Immerse yourself in nature on this 2-week getaway
If you want to get off the beaten track and explore Iceland’s most remote corners, this is the trip for you. And with camping gear and a rental car included, you’ll have everything you need on this 14-day adventure.
Discover hidden gems in the Westfjords, North Iceland, and Snæfellsnes peninsula. And of course, you’ll also check out the top spots on Iceland’s much-loved Ring Road. Get ready for an unforgettable road trip with jaw-dropping views at every turn.
On this tour you will...
Get up close to volcanoes and glaciers in national parks
Explore the wild Westfjords, home to puffins and Arctic foxes
See geysers, waterfalls, hot springs, and more
Walk along black sand beaches on the stunning south coast
Pitch your tent at campsites in beautiful locations
Dive into the local culture and visit the buzzing capital, Reykjavík
Top attractions
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 14-day self-drive camping itinerary
Arrival at Keflavík Airport. Pick-up your rental vehicle and drive to Reykjavík for your first night’s stay in Iceland.
Highlights
Extra activities
Today you will be discovering an interesting area, rich with cultural and historical heritage. In Borgarfjörður you must visit the splendid waterfalls of Hraunfossar, where the water flows out from beneath a lava field into the river below, Reykholt, where the 13th century author Snorri Sturluson lived, and Deildartunguhver, Iceland’s largest hot spring (in terms of water production per second).
Heading to Snæfellsnes peninsula you should visit the beautiful places all around the peninsula; for example Búðir, Arnarstapi and Hellnar on the way to your accommodation in the Snæfellsnes area.
From Stykkishólmur you take the car ferry Baldur across the scenic Breiðafjörður bay to the West Fjords. Today you start your visit of some of the most secluded places in Iceland, where steep mountains and deep fjords are predominant.
Visit Látrabjarg, a huge bird cliff and on the way back you can stop at the folk museum of Hnjótur. Accommodation in Southern Westfjords area.
Today you continue up north along the Westfjords, one of the most remote regions of Iceland. The landscape is breathtaking as you cross mountains and heaths and drive along the dramatic fjords at the foot of steep cliffs.
Dynjandi is a beautiful waterfall that lies in the northern arm of the fjord Arnarfjörður. You continue toward the north until you reach the village of Flateyri and from there you drive on to reach your accommodation near the Ísafjörður town.
From Ísafjörður, you continue your journey of the Westfjords. You drive along the numerous small fjords of Ísafjarðardjúp passing Vigur island on the way. After Steingrímsfjarðarheiði heath you reach the northwest region.
You arrive in the village of Hólmavík where you can visit an interesting museum dedicated to the ancient Icelandic magic. Continue along the Hrútafjörður fjord until you arrive at your accommodation in the region.
You continue your journey along Húnaflói and Skagafjörður region which is known for horse breeding, and many Icelandic horses can be seen grazing in the fields of the Skagafjörður valley.
Just before arriving at the village of Varmahlíð, you can make a stop at Víðimýri church, a small traditional turf church. Then, you can make your way just north of Varmahlíð to visit the Glaumbær museum, which is one of the best preserved turf farmhouses in Iceland.
Heading towards Eyjafjörður fjord, the road takes you through the deep valleys of North Iceland before you arrive in Akureyri area for your overnight stay.
In the morning you can spend some time in Akureyri before heading to the Lake Mývatn area. It is undoubtedly one of Iceland’s most renowned areas, due to its volcanic activity and its amazing bird life. On the way to Mývatn, you will have the opportunity to take a look at the picturesque Goðafoss waterfall.
At Mývatn, there are various exciting places of interest that you can visit, such as the Skútustaðir pseudo-craters and the mysterious lava formations of Dimmuborgir. Two nights in or near the Mývatn area.
The whole day is dedicated to the marvels of Lake Mývatn Nature Reserve. One of its main attractions is the Námaskarð geothermal area where you will find bubbling mud pools and hissing steam vents.
You must not miss the Krafla area with the crater Víti and the Leirhnjúkur area. This leads you to a small geothermal area and then to a line of craters surrounded by chaotic black lava fields. Later on you can venture a walk up to the top of Hverfjall crater or dip into the geothermal water of the natural baths located east of the lake.
You start your day by driving to the charming fishing village of Húsavík. Then you drive along the coastline of the Tjörnes peninsula and if the weather conditions are good, you can make a small stop at the extremity of the peninsula to enjoy the view and spot some seabirds.
Your next stop is Ásbyrgi, a horseshoe-shaped gorge with its impressive rock walls and abundant vegetation.
Heading south from Ásbyrgi the road leads you to the mighty waterfall Dettifoss where you will feel the earth tremble beneath the force of the glacial water. The road continues across the lunar landscape of Möðrudalur highlands until you reach the fertile valley of Hérað where the village of Egilsstaðir lies.
Now it is time to discover the Eastfjords: starting towards the fjord Reyðarfjörður where a small history museum about World War II is situated. In Stöðvarfjörður there is Petra’s stone collection, a private collection which includes most of the Icelandic minerals.
As you continue you might want to make a stop in the village of Djúpivogur, located in a charming setting.
Now you continue along the fjords towards southeast Iceland; at times the road hangs precariously high on the mountain slopes. Finally you drive through the tunnel of Almannaskarð to arrive in the Höfn region where you will stay for the night.
