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Skógafoss Waterfall in South Iceland

Iceland Ring Road Express

(7 days / 6 nights)

4.9
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Experience more in less time

This Iceland Express Self - Drive Tour is the “fast track” around the Ring Road, designed to include as many of Iceland’s top sights as one week allows, including hot springs, glaciers, waterfalls, volcanic black sand beaches and more. It’s one of our 7 day itineraries that covers the most ground, so it includes longer daily driving distances than our other full-circle tours. But with the extra daylight hours of summer, you still have lots of time to enjoy sightseeing from early morning to late at night.

Are you looking to join like-minded travellers on a similar guided small group version of this tour?

4.9
Save up to ISK

7 days / 6 nights

Price p.p. from

248521ISK

You save: 35000 ISK per person

The amount will be charged in ISK

Approx 213521 ISK

— Why book this tour

  • Private transfer from airport on arrival
  • Handpicked hotels by local travel experts with breakfast included
  • Reliable rental cars from our trusted partner Hertz
  • Comprehensive itinerary, personalised map and travel guide
  • 24/7 helpline throughout tour
  • Local travel experts with firsthand experience
  • Carbon offsetting included

— Cancellation Protection

  • Rebook your tour on one occasion, or
  • Cancel for any reason and receive a partial refund and travel credit

Terms and conditions apply

Tour Highlights

  • See the massive floating icebergs at the Glacier Lagoon
  • Walk the Diamond Beach, seeing the scattered, glistening ice
  • Explore the famous Golden Circle route
  • Discover the volcanic Lake Mývatn and its beautiful surroundings
  • Enjoy the cascading waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss & Skógafoss
  • Traverse the beautiful Vatnajökull National Park
  • Enjoy the waterfalls and hot springs of west Iceland
  • Walk the quaint streets of the capital city, Reykjavík
  • Photograph jagged basalt columns & sweeping black sand beaches
  • Walk the quaint streets of Akureyri, the unofficial capital of north Iceland

Travel style

Self-Drive i

Interest

Active i, Best Seller i, Midnight sun i

Season

May - Sep

Departure

Daily

Driving distance

1485/923 km/mi

Itinerary

A day-by-day plan to guide your Nordic adventure.

  • Day 1: Arrival in Reykjavík

    On arrival to Keflavík Airport, you will be greeted by a driver who will take you to your accommodation in Reykjavík. After settling in, the rest of the day is free for you to explore the vibrant city centre with its abundance of museums, restaurants and bars to suit all tastes. If you're interested in checking out Icelandic design or experiencing the city's thriving coffee culture, head to the main street, Laugavegur, and enjoy its various shops and cosy cafes.

    Spend the night in central Reykjavik.

    Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 2: The Golden Circle

    Collect your rental car in the morning and begin your journey on the classic “Golden Circle” route, home to some of Iceland’s most popular attractions, including Þingvellir National Park, the hot springs of the Haukadalur geothermal area, the majestic Gullfoss waterfall and the old implosion crater of Kerið. Then continue your drive along the south coast and visit the graceful Seljalandsfoss waterfall—where you can walk behind the cascade—and the equally impressive Skógafoss waterfall.

    Spend the night in the Vík area.  

    Driving distance approx. 320 km / 199 mi.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 3: Glaciers and icebergs

    Visit the black volcanic beach near Vík and the rock formations of Dyrhólaey and Reynisdrangar before heading to Skaftafell, part of the immense Vatnajökull National Park and a place of great natural beauty. Then, on your way towards Höfn, take a break at the amazing Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where you can join a boat ride among the maze of floating icebergs (optional).

    Spend the night in the Höfn area. 

    Driving distance approx. 270 km / 168 mi. 

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 4: East Fjords & Lake Mývatn

    Your drive along East Iceland today is characterised by spectacular fjords, tranquil fishing villages and sweeping landscapes. On arrival to the otherworldly Lake Mývatn, you have an abundance of unusual natural wonders to explore, including the Krafla volcano, the curiously-coloured Námaskarð pass, the fascinating lava formations at maze of Dimmuborgir and the lunar-like pseudo-craters at Skútustaðir.

