to Stokksnes, then along the East Fjords by Djupivogur and Faskrudsfjordur to Egilsstadir
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Egilsstadir
- Drive about 4 h
We start at Stokksnes, a short drive east of Hofn, where the jagged Vestrahorn mountain rises behind black sand dunes; the land is private, and the small entry fee is included. Then the road leaves the glaciers behind and follows the coast north, in and out of the fjords. At Djupivogur, a fishing village that joined the Cittaslow network in 2013, walk out to Eggin i Gledivik, 34 granite eggs along the harbour, one for each bird species that nests in the area.
Afternoon
Lunch is included on the way. In Stodvarfjordur we stop at Petra's Stone Collection, a house and garden filled over a lifetime with stones and minerals from the surrounding mountains, open in season. Faskrudsfjordur was a base for French fishermen until the early 20th century and still signs its streets in French and Icelandic. A tunnel takes us through to Reydarfjordur and over the Fagradalur valley to Egilsstadir, beside the long lake of Lagarfljot.
Evening
It is about four hours of driving, broken by these four stops and lunch; the evening is free.
Included
- Stokksnes and Vestrahorn, with the landowner's entry fee
- Djupivogur and the Eggin i Gledivik sculptures
- Lunch in the East Fjords
- Petra's Stone Collection in Stodvarfjordur (in season)
- Faskrudsfjordur
Optional experiences
- Vok Baths, floating geothermal pools on Lake Urridavatn near Egilsstadir (extra)
Free time: Evening free in Egilsstadir
Across the highlands to Dettifoss and Myvatn
Egilsstadir across the highland plateau to Modrudalur, then Dettifoss and Lake Myvatn
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Lake Myvatn
- Drive about 3.5 h
Route 1 climbs from Egilsstadir onto a high, open plateau of gravel and old lava, the emptiest country of the trip.
Afternoon
Late in the morning we turn off to Modrudalur, at about 469 m one of the highest farms in Iceland, with a small turf-roofed church the farmer built in 1949; lunch is included at the farm's cafe. From there we head north on a paved road to Dettifoss on the west bank of the Jokulsa a Fjollum river, where grey glacial water about 100 m wide drops some 45 m into the Jokulsargljufur canyon. Spray drifts over the path and you can feel the ground shake. The walk to the edge is about 1 km each way over rocks, and Selfoss is a short way upstream. In the afternoon we cross the Namaskard pass, past steaming slopes we come back to in the morning, and down to Lake Myvatn, our base for two nights. About three and a quarter hours of driving.
Included
- Modrudalur highland farm and its turf-roofed church
- Lunch at Modrudalur
- Dettifoss and Selfoss with your guide
Easier option: See Dettifoss from the first viewpoint, a shorter walk, and skip Selfoss.
Free time: Evening free at Lake Myvatn
Activity: The paths at Dettifoss are rocky and wet with spray; wear waterproof shoes.
Lake Myvatn
Hverir, Dimmuborgir, Grjotagja, Hverfjall and the Skutustadir pseudocraters, around Lake Myvatn
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in Lake Myvatn
- Drive about 1 h
We start at Hverir, below the Namafjall ridge, at about 8:30, before the day groups: boiling mud pots, hissing steam vents and ground streaked yellow and orange with sulphur. The smell is strong, and the path is roped for a reason, so we stay on it. Back at the lake, walk the lava labyrinth of Dimmuborgir, where towers and arches were left standing when a lava lake drained about 2,300 years ago, then look into Grjotagja, a small cave with a hot spring in a fissure (bathing is not allowed). Hverfjall, the tephra crater beside the lake, is about 1 km across, and the climb to its rim is today's active option.
Afternoon
After lunch on your own, the pseudocraters at Skutustadir, made by steam explosions when lava ran over wetland, ring the south shore. The afternoon is free, and your entry to the Myvatn Nature Baths is included: milky blue geothermal water looking out over the lake.
Evening
In the evening we sit down to a group dinner.
Included
- Hverir geothermal field early in the morning
- Dimmuborgir lava formations with your guide
- Grjotagja cave
- Skutustadir pseudocraters
- Myvatn Nature Baths entry
- Group dinner at Lake Myvatn
Easier option: Skip the Hverfjall climb, take the shortest marked loop in Dimmuborgir and go to the Nature Baths earlier.
