The Perfect 10-Day Road Trip Itinerary for Iceland
Last March, a couple of my friends spent ten days driving around Iceland. Let me preface this post by saying that if you’re considering going to Iceland, DO IT. Iceland is a wonderful, beautiful country with some of the most breathtaking and majestic landscapes I’ve ever seen.
With that out of the way, let’s jump right into our ten day itinerary.
Day 1: Camper Van & Starting Our Adventure
Our flight from Vancouver arrived in Reykjavik bright and early at 6:00AM. We’re not really sure if it was the day/time we arrived, but the worst part of our entire trip was getting through the airport (Keflavik International Airport). The line to get through customs was incredibly long, although I’ll say that it did move reasonably quickly.
We took the Flybus — an airport shuttle — from the airport to the BSI Bus Terminal. It was roughly a 40-minute ride. Once at the terminal, a shuttle from CampEasy — our camper van rental company — picked us up.
After sorting through the logistics at the CampEasy office, we got on the road and made an immediate stop at Bónus — a popular Icelandic grocery store chain. Once we stocked up on a few essentials (pasta, bread, milk, etc.), we headed towards our first destination.
Reykjadalur
Our first stop was Reykjadalur Valley, a 45-minute drive away from Reykjavik. It’s a 3km (one-way) trek to a geothermal hot spring river. On the day we went, there weren’t too many people on the trail and it only took us about 40 minutes. The trail doesn’t have much elevation gain, and at the end you’re rewarded with the sight of a steaming river that you can bathe in!
It was just above freezing (around 4C) when we got to the river. Decked out in thermal layers, jackets, and gloves, we contemplated not going into the water. However, we realized we didn’t come all that way for nothing. It was insanely cold stripping down, but once you get in the water, all that fades away. It’s like being in a hot tub, surrounded by nature. It’s an unreal experience.
Camping: Skjol Campgrounds
By time we got back from the hike, it was getting dark so we ate our meals in the parking lot then drove to Skjol Campgrounds (about an hour drive away from Reykjadalur). It costs 1,500 ISK per adult to camp there, and they have a restaurant, washrooms, and running water.
Day 2: The Southern Tip of Iceland
The good thing about staying at Skjol was that our first stop of Day 2 was a short drive away. If you’re into photography (or early mornings in general), sunrise is best spent at a sight!
Gullfoss Waterfall
Gulfoss is one of the most iconic waterfalls in Iceland, and with good reason. We saw a ton of waterfalls on the trip, and I’m glad we saw this one first. After a while, we actually felt ourselves becoming desensitized to the magnitude of the waterfalls. However, we got to witness this in complete awe.
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Yep, it’s that waterfall from the Justin Bieber music video. It’s definitely very touristy, with lots of tour buses and crowds coming to see it. Having said that, it was still pretty cool to be able to walk behind it. Plus, there’s a lesser-known waterfall a few hundred metres away that’s arguably more impressive.
Gljúfrabúi Waterfall
What you don’t see in this photo is the effort required to get to this waterfall. Gljúfrabúi is tucked inside a narrow valley, which requires you to wade through ankle deep water. I would caution you to only attempt this if your shoes are waterproof and have a good amount of traction, as the rocks are quite slippery. The path to the waterfall is also so narrow that foot traffic could only go one way.
Kirkjufjara Beach
One of the numerous black sand beaches in Iceland. We only overlooked the beach from the cliffs above, but it wasn’t crowded at all.
Camping: Skógar
This campsite is right next to Skógafoss waterfall. However, we got there after dark so we didn’t get to enjoy it. Also, the washrooms smelled absolutely terrible.
Day 3: Plane Wreck, Vik, and a Unique Experience
We woke up before sunrise, took a glance at Skógafoss, and got on the road.
Sunrise at Wrecked Plane on Sólheimasandur
This was our sunrise mission for Day 3. It’s probably the least scenic walk you’ll ever take. It’s a wide and flat gravel path that stretches on for about thirty minutes. We power walked ahead of another small group because we wanted to get some shots of the plane wreck without anyone around. However, once we found the wreck, there were already a handful of people there.
