The Absolute BEST Iceland Itinerary!! | 8 Days Around Iceland (via the Ring Road)
The Absolute BEST Iceland Itinerary!! | 8 Days Around Iceland (via the Ring Road)

The Absolute BEST Iceland Itinerary!! | 8 Days Around Iceland (via the Ring Road)

8 DAY ITINERARY:

Day 1: Golden Circle (Thingvellir National Park, Öxarárfoss, Strokkur Geysir Geothermal Area & Gullfoss Waterfall)

  • Stay the night at Flúðir 

Day 2: Hrunalaug Hot Spring and/or Secret Lagoon, Kerid Crater & Seljalandsfoss & Gljúfrabúi Waterfalls, Skogafoss

  • Stay the night at Seljalandsfoss & Gljúfrabúi Waterfall or Skógafoss Waterfall

Day 3: The Dyrhólaey Peninsula, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, Fjaðrárgljúfur, Vatnajökull National Park, Svartifoss Waterfall, Svínafellsjökull Glacier Viewpoint Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon, Diamond Beach, Hofn

  • Stay the night at Hofn

Day 4: Vestrahorn, Djúpivogur, Sveinsstekksfoss + Folaldafoss Waterfalls, Egilsstaðir, Seydisfjördur 

  • Stay the night at Seydisfjördur

Day 5: Gufufoss, Haífoss & Fardagafoss Watefalls, Rjukandi Waterfall, Dettifoss & Selfoss Waterfalls, Diamond Circle, Hverir, Lake Mývatn Nature Baths

  • Stay the night at Lake Mývatn

Day 6: Hverfjall Crater, Grjótagjá, Dimmuborgir, Hofdi & Skútustaðagígar, Goðafoss Waterfall, Akureyri, Glaumbær, Hvítserkur Rock, Kolugljúfur Canyon & Waterfall

  • Stay the night at Hvammstangi

Day 7: Snæfellsjökull National Park, Borgarnes, Reykjavik

  • Stay the night at Reykjavik

Day 8: Reykjavik, Grótta Island Lighthouse, Reykjadalur Hot Springs, Fagradalsfjall Volcano Crater, Blue Lagoon

  • Stay the night at Sandgerðisbær near international airport

*This itinerary does not account for the day you will arrive/leave. We recommend spending a little bit of time in Reykjavik to get adjusted to the time zone before heading out. We personally stayed two nights at this campsite (address: Sundlaugavegur 32, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland. We stayed the night we arrived and then once more the night before we left home.

DAY 1: Golden Circle (Thingvellir National Park, Öxarárfoss, Strokkur Geysir Geothermal Area & Gullfoss Waterfall)

Thingvellir National Park (Þingvellir National Park) & Öxarárfoss

One of the most famous national parks and a world heritage Unesco site in Iceland is Thingvellir National Park. Thingvellir is a must for your 1 week in Iceland trip. The park is filled with waterfalls, old churches, ruins, and mid-Atlantic rifts which means you will be walking on two continents/ tectonic plates: The North American Plates and the Eurasian Plates. Iceland is the only place in the world where you can walk on two different tectonic plates. When we entered the park, we slowly walked around and took in all the beauty and took pictures of the waterfalls and the unique landscape. Many people also scuba dive or snorkel in the Silfra.

There’s also a beautiful waterfall here, Öxarárfoss, which is around a 10 minute walk from the car park. Game of Thrones fans will also enjoy visiting Thingvellir National Park as it was used for the filming of a number of Game of Thrones scenes. 

Once you’re done with Thingvellir, make your way to the Strokkur geyser. 

Strokkur Geysir Geothermal Area

It’s a 37-mile (60-kilometer) drive from Thingvellir. This route shows more intense geography with steaming vents along the way and notably concentrated in the village of Laugarvatn, located halfway between Thingvellir and Geysir. The Geysir geothermal area is an easy attraction to add to your Iceland road trip itinerary.  Parking is free, and it was easy to find a spot even with the crowds. The Strokkur geyser sprays water every few minutes (up to 20-40 meters high) so make sure to take videos and pictures of this phenomenon. Expect to spend around 20 to 30 minutes visiting this park. 

Gullfoss Waterfalls

When we arrived at this waterfall, we were in absolute shock! Gullfoss was the largest waterfall I have ever seen, and there was a 360° rainbow! The only downside was that it was pretty crowded and the floor was slippery, so be careful. I almost fell on my face a couple of times, not going to lie 🙂

Gullfoss translates to “Golden Falls” which was exactly how I felt described this place. I mean look at that picture, if that doesn’t describe golden falls, I don’t know what will. The waterfall should be thought of as two separate features with one cascade measuring at 11 meters and the taller one measuring at 21 meters.

