The Ultimate 2 Week Iceland Winter Ring Road Itinerary – Plan The Perfect Iceland Road Trip

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Are you ready for the road trip of a lifetime?! Iceland, the land of ice and fire, speaks to the imagination of a lot of people and rightfully so!

Iceland is one of my favorite road trip destinations in the entire world and so far no other country has come even close. Where elsewhere can you drive by ice capped glaciers, towering volcanoes, black sand beaches, over a hundred waterfalls and rolling hills covered with green moss?!

Going on a road trip in Iceland is an experience on its own but visiting Iceland during the winter time is on an entire other level. You’ll truly get to experience why they call it the land of ice and fire during this season.

With this Iceland Ring Road itinerary you’ll get to see some of Iceland’s top attractions and I’ve made it my mission to include as many details as possible. This article will be a personal retelling of my own experience in Iceland during the winter. It will be your go to guide to help you plan your own 2 week Iceland road trip itinerary.

Not only will I talk in detail about all of the top sights to see and things to do in Iceland, I will also tell you what to look out for, which apps you have to download and which websites you have to check to ensure your safety on the road during the winter in Iceland.

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The Ultimate 2 Week Iceland Winter Ring Road Itinerary – Plan The Perfect Iceland Road Trip

❄️ Why you should visit Iceland in the winter

Visiting Iceland in the winter can be a wonderful experience since there are fewer tourists, all landscapes look like a winter wonderland and there’s the chance to see the Northern Lights. Waterfalls are covered in snow and surrounded by icicles and on average this time of the year is cheaper to travel to Iceland.

Iceland can be a pretty expensive country to travel to and through so it’s always nice if you can spare some money on your car or accommodation!

And if all that isn’t enough you’ll also get to experience the beauty of golden hour during the entire day. During the winter months the sun doesn’t rise far above the horizon which results in these winter landscapes being covered in a golden hue.

There are also a bunch of fun winter activities that you can do in Iceland such as dogsledding, see and photograph the northern lights, visit a glacier cave, go glacier hiking or go on a snow mobile tour.

Planning your trip to Iceland

🏨 Find the best accommodations on Booking.com
💰 Get reliable travel insurance from World Nomads
👩 Find a reliable tour guide, such as this 5 hour guided tour to Fagradalsfjall from Reykjavik

🚘 Rent a car to travel around Iceland with SunnyCars.com

🎒 Pack a power bank, hiking shoes and trekking poles.
📚 Read How Iceland changed the world, Lonely Planet’s Iceland and Nordic Islands by Stefan Forster

🇮🇸 Some strange and interesting facts about Iceland

• Many Icelanders believe in elves and trolls and that they reside within the Highlands of Iceland.
• You can swim outdoors in hot springs all year round.
• There’s no McDonald’s in entire Iceland.
• There are more than 30 volcanic regions scattered throughout the country.
• Over 10% of the country is covered in glaciers.
• The country has no train or railway system.
• The longest word found in Icelandic is: vaðlaheiðarvegavinnuverkfærageymsluskúraútidyralyklakippuhringur.
• Iceland has been chosen multiple times as the best place to live as a woman.

✈️ Getting into Iceland

The easiest way to reach Iceland is to fly to Keflavik Airport which lies on the Reykjanes peninsula. A ton of international airlines have a stop over in Iceland and their own national air carrier IcelandAir offers a ton of daily flights from the USA and Europe.

Once you’ve arrived at the airport you can simply pick up your rental car or camper van and you’re good to go! If you’re planning on driving yourself you may want to watch out for the taxi’s outside of the airport. They tend to overcharge so you’re far better of taking one of the local busses to Reykjavik.

🚘 Getting around Iceland in the winter – Road Trip

There are several ways to get around Iceland in the winter: you can go for a rental car and book accommodations or you can rent a camper van and stay at designated campsites. Another option is to have your base in Reykjavik and visit the main sights close by with a guided tour.

I highly recommend renting a camper van cause it will give you the most freedom to roam around the island. The weather. inIceland can be very unpredictable and with a camper van you can easily change up your itinerary as you go and chase the good weather. Whereas with a booked accommodation you’re pretty much with staying in that particular region, even if the weather is terrible.

Every single time that I’ve visited Iceland I chose a camper van from Happy Campers. I love their bright colored vans and the service that they provide for their customers. They’re based only a few minutes driving from Keflavik Airport and will pick you up and drop you off at the airport as part of their service.

One very important thing to know is that there are more than a hundred campsites in Iceland but most of them are only open during the winter months. During the winter there are approximately 26 different campsites open which still gives you plenty of options. Another plus about Happy Campers is that they are on top of their game and if you rent a camper van from them you get an updated map which includes all of the available campsites at that time. They call each campsite individually to make sure they are still open and running and update their map going from there.