    Spend the night in the Lake Mývatn area.

    Driving distance approx. 420 km / 261 mi.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 5: The Capital of the North

    Spend the first half of the day exploring more of the sights around Lake Mývatn before driving towards Skagafjörður. On the way, you can stop to enjoy the beautiful Goðafoss waterfall, the charming town of Akureyri—nicknamed “The Capital of North Iceland”—and the Glaumbær turf farm museum.

    Spend the night in the Skagafjörður area.

    Driving distance approx. 200 km / 124 mi.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 6: History and Hot Springs

    Head back to Reykjavik today. Notable sights along the way include the Grábrók volcanic crater, the Icelandic Settlement Centre in Borgarnes, Deildartunguhver—the largest hot spring in Europe—and the beautiful Hraunfossar waterfalls and Barnafoss waterfalls. History or Nordic literature buffs may also find it worthwhile to stop at the medieval research institution of Snorrastofa at Reykholt, where Snorri Sturluson wrote the Saga Heimskringla in the 13th century.

    Spend the night in central Reykjavík.

    On return to Reykjavík, return the rental car before settling in at your accommodation.

    Driving distance approx. 275 km / 171 mi. 

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 7: Departure

    Transfer by shuttle to Keflavík Airport in time for your departure flight. If your flight is in the afternoon, you can fit in a relaxing visit to the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa or even take a short guided tour of the volcanic Reykjanes Peninsula (optional; not included).

    See Activities for this day

Optional extras

We recommend adding your extra activities to the tour now for the best booking experience and to secure your spot, as activities are likely to sell out.

Day One

Map

Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.

Essential information

We recommend that you read carefully through the following information before booking this summer self-drive tour in Iceland. We’ve answered the most frequently asked questions here so you know what to expect. You’ll also find more practical advice and attraction recommendations in our online Iceland Travel Guide.

On a self-drive tour, Nordic Visitor supplies you with a quality rental car and a detailed personal itinerary. You act as your own tour guide and driver, and you get to pick the road trip music!

All your services will be pre-booked by your personal travel consultant at Nordic Visitor. This includes your rental car and accommodation in Iceland, along with airport transfers and planned activities, as specified in the itinerary.

And rest assured that we’re with you every step of the way. Upon your arrival, you’ll receive personalised information, including an itinerary, map, leaflets about driving in Iceland, and our very own Iceland Travel Guide. You’ll also have in-car Wi-Fi included in your car rental, meaning you’ll be able to stay connected and check things on the go.

Plus, you’ll have access to our 24/7 helpline during your trip should you need to contact us.

Yes, when you book your Iceland tour with Nordic Visitor, you always get airport transfers to and from Keflavík Airport included. This will be a private, shared or bus transfer, depending on your itinerary. Please check the details of your tour to confirm.

If you add extra nights to your stay before or after the scheduled trip, we’ll rearrange your transfers to fit your new itinerary.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with your travel consultant if you have any specific requests about optional activities or services.

During your self-drive tour, you’ll stay in accommodation hand-picked by our local Iceland travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and selected hotels and guesthouses based on excellent ratings, comfort and our personal experience.

On our self-drive packages, you can choose from single, double and triple rooms. Please note that in Iceland room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America.

For example, a double bed often consists of 2 single beds pushed together. Twin rooms are 2 separate single beds. Triple rooms include a double bed along with an extra bed, rollaway or sofa bed. And single rooms are often smaller than the standard double.

If you have anything specific in mind, please contact us to discuss customising your accommodation options.

By booking with Nordic Visitor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that there’s always someone there for you throughout your trip.

For support and advice during the day, you can call our office. And if anything unexpected happens outside working hours, you can reach us on our 24/7 helpline. 

