The Great Round Tour: Around Iceland in 13 Days

This trip is interesting because it’s a full-country circuit that hits glaciers, waterfalls, volcano country, and the remote Westfjords without turning your day into a chaotic scavenger hunt. Small-group travel (max 12) also helps you move efficiently, with time for real stops instead of just rushing through. You’ll be spending a lot of hours in a vehicle, so it is best if you enjoy riding between sights and soaking in views along the way.

I like that this tour builds in actual time outdoors, not just photo pull-offs. The route also combines big-name Iceland hits with quieter places that feel more personal, like the long coastline drives in the Westfjords and Strandir. Most importantly for comfort, all accommodation, breakfast, and dinner are included for the bulk of the trip.

One consideration is the pace: you cover a lot of ground in 13 days, so you’ll want a realistic view of daily walking and changing locations every night. Weather can also shift timing, so you should pack for cold and wind and be ready to roll with plan B.

Key points to know before you go

• Max 12 people means a quieter, more personal rhythm on the road
• 12 nights of lodging plus breakfast and dinner cuts down daily planning and cost
• Folk Museum of Skogar and the Glacier Lagoon boat tour are included highlights
• Westfjords and Strandir bring long coast drives and dramatic bird cliff scenery
• Light hikes are part of the plan, including Svartifoss and Grabrok Crater
• Most admission is free, but a few key sites are paid and included

Entering The Iceland Round Tour Rhythm: Why This One Feels Easy

If you want to see Iceland end to end, the hardest part is not the driving. It’s choosing between dozens of competing stops, figuring out how long each one truly takes, and then repeating the same stress every day. This tour’s big appeal is that it organizes the geography for you, then spaces it just enough that you can actually enjoy the stops instead of just checking boxes.

I also like the way the trip leans into variety. In a single day you can go from cold geothermal ground to roaring falls, then to a glacier setting and back to black sand beaches. That mix matters because Iceland rewards curiosity. You start noticing patterns, like how volcanic and glacial forces shape everything from cliffs to craters.

The small-group format helps too. With up to 12 travelers, you get a group size where you can hear the guide, follow along easily, and ask questions without feeling like you’re trapped in a long line of strangers. It also makes quick schedule changes less painful when Iceland weather does what it does.

And yes, the driving days are real. You will spend time on the road, including the big jump across the Westfjords area. But the itinerary is built so each drive leads to a specific target, not just wandering.

Price And Value: What You Pay For, What You Still Need To Budget

The price is $7,228.71 per person for about 13 days, and this is a tour you typically book roughly 106 days in advance. At first glance, it can look steep, until you break down what you get.

You are paying for:

• Accommodation for 12 nights
• Breakfast 12 times and dinner 11 times
• A guided tour that follows the route each day
• Admission to the Folk Museum of Skogar
• Boat tour on the Glacier Lagoon

What you do not get:

• Lunch (you handle it)
• Beverages
• Airfare to and from Iceland
• Any other services not listed above

Now here is why this matters in Iceland. Meals and drink costs can add up fast, especially when you’re hopping from town to town with limited time. Having breakfasts and dinners included removes that daily decision fatigue and helps you control spending. It also lets you focus on the scenery, not the menu.

Also, most stops list free admission. That means your money is mostly going toward the big included experiences and the logistics of keeping you on track. If you have ever tried to build a Westfjords day by day schedule yourself, you know how quickly the planning gets complicated.

Your Guide Experience: Small Group, Expert Driving, Less Hotel Stress

This tour is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. The group maximum is 12 travelers, and the operator is Fun Travel Iceland. The guide on this route is named Jens Olafsson, and the way he runs the trip is a major part of why people feel the value is real.

One practical advantage: Jens handles the nightly location changes so you are not stuck at the front desk solving check-in issues while everyone else is waiting. That sounds small, but after multiple days of long driving, it saves energy. It also keeps the group moving as one unit.

Driving quality also matters. Iceland roads can be narrow and weather-sensitive, and this route stacks a lot of distance into a short time. When the schedule is managed well, you spend more time outside at the stops you came for.