Happy Campers Winter Campsite Map

CLICK HERE FOR MY DETAILED REVIEW ABOUT TRAVELING WITH HAPPY CAMPERS

You can also choose to rent a 4X4 SUV with SunnyCars if you’re not the biggest fan of camping. They also offer some great options and every single insurance is included in their price.

💸Iceland Travel Insurance

I highly recommend you to get a travel insurance before your trip cause the risks are never worth the costs. If you’re going on a more adventurous trip you can always get yourself injured! So far I have sprained my ankle in Jordan, got food poisoning in India, turned snow blind in the Dolomites and have fallen multiple times during many hikes. It’s always best to be safe than sorry in such cases and with a good travel insurance you don’t have to worry about medical bills piling up.

I personally love World Nomads, their prices are affordable, their coverage is great, and they also offer 24/7 on-call customer service! When I got super sick in India they even covered an extra night for me at the hotel that I was staying it and rearranged my flight home at no extra cost!

📲 Which apps to download before visiting Iceland

• 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!

Useful resources for your Iceland road trip

• road.is – The weather in Iceland can change in the blink of an eye. Before you start driving always check the following steps:
  • How are the road conditions? During the winter months several roads can become closed off due to heavy snowfall. Make sure to check this map every single morning before you leave so you don’t put yourself in danger. Red means that the road is completely closed and green means that it’s easy to drive. During the winter months in Iceland you need to pay extra attention to the blue and white colours.
    • White: the road is covered in snow
    • Light blue: there is ice on the road
    • Dark blue: the road is completely covered in ice
  • If the road doesn’t look safe, don’t risk it. At times you can find yourself driving alone on the road for hours and there are no safety measures like guardrails alongside 95% of the roads.

• Vedur.is – This website will give you all of the latest weather updates. Pay extra attention to the wind conditions. Especially when you’re driving around with a camper van, be aware, you catch a lot more wind and might lose grip.

• Vegasja – Live webcams of roads around Iceland.

💡 TIP – Create your own travel map in Google Maps. I always save all of the locations that I want to visit on Google Maps and this way I can easily create a daily itinerary and see which places are located close to each other. To make your trip even more easy you. can also save the locations of the campsites in a different color. This way you have all of your travel information in one place and you can easily navigate from one place to the other.

🧳 What to bring to Iceland

Hiking shoes – You will definitely need a pair of these. Even that some attractions are located right next to a parking lot you’ll pretty much always have to hike over a rocky terrain. I love my Meindl Mountain Trail Boots for longer hikes and my Danner Mountain Light Boots for daily wear and shorter distances.

Trekking poles – These will especially come in handy cause a lot of the hikes in these guide can be rather strenuous on the joints. I used the Leki Adventure Light trekking poles for all of my hikes in Iceland!

Back Pack – You’ll want to bring a back pack with you to carry your camera, some snacks and your refillable water bottle. I love the Kanken No. 2 back pack from Fjallraven and pretty much take it with me everywhere I go.

Refillable Water Bottle – The water in Iceland is some of the freshet in the entire world so there’s no need at all to buy plastic bottles. Simply find the nearest stream to fill up your bottle and you’re good to go.

Another option is to use a back pack which has a water reservoir built inside of it. For instance this 3L Hydration Bladder is leak proof and can be stored inside a back pack.

Trail Leggings – I love hiking in leggings and have lately been loving the Abisko Trail Tights from Fjallraven.

Fast Drying Shirt – When hiking you tend to sweat, especially when climbing a mountain. One of the best things to wear is a shirt that quickly dries so you don’t get cold high up the mountain.

Insulating Jacket – Depending on the temperature you’ll either want a thicker or lighter jacket. If it’s pretty cold outside I always go for my Fjallraven Vidda Jacket. Otherwise I go for their High Coast Light Jacket which is super light weight.

Woolen cap – The perfect accessory to protect your ears from the cold and to cover your hair after a few days without a shower.

Protein Bars – Make sure you have a couple of these stowed a way in your back pack to boost up your energy level during the hike.

Sunscreen – Make sure to re apply to your face regularly cause pretty much all of the hikes that we did in Iceland were exposed most of the time. I love this one by Neutrogena which feels like a face mist but also provides SPF 50 protection!

Merino Wool Socks – My go to brand has always been Falke and I love how fast they drive after a long day of hiking. Plus since they’re made of merino wool they don’t smell and can be worn for a couple of days.

🇮🇸 The Ultimate 12 Day Iceland road trip itinerary for winter

12 days is an ideal amount of time to see the absolute best that Iceland has to offer during the winter. This is more than enough time to drive the entire ring road and visit some of the most beautiful peninsula’s such as Reykjanes peninsula and Snæfellsnes peninsula.