During your tour, there will always be a Reykjavík-based travel expert on call to handle any unforeseen situations, such as unusual weather or events.

If you’re arriving from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand, you won’t need a visa to visit Iceland. 

Visiting from another country? You can find the complete list of countries whose nationals require a visa to enter Iceland on the website of Iceland’s Directorate of Immigration. If you do require a visa, they maintain a list of local embassies that can assist you with the process. 

Your passport must also be valid for at least 3 months from your departure from Iceland. It’s good to check your passport expiry date early in case you need to renew it. 

Read more about visas, airports and airlines in the getting to Iceland section of our travel guide.

Travelling with your kids? No problem! You'll be able to enter your children's ages during the booking process. This lets us know whether to arrange either a baby cot or roll-away bed for your trip.

If you'd like us to arrange for a car seat to be provided for your trip, please let us know ahead of time. It's also possible to book this directly with the car rental agency. This will incur a small, extra cost.

Only you can pick the best time to visit Iceland for your trip. It’ll depend on how much time you have to explore, what you want to see in Iceland and any events you might like to attend.

In summer, June to August, you’ll have milder temperatures and longer daylight hours, compared to the winter. This is ideal for outdoor excursions and sightseeing. 

If you’d like to experience the top attractions with fewer visitors around then you could book your summer trip in May or September. These shoulder season months have more tour and attraction availability.

The winter months are also popular, but generally quieter, apart from the Christmas holiday season. This is the ideal time to try to spot the northern lights.

Find out what annual Icelandic events and festivals are on in our travel guide. Or read more about the best time to visit Iceland on our blog.

Driving in Iceland during the summer months might be slightly different than what you’re used to. For this reason, you’ll want to make yourself aware of local driving laws and potential road hazards, such as:

  • We drive on the right-hand side of the road
  • Sheep sometimes roam onto the roads
  • Most roads and motorways are single carriageways
  • The first car to arrive at a single-lane bridge has right of way
  • Iceland has quite a few tunnels, including one of the longest underwater road tunnels in the world
     

And finally, with all the beautiful scenery, you’ll want to take it slow and enjoy the drive!

For more information, we strongly recommend taking a few minutes to read through our guide to driving in Iceland. Additionally, when you arrive on your tour, you’ll receive a brochure telling you more about driving in Iceland.

Because of its northerly location close to the Arctic Circle, Iceland enjoys long days throughout the summer. 

Around the summer solstice, from early June until mid-July, you’ll experience almost 24 hours of daylight. This phenomenon, known as the midnight sun, occurs within the Arctic Circle and is when the sun doesn’t fully set below the horizon. 

These long daylight hours give you plenty of time to drive around and explore. That said, you may want to pack a sleeping mask if you are a light sleeper or tend to wake up at dawn. 

Find out what the daylight hours will be during the month of your visit in this guide to time and daylight in Iceland.

Summer in Iceland is mild and boasts the best weather and longest days of the year. You can expect temperatures of around 10–15°C (50–59°F), with potential lows of 5°C (41°F) and highs of 25°C (77°F). 

It’s good to know that weather conditions are changeable in Iceland, so you should come ready for sun, rain and wind. For more information on the local climate, read the page Iceland weather conditions

Please note that sightseeing is dependent on weather and road conditions. This means that your itinerary might need to be altered if these conditions are not favourable during your visit.

On your Iceland road trip, you should budget for petrol costs of around 300-400 ISK per litre.

As for meals, your breakfast is included at all your accommodation in Iceland. For the rest of your meals, your spending money will depend on the standard of restaurants you decide to go to. 

Budget between 2,000–3,000 ISK for lunch per person, each day. Dinners at casual restaurants might cost between 3,000–6,000 ISK. Meanwhile at upscale restaurants, you can expect to pay 7,000 ISK or more. This does not include the cost of alcoholic beverages.

Even in summertime Iceland’s climate can feel cool. As you’ll probably spend a lot of time outdoors, you should be ready for a variety of weather conditions.

