Grand Iceland Ring Road & Westfjords Self-Drive
Add the Westfjords to the classic Ring Road, using the Baldur ferry to connect back to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
Cover Iceland's main regions in two weeks. This route adds the bird cliffs, red sand beaches, and fishing villages of the Westfjords to the standard Ring Road, using a ferry to avoid backtracking. The mountain roads in the Westfjords are slow, and there are almost no rest days, making for a tight pace. The trade-off is staying only one night on the South Coast and in the East. Best suited for experienced long-distance drivers who want to see it all in one go.
Mountain roads around Dynjandi are often closed in winter and usually do not stabilize until late May or June.
Day by day
Day 1 · Airport Direct to the Golden Circle
Golden Circle (Iceland)（Thingvellir National Park、Geysir Geothermal Area (Strokkur)、Gullfoss）
Pick up your car and drive via the Reykjavik bypass to Þingvellir (about 1 hour), covering about 220 km for the day.
Stay: Flúðir
Day 2 · South Coast Waterfalls to Vík
Golden Circle (Iceland)（Kerið） → South Coast of Iceland (Vík)（Seljalandsfoss、Skógafoss、Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach）
Drive south from Flúðir to join Route 1, then head east to Vík, about 170 km (2.5 hours).
Reynisfjara's sneaker waves are dangerous; do not go near the water.
Stay: Vík
Day 3 · Fjaðrárgljúfur & Skaftafell
South Coast of Iceland (Vík)（Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon） → Jökulsárlón & Skaftafell（Svartifoss、Falljökull Glacier Hike）
Drive east from Vík via Kirkjubæjarklaustur to the Hali area, about 210 km (a 3-hour drive).
Glacier hiking must be done with a certified guide and booked in advance.
Stay: Hali and the Glacier Lagoon Area
Day 4 · Glacier Lagoon & Southeast Coast
Jökulsárlón & Skaftafell（Jökulsárlón / Diamond Beach、Stokksnes & Vestrahorn） → Egilsstaðir & East Fjords（Eggs of Merry Bay, Djúpivogur）
Drive from Hali via Höfn along Route 1 around the fjords to Egilsstaðir, about 330 km (a 5-hour drive).
Stay: Egilsstaðir
Day 5 · Rainbow Road & Basalt Canyon
Egilsstaðir & East Fjords（Seyðisfjörður Blue Church & Rainbow Street、Stuðlagil Canyon） → Akureyri & Lake Mývatn（Dettifoss）
Drive to Seyðisfjörður and back, then head west along Route 1 to Lake Mývatn, covering about 290 km for the day.
Stay: Mývatn · Reykjahlíð
Day 6 · Mývatn, Húsavík to Akureyri
Akureyri & Lake Mývatn（Hverir (Námaskarð)、Dimmuborgir、Húsavík Whale Watching、Goðafoss）
Explore Lake Mývatn in the morning, go whale watching in Húsavík in the afternoon, and arrive in Akureyri in the evening, covering about 190 km for the day.
Stay: Akureyri
Day 7 · Across the North to Strandir
Akureyri & Lake Mývatn（Hafnarstræti (Akureyri)） → Hólmavík
Drive west from Akureyri along Route 1, then turn onto Route 61 to Hólmavík, about 340 km (4.5 hours).
This is a long driving day. Gas stations are far apart, so fill up before you start.
Stay: Hólmavík
Day 8 · Around the Fjords to Ísafjörður
Westfjords (Ísafjörður)（Litlibær、Arctic Fox Centre、Ísafjörður Old Town）
Drive along Route 61, winding around the branches of Ísafjarðardjúp to Ísafjörður, about 225 km (3 hours).
Stay: Ísafjörður
Day 9 · Bird Island or Hornstrandir Day Cruise
Westfjords (Ísafjörður)（Vigur Island、Bolafjall Viewing Platform）
Take a boat from Ísafjörður harbor: about half a day for Vigur Island, or a full day for Hornstrandir.
Boat trips are weather-dependent. Book in advance and check if Mount Bolafjall is open.
Stay: Ísafjörður
Day 10 · Through the Tunnel South to Dynjandi
Westfjords (Ísafjörður)（Þingeyri、Dynjandi）
Drive south through the tunnel and along Route 60 to Patreksfjörður, about 200 km (3.5 hours).
Stay: Patreksfjörður
Day 11 · Bird Cliffs & Ferry out of Westfjords
Westfjords (Ísafjörður)（Látrabjarg、Garðar BA 64） → Snæfellsnes Peninsula（Stykkishólmur）
Drive to Látrabjarg in the morning (about 1.5 hours), then head to Brjánslækur to catch the ferry (about 2.5 hours).
Car spaces on the Baldur ferry are tight in summer; book at least a week in advance.
Stay: Stykkishólmur
Day 12 · Snæfellsnes Peninsula Loop
Snæfellsnes Peninsula（Kirkjufell, Snæfellsnes、Djúpalónssandur、Arnarstapi、Búðakirkja (Black Church of Búðir)）
Drive west along Route 54 to loop around the peninsula, then return to the south coast, covering about 170 km (3 hours).
Stay: Arnarstapi and Hellnar
Day 13 · Borgarfjörður & Lava Waterfalls
Borgarfjörður & Húsafell（Deildartunguhver、Hraunfossar、Barnafoss）
Drive from the south coast of the peninsula via Borgarnes into the valley to Húsafell, about 170 km (2.5 hours).
Stay: Húsafell
Day 14 · Half-Day in Reykjavik & Departure
Reykjavík（Hallgrímskirkja、Harpa Concert Hall）
Drive from Húsafell to Reykjavik (about 1 hour 45 minutes), then from the city to the airport (about 45 minutes).