The Great Round Tour: Around Iceland in 13 Days

Iceland’s Great Round Tour covers far more than the usual Ring Road circuit. Over 13 days, you’ll see glaciers, volcanoes, lava fields, bird cliffs, fishing villages, black and red beaches, and the remote Westfjords, all with Jens Olafsson at the wheel and a maximum of 12 people.

I like two things right away: the route reaches places many short Iceland tours skip, and the price includes 12 nights of lodging, 12 breakfasts, and 11 dinners. You also get the Skogar Folk Museum and a boat ride on the Glacier Lagoon. The main drawback is the pace. You change hotels often, spend long stretches on the road, and need moderate fitness for walks and uneven paths.

Key points to know before booking

• The route goes beyond the Ring Road: You visit the Eastfjords, North Iceland, the Westfjords, and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
• Small groups matter here: With no more than 12 people, the tour can use smaller roads and quieter stops.
• Jens Olafsson leads the journey: His role combines driving, site explanations, Icelandic history, practical help, and folk stories.
• Meals reduce the daily hassle: Breakfast and dinner are included, but lunches, drinks, and all air travel are extra.
• Expect light hiking, not an adventure expedition: The tour includes walks to Svartifoss, Grabrok Crater, bird cliffs, and other natural sites.
• Remote lodging is part of the appeal: Farmhouses and small rural hotels put you close to the countryside, but this is not a luxury coach tour.

Why this 13-day Iceland tour covers so much

The Great Round Tour is built for you if you want to see Iceland as a whole country rather than check off Reykjavik and the Golden Circle. The route takes in the familiar highlights, then keeps going into the Eastfjords, the North, the Westfjords, and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.

You’ll cover a great deal of ground. One description of the trip places the driving at roughly 4,200 kilometers, while another account gives a lower figure, so the exact total may vary with weather and route changes. Either way, you should expect long drives. The payoff is variety: one day may bring a glacier and icebergs, while the next brings boiling mud, a fishing village, or a lonely red-sand beach.

Jens Olafsson is an important part of the experience. He handles the driving and hotel check-ins, explains the geology and history, and adds Icelandic folk tales along the way. That combination helps the scenery make sense. Iceland can sometimes feel like one great view after another, but the stories and explanations give each place a clearer identity.

The group limit of 12 is also useful. A small vehicle can make stops more easily than a large coach, and the group setting gives solo visitors a ready-made circle of company. The trade-off is that you have less personal space than you would in a private rental car.

Days 1 and 2: Reykjavik, Thingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss

Day 1 is simple. You make your own way to the hotel in Reykjavik, Hótel Klettur, and settle in before the circuit begins. I would consider arriving a day or two early if you want time for Reykjavik, since the main tour leaves little spare time for the capital.

The first full day follows Iceland’s classic Golden Circle. At Thingvellir National Park, you see the old parliamentary meeting place and a major geological feature. The one-hour stop gives you enough time to walk around and take in the setting, though you should not expect a long hike.

Gullfoss is the big visual hit of the day. You have about 90 minutes to view the powerful waterfall from the marked paths. Bring waterproof clothing, since spray and shifting weather are part of the deal.

The Geysir geothermal area completes the trio. Geysir itself gave the world the word geyser, though the active Strokkur is usually the more reliable show. You get about an hour here, enough to watch the hot water erupt and walk around the steaming ground.

These first stops are popular for good reason, but they are also among Iceland’s busiest sights. The real strength of this tour is that it does not stop with the Golden Circle.

Days 3 and 4: Waterfalls, black sand, and the Glacier Lagoon

Day 3 brings a dense run of South Coast sights. Seljalandsfoss is famous for the path that can take you behind the falling water. Twenty minutes is brief, and conditions can make the rear path wet or unsuitable, so keep your rain gear handy.

Skogafoss is broader and more forceful. You have 30 minutes to see it, with time for the stairway above the falls if conditions and energy allow. The Skogar Folk Museum receives a longer stop of about 90 minutes and is included in the tour price. It gives you a look at older Icelandic homes, tools, transport, and rural life, adding cultural context to a day otherwise dominated by scenery.

At Solheimajokull, you see a glacier up close for about an hour. This is a viewing stop, not a guided glacier climb, so you should not treat it as a technical adventure activity.

