Iceland Ring Road: 6-Day Minibus Tour with Glacier Hike & Ice Cave

Summary

Circle Iceland’s wild coasts, glaciers and geysers by minibus

You’ll circle Iceland by minibus with a small group, hiking glaciers near Sólheimajökull, wandering black sand beaches at Reynisfjara, exploring surreal ice caves beneath Vatnajökull, and soaking up stories from local guides along the way. Expect raw weather, real laughter, late-night northern lights hunts—and moments you’ll remember every time you hear running water.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the way Gullfoss sounded — not just loud, but deep, like you could feel it in your chest. Our guide, Ása, joked that if you listen long enough you start to hear stories in the water. Maybe she was right. The air smelled sharp and clean, almost metallic near the geysers (sulfur, obviously, but not as bad as I’d feared). Strokkur erupted right as I was fumbling for my camera — missed the shot but caught everyone’s laughter instead. We’d started in Reykjavik early that morning; somehow it already felt like days ago.

Walking behind Seljalandsfoss was colder than I expected — icy mist everywhere, my jacket wasn’t quite up to it. Skógafoss had this rainbow hanging in the spray; someone next to me said it looked painted on. Reynisfjara beach was all black sand and those weird basalt columns — waves slamming so hard you could feel them through your boots. Ása kept reminding us not to turn our backs on the ocean here (she sounded serious). The glacier hike on Sólheimajökull…honestly? Way harder than it looks in photos. Crunchy ice underfoot, blue crevasses that made my stomach drop a little. But standing there looking out over all that frozen space — I still think about that view.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon felt almost too quiet after all that wind and noise — just seals popping up between floating icebergs. On Diamond Beach the ice looked fake at first, scattered across black sand like someone had dropped a bag of glass marbles. The ice cave was unreal — blue light everywhere, dripping water echoing off the walls. Our driver played Sigur Rós on the minibus after and nobody talked for a while; maybe we were all just tired or maybe it was something else.

The East Fjords were softer somehow — green hills and tiny fishing villages where people waved even though they didn’t know us. There’s this lake called Lagarfljót where locals talk about a lake monster (Ása swears she saw ripples once). In North Iceland we stopped at Dimmuborgir and tried to spot trolls among the lava formations (no luck), then Lake Mývatn with its clouds of birds and weird sulfur pools bubbling away. Goðafoss waterfall was last — wide and bright under a gray sky. On our final drive back to Reykjavik through Akureyri, I realized I’d lost track of time completely…in a good way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Golden Circle highlights

• Visit Gullfoss Waterfall
• Explore Geysir Geothermal Area
• Tour Þingvellir National Park

Day 2 — South Coast and glacier hike

• Visit Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
• Visit Skógafoss Waterfall
• Explore Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
• Glacier hike on Sólheimajökull

Day 3 — Glacier lagoon and ice caving

• Visit Fellsfjara (Diamond Beach)
• Visit Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
• Ice cave tour at Vatnajökull Glacier

Day 4 — Exploring the East Fjords

• Visit Lagarfljót Lake
• Explore East Fjords region
• Optional horseback riding at local farm

Day 5 — North-East Iceland exploration

• Optional visit to VÖK Nature Baths
• Visit Námaskarð Geothermal Area
• Visit Dimmuborgir Lava Formations
• Visit Lake Mývatn
• Visit Goðafoss Waterfall

Day 6 — North Iceland and return

• Visit Hauganes town and whale watching
• Drive back to Reykjavik through scenic landscapes

Top questions

How long is the Iceland Ring Road tour from Reykjavik?

The tour lasts 6 days and circles Iceland’s main Ring Road before returning to Reykjavik.

Is hotel pickup included for this 6-day Iceland tour?

Yes, pickup and drop-off from select Reykjavik locations are included.

Are meals included during the tour?

Breakfast is included each day at your hotel; other meals are not included unless stated otherwise.

What activities are part of this minibus tour?

The tour includes a guided glacier hike with safety gear, an ice cave visit with equipment, whale watching in Hauganes, and sightseeing stops at major attractions.

Are optional activities available during the trip?

Yes—activities like horseback riding or entrance to geothermal baths can be added for an extra cost.

Is this tour suitable for beginners or less active travelers?

The itinerary is suitable for all physical fitness levels; some activities like glacier hiking require moderate mobility but guides offer support.

What kind of accommodation is provided?

You’ll stay in comfortable hotels each night with private bathrooms and breakfast included.

Will we see northern lights on this trip?

Northern lights sightings are possible during winter months if conditions are clear—your guide will help watch for them each night.

What’s included

Your six days include comfortable minibus transport around Iceland’s Ring Road with WiFi onboard; five nights’ hotel accommodation with breakfast and private bathrooms; professional English-speaking driver-guide throughout; guided glacier hike and ice cave adventure with all safety equipment provided; whale watching tour in Hauganes; plus convenient pickup and drop-off from select spots in Reykjavik before heading back at journey’s end.