Here is a recommended summer packing list for your trip to Iceland:

  • Durable insulated jacket
  • Rain gear, including sturdy wind and waterproof layers, like a jacket and trousers
  • Robust walking shoes with a good grip
  • Mid-layers such as a fleece or woollen jumper
  • A few pairs of warm hiking socks
  • Hat, gloves and scarf
  • Swimwear for visiting geothermal pools or spas
  • Backpack for daily adventures
  • Electronic equipment such as smartphone, external powerpack, and travel adapters
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Sunglasses, sunscreen and eye mask for the summer sun
  • And don’t forget your camera!
     

For more information, check out this Iceland packing guide.

Yes, you can customise this tour online. During the booking process, you can add extra nights to your itinerary as well as optional day trips, excursions and upgrades. 

If you have something specific in mind, get in touch with your travel consultant and they’ll create your dream trip.

It’s best to book as soon as you can to secure your preferred travel dates. Once you have picked your tour, check the availability calendar to see which months are open for booking. Then, select the date you want and complete your booking. 

Nordic Visitor offers 10–20% deposits so you can reserve your trip as early as it’s convenient for you. The remaining balance is due 30 days before you travel. 

Many tours are also open for the following year if you like to plan well ahead. And if you have any questions or need advice, you can always contact us

After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip. 

At that time, they’ll confirm the availability of your tour. Then the booking process starts, which may take a few weeks. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip. You will also receive more information about what to expect during your trip.

No need! Nordic Visitor is already working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours.

Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund. 

You can get in touch with our Iceland travel experts ahead of your trip if you have any questions. The live chat option is useful for getting a quick reply as someone answers live every day during office opening hours.

Once you’ve booked, we’ll provide you with a travel guide packed full of local tips and top attractions for your visit. You can also check out our online Iceland Travel Guide where we’ve compiled useful information about topics, including:

After you have booked your tour, it will only take a few days to confirm its availability. But it may take a few weeks to create your itinerary and book everything. Once your trip details are finalised, we’ll email you copies of your travel documents.

When you arrive in Iceland, you’ll receive a welcome bag with hard copies of your itinerary, attraction and tour vouchers, the Nordic Visitor Iceland Travel Guide and more.

When you depart may depend on the time of your return flight. Check out early if you’re heading to the airport for a morning flight. On the other hand, if you’re flying home later in the day, you might like to enjoy a leisurely day or visit one more attraction.

You will need to check out from your room, but will be able to store your luggage at the hotel reception. Simply return later to collect your bags before catching your transfer to the airport.

All bookings are billed in Icelandic Króna (ISK), the official currency of Iceland. 

Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate as issued by the Central Bank of Iceland. This means conversions from ISK to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.

Reviews

We don’t like to brag, so we’ll let our happy customers do it for us.

It worked perfectly for us

We did a self drive Express Ring Road Tour. Perhaps others will want to take note that aside from arranging your accommodations and vehicle rental; the "tour" is up to you. You can do as much or as little as you like and go as quickly or slowly as you desire. That's what we wanted and it worked perfectly for us.

Extremely helpful

We had severe weather conditions while in Iceland and had to stay at one of the hotels an extra day because roads were closed. Our rep was extremely helpful making sure our accommodations were secure for the extra day, and offering any other help if we needed. We also missed an excursion because of the severe weather and our rep took care of the cancellation for us, he called us several times to check on us. We appreciated knowing someone was looking out for us.

Excellent communication

We had a great tour organised via Nordic Visitor. The communications was excellent, the itinerary that was prepared highlighted the fantastic scenery, geography and people of Iceland. Normally we do all trip planning and booking ourselves, but since we had never been to Iceland having an expert put things together made the trip so much more enjoyable.

Well organized & comfortable

Well organized, fully mapped tour with great sight seeing suggestions and comfortable accommodation.