We vlogged our experience at the Golden Circle & highly recommend watching it HERE. 🙂

We suggest calling it a night around here. You could stay near the secret lagoon in the city called Flúðir. 

DAY 2: Hrunalaug Hot Spring and/or Secret Lagoon, Kerid Crater & Seljalandsfoss/Gljúfrabúi Waterfalls, Skogafoss

Hrunalaug Hot Springs

Hrunalaug Hot Springs is located just 5 minutes off of the Golden Circle so it can be quite crowded, but we definitely recommend it! Paying for your visit to Hrunalaug Hot Springs is completely on the honor system. It is run by a local farmer who relies on the honor system fees to keep up the beautiful hot spring. The cost of visiting Hrunalaug Hot Springs is 1000 ISK or $7.50 USD. This is a whole lot cheaper than the Blue Lagoon and get to support a local Icelandic farmer! When you are visiting, please do NOT skip paying the fee. The fee must be paid in cash and is how the landowner keeps up the land.

Since it is likely to be crowded, you will want to go when there is less people. So, go early in the morning or later at night when most people will have turned in for the night! In this itinerary we recommend going in the morning. The thing we love about Hrunalaug Hot Springs is that there are THREE different pools! Explore them all, take in the beautiful scenery, and most importantly: relax & enjoy! 🙂

Secret Lagoon

So we know we just mentioned going to a local hot springs, but this lagoon needs to be mentioned so you can make the choice between what experience you’d like to have: a hot springs or lagoon? Maybe both? You really can’t go wrong The secret lagoon is a hot spring that has become so popular that it’s no longer a secret. But if you like hot springs, this is a good one to visit. It’s open from 12-8pm and you can book ahead of time here. https://secretlagoon.is/ 

Kerid Crater 

When planning a trip to Iceland, make sure to add this volcanic crater to your list. I loved how the green water looked with the dark red color of the crater. It is a perfect detour from the Gullfoss, Thingvellir, and the Geysir since it isn’t as crowded as the other three sites. You do have to pay for parking which we did with our credit card. You can either hike around the crater or hike down to the water. We opted to stay at the top and take the views in with Willa. 

Seljalandsfoss

The waterfall is about 60 meters tall and is part of the Seljalands River. When traveling around Iceland, you can usually spot the beautiful waterfall a long ways away before you get to it. It truly is magnificent. The best part about this waterfall is you can actually walk behind it. If you want to go behind the waterfall, I highly recommend a raincoat because you will get soaked! In the wintertime going behind the waterfall can be closed due to the path being too slippery.

Gljúfrabúi Waterfall

Located right next to the famous Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi Waterfall is a must stop. The waterfall is located walking distance away from Seljalandsfoss, and it is less crowded. The waterfall is 40 meters high and is blocked from view behind a massive cliff. Bring good rain boots and raincoat as you will get soaked.

There is a campsite right between Seljalandsfoss & Gljúfrabúi Waterfall. This was by far our favorite campsite during our entire trip around Iceland. We recommend staying here, but if you wanted to continue on you could continue on and stay near Skógafoss Waterfall.

Skógafoss Waterfall

If you chose to spend the night at Seljalandsfoss, then you’ll drive less than half an hour’s drive to Skogafoss.  As you drive, if you have a clear day, you’ll also be able to admire some of Iceland’s volcanoes, including Eyjafjallajökull, the volcano which erupted in 2010 and caused worldwide air transport chaos! 

One of the most well-known waterfalls in Iceland, is Skógafoss & truly it should be on everyone’s Iceland itinerary!  The waterfall stands at 60 meters, is 25 meters wide and is located right off the Iceland Highway 1. There is even an option of walking up the steps to view the beautiful waterfall from above (525 steps worth). We also like that you can get very close to the crashing base, to really experience the power of nature. No matter where you decided to camp at, we recommend arriving to this waterfall as early as possible! It gets incredibly crowded here.

DAY 3: Kvernufoss, The Dyrhólaey Peninsula, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, Fjaðrárgljúfur, Vatnajökull National Park, Svartifoss Waterfall, Svínafellsjökull Glacier Viewpoint, Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon, Diamond Beach, Hofn 

Skógafoss Waterfall

Wake up and explore this waterfall for the first time or admire it for the second before leaving for this fun filled day! This was one of our favorite days in Iceland exploring the south so get EXCITED!