As for comfort, you should expect a mix of towns and more remote areas. Reviews tied to this tour highlight farmhouse-style stays and family-owned lodging in quieter parts of the island. That type of setting can be part of the charm, but it also means fewer late-night options. Plan on being ready for dinner when it’s offered.

Day 1 in Reykjavik: Getting Set Up for Iceland Time

Day 1 is simple: make your way to the hotel in Reykjavik. The meeting point is Hótel Klettur, Mjölnisholt 12-14, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland.

This start is useful because it gives you one job, settle in. Reykjavik is also the easiest place to manage gear. Use Day 1 to confirm what you are wearing for windy viewpoints tomorrow and what you still need to pick up. If you’re the type who likes to organize bags the night before, do it here. It will pay off when you’re in and out of vehicles all week.

Day 2: Thingvellir, Gullfoss, and the Geothermal Punch of Geysir

Day 2 is classic Iceland energy, starting with Thingvellir National Park. It’s where you get both a historical sense and a strong geological setting, because the area is tied to Iceland’s old parliament and also to the country’s geological story. Expect a mix of walking around viewpoints and soaking in the scale of the park.

Next is Gullfoss Falls, the Golden Waterfall. It’s an hour and a half stop that’s built for you to get close enough for the roar to be real. Bring a layer even if the day looks mild, because waterfall spray and wind can surprise you.

Then the geothermal trio ends at Geysir, in the geothermal area. This is your reset into heat and motion, a different feel than the falls. The time here is about an hour, so it’s best to keep your expectations focused: quick, visual, and worth it.

If you like a day where you can stop often without feeling rushed, Day 2 does a nice job. If you prefer deeper museum-style time, you might wish for more, but the itinerary is about variety.

Day 3: South Coast Waterfalls, Black Sand, and the Glacier Feeling

Day 3 is a big day of contrasts, all focused on the South Coast.

You start at Seljalandsfoss, then move to Skogafoss. Both are short stops, but they are short in a good way. They give you enough time to get photos from different angles and to walk a bit around the area.

Next comes Skogar Museum, where the admission is included and the visit runs about an hour and a half. This is one of those stops that adds context. When you spend most of the day outdoors, having one indoor cultural stop helps you remember that Iceland is not just geology, it’s also people and traditions.

After that, you hit Solheimajokull Glacier. The stop is about an hour. This is not positioned as a major trek day, so go with the mindset of seeing the glacier presence and feeling the cold air, not trying to turn it into an all-day adventure.

Then the route swings toward coastline drama with Dyrholaey and Reynisfjara Beach, the black sand beach. Time is tight at both, about 45 minutes and 30 minutes. Treat these as your big-view checkpoints.

Practical tip: South Coast days often feel long even when each stop is short. Keep your camera battery charged and your jacket accessible. You will be stepping out of the vehicle frequently.

Day 4: Skaftafell, Svartifoss Hike, and the Glacier Lagoon Boat Tour

Day 4 turns more active. You begin at Skaftafell National Park for about two hours. It’s a base for exploring glacier and mountain scenery without committing to a full multi-hour hike right away.

Then you go to Svartifoss Waterfall, with about 1 hour and 30 minutes for the hike. This is one of the clearer “get your shoes on” moments in the trip. If you have moderate fitness, you’ll be fine, but you should come prepared for uneven ground and cold wind.

The day’s centerpiece is the Glacier Lagoon boat tour, about two hours. This one is included, and it’s the stop that turns the glacier from a landscape feature into something you’re actually seeing from water level. Since the itinerary lists the boat tour as included and the other day elements as mostly free admission, this is where a lot of your tour value concentrates.

You end the day with a sense of Iceland that feels closer and more three-dimensional than the viewpoint-only stops.

Day 5: Lighthouse Views, Egilsstadir Area Stops, and Moorudalur Farm Stay

Day 5 opens with Hvalnes Lighthouse for about 30 minutes, then moves to Lagarfljot near the Egilsstadir area. These are short stops, but they help stretch the day so you get variety without burning the clock.

The big event is Moorudalur Farm. The plan says you stay in Modrudalur valley, described as the highest inhabited place in the country at 469 m above sea level. This is an included stay with about 14 hours on the plan, which likely reflects travel time plus a full evening.

