8-Day Iceland Ring Road & Westfjords Tour: Route and Price
Nicetravel calls it the 8-Day Off The Beaten Path Tour, and the name is fair in one sense: after two days on Iceland's busiest routes, the Golden Circle and the South Coast, the tour heads east, north and finally into the Westfjords, where tourist numbers drop sharply. It is the shorter sister of the 10-Day Grand Ring Road tour, and for many travellers the more realistic choice in terms of holiday days and budget.
Key facts at a glance
| Price | from ISK 379,900 per adult (roughly €2,600) |
| Duration | 8 days, 7 nights |
| Season | June to September |
| Group size | maximum 19 guests, Mercedes Sprinter minibus |
| Language | English |
| Accommodation | private room with en-suite bathroom, breakfast included |
| Minimum age | 5 years |
| Pickup | free within Reykjavík, 08:30 to 09:00 |
Prices checked October 2026. Reduced prices apply to children and teenagers. Solo travellers must book the single room supplement.
The route in brief
Days 1 and 2: The classics
Day 1 covers the Golden Circle: Þingvellir, Geysir and Strokkur at Haukadalur, Gullfoss and the Kerið crater, with a night in the geothermal town of Hveragerði. The operator states that entry to the hot tubs at or next to the hotel is included. Day 2 starts at the Hveragerði geothermal park with geothermal bread, then follows the South Coast: Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi, Skógafoss, Dyrhólaey, Reynisfjara and Vík, Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon and the glacier tongue Svínafellsjökull. Overnight in the countryside in Suðursveit.
Day 3: Ice and the East Fjords
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach, Vestrahorn, Hvalnes lighthouse and Djúpivogur, then over to Egilsstaðir for the night. Optional: the amphibious boat on the lagoon or an evening at Vök Baths.
Day 4: Waterfalls and volcanic ground
Stuðlagil canyon, Dettifoss and Selfoss, then the Mývatn area with the Hverir geothermal field, Grjótagjá and Dimmuborgir, and finally Goðafoss before a night in Akureyri. The Forest Lagoon is an optional extra.
Day 5: Tröllaskagi to Borgarnes
A morning in Akureyri with optional whale watching, then the Tröllaskagi peninsula with lunch in Siglufjörður, the black houses and basalt shore of Hofsós, and the Kolugljúfur canyon. Overnight in Borgarnes.
Days 6 to 8: The Westfjords
Day 6 visits the Eiríksstaðir Viking longhouse (entry included), passes the Garðar shipwreck and ends near the Látrabjarg bird cliffs, with a night in the countryside. Day 7 follows gravel roads to Rauðisandur beach, then Dynjandi waterfall, Önundarfjörður and the Bolafjall viewing platform, ending in Ísafjörður. Day 8 begins with Ósvör fishing museum and Óshólaviti lighthouse, follows the Seven Fjords Road with a stop at the Arctic Fox Center (entry included), Gervidalsá falls and the Grábrók craters, and returns to Reykjavík. Estimated arrival is around 20:00 to 21:00.
What's included
- English-speaking guide and minibus transport
- pickup and drop-off within Reykjavík
- 7 nights in private rooms with en-suite bathroom and breakfast
- entrances to the Hveragerði geothermal park, Eiríksstaðir and the Arctic Fox Center
- WiFi and USB charging at every seat
Not included: lunch and dinner (there are scheduled food stops), and the optional extras: glacier lagoon boat tour, Vök Baths, Forest Lagoon and whale watching. Bring swimwear and a towel if you plan to use public pools; the paid spas provide towels.
8-day versus 10-day: the real difference
The two tours are nearly identical for the first eight days. The difference is what happens after Ísafjörður.
| 8-Day | 10-Day | |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | ISK 379,900 (roughly €2,600) | ISK 439,900 (roughly €3,050) |
| Price per day | about ISK 47,500 | about ISK 44,000 |
| Night after the Westfjords | none, straight back to Reykjavík | Borgarnes |
| Silver Circle, Víðgelmir lava cave, horse farm | not included | Day 9 |
| Snæfellsnes and Kirkjufell | not included | Day 10 |
| Return to Reykjavík | around 20:00 to 21:00 | around 19:00 to 20:00 |
The 8-day tour's last day is its weak spot: a full sightseeing day in the Westfjords followed by the long drive back to the capital, well over 400 km in total. If you can add two days, the 10-day tour spreads this out and adds two regions that many people rate among their favourites. If you can't, the 8-day tour still gives you the whole Ring Road and the Westfjords, which the Ring Road itself bypasses completely.
Who it suits
- Travellers with about ten days of holiday in total, including flights
- People who want the Westfjords without driving the gravel roads themselves
- Those who have already seen Snæfellsnes, or plan to do it as a day trip from Reykjavík
The honest downsides
- Pace. Four to five hours of driving a day on average, and longer on Days 5 and 8. This is a touring holiday, not a relaxing one.
- Short stops. Typically 30 to 60 minutes per sight.
- Group size. A maximum of 19 means a small group, not an intimate one.
- Westfjords roads. Some sections are gravel and narrow. You are not driving, but it is a bumpy, slow part of the trip.
- Summer only. The tour runs from June to September. In other months, look at the winter tours with ice caves and hot springs instead.
- Weather. Fog at Látrabjarg or rain at Dynjandi is entirely possible, and the guide may change the order of stops.
Booking
Check the booking calendar for current departure dates; only dates you can select are confirmed. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. Details and dates are on the 8-Day Ring Road & Westfjords tour page. If you want to compare it once more with the longer version, here is the 10-Day Grand Ring Road tour.
Still weighing up guided versus self-drive? Our guide to choosing a Ring Road tour covers the basics.
Prices checked October 2026; euro amounts are rough conversions at about 145 ISK per euro. Tour links are affiliate links.