The Ultimate 2 Week Iceland Road Trip Itinerary

Iceland is one of those countries that will leave you breathless and wanting for more.

Before you go

Download the following apps

• Vedur – An accurate Icelandic weather app. Official warnings get updated automatically.
• 112 Iceland – An application for the Icelandic Emergency Service
• Aurora Forecast – This app will come in handy when you’re chasing the Northern Lights.
• Hotpot – The perfect website to scan for those hidden hot springs around the island!

Get familiar with the website road.is.

How are the road conditions?

How is the wind?

Make your own offline travel map

• Save your favourite locations onto the Google Maps app on your phone. Check which camp sites are open during winter time (a lot of them close during this period or only provide limited facility) – Wild camping is strictly forbidden!

What to bring with you?

• Thermal underwear – The Icelandic wind pierces through every piece of clothing, you’ll be very thankful you put these in your suitcase!
• Walking boots – Make sure these are suitable for walking in slippery conditions. A lot of times the hike up to a waterfall or canyon will be covered in ice and snow. So unless you want to feel like ‘Bambi on ice’ make sure to wear good shoes!
• Hats, gloves and a warm scarf
• Warm socks
• Cramp-ons – Sometimes wearing good shoes isn’t enough and you’ll still slide away. You can either bring them from home or you can buy some at a gas station in Iceland.
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• Tripod + remote control – For capturing the northern lights.
• Sunglasses – The sun stays low during the entire day so it’s safer to drive with sunglasses on.
• Offline playlist – A road trip is nothing without some good music
• Dryer sheets – Put some dryer sheets in between the seats to keep everything smelling fresh. You can also hold one in front of the air vent to refreshen the entire car.
• Fast drying towel
• Dry shampoo – Not every campsite has decent showers.
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When you arrive

• Get a local SIM-card – Make sure that you get one that allows you to make national phone calls. If something might happen along the way you don’t want to be without mobile data.
• Pick up your camper van – Have a checklist with you, otherwise you’re bound to forget certain things: previous car damage (also make them look underneath the car), insurance, state of the battery, inverter, heater, type of gas, …

• Get groceries – Thanks to Happy Campers we didn’t need many groceries at the beginning. When you pick up your camper van you can take left overs from previous travellers for free. The cheapest grocery stores are Bonus and Krónan.

12 Days Travel Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival, pick up your van and go to camp site

Tip: We organised our van so that the clothes we would need for the next week were packed in a small suitcase behind our seats.

• Camp Site – Reykjavik Eco Camp Site: they have showers, toilets, a kitchen, laundry machines and a heated common room. The facilities close after November 9, the camp site stays open and you may use the facilities at the hostel around the corner.

Day 2 – Reykjavik and Golden Circle

• Reykjavik – Explore the capital and make sure to enjoy a cinnamon bun at Braud.

• Thingvellir park – park at Öxarárfoss and start your walk from here. You’ll walk through the tectonic plates and end up at the Óxarárfoss waterfall. From here you can walk further into the park and go see the Silfra fissure.

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Geysir – One of the biggest geysirs in Iceland. Every few minutes it shoots up and it’s definitely a must visit on your trip.

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Gullfoss – One of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland! Since this waterfall is on the Golden Circle it was very crowded and during the winter you can’t get really close because of safety reasons. Make sure to put on your cramp-ons because the walk up is very slippery!

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Camp Site – Árhús: there are showers (warm water) and toilets but the common area wasn’t heated and therefore extremely cold.

Total driving time – 3,5 hours

Day 3 – Chasing waterfalls

• Seljalandsfoss – One of the few waterfalls in Iceland where it is possible to walk behind it. This place is very touristic so try to arrive as soon as the sun comes up. Make sure to wear a raincoat and that you have a waterproof bag with you to protect your camera.

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Skógafoss – Easily one of the most famous and impressive waterfalls in the South of Iceland. It used to be possible to walk up even further but unfortunately when we were there that pathway was sealed off.

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Kvernufoss – My favourite waterfall of the day! This one is a little more hidden and you have to climb over a small fence to reach it (no worries, the owners even put a ladder so you’re able to visit this waterfall).

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Vik black beach – When we arrived here in the evening the entire place was swarming with tourists unfortunately. We decided to come back in the early morning but we were treated to one of the most stunning sunsets I had ever seen.

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Camp Site – Skógar : the only great thing about this camp site is that you get the view over Skógafoss. There is no common room and there are no showers. They do have a lot of plugs in the bathroom so if you need to charge some equipment, this is the time to do so. Fortunately the bathrooms were heated.

Total driving time – 2,5 hours

Day 4 – Eastwatch by the Sea

• Dyrhólaey – Here you’ll get one of the most stunning views over the cliffs and black beach. The drive up is pretty steep and narrow but our Happy Camper van did it like a champ!

