Start your trip in the vibrant capital of Iceland, Reykjavik offers an urban experience with a strong connection to nature. Explore the city streets and indulge in Icelandic cuisine. Visit The Sun Voyager, an iconic art piece located by the waterfront. End the day by soaking in the warm waters of the geothermal pools at Laugardalur.
Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, a place where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. Take a hike to explore the magnificent waterfalls and stunning views. Continue to the Geysir Hot Springs area and see the Strokkur geyser shoot a water column up to 30 meters high every few minutes.
Begin the day with a visit to Gullfoss Waterfall, one of Iceland's most prominent waterfalls. Afterward, take a 5-hour road trip to the Vatnajokull National Park. Visit Skaftafell, which boasts of diverse flora and fauna and offers hiking trails to the glacier tongue experience.
Explore the stunning Glacier Lagoon, a natural glacier lake that offers the option of taking a boat tour across the lagoon. Move to the Diamond Beach, a black sand beach that offers a picturesque view of icebergs as they float to the sea.
Travel to Akureyri, the second largest city in Iceland, explore the list of museums and shops the city offers. End your day by soaking in the Myvatn Nature Baths, which is popular for its calming atmosphere and mineral-rich water.
Visit the mighty Dettifoss Waterfall, the largest waterfall in Europe, and take the designated path to follow the beauty and remaining wondrous sights. End the day by seeing Asbyrgi Canyon, an inviting natural reserve, surrounded by high cliffs and rich vegetation.
Take the scenic route to the Egilsstadir Hot Springs, and if you're lucky, you might be able to spot a reindeer or two. Next, visit Vatnajokull Glacier which reveals deeply filtered blue ice caves that attract glacier hikers worldwide.
Admire the beauty of Landmannalaugar, a dreamland for hikers, with hiking trails that offer the scenic highlands of the region. End the day with a visit to Hekla Volcano, which has active volcanic activity and a dramatic impact on Iceland's volcanological society.
Hike the Reykjadalur hot springs, which offers up magnificent and mountain scenery, and see the energy of Earth’s interior come to life from colored hot springs to bubbling mud pools. End the day relaxing at the Blue Lagoon, a popular tourist spot, for its warm and nutritious seawater that has healing benefits.
End your trip by visiting the Reykjavik museum, which exhibits Icelandic culture. Then explore the exhibitory views of Reykjavik at the Perlan Observation Deck, which offers aerial tours of the countryside and sea.
While renting a car is the most suggested transport option for the road trip towards Iceland's circular route, it is important to pay attention to the weather forecast and road conditions. Bus services are also available, but this can be less cost-effective and less flexible in comparison to a rented car. Average travel expenses will range from 25 EUR-40 EUR for taxi services and 2 EUR-3 EUR for public transit.
Suppose you're more interested in volcanoes and geothermal activities, you can opt to visit the Krafla Volcano and Reykjanes Peninsula. You can also consider adding the Husavik Whale Watching and the Peninsula Snaefellsness to your itinerary to experience more of Iceland's captivating scenery. Suppose you have a shorter time frame. In that case, you may consider opting for a pre-booked tour that includes only your preferred activities to maximize your trip's activities.
There is only one international airport in Iceland, Keflavik International Airport (KEF), located in Reykjanesbaer, which is 40km southwest of the capital city of Reykjavik. The airport connects daily direct flights to and from major cities worldwide and offers a smooth travel experience for travelers from around the world.