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Lóndragnar Basalt Cliffs in West Iceland

The Natural Wonders of Iceland - Private

(10 days / 9 nights)

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Enjoy a Scenic Tour of Iceland With Your Own Guide

Take a journey along Iceland’s ring road on this 10-day privately-guided tour. Starting and ending in Reykjavík, your drive brings you to many of Iceland’s best known natural attractions, including beautiful waterfalls, bubbling hot springs, the famous “Golden Circle” route, the splendid south coast. You will also have a lot of opportunities to explore sights like the glorious glacier lagoon, marvelous Lake Mývatn and the northern towns of Akureyri and Húsavik.

Are you travelling in a group of 10 – 17 people? We can arrange this tour with transportation in a roomy mini-coach. Send us a request for details.

10 days / 9 nights

Price p.p. from

The amount will be charged in ISK

Approx 1599766 ISK

— Why book with Nordic Visitor

  • Hassle-free & seamless travel experience
  • Quality & value for your money
  • Local travel experts in Iceland & trusted private guides
  • Customisable & personal tour options
  • Carbon offsetting included

Read more

— Book With Confidence

  • Optional cancellation insurance
  • Affordable deposits from 10%

Terms and conditions apply

Tour Highlights

  • Circle Iceland on the Ring Road, one of the best road trips in the world
  • Explore the famous Golden Circle route, including hot springs and cascading waterfalls
  • Sail among the massive floating icebergs at the Glacier Lagoon
  • Walk the Diamond Beach, seeing the scattered, glistening ice
  • Marvel at the powerful Dettifoss & Goðafoss waterfalls
  • Tour the south coast, including the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss
  • Discover the volcanic Lake Mývatn and its beautiful surroundings
  • Photograph the jagged basalt columns & sweeping black sand beaches
  • Survey the splendid Snæfellsnes peninsula
  • Walk the quaint streets of Akureyri, the unofficial capital of north Iceland

Travel style

Privately Guided i

Interest

Best Seller i, Classic i

Season

May - Sep

Departure

Daily

Driving distance

2192/1362 km/mi

Itinerary

A day-by-day plan to guide your journey.

  • Day 1: Arrival To Iceland

    On arrival at Keflavik International Airport, you will be welcomed by a driver and transferred to your accommodation in Reykjavík. After settling in, take the opportunity to explore the vibrant city centre at you own pace. The main downtown street, Laugavegur, offers a variety of shops, galleries, restaurants, coffee houses and bars to suit all tastes—all within an easy walk.  Spend the rest of the evening at your leisure.

    Spend the night in Reykjavík.

    Average Driving Distance: 49km / 30 mi.
    Average Travel & Exploring Duration: 50 Minutes

    Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 2: The Famous Golden Circle

    This morning, your guide will meet you at the hotel and you will head to Þingvellir, a national park which has been nominated as a UNESCO world heritage site. Next, you will visit the great Geysir area with its spouting geysers and colourful hot springs. The tour will continue to Gullfoss, the golden waterfall, where you can see white water thrash and tumble down two-tiers, falling metres below. You can then stop by Friðheimar farm for a visit before continuing to your accommodation for the night.

    Spend the night in Selfoss area.

    Average Driving Distance: 190 km / 118 mi.
    Average Travel & Exploring Duration: 7-8 Hours

    Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 3: Volcanoes, Waterfalls and Black Sand Beaches

    Start with either an optional visit to the Lava Centre to learn about Iceland’s unique geology or begin your south coast journey with a visit to the fairytale-like Seljalandsfoss waterfall. Here, you can have the unique experience of walking behind the misty cascade. Just a short drive brings you to yet another gorgeous waterfall, the 60-meter tall Skógafoss, which is beautiful to photograph and roam the surroundings. Further ahead at the village of Vík, you will visit the black volcanic beach south of the village, from where you can view the rock formations Dyrhólaey and Reynisdrangar.

    Your guide will then take you to the Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, which has been hollowed out over millions of years by the Fjaðrá River. The walking path along the eastern edge of the canyon offer stunning views over the plains and glacial brooks below. You will end the day in the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

    Spend the night in Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.

