Iceland 12-Day Trips & Itineraries

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Iceland Travel Insights

Godafoss waterfall in the north
Map of Best of West & North Iceland - 12 Days
Best of West & North Iceland - 12 Days

This off-the-beaten-path road trip is especially great during summer months when peak crowds head for Iceland's south coast and Golden Circle (and accommodations can be hard to find). Instead, you'll escape to more remote areas of the country, traveling from Reykjavik all the way to its sunnier north coast with stops in Snaefellsnes Peninsula, the Westfjords (by way of car ferry), Husavik, and Lake Myvatn. There's plenty of time to experience unique geological features along the way with lava fields, volcano hikes, massive waterfalls, and geothermal pools, not to mention cool Scandinavian culture and cuisine.

North Iceland's Viti crater is filled with a bright blue lake
Map of Iceland Ring Road & Westfjords Adventure - 12 Days
Iceland Ring Road & Westfjords Adventure - 12 Days

This epic 12-day road trip is a perfect way to absorb Iceland as you traverse all four corners of the country. You'll visit popular spots along the famous 828-mile Ring Road, and head off the beaten path to detour through the Westfjords (great for mountain biking and kayaking). The self-drive loop also includes stops in Iceland's two biggest cities, and numerous natural sites like volcanoes, waterfalls, lava fields, black sand beaches, glaciers, and more.

Swim in the  Silfra fissure in Pingvellir National Park
Map of 12 Days in Iceland - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
12 Days in Iceland - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Travelers with 12 days to spend in Iceland have plenty of options. You can circle the entire island on a grand tour or focus your time on an in-depth exploration of two or three regions, such as the Westfjords, Snæfellness Peninsula, and Golden Circle. Perhaps you want a winter adventure, or an active adventure combining kayaking, hiking, and riding e-mountain bikes in West and South Iceland. These five itineraries show you how to make the most of your visit.

Go beyond the usual Ring Road highlights to see Iceland's wild Eastfjords
Map of Untouched Iceland: Ring Road & Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventure - 12 Days
Untouched Iceland: Ring Road & Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventure - 12 Days

Spend 12 days discovering the beauty of Iceland's farthest corners with this self-drive, Ring Road itinerary. In between plenty of guided adventures and independent exploration, you'll skirt the South Coast, traverse the rugged landscapes of Vatnajökull National Park, and venture into the lesser-visited splendor of the Eastfjords. Continue through the geothermal wonders of North Iceland and the black-sand beaches of Snæfellsnes, then wrap things up with a final night back in Reykjavík.

Godafoss waterfall
Map of Iceland Ring Road & Westman Islands Highlights - 12 Days
Iceland Ring Road & Westman Islands Highlights - 12 Days

Make a complete circle of Iceland, plus explore the Westman Islands, on this 12-day self-drive itinerary that takes in a vast wealth of geological wonders, exciting activities, and cultural highlights. From whale watching, snorkeling the Silfra fissure, and a boat journey on the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon to soaks in the Mývatn Nature Baths and Blue Lagoon, you'll experience Iceland in all its facets, north, south, east, and west.

A local resident puffin, one of millions on the Látrabjarg cliffs
Map of Best of Iceland's West & North: Snaefellsnes, Westfjords, Vatnsnes & Diamond Circle - 12 Days
Best of Iceland's West & North: Snaefellsnes, Westfjords, Vatnsnes & Diamond Circle - 12 Days

Two of Iceland's more remote and scenically stunning yet lesser-visited regions—Westfjords and North Iceland—are the focus of this scenic 12-day active self-drive adventure, which also includes the mesmerizing Snæfellsnes Peninsula. The non-stop experiences range from clifftop hikes and wildlife viewing to helicopter flightseeing, as well as visits to many of Iceland's iconic and less familiar but equally spectacular sites.

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Meet our Local Travel Specialists

Experienced travel agents with a passion for Iceland
Travel specialist Guðmundur Óli Pálmason
active 15 mins ago

Guðmundur Óli Pálmason

Born in Reykjavík, Iceland, and from a young age I was already travelling all over Iceland with my parents. After a short stint as a driver guide on modified SUVs in 2004, I came back to it full...

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Travel specialist Adam Warszawski
active 1 min ago

Adam Warszawski

During several years of my Icelandic adventure, I worked in hotels and got to know the local tourism really well. But most importantly, I've had the chance to explore countless amazing places...

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Travel specialist Èric D
active 7 hours ago

Èric D

A while ago I was lucky enough to get a job in Iceland, and I must admit, I was completely unaware of what was ahead of me when I first set foot in the country. Working in the tourism industry...

