Transport

Vehicle type used in this package 1-2 people: Volkswagen Polo auto, Suzuki Swift auto, Toyota Yaris auto, Kia Rio A 3 people: Kia Ceed Sportswagon auto, Skoda Octavia Auto, Suzuki Swace auto 4-5 people: Toyota Rav4 4x4 auto, Kia Sportage 4x4 auto 6-9 people: Volkswagen Caravelle 9s auto For other vehicle options, please contact Marina Travel for a custom package.

Meals

Breakfast in hotel

Others

9 days car rental Detailed e-Itinerary with the tour map, location points, and pictures for you to view before you arrive. 24-hour road-side assistance Personal travel designer and agent to assist you throughout the trip

Accommodation

8 nights accommodation in 3* hotel Hotel Borgarnes, Hotel Akureyri, Hotel Herad, Hotel Hofn, Fosshotel Nupar, Hotel Eyjafjallajökull, Fosshotel Baron Note: Similar accommodations in the area may be used if accommodation(s) listed is/are not available.

Insurance

Premium Protection Insurance with zero excess

Not included:

Others

Fuel Parking fees Lunch and dinner Wifi (mobile wifi available for add-on) GPS (available for add-on) Activities and entrance fees Personal shopping and expenditure Any other fess that are not included in this package

Guide

Flights

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Arrival - Blue Lagoon
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Arrival - Blue Lagoon

Upon arrival to Iceland pick up your car at Keflavik International Airport. Your adventure starts from here!

The first stop (if you choose to add it as an extra activity) will be to the famous Blue Lagoon where you can relax and let the warm and mineral-rich water warm you up and recharge you for your exciting trip in Iceland.

The Blue Lagoon features an in-water mask booth, sauna, steam room, and an in-water bar (book with us and get a complimentary beverage).

The silica mask is free-flow so you can use it as much as you wish.

Spend the night near Borgarnes.
Day 2 Troll Peninsula
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Troll Peninsula

After breakfast and check-out you will start driving to discover the Troll Peninsula in all its glory.

Hvitserkur

Visible from the black-sand beach, this 15-meter-tall basalt island resembles a dragon or rhino. It has been featured in numerous advertisements.

Troll Peninsula

Troll Peninsula is an adventurous location with its high mountains, green valleys, lakes, and sea. The Northern light shines during the wintertime and the hills are filled with juicy berries during the fall. Not to mention the spring and the summertime where the days stare into the night and the light seems never-ending. The area is rich with culture and for those knowledge thirsty, history is on display at local folk museums and Cultural houses have exhibitions all year round.

Akureyri

Known also as the city of love, Akureyri is Iceland’s capital of the north. We will take a city tour to explore some interesting places like the Christmas House and Akureyrarkirkja. During the summer, you can take a stroll in the Botanical Gardens of Akureyri where beautiful flowers bloom.

Optional Activities

1) Beer Spa

Take a dip in warm beer and beer yeast, which supposedly is good for your skin and hair. Even enjoy a cold beer while you bathe in the warm beer.

Spend the night in Akureyri.
Day 3 North Iceland
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

North Iceland

After breakfast, you will start heading toward the North of Iceland.

Dettifoss

We’ll stop at the waterfall with the greatest volume of water of any waterfall in Europe. Dettifoss is 45m high and 100m wide. A pleasant hiking trail, 34km in length, winds along the canyon from Dettifoss to Asbyrgi.

Lake Myvatn

Explore the area around Mývatn where there are caves, waterfalls, and the most popular Lake Mývatn. The lake itself is the fourth largest lake in Iceland. This region is famed for the birdlife on and around the lake, as diverse species of duck and wetland birds favor the area. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is listed for its unique geological and biological properties.

Hverir

The next stop will bring you to an out-of-the-world location – Hverir. This geothermal hotspot is well-known for its boiling mud pools and steaming fumaroles emitting sulfuric gas.