However, if you’re short on time you can also opt for a 5 or 7 day road trip for which I am also planning to make self curated itineraries. Do know that in this case you won’t have enough time to cover the entire ring road due to the small amount of daylight hours during winter in Iceland.

Here’s an overview on how to spend the perfect 12 days road tripping in Iceland.

Day 1 – Arrival, pick up your camper van and go grocery shopping

Day 2 – Reykjavik and The Golden Circle

Day 3 – Waterfalls and Black Beaches

Day 4 – Fjadrárgljúfur and Glacier Lagoon

Day 5 – Diamonds and Glaciers

Day 6 – Myvatn

Day 7 – Highlights of Northern Iceland

Day 8 – Hidden canyon and Kirkjufell

Day 9 – Snæfellsnes peninsula

Day 10 – The Last Waterfalls

Day 11 – Blue Lagoon, Reykjanes Peninsula and returning your camper van

Day 12 – Fly Home

Day 1 – Arrival, pick up your camper van and go grocery shopping

Welcome to Iceland, the land of ice and fire! From our plane window we already got treated to an amazing view over this mesmerizing island and we couldn’t we to go out and explore this incredible country! Our flight from Belgium arrived at 3pm so today will be all about preparing everything for an incredible road trip, since during the winter it gets dark early. If your flight arrives in the early morning you can already combine Day 1 from this itinerary with a visit to the city of Reykjavik and start Day 2 with driving the Golden Circle.

Like I said before we booked our camper van with Happy Campers and opted for their Happy 2 model. This is the perfect choice if you’re driving the ring road in Iceland and if there’s 2 of you in 1 camper van. Happy Campers also organized our pick from the airport and brought us to their rental site. They explained how everything works and a short time later we were ready to hit the road!

💡 TIP – Happy Campers stores the leftover cans, sauces and pasta from previous travelers so before you leave make sure to have a look and you can grab what you’ll need for free.

Grocery shopping in Iceland can be pretty expensive and you really want to avoid the pricier shops. The cheapest grocery stores are Bonus and Krónan. But as you can see they are thinly spread throughout the country. Make sure to stock up on enough groceries so you don’t run out of food along the way.

After getting all of our groceries for the upcoming days it was already dark outside so we headed straight to the campsite in Reykjavik: Reykjavik Campsite. They have showers, toilets, a kitchen, laundry machines and a heated common room. The facilities close after November 9 but the camp site remains open and you may use the facilities at the hostel Dalur around the corner.

Day 2 – Reykjavik and The Golden Circle

After a good night’s rest it’s finally time to start exploring Iceland! Today will be all about exploring Iceland’s capital and driving the Golden Circle. The Golden Circle is one of Iceland’s most popular routes and will take you through the countryside and past hot water spewing geysers, thundering waterfalls and between two tectonic plates. This iconic route represents one of Iceland’s most popular day tours and you can drive it yourself in the mere timespan of 3 hours.

If you’re not hiring your own car or camper van you can easily visit the Golden Circle with one of the many day tours available. I’ve listed my favorite ones for you below:

• Reykjavik Golden Circle Day Tour including a visit to Kerid Crater
• Golden Circle and Glacier Ice Cave Tour
• Golden Circle and Snorkling in Silfra

Stop 1 – Reykjavik

Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland and a must visit if it’s your first time visiting Iceland. You can easily park your car or camper van close to the centre and explore the city in foot. One of the very first things you must do is pay a visit to the local bakery Braud and try one of their cinnamon buns. You may thank me later 😉.

Two other classic stops in Reykjavik are theHallgrímskirkja and the Sun Voyager, a steel sculpture representing a Viking’s boat near the waterfront. And if you’re looking for a new sweater you’ll find plenty of options in the main shopping street.

Stop 2 – Thingvellir National Park

Thingvellir National Park is our first stop on the Golden Circle and it’s an incredible place to visit if it’s your first time in Iceland. You can park your car at the Öxarárfoss parking lot and start walking from there. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and marks the location of Iceland’s first parliament. But what makes this place truly unique is it’s s geography. Thingvellir National Park is the site of a great rift valley where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. The plates are pulled ever so slightly apart more and more each year creating the Silfra fissure, an area perfect for snorkeling enthusiasts. 

If you’re up for it you can go for one of the snorkeling tours in the Silfra fissures where you’ll actually swim between these two tectonic plates.

💡 FUN FACT – Thingvellir National Park served as the backdrop for one of the more famous scenes in Game of Thrones where Littlefinger escorts Sansa to the Vale.

Another must visit in Thingvellir National Park is Öxarárfoss, a beautiful waterfall.

