Self-Drive Trips of Iceland's Ring Road

work with local specialists to plan your custom itinerary

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Iceland is best enjoyed at your own pace, and a self-driving tour lets you spend the time where you want. With 1 week or more you can tackle the full Iceland Ring road, or spend some time focusing on the highlights in a few regions, such as the West, South Coast, remote Westfjords, Snaefellsnes Peninsula, or Interior. 

Summer brings large crowds to the south coast, and we recommend spending your time exploring more remote regions and small villages far from the crowds where you can enjoy Iceland on your own terms. 

Our local specialists will help you put together the perfect plan for your interests, arranging all details and crafting a detailed driving itinerary for each day of your trip.

Want to explore the best that Iceland has to offer? Get started by describing your ideal trip and we'll connect you with a local specialist to plan out the details.

Iceland Travel Insights

Explore Iceland on a road trip of a lifetime
Map of 2-Week Ring Road Self-Drive Itinerary: Highlights of Iceland & the Remote Westfjords
2-Week Ring Road Self-Drive Itinerary: Highlights of Iceland & the Remote Westfjords

With two weeks in Iceland, you can complete the entire Ring Road and add incredible detours. This grand tour will take you to all the best places giving you plenty of time to hike, explore, and soak it all in. This 14-day itinerary covers all the major regions except the highlands, which you can see with a couple more days or by spending less time in some of the areas below.

Where To Go in Iceland: the Best Sights and Activities Region by Region
Map of Where To Go in Iceland: the Best Sights and Activities Region by Region
Where To Go in Iceland: the Best Sights and Activities Region by Region

Don’t just stick to the Golden Circle and South Coast. You may see some great sights, but you’ll spend a lot of time in lines and waiting for people to get out of your pictures. To see a side of Iceland fewer travelers see, spend some time in Snaefellsnes, the Westfjords, or the North of the country. You’ll appreciate more of Iceland’s beauty and culture than you can by sticking to the most-visited areas.

Colorful sunset on Reynisfjara black sand beach, Iceland
Map of 1 Week in Iceland - 4 Unique Road Trip Itinerary Ideas
1 Week in Iceland - 4 Unique Road Trip Itinerary Ideas

With seven days in Iceland, hit the road and explore the incredible wonders farther afield from Reykjavik. Explore a variety of landscapes: volcanoes and lava fields, green pastures and farmlands, scenic vistas above fjords, beaches of every color, glaciers and ice caves, and the rugged interior. Here are our recommended drives, an option for all travelers and seasons.

Walk behind Seljalandsfoss on the South Coast
Map of 3 Days in Iceland: Blue Lagoon, South Coast, Reykjavik - 3-day itinerary
3 Days in Iceland: Blue Lagoon, South Coast, Reykjavik - 3-day itinerary

If you are short on time, or perhaps you are looking for an extended layover on your way from Europe to North America or vice versa, your options in Iceland are limited to closer to Reykjavik. Here is a 3-day itinerary that will still let you experience some of the spectacular beauty of Iceland.

How it works
Chat with specialist icon Step 1
Tell us what kind of trip you want
Complete our quick travel quiz
Chat icons Step 2
Chat with a local travel specialist
Work out the details together
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Securely book your trip
100% satisfaction guaranteed

Meet our Local Travel Specialists

Experienced travel agents with a passion for Iceland
Travel specialist Guðmundur Óli Pálmason
active 5 hours ago

Guðmundur Óli Pálmason

Born in Reykjavík, Iceland in 1978, from a young age I was already travelling all over Iceland with my parents. After a short stint as a driver guide on modified suv's in 2004, I pursued a career...

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Travel specialist Rinolda J
active 4 hours ago

Rinolda J

I've been living in Norway, Sweden, Nepal, Austria and most of my adult life I've spent here in Iceland. Once I met some outdoor people who had so much fun on a glacier that I decided to become...

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Travel specialist Èric Domínguez
active 16 hours ago

Èric Domínguez

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 Adam Warszawski
active 3 hours ago

Adam Warszawski

During three years of my Icelandic adventure, I had a chance to visit countless unique places around Iceland, both famous spots and hidden gems. Iceland never ceases to fascinate me! I believe...

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Why travelers love kimkim

Custom trips for independent travelers who are too busy to plan

Customize your trip with the help of a local travel specialist

Kimkim has handpicked the world’s top local travel specialists so you will have peace of mind and an unforgettable trip that meets your exact requirements.

Authentic travel experiences

Kimkim’s local specialists ensure that you will have the best experience based on up-to-date local insights. On top of that, the vast majority of your money will go straight to support and grow local economies.

