The Great Round Tour: Around Iceland in 13 Days

A 13-day loop around Iceland is interesting because you hit famous sites and still reach quieter corners, including the Westfjords. I like the small-group size (max 12) because the days feel less rushed and more personal. I also like that accommodation, breakfast, and dinner are built into the price, so you are not constantly pricing meals and beds in between stops. Your guide, Jens Olafsson, also brings a steady mix of driving skill and on-the-ground context as you go.

The one drawback to plan for is the pace and the walking. This trip includes short hikes and some uneven terrain, and you should have moderate physical fitness, plus flexibility if weather forces route changes.

Key highlights to know before you go

• Max 12 travelers keeps the group manageable and helps the guide move with real timing.
• All lodging plus most meals included cuts the usual Iceland overhead: you budget less for hotels and dinners.
• Glacier Lagoon boat tour adds a different way to see ice, not just waterfalls and viewpoints.
• Westfjords coverage takes you beyond the classic ring-road checklist, including bird cliffs and remote coastline.
• Practical, hands-on guiding shows up in how Jens handles logistics and registration when you change locations.
• Light hiking at key stops like Svartifoss and Grabrok means you pack for short, active stretches.

What this Great Round Tour is really like, not just where it goes

This is a “see a lot” Iceland trip, but it does not feel like a cattle-car checklist. With a group capped at 12, the rhythm is more human: there is time for photos, a real pace of short walks when the views are worth it, and chances to ask questions instead of just hearing facts over engine noise.

The biggest value is how the trip is assembled for you. You do not have to line up hotel reservations across the island or figure out which day needs a long meal stop. Lodging for 12 nights plus breakfasts and 11 dinners help you stay focused on the scenery and the drive, not on logistics. And because the tour is led by a local guide named Jens Olafsson, the day-to-day explanations have a personal feel, not just a script.

Still, Iceland is Iceland. Roads, wind, and rain can turn a “perfect photo hour” into a “good enough, keep moving” moment. The operator reserves the right to alter the itinerary due to weather, so you will get the best experience if you treat it like a flexible adventure, not a promise of specific angles.

Price and value: why $7,228.71 can make sense for this specific package

Yes, the total price looks high at first glance. But you are not only paying for a car and a driver. You are paying for a full 13-day Iceland circuit that includes 12 nights accommodation, 12 breakfasts, and 11 dinners, plus selected admissions and a boat tour.

A lot of Iceland travelers get surprised by how expensive the basics get once you are on the island. Lunch is not included, and beverages are not included, so you still need a daily budget. But by handling lodging and most meals in advance, you reduce the biggest planning headache and avoid the most variable costs.

A useful way to think about it is this: if you tried to build the same route yourself, you would likely spend serious money on hotels and guided time, and you would still be managing transfers and daily timing. This tour compresses that work for you, which is part of why it earns a strong reputation for value.

Your guide, Jens Olafsson, and the small-group rhythm

Small-group tours in Iceland can be hit-or-miss if the schedule is too tight. Here, the goal seems to be balance: you get iconic stops, you also get stops that feel more local, and the transitions are handled so you spend less time waiting around.

Jens Olson also shows up in the practical details. In the field, he manages the daily flow and the registration process when you change hotels, which sounds minor until you are doing it at the end of a long driving day. People also highlight how he drives with confidence and manages the schedule with expertise, so the trip stays within the plan more often than not.

One more note from the overall feel of the experience: this is not a luxury-style slow travel. If you want a quiet, lounge-by-the-window trip, this may feel intense. If you want high-impact Iceland with breaks for walking and photos, it fits well.

Day 1 in Reykjavik: get oriented, then hit the road

Day 1 is simple: you make your way to the hotel in Reykjavik. Your starting point is Hótel Klettur, Mjölnisholt 12-14, 105 Reykjavík, and the tour ends back near the same meeting point. This matters because it reduces the “where do we meet now?” stress.

If you arrive early, I like using the first day to calm your brain and adapt to Iceland time. Reykjavik is compact enough that you can still have a meaningful evening, even if you plan to start day 2 fresh.

Day 2 Golden Circle starter: Thingvellir, Gullfoss, and Geysir

Thingvellir National Park is where geology and history overlap. You are looking at a rift landscape, tied to the old parliament site, so it is not just scenic. You also get a solid foothold in the idea that Iceland is a place where the ground itself is still making decisions.

Then you move to Gullfoss, the Golden Waterfall. The appeal here is straightforward, it is big power, clean lines, and the kind of view you remember when the rest of the trip starts blending into “more waterfalls.”

Finally comes the Geysir geothermal area. It adds the sense of Iceland as a living system, steam rising where the ground is actively cooking. The best part of this day is that it mixes types of Iceland in one arc: fault lines, waterfall force, and geothermal energy.