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Travel specialist Emanuela Grieco
active 19 mins ago

Emanuela Grieco

I am an Italian Travel Designer mostly based in Iceland. Traveling has been my passion since I was young, being always fascinated by other cultures and people. In 2005, after living and...

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Trip Reviews for Iceland

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

Memorable vacation due to the efforts of Emanuela and her team
Iceland | May 23 - May 31, 2026

Prathap
Prathap C.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jun 02, 2026

Emanuela and her team need to be commended for making our vacation in Iceland to be remembered for as long as I live. It was incredible to the experience the nature's beauty in Iceland. Trip planning, route tips, hotel accommodation, food spot recommendations and precautions to be taken, provided by Emanuela and her team were on the spot, helpful and made our trip more enjoyable, relaxing and stress free. Keep up the good work !!

Local specialist: Emanuela Grieco

Iceland Trip
Iceland | May 23 - May 31, 2026

R
Radhika R.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jun 01, 2026
Emanuela did an outstanding job planning our Iceland trip. From the very beginning, she worked with patience, professionalism, and attention to detail, helping us organize every aspect of our journey.
The itinerary she put together was thorough and well organized, making our entire journey smooth and hassle-free. Everything went exactly as planned, and we never ran into any issues along the way. Her recommendations for hotels and activities were excellent, and the car arrangement was...
Read more

Emanuela did an outstanding job planning our Iceland trip. From the very beginning, she worked with patience, professionalism, and attention to detail, helping us organize every aspect of our journey.
The itinerary she put together was thorough and well organized, making our entire journey smooth and hassle-free. Everything went exactly as planned, and we never ran into any issues along the way. Her recommendations for hotels and activities were excellent, and the car arrangement was comfortable and convenient.
What impressed us most was her responsiveness and dedication to customer service. When we experienced issues with our wireless network, Emanuela immediately reached out to her local contacts and ensured the problem was resolved promptly.
Thanks to Emanuela’s hard work and attention to detail, we were able to relax and fully enjoy our vacation. We truly appreciate all her support and would highly recommend her to anyone planning a trip.

Local specialist: Emanuela Grieco
Emanuela
Emanuela Grieco
Local specialist in Iceland | Replied on Jun 02, 2026

Dear Radhika,
Thank you so much for your beautiful review and for taking the time to write it.Your kind and heartwarming words truly made my day!

It was an absolute pleasure connecting with you and helping plan your unforgettable journey to Iceland. I'm delighted to hear that the trip lived up to your expectations and created such wonderful memories.

Thank you again for your trust and for sharing your experience. Wishing you many more amazing adventures ahead, and I hope our paths cross again for your next journey!
Warm regards,

Emanuela

North Iceland Adventure 2026!
Iceland | May 15 - May 21, 2026

P
Pietro L.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Jun 01, 2026
My wife and I spent a glorious 7 days exploring the Snæfellness Peninsula, Akureyri and out to Lake Myvatn with a day in Reykjavik at the end of our trip. We had the trip of a lifetime, and the major part of that was due to our local specialist extraordinaire, Guðmundur Óli, AKA Gummi. Gummi was very attentive to the vibe of the trip we were envisioning. He crafted a preliminary itinerary for us, and was great and speedy about making certain tweaks and adjustments, fine-tuning the... Read more

My wife and I spent a glorious 7 days exploring the Snæfellness Peninsula, Akureyri and out to Lake Myvatn with a day in Reykjavik at the end of our trip. We had the trip of a lifetime, and the major part of that was due to our local specialist extraordinaire, Guðmundur Óli, AKA Gummi.

Gummi was very attentive to the vibe of the trip we were envisioning. He crafted a preliminary itinerary for us, and was great and speedy about making certain tweaks and adjustments, fine-tuning the activities and sight-seeing to meet our requests. Once we arrived in Iceland, Gummi remained completely available and responsive to any of our questions, and if any problems arose he solved them in a matter of minutes, no matter what time of day. His down-to-the-minute itineraries were super helpful, as were the driving maps and personal recommendations he provided.

Iceland in and of itself, is a magical, wonderous place. In 7 days we got to see so many incredible things and experience so much that we could not have planned on our own. Even so, we know we've only scratched the surface of this beautiful country, and when we return, we'll be tapping Gummi to help us expand our explorations!!!

Local specialist: Guðmundur Óli Pálmason
Guðmundur Óli
Guðmundur Óli Pálmason
Local specialist in Iceland | Replied on Jun 01, 2026

Thank you for the kind review Pietro. I'v very happy to read that the trip was such a success :)
I hope you guys visit us soon again, and that time we have to make sure I have time to catch a drink or coffee with you!
Take care
Gummi

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