Iceland’s Ring Road: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide

Category

Categories

Travel Guide

Type

Glacier Lagoons, Bird Sights

Destination

Vatnajokull national Park

High season

Jun - Aug & Nov - Jan

Area

18 sq km

Outflow

Atlantic Ocean

Introduction: One does not simply experience Iceland. It embraces you, engulfs you, and leaves its burning cold soul imprinted on yours for a lifetime. The most fitting illustration of this sentiment is the Ring Road or Route 1. This 1,332 km-long road circles the entire island, offering you an adventure blossoming with contrasts. With glaciers on one side and black sand beaches on the other, lava fields encircling small fishing villages and geysers bubbling beside serene lagoons, the journey is akin to pleasurable sensory bewilderment. Buckle up, for this is not just a road trip. This is your communion with the untamed forces of nature.

1. Reykjavik: As the starting point for most travelers embarking on the Ring Road, take your time to soak in the vibrancy of Iceland’s capital before setting off on your journey. The unforgettable beauty claws into your soul, sights and sounds, such as the entrancing view from the top of Hallgrímskirkja or the bustling nightlife brimming with art, culture, and music.

Travel Tips: Explore the old harbor, and try traditional Icelandic food like fermented shark or lamb stew. Look forward to the pop of colors from the graffiti-laden walls.

2. The Golden Circle: Stretching far beyond a simple hike, the eruptions at Strokkur Geyser, the double-tiered beauty of Gullfoss waterfall, and the continental rift at Þingvellir makes you feel as though you are striding through different worlds, all absorbed in their own mesmerizing, natural beauty.

Travel Tips: Grab a bite at Friðheimar, the tomato and cucumber greenhouse, to savour Iceland’s sustainable agriculture. Do not miss snorkeling or diving in the Silfra fissure.

3. South Coast: As the roar of the Seljalandsfoss waterfall cools your face and heart with its refreshing mist, venture behind it to discover a hidden cave and feel the haunting whispers of a secret world.

Travel Tips: Stop at Dyrhólaey: a sprawling cliff with an impressive arch dipping into the sea. Traverse the black sand beach and ride a snowmobile on the Mýrdalsjökull glacier.

4. East Fjords: As the rugged fjords woven with lofty mountain peaks gracefully make way to pretty fishing villages with their colorful houses, it’s as if nature and the quaintness of human settlement are entwined in an enchanting dance.

Travel Tips: Visit the Petra’s Stone Collection in Stöðvarfjörður and enjoy a kayak ride overlooking the mystical fjords.

5. North Iceland: Immerse yourself in the relaxing warmth of the Mývatn Nature Baths while encircled by the ethereal landscapes of Lake Mývatn. Enthralling lava formations, steaming fumaroles, and a volcanic crater are bound to send your senses into euphoria.

Travel Tips: Visit Goðafoss, the waterfall of the gods, and let the mythological splendor steep into your senses. Delve into the subterranean wonder of Lofthellir lava cave.

6. Westfjords: Witness the triad of towering bird cliffs, serene golden beaches, and cascading waterfalls. Your senses will drown in the sheer harmony of natural formations in the Westfjords.

Travel Tips: Visit Dynjandi, the father of all waterfalls, and let its majesty humble you. Take a ferry to Hornstrandir, a trekker’s paradise, and get lost amid its ethereal beauty.

7. Snæfellsnes Peninsula: With the glory of Snæfellsjökull volcano and glacier towering over you, the rugged coastline will leave you feeling invincible. The lava caves, moss-covered lava fields, black beaches, and wind-beaten cliffs make for a riveting expanse of landscapes.

Travel Tips: Explore Kirkjufell, the Game of Thrones fame mountain. Discover Vatnshellir, the 8000-year-old lava tube cave, and experience the raw spirit of nature.

Conclusion: The magic woven into the Ring Road adventure isn’t just about feasting upon the sublime beauty or mundanely clicking pictures. It’s about delving head-start into the enchantment, experiencing the raw power of nature, and making it a part of your soul forever. If you should find yourself standing on the brink of Gullfoss waterfall with the mist on your face, or staring at the enchanting ripples of blue ice in Jökulsárlón lagoon, realize that it isn’t just about bearing witness to such natural wonders. It’s about feeling their energy, drinking in their beauty, and letting them become a part of your personal narrative. In the quiet nights under the dancing Northern Lights, or the chilly mornings with the golden sunrise, you will find yourself infinitely small in this grand universe yet enormously significant. And, therein lies the paradoxical beauty of Iceland’s Ring Road.

Scroll to Top