Kvernufoss (Hidden waterfall)

One of the best parts about Iceland is discovering hidden waterfalls!  Kvernufoss waterfall is located near the Skogar Museum, and if you walk east, you will find a fence that you will need to hop over. Eventually, the path will lead you to a wonderful waterfall. Make sure to take care of Kvernufoss, and to keep it hidden away from the hordes of tourists.

The Dyrhólaey Peninsula & Dyrhólaey Lighthouse Viewpoint

The Dyrhólaey Peninsula is a 120-metre promenade famed for its staggering views of Iceland’s South Coast, as well as its historic lighthouse and wealth of birdlife. It is home to a rock arch of the same name. Dyrhólaey has an abundance of birdlife, and we think one of the top reasons to stop here is to try to find the Atlantic Puffin.  These are Iceland’s favorite winged resident and can be found here from May to September.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

This is one of Iceland’s beautiful black sand beaches, which is particularly notable for having stacks of basalt columns running along the edge of the beach. There are also sea stacks off shore which are pretty. This is a popular (and often crowded) location. From Dyrhólaey Lighthouse Viewpoint it is a 20 minute drive. 

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

Hop back in your car for a one hour ride to Fjaðrárgljúfur, a 2 million year old river canyon which has carved an incredible path out of the landscape here. This place is UNREAL you guys!  The canyon is believed to be formed at the end of the last Ice Age, about nine thousand years ago. You can hike around the edge of the canyon to view from above. There are many stopping points throughout the canyon to take pictures. At the end of the hike, there is a stunning tall flowing waterfall.  Whilst you can see the canyon from the bridge at the parking lot, we would urge you to take the 15 minute hike up to the main viewpoint, which is a metal viewpoint overlooking the canyon. Here you can see down the length of the canyon for a wonderful view.

Vatnajökull National Park 

Continuing on through Eldrahaun, you will notice the massive Vatnajökull glacier in the distance before you. This is the largest glacier in Iceland, covering a staggering 9% of the whole country. This is protected as part of the Vatnajökull National Park. The first stop in the national park is the Skaftafell region, which has its own visitor center and facilities. There’s a large parking area here, which does charge for parking. 

Svartifoss Waterfall 

This waterfall should be in your Iceland itinerary. The waterfall is about 20 meters tall and has black columnar basalt walls. The waterfall is located in Skaftafell which is part of Vatnajökull National Park. The hike is about 1.5km from the visitors center and can take 1.5-3 hours to complete (depending on how long you like to take pictures).

Svínafellsjökull Glacier Viewpoint

After your waterfall hike, hop in the car for a short five minute drive to your next stop. Here there’s an excellent viewpoint from where you can see the tongue of the Svínafellsjökull Glacier – one of the outlet glaciers of the main Vatnajökull glacier.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Top highlight of this day in Iceland was doing a glacier lagoon boat tour. It’s unreal to see a glacier in person & even more to ride amongst them. One thing we couldn’t do, but would recommend if you are kid-free, is exploring the glacier more in depth via speedboat or glacier hiking + ice cave sightseeing. This area has soo much to offer! Regardless of what you do, it will be amazing.

Diamond beach 

Directly across the road from Jökulsárlón Lagoon is the Diamond beach. This is where the icebergs which float out of the lagoon wash up on the shore, creating the impression of a beach littered with giant diamonds. Depending on the time of year you visit, you will find more or less of these (more in winter, less in summer!), but it’s worth five minutes to check it out whenever you visit. Although it’s incredible to see, it’s disheartening to know the glacier is melting at the pace it is.

Höfn

Finally, the last section of the day has you driving on to Hofn, where we recommend you spend the night. The campsite is nice here with a fun playground for little to play at. We got some fun sunset shots here and played cards while Willa slept in the van. 🙂 Enjoy your nights rest after such an incredible, but busy day of sightseeing! 

Click here to watch our YouTube Iceland Part 2 Travel vlog HERE

Day 4: Vestrahorn, Djúpivogur, Sveinsstekksfoss + Folaldafoss Waterfalls, Egilsstaðir, Seydisfjördur 

Vestrahorn/Stokksnes

If you are touring Iceland by car, you need to stop by Stokksnes. The peninsula holds the stunning and tall mountains called Vestrahorn, a fantastically photogenic mountain. In contrast to the flatter, glacier coated mountains of the south coast, the Vestrahorn is spiky. This is just one of a series of these mountains along the east coast, which makes for a seriously spectacular drive along the coast.