    Driving distance approx. 203 km / 126 mi.
    Average Travel & Exploring Duration: 8-9 Hours

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 4: Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

    Today’s drive takes you to some of Iceland’s most photogenic attractions, including a visit to the beautiful Skaftafell area of Vatnajökull National Park, named for Iceland’s largest glacier. Your guide will take you to the smaller lagoon, Fjallsárlón, followed by the well-known Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. Next to the glacier lagoon you will stop at the Diamond Beach where you will see big chunks of ice that have washed up on shore after being polished in the surf of the glacier lagoon.

    After your day of icy sights, you will be taken to your accommodation in Höfn where you can relax for the evening and perhaps enjoy the local langoustines at dinner.

    Spend the night in Höfn area.

    Driving distance approx. 203 km / 126 mi.
    Average Travel & Exploring Duration: 7-8 Hours

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 5: Rugged East Fjords to Moon-Like North Iceland

    This is a long day with a lot of diverse sights! Today’s scenery in East Iceland includes tranquil fishing villages, narrow fjords, rugged tundra and sweeping landscapes. After reaching North Iceland, prepare to be amazed by the roaring Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall. There is a 1 km walk from the parking lot to the waterfall on a gravel road, which is definitely worth the trip.

    Next you will explore the natural beauty of Lake Mývatn and its lunar landscapes with visits to the Námaskarð pass, the lava formations at Dimmuborgir and Skútustaðagígar pseudo craters. This is a great day for geology enthusiasts!

    Spend the night in Lake Mývatn area.

    Average Driving Distance: 429 km / 266 mi.
    Average Travel & Exploring Duration: 9-10 Hours

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 6: Ásbyrgi, Hljóðaklettar & Jökulsárgljúfur

    You will start the day by driving to Jökulsárgljúfur National Park where you will visit the horseshoe-shaped Ásbyrgi canyon, which according to legend was formed by a footprint from the Norse god Odin's eight-legged horse. The next natural wonder on the list is Hljóðaklettar, the „echo rocks“, which are a collection of great basalt columns lying in every direction to create unique formations and arched caves that are known to create eerie echoes and reverberations. There you can do a short hike to explore the area.

    Spend another night in Lake Mývatn.

    Driving distance approx. 253 km / 157 mi.
    Average Travel & Exploring Duration: 7-8 Hours

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 7: Highlights of the Great North

    The first highlight of the journey today is Goðafoss, (the waterfall of the Gods), one of the most picturesque waterfalls in Iceland. You will then make your way to the charming town of Akureyri, where you will take a stroll in the heart of the city centre. You will have some leisure time to explore the town with your guide and grab some lunch before heading to the next stop.

    Next, the tour will drive around Tröllaskagi, where you can enjoy fantastic views of beautiful mountains, cliffs and fjords. You will make a stop in the scenic town of Siglufjörður, which was once the centre of Iceland’s herring fleet. The journey continues to the tranquil farmlands of Skagafjörður, where you will spend the night.

    Spend the night in Skagafjörður area.

    Driving distance approx. 256 km / 159 mi.
    Average Travel & Exploring Duration: 8-9 Hours

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 8: Natural Wonders of Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    Today you travel through Skagafjörður, towards the Snæfellsnes peninsula. This is a scenic drive on a beautiful stretch of Iceland. Your guide will pass sweeping farmlands of the northwest that are dotted with Icelandic horses. You will also get to see spectacular views of the islands of Breiðafjörður before reaching Snæfellsnes.  

    A highlight of the day will undoubtedly be the Snæfellsjökull glacier, believed by many to be one of Earth’s seven major energy centers. It was also used as the backdrop to Jules Verne’s famous novel “Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Your guide can also take you to see the Dritvík Cove and the Lóndrangar cliffs.

    Spend the night in Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

    Driving distance approx. 365 km / 226 mi.
    Average Travel & Exploring Duration: 8-9 Hours

    Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 9: Hidden Gems of the West Coast

    Today you will explore the beautiful Snæfellsnes peninsula with your private guide. First you will head toward the tip of the peninsula where you can measure your strength at Djúpalónssandur by the lifting the large stones on the beach. Who will be the strongest? Nearby, you will find Hellnar and Arnarstapi, with its unique rock formations, before heading back to the capital and completing our circle around Iceland. After you have been dropped off at your hotel for the night, you will have the rest of the evening in the city to enjoy at your leisure.

