Complete Iceland — Self-Launched Ring Road Adventure
9 days · Iceland
G Adventures charges £2,500
No-markup version: ~£1,660 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 9-day "Complete Iceland" loop from Reykjavík — same route, same waterfalls, glaciers and hot springs, but you plan it yourself. Rather than a private minivan and a group leader, you hire a small car (or join a hop-on regional bus where it makes sense), stay in hostels and guesthouses, and book the Blue Lagoon, glacier hike and whale watching direct. Around the Ring Road's north and south coasts you'll hit Goðafoss, Mývatn, Dimmuborgir, Dettifoss, the East Fjords, Jökulsárlón, Reynisfjara and the full Golden Circle, with three independent days in Reykjavík at the end. Costs are rough backpacker/budget estimates in GBP and exclude international flights — Iceland is expensive, so self-driving with a couple of travel companions (or joining shared tours for the northern stretch) is where the real savings come from.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Land at Keflavík and take the Flybus or Airport Direct shuttle into the city (roughly ISK 4,000–7,000, ~£25–40) — no need for a taxi. Check into a hostel in the 101 or Laugavegur area (Kex, Loft, Dalur or a budget guesthouse). Spend the afternoon wandering the harbour, Hallgrímskirkja and the old town, and stock up on groceries at Bónus or Krónan — self-catering breakfasts and packed lunches are the single biggest way to keep Iceland affordable. Collect your hire car this evening or first thing tomorrow (booking in advance is essential in summer).
🚌Flybus/Airport Direct shuttle from Keflavík (~£30)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Reykjavík (~£35–45 pp)
- →Self-guided walk of central Reykjavík
- →Hallgrímskirkja church
- →Harbour and old town
- →Grocery shop at Bónus/Krónan
Reykjavík to Akureyri
Akureyri
Drive the Ring Road north (Route 1 via Borgarnes and the Vaðlaheiði tunnel, about 4.5–5 hours) or, if you're not driving, take the Strætó long-distance bus (bus 57) toward Akureyri. Stop at the Glanni waterfall and Grábrók crater en route, and detour to the Icelandic Seal Center at Hvammstangi if time allows. Arrive in Akureyri, the 'Capital of the North', and explore the old town, the 1940s cathedral and the botanical garden. Optional: join a whale-watching trip from Akureyri harbour (book via GetYourGuide or North Sailing, ~£70–90) — humpbacks are common in summer.
🚌Self-drive Ring Road north (~£25 fuel/share) or Strætó bus 57 (~£35)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Akureyri (~£35–50 pp)
- →Grábrók crater hike
- →Glanni waterfall
- →Akureyri old town and cathedral
- →Optional whale watching (~£80)
Akureyri to Mývatn and Borgarfjörður Eystri
Bakkagerði (Borgarfjörður Eystri)
Head east to Goðafoss waterfall — a quick roadside stop and one of Iceland's most photogenic falls. Continue to Lake Mývatn: walk the lava labyrinth of Dimmuborgir, see the steaming, sulphur-yellow geothermal field at Námaskarð, and if you like, soak in the Mývatn Nature Baths (~£35, cheaper and quieter than the Blue Lagoon). Then take the rough but spectacular Route 862/864 detour to Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall. Drive on through the eastern highlands to the tiny fishing village of Bakkagerði in Borgarfjörður Eystri for the night — a local guesthouse here is the closest equivalent to the tour's stay.
🚌Self-drive (~£30 fuel/share)
🛏Local guesthouse, Bakkagerði (~£45–60 pp)
- →Goðafoss waterfall
- →Dimmuborgir lava formations
- →Námaskarð geothermal area
- →Dettifoss waterfall
- →Optional Mývatn Nature Baths (~£35)
East Fjords to Höfn
Höfn
A long, scenic driving day south along the East Fjords on Route 1 — allow 5–6 hours with stops. Pull over at the fjord viewpoints around Seyðisfjörður (a detour worth it for the rainbow street and blue church), Djúpivogur and the pyramids of Vestrahorn near Stokksnes. As you approach Höfn, keep an eye out for the vast white mass of Vatnajökull, Europe's largest ice cap. Evening in Höfn: this is langoustine country, so treat yourself at a harbour-side restaurant, or cook in the guesthouse kitchen.