A small consideration: this is early Iceland variety, so your first-day camera battery life matters.

Day 3 on the South Coast: Seljalandsfoss to Reynisfjara black sand

Seljalandsfoss is the classic South Coast waterfall with a twist. You spend time here and you feel why it is a repeat favorite, because you can get different angles and see how the water behaves around the rock.

Skogafoss follows with a different feel, more vertical power, more spray, and a wide view that makes it easy to understand why this region stays on postcards. If you like waterfalls, day 3 is your payoff.

Skogar Museum breaks the pattern with a cultural lens. It is an included admission stop, and it helps you connect Iceland’s landscape with the people who lived off it, farmed it, and built traditions around it.

Solheimajokull glacier is next, giving you a chance to shift from waterfalls to ice. Then Dyrholaey offers coastal views that can look almost unreal depending on weather and light. The day ends with Reynisfjara, the black sand beach. This is where Iceland gets dramatic, dark sand, rock forms, and strong winds that can turn a casual stroll into a real test of jacket zippers.

Practical note: pack for wind. Even on “free” stops, you are still outside long enough to feel it.

Day 4 Skaftafell and the glacier lagoon boat tour

Skaftafell National Park is a strong continuation of the South Coast theme, with hikes to waterfalls like Svartifoss. The Svartifoss walk is short but active, and it pays off with a waterfall scene where the rock shapes do a lot of the talking.

Then you head to the Glacier Lagoon for a boat tour around the icebergs. This is a key difference day. Instead of only seeing ice from shore, you get a moving perspective. It is a memorable change of pace, and it is also included, so you avoid a common extra ticket cost.

This day works well if you want more than one type of Iceland spectacle. Waterfalls give you height and force, ice gives you scale and stillness.

Possible drawback: the boat experience is weather dependent in most Iceland settings, so your comfort level with changing conditions matters.

Day 5 Eastfjords travel to the Modrudalur valley farmhouse stay

You start with Hvalnes lighthouse, a quiet stop that often feels more atmospheric than the big-name sights. It is a reminder that Iceland has coastlines beyond the busiest corridors.

Then you pass through the Lagarfljot area and the town of Egilsstadir. This is where the trip shifts from “icon hunting” to “living geography,” and you start seeing how towns sit inside long drives and wide skies.

The highlight of day 5 is the long stay connected with Moorudalur Farm in the Modrudalur valley. This is the highest inhabited place in the country at 469 meters above sea level, and you get an included stay there. It sounds like a detail, but it matters because it changes the feel of the day. You are not just sleeping in a hotel, you are spending time in a working landscape.

Long driving days can feel harder emotionally than physically. A farmhouse-style stop can make that fatigue feel worthwhile.

Day 6 Mývatn and North Iceland geology: Dettifoss, Krafla, Hverir

Dettifoss, the mighty waterfall, is a strong morning reset. It is not just scenic, it is loud, powerful, and built to dwarf your sense of scale. If you like waterfalls, this is a heavyweight hitter.

Asbyrgi, also called Shelter of the Gods, adds a canyon shape that makes you feel tiny. Krafla Lava Fields then follow the theme of Iceland’s ground still active. People often find these stops oddly fascinating because you can see evidence of change without a single building in sight.

Dimmuborgir, the lava labyrinth, gives you the “walk through weird rock” feeling. Then Namafjall Hverir delivers boiling mud pots, steam, and a surreal mix of colors. Skutustaoagigar, pseudo craters, rounds it out with small-scale landforms that help you read the bigger volcanic story.

This is one of the most geology-heavy days on the route. If you are traveling with family or people who get bored by rocks, you might want to remind them this day is about sights you cannot really replicate anywhere else.

Day 7 Godafoss, Akureyri free time, and the rock at Hvitserkur

Godafoss is called the Waterfall of the Gods, and it lives up to the mythology-friendly name. It is another “power meets beauty” stop, and it works even if you have already seen several waterfalls earlier in the trip.

Akureyri is next, with free time. That pause is valuable because you can step off the schedule and do your own thing, whether that is walking around town or just grabbing a calm break before more driving.

Siglufjordur adds a small-town coastal feel. Then Hvitserkur, a rock formation shaped like something living, makes you stop and stare. It is the kind of view that is hard to describe until you see it.

The best part of day 7 is that it gives you a balanced menu, waterfalls, a town break, and a dramatic coastal rock.

Day 8 into the Westfjords: Hrutafjordur, driftwood shores, Isafjordur, Sudureyri

Day 8 is about getting to the Westfjords and letting the coast do the storytelling. You drive from Hrutafjordur into the remote Strandir area, where parts of the coastline are covered with driftwood. That detail matters because it makes the scenery feel lived-in by nature, not just visited.

