Iceland runs on water, fire, and wind. This 13-day small-group Iceland loop takes you from Reykjavík through the big-name sights and then out to the quieter Westfjords, with a tight plan that keeps you moving and seeing. I love that breakfasts and dinners are included (so you’re not constantly budgeting meals), and I love the mix of famous stops like Skógafoss and Glacier Lagoon with more remote scenes like Hraunfossar and the bird cliffs at Látrabjarg. One consideration: the days are full, with plenty of walking and some short hikes on uneven ground.

Jens Olafsson leads the trip, and the whole thing runs smoother because he handles the practical stuff—like nightly registrations—and keeps the driving and timing under control. You get context at each stop, so the geology and the Icelandic landscape you’re seeing starts making sense fast.

Key points before you go

• Max 12 people means fewer strangers, more chances to ask questions, and a calmer rhythm
• All breakfasts and most dinners are covered, which matters in Iceland’s high prices
• Glacier Lagoon boat tour on the agenda, not an optional add-on
• Westfjords time is real, with Látrabjarg bird cliffs and remote coast along Strandir
• Geothermal days are built as a route, from Krafla and Hverir to lava formations and pseudo-craters
• Short hikes and walks are part of the plan, including Svartifoss and Grabrok

Why this Iceland loop feels easier than DIY

This tour is built for people who want to see Iceland’s main regions without doing the spreadsheet work. In 13 days, you’re not just hitting a handful of icons—you’re covering the island’s variety: parks and waterfalls, glaciers and volcanic terrain, and the long, dramatic Westfjords coast.

The payoff is how the trip is paced. You’re on the road a lot (Iceland is not small), but the plan avoids long, pointless gaps. Instead you get a series of stops where each one connects to the next—geology to waterfalls, beaches to bird cliffs, lava to crater walks. That makes the drive feel purposeful, not like commuting.

And because the group stays small (up to 12), you spend less time waiting and more time out looking around—especially on windy viewpoints and at trailheads where timing can make or break photos.

Day 1 Reykjavík setup: starting at Hotel Klettur

Day 1 is simple: make your way to your hotel in Reykjavík. The listed meeting point is Hótel Klettur, Mjölnisholt 12–14, 105 Reykjavík. This matters because Reykjavík is where jet lag meets planning. If you don’t want to spend your first hours hunting check-in desks, you’ll appreciate that the rest of the trip is handled as a system.

If you arrive early, you can use the day to get your bearings, but the main value is that you’re not tossed into a full driving schedule immediately. You’re ready to roll the next morning.

Golden Circle day: Thingvellir, Gullfoss, and Geysir

Day 2 is one of those days where Iceland’s scale hits you early. You start at Þingvellir National Park, famous for Iceland’s old parliament site and for the geology—this is where you can see Earth’s forces in motion. You’ll have about an hour there, which is enough time to orient yourself and walk to key viewpoints without feeling rushed.

Then comes Gullfoss Falls. With about 1 hour 30 minutes, you get time to enjoy the waterfall and get your camera angles. This is one of those stops where you don’t need long hiking—just time to watch mist, rainbows, and the constant power of the water.

After that you move to the Geysir geothermal area. You’ll have around an hour. Expect hot steam, bubbling ground, and the kind of scene that looks staged even though it’s not. This stop works best if you take it slow—watch the activity, read the terrain, and you’ll start connecting it to what you’ll see later with Krafla and Hverir.

Practical thought: Iceland weather can change fast. Bring layers you can handle quickly, because fog or wind can turn a comfortable viewpoint into a chilly one fast.

South Coast intensity: waterfalls, Skógar Museum, black sand, and Dyrhólaey

Day 3 is classic South Coast energy. It’s also a good example of how this tour balances headline sights with variety.

You begin with Seljalandsfoss waterfall (short stop, about 20 minutes). It’s popular because it’s dramatic and close, and the short time means you can still keep the day moving.

Next is Skógafoss, with about 30 minutes. Skógafoss is the kind of waterfall you remember long after you leave Iceland, mostly because it’s massive and loud and you feel close to the action.

Then there’s an important add-on for context: Skogar Museum, included. You get about 1 hour 30 minutes here, which helps explain how Iceland’s people lived and adapted in a land shaped by weather and volcanic change.

After museum time, you head to Solheimajökull glacier (about 1 hour). This stop is short, so you’ll want to focus on the glacier views and how it sits in the surrounding terrain. It’s not a full expedition day—it’s your chance to see the glacier without having to book separate activities.

From there, you go to Dyrhólaey (about 45 minutes) and then Reynisfjara black sand beach (about 30 minutes). These coasts can be stunning, but they can also be rough, windy, and slick. Stay alert and follow local advice on where you can walk safely.