🚌Self-drive East Fjords (~£30 fuel/share)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel, Höfn (~£40–55 pp)
- →Seyðisfjörður detour
- →Djúpivogur
- →Vestrahorn/Stokksnes viewpoint
- →Vatnajökull glacier views
Jökulsárlón, Skaftafell and Vík
Vík
Drive west to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon — icebergs drifting to the sea with seals hauled out on the floes — and cross the road to Diamond Beach where ice chunks wash up on black sand. Optional: an amphibian boat ride on the lagoon (~£40–70, book direct with the operator on site). Continue to Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park: hike the easy Svartifoss trail (1.5–2 hrs return) or book a guided glacier walk on Falljökull with a certified operator (GetYourGuide or direct, ~£85–110, boots with ankle support needed). In the evening, push on to Vík.
🚌Self-drive (~£30 fuel/share)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Vík (~£40–55 pp)
- →Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
- →Diamond Beach
- →Optional lagoon boat ride (~£50)
- →Svartifoss hike
- →Optional guided glacier hike (~£95)
Reynisfjara and the Golden Circle to Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Start at Reynisfjara black-sand beach — mind the sneaker waves and stay well back from the water. Continue via Dyrhólaey cape, then loop the Golden Circle: Seljalandsfoss (walk behind the curtain of water — you will get wet), Gullfoss, the erupting Strokkur at Geysir (every ~10 minutes), and Þingvellir National Park where the North American and Eurasian plates pull apart. Drive back into Reykjavík in the evening and check back into your hostel.
🚌Self-drive (~£30 fuel/share)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Reykjavík (~£35–45 pp)
- →Reynisfjara beach
- →Dyrhólaey
- →Seljalandsfoss
- →Gullfoss
- →Geysir/Strokkur
- →Þingvellir National Park
Free day in Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Unescorted free day — the tour's optional extras are all bookable yourself. Popular picks: snorkelling or diving the Silfra fissure between tectonic plates (~£110–130 via Dive.is or GetYourGuide), a Þórsmörk volcano hike in a Super Jeep (~£130), a lava caving trip at Leiðarendi, or a half-day Golden Circle/whale combo. Cheaper alternatives: the National Museum of Iceland, the Settlement Exhibition, a swim at Laugardalslaug or Sundhöllin geothermal pool (~£8), or a walk along the waterfront and the Harpa concert hall.
🚌On foot / city bus (~£5)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Reykjavík (~£35–45 pp)
- →Optional Silfra snorkelling (~£120)
- →Optional lava caving (~£60)
- →City pools and museums
Free day — Reykjavík and surrounds
Reykjavík
Another independent day. Options include the ferry to Viðey island, a hike up Mount Esja (free, ~3 hrs), a day trip to the Reykjanes Peninsula with its bubbling mud pools and the bridge between continents, or simply café-hopping on Laugavegur with a hot dog from Bæjarins Beztu. If you still have the car, consider the Snæfellsnes Peninsula as a long day out, or return it today to save on rental costs.
🚌On foot / local bus (~£8)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Reykjavík (~£35–45 pp)
- →Mount Esja hike
- →Viðey island ferry
- →Laugavegur cafés
- →Optional Reykjanes day trip
Blue Lagoon and departure
Grindavík / Keflavík
Book your Blue Lagoon entry direct on the lagoon's own website in advance — Comfort package is around £55–70 and includes a silica mask and drink. Take the Flybus or a shuttle to the Blue Lagoon, soak for a couple of hours, then continue to Keflavík airport. Allow buffer: aim for onward flights after 3:30pm, as the original tour advises. If the Blue Lagoon is fully booked, the Sky Lagoon near Reykjavík or the local pools make good alternatives.
🚌Flybus/shuttle to Blue Lagoon and airport (~£30–40)
🛏—
- →Blue Lagoon entry (~£60)
- →Optional Sky Lagoon (~£60)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,660 | £2,500 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £840 per person (34%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,660
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Complete Iceland — Self-Launched Ring Road Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,660 per person for 9 days in Iceland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,500 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,660 — a saving of roughly £840 (34%) per person.
How long is the Iceland trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Iceland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, road-trip, hiking trip through Iceland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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