We cover the major highlights on Iceland ring road tour here. To know more about logistics and pre-travel planning, visit here
Reykjavik
We stayed in the capital city for a day before and after the ring road tour to explore the city. The capital city housing 90% of Iceland’s population. Most people walk around as cabs are expensive, upwards of $2.5 per km
Key sights include
- Hallgrimskirja Church: Has a unique architecture inspired by basalt columnar structure of Svartifoss
- Rainbow street: Photostop On the way to the church
- Harpa Concert Hall: Hosts popular concerts. The architecture is something you will remember for long
- Tjörnin lake: Spot to relax after long walk in the city. Home to many swans and ducks which are fed by locals and tourists
- Sun Voyager statue: We stopped her on the way back to hotel. Has a good vibe with the sea view just across
- Blue Lagoon: Closer to the airport than the city centre. The famous places you see in Iceland pictures with blue waters. This is an artificial pool, unlike the natural pools as you go into interiors of Iceland. The water here has a lot of Silica, so ensure it doesn’t wet your hair or else you will have to deal with unmanageable hair for days or weeks after that
Our day wise itinerary on ring road tour
Day 1: Golden circle
- Thingvellier National Park: We were a bit underwhelmed- there was not much to see, unless you go diving in Silfra. Autumn colors were just coming in
- Gulfoss: This was the first waterfall we visited. The ground had grass which was starting to get covered with ice
- Geysir hot springs and Strokkur: Strokkur erupts every 8 minutes with a spectacular show
- Skogafoss: You can see rainbow here, sometimes multiple ones
- Seljalandsfoss and the hidden Gljufrabui waterfall: You can walk behind Seljalandsfoss. You will get fully drenched, so go armed with raincoats
- Gljufrabui is about a 20 minute walk with a hidden waterfalls inside a cave
- Reynisfjara beach: Famous for its basalt columns
Day 2: Glacier world
Into the Ice cave at Breiðamerkurjökull- Sadly glaciers are receding; we were lucky to be still able to vist an ice cave. They get naturally formed post October. We were provided with crampons for higher grip
Although not as blue as the edited photos, it was really good. Highly recommend visiting one when you have a chance
- Jokulsarlon Lagoon: Gives you a flavor of Arctic experience with floating icebergs. You can also see seals swimming around
- Diamond beach: You can see chunks of ice on black sand and floating glacier pieces reaching the ocean
Day 3: East Fjords
The drive was very scenic with green and white mountains, floating clouds, myriad falls- almost like a dreamland
- Djúpivogur village: Small village stop for lunch without much to see
- Vok baths: We didn’t go inside and ended up spending time at Egilsstaðir lake
Day 4: Canyons, falls and hot springs
- Stuðlagil canyon: Basalt columnar canyon with orange moss, blue water and snow stones
We drove through highlands which was an amazing experience. It was fully covered with snow all around
- Godafoss : One of the widest falls in Iceland with 2 large falls and some smaller ones on side
- Dettifoss: Second most powerful waterfalls in Europe
- Lake Myvatn: Hverfjall crater is visible quite close. There are multiple hot springs, craters around and you can gee steam vents around. Myvatn lake is quite large
Day 5: Whale Watching and Fjords
- Dalvik: We saw more than 20 whales overall. The operator provides you with thick suites to bear the sea winds. Dress in layers- we had over 5 layers but still felt cold
Be careful while walking around. The ground is quite slippery and many of us had a fall
- Siglufjörður: Small town in the fjords with colorful boats and houses. Gives you picture perfect reflections on water
Day 6: More waterfalls and hot springs!
- Deildartunguhver: More hotsprings with steam all over the place. You can go quite close to the springs here
- Barnafoss: Waterfalls flowing through twists and turns of small rock bridges. Has a dark history of children drowning there. The water turns into deep blue if the conditions are right
- Hraunfossar: Multiple streams of waterfalls which look like cascading over steps
- Reykholt: Home to Snorri Sturluson and Snorri’s pool. Has a Hobbiton kind of setting
- Kolugjufur Canyon: Another scenic place with small waterfalls and a bride crossing over. This was a bonus stop not in the itinerary
- Sturlureykir Horse Farm: We had an enthusiastic girl show us around the horse farm. Icelandic horses have a different build and gait. Some of the horses were cute- with braided plaits. There are friendly watch dogs near the entrance
The farm is powered by geothermal energy and they also use it to bake rye bread underground using steam from natural hot water. We got small pieces to taste
This was a bonus stop not in the itinerary but usually covered on all tours. It was supposed to be a surprise stop at the end of the tour
Day 7 (additional tour): Snaefellsness peninsula
Snæfellsjökull Glacier is visible on the way
- Ytri-Tunga beach: Famous seal beach with many of them lazing around. Don’t get too close to them, they move away into water. You can definitely find some of them towards right end of the beach. As you walk, there are remains of a whale skeleton
- Rock formations at Arnarstapi, Miðgjá stone bridge: Cool stone formations over the beach cost. The trail helps you walk over the coastal cliff
- Djúpalónssandur black sand beach: Scenic beach. Has spherical stones when you can test your strength by trying to lift them
- Búðakirkja Church: Iconic black church with simple look and feel
- Saxhóll Crater: Has tiny steps on stairs, supposed to be an easier climb. Frankly, don’t think it made any difference
- Mt. Kirkjufell: The famous conical mountain in pictures of Iceland. The mountain has a different flat table top shape when viewed from the backside
Where we stayed
Most of the hotels had similar standards- clean rooms, continental breakfast, comfortable stays
- Reykjavik- Hótel Ísland Spa & Wellness – Ármúli 9: This was booked by Arctic Adventures before our tour start day
- Rejkyavik- 22 Hill Hotel: This was booked by Arctic Adventures at the end of the tour
- Rejkyavik -Hotel Alva: We booked this place on our own on Expedia. Fully people-less with only cleaners coming in once a day. It was all operated by key codes- was a first of a kind experience for us
- Hótel Geirland: Part of sister concern of Arctic Adventures
- Hótel Hof I : Part of sister concern of Arctic Adventures. Basic, clean, fit for purpose
- Wilderness Center: Relatively smaller place with an ancient touch. There is a box type lift without a top which we have not seen elsewhere. Breakfast was home style in a separate building. There are herds of sheep around, welcoming us with traffic jam
- Icelandair Hotel Akureyri: One of the 3-4 star places with a large inventory of rooms and wider breakfast options
- Hotel Bifröst: Had larger rooms than other places. This was the place we saw faint Northern Lights. We had the hotel wake us up whenever the lights came in