After passing various outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice cap, you will arrive at the glacial lagoon, Jökulsárlón. This is an exceptional sight at the foot of Iceland’s highest mountain, Hvannadalshnjúkur. You can walk along the banks of the lagoon or take a 30-40 min boat trip to admire the fantastically-shaped icebergs.
Skaftafell is another area worthy of your attention. This oasis surrounded by glaciers and black sand plains has many hiking possibilities. Later, continue your drive to Vík/Kirkjubæjarklaustur for your overnight stay.
Today you can start by taking a look at the black sand beach of Reynisfjara, famous for the Reynisdrangar rock stacks that rise from the sea and for its basalt columns.
Dyrhólaey cape is the southernmost point of Iceland. A small road takes you to the top of this 120 m high sea cliff where you often can see a large number of puffins.
Please note: Dyrhólaey is closed during nesting season from May 15 til June 23 and that from mid-August the puffins will have gone to sea!
Continuing westbound you arrive at Skógar and pass Skógafoss waterfall, one of the highest in Iceland. As you continue towards Hella you pass Seljalandsfoss, a waterfall behind which you can actually walk!
Now it is time to visit some of the most interesting and famous areas of Iceland. You drive through the village of Flúðir to reach the famous geothermal area of Geysir where the Strokkur hot spring ejects its water column high into the air every 5–10 minutes and where numerous small springs boil and bubble. Close by is Gullfoss, surely the country’s most famous waterfall.
Continue towards Þingvellir, considered one of the geological wonders of the world, where you can see the effects of the tectonic plate movements which have opened various cracks and fissures in the earth’s crust. It was here that the Icelandic parliament was founded in the 10th century.
Drive back to Keflavík Airport for your flight back home, or book an extra night in Reykjavík, the vibrant capital of Iceland!
What’s included?
Detailed itinerary
Camping gear for 12 nights (tent, sleeping bags, air mattress, stove, coolbox, cooking equipment)
Budget accommodation for 1 night with continental breakfast
Rental car of your choice for 13 days
2 authorized drivers as standard
Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi
Unlimited mileage
Collision damage waiver
Tickets for Baldur ferry to Westfjords
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
The rules of the road in Iceland are similar to most other countries, although there are some local quirks that you might not be familiar with.
Iceland drives on the right and steering wheels are on the left side of the car. Distances and speed limits are given in kilometers only.
Roundabouts are very common in Iceland, especially in towns. If you’re not familiar with these, make sure you understand how to give way (yield) to other traffic.
In the countryside, you might encounter sheep on the road, or even reindeer in East Iceland. You may also come across gravel roads, single-lane bridges, and blind summits.
For all the info on how to handle these, see this guide to driving in Iceland.
Once you’ve paid your deposit for your trip, we’ll finalize bookings for your accommodation, rental car, and any activities. As soon as we receive confirmation of everything, we’ll email your travel documents to you.
We aim to finalize everything within a few weeks of receiving your booking request, but in busy periods this might take longer. That said, you’ll always receive all of your documents before your departure date.
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.
Yes, you can easily collect your rental car from Reykjavík instead of Keflavik Airport.
During the booking steps on our website, just let us know you'd prefer your pick-up/drop-off location to be in the city centre. We'll take care of it for you, no problem.
Just a quick heads-up: if you request different pick-up and drop-off locations (e.g. collect from the airport, drop off in the city, or vice versa) there's a one-way fee of around ISK 7.900 ISK (EUR 60). You'll pay this directly to the rental company when you pick up the car.
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.
Although Iceland is located near the Arctic Circle, it’s not too cold to camp in a tent there in the summertime. Winter temperatures and weather conditions mean it’s not a year-round activity though.
The warmest months are June and July, which see temperatures of around 12–15°C (54–59°F). It can be chillier at nighttime, but with a sleeping bag and warm clothes, you’ll stay nice and toasty.
There are no dangerous wild animals, like bears or wolves, to worry about. That said, you should be aware of natural hazards that you might not have experienced before. These include high winds, hot springs, and strong tides.
The safest way to sleep in a tent in Iceland is to stay on designated campsites, and there are plenty of these around the country.
Many campsites in Iceland have toilet and shower facilities, especially the larger ones. In more remote regions or on smaller campsites, there may be no facilities, or toilets only.
There’s no way to get closer to nature than by setting up your tent under the open sky. Travel to Iceland on a camping trip and you could:
- Take a road trip around the entire Ring Road (Route 1)
- See the Strokkur geyser erupt on the Golden Circle route
- Hop between jaw-dropping waterfalls on the south coast
- Witness the forces of nature at work at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
- Relax and unwind in hot springs and geothermal spas
- Discover ‘Iceland in Miniature’ on the Snæfellsnes peninsula
- Be charmed by the magic of Lake Mývatn in North Iceland
- Walk along black sand beaches, like the famous Reynisfjara
- Learn all about Viking history at Þingvellir National Park
- Explore Iceland's breathtaking scenery on foot on a day hike
If you’re after even more inspiration, check out this blog on Iceland’s summer must-sees and must-dos.
When you book a camping package with Iceland Tours, there’s no need to bring your own tent, sleeping bags, mattress, or cooking equipment.
To make sure you stay comfortable throughout your trip, here’s a packing list you can follow when you're planning your Iceland trip:
- Warm thermal layers
- Wooly hat and gloves
- Sturdy, waterproof hiking boots
- Extra socks
- Flashlight
- Battery pack to charge your phone
- Washbag
- Sun lotion and midge repellent
- Sunglasses
- Sleeping mask (if you’re sensitive to light)
- Swimming gear, including towel