Iceland Grand Tour Self Drive

On arrival in Iceland, collect the rental car at the airport and head across the Reykjanes Peninsula, where vast lava fields draped in moss are framed by distant mountains. The drive to Reykjavik is about 50 kilometres - 31 miles - offering an immediate introduction to the country's volcanic scenery. Spend the first night in Reykjavik.

Drive the South Coast towards Vik i Mýrdal, taking in several of Iceland's classic sights. Begin at Seljalandsfoss, where the water drops from a cliff - you can walk behind the falls for a unique perspective - then continue to Skogafoss and its powerful cascade. Stop at Dyrholaey for panoramic views of the coastline and its natural rock arch, before visiting Reynisfjara's black-sand beach with towering basalt columns and pounding Atlantic waves. We finish the day in Vik i Mýrdal, a small village known for its picturesque church set against cliffs and the ocean. Driving distance is about 200 km (124 miles) - overnight in the Vik area.

Leave Vik and drive east towards Vatnajökull National Park. Pass black sand plains en route to Skaftafell - a gateway to the glacier landscapes and views of Svartifoss, framed by striking basalt columns. Continuing along the coast, visit Jökulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and the nearby Diamond Beach, where icebergs drift in the lagoon before washing ashore on the black sand. End the day in Höfn - a picturesque fishing town with sweeping views of Vatnajökull and a strong reputation for lobster. Driving: approx 270 km (168 miles) - Accommodation: Höfn area.

Leaving Höfn, you follow the East Fjords along serpentine coastal roads where steep mountains drop into narrow fjords. The route passes small fishing villages with sweeping sea views. You can pause in Djupivogur to explore its art installations and birdlife, and detour into Faskruðsfjörður, where French fishermen once wintered and left a lasting cultural imprint.

As you continue north, the landscape softens into fertile valleys with salmon rivers before you reach Egilsstaðir - the region's main hub and gateway to the interior, including Lake Lagarfljot with its enduring folklore. Plan an unhurried day to make the most of viewpoints and village stops along the way. Driving: approx 260 km (161 miles) - overnight in the Egilsstaðir area.

Spend the day exploring the Egilsstaðir area, beginning with a 30 minutes' drive to Seyðisfjörður - a fjord-side town known for its colourful wooden houses, creative atmosphere and lively arts scene. If you have time, you can continue to Bakkagerði in Borgarfjörður Eystri - a quaint village surrounded by striking landscapes and known for abundant birdlife, especially puffins.

If you are keen on culture, you can drive 35 minutes from Egilsstaðir to Skriðuklaustur to see the ruins of a 16th century monastery and visit the restored manor house where Icelandic writer Gunnar Gunnarsson once lived - now a museum. On the way, you can stop at Hengifoss, one of Iceland's tallest waterfalls at 128 metres - visible from the road, or reached on a relatively easy but steep walk that takes about 2 hours in total.

After a full day, you can unwind at Vök Baths on Lake Urriðavatn - notable for their floating pools filled with hot, mineral rich water. Total driving today is around 250 km - overnight in the Egilsstaðir area.

From Egilsstaðir, travel west to Dettifoss in Vatnajökull National Park - one of Europe's most powerful waterfalls - where you can watch the torrent crash into Jökulsargljufur canyon. Continue to Ásbyrgi, a striking horseshoe shaped canyon linked in Norse lore to Odin's eight legged horse, Sleipnir. You can take a walk along the rim or through the sheltered forest on the canyon floor for tranquil views. You then drive on to Husavik, often called Iceland's whale watching capital, where you join a boat tour to look for humpbacks, minke and even blue whales. You can also visit the Husavik Whale Museum for deeper insight into North Atlantic marine life. End the day at Lake Mývatn for the night - total driving today is around 330 kilometres - 205 miles.

Today you explore the volcanic landscapes around Lake Mývatn - a haven for birdlife - with the order of stops guided by the location of your accommodation. Start in the Krafla area to see the Viti explosion crater and the surrounding lava fields created during the Krafla fires of the 1970s and 1980s. Close by, take in the steaming fumaroles and bubbling mud pools at the Namaskarð geothermal area. If you would like a relaxing interlude, you can soak in the Mývatn Nature Baths.

Continue to Grjotagja, a small lava cave with a thermal spring that featured as a filming location for the TV series Game of Thrones. At Hverfjall, you can take a short walk up to the rim of the near circular tephra cone for wide views across the region. You then wander through the Dimmuborgir lava formations - a maze of stacks and caves linked with local folklore - before finishing at the Skutustaðagigar pseudocraters for a final look at Mývatn's striking geology. Driving: Approx 100 km (62 miles). Accommodation: Mývatn area.

Drive west to Goðafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods, where Þorgeir Ljosvetningagoði is said to have cast his pagan idols into the torrent around the year 1000 when Iceland adopted Christianity. Continue to Akureyri, the lively capital of the north. You can visit the Akureyri Botanical Garden, admire the hilltop church and wander the compact downtown.

You could also join a whale watching tour, go fishing, ride Icelandic horses or hike the trails around the fjord. If you prefer to unwind, you may relax in the geothermal waters of the Forest Baths just outside town.

Leaving Akureyri, you head west into Skagafjörður, a valley famed for horse breeding and its links to the Icelandic sagas. With a short detour off the main road, you can explore the Icelandic Emigration Centre in Hofsos and the medieval turf houses at Glaumbaer. Driving distance - approximately 220 kilometres. Overnight - Northwest area.

Cross the Holtavörðuheiði highland road into Borgarfjörður and begin at Reykholt - once home to the medieval historian, poet and politician Snorri Sturluson. Here, visit Snorri's pool - an early geothermal pool - and the museum dedicated to his life and works. Continue to Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot spring, before a short drive to Hraunfossar, where clear water streams out from beneath a lava field, and nearby Barnafoss - or Children's Falls - which is linked to a local saga. Round off the day at the Settlement Centre in Borgarnes for insight into Iceland's early history and the sagas. Driving approx. 300 km - 186 miles - with an overnight stay in the Borgarfjörður area.

From the Borgarfjörður area, drive northwest for a full day circuit of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula - around 300 km with frequent short stops. Begin at the Gerðuberg basalt columns, then continue to Ytri Tunga's golden sands, where seals are often seen in summer. Visit the fishing villages of Arnarstapi and Hellnar and follow the coastal path between them to admire striking sea stacks and thriving birdlife. Entering Snaefellsjökull National Park, you can take in viewpoints around the glacier capped volcano; you can choose to explore the Vatnshellir lava tube. Next, call at Djupalonssandur, a black pebble beach where remnants of a historic shipwreck still lie near the shore. Finally, reach Grundarfjörður for views of the distinctive Kirkjufell and the nearby Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall before returning to the Borgarfjörður area for the night.

Drive south to Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Alþingi once met and where the rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates is clearly visible. Follow the trails through the Almannagja fissure and visit Öxararfoss, then continue to the Geysir geothermal area in Haukadalur - while the Great Geysir is largely dormant, Strokkur erupts every few minutes, sending water up to 30 metres into the air amid hot springs, mud pots and fumaroles. A short drive brings you to Gullfoss - the Golden Falls - which plunges into a deep gorge with several viewpoints offering different perspectives. After exploring this classic Golden Circle, return to Reykjavik for the night. Driving - approx. 290 km (180 miles). Accommodation - Reykjavik.

Depart from your lodging in Reykjavik and make your way to Keflavik International Airport. \drive approximately 50 km (31 miles) and return the rental car at the airport - bringing your Iceland journey to a close.