Icelandic Ring Road Express — Self-Launched 10-Day Iceland Adventure

Fly into Keflavík (KEF) and take the Flybus or Strætó bus 55 into town (~£22 one way, cheaper with a Strætó city card loaded). Check into a hostel dorm in the 101/Miðborg area, then walk the old harbour, Hallgrímskirkja, Sun Voyager sculpture and Laugavegur street. Grab a cheap grocery dinner at Bónus or Krónan — eating out in Reykjavík is brutal on a budget. If you land early, pre-book Sky Lagoon or a city geothermal pool (Laugardalslaug, ~£8) instead of paying for the Blue Lagoon twice. Pick up a Síminn/Vodafone SIM (~£8) and a 72-hour Strætó card if you'll use city buses.

🚌Flybus or Strætó bus 55 from Keflavík airport to Reykjavík BSÍ, ~£22

🛏Hostel dorm, central Reykjavík (e.g. Kex Hostel, Loft Hostel or Dalur HI) — ~£40-55/night

• →Self-guided Reykjavík old town and harbour walk
• →Hallgrímskirkja church (free entry to nave, tower ~£8)
• →Geothermal city pool Laugardalslaug (~£8)

Take the Strætó bus 57 from Reykjavík towards Borgarnes (~2 hrs, ~£14, book seats on stræto.is). From Borgarnes use a local taxi or, better, join a small self-booked day tour on GetYourGuide to hit Deildartunguhver (Europe's most powerful hot spring), Barnafoss and Hraunfossar (Lava Falls) in one sweep (~£60-75). Skip the CIE farm visit at Bjarteyjarsandur — instead walk the Bjarteyjarsandur/Whale Fjord shoreline independently or stop at the Settlement Centre in Borgarnes (~£13). Overnight in a Reykholt or Borgarnes guesthouse dorm/farmstay, or return to Reykjavík and do this as a day trip if you're travelling on public transport only.

🚌Strætó bus 57 Reykjavík–Borgarnes ~£14; local tour shuttle for the waterfall circuit

🛏Guesthouse dorm / farm hostel near Reykholt or Borgarnes — ~£45-55/night

• →Self-guided visit to Deildartunguhver hot spring
• →Barnafoss and Hraunfossar waterfalls walk
• →Settlement Centre museum in Borgarnes (optional)

Long transit day north. Take the Strætó bus 57 onward from Borgarnes to Varmahlíð/Sauðárkrókur in Skagafjörður (~3 hrs), then connect to Akureyri. In summer a small self-booked Glaumbær minibus tour goes from Varmahlíð (~£20). The turf-roofed farm at Glaumbær is worth an hour (~£8 entry); lunch at the farm café is a cheap soup-and-bread stop. Continue to Akureyri, Iceland's northern capital, and wander the botanical garden, the Akureyrarkirkja steps and the harbour. Overnight in an Akureyri hostel (e.g. Akureyri Backpackers) — the cheapest beds in the north.

🚌Strætó bus 57 Borgarnes–Varmahlíð–Akureyri, ~£30 combined

🛏Akureyri hostel dorm — ~£45-60/night

• →Glaumbær turf farm museum (self-guided, ~£8)
• →Self-guided Akureyri town and botanical garden walk

Catch an early bus from Akureyri towards Mývatn (Strætó/summer buses, ~£18) and hop off at Goðafoss waterfall for a 45-minute photo stop. Around Lake Mývatn you can walk between sights yourself if you sleep in Reykjahlíð: Hverir sulfur springs (free, stinks wonderfully), the Dimmuborgir lava labyrinth (free, 1-2 hr loop), Skútustadagigar pseudocraters and Reykjahlíð church. Then continue to Húsavík on the local bus (~£10). In the evening join a self-booked whale-watching cruise (GetYourGuide/direct with North Sailing, ~£85) or if you'd rather not, hit GeoSea Spa's sea-water baths (~£35). Overnight Húsavík hostel.

🚌Strætó/summer bus Akureyri–Mývatn–Húsavík, ~£28

🛏Húsavík hostel dorm — ~£45-55/night

• →Goðafoss waterfall
• →Hverir sulfur springs and Dimmuborgir hike (free)
• →Whale-watching cruise from Húsavík (~£85, optional)

Join a self-booked small-group Diamond Circle day tour from Húsavík (~£110-130 via GetYourGuide or a local operator) covering Ásbyrgi Canyon, the thundering Dettifoss waterfall and lunch at a farm like Mótrudalur. Then float in the Vök Baths geothermal pools at Egilsstaðir (~£35 entry, cheaper if bundled). From Egilsstaðir take the evening bus or a shared ride down the East Fjords to Fáskrúðsfjörður; if timing falls apart, overnight in Egilsstaðir and continue in the morning. Note most Diamond Circle buses require booking ahead — sort this before you leave Akureyri.