You’re not supposed to climb onto the plane, but people were doing it anyway. As long as you’re respectful and courteous to others taking photos and videos, it shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
Reynisdrangar
We actually stumbled upon this beach while looking for Reynisfjara Beach. There wasn’t another soul there. Just us with the black sand, birds, and the waves… what more could you ask for?
Vik
I’ve heard good things about the southern town of Vik, but we didn’t actually spend too much time here. It’s very picturesque, however, and if you’re only doing the Ring Road it might be worth checking out more in-depth.
Dyrhólaey Arch & Reynisfjara Beach
Reynisfjara is definitely one of the more well-known black sand beaches in Iceland. There’s even a restaurant next to the parking lot, which tells you how touristy the place is. However, there’s some beautiful basalt columns to behold. And, if you venture far enough down the beach, you can pretty much have a slice of the beach to yourself. This day was particularly warm and sunny, and I kid you not, I could’ve taken a nap right on the beach.
Kirkjubæjarklaustur Swimming Pool
Taken on iPhone 8 Plus
So, the thing about renting a camper van, is that you don’t really have a place to shower. We’d read online that people would visit community centre pools to shower. We looked up nearby pools on our GPS, and it took us here. You won’t find this pool in any tour guides or anything. It’s literally a community centre pool in this tiny town (population: 500). It was the perfect way to unwind after a long day of driving and sightseeing. As the sun started to set, we soaked in the hot tub and got to observe a modest waterfall in the distance. Ican’t say that’s something that would ever happen here at home. We also met some Americans on exchange, who recommended a restaurant we ended up visiting at the end of the trip!
Camping: Skaftafell
We got here after dark and left first thing in the morning, so I can’t really give you an honest review of this place. It’s within Vatnajokull National Park, so it’s quite busy.
Day 4: Glaciers & Stokksnes
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
It’s exactly what it sounds like. Still, blue water and floating icebergs. We saw a couple seals as well. At the time, we decided we were indifferent to doing an ice cave tour — mostly because the price was so high (started at ~$140CAD for two hours) and the uncertainty around the state of the caves. Looking back, I kind of wish we had just done it as it would’ve made the experience even more unique.
Diamond Beach
Across the road from the glacier lagoon sits Diamond Beach, a black sand beach where chunks of ice wash up on the shore. After lunch, we walked around and took some photos, but it all begins to look the same after a short while.
Stokksnes/Vestrahorn (Sunset)
None of us had really done much research on Stokksnes or Vestrahorn prior to the trip. We just decided to go and see what would happen. To get there, you have to travel down an unmarked gravel road off Route 1. The entire way you can’t really see all that much so we were unsure what awaited us at the end. Even once we got there, we realized there’s an entrance fee. However, we decided to camp there for the night so we got a few entrances included.
Once we drove out onto the Stokksnes peninsula, we began to see Vestrahorn appear. It was honestly a magical, mind-blowing moment. We all just kept saying “wow” repeatedly, even after we got out of the van and began walking around. We spent sunset and a good part of blue hour just soaking it all in.
Day 5: The Open Road
Sunrise at Stokksnes
Possibly one of the most magical mornings I have ever experienced. Being on the beach with the mountains right in front of us, while the sun slowly crept out of hiding, was such a surreal thing to witness. This place doesn’t feel real.
Djúpivogur
We drove to the tiny town of Djúpivogur in eastern Iceland to get gas and make lunch in our camper van. The town felt incredibly quiet, and I distinctly remember feeling curious about how many people lived there. According to Wikipedia: 456. Despite its small size, it still managed to look like a postcard.
Driving through the East Fjords
We had a long day of driving ahead of us, so we drove straight through the East Fjords. We marvelled at some of the insane landscapes, got lost a few times, and also realized how incredibly remote it felt on the roads. It was as if we were the only people left on Earth.
We stopped at a Bonus in Egilsstaðir for groceries and continued our journey northwest.
Winter Driving in Iceland
Since I was the only one in our group to have driven in truly snowy, winter weather, I got the unfortunate honour of transporting us safely to our destination for the night. As we had gotten more north, the winter conditions had intensified. There was blowing snow, little visibility, and the light was quickly fading from the sky. I had both my hands tightly gripping the steering wheel the entire way.
