Full Ring Road Loop via the Eastfjords and Mývatn
A high-energy August loop with a glacier hike, a Jökulsárlón boat ride, Eastfjords waterfalls and Mývatn's craters.

The East Fjords are the least visited leg of the Ring Road and the one most people wish they had given more time: the basalt columns of Stuðlagil canyon, Hengifoss and its red-striped cliffs, the fishing town of Seyðisfjörður at the end of a mountain pass, reindeer on the roadside, and fjord after fjord of empty road between Djúpivogur and Egilsstaðir. The drive from Höfn to Egilsstaðir is about 3.5 hours without stops, or a whole day with them.
Every plan on this page overnights in the east rather than driving through it. Our editors picked them from real trips for breaking the fjords into two days, timing Stuðlagil for low water in late summer, and using Egilsstaðir or Seyðisfjörður as a proper base. Duplicate one and make it yours.
Picked and reviewed by Nimrod Ron · Iceland Lead & Content Curator· Updated
A high-energy August loop with a glacier hike, a Jökulsárlón boat ride, Eastfjords waterfalls and Mývatn's craters.
A February loop in a 4x4 that pairs short daylight with short drives, hot water and long northern-lights nights.
A late-spring loop for friends with long light, few crowds and a boat ride among Jökulsárlón's icebergs.
A summer Ring Road that slows down in Vík, detours through Snæfellsnes and ends with a soak at Sky Lagoon.
Real trails at Skógafoss, Skaftafell and Glymur, plus an ice cave and whales, all on paved roads in a regular car.
A 10-day family loop in May with long light, a tomato-farm lunch, an ice cave, two hot springs and the whale capital.
A high-energy loop for friends that fits the Katla ice cave, the Eastfjords, Mývatn and two Snæfellsnes days into 11 days.
A summer Ring Road with a glacier hike, two unhurried nights in Vík, an iceberg boat tour and drives that rarely top four hours.
A July loop by 2WD with whale watching, the Lava Show, two nights at Mývatn and a seal-spotting detour on the Vatnsnes peninsula.
A full September loop in a regular car, adding the Tröllaskagi coast and two days on Snæfellsnes before a glacier finale.
A summer camper van loop with a horseback ride near Vík, canyon walks, three geothermal pools and a Snæfellsnes day.
A September 4x4 loop that adds Landmannalaugar, a Sólheimajökull glacier hike and a Glymur climb to the Ring Road classics.
A relaxed July Ring Road with two-night stays in Vík and Mývatn, a Superjeep day and a Snæfellsnes finale.
A July loop that starts in the west and north, then finishes with a glacier hike, an ice cave and the South Coast waterfalls.
West and north first, glaciers and waterfalls last, plus a day on Heimaey before the flight home.
A clockwise September loop with a glacier hike, a beach ride, whale watching, a lava cave and two days in Reykjavik.
A July Ring Road by camper van with a glacier hike, an ice cave, a lagoon boat ride and two chances to see whales.
The full loop by 4x4, plus a hiking day in Landmannalaugar and a super jeep run into Þórsmörk.
Sixteen unhurried days in early spring, with a big activity most days and no drive much over four hours.
A full Ring Road loop with a glacier hike, a summer ice cave, two nights at Mývatn and a detour around Tröllaskagi.
Yes, if you have ten or more days for the Ring Road. The east has no single famous sight on the scale of the Glacier Lagoon, but Stuðlagil, Hengifoss, Seyðisfjörður and the coastal road itself are highlights for many travelers, and you will share them with far fewer people. With seven days it is usually a long transit day.
Late summer, from about late July to September, when the Kárahnjúkar dam holds the river back and the water in the canyon turns clear turquoise against the basalt columns. In spring and early summer the glacial river runs high and grey. The east-bank hike (about 5 km each way from Klaustursel) gives the classic view; the west-side viewpoint is a short walk.
Egilsstaðir is the practical hub with the most beds, fuel and supermarkets, and is 25 minutes from Seyðisfjörður over the pass. Seyðisfjörður itself is the prettiest base. Djúpivogur or Breiðdalsvík work for splitting the drive from Höfn, and Borgarfjörður eystri suits puffin-seekers in summer.
Our sister site covers every place in depth: access, parking, seasons, what to expect. Written by the same team.
Stuðlagil CanyonPlanning a visit to Stuðlagil Canyon? Learn where to park, which side to choose, what the hike is like, and when to see the canyon at its best.iceland-trip.com · East Iceland
HengifossPlanning a Hengifoss hike? Get trail tips, timing, photo advice, and nearby stops—plus how to pair it with Egilsstaðir or Seyðisfjörður without rushing your day.iceland-trip.com · East Iceland
Seyðisfjörður: What to See, Do and Know Before You Goiceland-trip.com · East Iceland
Stokksnes / VestrahornDiscover Vestrahorn and Stokksnes in Iceland. Entrance fees, black sand beach, Viking Village, photography tips and how to visit from Höfn. Copyiceland-trip.com · East IcelandDuplicate any plan above and edit it, or let us build one from scratch around your dates and party.
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