Our trip to the Faroe Islands inspired us to visit Iceland next. The Sterlings are going to drive the Ring Road. Rick Steves recommends a clockwise route and here's our plan:
Day One - Reykjavik
Land in Reykjavik, pick up rental car, check into hotel
Breakfast: Sandholt, 06:30-21:00
City Walk Free Tour, 11:00, 13:00 or 15:00
Lunch: Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
Shopping mall: Kringlan 10:00-18:00
Icelandic Phallological Museum 10:00-18:00
Hallgrimskirkja, 09:00-21:00, ISK 1,000
Shopping Street: Laugavegur
Ice Cream: Valdís
Brewery options: RVK, Bryggjan, Mikkeller & Friends
Day Two - Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Borg á Mýrum - Church and graveyard
The Búðir Church
Hike: Arnarstapi to Hellnar
Lunch: Hellnar Primus Kaffi
Snaefellsjoekull National Park: Malarrif Lighthouse
Svörtuloft lighthouse
Öndverðarnes lighthouse
Skarðsvík Beach
Súgandisey Island lighthouse
Overnight in Stykkishólmur
Day Three - heading North
Hvitserkur - rock formation
Sundlaugin á Hofsósi - Hofsos thermal pool, 09:00-21:00 (closed 13:00-17:00)
Lunch: Restaurant Sólvik or Lónkot Rural Resort
Brewery: Segull 67 Brewery
Overnight in Siglufjörður
Day Four - Whale Watching
Drive to Akureyri
Húsavík Whale Watching
Goðafoss Waterfall
Overnight in Mývatn (2 Nights)
Day Five - in Mývatn
Skutustadhir - hike
Dimmuborgir - hike
Hverfjall - hike
Mývatn Nature Baths
Hverir - hike; Námafjall geothermal area
Krafla - hike - Viti crater
Overnight in Mývatn (2 Nights)
Day 6 - heading East
Dettifoss waterfall; Selfoss waterfall
Lunch: Fjallakaffi vs wait for East Coast
Lagarfljót - lake
scenic drive to and from Seydisfjordur
Navigate the coast - roads might be closed - be alert
Overnight in Fáskrúðsfjörður
Day 7 - Glaciers
Blabjorg Cliffs
The Stappin Sea Stack
Hvalnes Lighthouse
Big Red Chair
Höfn Lunch: Otto Matur & Drykkur or Pakkhús Restaurant
Diamond Beach / Jökulsárlón Glacier
Iceberg Boat Tour Fjallsarlon
Drive back to Höfn
Dinner: Jon Riki Brewery, Höfn, 17:00-21:00
Overnight in Höfn
Day 8 - Foss, Foss and More Foss
Vatnajökull National Park: Skaftafell - hike to see Iceland’s most impressive waterfall; Skaftafellsjökull glacier; Svartifoss
Systrafoss - small waterfall in town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Vik
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach: Hálsanefshellir Cave
Dyrhólaey - arch
Dyrhólaey lighthouse
DC-3 Wreckage
Skógafoss
Seljalandsfoss - you can walk behind it - and Gljúfrabúi waterfall
Overnight in Hella (2 nights)
Day 9 - Golden Circle
Haifoss - hike
Efstidalur II - ice cream barn
Geysir - why geysers are called geysers
Lunch: Friðheimar Tomato Restaurant, 12:00-16:00 - tomato ice cream, yo!
Gullfoss
Overnight in Hella (2 nights)
Day 10 - The End Is Near
Laugardælakirkja - Bobby Fisher’s grave
Lunch: Ölverk Pizza & Brewery, 11:30-22:00
Kerið - crater lake
Almannagjá - gorge where tectonic plates meet
Return car, fly home
Stay tuned for trip reports!