Secure & easy booking

Once you are happy with the trip, you can easily book via kimkim’s secure payment platform.

Local support during your trip

You can always reach your local specialist with a quick message or call in case you hit a snag during your trip, or simply want some great local recommendations.

100% satisfaction guarantee
Kimkim offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you are not fully satisfied with us, we’ll work with you to make it right.
kimkim trips are 100% climate neutral
A portion of every kimkim trip goes toward the removal of carbon from the atmosphere. Learn more
BBB A+ rated

Kimkim is accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating.

Seller of Travel Registration number: CST #2136279-40.
Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.

Trip Reviews for Iceland

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

Iceland Summer 2024
Iceland | Jul 19 - Jul 23, 2024

Kyra
Kyra B.
McMinnville, OR | Reviewed on Jul 26, 2024
Our trip to Iceland was amazing! Eric planned some great adventures for my husband and I! There was a good balance between time to relax and time to go sightseeing. All of the suggestions of places to see and how to navigate the island were great! Read more

Our trip to Iceland was amazing! Eric planned some great adventures for my husband and I! There was a good balance between time to relax and time to go sightseeing. All of the suggestions of places to see and how to navigate the island were great!

Activity Review
Solheimajokull Glacier Hike
Solheimajokull Glacier Hike
Iceland

This was our favorite activity of the trip! Our hike guide was extremely knowledgable and we learned a lot about the glaciers of Iceland.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Èric Domínguez

Mauricio's Trip to Iceland - Classic Highlights with the Westman Islands
Iceland | Jul 15 - Jul 22, 2024

M
Mauricio B.
| Reviewed on Jul 23, 2024

I am very grateful to Adam. Everything was perfect and I would gladly recommend it because of how well the trip was.

Local specialist: Adam Warszawski
Adam
Adam Warszawski
Local specialist in Poland | Replied on Jul 23, 2024

Thanks for your review Mauricio. It was a pleasure to cooperate with you, I hope you'll come back to Iceland one day!

Adam

Duncan did a fantastic job laying out our vac...
Iceland | Jun 29 - Jul 6, 2024

Brett
Brett K.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Jul 21, 2024
Duncan did a fantastic job laying out our vacation! Gave him some hints of what we wanted & didn't want to see and accomplish and a taste of places that would be fun to stay to help him understand our family goals. Nicely done! We spent most of our time in the country areas, which we couldn't have been happier -- got us out of most of the tourist areas. Our itinerary had interest places marked to stop which was really nice. The first place we stayed, Hótel Varmaland, the restaurant's... Read more

Duncan did a fantastic job laying out our vacation! Gave him some hints of what we wanted & didn't want to see and accomplish and a taste of places that would be fun to stay to help him understand our family goals. Nicely done! We spent most of our time in the country areas, which we couldn't have been happier -- got us out of most of the tourist areas. Our itinerary had interest places marked to stop which was really nice. The first place we stayed, Hótel Varmaland, the restaurant's food was amazing! Our daughter had the Ribeye and said it was the best steak she has ever had. Our son got the lamb - out of this world -- nothing like the lamb in the States; we ate a lot of lamb during the trip. We had the pork chops -- some of the best we have had - food all came from local farms and it showed -- just fantastic! Iceland is an amazing place and highly recommend a visit -- Duncan made the trip very easy with way-points to stop and things to explore. Highly recommend the ice cave & glacial tours too.

Hotel Reviews
Arnarstapi Hotel
Snæfellsbær

Very quiet location. Noting majorly remarkable -- just a nice pleasant stay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Blue Hotel Fagrilundur
Bláskógabyggd

Interesting self check in and out -- really liked it. Rooms were nice and two good restaurants near by. Very quite. Had hot tubs to relax in after the long day too.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Fosshotel Nupar
Kálfafell

This was the least updated of hotel stays; however, very nice for ease of food and nice staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Skuggi Hotel Reykjavík by Keahotels
Reykjavík

Nice hotel and good location a few blocks away from Rainbow street and the shops. Very clean and helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hótel Varmaland
Borgarnes

Hotel is freshly refurbished so everything was new and clean. The food at this Hotel is fantastic!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
The waiter for our evening was actually the Chef -- he was great to talk to and had excellent recommendations
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Duncan Campbell
Duncan
Duncan Campbell
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Jul 21, 2024

Thanks so much for the great review, Brett, and most importantly, I'm thrilled that you had an amazing trip. I appreciate the detailed feedback on the hotels, and glad to see that Varmaland is maintaining its high standards.
Duncan