
Two Weeks in Iceland: The Ultimate Road Trip
When Covid forced me to cancel my long-planned walking trip to England, I jumped on to Google to see what country was open to vaccinated visitors. I found Iceland was open so I made a quick change of air tickets, bought some warmer clothes, and begged my brother to come with me to check out the land of Fire and Ice.
I’m so glad we did this trip – Iceland is one of the most magnificent places in the world. What it lacks in “cultural hot spots” it more than makes up in its natural beauty and numerous opportunities to get outdoors and breathe….. just what the doctor ordered after being cooped up so long because of the pandemic.
Hiking and driving in Iceland is not necessarily hard or difficult, but it’s not easy (few road signs, lots of traveling on dirt/rough roads, few pullover spots to take photos along the road) and the hiking trails are not clearly marked, nor are they OSHA approved. Even though we are experienced hikers (we come from Colorado), you’ve got to pay attention to the loose rocks, steep inclines/steeper declines, and lack of groomed trails.
But hey, I wanted an adventure – and that’s exactly what we got!
We rented a car at the Reykjavik airport and took off to circumvent the Island. We traveled on Iceland’s “Ring Road” and we brought paper maps (remember those???) and a GPS. The Ring Road is a must-do drive for those looking for spectacular scenery. Along the way around Ring Road, you’ll find the most popular tourist attractions and gorgeous secluded spots. The Ring Road is 1,328 kilometers long (825 miles). That’s about the equivalent of driving from New York City to Chicago (and then some).

My main two sources for the trip were both found online – 1/ Guide to Iceland and 2/ the Earth Trekkers blog, Two Weeks in Iceland.
Here’s a quick glance at our trip. Below is more info on where we stayed and how we filled our days.
- Day 1: Arrive in Reykjavik
- Day 2: Glymur Waterfalls & Snaefellsnes Peninsula
- Day 3: Snaefellsnes Peninsula
- Day 4: Godafoss & Northern Iceland
- Day 5: Myvatn
- Day 6: East Iceland
- Day 7: Drive to Hofn
- Day 8: Jokulsarlon & Glacier Lagoon
- Day 9: Glacier Hike
- Day 10: South Iceland Sites
- Day 11: Fimmvorduhals Hike
- Day 12: Golden Circle
- Day 13: Reykjadalur Valley
- Day 14: Depart
Here’s our trip in more detail with our hotels. Remember, we booked at the last minute, so not all of the hotels were our first choice…. but each was extremely clean, extremely well located, and relatively inexpensive for Iceland. We had one splurge near the “Golden Circle.”
Day 1: Arrive in Reykjavik

Arrive in the morning – 615AM
Pick up rental car at ACE Car Rental Iceland
Pick up portable WiFi from Trawire
Stop at the local supermarket, Krónan, and pick up snacks for the day
Go to Fagradalsfjall Volcano and climb, climb, climb (5-6 hrs)
Relax and enjoy cocktails and a late lunch at the Blue Lagoon
Drive to Hotel in Reykjavik
O/N: Reykjavik
Hotel: CenterHotel Plaza ($243)
Day 2: Glymur Waterfalls & Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Driving distance & time appx: 22km, 3hrs
On the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, we will see black sand beaches, waterfalls, volcanoes, remote lighthouses, lava fields, iconic Kirkjufell, and some of the most dramatic coastal cliffs in Iceland
The Glymur Falls – Hike to Iceland’s highest falls (*7miles)
OTW: Stykkisholmur, adorable fishing village, and a great restaurant for snacks or lunch
OTW: Drive around Hellissandur – street art capital of Iceland
Sunset photos of Kirkjufell Mountain: Grundarfjörður is a beautiful landmark is the most photographed mountain in Iceland.
O/N: Kirkjufell
Hotel: Kirkjufell Guesthouse and Apartment Grund ($132.79)
Dinner:
Bjargarsteinn mathus
Day 3: Snaefellsnes Peninsula -> Akureyri (*Long driving day, but full of scenery)

