Discover Iceland’s Majestic Landscapes
Iceland‘s landscape is one of the most evocative on the planet – mist-shrouded cliff-sides, inky black beaches, and ghostly blue glaciers. All of it creates an unrivalled atmosphere, making it essential that your Iceland road trip has a soundtrack just as majestic.
Click here to listen to the perfect playlist for your drive across the Land of Fire and Ice. The grand, moody instrumentals paired with ethereal – at times haunting – vocals create the ideal songscape for the green, mossy fields of southern Iceland, the jagged coastlines of the east and west, and the rocky expanses of the North.
The Classic Ring Road
For such a wild, wonderful land, much of Iceland is surprisingly compact; the classic Ring Road trip loops you near the most popular sights. With extra time, you can add on myriad adventures along the way.
The Golden Circle and the Southwest
The beautiful Golden Circle and southwest showcase many of Iceland’s most legendary natural wonders, and the further you go, the better it gets. Tourist favorites such as &THingvellir, the former Icelandic parliament at the meeting of tectonic plates, are just beyond the capital. Churning seas lead to the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago. Consequently, at the region’s far reaches, you’ll discover the powerful Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull volcanoes, adventure bases of Skógat and Vík, and the hidden valleys of Þórsmörk and Landmannalaugar.
Southeast Iceland
The 200km stretch of Ring Road from Kirkjubæjarklaustur to Höfn is mind-blowing, transporting you across stark deltas of grey glacial sand, past lost-looking farms, around the toes of craggy mountains, and alongside glacier tongues and ice-filled lagoons. The only thing you won’t pass is a town – however, there are properties offering brilliant activities, accommodation, and meals (plan ahead, as beds here are in high demand).
East Iceland
Many travelers hit the accelerator and follow the Ring Road as it ploughs through the east, but they may miss some hidden gems. This is a region that rewards slow travel: prepare yourself for superb vistas as the road skirts mountain peaks, steep-sided fjords, black-sand beaches, and broad valleys. Stop to admire tiny fishing villages bathed in creativity and take the time to explore ancient geology.
North Iceland
The region’s top sights revolve around two primary themes: a grumbling, volcanically active Earth and ice and water wending their way toward the ocean. Nature’s masterpieces are everywhere you look. Take in little Akureyri, with its surprising moments of big-city living; windy pastures full of stout Viking horses; white-water rapids ready to deliver an adrenaline kick; uncrowded ski fields; moon-like lava fields and belching mudpots; and lonely peninsulas stretching out toward the Arctic Circle.
West Iceland
Geographically close to Reykjavík yet far away in sentiment, West Iceland (known as Vesturland) is a splendid blend of Iceland’s offerings. Two of the best-known sagas, Egil’s Saga and Laxdæla Saga, took place along the region’s brooding waters, marked today by haunting cairns and an exceptional museum in lively Borgarnes. The long arm of Snæfellsnes Peninsula, inland lava tubes, and remote highland glaciers provide enticing prospects for every traveler.
