One road trip, 12 nights, and a lot of wow. This is a small-group loop around Iceland with guided time at major natural hits—plus plenty of stops you’d miss on your own. With Jens Olafsson at the wheel and on commentary, the trip aims to make the driving days feel purposeful, not just transit.

Two things I really like: first, the way the itinerary packs in iconic sites and then adds extra viewpoints and shorter detours so the days don’t feel like a checklist. Second, all accommodations plus breakfast and dinner take a big bite out of planning stress (and meal costs). The main drawback to weigh is the pace: you’ll change locations often, and you should be ready for walking that ranges from short strolls to a few hikes.

Key Highlights Worth Paying Attention To

• Max 12 people keeps the trip personal enough to ask questions and actually get help with timing and photos
• Jens Olafsson provides the history and context that turns stops like Þingvellir into more than scenery
• Skógar Museum is included, so you get more Iceland than just waterfalls and glaciers
• Glacier Lagoon boat tour is built in, giving you a different perspective than standing on shore
• Farm stays in the mix (including stays around Modrudalur at about 469 m) help break up the nonstop sightseeing

What This 13-Day Round Trip Is Really Like

This tour is designed for people who want to see a lot of Iceland without turning the trip into constant logistics. You’re on a guided circuit for about 13 days, with 12 nights of accommodation and daily breakfast (12) plus dinner (11). You’ll have the comfort of knowing the plan, while still getting time at stops to get your bearings and enjoy the views.

Iceland rewards patience, but this itinerary also respects your time. Many days include multiple major sights with short-to-medium on-foot stretches, so you’re not just stuck in one place for hours. If you’re the type who loves photos but also wants meaning behind them, the guide’s running commentary is a real part of the value.

Group Size and Your Day-to-Day Comfort (Max 12 Matters)

The trip caps at 12 travelers, which changes the vibe fast. You’re less likely to feel like you’re one number in a crowd, and it’s easier to manage timing when everyone’s trying to catch a window in the weather. In practice, Jens also handles the day-to-day “small stuff” like registration changes when you switch hotels—meaning less hassle for you at the end of a long driving day.

You should still expect long days, because the route is big. This is a round-island overview with stops that range from quick photo stops to short hikes. Even with a small group, Iceland’s distances mean you’ll spend plenty of time in the vehicle.

Starting Point in Reykjavik: Hotel Klettur and a Simple Day 1

Day 1 is straightforward: make your way to the hotel in Reykjavik. Your tour meeting point is Hótel Klettur, Mjölnisholt 12–14, 105 Reykjavík, and the tour ends back there.

That matters more than it sounds. Reykjavik can be fun for an extra day, but the tour itself begins with you settled and ready. If you’re arriving from long-haul flights, this “easy first day” style helps you avoid arriving stressed.

Day 2: Þingvellir, Gullfoss, and Geysir (Classic Stops, With Context)

Day 2 is Iceland’s big trio: Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss, and the Geysir geothermal area. Þingvellir is both a history stop and a geology stop—the kind of place where the ground itself tells a story. With Jens explaining the old parliament connection and the fault-line setting, you’ll feel like you’re walking through a real timeline, not just touring a park.

Gullfoss is pure force. You’ll have about 1 hour 30 minutes, which is enough time to see the falls from key angles and still breathe for a minute if the wind hits hard. Then comes Geysir, where you’re looking at geothermal activity that makes Iceland feel almost alive.

Consideration: this is a full day of headline sights. If you hate crowds, treat your timing flexibly—get there early when possible and don’t rush the views.

Days 3: Waterfall Chain to the Black-Sand Beach

Day 3 is a south-coast sampler that moves fast but not randomly. You’ll hit Seljalandsfoss (a quick stop around 20 minutes), then Skógar waterfall at Skogafoss (about 30 minutes). After that, you get the included Skógar Museum time (about 1 hour 30 minutes), which is a smart break from only natural attractions.

From there the day turns more “ice and coast”:

• Solheimajökull Glacier (about 1 hour) gives you glacier access without making it an all-day production
• Dyrhólaey (about 45 minutes) sets you up for coastal views
• Reynisfjara black sand beach (about 30 minutes) adds the signature dramatic shoreline

Watch the weather here. Wind and rain can turn a “quick photo stop” into a wet one. Bring a layer you can trust.

Day 4: Skaftafell + Svartifoss Hike, Then the Glacier Lagoon Boat Tour

Day 4 is where the itinerary starts to feel like serious Iceland. You begin at Skaftafell National Park (about 2 hours), and then you hike to Svartifoss waterfall for roughly 1 hour 30 minutes.

Svartifoss is the one you remember later because it’s not just big water. You’re walking through a landscape shaped by volcanic history, and the hike is short enough to stay fun even when the weather turns.

Then you get the included Glacier Lagoon boat tour (about 2 hours). This changes the story from “watching ice from shore” to feeling how icebergs drift and how the lagoon behaves. It’s one of those activities that makes the whole trip feel more dimensional.

Practical tip: if you’re prone to motion sickness, consider bringing medication. Boat rides can be choppy, even when the sky looks calm.

Day 5: East Iceland and the Farm Stay at Modrudalur

Day 5 is your transition east, with Hvalnes Lighthouse (about 30 minutes), then Lagarfljót and the town of Egilsstaðir area. After that you settle into Moorudalur / Modrudalur valley, described as the highest inhabited place in the country at about 469 m (1,539 ft).

You also get the included overnight here, and this is the kind of stop that makes the trip feel human. After several long sightseeing days, this farm-style setting gives you a different rhythm—quiet mornings, real dinner, and time to let the scenery sink in.

What you’ll like most: the contrast. You’re not only seeing Iceland’s extremes; you’re also seeing how people live in them.

