Day 1: Reykjavik to the Golden Circle

• Morning: Pick up your rental car in Reykjavik and begin your drive on the Golden Circle route.

• First stop: Thingvellir National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.

• Next, visit Geysir geothermal area to witness the spouting hot springs, including the active Strokkur geyser.

• End the morning at Gullfoss Waterfall, one of Iceland’s most famous and powerful waterfalls.

• Afternoon: Continue driving to Kerið Crater, a striking volcanic crater lake.

• Evening: Stay overnight in the Flúðir or Hella area. Consider a visit to the Secret Lagoon, a more secluded hot spring.

Day 2: South Coast to Vik

• Morning: Drive along Iceland’s stunning south coast, starting with Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, which you can walk behind.

• Continue to the majestic Skógafoss Waterfall, a 60-meter drop that’s awe-inspiring.

• Afternoon: Visit the Sólheimajökull Glacier, where you can take a short hike to the glacier’s edge or book a glacier walk.

• Head to the black sand beaches of Reynisfjara, famous for its basalt columns and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks.

• Explore the charming village of Vik.

• Evening: Stay overnight in Vik or nearby Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

Day 3: Skaftafell & Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

• Morning: Drive towards Skaftafell National Park, part of Vatnajökull National Park. Enjoy a scenic hike to Svartifoss, a waterfall framed by black basalt columns.

• Afternoon: Continue east to the breathtaking Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where you can see icebergs floating in the lagoon.

• Just across the road, visit Diamond Beach, where chunks of ice from the glacier wash ashore on black sand.

• Evening: Stay overnight in the Höfn area, known for its delicious lobster.

Day 4: East Fjords

• Morning: Begin your scenic drive through the East Fjords, a more remote and less touristy part of Iceland with dramatic landscapes and winding coastal roads.

• Stop in the picturesque fishing village of Djúpivogur, where you can stroll along the harbor.

• Afternoon: Continue through charming fjord towns like Fáskrúðsfjörður or Seyðisfjörður, known for its colorful houses and artistic vibe.

• You might spot reindeer in this region, especially around Egilsstaðir.

• Evening: Stay overnight in Egilsstaðir, the largest town in East Iceland, or a nearby village.

Day 5: Lake Mývatn and North Iceland

• Morning: Drive towards Lake Mývatn, an area of intense geothermal activity and unique landscapes.

• Visit the Námafjall Hverir geothermal area, with bubbling mud pots and steaming fumaroles.

• Walk through the lava formations at Dimmuborgir, often referred to as the “Dark Castles.”

• Afternoon: Soak in the relaxing Mývatn Nature Baths, a less crowded alternative to the Blue Lagoon.

• Visit Grjótagjá, a cave with a geothermal hot spring made famous by "Game of Thrones."

• Evening: Stay overnight in Mývatn or Húsavík.

Day 6: Húsavík and Akureyri

• Morning: Head to Húsavík, Iceland’s whale-watching capital, for a morning boat tour to see humpback whales, minke whales, and dolphins.

• Afternoon: Drive to Goðafoss Waterfall, known as the “Waterfall of the Gods.”

• Continue on to Akureyri, Iceland’s second-largest city. Explore the botanical gardens and charming downtown area.

• Evening: Stay overnight in Akureyri or nearby.

Day 7: Return to Reykjavik (Via West Iceland)

• Morning: Begin your drive back to Reykjavik, stopping at Hvítserkur, a dramatic rock formation in the sea shaped like a dragon.

• Visit Borgarfjörður, home to the stunning Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls.

• Afternoon: Stop by Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring, and relax at the Krauma Geothermal Baths nearby.

• Evening: Arrive back in Reykjavik, return your rental car, and enjoy your final evening in the city.