Stop 3 – Strokkur

Strokkur is the biggest geyser in Iceland and it shoots up hot water every couple of minutes. It’s one of the top attractions on the Golden Circle so don’t expect to be here alone. It’s one of the most touristic places in entire Iceland and there’s even a big shop located right next to it. However it remains a spectacular site to see.

If you have time to spare, walk the surrounding landscape draped in steam with holes of boiling water rumbling at every turn. Be careful as you explore, as the water is clearly a dangerous temperature and should be left to admire from an appropriate distance. 

Close by you’ll find another geyser named Geysir. However, unlike its close neighbor Strokkur, Geysir has remained inactive.

Stop 4 – Gullfoss

Gullfoss is one of the biggest waterfalls in entire Iceland but again it’s a tourist hot spot just like every other location on the Golden Circle. It’s the first of many waterfalls you’ll see on this 12 day Iceland road trip. Gullfoss is nicknamed the Golden Waterfall and during the summer months you might even be so lucky to spot a rainbow across this majestic waterfall.

When we arrived the pathway was covered in snow and even that there were ropes preventing you from going near to the waterfall, it still felt a little sketchy. Both of us slipped a couple of times and this was the first time we realized that we had to buy cramp ons.

That evening we set up camp at the Selfoss Campsite. Selfoss is a charming little town in the South that has everything you’ll need while on the road. The campsite has lots of nice amenities and is located close to grocery stores, swimming pool, restaurants, etc.

Now if you’ve already visited Reykjavik on your first day or you’re simply going at. avery fast pace you can add the following locations to your itinerary:

• Bruarfoss – A rather small waterfall but its blue color is absolutely stunning.
• Faxafoss – Another stunning waterfall along the Golden Circle and if you’re visiting in the summer months you can even spent the night at their campsite. Unfortunately this is one of the campsites that doesn’t remain open during the winter months.
• Hrunalaug Hot Springs
• Kerid Crater – You can walk along the rim before heading down to the lake.

Day 3 – Waterfalls and Black Beaches

Rise and shine! Today we’ll be exploring some of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls and one of my personal favorites, Skogafoss! From our campsite in Selfoss it’s about 1 hour driving to one of the most famous waterfalls in all of Iceland!

Stop 1 – Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss is one of the few waterfalls in Iceland where it is possible to walk behind it and also one of the few places where you have to get a parking ticket to park your car or camper van. This place is very touristic so try to arrive as soon as the sun comes up. Since you’ll be walking behind the waterfall you’re bound to get wet! Make sure to put on your rain coat and if you’re planning on taking photos I advise you to protect your camera with the following gear:

• Lens Protection Filter – This will prevent your actual lens from getting wet. This. is the one I am using but make sure to check your lenses diameter before ordering.
• Rain Cover – A rain cover will definitely come in handy if you’re taking photos with a tripod.

A bonus stop is following the trail north a short distance from Seljalandsfoss and you’ll end up at another spectacular waterfall called Gljufrabui. But with this one you really do have to prepare to get wet. You’ll have to walk through a water filled canyon and the spray from the waterfall can be very intense. But it’s definitely worth a visit and a cool place to take photos.

Stop 2 – Skogafoss

This is by far one of my favorite stops in Southern Iceland! Skogafoss is such a dramatic waterfall and sometimes you’ll even be able to spot a waterfall through the mist. Just like withSeljalandsfoss you’ll need a proper rain jacket when visiting, especially if you get a little closer to the waterfall.

STOP 3 – Kvernufoss

This is one of those beautiful hidden gems in Iceland and one that you can easily get to with the right directions. Drive to the Skogar Museum where you can leave your car on the parking lot. On the right side of the museum you’ll see a fence and a little further there’s an iron ladder which you may use to go over it. All you have to do now is follow the trail that leads you into the canyon.

When we went we were the only ones there and it was such a refreshing experience compared to the crowds at both Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. Kvernufoss is also a waterfall where you can walk behind so better keep that rain coat on if you’re planning on doing so.

Stop 4 – Dyrhólaey

Dyrhólaey is a very small peninsula in Southern Iceland and offers stunning 360° views over the Southern coast. On one side you’ll see a beautiful black sand beach and on the other side you’ll find a stunning archway. On top of the peninsula there’s also a lighthouse which makes for the perfect backdrop if you want to take a drone photo.

The drive up is pretty steep and narrow but our Happy Camper van did it like a champ!

STOP 5 – Reynisfjara

Reynisfjara is a beautiful coastline made up completely of black sand, black pebbles, sea carvings and basalt columns. It’s the perfect place to take some cool photos but when you do please be mindful of the waves. These are sneaker waves and every year people die because they get caught and get pulled to the sea to drown.