You then are going to continue your drive along the coastal road, which is a really fabulous drive, and you are going to find yourself stopping regularly to take photos of the scenery here. Just be sure to stop at the actual pullouts and marked parking areas.

 

Djúpivogur

The first major stop is going to be the small fishing town of Djúpivogur. Here there are a few highlights, including an art installation of stone eggs (Eggin í Gleðivík), with each egg representing a bird you would find in Iceland. Djúpivogur is a popular spot for bird watching too and you can find a couple of hides in the area. We did a short “hike” up to the top of a hill to get a better view of the area. The hill was covered in vibrant purple flowers called nootka, or Alaskan lupine. These are a common sight throughout much of Iceland. We also stopped at the playground here to let Willa jump on the trampoline while we ate lunch. 

Sveinsstekksfoss & Folaldafoss Waterfalls

From Djúpivogur, continue northwards on Route 1. There are two waterfalls next on your route, Sveinsstekksfoss & Folaldafoss. The first is just off the road, with the best views found if you drive up the steep track a little way to the parking at the top, from where it’s a 1 minute walk to a viewpoint. Both waterfalls are worth stopping at.

Egilsstaðir 

Egilsstaðir is the largest town in East Iceland, and a good place for shopping if you need to get any supplies. It’s also home to the largest forested area in Iceland, which you might find surprising after seeing so much barren and treeless landscapes! You can overnight in Egilsstaðir, but, depending on time, you may also consider taking the half hour drive out to the town of  Seyðisfjörður on Route 93.  For us, the biggest highlight of this day was hands down the drive from Egilsstaðir to Seydisfjördur! We don’t really have any pictures of the area because we wanted to capture it all via video for YouTube & let’s be honest pictures just never do it justice.

Seyðisfjörður

The road out to this coastal town is truly spectacular, and fans of the movie “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” will recognize this road as the one the character Walter rides his long board down.  On the way there are a number of spectacular waterfalls. If you are tight on time we recommend passing them now, and hitting them tomorrow morning. The town itself is also very pretty, with the rainbow painted street that leads to the local church being particularly photogenic. The camping site here is smaller than others we have seen so keep that in mind. We were lucky enough to find a camping site even though we arrived later than we normally like to (around 8 pm or so). 

Day 5: Gufufoss, Haífoss & Fardagafoss Watefalls, Vök Baths, Rjukandi Waterfall, Dettifoss & Selfoss Waterfalls, Diamond Circle, Hverir, Lake Mývatn Nature Baths

Seyðisfjörður

Like we mentioned, there are a number of spectacular waterfalls on the drive between Seyðisfjörður and Egilsstaðir.  If you didn’t have time yesterday, we would definitely recommend stopping at Gufufoss, Haífoss & Fardagafoss. Both the later two will require hikes (around 45 minutes round trip for each one). 

Vök Baths

To get to our next destinations you have to drive though Egilsstaðir again. We recommend stopping at the Vok baths (open from 10 am -11 pm). Walk ins are welcome, but be prepared to face a long line. 

Rjukandi waterfall

After leaving Egilsstaðir, about a 40 minute drive, your next stop on day five will be at the Rjukandi waterfall. There’s a parking lot here and it’s a five to ten minute walk up a relatively gentle incline to the best viewpoint. 

{Stuðlagil Canyon} 

This is not accounted for in our itinerary, but we wanted to highlight here because it looks amazing and is something we would look into for next visit! Although it’s only a 25 min drive from Rjukandi waterfall, it’s an additional 2-3 hour roundtrip hike. From what we’ve seen online you will be witnessing some incredible rock formations!

Dettifoss & Selfoss Waterfalls 

Okay let’s get back to our itinerary, shall we? Our next stop is the waterfall of Dettifoss, which is one of the highlights of Iceland’s Diamond Circle – a popular circuit of attractions in the north of Iceland. Our Ring Road itinerary will cover some of these, but not all, just for reasons of time.

Dettifoss is Europe’s most powerful waterfall by volume of water, with around 500 cubic meters of water passing over the falls every second. The falls are 100 meters wide and 45 meters high, and as you can imagine, are quite the sight. Selfoss is a smaller but more elegant waterfall located just upriver. Standing in front of the waterfalls, feeling their power.. it really is something! 

