The Great Round Tour: Around Iceland in 13 Days

Iceland’s full-circle route is not just a drive around the Ring Road. This 13-day small-group tour reaches the Westfjords, remote farms, fishing villages, bird cliffs, and quiet coastal roads that many shorter tours skip. Guide Jens Olafsson leads the trip, handles the daily details, and fills long drives with Icelandic history and folk stories.

I especially like the mix of famous sights and lesser-visited places, plus the fact that breakfast, dinner, and 12 nights of lodging are included. The farmhouse stays add a local touch, and the group limit of 12 keeps the experience more personal than a large coach tour.

The tradeoff is the pace. You cover thousands of kilometers, often change hotels each night, and spend long hours on the road. This is a sightseeing expedition with light hiking, not a slow holiday based in one town.

Key points to know before booking

• Jens Olafsson leads a maximum-12-person group, making it easier to ask questions and manage stops without a large coach.
• The route goes beyond Iceland’s usual Ring Road circuit, including the remote Westfjords, Strandir, Sudureyri, Látrabjarg, and Rauðasandur.
• Meals and lodging are built into the price, with 12 breakfasts, 11 dinners, and 12 nights of accommodation included.
• The natural sights cover nearly every side of Iceland, from geysers and glaciers to lava fields, sea cliffs, black sand, red sand, and icebergs.
• The walking is generally light to moderate, but you should be ready for hikes at Svartifoss, Grabrok Crater, coastal cliffs, and other outdoor stops.
• Weather can change the plan, and the operator may alter the route when conditions make it necessary.

Why this route reaches more than the usual Ring Road

Many Iceland trips focus on the familiar southern circuit. This one keeps going. You begin around Reykjavik and the Golden Circle, follow the southeast coast, cross the Eastfjords and northeast, then spend several days in the Westfjords before returning west toward Reykjavik and Keflavik Airport.

That route matters because Iceland changes sharply from region to region. The south gives you major waterfalls, glaciers, and black sand. The east feels quieter and more rural. The north brings geothermal ground, lava formations, fishing towns, and dramatic rock shapes. The Westfjords add long empty roads, steep coastlines, bird cliffs, and small settlements.

You are not simply checking off famous sights. You are also seeing the spaces between them. That is one of the strongest reasons to choose this trip over a shorter circuit.

The tour price is $7,228.71 per person. That is a serious cost, but it includes 12 nights of accommodation, 12 breakfasts, 11 dinners, a guided trip, admission to the Skogar Folk Museum, and the boat ride on the glacier lagoon. Iceland is expensive for meals, lodging, and transportation, so the included dinners and daily driving add real value.

Lunches, drinks, airfare, and services not listed are extra. Plan for costly food and beverages, especially at midday. One useful option is to bring supplies for picnic lunches. Jens can help find suitable places to stop, but lunch itself is not included.

Days 1 to 3: Reykjavik, the Golden Circle, and the south coast

Day 1 is simple. You make your own way to Hotel Klettur in Reykjavik. The formal tour begins the next day, so you may want to arrive early enough to rest and adjust before the long driving days begin.

The Golden Circle opens the trip with three major Iceland sights. At Thingvellir National Park, you see the old meeting place of Iceland’s parliament as well as a major geological fault zone. The one-hour stop gives you time to walk and take in both the history and the broad open setting.

Gullfoss is next, with about 90 minutes to watch the river plunge through its deep canyon. The waterfall is powerful and noisy, and the viewing paths can feel exposed in poor weather. Bring waterproof layers, even if the sky looks calm in Reykjavik.

At the Geysir geothermal area, you have about an hour. The famous Geysir gave all geysers their name, though the active Strokkur is the main attraction today. Expect steaming ground, hot pools, and bursts of boiling water. Stay on marked paths, since the ground is genuinely hot.

Day 3 follows the south coast. Seljalandsfoss is a quick 20-minute stop, but it is memorable because the path can take you behind the falling water. You will likely get spray, so protect cameras and wear a waterproof jacket.

Skogafoss gets 30 minutes. Its broad curtain of water drops from a high cliff and often catches the light in a rainbow. The nearby Skogar Museum receives 90 minutes and is one of the few stops with admission included. It offers a look at Icelandic folk life, transport, tools, and buildings.

At Solheimajokull, the glacier is viewed during a one-hour stop. This is a chance to see ice up close without the tour turning into a technical glacier hike. Dyrholaey then gives you 45 minutes for sea views and coastal scenery, followed by 30 minutes at Reynisfjara, the famous black sand beach.

Reynisfjara is beautiful but deserves caution. Powerful waves can reach farther up the beach than expected. Keep well back from the water and follow Jens’s instructions.

