Best of Iceland: Ring Road, Golden Circle & Snæfellsnes — Self-Launched
9 days · Iceland
G Adventures charges £3,650
No-markup version: ~£1,225 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 9-day self-launched version of G Adventures' "Best of Iceland: Golden Circle & Snæfellsnes Peninsula" (ELBS). You'll cover the same loop — Reykjavík, Akureyri, Mývatn, the Eastfjords, Jökulsárlón, Vík, the Golden Circle and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula — but using Iceland's public Strætó buses, a couple of pre-booked guided day tours and shared hostel/guesthouse rooms instead of a private minivan and CEO. Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP and exclude international flights; Iceland is expensive, so food and optional activities are the biggest variables. Book bus tickets on straeto.is and day tours well in advance in summer. All figures are approximate.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Land at Keflavík (KEF) and take the Flybus or Airport Express shuttle to the BSÍ bus terminal in central Reykjavík (~£22-25 one way, cheaper if booked as a return when you land back). Check into a hostel dorm in the 101 area — Kex Hostel, Hlemmur Square or Dalur HI are reliable. Spend the afternoon wandering Laugavegur, the harbour and Hallgrímskirkja, and buy a Bónus or Krónan supermarket shop for bus snacks (Iceland's groceries are pricey but far cheaper than eating out).
🚌Flybus/airport shuttle from KEF to BSÍ (~£22), then walk
🛏Hostel dorm, central Reykjavík (~£30-40pp)
- →Hallgrímskirkja church
- →Laugavegur & harbour walk
- →Supermarket stock-up
Reykjavík to Akureyri via the Ring Road
Akureyri
Take the Strætó bus (line 57/57 long-distance route, book on straeto.is) north to Akureyri — roughly 4.5-5 hours, ~£30-38. Alternatively a domestic flight (Akureyri Express/Play) is ~£70-90 if you're short on time. Settle into an Akureyri hostel (e.g. Akureyri Backpackers, right in the old town). Wander the old town and botanical garden, and in summer book a whale-watching trip from Akureyri harbour via GetYourGuide (~£80-95, book ahead) — or skip it and enjoy the free harbour walk.
🚌Strætó long-distance bus Reykjavík–Akureyri (~£32)
🛏Hostel dorm, Akureyri (~£30-38pp)
- →Old town & botanical garden walk
- →Optional whale watching from Akureyri (~£85)
- →Harbour stroll
Lake Mývatn, Goðafoss & Dettifoss — onward to Borgarfjörður Eystri
Mývatn / Bakkagerði (Borgarfjörður Eystri)
This is the trickiest day independently: the sights (Goðafoss, Dimmuborgir, Námaskarð, Dettifoss) sit off the bus line. Easiest solution is a small-group Mývatn/Dettifoss day tour picked up in Akureyri via GetYourGuide (~£110-130, book ahead). Then catch the Strætó local service (line 56 / regional connections via Egilsstaðir, ~£25-35) east to Egilsstaðir and take the local bus or a shared taxi (~£12) to the tiny fishing village of Borgarfjörður Eystri. Guesthouses here are small and family-run — book early, ideally the night before onward travel to Höfn.
🚌Guided Mývatn tour + Strætó to Egilsstaðir (~£30) + local bus/shared taxi (~£12)
🛏Local guesthouse, Bakkagerði/Borgarfjörður Eystri (~£45-55pp)
- →Goðafoss waterfall
- →Dimmuborgir lava formations
- →Námaskarð geothermal area
- →Dettifoss waterfall
- →Puffin-viewing coastal walk at Borgarfjörður
Eastfjords coast to Höfn
Höfn
The Eastfjords are beautiful and thinly served — the Strætó line 56/57 combo via Egilsstaðir and Djúpivogur to Höfn takes a long day (~£30-40 total). Expect big views of Vatnajökull, Europe's largest ice cap, from the road. Arrive in Höfn and check into a hostel or guesthouse (Höfn hostel/Hvammstangi-style budget rooms ~£40-50pp). Eat at a local langoustine spot if your budget allows — Höfn is famous for it — but a supermarket pasta dinner works too.
