Best of Iceland: Self-Launched Ring Road Loop
7 days · Iceland
G Adventures charges £2,840
No-markup version: ~£1,180 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, solo-friendly version of G Adventures' 7-day "Best of Iceland" circuit — same route around the north and south coasts, same waterfalls, glacier lagoons and black-sand beaches, but on public transport, Strætó buses, a couple of budget guesthouses and self-booked activities instead of a private minibus and group leader. Prices are rough backpacker estimates; Iceland is expensive, so this is a "budget Iceland" version rather than a cheap trip. Book long-distance coaches (Strætó, SBA/Strætó bs regional routes) and any glacier hike or whale-watching spots well in advance in summer.
Day-by-day
Arrive Reykjavík — settle into the city
Reykjavík
Land at Keflavík (KEF) and take the Flybus or Airport Direct coach into the city centre, roughly £22-28 one way (book online for a small discount). Check into a hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in the 101/Miðborg area. Spend the afternoon wandering the old harbour, Hallgrímskirkja and the Laugavegur shopping street, and stock up on groceries at Bónus or Krónan — self-catering breakfasts and packed lunches are the single biggest money-saver in Iceland. Do not book the Blue Lagoon for during the trip; G Adventures also flags it as a before/after add-on, so slot it into an arrival or departure day if you want it.
🚌Flybus/Airport Direct coach from KEF, ~£22-28
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in central Reykjavík (£35-45/night)
- →Flybus airport transfer
- →Hallgrímskirkja church
- →Old Harbour walk
- →Grocery stock-up at Bónus
Reykjavík to Akureyri via the north
Akureyri
Take the Strætó long-distance bus (route 57 via Blönduós) from Reykjavík's Mjódd terminal to Akureyri — about 6.5 hours, roughly £30-40. It's the same scenic drive the group tour does, just without the running commentary. Arrive early evening, walk the old town and the waterfront. The whale-watching trip from Akureyri harbour (book direct with a local operator such as North Sailing) costs around £80-95 and is best done as a morning departure — if you want to do it, either take an earlier bus or add a night here.
🚌Strætó bus 57 Reykjavík–Akureyri, ~£35
🛏Akureyri hostel or guesthouse (£35-45/night)
- →Strætó route 57 scenic bus
- →Akureyri old town walk
- →Optional whale watching (book direct, ~£85)
Akureyri to Mývatn and Borgarfjörður Eystri
Borgarfjörður Eystri
This is the trickiest day without a car. Base yourself at Mývatn (Strætó route 56 from Akureyri, ~1.5 hours, ~£15) and do the sights by local day tour or by joining a Mývatn-area excursion: Goðafoss waterfall, the Dimmuborgir lava formations, the steaming Námaskarð pass and the mighty Dettifoss. Several Mývatn operators run half-day minibus loops covering exactly these stops for around £55-75 — self-bookable on GetYourGuide or directly with local companies. Alternatively, stay overnight at Mývatn and continue to the east coast the next morning; the group tour's night in a Borgarfjörður Eystri guesthouse is hard to replicate without a vehicle, so treat Mývatn as your substitute base.
🚌Strætó bus 56 Akureyri–Mývatn, ~£15; local minibus tour
🛏Mývatn guesthouse or hostel (£40-50/night)
- →Goðafoss waterfall
- →Dimmuborgir lava fields
- →Námaskarð geothermal area
- →Dettifoss waterfall
- →Self-booked Mývatn minibus tour (~£65)
East fjords to Höfn
Höfn
Take the long eastbound Strætó connection (route 56 then 51 connections via Egilsstaðir) down through the eastern fjords to Höfn — a full travel day of 6-8 hours and roughly £40-50. Watch for Vatnajökull, Europe's largest ice cap, filling the skyline as you approach. Höfn is a tiny fishing town; book your guesthouse early as beds are limited in summer. Evening walk along the harbour and a cheap meal of local langoustine soup if you're splashing out.
🚌Strætó regional buses via Egilsstaðir, ~£45
🛏Höfn hostel or guesthouse (£40-50/night)
- →Eastern fjords bus journey
- →Vatnajökull glacier views
- →Höfn harbour walk
Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach and Skaftafell
Vík
Book a seat on a local south-coast bus or a self-bookable day tour from Höfn/Vík that covers Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, the adjacent Diamond Beach (icebergs washed up on black sand, often with seals) and Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park. Zodiac boat rides on the lagoon are roughly £55-90 depending on operator and season — book direct with the lagoon operators. At Skaftafell you can hike the free maintained trails to Svartifoss, or pre-book a guided glacier hike (~£100-130, GetYourGuide or a local guiding company; hiking boots with ankle support are required and rentable). Continue on to Vík for the night.
🚌South-coast bus or self-booked day tour, ~£40
🛏Vík hostel or guesthouse (£40-50/night)
- →Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
- →Diamond Beach
- →Skaftafell trails to Svartifoss
- →Optional Zodiac boat on the lagoon (~£70)
- →Optional guided glacier hike (~£115)
Reynisfjara, the Golden Circle and back to Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Start with Reynisfjara black-sand beach and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks just outside Vík — mind the sneaker waves and stay well back from the water. Then head back along the Ring Road and do the Golden Circle independently: Seljalandsfoss (walk behind the waterfall — bring waterproofs), Gullfoss, the Geysir hot spring area with Strokkur erupting every ten minutes or so, and Þingvellir National Park with its tectonic rift valley. The cheapest reliable way without a car is a self-booked south-coast + Golden Circle day tour from Vík/Reykjavík (~£70-90), or piece it together with Strætó route 51 to Reykjavík plus a Golden Circle coach tour from the city. Arrive back in Reykjavík in the evening.
🚌Strætó route 51 + Golden Circle coach tour, ~£100 total
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in central Reykjavík (£35-45/night)
- →Reynisfjara black-sand beach
- →Seljalandsfoss waterfall
- →Gullfoss waterfall
- →Geysir and Strokkur
- →Þingvellir National Park
- →Self-booked Golden Circle tour (~£80)
Reykjavík and departure
Reykjavík
A free morning for the things the group tour skips: the National Museum, a swim at a local geothermal pool (Sundhöllin or Laugardalslaug, ~£7 — far cheaper than the Blue Lagoon), or the Saturday flea market at Kolaportið if your timing works. Then take the Flybus back out to Keflavík for your flight. If you have a late flight and want the Silfra fissure snorkelling between the tectonic plates, it's around £150-175 booked direct with an Arctic Adventures-style operator — but it needs to be pre-booked and drysuit-certified fitness.
🚌Flybus to Keflavík, ~£25
🛏None (departure day)
- →Geothermal public pool (~£7)
- →National Museum of Iceland
- →Kolaportið flea market
- →Flybus to KEF
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,180 | £2,840 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,660 per person (58%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,180
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: Self-Launched Ring Road Loop cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,180 per person for 7 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 £2,840 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,180 — a saving of roughly £1,660 (58%) per person.
How long is the Iceland trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 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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