More active option: Climb the steep path to the rim of Hverfjall and walk part of the way around it, with the whole lake below; about an hour.
Free time: Afternoon free
Activity: Stay on the marked paths at Hverir: the ground beside them can be scalding.
Godafoss, Akureyri and the flight to Reykjavik
Lake Myvatn to Godafoss and Akureyri, then a domestic flight to Reykjavik
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Reykjavik
- Drive about 1.5 h
On the way west we stop at Godafoss, the waterfall of the gods, where the Skjalfandafljot river falls about 12 m in a broad horseshoe. The story goes that around the year 1000, when Iceland adopted Christianity, the lawspeaker Thorgeir threw his carvings of the old gods into it. Akureyri, the largest town outside the capital area, sits at the head of the long Eyjafjordur fjord.
Afternoon
Your guide walks you up the steps to Akureyrarkirkja and through the botanical garden, then we sit down to lunch in town. In the afternoon we fly from Akureyri to Reykjavik's city airport, about 45 minutes in the air, instead of spending five hours on the road.
Evening
A short transfer brings you to your hotel in the centre by late afternoon, and the evening is yours: a walk along the harbour, a soak in a geothermal pool, or dinner out with the group if you like.
Included
- Godafoss
- Walk in Akureyri with your guide: Akureyrarkirkja and the botanical garden
- Lunch in Akureyri
- Flight from Akureyri (AEY) to Reykjavik (RKV), with transfers at both ends
Free time: Evening free in Reykjavik
Activity: Domestic flights carry a smaller checked-bag allowance than international ones; we confirm the allowance with your final itinerary.
Reykjavik and home
Reykjavik to Keflavik International Airport
- Breakfast
- Drive about 45 min
Morning
The last morning is free. Climb the tower of Hallgrimskirkja for the view over the coloured roofs, walk the old harbour to the Harpa concert hall, or visit the National Museum, which tells Iceland's story from the first settlers in the 9th century to today.
Afternoon
If your flight leaves in the afternoon there is time for a final soak at a city pool. Your transfer to Keflavik International Airport, about 50 km and 45 minutes away, is timed to your flight, with the usual check-in margin for an international departure. Many flights to North America leave Keflavik in the late afternoon, so they fit well; for an early flight the transfer leaves straight after breakfast.
Evening
Your guide checks each guest's transfer time the night before and says goodbye at breakfast.
Included
- Transfer to Keflavik International Airport (KEF)
Free time: Morning free
Activity: Book a flight leaving after about midday to enjoy the morning in Reykjavik.
- Reykjavik1 night
- Vik2 nights
- Hofn1 night
- Egilsstadir1 night
- Lake Myvatn2 nights
- Reykjavik1 night
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: From May to July the nights barely get dark, and puffins nest at Dyrholaey from about May to August. April and October can bring snow on the high passes, so your guide may change the order of stops on the day. The Northern Lights need dark, clear skies, so they are only possible on departures from about late August, in September and October, and in April.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who do not want to drive Iceland themselves, solo travellers included
- Seeing the whole south, east and north of the island without long days in the vehicle
- Waterfalls, glaciers, geothermal ground and short walks most days
- An all-in price instead of paying for each boat, pool and car park on the spot
Not for you if you want
- Travellers set on Snaefellsnes or the Westfjords, which this route does not reach
- The Northern Lights as the main aim: a winter trip suits that better
- Step-free access: many paths are uneven, wet or stepped
- Glacier hiking or multi-day trekking as the focus
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
8 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Reykjavik1 night
- Vik2 nights
- Hofn1 night
- Egilsstadir1 night
- Lake Myvatn2 nights
- Reykjavik1 night
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 8 nights: 2 in Reykjavik (the first and the last), 2 in or near Vik, 1 in Hofn, 1 in Egilsstadir and 2 at Lake Myvatn
- Hotels of a 3-star-plus standard with private bathrooms, central where the town allows; we name each hotel when we confirm your dates
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Private transfers from and to Keflavik International Airport (KEF)
- A private minibus and professional driver for the group from day 2 to day 8
- The domestic flight from Akureyri to Reykjavik on day 8, with transfers at both ends
- The amphibian boat on Jokulsarlon
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group from the day 1 briefing to day 9, including on the flight from Akureyri
Activities
- Thingvellir National Park, Geysir and Gullfoss