Fantastic rom start to finish

Nordic Visitor did a fantastic job of sorting out our self drive tour around Iceland from start to finish.Great online service and from been picked up at the airport to car hire, tour map and a very detailed itinerary package, great hotels and been taken back to airport, all very hassle free. Couldn't recommend them enough. Many thanks

A trip of a lifetime

Booking with Nordic Visitor was the best decision! Hanna helped create the perfect itinerary that took out all the stress of planning and was available for any questions I had. Even when we had one hiccup with transportation (not the fault of Nordic Visitor) they took care of it immediately and were a phone call away. Every single person I talked to was so helpful and kind. The trip Hanna planned and booked was a trip of a lifetime!

Accommodation

Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.

Economy

You can expect rooms in good quality guesthouses, farmhouses, or hostels. Most of the properties are run by small, family-run busi..

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Comfort Plus

In this category, you’ll stay in standard rooms in good quality 3-star hotels. Or, you'll spend the night in similar rooms in rura..

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Superior

With Superior accommodation, you’ll enjoy standard rooms in 4-star hotels or boutique guesthouses. You might also stay in superior..

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Rental car

Enjoy the journey, in the rental car of your choice.

Toyota Yaris
(Manual)
or similar

  • x5
  • x5
  • x2
  • M

Toyota Yaris
(Manual)
or similar

  • Description: Economy
  • Passengers: 5
  • Luggage: 2
  • Doors: 5
  • Transmission: Manual*
  • *upgrade to automatic available upon request

Volkswagen Golf (Automatic)
or similar

  • x5
  • x5
  • x2
  • A

Volkswagen Golf (Automatic)
or similar

  • Description: Compact
  • Passengers: 5
  • Luggage: 2
  • Doors: 5
  • Transmission: Automatic

Toyota Corolla Sedan (Automatic)
or similar

  • x5
  • x5
  • x3
  • A

Toyota Corolla Sedan (Automatic)
or similar

  • Description: Intermediate
  • Passengers: 5
  • Luggage: 3
  • Doors: 5
  • Transmission: Automatic

Toyota Corolla Station (Automatic)
or similar

  • x5
  • x5
  • x4
  • A

Toyota Corolla Station (Automatic)
or similar

  • Description: Intermediate Wagon
  • Passengers: 5
  • Luggage: 4
  • Doors: 5
  • Transmission: Automatic

Hyundai Tucson AWD (Automatic)
or similar

  • x5
  • x5
  • x3
  • A

Hyundai Tucson AWD (Automatic)
or similar

  • Description: Intermediate SUV
  • Passengers: 5
  • Luggage: 3
  • Doors: 5
  • Transmission: Automatic

Toyota RAV4 4x4 (Automatic)
or similar

  • x5
  • x5
  • x4
  • A

Toyota RAV4 4x4 (Automatic)
or similar

  • Description: Standard SUV, AWD
  • Passengers: 5
  • Suitcases: 4
  • Doors: 5
  • Transmission: Automatic

Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 (Automatic)
or similar

  • x5
  • x5
  • x5
  • A

Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 (Automatic)
or similar

  • Description: Premium SUV, 4WD
  • Passengers: 5
  • Suitcases: 5
  • Doors: 5
  • Transmission: Automatic

Land Rover Discovery 4x4 (Automatic)
or similar
limited availability

  • x5
  • x5
  • x4
  • A

Land Rover Discovery 4x4 (Automatic)
or similar
limited availability

  • Description: 4x4
  • Passengers: 5
  • Suitcases: 4
  • Doors: 5
  • Transmission: Automatic

Ford Transit (Automatic)
or similar

  • x8
  • x5
  • x6
  • A

Ford Transit (Automatic)
or similar

  • Description: Passenger Van
  • Passengers: 8
  • Luggage: 6-7
  • Doors: 5
  • Transmission: Automatic
Save up to ISK

Price per person from

You save: 35000 ISK per person

The amount will be charged in ISK

Approx 213521 ISK

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