Days 4 to 6: Glaciers, icebergs, and the volcanic northeast

Day 4 brings one of the trip’s strongest outdoor sections. Skaftafell National Park gives you two hours, followed by a 90-minute hike to Svartifoss. The waterfall is framed by dark basalt columns, so the walk offers something different from the broad falls of the south.

The Svartifoss walk is not described as difficult, but the tour does require moderate physical fitness. You should be comfortable walking on uneven ground and handling changing weather. Good shoes matter more here than fancy clothing.

The glacier lagoon receives two hours, including a boat tour among the icebergs. This is one of the included activities that helps justify the price. Ice floats slowly toward the sea, and nearby Diamond Beach can sometimes show ice pieces scattered across black sand, though the schedule does not list a separate stop there.

On Day 5, Hvalnes Lighthouse gives you a short coastal stop before the route turns inland toward Egilsstadir and Lagarfljot. The biggest feature of the day is the overnight stay in the Modrudalur valley.

At 469 meters above sea level, Modrudalur is described as the highest inhabited place in Iceland. You spend about 14 hours there, so this is less a quick sightseeing stop than a remote overnight experience. Farmhouse lodging is a major part of the tour’s character. You get away from the standard hotel chain pattern and stay in quiet rural locations.

Day 6 is packed with volcanic and geothermal sights. Dettifoss is one of Europe’s most powerful waterfalls, and the 45-minute stop gives you time to feel its force without spending the entire day at one viewpoint.

Asbyrgi is a horseshoe-shaped canyon known as the Shelter of the Gods. The stop is brief, only 30 minutes, so you will get an impression of its scale rather than a long walk through it.

Krafla’s lava fields show Iceland’s active volcanic character. The ground and rock here are reminders that eruptions are not just ancient events. Dimmuborgir follows with a 30-minute look at its twisted lava formations, often compared to a natural maze.

At Namafjall Hverir, boiling mud pots and steaming ground create a strong sulfur smell. It is striking, but not everyone enjoys the odor. Skutustaoagigar, with just five minutes, is a very quick look at the area’s pseudocraters.

The northeast days are a good example of this tour’s broad scope. You see waterfalls, canyon country, fresh lava, old lava, and geothermal ground in a single stretch.

Days 7 to 10: North Iceland and the remote Westfjords

Day 7 begins at Godafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods. The stop lasts 20 minutes, enough for photographs and a quick walk. In Akureyri, you have three hours of free time, including a chance to see Akureyrarkirkja and explore Iceland’s main northern town at your own pace.

That free time is welcome after several days of natural sights. You can stretch your legs, browse, or simply slow down before the route becomes more remote.

Siglufjordur is a short 20-minute stop in a former fishing center surrounded by steep mountains. Hvitserkur, a rock formation rising from the sea, closes the day with another quick coastal view.

Day 8 is mostly about the journey. From Hrutafjordur, the route heads into the Strandir area, where driftwood lines parts of the coast and small black sand beaches appear beside the road. You continue toward Isafjordur before staying overnight in Sudureyri, a small fishing village.

This is not a day built around a long list of formal attractions. That is part of its appeal. You see a quieter side of Iceland, with fewer settlements and long stretches of coast. The drawback is that the drive can feel long, especially if you prefer frequent activity.

Day 9 brings Dynjandi, one of the Westfjords’ great waterfalls. The 45-minute stop lets you view the falls as they widen down the mountainside. The setting is as important as the water itself, with a steep valley and broad coastal views.

Latrabjarg is one of the most distinctive stops of the entire tour. These cliffs run for about 14 kilometers and rise as much as 400 meters above the sea. They are home to large numbers of seabirds, including puffins when conditions and season cooperate. You get one hour here.

Stay careful near cliff edges. The ground can be uneven, and the wind can be strong. The birdlife is a highlight, but nature does not run on a timetable, so sightings can vary.

Day 10 follows the southern side of the Westfjords, among Iceland’s least populated areas. Rauðasandur is known for its red sand, a sharp change from Reynisfjara’s black beach. You get one hour to walk and enjoy the open shore.

The Westfjords are where this tour earns much of its difference from a standard Iceland package. The roads take longer, settlements are smaller, and the scenery feels less arranged for quick sightseeing. You trade convenience for a stronger sense of distance.

Days 11 to 13: Snæfellsnes, lava waterfalls, and the airport

Day 11 reaches the Snæfellsnes area. Kirkjufellsfoss is a short 20-minute stop beside the pointed Kirkjufell mountain, one of Iceland’s most photographed settings. The waterfall itself is modest compared with Gullfoss or Dettifoss, but the mountain-and-water combination is especially photogenic.

Djupalonssandur is a basalt pebble beach with a rough, open coast. Allow 45 minutes to walk and look across the shore. A short coastal-cliff stroll adds birdlife and other natural sights.

