Like this trip? Copy it in one click
Duplicate and make it yours
A 12-day road trip starting and ending in Reykjavik, exploring the Golden Circle, the South Coast, Landmannalaugar (highlands), and the Westman Islands.
An Iceland trip expert planned this 12-day route for a real client's August trip: South Coast, the Highlands and the Westman Islands. It passed our checks for daily driving, highland roads and season, which is why it is one of the 177 expert-built plans in our Iceland itineraries.
The day-by-day plan below has every stop, with photos and what to see. Duplicate it to set your own dates, change the pace or swap stops; the original stays as the expert wrote it.
Open any day for the full plan — stops, drives, and where to stay.
Arrival in the evening.
Focused on exploring Reykjavik city center.
Heading towards Selfoss area.
Golden Circle route.
Highlands trip, requiring F-roads.
Exploring the South Coast towards Kirkjubaerklaustur.
Glacier and lagoon day.
Return route along the South Coast.
Day trip to Westman Islands.
Thorsmork reserve access.
Exploring Reykjanes peninsula before returning to Reykjavik.
Final activities in Reykjavik before flight.
Each stop below has a full guide on iceland-trip.com, our sister site written by the same team: how to get there, parking, seasons and what to expect.
Laugavegur TrailPlan Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail with a four-day itinerary, huts and camping, buses, river crossings, packing advice, costs and the extension to Skógar.Highlands · Read the guide
PerlanReykjavík's coolest museum sitting under a giant glass dome. Ice caves, Northern Lights shows, glacier exhibits, and a 360° viewing deck all in one spot.Reykjavik & Capital Region · Read the guide
Hellisheiði Power Plant (Geothermal Exhibition)Visit Hellisheiði Power Plant near Reykjavík. Discover geothermal energy, turbine hall views, opening hours, ticket information and tips for your visit. CopyGolden Circle · Read the guide
Reykjadalur Hot Spring: 2 Hikes to Iceland’s Thermal RiverHike to Reykjadalur's natural hot river. Discover how to find the perfect soak temp, navigate the 3km mountain trail, and bathe safely in Iceland's Steam Valley.Golden Circle · Read the guide
Kerið Crater: The Golden Circle Volcanic LakeKerið is a 3,000-year-old volcanic crater you can actually walk into. Discover the geology, the vivid turquoise lake, and how to visit this Golden Circle highlight.Golden Circle · Read the guide
Þingvellir National Park: Parking, Walks & Visiting TipsVisiting Thingvellir National Park? Plan your Golden Circle stop with parking fees, walking routes, winter advice, and tips on how much time to allow.Golden Circle · Read the guide
Snorkeling in SilfraSnorkel between two tectonic plates in Silfra — glacier-fed water so clear you can see over 100 meters ahead. Cold, wild, and completely unlike anything else on earth.Golden Circle · Read the guide
Gullfoss WaterfallPlan your Gullfoss visit with parking advice, upper and lower viewpoints, winter access, suggested visiting time and nearby Golden Circle stops.Golden Circle · Read the guide
Geysir Geothermal AreaVisit Geysir and Strokkur on Iceland’s Golden Circle: understand the eruption intervals, paid parking, walking routes and nearby stops.Golden Circle · Read the guideAlso on iceland-trip.com: Selfoss: What to Do & How Long to Stay? · Landmannalaugar · Seljalandsfoss Waterfall · Gljúfrabúi · Skógar Museum · Svínafellsjökull · Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon · Diamond Beach · Fjallsárlón · Múlagljúfur Canyon · Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon · Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach · Dyrhólaey · Skógafoss · Heimaey (Westman Islands) · Thorsmork Travel Guide · Urriðafoss Waterfall · Lake Kleifarvatn · Krýsuvík–Seltún Geothermal Area · Inside the Volcano · Gunnuhver Hot Springs · Sky Lagoon · Reykjavik
12 days Expert-builtOvernights in Selfoss, Vík, Egilsstaðir and Akureyri, with Forest Lagoon, Petra's Stone Collection and Rauðhólar on the way. Planned by an Iceland expert for a real June trip.
12 days Expert-builtOvernights in Vík and Akureyri, with Gjáin, Hengifoss and Sky Lagoon on the way. Planned by an Iceland expert for a real August trip.
12 days Expert-builtOvernights in Hella and Vík, with Laugarvatn Fontana, Hjörleifshöfði and Kvernufoss on the way. Planned by an Iceland expert for a real July trip.
Duplicate this itinerary, tell us your dates and travel style — we'll save a personalized version to your account that you can edit freely.