To reach our camp site for the night we had to drive a little back to Skogafoss and here you’ll find the Skógar camp site. The location is absolutely terrific cause you get to wake up to a view over Skogafoss but the facilities aren’t all that great. There’s no common room and no shower, there’s just you, your camper van and some toilets. The toilet facility however is heated and there’s plenty of plugs available if you need to charge any of your devices.

Day 4 – Fjadrárgljúfur and Glacier Lagoon

Another early start today cause we’ll be covering a lot of ground and there’s a ton to see along the way! We’ll be driving a total of 305km in total and requires about 3,5 hours of driving. If you already thought yesterday was amazing, you’ll be completely blown away today! In the end I’ll add a few extra stops that you can incorporate into your itinerary.

We started this day with a bit of bad luck with our camper van and lost a couple of hours because of that.

STOP 1 – Fjadrárgljúfur

There’s no better way to start the day than by hiking alongside one of the most majestic canyons in entire Iceland. Make sure to put on your cramp ons cause the trail leading up can get very slippery during the winter. When following the trail do respect the barriers put in place. They are there not only to protect you from plumetting to your sudden death but also to protect the fragility of the area.

Stop 2 – Svartifoss

Ever seen a waterfall surrounded by basalt columns? Well here is your chance! The hike to Svartifoss starts at the Visitor Centre in Skaftafell and is about 1,5km long. And as an icing on the cake you’ll come across 3 other waterfalls on your way to Svartifoss.

Stop 3 – Fjallsárlón

This magnificent glacier is one of my all time favorite place in entire Iceland! Imagine this: you drive up to the parking lot to see it empty. You start a small hike up the hill and then you see it. A glacier so beautiful it actually brought tears to my eyes! I can’t emphasize enough on how magical this place actually is. It’s what I call: Iceland at its very best.

Stop 4 – Jökulsárlón

Jökulsárlón, also known as Glacier Lagoon is located close toFjallsárlón but definitely worth a visit. It’s one of the top attractions in Southern Iceland and one of the most beautiful stops on this 12 day road trip around Iceland. At Jökulsárlón you can walk around the lagoon as far as you like, take a boat tour, grab a bite to eat, or use the restrooms.

This evening we’ll drive a little back towards Skaftaffel where we will set up camp for the night. Even though you can park your car in this campsite all year around, the facilities are only open from 1 May to 30 September. The surroundings are absolutely beautiful and the campsite is spacious and comfortable, with designated areas for camper vans.

If you don’t want to stay in a camp site this evening here are some excellent alternatives:

• Fosshótel Glacier Lagoon – The location is perfect for nature lovers, as the hotel is between Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, two of Iceland’s most spectacular natural attractions. Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon offers 125 rooms with all necessary amenities.
• Ekra – This 7 bedroom, 8 bathroom home has an estimated 3,500 total square feet with amazing views over Europe´s biggest glacier and several waterfalls in the backyard.
• Adventure Hotel Hof – Adventure Hotel Hof in Öræfi is located in one of the most beautiful and extraordinary regions in Iceland, often referred to as „Sveitin milli sanda“, which loosely translates as „The Land Between the Sands“.

Day 5 – Diamonds and Glaciers

Today we’ll do a bunch of driving but we’ll also go on a fun activity! But let’s start at the beginning, a sunrise visit to Diamond Beach!

Stop 1 – Diamond Beach

You can find Diamond Beach right next toJökulsárlón and this is where the ice washes up to the coastline. The icebergs against the black sand make for the perfect contrast and photograph opportunity. The amount of ice you find on this beach depends on how much ice has fallen off the glacier recently, the current tide cycle, etc. Because of this, some people will find a beach completely covered in ice, while others might find almost no ice at all.

Stop 2 – Exploring a Glacier Cave

This is an unforgettable experience that you absolutely can’t miss if you’re visiting Iceland during the winter. There are daily tours leaving fromJökulsárlón which includes glacier hiking, snow mobiling and cave exploring. I’ve listed some of my favorite tours below:

• Skaftaffel Ice Cave Tour and Glacier Hike
• Super Jeep Tour and Crystal Blue Ice Cave From Jökulsárlón
• Skaftafell Small Group Tour

Stop 3 – Höfn

Don’t expect to do a lot of sightseeing in the town of Höfn itself. But I do have a good reason for you to make a pit stop here! What about the most delicious lobster sandwich you’ve ever had? Grab a bite at Hafnarbudin and thank me later🦞.

Stop 4 – Vestrahorn

Our final stop of the day before we head to our next camp site is Vestrahorn, also known as Stokksnes. It’s the perfect place to watch the sunset but you do have to be a bit lucky with the weather. Vestrahorn loves to cover itself in the clouds but it’s always worth it top wait some time cause in Iceland the weather can clear up very fast. The entrance fee is 800 ISK but it’s well worth it! You’ll get to see one of the most iconic mountains in entire Iceland and you get to visit a viking village, which was formerly used as a film set.

