Your Hidden Gem 11-day Ring Road Tour begins in Selfoss, the quaint town just outside of Reykjavík in south Iceland. This up-and-coming area offers quite a bit – quieter than Reykjavík, with a more local feel. After grabbing the keys to your Tesla, drive over to the town center to grab brunch at Joe and the Juice. Once replenishment brings you back to life, head over to Ísbúð Huppu for Icelandic ice cream at Mjólkurbúið Mathöll, a warehouse with everything you could need for a chill foodie afternoon. You’re in for an adventurous afternoon, so pack up the Tesla for Seljalandsfoss, one of the two most famous waterfalls in south Iceland. This one is especially unique because you can go behind the falls. Now head over to the secret falls next door, called Gljúfrabúi, the falls inside a cave left of Seljalandsfoss. Although it looks like you’d have to hike to the highlands for this kind of view, it’s very easily accessible if you know what you’re looking for and an amazing pin on the map. This is easily the most immersive waterfall spot on the itinerary, so just a head’s up, you’ll get wet at this one too, so bring your rain jacket! 

Once you’re ready to check in, zip over to the Bubbles in a short drive north of Selfoss. If you end up sticking around town for dinner, you’ll likely arrive just before dark, depending on the time of year that you visit – the perfect amount of darkness to see your Bubble lit up against the trees of the remote forest. Whichever bubble you end up in, you’ll get a different vibe, but the same sleep under the quiet sounds of nature and fingers-crossed sky full of stars and dancing colors of the Northern Lights.

Next up: Umi Hotel

After waking up to the pastel hues of the sunrise and enjoying a slow morning in the comfort of your heated Bubble, it’s time to grab some brunch back in Selfoss. Our recommendation is Vor for juices, wraps and salads. If you’re more of a coffee person, head over to Bókakaffið, the perfect hangout for a pastry at the vintage bookstore/coffee house. Moving onto your exploring for the day, your first stop is Skógafoss, the largest and most well-known falls that often comes with an appearance of a rainbow at the forefront of the waterfall. Although this falls is gorgeous, the real reason for going to this spot is to hike over to Kvernufoss, the more local canyon and falls combo just past Skógafoss. If you’re lucky, you may even get this one to yourself, which is why it’s a highlight for the day. Follow the winding river up to the falls, and if you’ve got a drone, seeing the bird’s eye perspective of this hidden gem gives it an extra storybook feel. 

Once you’ve had your fill of this perfect backdrop to your best portraits free of tourists, it’s time to get back on the road towards Reynisfjara in Vík, the giant black sand beach contrasted against Iceland’s iconic stone pillars jetting up the mountain being circled by white birds. Don’t worry if this spot has a lot of people because the best view is a short drive up the mountain to Dyrhólaey Viewpoint, where the wind whips you like a tornado, but the expansive view of Vík’s beaches is well worth the whiplash. If it’s rainy or foggy, this area gets even more epic. Post-sightseeing, head over to your landing spot, Umi Hotel, one of the more luxurious stays of your trip. Here, you’ll find fine-dining and high quality cocktails by the friendliest mixologist in town. My suggestion is the Old Fashioned, the perfect night cap to a full day spent in nature.

Next up: Brunnhóll

Prep your backpacks the night before because the third day of your road trip is packed with a wild combination of the caves, glacier lagoons and canyons that give Iceland its namesake! You’re in for a day of adventuring some of the most unique landscapes in the world. Before you head, make sure to grab a plate full of Umi’s delicious breakfast spread. We suggest you head out as soon as possible though since it’s best to hit some of these iconic spots before the later crowd rolls in. First pin on the map – Gigjagjá, otherwise known as the Yoda Cave. Not only is the cave itself a jaw-dropper, the entire drive is gorgeous! This cave’s backdrop is the ocean, so factor in some fog from the morning rolling in and you’ve got yourself a real stunner. Both inside and outside of the Yoda are fantastic views, so you really just can’t go wrong here. After the cave, you’re headed to our favorite spot on the itinerary, so get ready to retrieve your jaw from the ground from the awe of the Fjadrárgljúfur Canyon, a giant canyon engulfing a twisting river as far as the eye can see. You know that famous Iceland shot you see all over Instagram? This is one of those spots – sometimes busy during peak hours, but worth it. 