Farm stays can be the highlight for people who like calmer evenings and good home-style food. If you’re used to hotels, the change of pace is worth embracing. You’ll feel the remoteness more here than in Reykjavik.

From a practical standpoint, this is a night where you should settle in early. Tomorrow is long and involves some of the most intense natural sights on the route.

Day 6: Dettifoss Power, Asbyrgi Canyon, and Volcanic Geothermal Country

Day 6 is built around some of Iceland’s heaviest geology.

First is Dettifoss, described as Europe’s mightiest waterfall. The stop is about 45 minutes. This is one of those places where time is enough. You’ll feel the force quickly, and more time won’t necessarily add comfort, because it can be cold and windy.

Next is Asbyrgi, nicknamed Shelter of the Gods, a horseshoe-shaped canyon. It’s a short stop, about 30 minutes, which helps you enjoy it without turning it into a long hike day.

Then you move into volcanic and geothermal zones: Krafla Lava Fields, Dimmuborgir Lava Formations, and Namafjall Hverir. You end with Skutustaoagigar, pseudo craters, for a quick look.

A useful way to understand this day is that it’s not random. These stops show different faces of the same theme: heat from below, land shaped by eruptions, and geothermal surface activity that feels otherworldly up close.

This is also a day where footwear matters. Even when the walks are short, you are moving over ground shaped by volcanic processes.

Day 7: Godafoss, Free Time in Akureyri, and Hvitserkur’s Weird Rock

Day 7 mixes icons with breathing space.

You start with Godafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods, for about 20 minutes. Then you get free time in Akureyri for about three hours. That window is valuable because it gives you a town break. You can stretch, grab a snack, and reset.

After Akureyri, you stop in Siglufjörður for about 20 minutes. Then you visit Hvitserkur, a rock formation for about 30 minutes.

This day’s structure is smart if you like a rhythm that alternates between big nature stops and a human-scale break. If you dislike driving days, this is one of the calmer-feeling days because of the town time.

Day 8: Hrutafjordur to Strandir, Driftwood Coastlines, and Overnight in Sudureyri

Day 8 is your turn toward the remote side of the island. The route goes from Hrutafjordur to the Strandir area, known in the itinerary description for coastlines covered with driftwood and for black sandy beaches you encounter along the way.

From there you continue to the village of Isafjordur, then head to Sudureyri for the overnight stay.

This day is valuable because it shifts you from the well-trodden tourist energy to a quieter coastal feel. You are also seeing a different kind of coastline, one that emphasizes remoteness rather than landmarks. If you love birdlife and wide views, you’ll likely appreciate the slower pacing of coastal driving.

Pack for wind here. Coastal areas can feel colder, even when the air in Reykjavik might have you thinking you’re done with layers.

Day 9: Westfjords Bird Cliffs at Latrabjarg and the Power of Dynjandi

Day 9 is two big nature stops.

First is Dynjandi (Fjallfoss) for about 45 minutes. It’s a waterfall stop that fits well after the long Westfjords drive. Then you go to Latrabjarg, the westernmost point, for about an hour.

Latrabjarg is described as a 14 km long and sheer cliff protruding 400 m from the sea, with thousands of individuals of different bird species. This is the part of the trip where wildlife scenery becomes the main event, not just scenery around the water.

If you are the type who enjoys spotting motion in the distance, this will likely be one of your favorite days. If you only want waterfalls and glaciers, you might find it slower, but it’s a necessary balance for the region.

Day 10: Rauðasandur Red Sand and the Vast West Side Feeling

Day 10 is about coastline and color. You visit Rauðasandur Beach for about an hour, with the itinerary describing it as red sand.

The broader point of the day is that you’re touring the southern side of the Westfjords, one of the sparsely populated parts of the country. That matters because it changes your expectations. You’re not looking for crowds or cafes. You’re looking for open space and long views.

If you love the idea of Iceland as quiet and wild, this is where that feeling starts to click. If you need constant town time, you may have to create your own breaks with the group’s stops.

Day 11: Kirkjufellsfoss, Djupalonssandur Pebbles, and Coastal Cliff Strolls

Day 11 begins at Kirkjufellsfoss for about 20 minutes. It’s short, but the stop acts as a final push into Iceland’s iconic waterfall-and-coast pattern.

