Iceland
Iconic Road Trips

As the most sparsely-populated country in Europe, you’ll feel like you have Iceland all to yourself, and it’s this solitude which has allowed the scenery to take on a life of its own. Uninterrupted by urbanisation, natural forces have carved some of the most exquisitely arresting surroundings in the world, and with over 8,000 miles of roads snaking their way through the cinematic landscapes, this is the place for intrepid drivers and avid adventurers. Head along the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland for vistas so epic that they almost defy description. Make a pitstop in Hveragerði – the ‘hot springs capital of the world’ – and take advantage of the country’s famed geothermal activity with a visit to the Blue Lagoon’s mineral-rich geothermal spa.

Given the diversity of the terrain, Iceland road trips often involve an array of vehicles. For traversing Grindavík’s volcanic topography, trade your hire car for an ATV and take a mountain-top safari with breath-taking views of the Blue Lagoon. Switch to a snowmobile for a tour of the Eyjafjallajökull glacier, where the astonishingly surreal landscapes once again take centre stage. For an exploration of Þórsmörk, the dramatic mountain range named after the Norse god Thor, our expert guide will take you on a Super Jeep tour of the area. En route from Vík – the nation’s southernmost village – to the Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull volcanoes, you’ll pass the stunning Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, with the road taking you from dreamlike snowscapes to lava-layered landscapes to black sand beaches all in the same day.

Iceland road trips wouldn’t be complete without time spent travelling the ‘Golden Circle’, the country’s most popular sightseeing route. Covering 155 miles, the loop includes some iconic Icelandic attractions, including Þingvellir National Park (where the world’s first parliament took place in 930 AD), Gullfoss Waterfall (meaning ‘the golden falls’) and Geysir (the namesake of geysers). For the more adventurous travellers, the Westfjords Way is Iceland’s newest touring route, travelled to by less than 10% of the country’s visitors; the archaic landscapes are natural backdrops for the myths and legends which percolate the region’s past. If you fancy taking a break from the road, you can set sail from the Snæfellsnes coast and discover the collection of islands around Breiðafjörður, where you’ll have the opportunity to sample fresh seafood, straight from the source.