    Spend the night in Reykjavík

    Driving distance approx. 195 km / 121 mi.
    Average Travel & Exploring Duration: 7-8 Hours

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 10: Departure Day

    When it’s time for your Iceland adventure to end, you will be picked up from the hotel for your airport transfer about three hours before your flight. If you’re flying in the afternoon, you have the option to visit the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa to relax in the warm mineral waters before continuing to the airport (optional: not included).

    Average Driving Distance: 49 km / 30 mi.
    Average Travel & Exploring Duration: 50 Minutes

    See Activities for this day

Optional extras

Customise your adventure with these Optional Extras.

We recommend adding your extra activities to the tour now for the best booking experience and to secure your spot, as activities are likely to sell out.

Day One

Map

Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.

Essential information

Everything you need to know about this tour before you book

We recommend that you read carefully through the following information before booking this private tour in Iceland. We’ve answered the most frequently asked questions here so you know what to expect. You’ll also find more practical advice and attraction recommendations in our online Iceland Travel Guide.

On a private tour with Nordic Visitor, you'll enjoy a tried-and-tested itinerary while enjoying the service of a private, local driver-guide. Let us know what your interests are and we’ll do our best to match you with a guide who will add to your experience.

You'll usually begin the day with your guide at around 9:00 AM. But if you prefer you can also choose to set out later. Depending on the day’s itinerary, you can expect between 8–9 hours with your guide. Take advantage of their insider knowledge while relaxing and enjoying the ride.

If there are specific things you'd like to see and do, let your guide know and they'll do their best to adjust the day's itinerary. The time spent at each spot will also be based on your interests. That said, the guide will follow the original itinerary.

Upon your arrival, you’ll receive personalised information, including an itinerary, map, and our very own Iceland Travel Guide. Plus, you’ll have access to our 24/7 helpline during your trip should you need to contact us.

Yes, when you book your Iceland tour with Nordic Visitor, you always get airport transfers to and from Keflavík Airport included. This will be a private, shared or bus transfer, depending on your itinerary. Please check the details of your tour to confirm.

If you add extra nights to your stay before or after the scheduled trip, we’ll rearrange your transfers to fit your new itinerary.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with your travel consultant if you have any specific requests about optional activities or services.

During your private tour, you’ll stay in accommodation hand-picked by our local Iceland travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and selected hotels and guesthouses based on excellent ratings, comfort and our personal experience. 
 
On private tours, you can choose from single, double and triple rooms. Please note that in Iceland room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America. 
 
For example, a double bed often consists of 2 single beds pushed together. Twin rooms are 2 separate single beds. Triple rooms include a double bed along with an extra bed, rollaway or sofa bed. And single rooms are often smaller than the standard double.
 
If you have something specific in mind, please contact us to discuss customising your accommodation options

Yes, you can customise this tour online. During the booking process, you can add extra nights to your itinerary as well as optional day trips, excursions and upgrades. 

If you have something specific in mind, get in touch with your travel consultant and they’ll create your dream trip.

By booking with Nordic Visitor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that there’s always someone there for you throughout your trip.

For support and advice during the day, your private guide will be there to advise you. But you can also call our office. And if anything unexpected happens outside working hours, you can reach us on our 24/7 helpline.

If you’re arriving from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand, you won’t need a visa to visit Iceland. 

Visiting from another country? You can find the complete list of countries whose nationals require a visa to enter Iceland on the website of Iceland’s Directorate of Immigration. If you do require a visa, they maintain a list of local embassies that can assist you with the process. 

Your passport must also be valid for at least 3 months from your departure from Iceland. It’s good to check your passport expiry date early in case you need to renew it. 

Read more about visas, airports and airlines in the getting to Iceland section of our travel guide.

Travelling with your kids? No problem! You'll be able to enter your children's ages during the booking process. This lets us know whether to arrange either a baby cot or roll-away bed for your trip.