This is your last stop of the day, so go ahead and enjoy the sunset. It’s the perfect place to finish the day before heading to your home for the next two days, Brunnhóll Countryguesthouse. Heads up, this stretch of road can be a photographer’s dream because fog tends to roll into the open valley surrounding your guesthouse, engulfing the entire region with its beautiful haze.

Next up: More of Brunnhóll

After an intense first few days, you’re likely in need of sleeping in. Feel free to take a slow morning at the guesthouse, enjoy your breakfast and recharge so that you’re ready for the upcoming long drives in the coming days. If you’ve got a thing for driving along coastlines like we do, you’re really in for a treat to start your road trip towards Breiddalsvík tomorrow. Now that you’re hyped on enjoying the nearby fjords, settle in because first you’ve got a stop in Höfn to charge and grab some food at the town’s diner in the harbor. After this quick pit stop, you’re headed towards the viking village and Vestrahorn Mountain. The viking village is actually a movie set that never ended up getting used to shoot a movie, but the cool thing is that it’s designed as a replica of old Icelandic villages, and it’s on the way to Vestrahorn, so might as well pull in for a quick peek. The real gem here is Vestrahorn, a massive mountain with rolling “troll hills,” and an endless blacksand beach, another area that’s really great when the weather turns moody. 

Everything on today’s agenda has an eerie feel in the fog, but in a good way, like you’re in another world back when the vikings roamed the island. It really sets the tone to be able to imagine yourself being a character in the Game of Thrones. There’s also a lighthouse nearby that’s a short walk towards the coast, if that draws your interest. After your time at Vestrahorn, it’s likely time for dinner, so pack up your gear, plug your SD cards into your laptops and check out your epic new footage back at your guesthouse.

Next up: Breiðdalsvík

Rested and ready to go, it’s time to drive through the fjords towards Breiðdalsvík. Today will be a day of pure relaxation, with a slow morning and breakfast at your hotel. It’s up to you how far you go since the focus of today is recharging in nature in order to prepare for your next long road trip to Mývatn the day after tomorrow. Once you arrive in Breiðdalsvík, enjoy the peace of today’s midpoint relaxation day. You can catch up on your book, and check out the photographs of all of the incredible places that you’ve visited so far. If you’ve got the itch for another adventure, feel free to explore on your own, or stay local and visit Beljandi Brewery, the car museum and the town of Breiðdalsviík for a more leisurely afternoon. 

Good morning! It’s time to get ready for your first off-roading expedition of the trip with Tinna Adventure, and believe us, you’re in for a ride, so buckle up! It takes about 2.5 hours to get from one spot to the next, so be sure to get an early start to check-in and go straight into your half-day adventure to the east’s highlights. 

You’ll be taking a giant lifted Land Cruiser in order to brave the river crossings, so get ready for your Indiana Jones experience, taking you to secret waterfalls and other local favorites. Along the way, you’ll get to hear about Icelandic folklore, which includes some of the wildest storytelling from your guide, Helga or Ingólfur, owners and Icelandic locals of the town of Breiddalsvik. You can’t go wrong either way, they’re both incredible and know the land like the back of their hand being from the area. During your tour, you also get to do a bit of hiking, which makes for quite the day of both off-roading in the mountains and valleys and being on your feet to get a closer look. Tonight, you can either chill at the Beljandi Brewery across the street from the hotel, grab a drink and enjoy the speakeasy-vibe lounge, or decompress in the sauna after a day spent in the great outdoors.

Next up: Mývatn

Hope you had a solid day of rest yesterday because today’s lineup is another one for the memory bank. The views driving from Breiðdalsvík to Mývatn is possibly the most insane of the entire road trip, as you’ll go from one wild landscape to the next. One minute, you’ll be driving along the black and white surface of the moon and the next, a colorful collection of greens, reds, and oranges painted into the mountains.

