Ring Road 10-Day Self-Drive Package

Your Road, Your Pace

A self-drive trip around Iceland's Ring Road is one of the great road trips on Earth, and this 10-day package from Guide to Iceland removes the planning headache while preserving the freedom that makes self-drive travel appealing. You receive a rental car, nine nights of pre-booked accommodation, and a detailed day-by-day itinerary — then you drive at whatever pace feels right.

The 10-day timeframe is generous enough to prevent the trip from feeling like a race. Where six- or seven-day Ring Road trips require early starts and late arrivals, ten days lets you sleep in, take detours, spend an extra hour at a waterfall, or sit in a hot pot watching the sunset without worrying about the next hotel check-in.

What the Package Includes

The rental car — typically a reliable Hyundai Tucson or equivalent — is picked up at Keflavik Airport and dropped off at the end of your trip. Nine nights of accommodation are spread along the Ring Road at logical stopping points, ranging from countryside hotels to charming guesthouses. The itinerary booklet provides driving directions, recommended stops, approximate timings, and tips from local experts.

A 24/7 support line is available for weather advisories, road condition updates, or if you simply need help finding a gas station in rural eastern Iceland at 10 PM.

The Route Highlights

The suggested itinerary covers every major highlight: the Golden Circle sights on day one, the south coast waterfalls and black beaches on days two and three, Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach on day four, the quiet beauty of the east fjords on days five and six, the volcanic wonderland of Myvatn and Dettifoss on days seven and eight, and the dramatic Troll Peninsula and western Iceland on days nine and ten.

But the real magic of self-drive is in the unplanned stops. A roadside waterfall with no name and no tourists. A farm cafe serving homemade lamb soup. A gravel road that leads to a coastal cliff where puffins nest. The itinerary gives you structure, but the open schedule gives you space for discovery.

Practical Driving Tips

Summer driving in Iceland is straightforward. Route 1 is paved and well-signed for nearly its entire length. Daylight extends to nearly 24 hours in June and July, so you never run out of light. The main hazards are single-lane bridges, wandering sheep, and the temptation to pull over at every scenic overlook — which is essentially every kilometer.

Fuel stations are spaced regularly along the route but can be 70-100 kilometers apart in the east. Fill up whenever you see a station rather than gambling on the next one. Cell coverage is good along Route 1 but drops off on side roads.

Who Should Choose Self-Drive

This package suits independent travelers, couples, and families who want control over their daily schedule. If you dislike group dynamics and prefer to linger where you choose, self-drive is the right format. The 10-day duration makes it accessible to drivers of all confidence levels — there is no need to push through long daily drives.