If you'd like us to arrange for a car seat to be provided for your trip, please let us know ahead of time. It's also possible to book this directly with the car rental agency. This will incur a small, extra cost.

Only you can pick the best time to visit Iceland for your trip. It’ll depend on how much time you have to explore, what you want to see in Iceland and any events you might like to attend.

In summer, June to August, you’ll have milder temperatures and longer daylight hours, compared to the winter. This is ideal for outdoor excursions and sightseeing. 

If you’d like to experience the top attractions with fewer visitors around then you could book your summer trip in May or September. These shoulder season months have more tour and attraction availability.

The winter months are also popular, but generally quieter, apart from the Christmas holiday season. This is the ideal time to try to spot the northern lights.

Find out what annual Icelandic events and festivals are on in our travel guide. Or read more about the best time to visit Iceland on our blog.

Because of its northerly location close to the Arctic Circle, Iceland enjoys long days throughout the summer. 

Around the summer solstice, from early June until mid-July, you’ll experience almost 24 hours of daylight. This phenomenon, known as the midnight sun, occurs within the Arctic Circle and is when the sun doesn’t fully set below the horizon. 

These long daylight hours give you plenty of time to drive around and explore. That said, you may want to pack a sleeping mask if you are a light sleeper or tend to wake up at dawn. 

Find out what the daylight hours will be during the month of your visit in this guide to time and daylight in Iceland.

Summer in Iceland is mild and boasts the best weather and longest days of the year. You can expect temperatures of around 10–15°C (50–59°F), with potential lows of 5°C (41°F) and highs of 25°C (77°F). 

It’s good to know that weather conditions are changeable in Iceland, so you should come ready for sun, rain and wind. For more information on the local climate, read the page Iceland weather conditions

Please note that sightseeing is dependent on weather and road conditions. This means that your itinerary might need to be altered if these conditions are not favourable during your visit.

Even in summertime Iceland’s climate can feel cool. As you’ll probably spend a lot of time outdoors, you should be ready for a variety of weather conditions.

Here is a recommended summer packing list for your trip to Iceland:

  • Durable insulated jacket
  • Rain gear, including sturdy wind and waterproof layers, like a jacket and trousers
  • Robust walking shoes with a good grip
  • Mid-layers such as a fleece or woollen jumper
  • A few pairs of warm hiking socks
  • Hat, gloves and scarf
  • Swimwear for visiting geothermal pools or spas
  • Backpack for daily adventures
  • Electronic equipment such as smartphone, external powerpack, and travel adapters
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Sunglasses, sunscreen and eye mask for the summer sun
  • And don’t forget your camera!
     

For more information, check out this Iceland packing guide.

There are limited laundry facilities along the Ring Road and in Iceland’s countryside. Some hotels do offer dry cleaning or laundry services for an additional cost. 

Breakfast at your Iceland accommodations is always included when you travel with Nordic Visitor.  For the rest of your meals, the amount of spending money you need will depend on the standard of restaurants you decide to go to. 

That said, we recommend budgeting between 2,000–3,000 ISK for lunch per person, each day. Dinners at casual restaurants might cost between 3,000–6,000 ISK. Meanwhile, at upscale restaurants, you can expect to pay 7,000 ISK or more. This does not include the cost of alcoholic beverages.

It’s best to book as soon as you can to secure your preferred travel dates. Once you have picked your tour, check the availability calendar to see which months are open for booking. Then, select the date you want and complete your booking. 

Nordic Visitor offers 10–20% deposits so you can reserve your trip as early as it’s convenient for you. The remaining balance is due 30 days before you travel. 

Many tours are also open for the following year if you like to plan well ahead. And if you have any questions or need advice, you can always contact us

After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip. 

At that time, they’ll confirm the availability of your tour. Then the booking process starts, which may take a few weeks. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip. You will also receive more information about what to expect during your trip.

No need! Nordic Visitor is already working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours.

Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund. 

You can get in touch with our Iceland travel experts ahead of your trip if you have any questions. The live chat option is useful for getting a quick reply as someone answers live every day during office opening hours.