Goðafoss

Godafoss is a spectacular waterfall plunging over a curved, 12m-high precipice, with paths to multiple viewpoints. Its name refers to an incident in one of the Icelandic Sagas where Torgeir the Lawspeaker threw his likenesses of the old Nordic Gods into the waterfall, and the translation would be “the waterfall of the gods”.

Stuðlagil Canyon

During the summer, we will take yet another detour to visit this picturesque canyon lined by basalt columns. Getting to this amazingly beautiful canyon takes a little effort but it will be all worth it.

Optional Activities

1) Myvatn Natural Bath

Myvatn Nature Baths is a traditional and tastefully designed complex offering a completely natural experience that you can enjoy with your day admission ticket.

The 2 steam baths are built on top of a geothermal area and the sulfur steam rises through holes in the floor. The water of the Myvatn Nature Baths is drawn from a borehole that goes 2,500 meters into the ground.

Spend the night in Egilsstaðir.
Day 4 The Eastfjords
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

The Eastfjords

You will start the day by driving along the east fjords of Iceland.

Eggin í Gleðivík

Visit the outdoor artwork by artist Sigurður Guðmundsson. The artwork has 34 replicas of eggs of nesting birds that nest in the vicinity of Djúpivogur and reflects the strong connection that Djúpivogur has with nature.

*Keep a lookout for wild reindeer who are permanent residents of this area.

Skútafoss

One hidden treasure of the East. The beautiful waterfall can be found after a short hike from the parking lot.

Vestrahorn and Stokksnes.

Located in East Iceland, less than a 20-minute drive to the east from the town of Höfn, the Stokksnes peninsula is a unique place, guarded by the majestic Vestrahorn mountains.

Even though the mountains are just 454 meters high (1490 ft), they give dimension to the landscape.

At the foot of the mountains lies a wide black sand beach that is washed by the ocean waves. The ocean waves that are washing the beach are creating a stunning mirror effect which many photographers are looking for.

The place is less touristy and is also a photographer’s paradise as the whole landscape is changing its look under the midnight sun, the Northern Lights, the foggy clouds, and sunny days.

It is the place where the mountains, the beach, the ocean, and the sky meet together in a stunningly beautiful landscape. The photos can explain why it is my favorite place in Iceland.

Spend the night in the Hofn area.
Day 5 Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

After breakfast, you will start heading to the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon area.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Starting this day by heading to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, a 200m deep glacial lagoon fed by Breiðamerkurjökull, an outlet glacier of Europe’s largest glacier. Enormous icebergs come from Breiðamerkurjökull all year round so the lagoon is usually filled with ice that floats south. We will give you the opportunity to book a boat ride between the icebergs during summertime and get a closer look at the millenary ice. If boating is not your thing, then we walk alongside the glacier lagoon enjoying the magnificent views and dead silence of Icelandic nature.

Diamond Beach

On the other side of the road, the icebergs from Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon float into the Atlantic Ocean where they are quickly thrown back to shore by the tide and winds. This black sand beach is full of smaller ice rocks in all shapes and sizes, sparkling like diamonds in the daylight. The ice itself comes in all shades of white and blue forming beautiful contrasts, guaranteed to make your Instagram account pop!

Fjdragljufur Canyon

A spectacular moss-covered canyon that was carved out of palagonite rock by a glacial river over thousands of years.

Eldhraun Lava field

This lava field was created after the Lakagigar crater eruption, which is one of the biggest eruptions recorded in history and is the largest of its kind in the world. It was considered a cataclysm in Iceland as it led to disease and harvesting problems.

Optional Activity

Amphibian Boat Tour is an exciting boat trip on the lagoon in an amphibian boat. During the excursion, you sail among the huge icebergs in the picturesque scenery of Jökulsárlón. On the boat you get to taste the 1000-year-old ice and if you are lucky you might even see some seals. The excursion takes 30–40 minutes and includes an English-speaking guide who explains to you the geology and facts of the lagoon. Other languages may be offered upon request.

