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A July Ring Road That Detours Into the Highlands Twice

The full loop by 4x4, plus a hiking day in Landmannalaugar and a super jeep run into Þórsmörk.

Editor's pick 15 days · July Families Relaxed pace Self-drive · 4x4

Most Ring Road plans never leave Route 1. This one heads inland twice in its first four days. After the Golden Circle and a night in Selfoss, it drives the highland road past Hjálparfoss to Landmannalaugar to hike the Ljótipollur crater rim and Brennisteinsalda, finishing in the natural hot pool before a night in Hella. Two nights in Vík follow, one of them given over to a full-day super jeep tour into Þórsmörk, so nobody has to ford a river in a rental car.

From there the loop runs east along the coast through Svartifoss, Jökulsárlón and Vestrahorn, then up the Eastfjords to Seyðisfjörður and Vök Baths. Two nights at Mývatn include the Leirhnjúkur lava field. After Húsavík, Goðafoss and the Forest Lagoon near Akureyri, the route heads west via Glaumbær and Hvítserkur to Snæfellsnes, with a final day of whale watching from Reykjavik and Hvammsvík Hot Springs.

Why we picked it: It's the most complete Iceland plan in this length: two highland days, handled sensibly, on top of a full Ring Road with a relaxed rhythm and a soak almost every few days.

Trip highlights

  • Brennisteinsalda (Sulphur Wave)
  • Superjeep tour to Thorsmork
  • Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
  • Landmannalaugar Geothermal Pool
  • Stuðlagil Canyon (East Side)
  • Forest Lagoon

Tips before you go

  • The F-roads to Landmannalaugar usually open in late June or early July. Check road.is before Day 2, and fill up in Selfoss or Hella, since there's no fuel at Landmannalaugar.
  • Rental insurance almost never covers water damage from river crossings. Leave Þórsmörk to the super jeep and book it early for July.
  • Day 7, from Höfn through the Eastfjords and Seyðisfjörður to Egilsstaðir, runs past five hours. Treat it as a scenic drive, and keep the Vök Baths slot flexible.
  • Book the Jökulsárlón Zodiac and the Reykjavik whale watching ahead. Both run on fixed departures that fill up in midsummer.

Your route across Iceland

The journey, day by day

Open any day for the full plan — stops, drives, and where to stay.

  1. Arrival and Golden Circle EssentialsDAY 1

    Arrival and Golden Circle Essentials

    5 stops3 hours 20 minsSelfoss
  2. Highland Colors of LandmannalaugarDAY 2

    Highland Colors of Landmannalaugar

    5 stops5 hours 30 minsHella
  3. Iconic Waterfalls and Black Sand BeachesDAY 3

    Iconic Waterfalls and Black Sand Beaches

    6 stops2 hours 50 minsVík
  4. Þórsmörk Superjeep AdventureDAY 4

    Þórsmörk Superjeep Adventure

    2 stops0 hours 30 minsVík
  5. Canyons, Lava Fields & GlaciersDAY 5

    Canyons, Lava Fields & Glaciers

    5 stops3 hours 20 minsHof
  6. Ice Giants & Diamond BeachDAY 6

    Ice Giants & Diamond Beach

    5 stops4 hours 10 minsHöfn
  7. Coastal Drives & Hidden Gems of the EastfjordsDAY 7

    Coastal Drives & Hidden Gems of the Eastfjords

    6 stops5 hours 20 minsEgilsstaðir
  8. Canyons, Waterfalls & Geothermal PowerDAY 8

    Canyons, Waterfalls & Geothermal Power

    4 stops3 hours 20 minsMývatn
  9. Myvatn's Volcanic WonderlandDAY 9

    Myvatn's Volcanic Wonderland

    6 stops1 hour 10 minsMývatn
  10. Whale Watching Capital & God's WaterfallDAY 10

    Whale Watching Capital & God's Waterfall

    6 stops3 hours 10 minsAkureyri
  11. Coastal Scenery & Icelandic HeritageDAY 11

    Coastal Scenery & Icelandic Heritage

    4 stops3 hours 30 minsHvammstangi
  12. Journey to Snæfellsnes PeninsulaDAY 12

    Journey to Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    4 stops3 hours 20 minsGrundarfjörður
  13. Snæfellsnes' Southern Charms & Coastal WondersDAY 13

    Snæfellsnes' Southern Charms & Coastal Wonders

    6 stops3 hours 10 minsBorgarnes
  14. Whales, Hot Springs & HistoryDAY 14

    Whales, Hot Springs & History

    4 stops3 hours 50 minsKeflavik
  15. Departure from KeflavikDAY 15

    Departure from Keflavik

    1 stop0 hours 30 minsKeflavik

Questions about this itinerary

Can you drive to Landmannalaugar in a rental 4x4?

In summer, yes, once the F-roads open, usually by early July. You need a 4x4, which rental terms require on F-roads. This plan takes the northern approach past Hjálparfoss and Sigöldugljúfur, the usual route for rental 4x4s. The last stretch to the hut area involves river fords, so many drivers park before the final river and walk across the footbridge.

Is Þórsmörk worth a full day?

For a group that likes landscapes and light hiking, yes. The valley sits between three glaciers, including Eyjafjallajökull, and is reached only by tracks with unbridged glacial rivers. That's why this plan uses a guided super jeep tour from Vík rather than self-driving. Expect a long day of about nine hours, with short walks among birch woods and canyons.

Is this itinerary a good fit for a family trip?

It's best for families with older teens or adult kids who enjoy hiking. The Landmannalaugar day involves moderate trails and a long drive, and Day 7 is a full transfer day. The pace is otherwise relaxed, with frequent soaks at Mývatn, Vök, the Forest Lagoon and Hvammsvík. Families with young children should pick a route without the highland day.

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