RichardHodge
Harvey Hacksmasher
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Iceland Road Trip – Blue Lagoon to East Iceland Itinerary
Taking a road trip is one of the best ways to see a country in a short period. Especially when your adventure features rolling mountains, volcanoes, beautiful waterfalls, and glacial lakes. Iceland, thus, offers a road trip like no other.
The Ring Road is the nickname of Route 1 and is the main motorway, looping Iceland in a full circle. It is 1,332 km (828 miles) long, yet, with a 5-day tour, you still get to see the most popular attractions.
There is plenty of planning involved from the beginning to the end of the road trip. To ease the process, set an outline and budget for accommodation, restaurants, and the landmarks to visit.
Thankfully, with countless options for car rental in Iceland, it will give you the freedom to explore the island conveniently. If the cost of renting a vehicle concerns you, keep in mind that a compact car is enough to enjoy this Ring Road itinerary. And if you are traveling in winter, make sure your car has winter tires installed and that weather conditions are ok.
Day 1: Arrival & Blue Lagoon
When you land at the Keflavik International Airport, take a drive to the Blue Lagoon. Soaking at the geothermal spas is the best way to begin the Icelandic trip. But remember to place a reservation before your flight, preferably a week prior.
The Blue Lagoon is listed as one of National Geographic’s 25 wonders of the world. It is also home to several luxury hotels offering impeccable services; including skincare, massage, and float therapy.
Spending the night nearby is simple enough, ideally staying at the Northern Light Inn. It will be a relaxing experience for when you start the road trip on the Ring Road to the Golden Circle.
Day 2-Golden Circle
The second day starts with the trip’s highlight being the Golden Circle. This is one of the more prevalent short road trips for tourists traveling to Iceland. The most popular place to start the journey is Reykjavik.
It stretches around 300 km and is easy to complete in 6 to 10 hours. There are numerous attraction sites along the circular route with the top three recommendations including Þingvellir National Park, Haukadalur Geothermal Field, and the Gullfoss waterfall.
The drive from ReykjavÃ_k to Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park is around 1 hour, and there’s a lot to see and do. The best attractions include Þingvallakirkja church, the Lögberg rock formation, and the Öxarárfoss waterfalls. 90 minutes is enough time to explore the national park, then have your first break and lunch at Efstidalur II, a quaint farm hotel.
Take a 15 minutes drive to Haukadalur Geothermal field, an incredibly photogenic location. Some of the interesting sights to see include steaming fumaroles, erupting geysers, and bubbling mud pits. From here, the next stop will be the Gullfoss waterfall, which only takes 20 minutes.
For accommodation, several hotels are nearby, including Icelandair Hótel Flúðir and River Hotel.
Day 3: South Coast
Your third day starts along the south Icelandic coast, taking in some renowned attractions such as Geysir and Gullfoss. Geysir is a geothermal park that is also part of the Golden Circle. The location has a wealth of sightseeing attractions, including hypnotic pillars of steam and boiling mud pits.
After spending time in the geothermal field, the next stop is Gullfoss which should take about 15 minutes. This is one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfall, and the views are breathtaking. In addition, an on-site café is a terrific place to take some time to relax and enjoy a meal.
From Gullfoss, head south to join the Ring Road and continue with your road trip for a few hours. The next stop should be Skógafoss, a spectacular waterfall about 15 meters wide.
On the third day of the itinerary, the last destination is Reynisfjara, which is Iceland’s most beautiful black sand beach. The best place to spend the night is at the Hotel VÃ_k Ã_ Mýrdal in Vik or Icelandair Hotel Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
Day 4: South-West Iceland
On day four, you will explore some highlights of the south coast and part of the east coast. The day starts from Vik or Klaustur, with the next stop being Fjaðrárgljúfur. This river is 2 million years old, and it has carved a stunning path out of the landscape.
From Fjaðrárgljúfur, continue driving past the Kirkjubæjarklaustur town. Your trip will be graced with the stunning views of Eldhraun Lava Field. Notably, it is the largest in the world and was formed after a huge eruption that lasted for a year in the late 1700s.
The next stop will be Vatnajökull national park, where you can begin by exploring the Skaftafell region. A hike up to the Black Falls or Svartifoss is highly recommended. Driving further along will bring you to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
For the remaining part of the day, continue with your drive to Höfn or Djúpivogur. Spend the night at either Hotel Framtid in Djúpivogur or Framtid Hostel.
Day 5: East Iceland
With your road trip almost coming to an end, it’s time to explore the remaining East Coast. Eastern Iceland is a deserted wilderness with a few towns. Nonetheless, with rocky mountains and black sand coastlines, the sights are beautiful.
The first major stop of the day will be the small town of Djúpivogur, a famous birding spot. From the town, continue driving northward on the Ring Road towards Egilsstaðir. It will take you through a magnificent valley with majestic waterfalls every few hundred meters.
You can take the remaining time of the day to refresh and rest. Spend the night at Hótel Hallormsstaður or Icelandair Hótel Hérað.
Egilsstaðir also features an airport which is mainly used for domestic flights. Thus, you can book your flight to Keflavik. On the other hand, you can drive back to ReykjavÃ_k airport, which would take around 8 hours.
Iceland’s Ring Road is a trip of a lifetime. Certainly, completing the entire route is a popular adventure. Even if you do not have the time, you can explore the top Iceland attraction sites by covering the half-circle.
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02-19-24 10:25AM
