Iceland Complete: Around Iceland in 10 Days

Iceland Complete packs the country’s biggest natural sights into one brisk 10-day circuit. You will stand beside roaring waterfalls, walk across old lava fields, watch icebergs drift through a lagoon, and sleep in rural farmhouses far beyond Reykjavik. The small group, capped at 12 people, keeps the journey personal and avoids the feel of a large coach tour.

I especially like the mix of famous stops and less polished places, from Gullfoss and Skogafoss to Modrudalur, the country’s highest inhabited settlement. I also like that nine nights, most dinners, and the glacier lagoon boat ride are included, which removes much of the daily planning. The tradeoff is a busy schedule with long driving days, basic to comfortable rural lodging, and several short walks that require good shoes and rain gear.

Key points to know before booking

• A true around-Iceland route: The circuit covers the Golden Circle, South Coast, East Fjords area, North Iceland, the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and West Iceland.
• Small-group travel: A maximum of 12 people means easier loading, less waiting, and more room for conversation with your guide.
• Rural overnight stays: You sleep in guesthouses, farmhouses, and country lodgings, including a stay at Moorudalur Farm.
• Seven included dinners: Meals often feature Icelandic dishes alongside familiar European choices.
• Moderate walking: Expect paths to waterfalls, a crater climb, beach walks, and national park trails.
• Weather can change the plan: The operator may alter the route or timing when road and weather conditions require it.

Ten days around Iceland, from Reykjavik to the open road

This is not a relaxed city-and-spa holiday. It is a moving tour built around scenery, short walks, local stories, and long stretches of road. Your guide drives, handles the route, and explains Iceland’s geology and settlement tales as you go.

The tour starts and ends with independent transfers. On the first day, you make your own way to your Reykjavik hotel. On the last day, you make your way toward Keflavik Airport according to the arrangements provided for the departure.

The central value is simple: you see far more of Iceland than you could comfortably manage without arranging lodging, meals, driving, and route planning yourself. The cost is $5,755.01 per person, which is substantial, but it includes nine nights in a twin or double room, nine breakfasts, seven dinners, transport, the Skogar Folk Museum, and the boat ride at the glacier lagoon. Lunches, drinks, flights, and unlisted services remain your responsibility.

Days 2 and 3: The Golden Circle and Iceland’s black-sand coast

Your first full day begins at Thingvellir National Park, one of Iceland’s most important historic places. The old parliament met here, and the park also shows the country’s dramatic geology. You get about an hour to walk and listen to your guide explain how politics and volcanic forces shaped this part of Iceland.

Next comes Gullfoss, the Golden Waterfall. Allow about an hour and a half for the stop. The water drops through a broad, powerful gorge, and the viewpoints make it one of the tour’s major visual rewards.

At the Geysir geothermal area, you spend about an hour among steaming ground and erupting hot springs. The stop adds heat, smell, and motion to a day otherwise focused on cliffs, valleys, and falling water. Bring a waterproof layer, since Iceland’s weather can change quickly even during a short visit.

Day 3 follows the South Coast. Seljalandsfoss is famous for the path that lets you walk behind the falling water, though you should expect spray and muddy footing. The stop lasts about 20 minutes, so you need to move with purpose.

Skogafoss gets about 30 minutes. This is a broad, thunderous waterfall that feels close and immediate from below. The nearby Skogar Folk Museum receives a longer visit of about an hour and a half. It gives the trip a useful human scale, with exhibits tied to Icelandic rural life and culture.

At Solheimajokull, you get an hour near the glacier. This is a viewpoint and walking stop rather than a listed glacier-hiking activity, so do not book this tour expecting a guided ice climb as part of the standard program.

The coast then shifts to cliffs and dark volcanic sand. Dyrholaey offers about 45 minutes for sea views and rock formations. Reynisfjara Beach gets about 30 minutes, enough to see the black sand and striking basalt features. Stay alert near the sea, and follow your guide’s advice. The coast is beautiful, but it is not a place for careless wandering.

Day 4: Skaftafell trails and icebergs at the glacier lagoon

Skaftafell National Park gives you two hours in one of Iceland’s best walking areas. The route then continues to Svartifoss, reached by a hike of about an hour and a half. The waterfall is framed by dark basalt columns, giving it a sharper, more architectural look than the broad falls on the South Coast.

This is one of the days when sturdy footwear matters. The tour calls for a moderate fitness level, and the walking is manageable for people with reasonable mobility, but wet paths, wind, and uneven ground can make a short hike feel longer.