- Seljalandsfoss, Reynisfjara, Dyrholaey, Solheimajokull and Skogafoss
- Skaftafell and the walk to Svartifoss
- Jokulsarlon boat trip and Diamond Beach
- Stokksnes and Vestrahorn, with the landowner's entry fee
- Djupivogur, Petra's Stone Collection in Stodvarfjordur (in season) and Faskrudsfjordur
- Modrudalur, Dettifoss and Selfoss
- Hverir, Dimmuborgir, Grjotagja and the Skutustadir pseudocraters
- Myvatn Nature Baths entry
- Godafoss and a guided walk in Akureyri
- All parking and site fees for included stops
Meals
- 8 breakfasts
- 5 lunches, on days 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8
- 3 dinners: a welcome dinner in Reykjavik, a dinner in Hofn and a group dinner at Lake Myvatn
Not included
- International flights to and from Keflavik
- Travel insurance
- Any visa or travel authorisation fee, such as ETIAS once it applies
- Lunches on days 3 and 7, and dinners not listed
- Drinks
- Tips
- Optional activities, such as the Solheimajokull glacier walk and Vok Baths
- Extra baggage on the domestic flight
- Personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 1,450 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Eight nights in hotels with private bathrooms, 8 breakfasts, 5 lunches on the long days and 3 dinners, private airport transfers, a minibus and driver, the flight from Akureyri to Reykjavik, your See Sight Tours guide throughout, and every stop in the day plan, including the Jokulsarlon boat, the Myvatn Nature Baths and all parking and site fees.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests in one minibus, so everyone hears the guide at each stop and fits around one table at lunch. Some Iceland group tours take up to 18 guests, and coach tours far more.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group from the welcome briefing on day 1 to the last morning, including on the flight from Akureyri. A professional driver handles the minibus, so your guide is free to walk, explain and adjust the day with you. We name your guide when we confirm your dates.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderately fit. Expect walks of 1 to 5 km most days on uneven, often wet ground; the longest is about 1.5 hours to Svartifoss and back with a steady climb. The steps at Skogafoss and the Hverfjall crater rim are optional, and you can stay with the minibus at any stop.
I'm travelling solo. What does a room of my own cost?
A room of your own is from CAD 1,450 more than the shared price, shown before you book with no surprise at checkout. Solo travellers are welcome on every departure, and you never have to drive: the driver and guide take care of the roads, the weather and the stops.
How long are the drives?
No day is planned for more than about four hours of driving. The longest are day 2 (Reykjavik to Vik by the Golden Circle) and day 5 (Hofn to Egilsstadir along the East Fjords), each broken by four or five stops and a sit-down lunch. We fly the 390 km from Akureyri back to Reykjavik.
Does the trip go to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula?
No. Adding Snaefellsnes without breaking our four-hour driving limit needs a tenth day and another hotel change, so we fly back from Akureyri instead and keep two nights near Vik and two at Myvatn. A private trip can add Snaefellsnes as extra days on the way back.
Will we see the Northern Lights?
Possibly, on some departures. The aurora needs dark, clear skies, so it is only possible from about late August through October, and in April. From May to mid-August the nights are too light. If the lights are your main reason to go, a winter trip suits you better; we are planning one, so ask us.
When is the best time to go?
June to August brings the longest days, the mildest weather and puffins at Dyrholaey. May and September are quieter at the big sights, and September brings the first dark nights. April and October are cooler, with a chance of snow on the high passes, but have the fewest visitors.
Do I need a visa for Iceland?
Canadian and US citizens do not need a visa for a short stay in Iceland, which is in the Schengen area. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the day you leave. Europe's ETIAS travel authorisation is due to start for visa-free visitors; we confirm before you fly whether it applies.
How does booking work?
Pick your start date and request to book; no payment is taken at that point. We check hotels, the flight and your guide for that date and confirm within 24 hours. The small group starts from CAD 7,245 per person sharing, taxes included, and the private trip from CAD 13,040 per person.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. Besides the small group, the trip comes as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose, with your own guide and vehicle. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we will quote the same route, hotels and transport.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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