Day 3 is a lot. The trick is accepting that you won’t have a slow, lounge-y day. This is a “see everything without losing your mind” route.

Vatnajökull region: Skaftafell, Svartifoss, and the Glacier Lagoon boat tour

Day 4 takes you into some of the most striking Iceland terrain. You start with Skaftafell National Park for about 2 hours. This is the kind of place where you can look uphill and downhill and feel how much the ice and water shaped the area.

Then there’s the hike to Svartifoss waterfall. Plan about 1 hour 30 minutes. This one’s worth it because the trail gets you out of pure viewpoint mode and into proper walking—just enough effort to feel like you earned the view.

The highlight of the day is the Glacier Lagoon. You get a boat tour around the icebergs for about 2 hours, and it’s included. This is one of those moments where Iceland stops being a list of sites and turns into a moving scene. You’re not just looking—you’re watching chunks of ice drift and watching how light hits them.

Weather note: boat rides are weather-dependent in Iceland. The operator also reserves the right to alter the itinerary due to conditions outside their control, so keep flexible expectations.

East Iceland and the farmhouse stay: Modrudalur in the high country

Day 5 brings you into East Iceland’s more lived-in remoteness. You pass Hvalnes lighthouse (about 30 minutes) and then stop in the Egilsstadir area via Lagarfljót (about 30 minutes).

Then you reach Moorudalur (Modrudalur) farmhouse in the Modrudalur valley. This stay is included, and the description is part of why it matters: it’s the highest inhabited place in Iceland at 469 meters. You’ll spend about 14 hours in the day’s plan, which signals that this isn’t just a quick hotel swap—it’s a whole “we’re really here now” stop.

If you care about where you sleep, this is one of the most valuable parts of the itinerary. Farmhouse-style accommodations and remote guesthouses change the trip’s tone. You wake up feeling like you’re in the country, not beside the highway.

Day 6 continues the East/North power theme with Dettifoss, described as Europe’s mightiest waterfall. You’ll have about 45 minutes. Dettifoss is less about delicate beauty and more about sheer force, wide channels, and raw scale.

North Iceland geology: Dettifoss to Asbyrgi, Krafla, Dimmuborgir, and Hverir

Day 6 is basically a geology course, but in a good way. From Modrudalur, you drive to Asbyrgi (Shelter of the Gods), a horseshoe-shaped canyon, with about 30 minutes.

Then you move into active-looking volcanic terrain:

• Krafla lava fields (about 1 hour), with lava still warm more than 30 years after the eruption
• Dimmuborgir lava formations (about 30 minutes), a lava labyrinth
• Namafjall Hverir with boiling mud pots (about 20 minutes)
• Skútustaðagígar pseudo-craters (very short stop, about 5 minutes)

The big benefit here is that these aren’t random pull-offs. The itinerary groups them so you can compare one volcanic feature to another. You start to notice patterns: where steam rises, where the ground looks crusty and broken, and how water and heat interact.

Practical thought: bring shoes you trust. Iceland’s ground can be rocky and slippery, and even short walks benefit from traction.

Akureyri day: waterfall, church time, and Hvitserkur

Day 7 keeps variety high while still staying in the north. You start with Goðafoss, about 20 minutes. It’s called the Waterfall of the Gods, but the real draw is how accessible and striking it is for the time you get.

Then you head into Akureyri with free time of about 3 hours. You’re specifically set near Akureyrarkirkja. Use this time for a proper break: warm up, grab coffee, wander, and reset your legs.

After Akureyri, you stop at Siglufjörður (about 20 minutes). It’s a shorter stop, so treat it as a quick taste of the area rather than a deep-dive.

Then comes Hvitserkur, a rock formation shaped in an animal-like way. You get about 30 minutes, which is enough to enjoy it from a couple angles if the weather cooperates.

This is also a good day to manage expectations. It’s scenic, but you won’t have hours at every stop. That’s not a problem if you’re traveling for variety more than for slow museum hours.

Westfjords and Strandir: driftwood coast, Látrabjarg, and Rauðasandur

Day 8 is your jump into the remote Strandir area. You’ll drive along a coastline where parts are covered with driftwood, including on smaller black sandy beaches. The vibe here is different from the South Coast. It’s quieter, more spare, and it feels more like you’re viewing Iceland than touring it.

You continue to Ísafjörður and then overnight in Súðureyri, a small fishing village. This kind of overnight is key. If you only pass through, the Westfjords can feel like scenery from a bus window. Overnight time lets the area sink in.

Day 9 begins with Dynjandi (Fjallfoss) (about 45 minutes) and then hits the real wow-factor: Látrabjarg bird cliffs. It’s the westernmost point, and you’re looking at sheer cliffs about 400 meters above the sea, with birds living on a long stretch of coastline—about 14 kilometers.