This evening we’ll drive all the way towards Egilsstaðir, which is 2,5 hours driving from Vestrahorn. Egilsstaðir is considered the “capital of the East” and this charming town offers everything you need, from mini golf to spas. The campsite is located towards the town center and is close to gas stations and grocery stores.

Day 6 – Myvatn

Myvatn is a large volcanic lake in Northern Iceland and today will be all about relaxing and exploring some top sights close by.

STOP 1 – Lake Myvatn

The stunning lake Myvatn is a beautiful sight to behold and definitely worth a closer lake. However if you want to go swimming/soaking in hot water then this lake isn’t the option for you. Then you have to go to the Myvatn Nature Baths. The spa is open all year round and it costs 5700 ISK to enter.

Stop 2 – Grjótagjá Cave

While several websites pointed out that this was closed since april 2018 the entrance to the cave is still open this very day. This natural hot spring was highly featured in Game of Thrones as the place where Jon and Ygritte went swimming and you know…😆. However, the actual water temperature is around 45°C and it’s forbidden to go bathing in it.

STOP 3 – Hverir

Hverir is a geothermal located right next to Myvatn and it’s one of the most “out of this world” sites in Iceland. At the foot of the Namafjall volcanic mountain, the Namaskard geothermal area displays fumaroles, large mud pools, steam vents and a bare orangy-red landscape. And as stunning as this area is, the smell you’ll encounter here is also “out of this world”, and not in a good way 🤣.

STOP 4 – Viti Crater

Our last stop for today will take us into Krafla area, where you can find the stunning turquoise Viti crater. It’s a short walk to the top from the parking lot and you’ll be treated to an absolutely stunning view.

Viti Crater is only worth a visit if you’re going at the very start of winter. Otherwise the lake inside the crater will be completely frozen over and snowed on.

And I promised you that today would be an easy day of exploring without a lot of driving so it’s time to head towards our campsite for tonight. The Vogar campsite is a lovely little campsite by the popular Lake Myvatn. Indoor toilets and hot showers are included in the price and easy access to outdoor kitchen sinks.

Day 7 – Highlights of Northern Iceland

Today there’ll be some more driving compared to yesterday. We’ll visit some of Iceland’s most impressive waterfalls and in the evening we’ll make our way to Akureyri.

STOP 1 – Dettifoss

Dettifoss is one of the most impressive and beautiful waterfalls in Iceland and is said to be the second most powerful waterfall in all of Europe. You can visit Dettifoss from both sides but the West side is definitely the most convenient and stunning. When visiting Dettifoss during the winter time make sure to wear your cramp ons! The trail leading up to the waterfall can become very icy and slippery during the winter months and you really don’t want to fall down this cliff.

Stop 2 – Selfoss

You can find another stunning waterfall only 10 minutes walking from Dettifoss. Again, make sure to wear your cramp ons during the winter cause you’ll be hiking on an icy trail right next to the cliff side.

STOP 3 – Godafoss

Godafoss has to be one of the most impressive waterfalls I have ever seen in my entire life. You can admire the waterfall from both sides and there’s also a small pathway leading down which lends you the opportunity to stand in front of this spectacular waterfall in Iceland.

READ ALSO >> THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WATERFALLS TO VISIT IN ICELAND DURING THE WINTER

If you have a little extra time today and if the roads are good I highly recommend a visit to the beautiful fishing village of Husavik. If it’s name rings a bell that’s quiet normal. Husavik got bombarded into stardom due to its prominent feature in the Netflix film ‘Eurovision’ starring Will Ferell and Rachel McAdams. Stroll around the beautiful coastal town or relax at GeoSea.

If you want to incorporate Husavik into your itinerary and spend a little more time here you can also visit Dettifoss and Sellfoss on the previous day. That way you can start day 7 by visiting the fishing village and then go and marvel at Godafoss before you head further to the campsite in Akureyri.

Hamrar is a peaceful campground by the forest kjarnaskógur, at the southern end of Akureyri. The camping is well equipped with excellent facilities.

Day 8 – Hidden canyon and Kirkjufell

Today is a big drive day again with only three stops before we reach our next campsite. In total we’ll be driving nearly 5 hours and we’ll even take a little detour off the ring road to reach our very first stop of the day. But I promise you it will be well worth it!

STOP 1 – Kolugljùfur

This is one of those hidden gems in Iceland that not too many people know off. You’ll have to make a small exit from the main ring road but after only 20 minutes you’ll arrive at a small bridge which you can easily cross with your camper van.Kolugljùfur is both a canyon and a waterfall.

💡 TIP – If you. can muster a very early wake up call it’s definitely worth it to be here for sunrise!