You also pass black sandy beaches in this area. Then you continue driving toward Isafjordur and head for an overnight stay in the small fishing village of Sudureyri.

This is a “day that looks slower on paper” but feels important in real life. The Westfjords are more sparsely populated, and that quiet changes how you process the trip. You start noticing light, wind direction, and coastline shapes more than just stopping at the next famous point.

Day 9 bird cliffs and the far western drama: Dynjandi and Latrabjarg

Dynjandi, also known as Fjallfoss, is a waterfall experience with extra personality. It is a good day opener because it gives you movement and an immediate sense of scale.

Then comes Latrabjarg bird cliffs. Iceland’s westernmost point is also one of the best places on the island for bird viewing, with thousands of birds over a long stretch of sheer cliff. You get about an hour here, which is enough to walk, scan, and settle into the rhythm of watching without feeling rushed.

Even if birds are not your top interest, this stop is worth it for the cliff geometry and the sense of place. The Westfjords feel at their most dramatic around here.

Day 10 Raudasandur red sand in the sparsely populated Westfjords

Raudasandur, or The Red Sands, is a different color story from the rest of Iceland’s usual black and gray palette. The Westfjords are also described as among the most sparsely populated parts of the country, which helps explain why this day can feel both remote and surprisingly peaceful.

You spend about an hour here as you continue along the southern side of the Westfjords. The value of this stop is contrast. You already saw waterfalls and ice and lava, now you get sand that looks like it belongs on another planet.

If wind is strong, you will want a jacket that you trust and shoes with solid grip.

Day 11 toward the finish: Kirkjufellsfoss and Djupalonssandur pebble beach

Kirkjufellsfoss is one of the most photographed waterfall settings in Iceland, and you only need 20 minutes to see why. It has a postcard silhouette, but even that short stop feels like a payoff because you are near the end of the trip and the scenery starts to click into place.

Djupalonssandur is a basaltic pebble beach, and you get time to wander along the shore. There is also a short stroll along coastal cliffs for birdlife and other natural wonders. This is a lighter, more flexible kind of day before the final geothermal and lava-waterfall closeout.

If you are tired by day 11, this is still a good day. You are not stuck on constant hikes. You can pace yourself with short walks and frequent photo pauses.

Day 12 volcanic leftovers and lava waterfalls: Grabrok to Hraunfossar and Barnafoss

Grabrok crater is a short walk up toward the top. It is not a long trek, but it gives you that “look down at the landforms” feeling that makes Iceland click as a volcanic system rather than a set of isolated attractions.

Then Hraunfossar and Barnafoss arrive as lava waterfalls. The effect is subtle compared to huge curtain waterfalls, and that is the point. Lava channels and slow flows create a different kind of beauty that rewards attention.

This is a good last full day because it ties together what you have been seeing since day 2: water shaped by geology, and landforms shaped by time.

Day 13 flying out: transfer to Keflavik airport

Day 13 is straightforward, you make your way to Keflavik airport. Returning to the meeting point is part of the tour design earlier and helps keep the overall plan clean.

If you book flights, plan for travel time with a little breathing room. Iceland weather can be unpredictable, and the operator already notes that itinerary changes can happen due to weather and other outside conditions.

Practical tips so you enjoy the driving days and short walks

Iceland rewards preparation, even on a tour that handles most details for you.

• Pack layers, not a single heavy jacket. Wind and rain can swing your comfort fast.
• Bring footwear with grip. Several stops involve short hikes or uneven ground.
• If you like to walk, consider trekking poles or a walking stick. People on this kind of route often find it helpful on steeper, slick sections.
• Plan for photos that happen fast. Many stops are short, so be ready when you arrive.
• Budget for lunch and beverages. Lunch is not included, and drinks can add up quickly in Iceland.

Also, keep your expectations aligned with the tour style. This is not a slow village-hopping retreat. It is a ring-road-like circuit plus the Westfjords, built for people who want to see a lot while still having a human-sized group.

Should you book the Great Round Tour around Iceland?

Book it if you want a small-group circuit that includes lodging and meals so you can focus on the country itself. You will likely love the balance of big icons like Gullfoss and Skogafoss with the geology-heavy days around Krafla and Hverir, then the remote payoff of the Westfjords, including Latrabjarg bird cliffs and Raudasandur red sand.

Skip it if you are looking for a relaxed pace with minimal walking. This route covers lots of ground, and even the hikes are short, you still need comfort with doing them in wind and changeable weather.

If your ideal Iceland trip is a well-run plan with expert driving, practical support, and enough variety to feel like you understand the island, this tour is a strong match.