Iceland’s Ring Road Self-Drive Tour
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Overview
Highlights
- Explore the Golden Circle attractions:Gullfoss waterfall,Thingvellir National Park & Geysir
- Enjoydriving along the southern coast to Jökulsárlón, Iceland’s famous glacier lagoon
- Partake in an incredible glacier-related activity- either kayaking among icebergs in a glacial lagoon (summer trips) or exploring ice caves inside a glacier (winter trips)
- Explore Akureyri
- Enjoy viewing beautiful scenery as you drive along the East Fjords to the town of Egilsstadir
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Trip includes
- Double occupancy accommodation with private bathroom
- Private car rental with unlimited miles
- GPS navigation or mobile hot spot
- Iceland information booklet and suggested itinerary
Itinerary
Leave Reykjavik to go and explore the Golden Circle attractions. Visit the magnificent Gullfoss waterfall, one of the largest in Iceland, as well as Geysir where Iceland's most active geyser is located (it erupts every 5-10 minutes!). The third attraction on the Golde...
The South Coast is a favorite for many visitors to Iceland due to all of the incredible waterfalls in this area. You will get to stop at several waterfalls (including one that you can walk behind!) as well as a black sand beach and a breathtaking canyon. You will spend the night near Skaftafell, which has some of the best hiking in Iceland. (Approx. 3 hours driving)
Continue driving along the southern coast to Jökulsárlón, Iceland’s famous glacier lagoon. The lagoon is filled with magnificent icebergs that broke off from the glacier in the distance, which is part of Vatnajökull- Europe’s largest glacier. You can walk around the l...
Drive along the East Fjords to the town of Egilsstadir. This relaxing drive along the coast will reveal plenty of beautiful scenery (even some puffin colonies), and if visiting in the winter this secluded part of Iceland is the perfect place to view the Northern Lights! (Approx. 3 hours driving)
Today’s drive is to the Lake Myvatn area. This is Iceland’s most famous lake, and a stunning volcanic area. You can explore the lakeshore, head inland to the Dettifoss waterfall or hike to nearby canyons. In the evening, we recommend a visit to the Myvatn Nature Baths (the Blue Lagoon of the north!) for a relaxing soak in the geothermal water. (Approx. 2 hours driving)
Today’s shorter drive to Akureyri gives more time to relax and explore the quaint city. Akureyri is Iceland’s second largest city and the main city in northern Iceland. You can shop at the charming shops, visit the museums, or explore some of the nearby towns. You can also go to nearby Husavik, Iceland’s best location for whale watching! (Approx. 1.5 hours driving)
In the morning, you can visit more of the attractions of Akureyri before driving back to Reykjavik. On the drive back, stop at some one of several dairy farms for some delicious homemade ice cream, cheese, or skyr (Icelandic style yogurt). (Approx. 4.5 hours driving)
If you would like to extend your trip, you can 1-2 additional nights, or more! You can either spend an additional night along the South Coast or near the Glacier Lagoon (recommended for those who prefer more hiking) or an additional night at the Golden Circle (recomme...
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Carpe Mundo.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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Tour Operator
More than a trip… An unforgettable experience.
Carpe Mundo is more than just our name; it’s our philosophy- Seize the World. We help customers live life to the fullest by creating unforgettable experiences through the incredible activities that we offer on our trips. Our unique itineraries are created based on our extensive knowledge and experience in the countries where we operate tours. Exploring Europe with a small group of like-minded travelers creates a sense of camaraderie, making the trip even more enjoyable. On our trips, you will create amazing memories which you will remember for the rest of your life, such as soaking in hot springs under the Northern Lights, spending the night at a luxurious medieval castle hotel, exploring ice caves, or partaking in an Italian cooking class.
We provide a more personalized travel experience than other tour operators. We are a small, family-run operator, and our passion is creating unforgettable trips for our customers. When you contact us before your trip, you will be speaking directly with one of your trip leaders, ensuring you receive the most accurate information possible and get to know your leader before your trip begins. All trip leaders are either from the country that the tour operates in or have extensive experience in the area. When you travel with us, you pay less because you are not paying for a large administrative staff, a huge advertising budget, or airfare for trip leaders. In addition, we offer some of the best leader to customer ratios and group sizes in the industry (groups are limited to 7, 10, or 12 people)
We offer four different types of trips:
- Biking Trips- Our biking trips are designed for those who want to experience Italy and Germany on a fun, active vacation. We bike 15-40 miles a day on flat, bikes-only paths. The biking is perfect for beginner/intermediate cyclists and those who want a mix of cycling and sightseeing. We provide daily luggage transfer so your bags will be waiting in your hotel room for you every afternoon- all you need to carry with you are the essentials for that day. If you want to bike less, electric assist bikes are available for rent or you can take a break and ride in our support van (or cruise down the Rhine in a riverboat to your next destination on our Germany trip). We stay at unique properties such as a castle in Germany and a winery in Italy. Biking through small towns, beautiful cities, along rivers and past vineyards is the perfect way to experience Europe!
- Hiking Trips- We offer hiking trips to Iceland and Switzerland, allowing you to get off the beaten path and experience the incredible natural beauty that both of these countries have to offer. We hike around 7-11 miles each day, led by expert guides that assist in making the hike as easy and enjoyable as possible. In Iceland, we stay in tents with one night in a mountain hut. In Switzerland, we stay at charming mountain chalets and farmhouses. These trips are great if you want to spend the day surrounded by majestic mountains and breath-taking scenery!
- Leisure Trips- Our leisure trips to Iceland and Croatia/Montenegro are perfect for those who want a fun and exciting trip with a small group of travelers but do not want the daily physical activity of our biking and hiking trips. These trips include fun activities such as kayaking among icebergs in a glacial lagoon, exploring medieval walled cities, hiking to a hot spring river, and sampling unique varieties of wine at small family wineries.
- Self Drive Trips- If you want to explore Iceland on your own, our self-drive tours will help make your dream trip a reality! Choose from one of our five different itineraries, or work with us to develop a unique trip just for you. We arrange car rentals, accommodations, and activities, making your trip planning as stress-free as possible while allowing you to travel when and where you want.
Join us on a trip and Seize the World!
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Logistics
What's excluded
- Airfare to/from Iceland
- Fuel/gasoline
- Meals
- Excursions/activities
- Travel insurance or car rental insurance
Accommodation
Transportation & Flights
Transportation & flights
To reserve your self-drive tour, a 50% deposit is due to confirm the reservation, and the remaining balance is due one month before the start of the trip. The amount paid is non-refundable (refundable reservations are possible for a slightly higher rate)
There are a wide variety of optional activities to partake in while in Iceland such as snowmobiling or hiking on a glacier, kayaking among icebergs, hiking in glacial ice caves, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, fishing, snorkeling or diving at Silfra (with some of the clearest water in the world), or dog sledding.
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