Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Jökulsárlón
YEVGEN TIMASHOV/GETTY IMAGES ©
10 DAYS
For such a wild, wonderful land, much of Iceland is surprisingly compact, and the classic
Ring Road trip loops you near the most popular sights. With extra time, you can add on
myriad other adventures along the way. The Ring Road works as a prime cycling itinerary
as well (though it'll take more than 10 days).
Start in
Reykjavík
, enjoying the lively city's creature comforts, before heading out in a
clockwise fashion. Stop in
Borgarnes
for its fascinating Settlement Centre, historical
sights and tasty restaurants. Then zip up to
Stykkishólmur
, an adorable village overlook-
ing a bay studded by islets. With extra time you'd tour the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. But
either way, rejoin the Ring Road, breaking free of it once more to explore the quaint town-
ships and coastal vistas of the
Tröllaskagi Peninsula
before gliding through
Akureyri
,
Iceland's unofficial northern capital. Head to the geological treasure chest of the
Mývatn
region next, with a stop at
Dettifoss
to experience nature's awesome power first hand.
Push eastwards, detouring to
Borgarfjörður Eystri
for summer puffins galore. Take a
break in
Seyðisfjörður
, then tackle the long journey through the rest of the east as the road
curls along magical fjords.
Pause in
Höfn
for langoustine, then jump on a snowmobile to discover the vast ice cap
at
Vatnajökull
. Don't miss the glacial lagoon at
Jökulsárlón
, or neighbouring Fjallsárlón,
where giant bergs break off of glaciers and float out to sea. You can warm up your hiking
legs in
Skaftafell
, then head south across mossy lava fields and enormous river deltas to
Vík
with its fantastical basalt-columned beach and puffin cliffs. Still feeling spry? Tackle