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A 15-night self-drive tour of Iceland starting August 14th, covering the full ring road, parts of the highlands (Landmannalaugar and Kerlingarfjöll), and major south-coast and eastern attractions.
An Iceland trip expert planned this 16-day route for a real client's August trip: Ring Road With the Highlands. 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 near midnight, overnight near airport.
Exploring Reykjanes peninsula and driving towards Hella.
Full day in Landmannalaugar area. Warning to avoid deep river crossings.
Tour of south coast landmarks ending in Vik.
Ice cave tour with super-jeep.
Driving through southern canyons to glacier lagoons.
Long driving day through the east fjords.
Exploration of East Iceland fjords.
Heading north to the Myvatn volcanic area.
Exploring the Diamond Circle region.
Travelling to Akureyri.
Crossing the interior via F-roads.
Golden Circle tour.
Final day out of Reykjavik.
Reykjavik city sights.
Morning walk and flight home.
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.
The Bridge between the ContinenetsPlan a visit to the Bridge Between Continents in Reykjanes, with advice on access, walking time, geology, safety, winter conditions, and nearby stops.Reykjanes Peninsula · Read the guide
Gunnuhver Hot SpringsVisit Gunnuhver Hot Springs on the Reykjanes Peninsula with practical advice on road access, walking time, geothermal safety, and nearby stops for road trips.Reykjanes Peninsula · Read the guide
Inside the VolcanoDescend 120 meters into a dormant volcano's magma chamber by cable car — a once-in-a-lifetime journey inside the earth that no other place on the planet offers.Reykjavik & Capital Region · Read the guide
Laugarás LagoonTake a break from the Golden Circle drive and just soak for a while. Laugarás Lagoon keeps it simple with $39^circtext{C}$ water, a view of the Hvítá River, and a layout that actually works for everyone.Golden Circle · Read the guide
Hella & HvolsvöllurHella and Hvolsvöllur guide: South Iceland towns, the LAVA centre, Njáls saga links and Katla UNESCO Global Geopark.South Iceland · Read the guide
LandmannalaugarDiscover Landmannalaugar with this practical guide: how to get there, top hikes, hot spring tips, safety advice, and where to stay—everything you need for a smart highlands adventure.Highlands · Read the guide
SigöldugljúfurSigöldugljúfur is a highland canyon with waterfalls above turquoise water. Learn about the F-road access, fords and rim viewpoint before a summer visit.Highlands · Read the guide
Seljalandsfoss WaterfallVisit Seljalandsfoss in Iceland. Learn how to walk behind the waterfall, explore nearby Gljúfrabúi, check parking fees and avoid the crowds.South Iceland · Read the guideAlso on iceland-trip.com: Skógafoss · Dyrhólaey · Katla Ice Cave · Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon · Svínafellsjökull · Múlagljúfur Canyon · Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon · Höfn · Stokksnes / Vestrahorn · Djúpivogur · Hengifoss · Seyðisfjörður: What to See, Do and Know Before You Go · Vök Baths · Stuðlagil Canyon · Dettifoss · Dimmuborgir · Goðafoss Waterfall in Iceland: Complete Visitor Guide · Things to Do in Akureyri: Attractions, Museums and Local Experiences · Hveravellir Hot Springs Reserve · Kerlingarfjöll: Hveradalir Hikes, Roads & Where to Stay · Geysir Geothermal Area · Gullfoss Waterfall · Friðheimar Tomato Farm · The Secret Lagoon · Þingvellir National Park: Parking, Walks & Visiting Tips · Hvammsvik Hot Spring · Laugavegur Trail · Perlan · Myvatn · Reykjavik
16 days Expert-builtOvernights in Keflavík, Hella, Vík, Höfn, Egilsstaðir and 4 more, with Hvítserkur, Secret Lagoon and Glymur on the way. Planned by an Iceland expert for a real August trip.
16 days Expert-builtOvernights in Selfoss, Vík, Höfn, Egilsstaðir, Húsavík and 4 more, with Hjörleifshöfði, Hverfjall and Langjökull Ice Cave on the way. Planned by an Iceland expert for a real September trip.
16 days Expert-builtOvernights in Keflavík, Höfn, Akureyri and Borgarnes, with Forest Lagoon, Petra's Stone Collection and Hjörleifshöfði on the way. Planned by an Iceland expert for a real August trip.
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