8-Day Iceland Ring Road Tour: Reykjavik, Akureyri, Golden Circle & South Coast
Overview
Available languages
1 week 1 day
Mobile ticket
Want to make the most of your visit to Iceland? Then this is the tour for you. Travel the popular Icelandic Ring Road and see all that this land of fire and ice has to offer in just 8 days. Make unforgettable memories as you experience shimmering glaciers, spouting geysers, breathtaking waterfalls, glacier lagoon, whale watching and so much more. Your first and last nights are spent in Reykjavik offering you the chance to explore the capital of this beautiful island on your own.
Additional Info
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Minimum age: 8
From late summer to April there can be a chance to see the Northern Lights painting the sky with vivid swirls of colour.
In winter we can include an ice cave visit as well as a glacier hike.
What to bring: Warm outdoor clothing, a waterproof jacket and pants, headwear and gloves. Good hiking shoes are recommended.
This tour includes a shared room. If you are a solo traveler and do not wish to share a room with another participant of the same gender then you can upgrade to a single room by contacting the operator directly after booking.
What To Expect
Reykjavik
Accommodations
Accommodation in Reykjavik
Hallgrimskirkja
Your 8 day tour starts in the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik. Explore the capital in your own time. Stroll the popular Laugavegur shopping street, visit museums or relax at one of the local swimming pools. Reykjavik has a great selection of cafés and restaurants that are sure to give your taste buds a real treat.
Golden Circle and South Coast
Accommodations
Overnight stay near the village of Krikjubæjarklaustur.
Hallgrimskirkja
On day 2 you will be picked up by your guide from your centrally located hotel.
Golden Circle Route
This tour is all about waterfalls, hot springs and rich heritage. Visit the famous Golden Circle including 3 of Iceland´s top attractions, , Thingvellir National Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Geysir hot spring area and Gullfoss Waterfall
Thingvellir National Park
Explore the historical and geological wonders of Thingvellir National Park
Site de Geysir
See Strokkur geyser spout water up from the ground at Geysir Hot Springs.
Gullfoss Falls
Admire Gullfoss Waterfall, one of Iceland's most popular waterfalls. Before continuing to the South Coast.
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Your first stop on the South Coast will be Seljalandsfoss Waterfall.
Skogafoss
Next up is Skógafoss Waterfall a very admirable waterfall.
Kirkjubaejarklaustur
Your day will end at your accommodation for the night in the area of Krikjubæjarklaustur.
Vík - Skaftafell - Glacier Lagoon - Höfn
Accommodations
Overnight stay in the south-east area.
Visit Reynisfjara black sand beach and see Reynisdrangar basalt columns
Vatnajokull Glacier
Enjoy a glacier hike at Europe´s largest glacier, Vatnajökull.
Glacier Lagoon
Stop by at the magical Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Fellsfjara
Next up is the neighboring Diamond Beach.
Hof
Your day ends at your accommodation for the night in the south-east area.
East Fjords - Djúpivogur - Wilderness Center - Egilsstaðir
Accommodations
Overnight stay in the area of Egilsstadir.
Day 4: Stop at Djúpivogur, a small charming fishing village, before putting your hiking shoes on for a 3 hour hike to the stunning Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss waterfalls.
Litlanesfoss
Enjoy hike to the stunning Litlanesfoss
Hengifoss Waterfall
Admire Hengifoss Waterfall
You will spend your night at a country hotel in the area of Egilsstadir
Wilderness Center: 40 min from Egilsstaðir. Stay overnight, experience wilderness, museum & free hot pots!
Studlagil - Mývatn - Nature Bath - Godafoss - Akureyri
Accommodations
Overnight stay in the area of Akureyri.
Godafoss
Admire Godafoss waterfall
On this day you will visit the capital of the north, Akureyri and get the chance to opt for a relaxing visit to Myvatn Natura baths for a small fee.
Earth Lagoon Myvatn (Jardbodin vid Myvatn)
You can opt for a relaxing visit to Myvatn Nature baths for a small fee. For departures until May 26th, 2026, Forest Lagoon replaces the Mývatn Nature Baths due to renovation.
You will spend the night in the area of Akureyri.
Studlagil canyon
The basalt column canyon towers over a turquoise glacial river, making for one of the most stunning sights in the country. The canyon is located in the upper part of Jökuldalur Valley in East Iceland. This rolling valley is known for its many sheep farms.
We head to the steaming lunar landscape of the Námaskarð geothermal area where you will see boiling hot springs, technicolour bubbling mud pots and steaming fumaroles.