Finally, we made it into town. We had decided on staying at the Elda campgrounds, but Google Maps led us to this location where there didn’t seem to be anyone. There was a lone building, fresh snow, but not a single soul in sight. I thought we could make a three-point turn and go back towards the main road. However, there was a small hill… and that’s when the trouble started. Despite having 4WD and winter tires, our camper van got stuck in the deep snow. We checked the building and called the number listed. It turned out that Elda Campgrounds was closed in the winter and they had a guesthouse in-town a few blocks away. They said they would send some people to help us. Luckily, an RV camper of Irish tourists came by. Thank goodness for them! After about half an hour of shovelling our way out and trying various things, we got our camper van back on the road. Finally, the Elda employees came and guided us to the guesthouse.
Day 6: Slow Living & The Northern Lights
Hverfjall (Mývatn Lake)
We started our morning by exploring Hverfjall, a crater nearby. I’ll be the first to admit that it was a little underwhelming with all the snow. I definitely think it’d be much more worthwhile to go in the summertime, when you can tell what you’re looking at.
Grjótagjá Cave
As all of us watched Game of Thrones, we decided to pay a visit to Grjótagjá Cave — the famous filming location of where Jon Snow and Ygritte make love. It’s a small lava cave with the smallest of entrances that you have to crawl down. Once you’re inside, there’s only space for 2-3 people to crouch down on the rocks. There’s so little light that seeps in, which makes it difficult to see anything before your eyes adjust to the darkness. Even then, it’s quite small. We wondered how they even managed to film the scene in such tight quarters.
Myvatn Nature Baths
It was finally time for some much-needed relaxation (and a much-needed shower). We wanted to visit Blue Lagoon, but we’d heard that it’d gotten extremely touristy and pricey. Therefore, we decided to visit Myvatn Nature Baths, a set of geothermally heated pools and steam baths.
Some areas in the pools were much warmer than others, but once you found the sweet spot, it was total bliss. I’d highly recommend it!
Goðafoss Waterfall
We finished the day by visiting the famous Goðafoss Waterfall for sunset. It was SO cold, but incredibly breathtaking. Unfortunately, my friend crashed his drone here while trying to capture the beauty of the landscape.
After we were done being chilled to the bone, we drove to the so-called northern capital of Iceland — Akureyri. We were staying in Camping Hamrar. This was my favourite campsite we stayed at. There was an indoor area with a kitchen and a spacious area to get cozy. Later on in the evening, the Northern Lights made an appearance and although it was brief, it was one of the most magical things I’ve ever gotten to witness.
Day 7: Still So Much to See
Hofsós
In the tiny village of Hofsós on the coast, there are some small basalt column cliff formations. Likely because it was winter, we pretty much had the whole spot to ourselves to explore the rocks.
Glambær Farm
Located in Hofsós, one of the oldest trading ports in northern Iceland, Glambær Farm is a turf farmhouse said to have stood since 900 AD.
Eyvindarstofa Blönduósi
We made a stop at Eyvindarstofa Blönduósi, an architecturally unique church in Blönduós. Located above the town on a hill, the church’s architecture is meant to resemble a volcanic crater.
Hvitserkur Arch
After about an hour drive, we found ourselves at Hvitserkur Arch, a 15-metre high basalt stack. As it was nearing the end of the day and quite cold, we decided against walking down to the beach to take a closer look.
Camping at Dalakot
Our coldest night of camping was when we camped at Dalakot, in Búðardalur. Located in a field next to a series of buildings, the campsite features bathrooms and sinks.
Day 8: Iceland Magic
Holy Mount Helgafell
Following a one-and-a-half hour morning drive, we arrived at Helgafell, a small mountain on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula of Iceland. I suppose it’s technically a mountain, but it definitely feels like more of a hill. It takes 5-10 minutes to summit. At the summit, there is a stacked wall of rocks and a sundial. The myth is that the first time you climb the mountain, you will have three wishes granted.
