Epic Camping Around Iceland

10 days / 9 nights
Tent view, camping in Iceland
The Snæfellsjökull glacier seen from the Djúpalónssandur beach
Skógafoss, Iceland
Gatklettur rock arch at Arnarstapi
The Goðafoss waterfall in summer
The harbor in the fishing village of Húsavík
The Goðafoss waterfall in summer
The harbor in the fishing village of Húsavík
Tent view, camping in Iceland
The Snæfellsjökull glacier seen from the Djúpalónssandur beach
Skógafoss, Iceland

The ultimate Iceland camping adventure

Get truly close to nature on this 10-day camping tour around Iceland. With a rental car and camping gear included, you’ll have everything you need to make the most of Iceland’s outdoors.

This itinerary will take you around most of the country, including the jaw-dropping south coast and unforgettable Snæfellsnes peninsula. And at campsites, you’ll have the chance to sleep under the stars and meet like-minded adventurers.

Travel styleCamping
Trip length10 days / 9 nights
VibeAdventure
SeasonSummer
(1 Jun–31 Aug)
TransportRental car
Starts fromReykjavík
Tour codeCSD02

On this tour you will...

  • Pitch your tent at campsites in stunning locations

  • Get camping gear, like tent and sleeping bags, included

  • Follow the Ring Road route around the coast

  • Head to the Snæfellsnes peninsula, ‘Iceland in Miniature’

  • See waterfalls, glaciers, hot springs, and more

  • Stay in Reykjavík at a hotel on your first night

Top attractions

A man standing below Kirkjufellsfoss

Kirkjufell

A rainbow over the Skógafoss waterfall on a sunny day

Skógafoss

The Seljalandsfoss waterfall covered in icicles

Seljalandsfoss

The Strokkur geyser erupting in winter against a sunset

Geysir and Strokkur

Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon at sunrise with a pink sky

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

The skyline of Akureyri, North Iceland

Akureyri

The Hraunfossar waterfall in winter covered in ice

Hraunfossar and Barnafoss

Water coming out of colorful rocks at Deildartunguhver hot spring

Deildartunguhver

The edge of the Vatnajökull glacier

Vatnajökull Glacier & National Park

A kittiwake flying above cliffs in the Breiðafjörður bay

Breiðafjörður bay

Lake Mývatn in its autumn colors

Lake Mývatn

The Dimmuborgir lava formations in North Iceland

Dimmuborgir

The Dettifoss waterfall in autumn

Dettifoss

The Goðafoss waterfall in summer

Goðafoss

Trees in the lush Ásbyrgi canyon

Ásbyrgi

The rocky Jökulsárgljúfur canyon

Jökulsárgljúfur

Skaftafellsjökull glacier in Vatnajökull National Park

Skaftafell

The Eldhraun lava field showing moss-covered lava rocks

Eldhraun lava field

The Tjörnin pond in Reykjavík in summer

Downtown Reykjavík

Why book a camping trip with Iceland Tours?

  • All camping gear included

  • Hotel stay in Reykjavík on your first night

  • Start your tour on the date that suits you

  • 24/7 emergency helpline in Iceland

  • Secure your booking with just a 5% deposit

  • New rental cars with 2 drivers as standard

Your 10-day self-drive camping itinerary

Your 10-day self-drive camping itinerary
Staying inReykjavík (included)
Driving distance50 km (31 mi)

Your memorable, Iceland adventure begins the very moment you arrive at Keflavík Airport. Once you pick up your rental vehicle, you’ll head directly for Reykjavík and your exciting, first night in “the land of fire and ice.”

Highlights

The Tjörnin pond in Reykjavík in summer

Downtown Reykjavík

Extra activities

The Sky Lagoon at sunsetExtra

Sky Lagoon Saman Pass

Riders on FlyOver Iceland above a virtual waterfallExtra

FlyOver Iceland

whale breaching in front of orange and yellow sunsetExtra

Classic Whale Watching from Reykjavík

An Atlantic puffin perched on a cliff in IcelandExtra

Puffin Watching

Close up of a hand holding a hot dogExtra

The Reykjavík Food Walk

A group of people being lowered into a lava cave © Inside the VolcanoExtra

Inside the Volcano tour from Bláfjöll

Group on a horse riding tourExtra

Horse Riding from Reykjavík

Staying inCampsite in Snæfellsnes area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance300 km (186 mi)

Are you ready to explore the natural wonders of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula? Today, you will discover several sites, including the Eldborg´s volcanic crater, Gerðuberg basalt columns, Búðir, Djúpalónssandur with views of the majestic Snæfell volcano.