STOP 2 – Kirkjufell

One of Iceland’s most photographed mountains and top things to see on the SnaeThfelsness Peninsula is Kirkjufell and its nearby waterfall Kirkjufellsfoss. Don’t expect to have this place to yourself and compared to all the places we saw in the past days you definitely won’t feel like you’re in “wild” Iceland anymore. There’s even a man made pathway leading up behind the waterfall and you’ll be greeted by a bunch of photographers all lined up in the same exact spot to take the same photo. Not gonna lie, I was one of them🤣.

STOP 3 – GRUNDARFJORDUR

Finish today with a visit to Grundafjordur. It’s a small town but the perfect place to enjoy an evening dinner and marvel at the sun setting behind Kirkjufell.

For tonight we’ll stay right outside of the Snaefelsness Peninsula at the Búðardalur Campground. The Budardalur camping site is located within a beautiful grove and has many features such as a convenience store, coffee shop, soccer field, playground and a beach volley ball field.

Day 9 –Snaefelsness Peninsula

The Snaefelsness Peninsula is one of those places you have to visit if it’s your first time visiting Iceland! This is also one of our final regions after returning back to Reykjavik. It’s often referred to as Miniature Iceland as you can see everything the country has to offer in one area: volcanic craters, lava fields, a glacier, waterfalls, fjords, hot springs, black and golden sand beaches, lush meadows, and cute fishing villages of colorful wooden houses.

STOP 1 – Ingjaldshólskirkja

This has to be one of the prettiest churches in entire Iceland and there are a lot of them!

💡 TIP – You can take amazing photos here but the best ones will be with a 70-200mm zoom lens!

STOP 2 – Lóndrangar

The Lóndrangar cliffs are a beautiful place to go for a little walk after all of that driving. The pinnacles rise up from the sea and add a lot of drama to the landscape. Mind the doors of your car or camper van here cause there can be very strong winds!

STOP 3 – Arnarstapi

Another gorgeous cliffside that you absolutely can’t miss is Arnarstapi. Here you get great views of the Snaefellsjokull glacier and stunning coastal scenes.

STOP 4 – Budakirkja

Budakirkja, also known as Budir, is a famous black church on the Snaefelsness Peninsula. It’s mostly famous as an iconic photo spot so don’t expect to spend a lot of time here.

Now it’s time to slowly start driving towards Reykjavik and we’ll spend the night at the Snorrastaðir campsite. This campsite is located only 2.5 km from the volcano Eldborg, a 60m tall crater in the midst of a lava field.

Day 10 – The Last Waterfalls

STOP 1 – Hraunfossar

Hraunfossar, which means lava waterfalls, is located only 1 hour driving from Reykjavik. The waterfalls of Hraunfossar are a real treasure. It’s best described as a collection of countless creeks and cascades small and big streaming out of the lava over a distance of about 900 metres. What I love about this phenomenal lava flow is the color of the water or the river. Sometimes its dazzling and turquoise but occasionally you will see it as milky white. Whatever the color is its an impressive scene both worth enjoying or photographing.

STOP 2 – Barnafoss

Above Hraunfossar (lava falls) there is another famous waterfall called Barnafoss (children´s fall). According to legend Barnafoss takes its name from two children who fell into the waterfall. 

STOP 3 – Glymur

Glymur is with its height of 196 meters one of Iceland’s highest waterfalls and it can only be reached by hiking.

From the carpark, the hike takes approximately three and a half hours to do in total. It is largely through nature, without any paved roads, and at some points can be a little challenging; the most used route, for example, involves wading across a river with the help of a rope, passing through a cave, and walking along a narrow mountainside path.

STOP 4 – Bárðarfoss

One of the lesser known waterfalls in Iceland but that doesn’t mean it’s not a spectacular one! On our way back to Reykjavik we won’t take the tunnel underneath the peninsula. While it does go a lot faster we would also miss a lot of beautiful views along the way such as this hidden gem!

STOP 5 – Thorufoss

Thorufoss is another Game Of Thrones filming location! It’s just a short drive from Iceland’s famous golden circle, but the gravel nature of the road puts many off. There are also limited signs directing you here but it’s well worth the visit!

This evening we’ll set up camp again at the Reykjavik Campsite and tomorrow is our last day of exploring this beautiful country before we hand over our camper van again.

Day 11 – Blue Lagoon, Reykjanes Peninsula and returning your camper van

STOP 1 – Blue Lagoon

After all of that exploring you definitely deserve some relaxing! The Blue Lagoon is the most popular hot spring in entire Iceland due to its proximity to Reykjavik and Keflavik airport. It’s said that its water will nourish, heal and rejuvenate your mind and body. I really liked trying out one of their face masks and to indulge a little at the pool bar.

You can book your tickets for a visit to the Blue Lagoon here!