🚌Self-booked Diamond Circle small-group tour, then Strætó bus to East Fjords ~£15

🛏East Fjords guesthouse/hostel dorm (Fáskrúðsfjörður or Egilsstaðir) — ~£50-60/night

• →Ásbyrgi Canyon visitor centre and Echo Rock
• →Dettifoss waterfall viewpoint walk
• →Vök Baths geothermal float (~£35)

Slow day along the fjord coast. Visit Petra's Stone Collection at Stöðvarfjörður (~£9) and the pretty fishing village of Djúpivogur, both reachable on the Strætó route 92/94 service or a lift-share. If you're driving a shared rental, stop at the Vestrahorn Viking Village for the famous photo op (~£7 access fee), then continue to Höfn, the langoustine capital. Treat yourself to one langoustine soup for dinner (~£18) — it's the town's whole identity. Overnight Höfn hostel or guesthouse.

🚌Strætó East Fjords bus south to Höfn ~£20, or shared rental car fuel (~£25 split)

🛏Höfn hostel/guesthouse dorm — ~£50-60/night

• →Petra's Stone Collection at Stöðvarfjörður (~£9)
• →Djúpivogur harbour and Eggin walk
• →Vestrahorn photo stop (if self-driving)

The highlight stretch. Head to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon — free to walk the shore and watch ice calving, and cross the road to Diamond Beach where icebergs wash up like jewels. Book an optional zodiac boat ride directly (~£75) if you want to get close. Add a self-guided 1-2 hr hike in Skaftafell Wilderness Area to Svartifoss waterfall (free, national park entry free) and stop by the turf church at Hof. Overnight in a hostel/guesthouse between Skaftafell and Kirkjubæjarklaustur — the cheapest beds on the south coast.

🚌Strætó Route 51 south coast bus ~£30, or shared rental car fuel ~£30 split

🛏Hostel dorm / guesthouse near Kirkjubæjarklaustur or Núpar — ~£55-65/night

• →Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon shore walk
• →Diamond Beach
• →Svartifoss waterfall hike at Skaftafell (free)
• →Hof turf church
• →Optional zodiac boat ride (~£75)

Work your way west along Route 1: Reynisfjara black sand beach (free — watch the sneaker waves seriously), then Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss (walk behind it weather permitting, ~£4 parking). If you want a horse fix in place of the CIE Eldhestar demonstration, book a 1-1.5 hr horse ride directly with Eldhestar or a south-coast farm (~£55-70). Arrive back in Reykjavík by evening bus (~£25 with Strætó Route 51 or a self-booked South Coast one-way transfer). Check back into your Reykjavík hostel and grab a hot dog at Bæjarins Beztu (~£4) to celebrate.

🚌Strætó Route 51 / South Coast bus to Reykjavík ~£25, or shared rental return fuel ~£20 split

🛏Hostel dorm, central Reykjavík — ~£40-55/night

• →Reynisfjara black sand beach
• →Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls
• →Optional Icelandic horse ride (~£60)

Do the Golden Circle independently: take the Strætó bus to Hveragerði/ Selfoss and connect to Þingvellir National Park (free), or pick up a self-booked Golden Circle day tour (~£60) that covers Þingvellir, Geysir/Strokkur erupting every few minutes, and Gullfoss. Finish with a pre-booked Blue Lagoon entry (~£55-75 depending on time — book direct on bluelagoon.com weeks ahead; cheaper late evening slots exist). Buses run between the lagoon and Reykjavík via Destination Blue Lagoon transfers (~£25). Last night hostel pit stop and pack for the flight.

🚌Golden Circle self-booked tour ~£60 + Blue Lagoon return transfer ~£25

🛏Hostel dorm, central Reykjavík — ~£40-55/night

• →Þingvellir National Park (free)
• →Geysir and Strokkur geyser
• →Gullfoss waterfall
• →Blue Lagoon soak (pre-booked)

Final morning: coffee and a bakery stop (Brauð & Co cinnamon buns ~£4), a last wander past the Harpa concert hall, then Flybus back to Keflavík airport (~£22). Duty-free at KEF is genuinely cheaper than city shops for Icelandic chocolate and Brennivín, so save souvenir shopping for here. Buffer two hours before your flight — the Flybus takes about 45 minutes.

🚌Flybus Reykjavík BSÍ to Keflavík airport ~£22

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Brauð & Co bakery stop
• →Harpa concert hall exterior and old harbour