🚌Strætó east-coast connections (~£35)
🛏Hostel/guesthouse, Höfn (~£42-50pp)
- →Eastfjords coastal drive views
- →Vatnajökull glacier views
- →Optional langoustine dinner
Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach & Skaftafell — on to Vík
Vík
From Höfn, the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach are best reached on a day tour or by hiring a car for the day. The cheapest route is a south-coast tour from Höfn or a Strætó hop to Jökulsárlón plus a pre-booked glacier hike at Skaftafell via GetYourGuide (~£110-130 including gear). The lagoon itself is free to walk and seals haul out on the icebergs. In the evening continue on the Strætó south-coast bus toward Vík (~£25-30) or pre-arrange a shared shuttle. Nights in Vík are popular — book a hostel dorm (Vík HI or Puffin Hostel) as far ahead as possible.
🚌South-coast bus/Strætó + optional guided section (~£30)
🛏Hostel dorm, Vík (~£35-45pp)
- →Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
- →Diamond Beach
- →Optional Skaftafell glacier hike (~£120 incl. gear)
- →Optional lagoon boat ride
Reynisfjara, Golden Circle & back to Reykjavík
Vík → Reykjavík
Start early at Reynisfjara black-sand beach (free, just mind the sneaker waves) then take the Strætó south-coast bus toward Reykjavík. The Golden Circle sights — Seljalandsfoss, Gullfoss, Geysir and Þingvellir — are easiest on a pre-booked Golden Circle day tour from Reykjavík (~£60-75 via GetYourGuide or a local operator), or you can string them together with a couple of Strætó hops if you're patient. Either way you'll tick off the waterfalls, the Strokkur geyser erupting every ~10 minutes, and the tectonic rift at Þingvellir. Back to a Reykjavík hostel in the evening.
🚌Strætó south coast (~£20) + Golden Circle day tour (~£65)
🛏Hostel dorm, central Reykjavík (~£30-40pp)
- →Reynisfjara beach
- →Seljalandsfoss waterfall
- →Gullfoss waterfall
- →Geysir & Strokkur
- →Þingvellir National Park (UNESCO)
Snorkelling at Silfra & Sky Lagoon-style soak
Reykjavík / Þingvellir
Optionally pre-book Silfra fissure snorkelling between the tectonic plates via GetYourGuide (~£170-200 incl. dry suit and gear — no experience needed, but check the medical requirements). If that's too steep, spend the morning on a free self-walking route around Reykjavík's old centre or the National Museum (~£15). In the afternoon book a geothermal soak — Sky Lagoon entry is ~£55-75, or the cheaper public pools and the Reykjavík City Card alternative give a similar soak for less. A self-made walking tour of the harbour, Sun Voyager and Harpa costs nothing.
🚌Local Strætó buses (single ticket ~£3.50, day pass ~£12) or tour pickup
🛏Hostel dorm, central Reykjavík (~£30-40pp)
- →Optional Silfra snorkelling (~£185)
- →Geothermal soak at Sky Lagoon or local pool (~£60)
- →Self-guided Reykjavík walk
Snæfellsnes Peninsula day tour
Snæfellsnes Peninsula
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is genuinely hard on public transport, so a small-group day tour booked via GetYourGuide or a local operator (~£95-120, hotel/hostel pickup included) is the practical self-launched equivalent of G's included day tour. Expect fishing villages like Arnarstapi and Hellnar, the Kirkjufell mountain, black beaches and lava fields, and views of the Snæfellsjökull glacier that Jules Verne made famous. Back in Reykjavík by evening for a final hostel night.
🚌Snæfellsnes small-group day tour with pickup (~£110)
🛏Hostel dorm, central Reykjavík (~£30-40pp)
- →Kirkjufell mountain
- →Arnarstapi & Hellnar cliffs
- →Snæfellsjökull glacier views
- →Djúpalónssandur black beach
Depart Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Pack up, grab a last coffee on Laugavegur and take the Flybus back to Keflavík for your flight home (~£22). If your flight is late, the Sundhöllin public pool or a harbour walk fills the morning cheaply.
🚌Flybus/airport shuttle to KEF (~£22)
🛏—
- →Laugavegur coffee & shopping
- →Optional Sundhöllin public pool
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,225 | £3,650 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,425 per person (66%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,225
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Best of Iceland: Ring Road, Golden Circle & Snæfellsnes — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,225 per person for 9 days in Iceland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £3,650 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,225 — a saving of roughly £2,425 (66%) per person.
How long is the Iceland trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Iceland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, road-trip trip through Iceland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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