Iceland Itinerary Ideas for Every Kind of Traveller

Iceland’s a versatile destination for travellers, with a unique array of landscapes as well as fascinating cultural attractions to experience. Social media channels are awash with ideas and suggestions about what to do and see, often contradictory. There’s no shortage of material to get stuck into on a plethora of Iceland-focused websites. But in many respects, that’s the problem: there’s so much information that it can be overwhelming.

Every traveller is different and there’s no “one size fits all” when it comes to Iceland itinerary planning. Knowing where to start, what to include (or leave out) and how not to overload your time while you’re here can be tricky. So that’s where we come in. Icelandia’s new hotel-inclusive multi-day tours make light work of organising your Iceland itinerary. It’s easy to put together a comfortable, good value guided package, so why not take advantage of these hassle-free expertly curated experiences? Here’s how.

One of the first decisions you’ll need to make when planning your trip to Iceland is whether you want to be independent or opt for Iceland tour packages or standalone guided tours. There are merits to both approaches and at the end of the day which you choose comes down to personal preference.

• Self-drive

On a self-drive itinerary, you’ll have maximum flexibility to alter your plans on the fly. If the weather changes and you want to head indoors or you love a place so much you want to hang around some more, the only person you have to answer to is yourself. Off season, you can even take a chance on booking accommodation as you go along, though you need to accept that your first choice of location may not be available. Nevertheless, if anything goes awry with your plans, you’re the one that will have to step up and problem solve.

• Guided tours

Guided tours take the hassle out of working out an Iceland itinerary and making the necessary arrangements to see it through. Not having to drive frees you up to concentrate on the passing scenery or take a restorative power nap. Local experts like us who know the country well will ensure that you don’t miss out on any undisputed highlights. We understand where everything is in relation to each other and avoid any unnecessary backtracking. Here at Icelandia, we also know where a short stop is sufficient and where you’ll need more time.

Many travellers combine a self-drive itinerary with guided activities where independent travel isn’t permitted or feasible – such as a glacier hike or horseback ride. Yet putting together a trip plan in this way can be time-consuming, as can the process of browsing myriad websites to search out the right accommodation for each location within your budget. Perhaps the biggest advantage of booking a multi-day tour such as those offered by Icelandia is that it comes as a package. Everything’s taken care of – from the hotels to the sightseeing. For busy people with relatively little time on their hands, guided tours can be a blessing. They’re the simplest way of organising a visit to Iceland in a time-efficient way without stressing about having missed something important off the itinerary.

When you’re putting together your Iceland travel itinerary, we’d say there’s one very straightforward technique to adopt: assume you’ll be back. Once you’ve accepted that there’s just too much to do and see for one trip, you can start planning how that first visit is going to shape up and set about reading through some Iceland tour itineraries. Our guided packages vary in length, so you can choose one that fits with the time you have available. In terms of how many days are enough, it really depends on your expectations, the type of traveller you are and how much ground you intend to cover.

Spreading yourself too thinly will be a mistake; however long you spend here, make sure your itinerary has some breathing room. In a place such as Iceland where the traffic isn’t generally heavy, Google maps can be relatively accurate when suggesting travel times. Yet, it can’t account for those times when you pulled off the road to admire some horses galloping across a field or decided to have an impromptu picnic in front of a gorgeous waterfall. Then there’s the hours that disappeared while you luxuriated in the warm water of a geothermal lagoon or spent far more time photographing icebergs than you ever could have imagined because the sun came out just at the right time.

Seasonal differences can also have a surprisingly big impact on itinerary planning in places like Iceland. For example, the amount of daylight varies considerably between summer and winter which has a bearing on how much sightseeing you are able to do each day. Unexpected weather, such as a winter blizzard, can lead to an enforced and unplanned day until the roads reopen. Even if the skies have stayed clear, you might not be ready to move on. For example, if you’ve stayed up very late because the Northern Lights showed up, you’ll want a more leisurely start the following day as you browse through hundreds of pictures over several restorative mugs of coffee.

Let’s take a look at what you might reasonably expect from 4, 5, 6, or 7-day trips. No amount of time in Iceland is too long, but remember you can always come back and so it’s not necessary to cram your itinerary with sights you hurriedly tick off. Iceland is a place to be savoured, so we’d recommend don’t pack your days with too many must-see sights. Instead, spread out your sightseeing and give yourself time to enjoy the views you’ve travelled a long way to see.

On a brief trip like this, we’d suggest basing yourself in one location and taking tours from there. Realistically, your base is most likely to be Reykjavik, though Akureyri in the north and Selfoss or other south coast destinations such as Vik can also work well. Allow a day each for the Golden Circle and the Snæfellsnes peninsula; our guided tours to these places are popular for a reason. A south coast excursion is another must, taking in the drama of the coastline around Vik and the extraordinary scenery of Vatnajökull National Park. You should consider adding on other activities such as hiking, snowmobiling, a super jeep ride or horseback tour and of course at least one geothermal lagoon. It’s a good idea to allow at least a day for Reykjavik which has some super museums and visitor attractions that will provide a lot of the context for what you have seen in the countryside.

Here's our ready-made 5-day vacation package on a budget that we highly recommend if you want to save big on your day tours.

Adding a couple of days allows you to travel at a more leisurely pace and book some guided tours of Iceland’s unique sights and activities. Balancing sightseeing with doing activities makes for a much more rewarding and fun itinerary. Travelling further east along the south coast to reach the extraordinary Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon makes much more sense when you don’t have to rush. You’ll also be able to contemplate some rewarding detours. In summer perhaps that will lead you to the delightful island of Heimaey in Vestmannaeyjar – home to Iceland’s largest seasonal puffin colony – or up to the striking Highlands to witness the spectacular geology of places like Landmannalaugar. In winter, you’ll be able to visit one of Vatnajökull’s dazzling blue ice caves and of course you’ll have more opportunities to witness the ethereal and magical Northern Lights.

Here's our ready-made 7-day vacation package on a budget that we highly recommend if you want to save big on your day tours.

Though it’s technically possible to loop the ring road comfortably in seven days, you’ll be grateful for more, not least for the opportunities the extra time gives you to dive off for hidden canyons, isolated waterfalls and tucked away villages. On a 10-day Iceland itinerary you’ll be able to cover not only the highlights of the south of the country but explore the some of the breathtaking north, east and west as well. The remarkable fjord landscapes of Austurland and the Westfjords will leave you speechless, while the jaw-dropping beauty of northerly circuits such as the Diamond Circle will similarly delight with their dramatic waterfalls and canyons. You’ll have plenty of time to get acquainted with charming ports such as Húsavik, Seyðisfjörður and Siglufjörður; take a whale watching cruise or simply enjoy the unspoilt countryside on scenic hikes. In summer, you might instead choose to add the Highlands region to your itinerary.

There’s no such thing as a “best Iceland itinerary”. Whatever your choices, adventure awaits and the Land of Fire and Ice won’t disappoint. However you like to travel and no matter how long you can spare, Icelandia’s new hotel-inclusive multi-day Iceland tours are the easiest way to achieve an experience-driven holiday that you’ll remember fondly for the rest of your life. If you’re about to embark on planning an Iceland itinerary, why not hand over the reins to us?