Take a classic Iceland road trip, sleeping in the open air
Camp your way around Iceland’s famous Ring Road on this 8-day summer tour. We provide the gear and a set of wheels, so you can focus on getting close to the country’s spectacular nature.
Get ready to pitch your tent and sleep under the midnight sun! There’s no better way to experience Iceland’s nature than to sleep in the midst of it. You’ll leave with memories of a lifetime, and a longing to come back.
On this tour you will...
Stay on campsites close to nature around the country
Dive into the natural delights of North Iceland
Explore the wonders of Vatnajökull National Park
Complete the famous Golden Circle route
Wind through the lush green Eastfjords
Get up close to hot springs, waterfalls, and glaciers
Top attractions
Gullfoss
Geysir and Strokkur
Þingvellir National Park
Akureyri
Lake Mývatn
Hraunfossar and Barnafoss
Deildartunguhver
Dimmuborgir
Dettifoss
Ásbyrgi
Húsavík
Egilsstaðir
Vatnajökull Glacier & National Park
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Vík í Mýrdal
Skógafoss
Seljalandsfoss
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 8-day self-drive camping itinerary
Your memorable, Iceland adventure begins the very moment you arrive at Keflavik Airport. Once you pick up your rental vehicle, you’ll head directly for Reykjavik and your exciting, first night in Iceland.
Highlights
Downtown Reykjavík
Extra activities
ExtraSky Lagoon Saman Pass
ExtraFlyOver Iceland
ExtraClassic Whale Watching from Reykjavík
ExtraPuffin Watching
ExtraThe Reykjavík Food Walk
ExtraHorse Riding from Reykjavík
ExtraInside the Volcano tour from Bláfjöll
Your next day’s journey continues towards the northern part of Iceland, ending in the north’s capital, Akureyri. As you head toward Borgarfjörður, we recommend stopping by the magnificent Hraunfossar waterfalls, where the water seems to magically flows from the lava bed into the river below. You’ll then continue your journey towards Akureyri, passing through Skagafjörður, known for exceptional horse breeding; in fact, many stunning Icelandic horses can be seen on your drive.
Your whole day is dedicated to the marvels of the Lake Mývatn Nature Reserve, one of Iceland’s most inspiring natural wonders. On your way there, make sure to stop at the impressive Goðafoss waterfall, known as the ‘Waterfall of the Gods’.
At Lake Mývatn, you could explore the otherworldly lava fields of Dimmuborgir. Then, head to the nearby Krafla volcano system where you’ll find bubbling mud pools, hot springs, and steaming lava fields.
And why not end your day with a dip in the geothermal waters of the Mývatn Nature Baths, with amazing views over the lake?
Your day starts in the beautiful Mývatn area. Make your way to the charming village of Húsavík before driving the Tjörnes peninsula coastline. On the way, you can make a quick stop at the extremity of the peninsula to enjoy the view and spot some seabirds.
The journey then continues to the eastern part of Iceland, with a few stops along the way, for your next stay.
Today is the day to discover the Eastfjords. Start towards the fjord Reyðarfjörður, where a small-but-fascinating World War II history museum is located, and continue along the fjords toward 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 spend that night.
Your next stop is Iceland’s scenic southeast. After passing various outlet glaciers belonging to Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice cap, you’ll arrive at the stunningly surreal beauty of Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon. This exceptional sight sits at the foot of Iceland’s highest mountain, Hvannadalshnúkur.
Skaftafell is another area definitely worth a visit. This oasis, surrounded by glaciers and black sand plains, offers a broad range of options for great hiking. Continue through Kirkjubæjarklaustur village, the Eldhraun lava field and the Mýrdalssandur plain, before you arrive in the Vík area.
Continue westbound to the south coast of Iceland and explore the Golden Circle, which takes you to the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland: Gullfoss, Geysir and Þingvellir National Park. On your way you will pass the magnificent waterfalls, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss.
Your day will end in Reykjavík where you will spend your last night in Iceland.
It seems as if your journey to fabulous Iceland only began a moment ago, but now it is time to head back home, driving back to Keflavík Airport for your flight. Depending on your flight’s time, you may be able to squeeze in a last day in Reykjavík or an extra night in there to experience all the amazing things that the city has to offer.
What’s included?
Detailed itinerary
Camping gear for 6 nights (tent, sleeping bags, air mattress, stove, coolbox, cooking equipment)
Budget accommodation for 1 night with continental breakfast
Rental car of your choice for 7 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
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.
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.