Dimmuborgir Lava Formations
And see the amazing Dimmuborgir Lava formations, also known as the Dark Castles
Whale watching in Eyjafjörður Fjord - Siglufjörður -Tröllaskagi - Bifröst
Accommodations
Overnight stay in the Borgarnes area.
Explore Akureyri, the capital of the North before continuing your way to Dalvik.
Enjoy a whale watching tour from Dalvik and experience the majestic gentle giants of the sea.
The charming town of Siglufjordur will also be visited on this day.
Borgarnes
You will end your day at your accommodation in the area of Borgarnes.
Borgarfjörður - Reykholt - Hraunfossar - Hvalfjörður - Reykjavik
Accommodations
Overnight stay in Reykjavik.
West Region
You'll visit an area which was Lonely Planet voted as one of the best destinations in 2016. The day will begin with a short hike up to Grábrók, a volcano crater. Borgarfjörður offers lots of amazing sights.
Hraunfossar
You'll be visiting the Hraunfossar waterfall where the ice-cold water pours out of the lava.
Reykholt
The final stop is at Reykholt - an important place in the history of Iceland, particularly in medieval times. We will show you Snorralaug, the hot spring pool which bears the name of Snorri Sturluson, the 12th/early 13th century scholar, lawyer, historian and saga writer.
On the way back to Reykjavik you'll drive around the scenic fjord, Hvalfjörður (Whale Fjord).
Reykjavík
Laugavegur
Explore the capital on your own and make sure to make the mot of your time in the vibrant city of Reykjavik.
Options
Shared Room Option
Shared Room Option Pickup included
What‘s Included
Glacier hike on Vatnajokull Glacier
Guided minibus tour
Small group guarantee
Breakfast
Whale watching in Eyjafjörður Fjord
Hotel room with bathroom & breakfast for 7 nights
Free wi-fi on board
Hengifoss Waterfall Hike
Entrance fee to Mývatn Nature Baths (Optional extra)
Food & drinks (Except breakfast at the hotels)
Single room fee (Optional)
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
92 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Best Guide for Iceland
11camilay,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We truly needed to get away, a REAL VACATION. Oh Boy, did we fall into the right hands!!! John was our guide during the 8 day Ring Tour of Iceland and he was Fantastic. It was immediately apparent that he was in it to please his passengers. We let go and let John and had a FANTASTIC trip. John has adopted Iceland as his home and he shares that love and knowledge with you. He is a geographer so we got a great insight into the land of fire and ice. You can read all about the awesome landscape and the places we went and great activities we did from other reviews but you need to request John as your guide if you want THE BEST VACATION! He aims to please and he takes care of every need that arises from the passengers such that we were truly able to enjoy the trip with no mundane concerns getting in the way. If we decide to go for the Northern Lights to Iceland we will only reserve it if John is our guide.
Iceland trip with Bjorne!
janrR1852RP,Feb 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My husband and I went on a 8 day trip in Iceland with Arctic Adventures. We had an amazing experience touring Iceland with Bjorne. His knowledge of the country’s history, geology, and culture was outstanding, and he shared everything with genuine enthusiasm and professionalism. What made the tour extra special was that he took us to several beautiful places not included on the original itinerary — some of our favourite memories from the trip! Some were the waterfalls, Glacier hike, Ice Caves and the Whale watching. Bjorne truly went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable. We highly recommend him as a tour guide. Jan & Don Roeder
Unforgettable Trip of a Lifetime
U9313MJCLee,Jan 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My friends and I enjoyed out trip immensely. I cannot thank Vignir enough for his care - he did his best to give us the best experience while keeping us safe. He was always mindful to ensure we were comfortable and was always obliging when one of us on the tour wanted to do something extra - like play in the snowbank - or needed an urgent toilet break. By a stroke of luck, we managed to see the dancing aurora which made our trip - it bonded all of us on the bus immediately because we were so happy and you could see Vignir was happy for us. He always tried to show Iceland at its best even when he told us stories about the hard life Icelanders had in the past. You could tell he wanted to ensure we had the best time on this trip.
Wonderful comprehensive tour
gimli610,Jan 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My mom and I had a wonderful time on this tour with Matt as our tour guide! We enjoyed the history and stories Matt told us about each place with humor sprinkled in everywhere. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who wants a comprehensive experience of the whole Iceland.
