Iceland Ring Road Self-Launched: Lagoons & Lava Fields
8 days · Iceland
Topdeck charges £2,520
No-markup version: ~£1,135 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent 8-day loop of Iceland covering the same ground as Topdeck's guided coach tour — Reykjavik, Akureyri and whale-watching in the north, the East Fjords, Vatnajökull and Jökulsárlón, the South Coast and the Golden Circle — but self-launched using public buses (Strætó, SBA, Austurleið), a couple of hostel nights and self-booked day tours for the spots that genuinely need a vehicle (whale-watching, glacier hike, Jökulsárlón boat, Golden Circle). Iceland is expensive; this is a realistic budget version with shared hostel dorms in Reykjavik and guesthouses en route, cooking some meals and using the excellent public bus network rather than a rental car. Costs are approximate and exclude international flights; summer prices are higher than the shoulder season.
Day-by-day
Arrive Reykjavik + Icelandic beer tasting
Reykjavík
Fly into Keflavík (KEF) and take the Flybus or Strætó bus 55 into Reykjavik (~£18-25 one way; Flybus ~£22). Check into a hostel dorm or budget guesthouse near Laugavegur. Walk the compact centre — Hallgrímskirkja, the Sun Voyager sculpture and the old harbour — then do a self-booked Icelandic craft beer tasting at one of the city's microbreweries (e.g. a brewery taproom tasting flight, ~£25-35), the DIY equivalent of the tour's included welcome beer tasting. Book tomorrow's whale-watching and your bus tickets tonight.
🚌Flybus/Strætó from KEF ~£18-25; everything else on foot
🛏Hostel dorm in central Reykjavik (~£30-45/night in shoulder season, £50+ in July)
- →Keflavík airport bus to Reykjavik
- →Self-guided city walk (Hallgrímskirkja, Sun Voyager, old harbour)
- →Microbrewery beer tasting flight (~£25-35)
Reykjavik to Akureyri via Dalvík whale-watching
Akureyri
Take the Strætó bus 57 from Reykjavik's Mjódd terminal to Akureyri (~7 hrs, ~£35-45 booked on straeto.is), breaking the journey at Dalvík where the bus connects with the ferry pier. Book a whale-watching trip from Dalvík harbour in advance (Elding/North Sailing, ~£85-110, 3 hrs) — the fjord is one of Iceland's best whale spots. Continue on the next bus the short hop to Akureyri, Iceland's northern 'capital'. Evening wander around the Akureyri church and botanical garden instead of the tour's orientation walk — it's a small, walkable town.
🚌Public bus ~£35-45
🛏Akureyri hostel or guesthouse, dorm/private budget room (~£35-50)
- →Strætó bus 57 Reykjavik–Dalvík–Akureyri
- →Whale-watching from Dalvík (~£85-110)
- →Self-guided Akureyri walk (church, botanical garden, harbour)
Diamond Circle day: Goðafoss, Dimmuborgir, Námafjall, Dettifoss
Mývatn / Akureyri
The waterfalls and lava fields north of Akureyri are hard to reach by public transport alone, so book the 'Diamond Circle' day tour from Akureyri (operators such as SBA/Norðurleið or a GetYourGuide-listed small-group tour, ~£110-140) which covers Goðafoss, the Dimmuborgir lava field, the Námafjall geothermal area and Dettifoss in one loop, returning to Akureyri in the evening. Cheaper alternative: Strætó bus 56 to Mývatn (seasonal, check timetable) plus local walks, staying overnight at Reykjahlíð.
🚌Booked day tour ~£110-140 (or Strætó bus 56 ~£20 each way if you self-navigate Mývatn)
🛏Second night in Akureyri (~£35-50)
- →Goðafoss waterfall
- →Dimmuborgir lava field walk
- →Námafjall/Hverir geothermal area
- →Dettifoss waterfall
East Fjords to Höfn
East Fjords / Höfn
Long travel day. Take Strætó/Austurleið buses east from Akureyri towards Egilsstaðir and on to Höfn (~10-12 hrs total; check straeto.is and bus bookings in advance as services are sparse — often one per day, ~£55-75). You'll ride through the East Fjords with their stepped coastline and fishing villages; the bus itself is the sightseeing. Stock up on groceries in Egilsstaðir for a self-catered dinner — Höfn is small and eating out is dear.
