Iceland Tour Packages 8-Day Self-Drive Iceland Ring Road Tour (Summer)

8-Day Self-Drive Iceland Ring Road Tour (Summer)

This comprehensive 8-day guided tour takes you around Iceland’s iconic Ring Road, covering the country’s most famous attractions. Explore the Golden Circle, the dramatic South Coast, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, the remote Eastfjords, the Diamond Circle, and the scenic Troll Peninsula. With comfortable transportation and expert guidance, this trip offers a complete overview of Iceland’s stunning natural beauty.

$ 3522

192 hours

27 + bookings

CHECK AVAILABILITY

Overview

The volcanic rifts, roaring waterfalls, and iceberg-filled lagoons of Iceland take center stage on this 8-day independent self-drive itinerary.

Provided by Marina Travel, a Gold Operator, this "Around Iceland Ring Road Tour (Summer)" maps a complete, unguided loop starting and ending at Keflavik International Airport.

You manage your own pacing behind the wheel of a fully insured rental vehicle, transitioning seamlessly from subterranean hot springs to towering sea cliffs. Operating with a zero-excess protection plan, this trip balances freedom with structural support via pre-booked accommodations and a digital travel designer.

Because exploring a highly dynamic island requires a reliable vehicle and well-placed basecamps, securing a custom vehicle manifest is essential to clear Iceland's classic road circuit.

What's Included

7 Nights Pre-Booked Hotel Accommodations (3-Star Base)
Rental Vehicle with Unlimited Kilometers & Zero Excess
7 Morning Breakfast Buffets served at your hotels
Comprehensive e-Itinerary with digital maps & route points
24-Hour Emergency Roadside Assistance log access

International Flights to/from Keflavik Airport
Daily Fuel Expenses & National Park Parking Manifests
Daily Lunch & Dinner stops at regional countryside taverns
Optional Entrance Fees (Blue Lagoon, Beer Spa, Glacier Treks)
Icelandic Kilometer Tax (Calculated and charged at return)

Itinerary

Your subarctic self-drive expedition launches directly at the Keflavík International Airport terminal. After clearing customs, you walk to the rental vehicle desk in the arrival hall to secure your keys and your zero-excess vehicle manifest. Your path routes north out of the Reykjanes Peninsula toward the historic settlement of Borgarnes, with an optional detour opportunity to soak in the geothermal pools of the world-famous Blue Lagoon. The first evening concludes with a smooth check-in at Hotel Borgarnes to unpack your gear.
The second tracking stage drives deep into the dramatic mountain passes of North Iceland. You leave Borgarnes behind, navigating along the coastline to marvel at Hvítserkur, a striking basalt rock island formation rising sharply from the black sand. From there, the road leads north into the heart of the Troll Peninsula, bringing you into Akureyri for a self-guided city tour covering the historic Akureyrarkirkja church and the festive Christmas House. You check into Hotel Akureyri for the night, with an optional afternoon excursion to experience the local warm beer baths.
The third tracking block uncovers the raw volcanic energy of the Lake Mývatn basin and its surrounding canyons. Your itinerary charts a course past the historic waters of Goðafoss waterfall, moving directly onto the boiling mud pots and steaming fumaroles of the Hverir geothermal hotspot. During the afternoon, you can tackle a foot trek down the towering walls of Europe's most powerful cascade, Dettifoss, or execute a detour to admire the massive hexagonal basalt columns lining Stuðlagil Canyon before crossing the desolate interior plains to reach your hotel in Egilsstaðir.
The fourth phase routes you along the winding roads of the Eastfjords, where narrow mountain walls plunge dramatically directly into the North Atlantic. Along the way, you can stop at Djúpivogur to view the outdoor stone sculptures of Eggin í Gleðivík, keep an eye out for wild reindeer herds, or take a brief hike up to Skútafoss waterfall. The final driving block highlights the Stokksnes Peninsula, positioning your vehicle in front of the jagged Vestrahorn peaks to watch the incoming tide create mirror reflections across the black sands before checking in at your hotel in Höfn.
The fifth day delivers a classic glacier run along the southern edge of the Vatnajökull ice cap. You will park right at the edge of the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon to witness massive, ancient blue icebergs drifting out to sea, then walk across the road to Diamond Beach to photograph ice fragments glittering on the black shore. Shifting west, the drive brings you past the deep, mossy walls of Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon and across the vast, historic Eldhraun lava field before checking into your hotel in Vík.
The sixth tracking leg explores the iconic landscapes of the southern coastline. You begin with a morning stroll along Reynisfjara beach, watching the Atlantic waves crash near massive basalt columns and nesting puffin cliffs. Returning to the main highway, you drive to the base of Skógafoss waterfall—where a staircase leads you directly up to the top of the canyon gorge—and finish at Seljalandsfoss, where you can follow a trail to walk completely behind the falling curtain of water. Your evening base is located at the rural Hotel Eyjafjallajökull.
The sixth tracking leg explores the iconic landscapes of the southern coastline. You begin with a morning stroll along Reynisfjara beach, watching the Atlantic waves crash near massive basalt columns and nesting puffin cliffs. Returning to the main highway, you drive to the base of Skógafoss waterfall—where a staircase leads you directly up to the top of the canyon gorge—and finish at Seljalandsfoss, where you can follow a trail to walk completely behind the falling curtain of water. Your evening base is located at the rural Hotel Eyjafjallajökull.
The eighth morning leaves your schedule open to explore the capital city at your own pace. You can browse the local boutiques along Laugavegur, visit Harpa Concert Hall, or enjoy a final pastry at a local bakery. Afterward, you drive back down the Reykjanes Peninsula to return your rental vehicle directly to the airport depot to match your scheduled departure flight home.