The South Coast finishes with Dyrholaey and Reynisfjara. Dyrholaey offers high coastal views and a natural rock arch. At Reynisfjara, the black sand and basalt formations are striking, but the sea can be dangerous. Stay well back from the water and follow local safety instructions.

Day 4 moves east to Skaftafell National Park. The two-hour visit includes the walk toward Svartifoss, a waterfall framed by dark basalt columns. This is one of the clearest examples of Iceland’s geology shaping its scenery, but the path is not flat throughout. Comfortable walking shoes are a must.

The day’s big event is the Glacier Lagoon, where icebergs drift in a deep lake before moving toward the sea. The included boat tour lasts about two hours. This is one of the strongest value points in the package because the lagoon cruise would otherwise add a separate cost and booking step.

Days 5 and 6: Remote East Iceland and volcanic North Iceland

Day 5 is quieter and more remote. You stop at Hvalnes Lighthouse, then pass through the Egilsstadir area near Lagarfljot. The short stops are less about major attractions and more about seeing how the built parts of Iceland fit into its wide-open eastern setting.

The overnight stay at Modrudalur Farm is unusual. At 469 meters above sea level, it is described as the highest inhabited place in Iceland. You stay there for the night rather than simply passing through, which gives the tour a stronger sense of place than a standard roadside hotel would.

Day 6 is packed. Dettifoss is one of Europe’s most powerful waterfalls, and the 45-minute stop gives you a direct look at the force of the water. The walk can be rough underfoot, so sturdy shoes matter.

Asbyrgi is a horseshoe-shaped canyon with a calmer feel. The visit is short, only about 30 minutes, but it breaks up the day nicely before the route moves into the volcanic area around Lake Myvatn.

At Krafla, you see lava fields linked to relatively recent volcanic activity. Dimmuborgir adds twisted lava formations that feel almost architectural. Namafjall Hverir brings boiling mud pots and steaming ground, with strong smells from the geothermal gases. You receive only about 20 minutes there, which is sensible because the conditions can be intense.

The final stop, Skutustaoagigar, is a quick look at pseudo-craters. This is a day of short visits and frequent changes, so it works best if you like variety more than lingering.

Day 7: Goðafoss, Akureyri, and the northern coast

Goðafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods, gets a 20-minute stop. It is not the largest waterfall on the route, but its shape and historical associations make it a memorable pause.

Akureyri receives three hours of free time, the most generous town stop on the trip. You can use it to walk around, see Akureyrarkirkja, find a café, or simply take a break from the vehicle. This is useful after several days of outdoor stops, though the tour does not specify any guided city program.

The route then heads toward Siglufjordur, a former herring center surrounded by steep mountains. The stop is only about 20 minutes, so think of it as a quick look rather than a full town visit.

Hvitserkur, a rock formation rising from the sea, closes the day. The stop lasts about half an hour. Weather and light can change the view dramatically, which is typical of Iceland’s coast.

Days 8 and 9: The remote Westfjords

Day 8 is the tour’s most remote-feeling section. From Hrutafjordur, you travel toward the Strandir area, where stretches of coast are marked by driftwood and small black-sand beaches. You continue toward Isafjordur, then spend the night in the fishing village of Sudureyri.

There are no listed timed stops this day, so the road itself is the main experience. That can be rewarding if you enjoy empty coastlines and small settlements. It can also feel long if you need frequent attractions to hold your attention.

Day 9 brings Dynjandi, one of the most memorable waterfalls in the Westfjords. The 45-minute stop lets you see its broad, fan-shaped form and the smaller falls below it.

Latrabjarg is a major reason to choose this route. The cliffs stretch for 14 kilometers and rise as much as 400 meters above the sea. The one-hour stop focuses on birdlife and views at Iceland’s westernmost point. Conditions can be windy and exposed, so keep your footing secure and stay away from cliff edges.

Days 10 and 11: Red sand and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Day 10 follows the southern side of the Westfjords to Rauðasandur, a beach known for its red and golden tones rather than Iceland’s more familiar black sand. The one-hour stop gives you time to appreciate the unusual color and the isolation.

This is one of the tour’s better examples of going beyond the standard circuit. Rauðasandur is not a quick stop on most short Iceland packages, and reaching it requires time on remote roads. That extra driving is exactly what makes the Westfjords special, but it also adds to the trip’s demanding pace.

On Day 11, Kirkjufellsfoss provides the familiar view of the waterfall near the distinctive Kirkjufell mountain. The stop is only 20 minutes, so you will need to move efficiently if you want photographs.

