Iceland Ring Road Tour: Glaciers, Waterfalls & Whale Watching

You'll hike an outlet glacier of Europe's largest ice sheet, or step inside a natural ice cave depending on the season.

This is a 6-day guided tour around Iceland's Ring Road departing from Reykjavik, visiting the Golden Circle, South Coast waterfalls, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, East Fjords, Lake Mývatn, and returning via Borgarfjörður. The tour includes five nights' accommodation, professional guide, national park fees, glacier hiking or ice cave exploration, whale watching in Eyjafjörður, and geothermal bathing at Mývatn Nature Baths. Solo travelers are paired in twin rooms unless you book a single room upgrade; children from age 6 are welcome, though moderate fitness is required for the glacier hike and hiking sections. The operator may alter the itinerary due to weather.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Golden Circle and South Coast of Iceland

• Visit Þingvellir National Park
• See Gullfoss Waterfall
• Watch Great Geysir erupt
• Walk behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall
• Visit Skógafoss waterfall

Day 2 — South Coast of Iceland

• Explore Reynisfjara black sand beach
• Stop at Vík village
• Pass Mýrdalsjökull glacier
• Meet guide at Skaftafell National Park
• Glacier hike or ice cave tour
• Visit Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
• Walk at Diamond Beach

Day 3 — East Fjords of Iceland

• Visit Djúpivogur fishing village
• Hike to Hengifoss waterfall
• See Litlanesfoss waterfall
• Stay overnight at Wilderness Center

Day 4 — Stuðlagil - Mývatn - Nature Bath - Goðafoss - Akureyri

• Travel through Mörðudalur valley
• Stop at Dettifoss waterfall
• Explore Lake Mývatn area
• Visit Námaskarð geothermal area
• Visit Hverfjall crater
• See Dimmuborgir lava formations
• Relax at Mývatn Nature Baths
• Visit Goðafoss waterfall
• Stay overnight in Akureyri

Day 5 — Whale watching in Eyjafjörður Fjord - Siglufjörður - Tröllaskagi - Borgarnes

• Start in Akureyri town
• Whale watching in Eyjafjörður Fjord
• Visit Siglufjörður fishing village
• Drive around Tröllaskagi peninsula
• Stay overnight at Laugarbakki hotel

Day 6 — Borgarfjörður - Reykholt - Hraunfossar - Hvalfjörður - Reykjavik

• Hike up Grábrók volcanic crater
• Visit Hraunfossar waterfall
• Visit Reykholt historic site
• Drive along Hvalfjörður fjord
• See Deildartunguhver hot spring

The Experience

Reykjavik pickup starts the journey at the Golden Circle, where you'll stand at Þingvellir National Park between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, then move on to Gullfoss waterfall and the geothermal area to watch the Great Geysir erupt. The first day also takes in Seljalandsfoss, where you can walk behind the cascading water, and Skógafoss—a 60-meter drop across 25 meters of width. That night you stay at Hotel Geirland on the South Coast.

Day three is the glacier day. You'll enter Skaftafell National Park and meet your guide for either a three-hour hike on an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull (mid-April to October) or a tour inside a natural ice cave within the glacier (October to mid-April). After the glacier, you visit Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon filled with floating icebergs, then walk Diamond Beach where icebergs wash ashore across black sand. Hotel Hof, positioned for Northern Lights hunting in winter, is your base that night. The following day takes you through the East Fjords—Djúpivogur fishing village, Hengifoss waterfall at 128 meters, and Litlanesfoss framed by hexagonal basalt columns—before you reach Egilsstaðir and the Wilderness Center, 40 minutes away, where you can use the free hot pots.

Day five moves through Mörðudalur valley to Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall, then into the volcanic landscape around Lake Mývatn. You'll see the Námaskarð geothermal area with boiling springs and mud pots, the Hverfjall crater, and Dimmuborgir's dark lava formations. Before heading to Akureyri for the night, you soak in the milky blue waters of Mývatn Nature Baths (or Forest Lagoon until May 27, 2026), rich in minerals and silica. The final full day begins with a whale-watching tour in Eyjafjörður Fjord—a 3-hour outing with a 98% sighting rate for humpback whales, porpoises, and dolphins—then continues to Siglufjörður fishing village and across Tröllaskagi peninsula before an overnight stay in the Laugarbakki region. On the return to Reykjavik, you'll explore Borgarfjörður (named a top destination by Lonely Planet in 2016), hike up to Grábrók volcanic crater, visit Hraunfossar waterfall flowing from lava fields, and see Snorralaug, the historic hot spring pool at Reykholt. The drive back follows Hvalfjörður, and you'll pass Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot spring, before arriving in Reykjavik.

What’s included

• Five nights' accommodation at hotels including Hotel Geirland, Hotel Hof, Wilderness Center, Berjaya Akureyri Hotel, and Hotel Laugarbakki or similar.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• all national park entrance fees.
• glacier hiking on Vatnajökull's outlet glacier (mid-April to October) or ice cave exploration (October to mid-April).
• whale watching in Eyjafjörður Fjord.
• entry to Mývatn Nature Baths (or Forest Lagoon until May 27, 2026).
• WiFi on board.
• Reykjavik pickup and drop-off from authorized points.
• live commentary throughout the tour.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Arctic Adventures

Is this one for you?The tour is led in English with live commentary, so you'll follow the guide and the day's narrative comfortably if that's your language. If you're traveling solo, you'll be paired in a shared twin room unless you upgrade to a single room at checkout; the group stays small, and the moderate fitness requirement applies mainly to the glacier hike and longer walking sections—contact the operator if you're unsure whether the activity level suits you.

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Top questions

What's included in the 6-day tour price from Reykjavik?

The tour includes five nights' accommodation, professional English-speaking guide, all national park entrance fees, the glacier hiking adventure (or ice cave tour in winter), whale watching in Eyjafjörður, entry to Mývatn Nature Baths, WiFi on board, and pickup and drop-off from authorized points in Reykjavik. Lunch and dinner are not included, nor are gratuities.

Can I do the glacier hike if I'm not very fit, or is there an alternative?

The glacier hike requires at least moderate physical fitness and runs mid-April through October. From October to mid-April, the glacier activity is replaced by a tour inside a natural ice cave within Vatnajökull, which has different physical demands. Children from age 6 are welcome on the tour, though the glacier or ice cave activity may not suit younger or less mobile participants—contact the operator to discuss your situation.

What happens if bad weather changes the itinerary?

The operator reserves the right to alter the itinerary due to weather and other conditions outside its control. Iceland's conditions can shift rapidly, so the guide will adapt the route and timing to keep the group safe while hitting as many highlights as possible.

Is the whale-watching tour guaranteed, and how long does it last?

Whale watching in Eyjafjörður Fjord has a 98% sighting rate for humpback whales, porpoises, dolphins, and other marine life. The tour typically lasts around 3 hours, giving you plenty of time to watch and photograph the animals.

Do I need to bring my own hiking boots and waterproof gear?

You should bring warm outdoor clothing, waterproof clothing, headgear, gloves, and hiking boots. If you don't have them, waterproof clothing and hiking boots can be rented from the operator for a small fee (~28 EUR per item) if you arrange it in advance.

What happens if I'm traveling solo—will I have my own room?

Solo travelers are paired in a twin room with another participant of the same gender. If you prefer your own room, you can book a single room upgrade directly with the operator for an extra charge.