You can access Dettifoss by taking either Road 864 or 862 off the Ring Road. These two options bring you to different sides of the falls, which offer slightly different views. Route 862, on the west side, is a tarmac road, whilst Route 864 is a gravel road. The views differ, so you should do a little research so you can decide for yourself which will be better for you. We opted to visit via the west side. The road is paved and thus the drive is faster. From Route 1, it takes 20 minutes (24 km) to drive the paved road to the west side parking lot. 

Hverir & Lake Mývatn

You will now approach the Lake Mývatn area of northern Iceland, which is full of attractions, and where you could easily spend a few days exploring. The lake, which was created by a massive volcanic eruption a couple of thousand years ago (practically yesterday in geological terms), is a particularly popular spot for bird watching and is home to a large number of rare duck species. Make a stop at Hverir, a geothermal spot which is known for its bubbling pools of mud and steam fumaroles. It is stinky, but quite an impressive site. We stayed the night at a campsite on the lake in Mývatn and enjoyed the beautiful sunset over the lake.

Lake Mývatn Nature Baths

Depending on the time you get in, you can end your day relaxing at the famous Lake Mývatn Nature Baths. What’s better than both a morning & evening soak in Iceland? These baths are a favorite for many in Iceland. They have a similar outdoor feel to the Blue Lagoon with a beautiful blue color. If you go, be sure to bring a towel as you have to rent one and it’s expensive! 

Day 6: Hverfjall Crater, Grjótagjá, Dimmuborgir, Hofdi & Skútustaðagígar, Goðafoss Waterfall, Akureyri, Glaumbær, Hvítserkur Rock, Kolugljúfur Canyon & Waterfall 

Hverfjall Crater

In the morning we explored all around Lake Mývatn starting with a climb up to a volcano crater.  Getting to the top of Hverfjall Crater is a steep 15 minute walk up, but the views from the top are magnificent. We even saw some trail runners making the loop along the crater for a training run. The week after we were there was a local marathon that included parts of the volcano crater. Pretty incredible!

Grjótagjá

Grjótagjá is a small lava cave, famous for featuring a beautiful geothermal hot spring in its depths. It is an iconic film location from the Game of Thrones. It is not allowed to go swimming so if you stop here, just plan for a quick 5-10 minute stop to take in the natural beauty & snap some pictures.

Dimmuborgir

Dimmuborgir is a large area of unusually shaped lava fields east of Mývatn. This area is composed of various volcanic caves and rock formations. The dramatic structures are one of Iceland’s most popular natural tourist attractions.

Hofdi & Skútustaðagígar

You can stop at Hofdi, a small nature reserve where you can walk near the lake and see rock formations jutting out of the water. Finally, head to Skútustaðagígar, where you’ll find a series of “pseudo-craters”. These aren’t craters from eruptions, but rather that formed when gas in flowing lava exploded. There are a series of them here, and they are of different sizes. This is also one of the most popular spots for bird watching in the area.

Goðafoss Waterfall

At this point, we are leaving Lake Mývatn and driving to the Goðafoss waterfall. This waterfall showcases a spectacular horseshoe shaped rainbow which has good viewing options from both sides. It’s only a couple of minutes drive between the two sides, so it’s not hard to get from one viewpoint to the other. It’s also right off the Ring Road, so you can’t miss it. Short walk from the parking areas.

Akureyri

After Goðafoss, your journey will bring you to Akureyri, the largest town in northern Iceland. You can spend your sixth night in Iceland here as there’s plenty to see and do here, however we suggest you continue on with your road trip and enjoy the night in nature. If you only have a week to spare in Iceland you will have a time limitation and not be able to do everything. If you have longer and do choose to stay the night in Akureyri, then we recommend looking into horse riding tours or an Icelandic food tour.

Glaumbær & Hvítserkur Rock

From Akureyri, we recommend you stop Glaumbær to visit the historic turf houses. From there make you drive to Hvitserkur,  It is a bit off the main road so we recommend looking up pictures yourself to see if it is worth the stop or not. We opted to pass this one as we wanted more time to relax at our campsite (remember, we had a 1.5 year old:)..) If you do go to the rock formation, you will need at least 15-20 minutes to visit, but count 30-40 minutes if you are planning to go down to the beach. If the weather is really nice, you may want to spend a bit more time here and walk around the beach or – at low tide – walk to Hvitserkur itself.