Artic Adventures Iceland Worth the Price
stevefK7426DB,Nov 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We did the 8-day tour in mid-November. It was great. We had a 19-person van with the 10 of us (family and cousins). It was cold in the south and very cold/snowy in the north. We saw some stunning landscapes, northern lights, frozen waterfalls, and much more. And the food was great. They provided dinners (they arranged we paid) for most nights. All-in-all a great trip. Our guide VJERAN was great. He was very knowledegable about Iceland and knew a great deal about America. We sang songs, Played music. He had a 6-day running commentary on what we were looking at along the way at at our many stops. Iceland is very expensive. Lunches were usually in the $45 - $55 range, and dinners were around $65 - $75 per person. We spent the first 2 nights at Hotel Island and the last night as well. The resturante there was fantastic and the least expensive place we eat dinners. One tip in travelling in Winter: The wind is absolutely brutal. Many places in the north were around 20-degrees but if the wind was blowing it felt more like 10 to -20. Dress warm in layers. Iceland indoors is kept around 75-degrees os so, so you spend a lot of time adding and removing layers.
The land of Fire and Ice with Artic Adventure
terrysH2013SS,Nov 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Just completed 8 day aurora tour with arctic adventure and give it a hands down 5 stars! Our guide, Vjeran, made this family trip. He was funny, intelligent and totally aware of our group and individual needs. Winter in Iceland is no easy feat for older adults but his focus was on our safety while showing us the best of Iceland. The company went the extra mile to locate and return items which were, inevitably. left behind in a hotel as we moved through Iceland. They don't kid about the wind here. Nor how nature directs your adventure. A snow storm or incredible winds can close a pass or a specific site but there was always an alternate plan that never disappointed. My favorite stay was at the Wilderness lodge which is an old converted family farm. Had the best lamb I've ever eaten here prepared by one of the two caretakers(the other serves). I love horses so the visit to an Icelandic horse farm was right up my alley. My only regret was not being here in Summer or Spring when you can ride these incredible special gaited horses. My final comment: This is a trip like no other where you are dropped back in time to a place on earth that is still very much alive and ever changing. It's how the earth was in its infancy with volcanic explosions, bubbling mud pots and lava, lava everywhere! It's brutal, austere beautify is life inspiring. Do it. Before it is discovered by the flood of tourists. Make it multiday with Artic Adventure. I can't recommend it enough.
Amazing tour, but I would recommend the 7 day one instead
gabiml10,Oct 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00The first 6 days were amazing — you get to see many incredible places in Iceland, and while some days are faster paced than others, it balances out overall. It’s an easy and accessible trip, except for the ice cave, which involves a tougher walk on unstable terrain with microspikes. Our guide was fantastic: friendly, attentive, and always made sure everyone was enjoying themselves. What’s not clear from the description is that this is actually three separate tours combined into one. You switch groups on days 7 and 8, which was disappointing since our first group had really bonded. This also means extra pickup/drop-off logistics and some confusion with luggage capacity. Day 7 was still great — the peninsula is stunning — but the schedule felt rushed. Some stops didn’t allow enough time to do the walks properly. Day 8, however, was underwhelming unless you’re really interested in snowmobiling. You spend over 5 hours in a very loud super jeep for just an hour on the glacier. The snowmobiles can be intimidating for beginners, especially on ice (if there hasn’t been fresh snow), and the helmets are heavy and uncomfortable. Overall, we had a wonderful time, but I’d recommend the 7-day tour instead — unless snowmobiling is a must for you. Hopefully, they’ll make it a single, continuous tour in the future rather than three combined ones.
Waterfalls and lava
maynardcarol2,Oct 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful guide great accommodations, good food, a few too many waterfall. Loved tomato greenhouse. The lava museum was fantastic. The fact that Iceland is growing in size.
Excellent guide and tours but poor service from Arctic Adv regarding lodging arrangements and itinerary changes.
Jkgriscom,Aug 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Excellent guide Kacper (produced Casper) absolutely made the trip. He was energetic, enthusiastic, very knowledgeable about all aspects of Iceland, and just plain fun!! Less impressed with Arctic adventures as they changed itinerary at the very last minute, which meant Kacper was rerouting and finding us other attractions on the fly - which he seamlessly did. We were a group of 6 women who paid for 3 rooms but twice put us in 2 triples (1 bathroom each) and one night we were told one of our 3 rooms had to go down the hall to use the shared bathroom!! Not acceptable. Ultimately our guide took the room and said he waited an hour to use the bathroom!! In all cases we didn’t know hotel locations until a few days before arrival and even then made last minute adjustments. Very disappointed with the management, but again, our guide Kacper was outstanding!!
Fun and fantastic
XCountryToo,Jul 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fantastic time with our guide/driver, Vjeran! The road trip although tiring was filled with everything you could ask for plus a few extras thrown in by Vjeran. On hindsight, I would rather have done the 6 day package but it was good nonetheless
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