Staying inCampsite in Borgarfjörður area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance230 km (143 mi)

From Stykkishólmur you will head south-west towards the fjord of Borgarfjörður, an area rich with vast lands, that served as the setting for many Icelandic sagas. The area is also home to gorgeous waterfalls and of course the Langjökull glacier where you go for optional activities like a glacier walk, snowmobile ride or visit Into the Glacier, a man-made ice tunnel.

Staying inCampsite in Akureyri area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance315 km (196 mi)

Today´s itinerary takes you north as you drive through thick farm fields and the Skagafjörður region, which is known known for Icelandic horse breeding. You will surely encounter several of the adorably stocky horses grazing in the fields along your way to Akureyri. Before you reach the “capital of the north”, you can make a variety of detours such as the Vatnsnes peninsula where you can spot seals as well as Glaumbær, a turf-house museum among other sights.

Staying inCampsite in Mývatn/Húsavík area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance120 km (75 mi)

More natural wonders are on programme today! Your first stop is at the impressive Goðafoss waterfall known as “the waterfall of the gods”. Before heading to Mývatn, you can visit several awe-inspiring attractions such as Dimmuborgir the lava formation labyrinth, the pseudo-craters of Skútustaðir and walking through one of Iceland´s largest sulfurous hot spring areas, the Solfataras of Námaskarð.

Staying inCampsite in Egilsstaðir area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance330 km (205 mi)

Before heading east, you will continue exploring the northern part of the country. The peninsula of Tjörnes has many surprising sites in store for you: the lush green area of Ásbyrgi, a horse-shoe-shaped gorge, the impressive Dettifoss waterfall with a fall so powerful that you literally feel the ground shake under your feet. On the way to Egilsstaðir, you can choose to detour and drive through the Möðrudalur highland’s lunar landscape.

Staying inCampsite in Höfn area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance260 km (162 mi)

Today is the day to discover the Eastfjords. Starting towards Reyðarfjörður, where a small but interesting World War II history museum is located, you continue along the fjords towards Southeast Iceland. At times, the roads are highly perched on the mountains giving an exceptional view. Finally, you drive through the tunnel of Almannaskarð to arrive in the Höfn region where you will spend the night.

Staying inCampsite in Vík/Skógar area (camping fee not included)
Driving distance315 km (196 mi)

Your next stop is Iceland’s scenic southeast. After passing various outlet glaciers belonging to Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice cap, you arrive at the stunningly surreal beauty of the glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón. This exceptional attraction sits at the foot of Iceland’s highest mountain Hvannadalshnúkur and offers the unique possibility to explore it up close by taking a guided boat tour between the floating icebergs.

Skaftafell is another area definitely worth a visit. This oasis surrounded by glaciers and black sand plains offers a broad range of hiking options. You will continue through Kirkjubæjarklaustur, the Eldhraun lava field and the Mýrdalssandur plain before you arrive in the Vík area.

Staying inCampsite in Reykjavík (camping fee not included)
Driving distance300 km (186 mi)

Continue west to the south coast of Iceland, taking in the many breathtaking landmarks such as Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls, the Golden Circle with its three tiered Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir where Strokkur ejects its warm water column in the air every 5-10 minutes and, of course Þingvellir National Park.

Your will continue towards the capital for your last night in Iceland.

Driving distance50 km (31 mi)

Now it is time to head back home, after an amazing journey through one of the world’s most picturesque landscapes.  You will drive back to Keflavík Airport for your flight back home. Depending on your flight time, you may be able to enjoy your last day strolling around Reykjavík. Or, even better, consider booking an extra night in Reykjavík to really give yourself time to experience all the amazing things Iceland’s capital city has to offer.