Stykkishólmskirkja Church
Another day, another church. This time around, we saw Stykkishólmskirkja (just try to pronounce that) and its futuristic design. Well-known for its acoustics, the church was finished in 1990.
Kirkjufell
Possibly the most photographed landmark in the country, we had to pay a visit to Mt. Kirkjufell. I’d recommend going at sunrise. We visited in the middle of the afternoon. Not only was the light not ideal for photography, but there were also constant loads of buses filled with tourists arriving.
Skarðsvík Beach
On our drive along the peninsula, we happened on this beach and decided to make an impromptu stop.
Svörtuloft Lighthouse / Saxholsbjarg Cliff
Our final stop of the day was golden hour at the Saxholsbjarg Cliff near Svörtuloft Lighthouse. Nestled at the edge of these cliffs as the light turned to gold, you could hear the distant sounds of birds cawing and ocean waves crashing against the rocks. It was so incredibly serene.
Freezer Hostel
We camped outside The Freezer, a trendy and social hostel. With a large living-style room, we were able to relax, hang out, and play some board games.
DAY 9: Final Day on the Road
Djúpalónssandur & Dritvik Beach
An arched-shaped bay of dark cliffs and black sand, Djúpalónssandur is located on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. We experienced some incredible rays of light and got some awesome morning shots.
Londrangar
A pair of rock pinnacles, Londrangar is the location of uniquely-formed basalt cliffs. It was likely one of the most photogenic spots we saw in Iceland.
Hellnar Arch
Also known as Gatklettur, Hellnar Arch is a naturally formed stone arch. To be honest, I think we missed the most commonly photographed spot here. It was still beautiful to see the waves crashing under this arch and the birds flying through it.
Búðakirkja
If you’ve seen images of Iceland on Instagram, chances are you’ve seen this church in one of them. It’s an iconic yet tiny wooden church, famously photographed due to it being surrounded by a scenic natural area.
Ytri Tunga Beach
Our research told us there were seals aplenty at this beach, so we made this our final stop on our last full day on the road. Although the seals turned out to be just few and far between that day, I was able to snag some nice photos of reflection pools.
Final Campsite: Snorrastadir
Our final campsite was Snorrastadir Farm Holidays, a big farm in the middle of nowhere.
DAY 10: Arrival in Reykjavik
Waterfall fatigue is a real thing. On the day we were meant to return our car, we had a waterfall on our original itinerary. However, after seeing so many (planned and in passing as well) we decided there wasn’t that much appeal in seeing yet another. We ended up getting a little bit lost, and mostly drove straight back to Reykjavik to return our beloved CampEasy van.
KRÖST
Our lone meal out in Iceland was at a restaurant called KRÖST, which is located in a food hall in downtown Reykjavik. It felt SO good to eat real food after surviving off pasta, bread, and dehydrated meals for over a week. I had Icelandic lamb flank and it was amazing. To this day, I can’t tell you to what degree my opinion was influenced by my previous meals in Iceland. Nonetheless, I think this place holds its own and I’d recommend it if you’re ever in Reykjavik!
How much does a trip to Iceland cost?
Since my friends and I split a camper van and ate most of our meals in the van (groceries and dehydrated meals purchased beforehand), we saved quite a bit of money on trip expenses. Here is the breakdown by category (all costs in Canadian Dollars):
Roundtrip flight from Vancouver: $509
Camper Van (9 nights): $959
Gas: $209
Groceries & Food: $107
Campsites: $114
Attractions (e.g. Nature Baths entrance fee): $62
Airbnb in Reykjavik (1 night): $59
Miscellaneous: $56
Grand Total: $2,074
Iceland is definitely not a cheap country, but it also doesn’t have to be expensive like many people will tell you. There are definitely ways you can save money and still have an incredible time.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Iceland is at the top of my favourite places I’ve ever been. If you’re a fan of road trips and being in awe of Mother nature, you can’t go wrong. I’d love to go back in the summer one day to see how different the country looks. Plus, there were some things in-land that we couldn’t see because the roads were closed or too treacherous in the wintertime.
If you have any questions about our itinerary, costs, etc. don’t hesitate to send me an e-mail!