The day’s major event is the glacier lagoon boat trip, which lasts about two hours. Icebergs calved from the glacier float in the water, and the boat brings you close enough to see their shapes and colors. The nearby black sand coast can hold pieces of ice washed ashore, making an unusual contrast between dark volcanic sand and clear ice.

This is an included activity, not an optional add-on, and it helps justify the tour’s price. You get both the transport to a remote area and the boat ride without having to organize the timing yourself.

Days 5 and 6: East Iceland, remote farms, and active geology

Day 5 is quieter and more remote. Hvalnes Lighthouse offers a brief 30-minute stop, followed by Lagarfljot and the town of Egilsstadir for about half an hour. These stops break up the drive and show a less concentrated side of Iceland, where settlements are small and open country dominates.

The overnight stay is at Moorudalur Farm in the Modrudalur valley. At 469 meters above sea level, it is described as the highest inhabited place in Iceland. You spend roughly 14 hours here, so this is more than a quick roadside stop. The rural setting is part of the point.

Past departures have included country lodgings with character, such as a ranch that breeds Icelandic horses and accommodation modeled on an Icelandic turf house. You should not expect identical lodging on every departure, but the general style is rural and individual rather than chain-hotel standard.

Day 6 begins with Dettifoss, described as Europe’s mightiest waterfall. The stop lasts about 45 minutes. It is a forceful, noisy place, and the short visit gives you time to take in the gorge without turning the morning into a long hike.

At Asbyrgi, you see a horseshoe-shaped canyon known as the Shelter of the Gods. The stop is about 30 minutes. Krafla’s lava fields follow, with an hour to view ground still warm in places more than 30 years after an eruption.

The geothermal stops at Dimmuborgir and Namafjall Hverir show two different faces of volcanic Iceland. Dimmuborgir is a maze of unusual lava formations, while Hverir has boiling mud pots and steaming ground. The smell of sulfur is strong, so this is a good place to keep your jacket zipped and your camera ready.

You also stop briefly at Skutustaoagigar to see pseudo-craters. At only five minutes, it is a quick look rather than a walk, but it adds another piece to the area’s volcanic story.

Day 7: Waterfalls, Akureyri, and the north coast

Godafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods, gets about 20 minutes. It is a compact stop, but the waterfall carries both visual appeal and a place in Icelandic religious history.

Akureyri is the main town visit, with three hours of free time. You can see Akureyrarkirkja and have a break from the vehicle. This is also one of your better chances to buy personal items or sample a town at your own pace, although the tour does not specify any guided city program.

The route continues to Siglufjordur for about 20 minutes. The short stop offers a look at a northern town surrounded by fjord scenery. At Hvitserkur, you spend about 30 minutes viewing the distinctive rock formation from the coast.

This day provides some needed variety. After several days of waterfalls and volcanic ground, you get town time, fjord views, and a different rhythm. Still, the schedule remains tight. If you want long cafe visits or extensive shopping, three hours in Akureyri is the main opportunity.

Day 8: Snaefellsnes Peninsula, cliffs, and a rural church

Day 8 focuses on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, an area known for its mix of volcanic formations, ocean views, and small historic sites.

Kirkjufellsfoss receives about 20 minutes. The waterfall and nearby Kirkjufell mountain create one of Iceland’s most recognizable views, so expect a popular photo stop rather than solitude.

Djupalonssandur Beach offers a half hour among basalt pebbles and coastal formations. The shore is rugged, and the material underfoot can be slippery. Malarrif Lighthouse and the Londrangar basalt cliffs each receive about 30 minutes, giving you time to see the peninsula’s sea-carved rock and exposed coast.

Budakirkja, the small rural church at Budir, adds a human touch to the day. It is a simple stop, but its setting helps explain the appeal of Iceland’s isolated settlements.

The strength of this day is variety packed into a relatively short route. The weakness is that most stops last only 20 to 30 minutes. You see many places, but you rarely linger.

Day 9: A volcanic crater and lava-fed waterfalls

The final sightseeing day starts at Grabrok Crater. You walk to the top of the old volcano, with about 30 minutes allocated for the stop. It is a short climb, but wind and wet weather can make the crater path more demanding than the distance suggests.

Hraunfossar and Barnafoss provide the final major natural attraction. Hraunfossar appears to flow from beneath lava formations, while Barnafoss has a faster, more turbulent character. The listed visit is about 30 minutes, so you will need to keep an eye on the clock.

