Iceland Ring Road Explorer — Self-Launched
10 days · Iceland
G Adventures charges £4,290
No-markup version: ~£1,980 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 10-day self-launched version of G Adventures' "Iceland Explorer" — the same Golden Circle sights, south-coast waterfalls, Jökulsárlón icebergs, glacier walk, Lake Mývatn geothermal fields and Húsavík whale watching, done independently by public bus, Strætó routes and small-group day tours booked direct. You'd follow the Ring Road anticlockwise: Reykjavík → Selfoss/Hveragerði → Vík → Höfn → Egilsstaðir → Mývatn → Akureyri → back to Reykjavík. Hostels and guesthouses replace the comfort hotels, guided day tours replace the private minivan, and you save roughly half the tour price. Costs are approximate 2025 backpacker-level estimates and assume you share a dorm or twin, cook some meals and book activities a few days ahead. Note the original tour uses private transport — the DIY version leans on the scheduled Strætó ring-road buses plus 2–3 small-group day tours, which is a real but doable planning effort. May–September is best for buses; in winter, many sections need a rented car or organised tours.
Day-by-day
Arrive Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Land at Keflavík and take the Flybus or Strætó bus 55 into the city centre (about £24 / 3,500 ISK, 45–50 min). Check into a downtown hostel such as Kex Hostel, Bus Hostel or Loft Hostel. Wander Laugavegur and the old harbour, pick up a Bónus supermarket shop for breakfasts and picnic lunches, and collect a Reykjavík City Card if you plan to use pools and museums. Early night — jet lag plus a long bus day tomorrow.
🚌Flybus / Strætó 55 from Keflavík airport, ~£24
🛏Downtown hostel dorm (Kex, Bus Hostel or Loft Hostel), £30–40
- →Flybus transfer from Keflavík
- →Walk Laugavegur and the harbour district
- →Supermarket food shop at Bónus
Golden Circle self-drive day tour
Reykjavík → Hveragerði / Selfoss
Book a small-group Golden Circle day tour direct with a local operator (Reykjavík Excursions, Arctic Adventures or BusTravel, roughly £55–75) — far cheaper than a private guide and covers exactly what the original includes: Þingvellir National Park and the tectonic rift, the Geysir geothermal area with Strokkur erupting every 8–10 minutes, and Gullfoss waterfall. Alternatively take Strætó bus 51 to Selfoss and use the local buses, but the day tour is genuinely better value. In the afternoon continue by Strætó bus 51 south to Hveragerði or Selfoss and check into a guesthouse — Hveragerði's geothermal river hike is a free evening bonus.
🚌Golden Circle small-group tour ~£65; Strætó bus 51 to Selfoss ~£10
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Selfoss/Hveragerði, £40–50
- →Þingvellir National Park and Almannagjá rift
- →Geysir and Strokkur hot spring
- →Gullfoss waterfall
- →Optional: hot river hike at Reykjadalur
South coast waterfalls and black sand beach
Hveragerði / Selfoss → Vík
Take the Strætó bus 51 east to Vík (roughly 2.5 hrs, £18–22). En route stop-offs are the tricky bit without a car — the cleanest DIY solution is a south-coast minibus day tour (about £75–90 from Reykjavík, or book a local Vík-based operator) covering Seljalandsfoss (walk behind the curtain of water — bring a waterproof), Skógafoss, the black sand beach at Reynisfjara with its basalt columns, and a viewpoint of Eyjafjallajökull and Sólheimajökull glacier. Stay in Vík, Iceland's southernmost village, and eat at the local soup-and-bread spots rather than the tourist restaurants.
🚌Strætó bus 51 plus south-coast minibus tour ~£80
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Vík (Vík HI Hostel, Puffin Hostel), £45–55
- →Walk behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall
- →Skógafoss waterfall and stairs
- →Reynisfjara black sand beach and basalt columns
- →Eyjafjallajökull and Sólheimajökull glacier viewpoints
Glacier walk and Jökulsárlón iceberg lagoon
Vík → Höfn / Jökulsárlón
Book a guided glacier hike on Falljökull or Svínafellsjökull with a certified operator (Glacier Guides, Arctic Adventures, Troll Expeditions — about £95–120 including crampons and ice axe). They meet you at the Skaftafell car park, so either take a tour with transport from Vík or use the Strætó ring-road bus towards Höfn and get dropped at Skaftafell. Then continue east to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon — icebergs drifting to the sea with seals on the floes — and the nearby Diamond Beach. Optional Zodiac boat ride on the lagoon (£60–70, book direct with Zodiac Tours). Overnight in Höfn or a farm guesthouse near the lagoon.