This stop is timed for viewing, and it’s one where you should lean on binoculars if you have them. Even if you don’t, watching motion on cliff edges is part of the magic.

Day 10 moves along the Westfjords coast to Rauðasandur Beach, including the red sand. You’ll have about 1 hour. This is another good reminder that Iceland isn’t only black volcanic grit—color changes with rock and minerals.

The final stretch: Kirkjufellsfoss, Djúpalónssandur, Grabrok, and lava waterfalls

Day 11 is a string of “icon-ish” stops with enough time to actually enjoy them:

• Kirkjufellsfoss (about 20 minutes)
• Djúpalónssandur Beach (about 45 minutes), a basaltic pebble beach
• A short coastal cliff stroll for birdlife and nature

Then Day 12 finishes the tour with volcanic and lava features:

• Grabrok crater walk (about 30 minutes)
• Hraunfossar lava waterfalls and Barnafoss (about 30 minutes)

This ending day is smart. It closes the loop on Iceland’s volcanic story. By the time you see these lava waterfalls, earlier geothermal scenes feel connected instead of random.

Day 13 wraps with a drive toward Keflavík airport. The tour listing also indicates the program ends back at the original meeting point, so make sure your own flight plans match the operator’s final transfer instructions when you book.

Price and value: what $7,228.71 covers and what you must plan for

At $7,228.71 per person for a 13-day Iceland circuit, this isn’t a budget trip. But it can still be excellent value if you hate the DIY planning headache and want most of your essentials handled.

Here’s what you do get:

• Accommodation for 12 nights
• Breakfast (12) and dinner (11) included
• Guided tour throughout
• Admission to Skógar Museum
• Boat tour on the Glacier Lagoon (around icebergs)

What’s not included:

• Airfare to and from Iceland
• Lunch
• Beverages
• Anything else not specifically mentioned

Iceland food can be expensive, so budgeting for lunches is your biggest “surprise” risk. A smart move is to plan lunch your way—either by choosing affordable stops during free time or packing a simple picnic where it fits the schedule. This tour is structured enough that you’re not stuck buying lunch at random each day.

In short: you’re paying for time saved, driving handled, and key paid activities covered. If you compare similar routes that keep costs low by charging everything else separately, this one looks stronger.

Pace, walking, and packing tips that actually matter

This tour lists the requirement as moderate physical fitness level. That’s honest. You’re not doing technical hikes, but you are doing repeated short walks and a couple more active spots like Svartifoss and the Grabrok crater walk.

Bring:

• Layered clothes for wind and sudden temperature drops
• Rain protection (Iceland weather is not polite)
• Comfortable shoes with traction
• A walking stick if you like extra stability (it can help on uneven surfaces)

Also, keep the “weather reality” in mind. The operator can alter the itinerary due to conditions outside their control, so don’t plan your personal side trips tightly during the tour window. Let the main plan lead.

Group size is part of the pacing. With a maximum of 12 people, you’ll typically avoid the chaos of huge buses. You still need to be ready for early starts and fast transitions between stops.

Should you book the Great Round Tour (13 days) with Fun Travel Iceland?

Book this tour if you want:

• A small-group Ring Road-style experience that doesn’t skip the Westfjords
• Accommodation plus breakfast and dinner handled for you
• A mix of major icons and less obvious nature stops
• An expert guide lead who keeps the trip organized and the sites connected

Skip it (or think twice) if:

• You dislike busy itineraries and want slow, long stays in one place
• You’re not comfortable with moderate walking and short hikes
• You expect lots of free time with no structure

If your goal is to see Iceland’s full range in one trip without doing logistics yourself, this is one of the more practical ways to get it done—and you’ll finish with that rare feeling that the island’s stories matched what you actually saw.

FAQ

How long is The Great Round Tour: Around Iceland in 13 Days?

The tour lasts about 13 days.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Hótel Klettur in Reykjavík (Mjölnisholt 12-14, 105 Reykjavík). The experience ends back at the meeting point, and the final day includes making your way toward Keflavík airport.

What is the group size?

The tour has a maximum of 12 travelers.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

What meals and accommodations are included?

Accommodation is included for 12 nights. Breakfast is included for 12 days, and dinner is included for 11 days.

Which admissions and activities are included?

Included admissions and activities are the Folk Museum of Skogar and the Glacier Lagoon boat tour.

What is not included in the price?

Airfare to and from Iceland, lunch, beverages, and any services not mentioned in the included list are not included.

What physical fitness level is needed?

You should have a moderate physical fitness level.

Is the experience refundable or changeable if I cancel?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.

Can the itinerary change due to weather?

Yes. The operator reserves the right to alter the itinerary due to weather or other conditions outside its control.

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