🚌Public/regional buses ~£55-75
🛏Höfn hostel/guesthouse (~£40-55)
- →Scenic bus journey through the East Fjords
- →Fishing village stops (Egilsstaðir, Djúpivogur if timetabled)
Vatnajökull glacier hike + Jökulsárlón lagoon
Jökulsárlón / Skaftafell
Base yourself in Höfn or Skaftafell and book a guided glacier hike on Vatnajökull's outlet glacier (Svínafellsjökull/Falljökull) — this is the exact optional activity the tour sells, and it's roughly half price booked direct or via GetYourGuide (~£95-120, 3 hrs, crampons included). Then reach Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon for the amphibian boat tour (~£45-55) — book ahead in summer. Public transport here is thin: the seasonal Strætó bus 51 along the south coast or a pre-booked transfer (~£30-50 each way) gets you between Skaftafell, the glacier carpark and the lagoon; many travellers join a small-group day tour from Höfn/Skaftafell instead (~£130-160 covering transport, glacier hike and lagoon).
🚌Seasonal bus 51 or booked transfer ~£30-50
🛏Skaftafell/Höfn guesthouse (~£40-55)
- →Vatnajökull glacier hike (~£95-120)
- →Jökulsárlón amphibian boat tour (~£45-55)
- →Diamond Beach walk next to the lagoon
South Coast: Reynisfjara, Seljalandsfoss + Golden Circle
Vík / Reykjavík
Take the south-coast bus (Strætó 51 to Vík, then onwards towards Reykjavik, ~£40-60; book in advance, services are limited) and stop for Reynisfjara black-sand beach (respect the sneaker waves) and Seljalandsfoss, where you can walk behind the waterfall. For the Golden Circle (Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss) the cheapest reliable option is a self-booked small-group day tour from Reykjavik (~£70-95) rather than a bus-and-hitch combination; if you're travelling in summer you can also use the public bus to Þingvellir. Aim to be back in Reykjavik for a hostel night.
🚌South-coast bus ~£40-60 + Golden Circle tour
🛏Reykjavik hostel dorm (~£30-45)
- →Reynisfjara black-sand beach
- →Seljalandsfoss waterfall walk-behind
- →Golden Circle day tour: Þingvellir National Park, Geysir, Gullfoss (~£70-95)
Reykjavik free day: Blue Lagoon or Lava Tunnel
Reykjavík / Reykjanes
Pick your own lagoon day. The Blue Lagoon (including return transport) runs from ~£95-130 — book weeks ahead as slots sell out; a cheaper and often quieter alternative is Sky Lagoon (~£65-85 with transport) or the public Reykjanes thermal pools. Alternatively do the Lava Tunnel (Raufarhólshellir) tour (~£55-70 with transport) — the tour's other optional extra. Spend the rest of the day on Reykjavik's free sights: the Saga Museum or National Museum of Iceland (~£15-20 each), the Phallological Museum (~£15) and a cheap hot-dog-and-soup dinner.
🚌Lagoon/tunnel transfers included in tour prices
🛏Reykjavik hostel dorm (~£30-45)
- →Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon (~£65-130 with transport)
- →Optional: Lava Tunnel tour (~£55-70)
- →Museums: National Museum, Saga Museum, Phallological Museum (~£15-20 each)
Depart Reykjavik
Reykjavík
Breakfast at the hostel, a last walk along the harbour, then the Flybus back to Keflavík. If your flight is late, the morning is a good window for a swim at the Sundhöll Reykjavíkur public pool (~£8) — the local, cheap alternative to the big lagoons — before heading to the airport.
🚌Flybus/Strætó to KEF ~£18-25
🛏None (departure day)
- →Harbour walk
- →Optional public pool swim (~£8)
- →Flybus to Keflavík airport
Self-launched vs. Topdeck
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Topdeck | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,135 | £2,520 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,385 per person (55%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Topdeck-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,135
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 Iceland Ring Road Self-Launched: Lagoons & Lava Fields cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,135 per person for 8 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 Topdeck?+
Yes — Topdeck charges around £2,520 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,135 — a saving of roughly £1,385 (55%) per person.
How long is the Iceland trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 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, nature, hiking 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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