🚌Strætó ring-road bus / glacier tour transport, ~£25
🛏Hostel or farm guesthouse near Höfn, £50–60
- →Guided glacier walk on Falljökull
- →Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
- →Diamond Beach
- →Optional: Zodiac boat on Jökulsárlón
East fjords to Lake Mývatn
Höfn → Egilsstaðir → Skútustaðahreppur (Mývatn)
This is the long scenic transit day. Take the Strætó ring-road bus (route 51/56 summer service) via Djúpivogur, Breiðdalsvík and the East Fjords to Egilsstaðir, then onward to Mývatn — a full day of driving, so check the current Strætó timetable carefully and pre-pack lunch. The East Coast scenery is the point: fjords, fishing villages and reindeer country. Arrive at Skútustaðahreppur on the shores of Mývatn and settle into a hostel or guesthouse.
🚌Strætó ring-road bus Höfn–Egilsstaðir–Mývatn, ~£40
🛏Hostel/guesthouse at Mývatn (e.g. Dimmuborgir Guesthouse), £50–60
- →East Fjords drive and photo stops
- →Djúpivogur village
- →Evening walk along Lake Mývatn pseudocraters
Mývatn geothermal wonders and whale watching
Mývatn / Húsavík
Morning at the Mývatn geothermal area: the bubbling mud pools at Hverir, the black lava formations of Dimmuborgir, the Krafla volcanic caldera and the Viti crater, plus the Mývatn Nature Baths (cheaper and quieter than the Blue Lagoon, about £30). Local buses are sparse, so hire a bike or join a half-day Mývatn highlights tour (£45–60). In the afternoon take the bus or a transfer to Húsavík and join a whale-watching boat trip (North Sailing or Gentle Giants, £80–95) — humpbacks and minkes are near-guaranteed in summer, plus puffins. Overnight in Húsavík or back at Mývatn.
🚌Local bus/bike hire plus transfer to Húsavík, ~£15
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Húsavík/Mývatn, £50–60
- →Hverir geothermal mud pools
- →Dimmuborgir lava fields
- →Krafla and Viti crater
- →Mývatn Nature Baths
- →Húsavík whale watching
Dettifoss, Ásbyrgi and on to Akureyri
Mývatn → Akureyri
See Dettifoss — Europe's most powerful waterfall by volume — and the horseshoe canyon of Ásbyrgi, best done on a half-day tour from Mývatn or with a car-share (the roads are rough gravel and not well served by public bus). Then take the Strætó bus 56 west to Akureyri, stopping at Goðafoss 'waterfall of the gods' on the way. Akureyri is the charming 'Capital of the North' — check into a hostel (Akureyri Backpackers is the classic) and eat at a local bakery or the harbour.
🚌Half-day tour ~£55; Strætó bus 56 to Akureyri ~£20
🛏Akureyri Backpackers or similar hostel, £35–45
- →Dettifoss waterfall
- →Ásbyrgi canyon
- →Goðafoss waterfall
- →Evening in Akureyri old town
Free day in the north
Akureyri
A flexible day. Cheapest option: hike the free trail up to the Akureyri heart-shaped viewpoint above town, visit the botanical garden and the striking Akureyrarkirkja church. Bigger spenders can book a puffin or whale trip from town, a day tour to the island of Grímsey on the Arctic Circle, or a horse-riding excursion on Icelandic horses. Alternatively take the local bus to the geothermal pool at Mývatn or the nearby Kjarnaskógur forest trails. Cook dinner at the hostel to keep costs down.
🚌Local walking and city bus, ~£5
🛏Akureyri hostel, £35–45
- →Akureyri viewpoint hike
- →Akureyrarkirkja church and botanical garden
- →Optional: Grímsey Arctic Circle day trip
- →Optional: Icelandic horse riding
Return to Reykjavík (via hot springs)
Akureyri → Reykjavík
Take the early Strætó bus 57 back to Reykjavík (about 4.5–5 hrs, £35–45) — or fly Akureyri to Reykjavík domestic in 45 minutes if you'd rather save the day (from about £70 with Air Iceland Connect). Drop bags at the hostel and explore downtown: Hallgrímskirkja, the Harpa concert hall, the old harbour, and a free walking tour of the city centre (tip-based). If you want the Blue Lagoon, book direct online in advance (from about £55) and use the airport-side transfer — it's the priciest optional of the trip.
🚌Strætó bus 57 Akureyri–Reykjavík, ~£40
🛏Downtown Reykjavík hostel, £30–40
- →Hallgrímskirkja church
- →Harpa concert hall
- →Free walking tour of Reykjavík
- →Optional: Blue Lagoon
Depart Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Final morning for a last coffee on Laugavegur and any souvenir shopping (wool, salt, liquorice). Take the Flybus back to Keflavík about three hours before your flight. If you have a late flight, the Reykjavík City Card covers the geothermal pools and several museums, or you can do a final soak at the local Laugardalslaug pool for a fraction of the tourist-spa price.
🚌Flybus to Keflavík airport, ~£24
🛏None (departure day)
- →Morning walk in downtown Reykjavík
- →Optional: Laugardalslaug public pool
- →Flybus to Keflavík
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,980 | £4,290 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,310 per person (54%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,980
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 Iceland Ring Road Explorer — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,980 per person for 10 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 £4,290 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,980 — a saving of roughly £2,310 (54%) per person.
How long is the Iceland trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 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, hiking, wildlife 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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