Driving time and distance: 375km, 5 hours
This is a big driving day with just a few stops including:
Stykkisholmur, adorable fishing village
Glaumbaer – historic thatch houses
O/N: Akureyri
Hotel: Centrum Hotel Hafnarstræti ($149)
After check-in and a long day of driving soak up and rest up at the Akureyri Public Swimming Pool
Day 4: Godafoss & Northern Iceland

Distance and driving time: 135km, 1.75 hours
Spend the morning at Godafoss, one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls, and grab a coffee
Whale watching out of Husavik
O/N : Myvatn
Hotel: Icelandair Hotel Myvatn ($494) (*Our favorite hotel & bar)
Day 5: Myvatn

Distance and driving time: 224km, 2.2 hrs –
Fall’in in love with those Foss
Dettifoss: Europe’s most powerful waterfalls
Selfoss: Beautiful falls
O/N : Myvatn
Hotel: Icelandair Hotel Myvatn
Day 6: East Iceland

Driving distance and time: 345km, 4.75 hrs – including detours
We’re putin’ on the puffins
Stuolagil Canyon –
Rjukandi Waterfall
Puffins! At Borgarfjordur Estuary
O/N: Egilsstadir
Hotel: Hótel Valaskjálf ($260.87)
Hot Tub
Day 7: Drive to Hofn and look for “Batman”

Total driving and time: 3hr, 185 km
We’re hanging out with Hengifoss, looking for the troll people, seaside fishing villages, sending out a bat call
-> Hiking in Hengifoss (34Kms, 30mins)
-> Vestrahorn – aka Batman Mountain (188Kms, 2.5hrs)
O/N: Höfn
Hotel: Vikingcafe ($218)
Day 8: Jokulsarlon & Glacier Lagoon

Driving and time: 140km, 2hrs
A day on a zodiac boat cruisin’ the Lagoon and basking in the basalt seas
O/N: Skaftafell
Hotel: Hotel Skaftafell ($296)
The restaurant on the premise gets high marks for its breakfast buffet
Day 9: Glacier Hike

Distance and time: 140-200km (1.75-2.5 hrs)
Hiking on a glacier – exploring crevasses, wearing crampons, carrying an ice pick – who will survive?
Vatnajokull Glacier – Europe’s largest
O/N: Brekkur (Our home base for three nights and again – great breakfast buffet)
Hotel: Hótel Dyrhólaey ($439)
Laundry – service 3000ISK
Day 10: South Iceland Sites

Drive and distance: 1.5hrs, 120km
THE day to see most of Iceland’s most iconic sites
Skogafoss – Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls
Seljalandsfoss Falls: We’ll walk behind these massive falls
Gljufrabui – smaller falls, reached by hiking in a canyon
Reynisfjara – black beach with basalt columns
O/N: Brekkur
Hotel: Hótel Dyrhólaey
Day 11: Fimmvorduhals Hike

Iceland’s most iconic hike Fimmvorduhals – 15miles – But we only did half of it!
O/N: Brekkur
Hotel: Hótel Dyrhólaey
Day 12: Golden Circle

Driving time and distance: appx 250km, 3.5 hrs
We’re GOLDEN! Driving the Golden Circle, in search of a secret lagoon, and enjoying a hot tub break at our riverside hotel
Kerid Crater –
Bruarfoss – sky blue waterfall
Secret Lagoon
O/N: The Golden Circle
Hotel: The Frost og Funi
Note: They really mean it – you need a reservation for their much-touted gourmet dinner. We didn’t make one and had to drive a short bit into town to have pizza – it was the only thing open on a Tuesday night!
Day 13: Reykjadalur Valley

Last Day – Fire and Ice
Snorkeling between continents in Silfra
COVID TESTS in Reykjavik
Driving Distance 111 Kms/ 1.5 hrs
O/N in Reykjavik
Hotel: CenterHotel Plaza ($243)
Day 14: Reykjavik

Time to for a last-minute – quick souvenir shopping in Reykjavik
Depart 450!!!