Day 9 is a fitting end to the route because it returns to the theme that runs through the entire trip: water, fire, and the way Iceland’s geology shapes daily life. Day 10 is reserved for your departure toward Keflavik Airport.

What the small group and guide add

With a maximum of 12 people, the tour can use smaller lodging and avoid the slow loading process of a large bus. You also spend many hours with the same group, so this format suits you if you enjoy shared meals and conversation.

The guide is central to the experience. Guides on different departures have included Jens, Hoskuldur, Andre, and BG, so the exact personality and approach will vary. Hoskuldur is noted for telling settlement stories and folk tales, while Jens has led this route for many years and is familiar with its roads and timing.

That long experience has two sides. A seasoned guide can handle difficult weather and keep the route moving when daylight is limited, especially on late-season departures. At the same time, a well-established itinerary may feel fixed. If you want each day built around your family’s special interests, confirm how much flexibility is possible before paying.

The tour has been completed in challenging conditions, including heavy rain and hail, and the operator reserves the right to alter the route when weather or other conditions demand it. That is a practical safeguard in Iceland, not a minor footnote.

Meals, lodging, and what to pack

Nine breakfasts and seven dinners are included. The meal pattern makes the price easier to understand, especially in rural areas where finding dinner independently can be inconvenient. Food may include Icelandic dishes as well as more familiar European choices.

The lodging is in twin or double rooms for nine nights. Past stays have included cozy farmhouses, guesthouses, a horse-breeding ranch, and a turf-house replica. Treat the accommodation as part of the rural setting, not as a luxury hotel program. Standards can vary, and comfort may be simpler in isolated places.

You should pack:

• Sturdy walking shoes
• Waterproof rain gear
• Warm layers
• Gloves and a hat
• A small day bag
• Extra camera batteries or a power bank

Lunch, beverages, airfare, and anything not specifically listed are extra. Plan for personal spending during town stops and for meals not covered by the seven included dinners.

Is $5,755.01 a fair price?

The price is high in absolute terms, but Iceland itself is costly, and this tour covers a lot of ground. You are paying for nine nights, transport around the country, a small group, breakfasts, seven dinners, museum admission, and the glacier lagoon boat ride.

The value is strongest if you want someone else to handle the route, driving, reservations, and daily timing. You see remote places such as Modrudalur, Dettifoss, and the northern fjords without renting a car or building a complex self-drive plan.

The value is weaker if you want luxury rooms, private touring, or a custom family schedule. This is a set group tour, not a bespoke itinerary. Its many waterfall and geology stops suit nature-focused adults and families who enjoy walking. Children may love the beaches, icebergs, lava formations, and short hikes, but some may tire of repeated waterfalls by the final days.

The tour is booked an average of 110 days ahead, so planning early is sensible. Most importantly, the cancellation policy is strict: the experience is non-refundable and cannot be amended after booking. Check your dates, room arrangement, fitness level, and expectations carefully before committing.

Should you book Iceland Complete?

Book this tour if you want one organized circuit that reaches nearly every major region of Iceland without driving yourself. It is especially good for first-time visitors who want waterfalls, glaciers, geothermal sites, lava fields, villages, fjords, and local stories in one trip.

Think twice if you need polished hotels, generous free time, or a highly customized family itinerary. The days are full, the weather may reshape the route, and rural accommodation varies.

For the right person, this is a strong way to see Iceland beyond Reykjavik. Bring rain gear, accept a busy pace, and treat the guesthouses and long drives as part of the country’s character. If that sounds like your kind of trip, the price buys a lot of Iceland.

FAQ

How long is the Iceland Complete tour?

The tour lasts approximately 10 days and includes nine nights of accommodation.

Where does the tour start?

It starts in Reykjavik, in Iceland’s Capital Region. On Day 1, you make your own way to the hotel.

Where does the tour end?

The listed departure arrangement directs you toward Keflavik Airport on Day 10. The meeting information also states that the activity ends back at the meeting point, so confirm the exact final transfer details before booking.

How large is the tour group?

The maximum group size is 12 people.

What meals are included?

Nine breakfasts and seven dinners are included. Lunches and beverages are not included.

Is the glacier lagoon boat ride included?

Yes. A boat tour around the icebergs at the glacier lagoon is included.

How physically demanding is the tour?

A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended. The itinerary includes walks and hikes at Skaftafell, Svartifoss, Grabrok Crater, waterfalls, beaches, and lava formations. Sturdy shoes and rain gear are advised.

Can the itinerary change because of weather?

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