Anticlockwise Iceland Circle

What you'll do

What's included:

• Return flights from the UK to Iceland
• 14 nights hotel accommodation with bed and breakfast
• 14 days car hire, giving you the freedom to explore Iceland at your own pace
• Sky Lagoon Saman experience in Reykjavík
• Snorkelling tour in Silfra, one of the clearest bodies of water in the world
• Amphibian Boat Tour at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
• Whale Watching tour from Húsavík with North Sailing
• Full ATOL protection

Day 1: Arrive in Iceland
Arrive in Iceland and make your way to Reykjavík for your first night at Hotel Fron, located in the heart of the city. Depending on your arrival time, you may wish to explore Laugavegur, Reykjavík’s main shopping street, visit Hallgrímskirkja church, wander along the waterfront towards Harpa Concert Hall or enjoy your first evening with dinner in one of the city’s many restaurants. This first night gives you time to settle in before beginning your Ring Road adventure.

Day 2: Reykjavík and Sky Lagoon
Spend the day enjoying Reykjavík at your own pace before your included Sky Lagoon Saman experience. You could visit the Old Harbour, explore the city’s museums, browse independent shops or stop for coffee and Icelandic pastries as you get a feel for the capital. Later, unwind at Sky Lagoon, where warm geothermal waters, ocean views and the Skjól ritual create a relaxing start to your Iceland holiday.

Day 3: Reykjavík to the Golden Circle
Today you leave Reykjavík and travel towards the Golden Circle region, with two nights at Litli Geysir Hotel. Your included snorkelling experience at Silfra gives you the chance to swim between two tectonic plates in some of the clearest water in the world, making this one of Iceland’s most unforgettable experiences. Afterwards, continue exploring Thingvellir National Park before heading towards the Geysir geothermal area, where bubbling hot springs and erupting Strokkur show Iceland’s volcanic energy up close.

Day 4: Explore the Golden Circle
Today is free to enjoy more of the Golden Circle and the surrounding countryside. You could visit Gullfoss waterfall, return to the Geysir geothermal area at a quieter time of day or drive through smaller villages and open landscapes that are often missed on shorter tours. This is also a good day to enjoy a local geothermal bath, visit a farm restaurant or take a slower scenic drive through South Iceland before returning to Litli Geysir Hotel for the evening.

Day 5: Golden Circle to Hvolsvöllur
Travel south towards Hvolsvöllur, a well-placed base for exploring some of South Iceland’s most dramatic landscapes. Along the way, you may wish to stop at Seljalandsfoss, where you can walk behind the waterfall in good conditions, or continue towards Skógafoss, one of the country’s most powerful and photogenic falls. Hvolsvöllur is also a useful gateway for the Þórsmörk area, so this day works well as a relaxed South Coast journey with plenty of time for scenic stops.

Day 6: Hvolsvöllur to Vík
Continue along the South Coast towards Vík, where you’ll stay at Carina Guesthouse. Today’s drive takes you close to some of Iceland’s most iconic coastal scenery, including Skógafoss, Dyrhólaey and Reynisfjara black sand beach. Once in Vík, take time to enjoy the views towards the Reynisdrangar sea stacks, explore the village or visit the Icelandic Lava Show for a closer look at the volcanic forces that shaped this region.

Day 7: Vík to Skaftafell
Today you travel further east towards Skaftafell, passing vast lava fields, black sand plains and glacial landscapes along the way. You may wish to stop at Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, explore viewpoints along the route or simply enjoy the changing scenery as the mountains and glaciers begin to dominate the horizon. Your overnight stay at Hotel Skaftafell places you close to Vatnajökull National Park, one of the most spectacular natural areas in Iceland.

Day 8: Glacier Lagoon and Eastfjords
Begin the day with your included Amphibian Glacier Lagoon Boat Tour at Jökulsárlón, where floating icebergs drift through the glacial water beneath the edge of Vatnajökull. After the boat tour, visit nearby Diamond Beach, where pieces of ice wash onto the black sand shoreline. From here, continue east towards Hotel Breiðdalsvík, travelling into the Eastfjords, a quieter and more remote part of Iceland known for its fishing villages, mountain roads and beautiful coastal scenery.

Day 9: Eastfjords to Lake Mývatn
Today’s journey takes you from the Eastfjords into North Iceland, ending at Sel Hotel Mývatn. The drive offers a real sense of Iceland’s scale, with remote valleys, mountain passes and wide open landscapes along the way. Once you reach the Lake Mývatn area, you can begin exploring its volcanic scenery, including lava formations, pseudocraters, geothermal fields and lakeside viewpoints, all of which make this one of the most distinctive regions in the country.

Day 10: Lake Mývatn to Húsavík
Spend the morning exploring more of the Lake Mývatn region before continuing north to Húsavík, where you’ll stay at Cape Hotel Húsavík for two nights. You could visit Dimmuborgir lava field, the bubbling geothermal area at Hverir, the Krafla volcanic region or the Mývatn Nature Baths before heading towards the coast. Once in Húsavík, enjoy the harbour, take in the sea views or visit one of the town’s small museums before your whale watching experience the following day.

Day 11: Whale Watching in Húsavík
Today includes your North Sailing whale watching tour from Húsavík, one of Iceland’s most famous locations for seeing whales in their natural environment. Sail out into Skjálfandi Bay with the chance to spot whales, dolphins, seabirds and beautiful coastal scenery from the water. After the tour, spend the rest of the day enjoying Húsavík at a relaxed pace, perhaps visiting the Whale Museum, walking around the harbour or enjoying a warm drink with views across the bay.

Day 12: Húsavík to Akureyri
Today you travel west towards Akureyri, Iceland’s northern capital, with a stay at Hotel Kea in the heart of the town. On the way, you could stop at Goðafoss, one of North Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls, before continuing towards Eyjafjörður fjord. Once in Akureyri, spend the afternoon exploring the town’s shops, cafés, botanical gardens and waterfront, or simply enjoy a slower evening after several days on the road.

Day 13: Akureyri to West Iceland
Leave North Iceland and travel towards Hotel Hamar near Borgarnes in West Iceland. This is a longer driving day, but it takes you through changing scenery, from northern fjords and open valleys to the landscapes of West Iceland. Depending on your pace, you may wish to stop in small towns along the way, take in coastal viewpoints or enjoy a relaxed evening at Hotel Hamar, surrounded by peaceful countryside close to Borgarnes.

Day 14: West Iceland to Reykjavík
Spend the day exploring West Iceland before returning to Reykjavík for your final night at Hotel Fron. You could visit Borgarnes, learn more about Icelandic saga history, take a scenic drive around the surrounding coastline or, if time allows, explore part of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula before heading back to the capital. Once in Reykjavík, enjoy a final evening in the city with dinner, a walk along the waterfront or a last chance to browse the shops and cafés.

Day 15: Depart Iceland
After an incredible journey around Iceland’s Ring Road, make your way back to Keflavík Airport for your return flight home. By the end of this itinerary, you’ll have experienced so many different sides of Iceland, from Reykjavík’s colourful streets and the Golden Circle’s geothermal wonders to South Coast glaciers, Eastfjord villages, North Iceland whale watching and the quieter landscapes of West Iceland.