Day 6: Dettifoss, Asbyrgi, Krafla, Dimmuborgir, and Hverir

Day 6 is the “north-fire” day, mixing the biggest waterfall with active volcanic terrain. You start with Dettifoss (about 45 minutes). This is described as Europe’s mightiest waterfall—whether you care about the claim or not, the size is the point. Bring your camera, but also be ready to stand there and let your brain catch up.

Next you move to Asbyrgi (Shelter of the Gods), a horseshoe-shaped canyon (about 30 minutes). Then you go through volcanic zones:

• Krafla Lava Fields (about 1 hour), with lava that’s still warm more than 30 years after an eruption
• Dimmuborgir lava formations (about 30 minutes)
• Namafjall Hverir boiling mud pots (about 20 minutes)
• Skutustaoagígar pseudo craters (about 5 minutes)

That’s a lot of stops, but they’re linked by theme. You’re walking across Iceland’s engine room, and Jens’s job is turning it into a coherent story.

Consideration: this is a day where shoes matter. You’ll likely walk on uneven ground near geothermal features.

Day 7: Godafoss and Akureyri Time (A Break From Constant Stops)

Day 7 starts with Godafoss (about 20 minutes), and then you get a more flexible chunk: Akureyri with about 3 hours of free time.

This pause matters. You can reset with a walk, browse, or just enjoy a real town break between big nature days. After Akureyri, the itinerary adds Siglufjörður (about 20 minutes) and Hvitserkur rock (about 30 minutes).

Hvitserkur is one of those Icelandic characters—the rock looks like it’s doing something. Short stop or not, it’s memorable.

Days 8–10: Westfjords and the Remote Strandir Coast

Days 8–10 are where you get Iceland that feels less packaged. After Hrutafjordur, the tour goes to the remote Strandir area and follows a coastline with driftwood and small black-sand beaches. Then you head toward Ísafjörður for the overnight near the fishing village of Sudureyri.

This stretch matters because Westfjords aren’t just “more scenery.” They feel quieter, harder to reach, and less like a theme park. The itinerary is built to earn that feeling by driving you there.

Day 9 brings two standout hits:

• Dynjandi (Fjallfoss) waterfall (about 45 minutes)
• Látrabjarg bird cliffs (about 1 hour), Iceland’s westernmost point with dramatic cliffs dropping about 400 m (1,320 ft) and a birdlife focus

Day 10 continues along the southern side of the Westfjords, with Rauðasandur Beach (about 1 hour)—the red sand stop.

Practical tip: if the wind is up, cliffs and beaches can feel colder than you expect. Pack for that reality.

Days 11–12: Kirkjufellsfoss, Djúpalónssandur, Grabrok, and Hraunfossar

Day 11 is about iconic West and coast shots. You start at Kirkjufellsfoss (about 20 minutes), then move to Djúpálónssandur Beach (about 45 minutes). A short coastal-cliff stroll follows for birdlife and nature watching.

Day 12 shifts again to geology you can walk up to:

• Grabrok crater walk (about 30 minutes)
• Hraunfossar (lava waterfalls) and Barnafoss (about 30 minutes)

These are perfect “finish strong” moments. After two weeks of big driving and big water, a shorter hike to a viewpoint feels like a reward.

Price and Logistics: Is $7,228.71 Good Value?

The price—$7,228.71 per person—is not pocket-change. But it’s also not just “a car and a map.” You’re paying for:

• 12 nights of accommodation
• Breakfast every morning (12)
• Dinner for 11 nights
• A guided tour with stops organized across the country
• Two paid activities handled in the plan: Skógar Museum and the Glacier Lagoon boat tour

Lunch isn’t included, and beverages aren’t included. So budget for food you purchase during the day. If you’re smart about it, you can reduce the pain by planning ahead and keeping lunch simple. One of the practical strengths of Jens’s approach is that he looks for suitable places for breaks, and you can bring your own picnic style lunch if you prefer.

The real value question: do you want to pay for stress reduction? If yes, this kind of bundled itinerary is exactly the tradeoff you’re making.

Packing for Iceland Weather and Foot Travel

The tour calls for moderate physical fitness. That means you should be comfortable with a mix of short walks, uneven footing, and occasional hikes like the Svartifoss route and the Grabrok crater walk.

I’d pack for wind and rain, even in months where temperatures look friendly. Bring a waterproof outer layer, warm socks, and shoes with traction. Also plan for lighting changes—cloud cover can flip the contrast on waterfall days.

Should You Book This Tour?

Book it if you want:

• A 13-day guided circuit that hits the big icons and includes the “why” behind them
• A small group with Jens Olafsson running the plan and smoothing the logistics
• Enough time to enjoy stops without trying to micromanage every turn yourself

Skip it (or at least reconsider) if:

• You hate changing hotels often and want a slower pace
• You’re trying to keep costs very low, since lunches and drinks are on you
• You want a deep, multi-day exploration of only one region instead of an island-wide overview

If you want the feeling of Iceland in one trip—with real support and built-in activities—this is one of the stronger ways to do it.

FAQ

How many people are in the group?

The tour has a maximum of 12 travelers, keeping it small-group sized.

What meals are included?

The package includes breakfast for 12 mornings and dinner for 11 nights. Lunch is not included, and beverages are not included.

What activities are included besides standard sightseeing?

Included activities are the Folk Museum of Skógar admission and the Glacier Lagoon boat tour.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts and ends back at the meeting point: Hótel Klettur, Mjölnisholt 12–14, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland.

What fitness level does the tour require?

The tour is suited for people with moderate physical fitness.

Is this booking refundable?

No. This experience is non-refundable and can’t be changed for any reason.