Once you’ve booked, we’ll provide you with a travel guide packed full of local tips and top attractions for your visit. You can also check out our online Iceland Travel Guide where we’ve compiled useful information about topics, including:

After you have booked your tour, it will only take a few days to confirm its availability. But it may take a few weeks to create your itinerary and book everything. Once your trip details are finalised, we’ll email you copies of your travel documents.

When you arrive in Iceland, you’ll receive a welcome bag with hard copies of your itinerary, attraction and tour vouchers, the Nordic Visitor Iceland Travel Guide and more.

So when do you check in? And what can you expect upon landing in Keflavík?

After picking up your luggage, you will be greeted by a driver holding a sign with your name in the arrivals hall. The driver will hand over your welcome package with hard copies of your travel documents. You’ll then be driven to your hotel in Reykjavík.

Check-in times vary between hotels and guesthouses, but it normally starts between 2 PM and 4 PM. 

You are welcome to request an early check-in for an additional fee. Although this isn’t always available, you’ll be able to store your luggage at the hotel so you can start exploring before check-in. Please contact your travel consultant well in advance of your arrival if you’d like an early check-in.

When you depart may depend on the time of your return flight. Check out early if you’re heading to the airport for a morning flight. On the other hand, if you’re flying home later in the day, you might like to enjoy a leisurely day or visit one more attraction.

You will need to check out from your room, but will be able to store your luggage at the hotel reception. Simply return later to collect your bags before catching your transfer to the airport.

All bookings are billed in Icelandic Króna (ISK), the official currency of Iceland. 

Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate as issued by the Central Bank of Iceland. This means conversions from ISK to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.

Reviews

We don’t like to brag, so we’ll let our happy customers do it for us.

Thank you so much!

Our tour and tour guide were wonderful. We were able to learn about Iceland and its history, as well as see areas of the island that larger tour buses would never be able to get to. Thank you so much!

So glad we chose Nordic Visitor

The trip was incredible! Viðja, our consultant, was incredible. Very thorough and helpful. Stefan, our guide/driver, was just as incredible and helped create a memorable experience. So glad we chose Nordic Visitor to plan our trip. We had a lot of communication with Nordic Visitor before finalising on the exact itinerary. As a result I can't imagine how the trip could have been better. They even arranged for great weather!

Very responsive

Everything was taken care of, no drama. Our guide got a feeling for how we moved and was very responsive to our wishes.

Our private guide was amazing

Fabulous guide, and we were able to see more sights than we ever would have been able to see by ourselves. The private guide was amazing. Gretar figured out our interests and activity level quickly and always gave us good advice. We did more with him than we would have been confident doing on our own. Then he was always there waiting for us, seeming to delight in our pleasure. Plus the "no-stress" orientation of our guide was amazing. We have carried that motto home.

Accommodation

Relax in top-quality hotels and guesthouses that are highly rated by visitors and handpicked by local travel experts.

Look forward to peaceful stays on your private tour. Each hotel or guesthouse featured on your bespoke itinerary will be conveniently located and have high service standards. Rest assured that you’ll stay in the best possible properties, which have all received excellent reviews from previous customers.

Comfort Plus

In this category, you’ll stay in standard rooms in good quality and comfortable 3-star hotels, guesthouses or charming country hot..

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Superior

With Superior accommodation, you’ll enjoy standard rooms in 4-star hotels or boutique guesthouses. You might also stay in superior..

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Vehicle

Be comfortable and enjoy the journey as a passenger in the vehicle of your choosing.

Suburban/Land Cruiser Jeep
or similar

  • x3
  • x5
  • x4
  • A

Suburban/Land Cruiser Jeep
or similar

  • Type: L
  • Description: Full-Size SUV, four wheel drive.
  • Passengers: 1-3

Mercedes Benz Sprinter
or similar

  • x9
  • x4
  • x9
  • A

Mercedes Benz Sprinter
or similar

  • Type: P
  • Description: Comfortable, passenger van
  • Passengers: 1-9

Price per person from

The amount will be charged in ISK

Approx 1599766 ISK

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