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Reynisfjara Beach (Black beach) – It was still pretty crowded in the morning but way less people than in the evening! And for the GOT-fans: this is the location where John Snow and his men dock when they are going beyond the wall to face the Night King in season 7!

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Fjadrárgljúfur – By far one of the most impressive canyons in entire Iceland! Make sure to wear your cramp-ons cause the pathway up is very very slippery!

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Skaftareldahraun – On the way driving to Höfn you’ll come across enormous lava fields! These are round rocks covered with moss but when we were there all of them were covered in snow which created an even more surrealistic effect!

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Glacier Lagoon – The last stop before driving to the campsite in Höfn. Watch the sun set behind the glaciers and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate.

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Camping Site – Camping Höfn   

Total driving time: 3,5 hours

• Tip – In Höfn get a lobster sandwich at Hafnarbudin (the price is decent compared to other restaurants in Iceland).

Day 5: Diamonds and Glaciers

• Diamond Beach – Across from Glacier Lagoon you’ll find Diamond Beach: black beach completely filled with small glacier parts.

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Jökulsárlón – Daily tours leave from here to explore the famous glacier, there are boat rides, ice cave tours and glacier hikes.

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Camp Site – Hotel Framtid: check-in is here and from there they will point you in the direction of the camp site.

Travel Time – 5 hours

Day 6 – Hidden gems

• Jökulsá a Brú – Alongside road 1 you’ll find this beautiful river. At one point we stopped alongside the road and found the most gorgeous black rocks to take photos on.

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Lake Myvátn – A cosy little town with the most beautiful lake

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Camp Site – Hlíd: There is a big and spacious kitchen and common room, clean showers and toilets.

Travel time – 4 hours

Day 7 – Secret cave

• Dettifoss – You’re first stop of the day! Make sure you arrive right after sunrise cause these waterfalls are also very popular with tourists.

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Selfoss – Only 10 minutes walking from Dettifoss, make sure to wear your cramp-ons when visiting these waterfalls in the winter since it’s a bit of a hike and it leads you through snow and ice right next to the cliff.

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Grjótagjá Cave – Several websites pointed out that this was closed since april 2018. When we were there in november 2018 the cave was definitely open to visitors. This natural hot spring was featured on Game of Thrones. It’s water temperature can go up to 45°C so careful if you want to put your feet in the water.

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Hverir – It’s a surreal geothermal area filled with puddles of mud and little pools of bubbling water and sulfuric steam.

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Godafoss – One of the most impressive waterfalls I have ever seen in my entire life. There is a small pathway downstairs that gives you the opportunity to almost stand next to the waterfall!

Google Maps Location – Click here

Click here for the best waterfalls to visit during winter in Iceland

• Camping Site – Gladheimar: there is no common room, but the showers and toilets are clean and heated.

Total driving time – 4.5 hours

Day 8 – Hidden canyon and Snæfelsness

• Kolugljùfur Canyon – One of my favourite places throughout entire Iceland!

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Budakirkja – The black church

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Kirkjufell – One of the most photographed mountains in entire Iceland. Made even more magical thanks to the waterfall in front of it.

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Camping Site – Tjaldstaedi: there is a small common room, toilets but no showers.

Total driving time – 4.5 hours

Day 9 – Snæfelsness Peninsula

• Ingjaldshól – One of the prettiest churches in Iceland!

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Londrangar – Cliffs in Iceland are unlike anything you have ever seen. These viewpoints can get extremely windy so make sure you watch where you step!

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Arnarstapi – Another gorgeous cliffside that you absolutely can’t miss!

Google Map Location – Click here

• Camping Site – Bjarteyjarsandur

Total driving time – 4.5 hours

Day 10 – Last waterfalls + Reykjavik

• Hraunfossar – enjoy your last waterfall in Iceland before you head back to the capital.

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Reykjavik – Go for another cinnamon bun, get some souvenirs and head to the campsite.

• Camp Site – Reykjavik Eco Camp Site: they have showers, toilets, a kitchen, laundry machines and a heated common room. The facilities close after November 9, the camp site stays open and you may use the facilities at the hostel around the corner.

Total driving time – 3 hours

Day 11 – Blue Lagoon, lighttower and returning camper van

• Blue Lagoon – Only 30 minutes from Reykjavik you’ll find the world famous Blue Lagoon. Opt for a comfort package to get a towel, free mask and complimentary drink (any of your choice).

Google Maps Location – Click here

• Gardur Lighthouse – The last stop before returning your camper van!

Google Maps Location – Click here

Total driving time – 1.5 hour

Day 12 – Fly home

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