OR

Zodiac Tour - During the excursion you sail among the huge icebergs in the picturesque scenery of Jökulsárlón. On the Zodiac, we can cover large areas of the lagoon and get closer to the icebergs than on the amphibian. When possible the Zodiac goes almost up to the glacier (as close as safe). Passengers are provided with flotation suits and a life jacket. We don’t recommend taking children under the age of 10 on the Zodiac tour.

Spend the night on the south coast.
Day 6 South Coast
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

South Coast

After breakfast, you will start heading to the South Coast of Iceland.

Reynisfjara, the Black Sand Beach

Heading further west, we visit the black sand beach of Reynisfjara where the massive waves of the Atlantic meet the unique basalt columns in the cliffs above the sand. Rock pillars in the water and the cliffs of Dýrhólaey are seen in the distance. This area of the south is also a paradise for bird lovers, as Puffins and dozens of other unique species nest on top of these cliffs in the summertime from June to August.

Skogafoss

Further west along the coast is Skógafoss waterfall. Skógafoss is an incredibly picturesque sight. Tucked in a little gorge, the river Skógá tumbles down a 60-meter cliff before continuing down the landscape towards the Atlantic Ocean. Alongside the gorge, a staircase can take you to the shelf above the waterfall for stunning views. See if you can count your steps on your way up.

Seljalandsfoss

The adventure begins when your arrival is announced by the powerful theatrics of Seljalandsfoss. Bring a raincoat and you’ll be able to make the short hike behind the falls. The scene behind the fall and the trembling ground from the power of the falling water make for an automatic Instagram blockbuster!

Optional Activities

1) Glacier Hike in Sólheimajökull

Sólheimajökull is a part of Mýrdalsjökull, one of the biggest glaciers in Europe. It is featured in detail in the 2012 documentary "Chasing Ice," an award-winning investigation of climate change. Once you reach the ice, you’ll be given plenty of time to marvel at the eerie silence and feeling of isolation, as if you and your fellow hikers are alone in a vast, empty world of ice and snow. You’ll view millennia-old blue ice, created when oxygen bubbles are trapped in the snow and compressed into ice by the enormous weight of the glacier pressing down upon it. You’ll be able to gaze deep into a glacier moulin, a vertical shaft like a well, which can go all the way to the bottom of the glacier.

OR

2) DC3 Plane Wreck

Visit the famous plane wreck on Solheimasandur. This plane wreck of the US Navy has been sitting on the vast black sand since 1973.

Spend the night on the south coast.
Day 7 Golden Circle
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Golden Circle

Today you will be seeing the Golden Circle highlights.

Geysir Geothermal Area

The Geysir geothermal area hosts hundreds of colorful hot springs and two geysers, erupting hot springs. One is called “Geysir” and name giving for all the geysers in the world. Today, however, it erupts very seldom. The other geyser is called “Strokkur” and erupts every 5 minutes up to 40 meters.

Gullfoss Waterfall

The melting water from Iceland´s second biggest glacier, Langjökull, falls into a deep canyon forming the majestic “Golden Falls”. On a sunny day, you can see the glacier Langjökull in the distance and enjoy a rainbow in the midst of the waterfall, an Instagram blockbuster waiting to happen!

You can have a stop at Friðheimar Tomato Farm. *For lunch stops a reservation must be made weeks or months in advance.

Þingvellir National Park

We visit the place where the two tectonic plates, the North American and the Eurasian plates, are moving away from each other. Few places in the world offer a better and clearer view of this massive geographic activity. The biggest natural lake in Iceland is also located at Thingvellir National Park and hosts a great variety of fish and bird life. Thingvellir is also an important place in Icelandic national history. At Thingvellir Icelanders founded their parliament in 930 a.d. where the chieftains had their annual meeting every summer. The name “Thingvellir” translates to “Parliament Plains”.

Optional Activities

1) Snowmobile

Go on a snowmobile tour of Iceland’s second-largest ice cap. Once you are at our base camp we suit up for the tour, we offer snowsuits, gloves, helmets, and shoe covers if needed. We go over a safety briefing before heading out to the Snowmobile tour so that everyone feels safe and secure to start the tour.