Along your way, stop at side-by-side waterfalls, Dettifoss and Selfoss, two incredibly powerful waterfalls found along a half a mile hike. It’s a dope short stop and a nice walk to break it up a longer drive. This spot can be a little more crowded for the north side of the island, but generally, the further you go along Ring Road, the less touristy it gets. After the waterfall stops, check out the Hverir geothermal pools five minutes from your next hotel, Sel Hotel Mývatn. It’s super colorful and if it’s foggy for the backdrop, the bubbling geothermal clouds are even more encapsulating. Once you’re finally checked into your hotel, play pool with a drink or relax in the Mývatn Nature Baths after a beautifully busy day of taking in the best of Iceland.

Next up: Akureyri

Yesterday was a big day, which makes it perfect timing to have an agenda of leisurely driving Akureyri, but on your way, you’ll check out Goðafoss waterfall, a pretty massive and powerful falls, but one of the more popular ones of the north.

Once you get to Akureyri, you have two options to choose from today: scenic driving to little towns within the many fjords like Ólafsfjörður and Siglufjörður, or there is a family-run husky dog sledding company that would love to show you around their hometown. If there isn’t snow, you can even do a little hike with the dogs. Last thing for today is checking out the old farmhouse attached to your bed and breakfast for tonight at Lamb Inn, where the farm owner, Johannes, will take you around his ancient heirloom and is happy to cook you a classic Icelandic home meal, if you’re keen. He’s a charmer and such a sweet older man who lives on the acreage with his family, dog, and many tiny lambs that he humbly tends in the quiet countryside. The sunsets and stars can be really something in this spot away from the light pollution of the city, so make sure to take a night drive under the midnight sky.

Next up: Blönduós

Rise and shine, today is a day full of relaxation, starting with a farewell stop at Lyst Coffee to grab arguably the best cup of Joe in Iceland with the most aesthetic architecture and perfectly constructed A-frame window inside the botanical garden back in Akureyri. It’s only a short drive just under two hours over to Blönduos, the undiscovered town where you’ll stay for the night, so if you want to check out a few things in Akureyri first, you can certainly do so. If you’re up for it, we’d recommend checking out Glaumbær, an antique farmhouse village similar to the Lamb Inn farmhouse, but a bit more extensive. 

Your final stop of the day is your guesthouse, which is underwhelming from the outside, but as most tucked away gems, you’ll be surprised what you find inside the guesthouse and restaurant. The fine-dining experience offered at your guesthouse this evening is easily one of the most homey and mouth-watering of your road trip thus far and a perfect way to savour your final sunset along your road trip around the Ring Road. The hosts and guesthouse owners are such a warm and cultured couple who are artists, travelers, entrepreneurs, and tour guides all mixed into one scrumptious concoction. These two not only know how to cook very well, but their stories and charm will really wow you, along with the view from their giant window to the sea and best potential to see the northern lights against the true dark sky of the sleepy northern region.

Next up: Reykjavík

Inhale the refreshing northern air and enjoy breakfast on the water at your guesthouse, but don’t worry, your adventure isn’t over yet. You’ve got a 3-hour drive back to the city, but there are a few easy sights along the way that break it up quite nicely. Once you’re on the road, you’ll head to one of the most wowing destinations yet, Grábrók Crater, which stands powerfully amongst the mossy marsland just outside of Blönduós. You can make your way up the meandering staircase and walk the rim of the crater to get a view of the vast countryside from the top down. This crater is really unique to be able to hike so immersively, yet be so easy to access, just off the main road back to Reykjavik. 

After you’re finished strolling in the clouds, return to your Tesla and buckle up for Barnafoss and Hraunfossar, another waterfall duo, but different from the others as they’re low-lying falls with the bluest of water than all of the waterfalls thus far. It’s also a very relaxed walk down a path, with quite a few viewpoints. Once you make it back to the city, congratulations, you’ve officially made it full circle around the Ring Road. Now head over to your final stay at your perfectly located hotel in the midst of the bustling city, Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina. Be sure to swing by Krua Thai for a nice dinner and the Jungle Cocktail Bar for the best cocktail of your life. Now feel free to catch up on your sleep and dream about your whirlwind adventure circling Iceland, and remember to continually seek out the wild.

Today ends your road trip along the infamous Ring Road, but the memories you made will likely last a lifetime. Be sure to hit the breakfast bar at your hotel before you head over to the airport to drop off your Tesla, and if you’ve got time before your flight, make sure to check out a bit of Reykjavik to get every ounce out of wonderful Iceland.

Until next time!