Then comes Djupalonssandur Beach, about 45 minutes, described as a basaltic pebble beach. After that, you get a short stroll along coastal cliffs with access to rich birdlife and other nature wonders.

This day is a good reminder that “walk time” is part of the deal. Even if the stops look short on paper, the walking is real, and the ground can be uneven. A light day hike mindset helps here.

Day 12: Grabrok Crater Walk and Hraunfossar Lava Waterfalls

Day 12 is another mix of viewpoint and movement.

You walk to the top of Grabrok Crater for about 30 minutes. Then you visit Hraunfossar, the lava waterfalls, plus Barnafoss, also about 30 minutes.

The combination works well because crater walking gives you a sense of the volcanic shape of the area, then the lava waterfalls show water moving through a lava field. It’s a good pairing for understanding how Iceland’s forces work together.

If you are feeling tired at this point, you’ll still benefit from taking it slow. This isn’t a marathon day, but it’s a day where the air and the wind can make time outside feel longer than you expect.

Day 13: Toward Keflavik Airport, Ending Back at the Meeting Point

On Day 13, you make your way to Keflavik airport. The tour info also says the activity ends back at the meeting point.

Because these details can affect your schedule, you should double-check the exact drop-off arrangement when you book. Your goal is to ensure you have the right timing for your flight, not to guess.

This final day is about transition. Use it to confirm any last-minute logistics for getting home, and keep your packing organized so you’re not doing a rushed bag shuffle in the lobby.

Who This Tour Fits Best, And Who Might Want Another Option

This tour is a strong fit if you want to see major Iceland highlights plus the Westfjords, while keeping planning stress low. You also like a day-by-day plan that is structured but still leaves you enough moments to pause and take in views.

It’s also well suited for people who enjoy light hiking and walking, since Svartifoss and Grabrok Crater are part of the route. The tour asks for moderate physical fitness, so you don’t need to be an athlete, but you should be comfortable walking on uneven ground.

I’d consider it less ideal if you dislike driving days and want long town stays built into the schedule. The itinerary is built to move. Even when you have free time, it’s time you’re using to reset, not to slow down the whole trip.

If you are traveling solo, this can feel particularly good because the small-group format makes companionship easier on the road. You still have your own space, but you aren’t isolated.

How To Prepare: Packing for Iceland Wind, Cold, and Frequent Stops

Your itinerary includes waterfalls, cliffs, beaches, and geothermal areas, so pack for changing weather. Layers matter more than you think, especially when wind hits you at viewpoints.

Bring:

• A warm outer layer for stops near water and cliffs
• Comfortable shoes for short hikes and uneven ground
• A rain layer, because Iceland weather can shift fast
• A plan for lunch, since lunch is not included

Also, keep your day bag simple. With frequent stops, you want to be able to grab your jacket quickly and move on. The guide and schedule keep things flowing, but you are the one who controls your comfort.

Should You Book The Great Round Tour?

Book this tour if your top priority is a high-coverage Iceland circuit with meals and lodging handled, plus strong natural highlights from the Golden Circle to the Westfjords. The included Folk Museum of Skogar and Glacier Lagoon boat tour help justify the price, and the small-group size keeps the experience from feeling like a cattle-car version of Ring Road travel.

Skip it or compare alternatives if you want more free time per day, or if you strongly dislike long drives and frequent nightly moves. Iceland is weather-dependent, and this route is designed for efficient sightseeing, not a slow, lingering retreat.

If you like structure, want variety, and can handle moderate walking, this is one of the cleaner ways to do Iceland end to end.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The Great Round Tour is approximately 13 days.

How many nights of accommodation are included?

The tour includes accommodation for 12 nights.

What is included in the price?

Included are accommodation for 12 nights, breakfast (12), dinner (11), a guided tour, admission to the Folk Museum of Skogar, and a boat tour on the Glacier Lagoon.

What is not included?

Airfare to and from Iceland, lunch, beverages, and any services not listed as included are not included.

How big is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 12 travelers.

Is the tour physically demanding?

The tour is described as suitable for travelers with a moderate physical fitness level.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Is it refundable if I cancel?

This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.