Iceland: A 9-Day Adventure

1. Day 1: Reykjavik
   From Keflavik Airport, drive 50 minutes (48 km) to Reykjavik

   Explore Reykjavik with a walking tour, seeing landmarks like Hallgrimskirkja, Harpa Concert Hall and the Sun Voyager statue.

2. Day 2: Golden Circle
   From Reykjavik, drive 1 hour 15 minutes (101 km) to Geysir

   Visit Thingvellir National Park, see the Strokkur Geysir, Gullfoss waterfall, and relax in a geothermal spa, like Secret Lagoon.

3. Day 3: Hella
   From Geysir, drive 1 hour (61 km) to Seljalandsfoss waterfall

   Visit Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls and the famous black volcanic beach in Vík, before reaching Hella for the night.

4. Day 4: Skaftafell National Park
   From Hella, drive 2 hours 30 minutes (212 km) to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

   Explore the beautiful glacier lagoon and enjoy a glacier hike or an ice cave tour in Skaftafell National Park. The beautiful Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon is also close by, but be sure to check it's open.

5. Day 5: East Fjords
   From Jökulsárlón, drive 2 hours 45 minutes (197 km) to Egilsstaðir

   Drive along the scenic Route 1 and stop at the towns of Höfn and Djúpivogur. Reach Egilsstaðir for overnight.

6. Day 6: Lake Myvatn
   From Egilsstaðir, drive 1 hour 45 minutes (109 km) to Dettifoss waterfall

   Visit Europe's most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss, then head to Lake Mývatn for a day of exploring, including the geothermal area of Hverir and the unusual formations at Dimmuborgir.

7. Day 7: Akureyri
   From Mývatn, drive 1 hour 20 minutes (91 km) to Akureyri

   Explore Iceland's second-largest city, Akureyri, with its botanical garden and colorful houses in the town center. Drive to nearby Godafoss waterfall and stop at the tiny fishing village of Siglufjordor.

8. Day 8: West Iceland
   From Akureyri, drive 3 hours 30 minutes (308 km) to Grundafjörður

   Visit the stunning Kirkjufell mountain in the morning, then head to the thermal pools at Krauma, stopping at the picturesque Hraunfossar waterfall on the way.

9. Day 9: Reykjavik
   From Grundafjörður, drive 2 hours 15 minutes (165 km) to Reykjavik

   Take the morning to explore Reykjavik further or visit the Blue Lagoon on the way to Keflavik Airport for departure.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Geothermal spa like Secret Lagoon (2-3 hours, $30-40)
• Glacier hike or ice cave tour in Skaftafell National Park (3-5 hours, $80-150)
• Boat tour of glacier lagoon (1-2 hours, $50-90)
• Krauma Geothermal Baths (2-3 hours, $30-45)
• Total Estimated Costs: $500-700

Useful Tips

To have a relaxed pace, consider adding an additional day or two in specific areas to visit surrounding sites. Cut out some of the recommended sites if you have a shorter length of stay.