STOP 2 – Garður Old Lighthouse

Garður is known for its lighthouses and the most beautiful one of them all is the Garður Old Lighthouse. It especially serves as a nice photography spot so don’t expect to spend a lot of time here!

Alternative option for Day 11

As of 2021 there has been the eruption of the Fagradasfjall volcano and for now you can still visit the eruption site. There are a couple of things that you need to keep in mind when visiting:

• There are several hiking trails leading up to different viewpoints. Route C is the short (1 hour both ways) and easy hike to the flowing lava in the Nátthagi valley. From Nátthagi it is possible to continue on a more difficult hike up to Langihryggur where hikers get view over the crater opening (adding 1-2 hours of hiking). Keep in mind that the best viewpoint over the crater can change in an instant due to lava flow. It’s best to keep a look out on safetravel.is where you can find all of the latest updates.
• Check the weather before you go. Sometimes the conditions are so bad that you can’t see the crater at all. You can see a live webcam of the Fagradasfjall volcano here.
• For additional weather info and insights if it’s safe due to the gas that gets released check volcanoweather.is

If you would prefer to take a guided tour of Fagradalsfjall Volcano, below are some great options:

• Fagradasfjall 5 hour guided hike
• From Reykjavik: Active volcano hike and Rekjanes Tour
• From Reykjavik: Guided Volcano Hike & Blue Lagoon

After all of the action it’s time to hand over our camper van! And if you book a hotel in the area of Keflavik Happy Campers will also arrange a drop off for you!

Below I’ve listed some of my personal favorites:

• The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland – Stay at the Blue Lagoon Hotel and have your own personal spa to jump into when you step outside of your room.
• BB Hótel by Keflavik airport – The hotel is located right next to Keflavik airport and the ideal place if you don’t want to spend too much cash on your last night in Iceland.
• Northern Light Inn – This hotel is located very close to the Blue Lagoon and to Fagradasfjall volcano.

Day 12 – Fly Home

Depending on the time of your flight you can add a visit to the Blue Lagoon on your last day in the morning since they also have storage space for suitcases. However if you’re flying back to Belgium your flight will be at 7am in the morning.

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🛣Iceland Road Trip Tips

Here you can find some useful tips that will ensure you have the best time on your road trip in Iceland in the winter.

• Always have snacks on hand – Often there isn’t a place to eat in plane sight, especially when you’re driving through the more rural parts of Iceland. Make sure you don’t go hungry during one of your hikes. I would even go as far that you buy your snacks at home and put them in your suitcase to save some money at the grocery store.
• Mind your car doors when you open them – The wind in Iceland can be brutal at times and it wouldn’t be the first time a car door flies off due to strong wind gusts. The image below show which way is best to park in case of strong winds.

• Bring your camera – I am not exaggerating when I say that there’s a beautiful photo opportunity every 100 meter in Iceland. Make sure to bring your camera to capture this one of a lifetime trip! If you need some inspiration you can read exactly what’s in my camera bag.
• Bring dryer sheets – After sleeping and spending a lot of time in a camper van it can start to smell after a while which is completely normal. If you put a dryer sheet between the sofa it will always smell like fresh laundry.

💳 Currency & ATM’s in Iceland

The official currency in Iceland is the Icelandic Krona (ISK) and €1 equals ISK147. It’s not necessary to take out much cash upon your arrival cause you can pay nearly everywhere with your credit card of debit card.

📚 More Iceland Blog Posts

I have visited the land of ice and fire 3 times in 3 years and I loved adventuring and driving around the country. On my blog you can find a ton of free resources to help you plan the perfect trip to this beautiful country.

Below are some of my favorite articles and there’s a lot more to come so keep an eye on this space!

• The Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Iceland – A list of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland that I visited myself, divided by region.
• Hidden Gems in Iceland – Of the beaten path places that haven’t been discovered by mass tourism.
• Fagradalsfjall Hiking Trail – How To Visit The Active Volcano in Grindavik Iceland
• 1 Day in Landmannalaugar – The Mount Blahnukur Trail
• Discover Thakgil – A hidden gem in southern Iceland
• Mulagljufur Canyon – Discover a true hidden gem in South Iceland
• 7 Best Places To See in The Highlands in Iceland
• Kerlingarfjöll Hiking Trail – How To See The Hveradalir Geothermal Area in a couple of hours.

📸 My Iceland Camera Gear

• Canon EOS 6D Mark II – My go to camera body for the past 3 years
• Main Lens – Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II
• Zoom Lens – Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6
• Wide Angle Lens – Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L III
• Tripod – Manfrotto Tripod
• Drone – DJI Mavic Mini 2 Fly More Combo

You can find my complete list of photography gear here

Photo Editing

All photos in this article where edited with the help of my Minimal Preset Pack

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