Kolugljúfur Canyon & Waterfall

Kolugljufur Canyon is one of best “off the beaten path” places in Iceland and is just a short drive off the Ring Road. This canyon is roughly one kilometer long, up to 60 meters wide, and about 40 meters deep. There are designated walking paths near the parking area, but you can basically walk along as far as you want. While we were here we spent the majority of the time near the waterfall where Tanner polar plunged into the water!

Hvammstangi

After a day filled with a lot of driving, we recommend staying the night here in the cute little village of Hvammstangi. This area is popular for seeing seals in the wild (we saw one on a little drive along the coast in the morning woot woot🙌)! You can also visit the Icelandic Seal Center and learn all about these lovely creatures here.

Day 7: Snæfellsjökull National Park, Glymer Waterfall, Reykjavik

Snæfellsjökull National Park

From Hvammstangi, it is about a 3 hour drive to our next destination. Once on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, you will visit black sand beaches, waterfalls, volcanoes, remote lighthouses, lava fields, street art, iconic Kirkjufell, and some of the most dramatic coastal cliffs in Iceland. Driving time is roughly 2 hours on the peninsula, but with time to explore each site you will need much more. You could spend the night here if you have the time, but if not make your way to Reykjavik to explore the capital of Iceland. 

Glymer Waterfall 

On the drive to Reykjavik from Snæfellsjökull National Park, you will drive right past Glymur waterfall. This is one of Iceland’s tallest waterfalls and this fun hike can be added on to the day (if you have the time or energy). It is 7 km (4.4 miles) round trip and takes 3 to 4 hours of your time.

Reykjavik

We recommend staying the night here so you can spend your last day exploring the capital city. We spent the evening relaxing at the Laugardalslaug public swimming pool and were happy to see locals. This is a family friendly swimming pool with some slides and fun activities for kids.

Day 8: Reykjavik, Grótta Island Lighthouse, Reykjadalur Hot Springs, Fagradalsfjall Volcano Crater, Blue Lagoon

Reykjavik

First stop exploring this city is on Laugavegur Street. This is one of the prettiest streets in Reykjavik and also their main street. You will find beautiful murals on the walls, street art, great restaurants, bars and souvenir stores. After head to the Hallgrímskirkja Church next. This church is an iconic landmark of Iceland & one you can see anywhere in the city of Reykjavik. This is a Lutheran church and it is open to public everyday. Entry to the church is free, but to access the towers, there is an additional charge of $10 USD per adult. 

Reykjavik is located by the Faxa Bay, so you can expect amazing river-front views. Take a stroll along the harbor front and visit some of the other popular tourist spots in the capital city. The Sun Voyager is a sculpture located by the harbor front. It is accessible 24/7. Close to the Sun Voyager is the stunning Harpa Concert Hall. Built in the 2000s, the “Harpa” is home of Icelandic festivals and orchestra and is characterized by the shiny glass architecture.

Grótta Island Lighthouse or Reykjadalur Hot Springs

After exploring the downtown area, we recommend making your way out into nature. Here are two great options for you to choose between. If you have time for both, we recommend that! The first is driving out to the Grótta Island Lighthouse for a nice stroll along the coast. There is a nice paved walking trail that will take you around the peninsula. The second is a hike to enjoy the Reykjadalur Hot Springs. This hike is roughly 45 minutes-1 hour, and is easy to moderately difficult. The well-maintained, clearly marked path starts with a steep uphill climb before leveling out.

Fagradalsfjall Volcano Crater & Lava Formations or Blue Lagoon

Lastly, we recommend you drive closer to the international airport in Iceland and make a stop at either the Fagradalsfjall Volcano Crater or the world famous Blue Lagoon. When we visited Iceland the volcano was active so we opted for that option. Seeing bright red lava spewing from the crater (vague to see in the first picture) was UNREAL & for sure a once-in-a-lifetime kinda thing. Although the eruption has since stopped, the stunning crater and lava formations are still worth a visit.  The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa and is the most popular attraction in Iceland, It is pricey and crowded, but for many a bucket list activity. You truly can’t go wrong with how you will choose to spend your list night in Iceland.

From here you are only a short drive to your campsite. We recommend staying at the Tjaldsvæði Sandgerðis – Sandgerði Camprgound (address: Byggðavegur, Suðurnesjabær, Iceland). It was a great place to drop off our extra food and get our camper van ready for the airport drop off.

Watch our Iceland Travel Part 3 Vlog HERE 🙂

Happy travels friends! You are sure to have an incredible time in Iceland! 🙂

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