Ultimate Iceland Self Drive

On arrival in Iceland, collect your rental car at the airport and set off across the Reykjanes Peninsula, driving through vast lava fields cloaked in moss with distant mountains on the horizon - a striking first glimpse of the country's volcanic character. Continue to Reykjavik for your first night in the capital. Driving distance - approximately 50 km (31 miles). Overnight - Reykjavik.

Drive the South Coast towards Vik i Mýrdal, taking in some of Iceland's most striking landmarks. Begin at Seljalandsfoss, where a path leads behind the cascade for a rare vantage point, then continue to the powerful Skogafoss. Head on to Dyrholaey for panoramic views of the coastline and its natural rock arch, before visiting Reynisfjara's black sand beach with its towering basalt columns and rolling Atlantic waves. Finish in Vik, a small village noted for its hilltop church beneath dramatic cliffs. Total driving today is around 200 km - 124 miles - with an overnight in the Vik area.

Leave Vik and drive east towards Vatnajökull National Park - home to Europe's largest ice cap - focusing on the Skaftafell area. Take in views of Svartifoss, framed by striking basalt columns. If you're keen to get closer to the ice, you can join a guided glacier hike here. Continue to Jökulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and nearby Diamond Beach to watch icebergs drifting in the lagoon and washing ashore on the black sand. The day ends in Höfn, a fishing town known for its lobster and wide views of Vatnajökull. Driving: Approx 270 km (168 miles). Accommodation: Höfn area.

From Höfn, follow the coastal road through the East Fjords, where steep mountains drop into narrow inlets and the sea stretches out at every turn. Pause in Djupivogur, known for its art installations and rich birdlife, then continue via Faskruðsfjörður - once a winter base for French fishermen, whose influence still lingers. As you head north, the landscape eases into fertile valleys and salmon rivers before you arrive in Egilsstaðir, the East's main town and a gateway to the interior, including Lake Lagarfljot, noted in local folklore for its lake serpent. Driving - approx 260 km - 161 miles. Accommodation - Egilsstaðir area.

You travel from the Egilsstaðir area to Lake Mývatn - a haven for birdlife set in a striking volcanic landscape. Your first stop is a short detour to Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall, where the river plunges into a rugged canyon. Before reaching Mývatn, continue into the Krafla region to see the Viti explosion crater and the surrounding lava fields formed during eruptions in the 1970s and 1980s.

Explore the steaming vents and bubbling mud pots of Namaskarð, where vivid mineral colours reveal the heat beneath the surface. If you'd like a break, you could unwind in the Mývatn Nature Baths. You then visit Grjotagja, a small lava cave with a thermal spring that also served as a Game of Thrones filming location.

As the day continues, Hverfjall's near-perfect circular crater offers a short, rewarding climb - you can hike to the rim for wide views over the area. Wander the dramatic lava formations of Dimmuborgir before calling in at the Skutustaðagigar pseudo craters for a final look at the region's unique geology. Driving - Approx 290 km (180 miles). Accommodation - Mývatn area.

Head north to Husavik, the whale‑watching capital of Iceland. You can join an optional whale‑watching tour to look for minke and humpback whales - and occasionally orcas - or visit the Husavik Whale Museum for insight into local marine life. If you prefer to stay on land, you could instead drive to Ásbyrgi and back - a 125 km return - to see its striking horseshoe‑shaped glacial canyon with sheer cliffs and a rare pocket of woodland.

After Husavik, continue south to Goðafoss, often called the Waterfall of the Gods and associated with Iceland's conversion to Christianity around the year 1000. Then, carry on to Akureyri. You can explore the town centre, Akureyri Church and the botanical garden at your own pace. Driving today is approximately 150 km. Accommodation is in the Akureyri area.

Leave Akureyri and drive west into Skagafjörður - a valley renowned for horse breeding and saga heritage. Detouring from the main road, pause in Hofsos to visit the Icelandic Emigration Center, then continue to Glaumbaer to explore its preserved turf farm. From here you cross the Holtavörðuheiði highland road towards Borgarfjörður.

Arriving in Borgarfjörður, you begin in Reykholt, once home to Snorri Sturluson. Visit Snorri's pool - an early geothermal pool - and the museum dedicated to his life and works. Then take in Deildartunguhver - Europe's most powerful hot spring - before continuing to the lava-fed cascades of Hraunfossar and the churning rapids of nearby Barnafoss. Round off the day at the Settlement Centre in Borgarnes for insight into Iceland's early history. Driving: approx. 350 km (218 miles). Accommodation: Borgarfjörður area.

Spend the day circling the Snaefellsnes Peninsula - often called Iceland in miniature - for a mix of coastal scenery, fishing villages and volcanic landscapes. Begin at the Gerðuberg basalt columns, then continue to Ytri Tunga's sandy cove, a good place to spot seals in summer. In Arnarstapi and Hellnar you follow the coastal path along sea cliffs and arches before driving into Snaefellsjökull National Park, dominated by its glacier capped volcano.

If you wish, you can visit the Vatnshellir lava tube. You then stop at the black pebble beach of Djupalonssandur, where pieces of a historic shipwreck lie on the shore, and finish the sightseeing by Grundarfjörður with views of Kirkjufell and nearby Kirkjufellsfoss. Expect around 300 km - about 187 miles - of driving today, with an overnight stay in the Borgarfjörður area.

Drive south to Þingvellir National Park - a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Iceland's national assembly, the Alþingi, first met - set on the rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Explore the walking trails through the Almannagja fissure and visit Öxarafoss before continuing 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 impressive ‘Golden Falls' - with viewpoints offering different perspectives on the cascade. After completing the Golden Circle, return to Reykjavik for the night. Total driving today is approximately 290 km.

Leave your accommodation in Reykjavik and drive to Keflavik International Airport - a straightforward journey of about 50 km (31 miles). On arrival, return the rental car at the airport, bringing your Iceland adventure to a close.