Expect an independent, highly empowering, and visually spectacular road expedition. The transition from an urban highway to narrow, gravel-paved fjord routes is managed comfortably thanks to your comprehensive zero-excess insurance coverage, letting you focus entirely on the shifting horizons. The driving environment changes constantly, meaning you might move from bright summer sunshine to thick coastal fog within a single mountain pass. Because you are the captain of your own schedule, keeping an eye on local road conditions via digital updates is a helpful routine to protect your daily sightseeing windows.

Self-Drive Road Insider Secrets

Keep a close eye on your odometer reading; the government has introduced a distance tax that replaces part of the fuel levy. You will be charged ISK 8.81 per driven kilometer (roughly €0.06 / $0.07) at the end of your trip, which is billed directly to the driver's mandatory credit card alongside a small vehicle return administration fee.
Protect your credit card; Marina Travel includes their full premium protection plan right in the base package. This means any minor scratches from flying gravel on the unpaved detours to places like Stuðlagil Canyon or Hvítserkur carry zero out-of-pocket costs.
Secure your dining slots early; if you want to stop for a bowl of traditional tomato soup inside the geothermal greenhouses of Friðheimar on Day 7, booking your table weeks or months ahead of your arrival date is an absolute necessity.
Track your check-in vouchers carefully; while the itinerary highlights landmark properties like Hotel Vík or Hotel Akureyri, high-season demand means equivalent 3-star regional alternatives may be utilized to preserve your overall route continuity.
Guard your dry layers; walking behind the water curtain at Seljalandsfoss exposes your clothing to a heavy cloud of freezing mist. Keeping a fully waterproof jacket and a pair of rain pants within arm's reach inside the car cabin is a daily travel necessity.

Optimal Driving Atmosphere Guide

The long hours of summer daylight and dramatic volcanic landscapes offer clear highlights for your road trip.

Route Segment	The Experience	The Road Trade-off
The Stokksnes Plains	Mirror-Reflection Views: The best probability of capturing clean photos of the Vestrahorn peaks reflecting perfectly across the wet black sand flats.	Open, exposed coastal winds; holding onto your car door firmly when stepping out of the vehicle is a safety rule.
The Hverir Pass	The highest probability of standing right beside active boiling mud pots and steaming vents in an otherworldly environment.	Pungent sulfur aromas in the air; rolling your car windows up tight as you approach the parking zone helps keep the cabin fresh.
Stuðlagil Detour	The clearest view of the massive basalt columns framing the turquoise glacial river inside the canyon walls.	A rougher gravel access road; utilizing a slower, steady driving pace to avoid flying stones is helpful.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are international flights covered in this self-drive package?

No—all international airfares are fully excluded, allowing you the flexibility to arrange your own flights to match the rental car pickup window.

Is a credit card required at the rental car desk?

Yes—providing a valid physical credit card in the primary driver's exact name is mandatory to handle security logs and process the kilometer tax.

Can a smaller vehicle handle the full Ring Road circuit in summer?

Yes—during the summer months, a standard 2WD vehicle can comfortably handle the paved main Ring Road, though larger 4x4 options are provided for bigger groups.

Are entry fees for optional sites like the Blue Lagoon included?

No—admission tickets for the optional spas, boat tours, or glacier treks must be purchased separately.

Are daily breakfasts covered at the hotels?

Yes—a full morning breakfast buffet is included at each pre-booked hotel along your route.

Book it today with Iceland Tour Packages or simply following this link.

Reviews

5 Read more reviews