An 8 day tour around Iceland in a small-group minibus, with hotels, breakfast and the main activities included. You drive the whole Ring Road, add the Snæfellsnes peninsula, and finish with a day in the highlands: Landmannalaugar in summer or a snowmobile ride on Langjökull the rest of the year.
Golden Circle and South CoastJökulsárlón and Diamond BeachEast FjordsLake Mývatn and GoðafossSnæfellsnes peninsulaLandmannalaugar or Langjökull
The full Ring Road plus Snæfellsnes in eight days, with a local guide
Glacier hike on Vatnajökull (April–October) or a crystal ice cave (October–April)
Whale watching in Eyjafjörður in North Iceland
Landmannalaugar by super jeep with a hot spring soak (mid-June to September)
Snowmobile on Langjökull glacier (October to mid-June)
Seven nights in hotels with private bathrooms and breakfast
Your day, stop by stop
Click a stop for photos and practical tips.
1Pick-up in ReykjavíkPick-up from 8:00 at your accommodation in Reykjavík.
2Day 1: Golden Circle and South CoastÞingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and Reynisfjara.
A full first day that covers the three Golden Circle sights, then the big South Coast waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, and the black sand beach at Reynisfjara, where you should stay well back from the waves. You overnight in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.
Overnight · Kirkjubæjarklaustur areaTip · stay well back from the waves at Reynisfjara
3Day 2: Vatnajökull and JökulsárlónGlacier hike or ice cave, then the glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach.
In Skaftafell you go out on a Vatnajökull outlet glacier with crampons in summer, or into a natural ice cave in winter. Later you see icebergs drift across Jökulsárlón and wash up on Diamond Beach.
4Day 3: East FjordsFjord roads, Djúpivogur and Egilsstaðir by Lagarfljót.
A slower day along the East Fjords, with a stop in the fishing village of Djúpivogur. In the afternoon there is a short hike near Egilsstaðir and a visit to the Wilderness Center or a similar cultural stop.
Walking · short hike near EgilsstaðirOvernight · Egilsstaðir area
5Day 4: Stuðlagil and Lake MývatnBasalt canyon, Námaskarð, Dimmuborgir and Goðafoss on the way to Akureyri.
Stuðlagil is a canyon lined with basalt columns above a blue-green river, though in winter it may be closed. Around Lake Mývatn you see the steaming vents of Námaskarð and the lava shapes of Dimmuborgir, then Goðafoss before Akureyri. A geothermal lagoon near Mývatn is an optional extra.
Optional · geothermal lagoon near Mývatn, extra costWinter · Stuðlagil may be closedOvernight · Akureyri
6Day 5: Whale watching and TröllaskagiA whale watching trip in Eyjafjörður, then Siglufjörður and horse country.
Eyjafjörður is Iceland's longest fjord and humpback whales are often seen here. After the boat you drive around the Tröllaskagi peninsula through the old herring town of Siglufjörður and farmland full of Icelandic horses.
Tip · dress warmly for the boat, even in summerOvernight · Laugarbakki
7Day 6: BorgarfjörðurGrábrók crater, Deildartunguhver, Hraunfossar and Reykholt.
Climb the steps up Grábrók crater, see Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in Europe, and the Hraunfossar falls pouring out of a lava field. Reykholt is where the medieval writer Snorri Sturluson lived.
Walking · stairs up Grábrók craterOvernight · Borgarnes
8Day 7: Snæfellsnes peninsulaArnarstapi, Djúpalónssandur, Lóndrangar and Kirkjufell, then back to Reykjavík.
A day around the peninsula below Snæfellsjökull glacier: the cliffs at Arnarstapi and Hellnar, the Lóndrangar sea stacks, the black pebble beach at Djúpalónssandur with its old lifting stones, and Kirkjufell. The walks are short coastal paths. You then return to Reykjavík.
Walking · short coastal pathsOvernight · Reykjavík
9Day 8: HighlandsLandmannalaugar by super jeep in summer, or a Langjökull snowmobile ride.
From mid-June to the end of September you go by super jeep to Landmannalaugar for rhyolite mountains and a soak in the natural hot spring. From October to mid-June you ride a snowmobile on Langjökull glacier instead.
Snowmobile · drivers need a valid driving licenceBathing · bring a swimsuit and towel in summerReturn · Reykjavík around 21:00
10Back to ReykjavíkDrop-off in Reykjavík in the evening.
About the 8 day tour around Iceland
This is the longest of the small-group Ring Road tours and the one with the most activities included. You go around the whole country in a minibus with a local guide, then spend a day on Snæfellsnes and a final day in the highlands. The guide drives, plans around the weather and knows where to stop for food, so you can just look out of the window.
Expect about 4–5 hours in the minibus a day and roughly 300 km, broken up by many short stops at waterfalls, beaches, lava fields and villages. Walks are short and easy. The activities do most of the work: a glacier hike or ice cave in Vatnajökull National Park, a whale watching trip from Akureyri, and either the coloured mountains of Landmannalaugar or a snowmobile ride on Langjökull at the end.
Summer brings long days, puffins on the cliffs and open highland roads. In winter the days are short, roads can be icy and the guide may swap stops; Stuðlagil canyon, for example, can be closed. On clear nights away from town lights you have a real chance of the northern lights from September to March, but they are never guaranteed.
Nights are in country hotels and guesthouses with private bathrooms, and breakfast is included. Lunch and dinner are not, but the group stops at cafés and restaurants along the way.
Make it your own
Optional extras, at extra cost
Entry to Earth Lagoon at Lake Mývatn
Single room
Luggage storage
Hiking boot rental
Waterproof jacket and trousers rental
Included
Pick-up and drop-off in Reykjavík
English-speaking guide
Small-group minibus transport
7 nights in hotels or guesthouses with private bathrooms
Breakfast daily
Glacier hike (April–October) or crystal ice cave (October–April)
Hike near Egilsstaðir
Whale watching in Eyjafjörður
Landmannalaugar super jeep tour and hot spring bathing (mid-June to September)
Snowmobile on Langjökull (October to mid-June)
Not included
Lunch and dinner
Drinks
Geothermal lagoon entry near Mývatn
Gear rental
Single room supplement
What to bring
Warm layers
Waterproof jacket and trousers
Hat and gloves
Hiking boots
Swimsuit and towel
Driving licence if you want to drive the snowmobile
Good to know
8 days and 7 nights, starting and ending in Reykjavík
Pick-up from your accommodation in Reykjavík starts at 8:00
7 nights with breakfast are included, one for each night of the tour
Minimum age 8
Easy difficulty; suitable for most people in fair condition
Up to 18 guests per guide
About 300 km and 4–5 hours of driving per day, with many stops
Luggage: one small backpack and one bag up to 20 kg per person
Standard rooms are twins; solo travellers can pay a single supplement
Book the tour to start at least one day after you land in Iceland
Stuðlagil may be replaced in winter, and the guide can change stops for weather
Northern lights are possible from September to March but never guaranteed
Questions people ask
Which activities are included?
A glacier hike or ice cave, whale watching, a hike near Egilsstaðir, and a highlands day on day 8. Entry to the Mývatn Nature Baths and the Vatnshellir lava cave can be added for an extra cost.
How much time is spent in the minibus?
About 4–5 hours a day on average, split up by many short stops.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast every day at the hotels. The group stops at cafés and restaurants for lunch and dinner, which you pay for yourself.
Can I skip an activity?
Yes. You can sit out an activity and explore the area on your own while the others take part.
Do I need a driving licence for the snowmobile?
Only if you want to drive. Snowmobiles are shared by two people, and the driver needs a valid licence.
Reviews
Reviews from travellers who took this tour. A local reads every review before it is shown.
5.0★★★★★★★★★★Based on 1 review
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★★★★★★★★★★
Fully packed 8 days!
This was my second solo adventure with Iceland Travel Guide, and I chose the 8-Day Highlights Tour, which combines the 6-Day Ring Road Tour, a day in Snæfellsnes, and a Highlands day trip.Once again, I had an amazing time! The group was fantastic, and our guide for the Ring Road portion, Bjork, made it incredibly fun. The itinerary was packed with exciting activities, stunning landscapes, and we were so fortunate to have great weather throughout. On Day 7, Amna guided us around Snæfellsnes and shared fascinating history and insights. The only hiccup was a mix-up with the pickup time, which caused an hour’s delay. Day 8 in the Highlands was a blast! Alvaro picked us up in a super jeep, and his knowledge of the area added so much to the experience. He took us on an unforgettable hike through the lava fields—it was truly incredible. The 8-day tour is packed and intense, but it’s absolutely worth it to experience so much of Iceland without the hassle of booking accommodations and planning logistics.Thank you, Iceland Travel Guide, for another unforgettable trip!
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