Djupalonssandur is a basalt-pebble beach with a rough, dramatic shoreline. You get about 45 minutes there, followed by a short coastal walk for birdlife and other natural features. The day offers a good balance between iconic scenery and a less polished coastal setting.

Days 12 and 13: Craters, lava waterfalls, and departure

Day 12 begins at Grabrok Crater. The walk to the top takes about 30 minutes and gives you a view into an old volcanic crater. It is a short but active start to the day.

Hraunfossar is formed by water flowing through lava rock before reaching the river. Nearby Barnafoss adds a faster, more forceful contrast. The stop lasts about 30 minutes, making this another quick scenic visit rather than a long walk.

On Day 13, you make your way to Keflavik Airport. The meeting information also says the activity ends back at the starting meeting point, so confirm the final transfer details before booking flights. The published schedule clearly directs you toward the airport, but the wording about the end point is not perfectly consistent.

Lodging, meals, and the real value of $7,228.71

At $7,228.71 per person, this is a major purchase. The price makes more sense when you count what is included: 12 nights of accommodation, 12 breakfasts, 11 dinners, guided transport for the full route, the Skogar Folk Museum, and the Glacier Lagoon boat ride.

The lodging is not marketed as luxury. Instead, you stay in a mix of hotels, guesthouses, and farmhouses, often in rural locations. That suits the route. A family-run farmhouse can feel more connected to Iceland than a standardized chain hotel, and several overnight locations are selected for their remote setting.

The included dinners are especially helpful because Iceland is expensive. You still pay for lunch, drinks, and anything not listed, so budget for those costs. A useful money-saving idea is to bring or buy picnic supplies for lunch, provided the timing and local rules allow it. Jens has been careful about finding suitable picnic locations, which can keep the daily budget under control.

The food quality can vary from place to place, as it does on any long tour, but the package removes the nightly task of finding dinner. That is a genuine convenience after a day of driving and walking.

Pace, comfort, and who should choose it

You need moderate physical fitness. The tour includes walks to Svartifoss and Grabrok Crater, coastal paths, waterfall viewpoints, uneven ground, and exposed areas around cliffs. You do not need to be a serious hiker, but walking sticks may help on some routes.

The vehicle is a standard Ford rather than a luxury Mercedes Sprinter. That helps keep the cost below some high-end alternatives, but you should not book this expecting a luxury transport experience. The small group and the companionship of fellow passengers are part of the trade.

The tour suits you best if you:

• Want to see nearly every major region of Iceland in one trip
• Prefer a guide and planned transport to self-driving
• Enjoy rural lodging and small villages
• Are happy with frequent hotel changes
• Can manage long drives and regular outdoor walks
• Want dinners and breakfasts included

It is less suitable if you want a relaxed base in Reykjavik, luxury hotels, long free afternoons, or a technically challenging outdoor trip.

The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed after booking. The operator may also alter the route because of weather or other conditions, a normal but important reality in Iceland. The tour requires a minimum number of participants, and if that number is not reached, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should you book the Great Round Tour?

I would choose this tour if your main goal is to see Iceland in depth without handling the driving, hotel bookings, meals, and route planning yourself. Jens Olafsson’s practical approach, historical explanations, folk stories, and careful scheduling add real value, especially on a route this long.

I would not choose it if you dislike moving every night or want a soft, slow holiday. For the right person, the high price buys access to remote parts of Iceland, a small group, included meals, and a route that goes well beyond the usual Golden Circle and Ring Road highlights. If you want the broadest possible first visit and can handle the pace, this is a strong choice.

FAQ

How long is the Great Round Tour?

The tour lasts approximately 13 days and includes 12 nights of accommodation.

What is included in the price?

The price includes guided transport according to the route, 12 nights of accommodation, 12 breakfasts, 11 dinners, admission to the Skogar Folk Museum, and a boat tour on the Glacier Lagoon.

Are lunches included?

No. Lunches are not included, and beverages are also extra.

How many people can join the tour?

The group has a maximum of 12 participants.

Who guides the tour?

The tour is led by Jens Olafsson of Fun Travel Iceland.

What level of fitness is required?

A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended. The route includes walking at waterfalls, national parks, coastal cliffs, lava fields, and Grabrok Crater.

Can the itinerary change?

Yes. The operator may alter the itinerary because of weather or other conditions outside its control. The tour also requires a minimum number of participants.