Iceland Winter Ring Road: Self-Launched Adventure
9 days · Iceland
Explore! charges £3,150
No-markup version: ~£985 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 9-day winter circuit of Iceland covering the same highlights as Explore!'s guided group tour — Reykjavik, the wild north around Akureyri, Hrisey Island, Godafoss and Lake Myvatn, the east fjords, Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, Diamond Beach, and the Golden Circle. Instead of a private coach and tour leader, you self-drive a small rental car (or join a few day tours if you'd rather not drive in winter), stay in hostels and guesthouses, and book the super-jeep, ferry and nature bath experiences directly. Costs are rough estimates for one person sharing a room; winter Iceland is expensive, so the savings mostly come from budget accommodation and self-catering rather than from skipping experiences.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Reykjavik
Reykjavik
Land at Keflavik (KEF) and take the Flybus or Strætó bus 55 into Reykjavik (about £22-28 one way, ~45 min) rather than a private transfer. Check into a hostel dorm or budget guesthouse near Laugavegur. Spend the afternoon walking the old harbour, Hallgrimskirkja and the Sun Voyager sculpture, then self-cater or grab a cheap hot dog at Bæjarins Beztu. Pick up your rental car this evening or first thing tomorrow — a small 4x4 with winter tyres is strongly advised for the north and east in winter.
🚌Flybus airport coach ~£22-28; walking in town
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Reykjavik (e.g. Kex Hostel or Downtown Hostel dorm)
- →Flybus transfer from Keflavik
- →Self-guided Reykjavik walk: Hallgrimskirkja, old harbour, Sun Voyager
- →Collect rental car / check winter driving conditions on road.is
Reykjavik to Akureyri via Akranes and the fjords
Akureyri
Drive the Ring Road north (Route 1) with a detour to Akranes for the old fishing harbour and lighthouses, then over the fjordlands towards Borgarnes and north through Varmahlid. In winter this is a long driving day (6-7 hours) — leave early, check vedur.is and road.is, and be ready to swap to the inland route if conditions change. Arrive Akureyri in the evening and stay in a hostel or guesthouse in town.
🚌Self-drive rental car ~£60-80/day including winter insurance; fuel ~£30
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Akureyri (dorm or private room)
- →Scenic winter drive north on Route 1
- →Akranes fishing town and lighthouses
- →Fjord viewpoints
Hrisey Island day trip
Hrisey Island / Akureyri
Drive 30 minutes north to Arskogssandur and take the Sævar ferry across to Hrisey (about 15 minutes, ~£10-14 return, book ahead in winter as sailings are limited). Walk the island's viewpoints at your own pace, visit the historic fish factory/herring era exhibits, and have a fish lunch at one of the island's small cafés. Return to Akureyri for the night — this is also a good evening for a northern lights hunt on the outskirts of town if the forecast is clear.
🚌Self-drive ~1 hr total; ferry crossing
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Akureyri
- →Sævar ferry to Hrisey Island (~£10-14 return)
- →Self-guided island walk and viewpoints
- →Historic fish factory visit
- →Northern lights spotting (free, check aurora forecast)
Godafoss, Lake Myvatn and the Nature Baths
Lake Myvatn
Drive east to Godafoss waterfall (free, roadside), then on to the Lake Myvatn volcanic area — walk the lava fields, Skutustadagigar pseudocraters and the Hverir geothermal area. Book a super-jeep or snowcat mountain tour directly with a local Akureyri/Myvatn operator (roughly £90-130 per person) for the same peak access the group tour includes. Finish with a soak at the Myvatn Nature Baths — book online in advance (~£35-45) and go late for sunset. Overnight near Myvatn or back in Akureyri.
🚌Self-drive ~2 hrs; fuel ~£25
🛏Guesthouse or hostel near Myvatn / Akureyri
- →Godafoss waterfall
- →Lake Myvatn volcanic area and Hverir
- →Super-jeep/snowcat mountain tour (~£90-130, book direct)
- →Myvatn Nature Baths (~£35-45)
Akureyri to Egilsstadir
Egilsstadir
Long scenic drive east through the north — stop at Fjallakaffi in Modrudalur for traditional Icelandic food (kleina pastries, astarpungur or lamb kjotsupa, ~£15-20). Continue towards Dettifoss if the road is passable (check road.is — the access road is often closed in winter); if not, take the Rjukandi waterfall and east fjord stops instead. Overnight in a guesthouse or farmstay around Egilsstadir.
🚌Self-drive ~4-5 hrs; fuel ~£35
🛏Guesthouse or farmstay, Egilsstadir
- →Scenic drive with multiple stops
- →Lunch at Fjallakaffi, Modrudalur
- →Dettifoss waterfall (conditions permitting) or Rjukandi waterfall
East fjords to Hofn with a brewery stop
Hofn
Follow the coastal Route 1 south through the east fjords with plenty of photo stops, detour into Breiddalsvik to visit Beljandi brewery for a beer and spirits tasting (~£15-20, book direct in advance). Walk a deserted black-sand beach on the way and watch for Vatnajokull ice cap views on the horizon. Overnight in a hostel or guesthouse in Hofn (the lobster capital — a cheap langoustine soup is worth it).
🚌Self-drive ~3 hrs; fuel ~£25
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Hofn
- →East fjord coastal drive
- →Beljandi brewery tasting, Breiddalsvik (~£15-20)
- →Deserted east coast beach walk
- →Vatnajokull ice cap views
Jokulsarlon, Diamond Beach and on to Vik
Vik
Drive to Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon (free to visit; optional 30-40 min amphibian boat trip ~£35-40, often limited in winter) to see icebergs calving off Breidamerkurjokull. Walk across to Diamond Beach where ice washes up on the black sand. Optionally add a guided glacier walk or ice cave tour from Skaftafell (from ~£90-130, book with a local operator). Continue west past the vast Vatnajokull outwash plains to Vik for the night.
🚌Self-drive ~3.5 hrs; fuel ~£30
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Vik
- →Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon
- →Diamond Beach
- →Optional glacier hike or ice cave tour (~£90-130)
- →Vatnajokull glacier viewpoints
Golden Circle back to Reykjavik
Reykjavik / Golden Circle
Drive north to Thingvellir National Park to stand on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between the tectonic plates, then on to Gullfoss waterfall and the Geysir/Strokkur hot spring area (all free). Loop back to Reykjavik (about 3.5 hours total driving with stops) and take a self-guided wander or a cheap city bus orientation around the centre. Return the rental car this evening or tomorrow morning. Overnight in Reykjavik.
🚌Self-drive ~3.5 hrs; fuel ~£30
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Reykjavik
- →Thingvellir National Park
- →Gullfoss waterfall
- →Geysir and Strokkur
- →Self-guided Reykjavik orientation
Depart from Keflavik
Keflavik / Reykjavik
Self-catered breakfast, then Flybus back to Keflavik for your flight. If time allows, a final soak at a local Reykjavik swimming pool (~£7) or a walk round the harbour before heading out.
🚌Flybus ~£22-28
🛏N/A — departure day
- →City swim or harbour walk
- →Flybus to Keflavik airport
Self-launched vs. Explore!
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Explore! | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£985 | £3,150 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,165 per person (69%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Explore!-style trips? Check them out here.~£985
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 Winter Ring Road: Self-Launched Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £985 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 Explore!?+
Yes — Explore! charges around £3,150 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £985 — a saving of roughly £2,165 (69%) 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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