OR

2) Dog-sledding

This tour will operate with a sled on snow or with a kart on DRY- LAND depending on the conditions. Feel the power, excitement, and energy of our amazing sled dogs as they are harnessed to go. During the ride, your Musher guide will drive your team while sharing his knowledge and passion for dog sledding.

OR

3) Snorkeling in Silfra

While snorkeling in Silfra you’ll find yourself between two tectonic plates, the North American continent, and the European continent, floating in pure filtered glacier water and ticking off your bucket list the ultimate tour in the world’s clearest waters. The best part? You’ll receive free GoPro photos after your tour.

Spend the night in Reykjavik.
Day 8 Touring Around Reykjavik City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Touring Around Reykjavik City

You can use this day to cover the city‘s top attractions, interesting facts, and stories that relate to history and culture in Reykjavik and throughout Iceland. Traveling the Reykjavik area and surrounding municipalities provides an excellent opportunity to discover various things to see or to do in Reykjavik during your stay in Iceland.

You can visit the Perlan glass dome where a 360 viewing platform provides some of the best places for sightseeing in Reykjavik.

After enjoying the spectacular view over Reykjavik city and its surroundings the tour proceeds to go to Reykjavik’s seafront to the old Höfði building where an important summit between former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and former U.S.S.R. Secretary General Mikhail Gorbachev took place in 1986.

The next stop is Hallgrímskirkja church whose design was inspired by basalt lava columns, a common volcanic rock formation in Icelandic nature. From Hallgrimskirkja church, the tour explores Reykjavik city center in and around the Parliament building by Austurvöllur which, sometimes is referred to as "the Old Town".

Activity in the area

1) Wonders of Iceland & Áróra Northern Lights Show

Located in Reykjavik’s most iconic building, The Perlan – Wonders of Iceland, offers unforgettable experiences of Iceland’s rare and astonishing natural wonders. See, hear, and feel the power of volcanoes, earthquakes, & geothermal energy. Step inside the only planetarium in Iceland and take a visual journey through the unique landscape of Iceland to observe the Northern Lights. Enter a real indoor ice cave and learn about Iceland’s glaciers, their effect on the land, and their bleak future. At last, enjoy the observation deck with an amazing 360° view of Reykjavik.

2) Aurora Reykjavik

Take a walk through history and learn how people and cultures around the world saw the Northern Lights via legends and myths connected to this amazing phenomenon. There are interactive displays as well as a specially equipped ‘photo booth’ where you can learn how to adjust your camera’s settings should you want to try your hand at capturing the auroras yourself. The high point of your visit to the center will certainly be our theatre where a continuously running HD film is playing throughout the day. Projected onto a 7-meter wide screen, you can sit back and enjoy this 20-minute film that features some of the most magnificent auroral displays seen over Iceland. The film is accompanied by soft music in surround sound, making this a therapeutic and restful experience.

3) FlyOver Iceland

FlyOver Iceland is an immersive flight experience. The ride utilizes state-of-the-art technology to give the guest the feeling of flight. Guests will hang suspended, feet dangling, before a 20-meter spherical screen while our film whisks you away on an exhilarating journey across Iceland. Special effects, including wind, mist, and scents, combine with the ride’s motion to create an unforgettable experience.

Spend the night in Reykjavik.
Day 9 Free At Leisure - Departure
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Free At Leisure - Departure

You will have this day at your leisure for shopping or any other activity you like to do before your flight back home.

9 days tour

9 Days Self-Drive | Ring Road & Golden Circle Complete Icela

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip 9 Days Self-Drive | Ring Road & Golden Circle Complete Icela

Arrival - Blue Lagoon

Troll Peninsula

North Iceland

The Eastfjords

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

South Coast

Golden Circle

Touring Around Reykjavik City

Free At Leisure - Departure

Experience Style

Accomodation level

Experience Type

Physical Rating

Age range

Who talk about us:

Best cities to travel to

America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania