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6 Day Around Iceland Tour on the Ring Road

6 days, 5 nightsGroup: Small groupEasySmall-group minibus from ReykjavíkAge 8+All year
5.0(3 reviews)

A 6 day around Iceland tour that follows the Ring Road by small-group minibus. This Adventure version adds a glacier hike in summer or an ice cave in winter, plus whale watching in the north, to a loop that takes in the South Coast, Jökulsárlón, the East Fjords, Mývatn and West Iceland.

Golden CircleReynisfjaraJökulsárlón and Diamond BeachStuðlagil canyonLake Mývatn and GoðafossHraunfossar
  • The whole Ring Road in six days with a local guide
  • Glacier hike on Vatnajökull (April–October) or a crystal ice cave (October–April)
  • Whale watching in Eyjafjörður
  • Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach
  • Lake Mývatn, Dimmuborgir, Námaskarð and Goðafoss
  • Five 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 at 8:00 from selected locations; it can take up to 30 minutes to collect everyone.
2Gullfoss waterfallDay 1: Golden Circle and South CoastÞingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and Reynisfjara.
Gullfoss waterfallSeljalandsfoss waterfallThe basalt cave at Reynisfjara black sand beach

A long first day that covers the three Golden Circle sights, Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, and then the classic South Coast waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, and the black sand beach at Reynisfjara, where you should stay well back from the waves. You overnight near Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

Overnight · near KirkjubæjarklausturTip · stay well back from the waves at Reynisfjara
3Visitor in a blue ice cave tunnelDay 2: Vatnajökull and JökulsárlónGlacier hike or ice cave, then the glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach.
Visitor in a blue ice cave tunnelIcebergs on the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoonVisitor in a red jacket inside a blue ice cave

You cross the Eldhraun lava field to Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park for the glacier hike in summer or the crystal ice cave in winter. Later you see the icebergs at Jökulsárlón and the ice on Diamond Beach. You overnight in Southeast Iceland.

Summer · glacier hike with certified guideWinter · crystal ice caveOvernight · Southeast Iceland
Read our Jökulsárlón guide →
4Fishing boats in Djúpivogur harbourDay 3: East FjordsDjúpivogur, the fjord roads and Egilsstaðir.
Fishing boats in Djúpivogur harbourThe row of stone eggs on the harbour front in DjúpivogurLagarfljót lake near Egilsstaðir

A scenic drive along the East Fjords to the fishing village of Djúpivogur and on to Egilsstaðir by Lagarfljót. You overnight in East Iceland.

Overnight · Wilderness Center or similar
5The basalt columns of Stuðlagil canyonDay 4: North IcelandStuðlagil canyon, Námaskarð, Mývatn, Dimmuborgir and Goðafoss.
The basalt columns of Stuðlagil canyonBlue geothermal pool at NámaskarðVisitor on the rocks at Goðafoss waterfall

Stuðlagil is a canyon lined with basalt columns and a blue-green river. Then the geothermal area of Námaskarð, the lava shapes of Dimmuborgir and Lake Mývatn, and Goðafoss on the way to Akureyri.

Optional · geothermal lagoon near Mývatn (extra cost)Winter · Stuðlagil may be closedOvernight · Akureyri
6Whale just below the surfaceDay 5: Whale watching and TröllaskagiWhale watching in Eyjafjörður, then Siglufjörður and Skagafjörður.
Whale just below the surfaceWhale watching boat beside two whales, from aboveFishing boats in Siglufjörður harbour

A boat trip of about three hours in Eyjafjörður, then the drive around the Tröllaskagi peninsula through Siglufjörður, a small fishing town with a colourful harbour, and on towards Skagafjörður. You overnight in the Laugarbakki area.

Whale watching · about 3 hoursOvernight · Laugarbakki area
7Hraunfossar waterfalls flowing out of the lavaDay 6: West IcelandGrábrók crater, Deildartunguhver, Hraunfossar and Barnafoss.
Hraunfossar waterfalls flowing out of the lavaSteam rising from Deildartunguhver hot springGrábrók crater

You walk up the stairs of Grábrók crater, see Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in Europe, the Hraunfossar falls pouring out of a lava field, and Reykholt. The drive back runs along Hvalfjörður, arriving in Reykjavík around 17:00 to 18:00.

Walking · stairs up Grábrók craterReturn · about 17:00–18:00
8Back to ReykjavíkDrop-off at your pick-up location in Reykjavík or in Borgarnes.

About the 6 day around Iceland tour

Six days is a fast pace for the full Ring Road, but it works well if you want to see the whole country without driving yourself. You spend about 4–5 hours a day in the minibus, covering around 300 km, with many short stops along the way. The guide handles the roads and the weather, and you stay in a different hotel most nights.

This is the Adventure package, so two activities are included. On day two you either hike on a Vatnajökull outlet glacier with crampons (April to October) or visit a natural ice cave (October to April). On day five you go whale watching for about three hours in Eyjafjörður, where humpback whales are common.

In summer you get long days, puffins on the cliffs and sometimes reindeer in the east. In winter days are short and roads can be icy; Stuðlagil may be closed, and the guide swaps in other stops. On clear winter nights in the countryside you can look for the northern lights, though they are never guaranteed.

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
  • Hiking pole rental
  • Ice grips for your shoes, to buy (October to April)

Included

  • Pick-up in Reykjavík and drop-off in Reykjavík or Borgarnes
  • English-speaking guide
  • Minibus transport
  • 5 nights in hotels with private bathrooms
  • Breakfast daily
  • Glacier hike (summer) or ice cave (winter) with a certified guide
  • Whale watching tour
  • Wilderness Center activities or similar
  • Wi-Fi on board

Not included

  • Lunch and dinner
  • Geothermal lagoon entry
  • Gear rental
  • Crampons or ice spikes for winter walking
  • Luggage storage
  • Single room supplement

What to bring

  • Warm layers
  • Waterproof jacket and trousers
  • Hat and gloves
  • Hiking boots
  • Swimsuit and towel
  • Ice spikes in winter

Good to know

  • 6 days and 5 nights, starting and ending in Reykjavík
  • Minimum age 8 for the Adventure package
  • Easy difficulty; suitable for most people in fair condition
  • Pick-up at 8:00 from selected Reykjavík locations
  • Guide-to-guest ratio up to 1:18
  • About 300 km and 4–5 hours of driving per day
  • Luggage: one small backpack and one bag up to 20 kg per person
  • Hotels can change; solo travellers share with a same-gender guest unless they pay a single supplement
  • Northern lights are possible September–April but not guaranteed

Questions people ask

What is the difference between the Standard and Adventure packages?

This page is the Adventure package. It adds a glacier hike or ice cave and a whale watching tour to the sightseeing and hotels.

Is it a glacier hike or an ice cave?

A glacier hike from April to October and a natural ice cave from October to April.

How much time is spent in the bus?

About 4–5 hours a day, broken up by many short stops.

Which meals are included?

Breakfast every day. The group stops at restaurants and shops for lunch and dinner.

Can I skip the activities?

Yes. If you prefer, you can explore the area on your own while the others do the glacier hike or ice cave.

Reviews

Reviews from travellers who took this tour. A local reads every review before it is shown.
5.0Based on 3 reviews
5 stars3
4 stars0
3 stars0
2 stars0
1 star0
Exactly what we were looking for!

This 6-day tour around Iceland was exactly what we were hoping for. We got to see so much—from waterfalls and geysers to glaciers and black sand beaches. The guide was knowledgeable and made sure we had the best experience possible. A well-planned trip with comfortable accommodations, perfect for anyone wanting to see all of Iceland!

Chloe
Unforgettable guide and tour

The wife and I did the 6 day tour around Iceland. March 16-21 with a group of 18 individuals, 19 including our Tour Guide/Driver/ luggage handler, the unforgettable —>>Vjeran. Vjeran made the tour enjoyable by telling his experiences and knowledge of Iceland. He took care of us well. He made us aware of bathrooms breaks and when the next one will be. You could ask him any questions. On one of the dinner nights, he was quiet prepared to do the Heimlich maneuver since one individual in our group was choking. This was the first time the wife and I did a tour group. We usually go our way. This was an excellent way to see Iceland in a short period of time, at least the tourist sites. We were able to see a horse farm. The lady of the horse farm, Sturlureykir was very welcoming. She showed us horses in her stables. She also showed us the geyser at the farm and how they use it for heating and bake her bread. We were also able to take selfies with a horse. Thank you. Like Vjeran said, it takes one person to ruin a tour group and our group were good travelers. Will definitely see Iceland in a different season. Our tour guide made all the difference.

Ali · September 2023
Great tour

Just got back from our 6 day tour, and it was great. This tour definitely hits on the highlights depending on the season. The best part by far was visiting the puffins on the eastern side. Having a guided tour takes a lot of stress off planning so you can enjoy the vacation, but it's important to be mindful of the timeframes (especially when you like to lag behind and take nature photos like I do). Our tour guide Soli (sp) was extremely knowledgeable about all things Iceland, including the geology, economy, literature, nature, culture, and more. We had an inquisitive group who asked a lot of questions and he was able to answer them. He was great in letting us know what to expect for each day, and making sure that no one in our group got left behind. Our group was 9 people, which was a bit smaller than average, and the vans are small, so you want to pack your daybag light and only keep things in there depending on the day's activities. There is free WiFi on the bus, and bathroom breaks every 90 minutes or so. There are also plenty of stops at the sites as well (most have a WC). Iceland is very amenable to tourism. The hotels we stopped at were clean, and had free breakfasts. There are also lots of convenience stores in the towns that we visted, so I recommend stocking up on snacks because the food is really expensive in Iceland. Coffee is reasonably priced though :)

Emily J. · September 2023
From309,990 ISKPer person

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