Day 12 turns inland to Grabrok Crater. You walk to the top of the old volcano, a compact hike that gives you a final chance to look across Iceland from higher ground. The stop lasts about 30 minutes, so this is a brisk outing rather than a long trail day.

At Hraunfossar, water appears to flow out from beneath a lava field before reaching the river. Nearby Barnafoss, or Children’s Waterfall, has a different character, with water rushing through a narrower channel. Together, the two falls make a fitting final nature stop.

Day 13 is the departure day. You make your way to Keflavik Airport. The meeting information also says the activity ends back at the starting meeting point, Hotel Klettur, so confirm the final transfer details before booking flights. The supplied schedule specifically directs you to the airport, but the meeting-point note is less precise.

What the daily pace feels like

This is an active sightseeing tour, though not a hard-core adventure trip. The route includes a hike to Svartifoss, a walk to Grabrok Crater, coastal strolls, and time on uneven ground. Moderate fitness is required.

The driving is the bigger challenge. One detailed account places the full route at roughly 4,200 kilometers, while another gives a lower figure, so the exact distance can vary with route changes. Either way, expect long days in a vehicle and frequent hotel changes.

That pace also creates the trip’s main reward. You can see much of Iceland in one organized journey without handling every reservation, route choice, or weather decision yourself. Jens takes care of hotel registration and manages the schedule, which is valuable when you are moving almost every night.

The group size helps, too. A maximum of 12 people is small enough for easier conversation and more flexible roadside stops than a large bus. You will still share the experience closely with others, so this format suits people who enjoy company rather than complete privacy.

Lodging, meals, and the real value of $7,228.71

The accommodation is described as good and often based in family-run farmhouses or remote country properties. The locations are a feature, not just a place to sleep. After a long day, staying in a quiet rural setting can feel far more connected to Iceland than returning to a standard city hotel.

Breakfast is included for all 12 mornings, and 11 dinners are included. Dinner quality is described as a strong part of the trip, with local guesthouses providing meals that can be a pleasant surprise. Still, tastes and menus vary, and the package is not sold as a luxury tour.

That distinction matters. You are paying for a well-organized, small-group country circuit with meals and lodging, not a high-end vehicle or a polished luxury hotel product. One account specifically contrasts this tour’s regular Ford vehicle with much more expensive luxury-van options.

Bring extra money for lunches and drinks. Food and beverages in Iceland can be expensive, and the tour price does not cover them. If you want to control costs, pack picnic supplies and use the stops Jens identifies for lunch breaks.

Who should choose this Iceland tour?

I would choose this trip if you want to see Iceland in depth but do not want to drive the entire route yourself. It suits first-time visitors who want the major waterfalls and geothermal sites, along with the Westfjords and smaller places that are harder to fit into a short holiday.

It is also a good match for solo visitors who like a small social group. The shared vehicle and repeated dinners create regular contact with the same people, while a group of 12 or fewer avoids the feel of a large coach.

You should think twice if you want long stays in Reykjavik, relaxed mornings, or several nights in one hotel. The itinerary is packed, and the nightly change of location can wear you down. Add a day or two before or after the tour if you want extra time in Reykjavik.

The tour is offered in English and includes a mobile ticket. Booking is commonly made well ahead, with the average booking point listed at 106 days in advance. Since the experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed after booking, make sure your dates, fitness level, and budget are firm.

Should you book the Great Round Tour?

Book it if your priority is seeing as much of Iceland as possible in 13 days, especially the Westfjords. The strongest features are Jens Olafsson’s careful handling of the route, the small group, the unusual rural stays, the included dinners, and the balance of headline sights with quieter roads and villages.

Skip it if you want a slow, luxury-focused holiday or dislike long drives. At $7,228.71 per person, the cost is high, but the package includes enough lodging, meals, transport, guiding, and special activities to make it a reasonable organized-tour value in expensive Iceland.

For the right person, this is a broad, demanding, and memorable way to see the country without worrying about every turn in the road.

FAQ

How long is the Great Round Tour?

The tour lasts approximately 13 days, including 12 nights of accommodation.

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes guided touring according to the route, 12 nights of accommodation, 12 breakfasts, 11 dinners, admission to the Skogar Folk Museum, and a boat tour on the Glacier Lagoon.

Are lunches included?

No. Lunch is not included, and beverages are also extra.

How large is the tour group?

The group has a maximum of 12 travelers.

Who guides the tour?

The tour is led by Jens Olafsson of Fun Travel Iceland.

Does the tour include the Westfjords?

Yes. The route includes the Strandir area, Isafjordur, Sudureyri, Dynjandi, Latrabjarg, and Raudasandur.

What level of fitness is needed?

A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended. The itinerary includes walking and light hiking, including the route to Svartifoss and the walk to Grabrok Crater.

Can the itinerary change?

Yes. The operator may alter the itinerary because of weather or other conditions outside its control.