What’s included?

Detailed itinerary

Camping gear for 8 nights (tent, sleeping bags, air mattress, stove, coolbox, cooking equipment)

Budget accommodation for 1 night with continental breakfast

Rental car of your choice for 9 days

2 authorized drivers as standard

Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi

Unlimited mileage

Collision damage waiver

24/7 emergency helpline when you’re in Iceland

VAT, taxes & service fees

Flights to Iceland

Campsite bookings & fees

Fuel & parking charges

Food & drink, unless otherwise stated

Attraction entrance fees, unless otherwise stated

Personal travel insurance

Your accommodation

More info

Stay in well-located hotels and guesthouses that are highly rated by visitors and handpicked by experts.

Budget accommodation for 1 night (room without private facilities) and Camping gear for the rest of the stay. 

Our camping gear pack includes the following items:

  • 1-4 person tent
  • Sleeping bags
  • Air mattress
  • Camping stove
  • Coolbox
  • Cooking equipment

Good to know: Camping packages don’t include admission to campsites or fees for use of their facilities.

Don’t take our word for it

See what hundreds of fellow travelers have to say about their trips with Iceland Tours.

Read customer reviews

FAQs about our camping trips

On a camping trip around Iceland, you’ll have your own rental car and camping gear. Simply follow the detailed itinerary provided, adding in a few extra stops if you like.

You’ll spend the first night of your trip at a hotel in Reykjavík. The next morning you’ll enjoy an included breakfast before heading into the countryside for your camping adventure.

Each night, you’ll pitch your tent at a campsite and settle in for a sleep under the summer skies. Lots of campsites have facilities like toilets, showers, communal kitchens, and even Wi-Fi. Some even have extras like on-site hot tubs or laundry facilities.

It’s best to book your trip at least a few weeks before you travel. This gives us enough time to organize your preferred accommodation and itinerary. For this reason, we’re unable to accept bookings with less than 1 week’s notice.

In the summer, which is the most popular time of year, booking a few months ahead is a good idea. In certain parts of the countryside, accommodation options are more limited and can be booked up well ahead of your trip.

To give you freedom to be spontaneous and ability to choose your favorite spots, bookings at campsites are not included with our camping packages. You’ll get info on the best campsites in each area in your travel documents.

If you want to get inspired, check out this guide to camping in Iceland which is packed with recommendations.

Most campsites don’t require advance bookings. Fees are reasonable and comparable to other countries.

Good to know: Although it is possible to wild camp in Iceland, you need the landowner’s permission and camping isn’t allowed in protected natural areas. With that in mind, we strongly recommend using designated campsites.

You have to be at least 20 years old to rent a car in Iceland, or 23 years old for larger vehicles like jeeps and vans. You’ll need to have held a valid driver’s license for at least 1 year and present a credit card when you collect your car.

You don’t need an International Driving Permit unless your license is not in Latin script (for example, Arabic or Chinese).

Find out more about car rental in Iceland.

Absolutely! You can extend your stay in Iceland with extra days before or after your camping trip. Use these to fit in adventure activities like ice caving, or bus tours to attractions near the city.

If you want to customize the actual itinerary of your camping tour, this is possible for an additional fee.

You’ll be able to pick up your rental car at Keflavík International Airport from the arrivals hall. Before your trip, we’ll send you information about where to go in the terminal to collect your keys.

Make sure you have your driver’s license and credit card ready when you collect your vehicle.

If you land late at night, you can use the out-of-hours phone at the pick-up desk to contact someone who will be able to help you.

You also have the option to collect your rental car in Reykjavík, if you’re planning to spend some extra days in the city before your trip starts. If you’d like to do this, please let us know in the ‘Special requests’ box at checkout.

Of course you can add extra adventures! We want you to be able to get the absolute most out of your trip to Iceland, so you can pick optional extra activities at checkout. You’ll be shown exactly what’s on offer for each day of your trip.

And if you feel like you just don’t have enough time to fit it all in, you can also add extra days.

Adults

Ages 12+

2

Children

Ages 2-11

0

Infants

Ages 0-1

0

#icelandmyway

See what travelers like you have been up to lately on Instagram.