What's the road trip of your dreams? Maybe to drive along long coastlines, surreal black beaches, majestic waterfalls, glaciers, active volcanoes, icy caves and some of the longest tunnels?
Route 1 or the Ring Road of Iceland can be the most surreal route for a road trip on the entire world map. The roads promise you everything you ever wanted to see in your rear view mirror.
Interestingly, the road trip not only allows you to sit inside your vehicle and click incredible photographs but also takes you to some of the most stunning hiking spots and landscapes screaming to be explored.
Here's a list of some of the most incredible stopovers on this route, that will give you a quick overview of the Ring Road of Iceland.
Your self-driven expedition can start from Reykjavik airport or Keflavik Airport.
Reykjavik is also the beautiful capital city of this country and the international airport is 50km from the city.
51 kms away from Reykjavik, Arborg is the spot for the start of this incredible road trip. The first magical stopover is Seljalandsfoss falls. A short hike would take you to behind the waterfall and it's just the beginning for the surreal experience on this road trip ahead.
30 km ahead of Seljalandsfoss falls, the next sight that would strengthen your faith in this outworldly spot on Earth is Skógafoss.
This 200ft high waterfall has also been a site for popular movies like Thor, The Dark World, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
On the Icelandic Ring Road, it's impossible to stay inside the closed doors of your vehicle. The short hikes at various stopovers would make you explore the dreamy landscape surrounding you. 13 kms from Seljalandsfoss falls is Sólheimajökull Glacier, where you can take a walk on the glacier, explore the deep crevasses and ridges.
Next on this gorgeous route is the coastal town of Vik at a distance of 32 kms from Sólheimajökull Glacier. This small village is located on the southernmost tip of Iceland and the black sand beach is one of the most unusual and stunning beaches around the world.
Not even halfway around the country and you see the blue floating icebergs.
Isn't that how you first pictured the lovely Iceland? At a distance of almost 200kms from Vik is the Jökulsárlón Iceberg Lagoon where you'd first witness the much awaited sight at the seashore.
Welcome to your next stopover that's a paradise for photographers to say the least.
Vatnajökull glacier that's famous for it's ice cave tour and for photographers on a look out for breathtaking landscapes these crystal ice caves make hands down the best natural setup.
Connected by Route 1, a road the circles around Iceland, Höfn is the harbor town in the southeastern part of the country. It also offers a scenic view of the Vatnajökull glacier on one side and long shorelines and beaches on the other.
The dramatic change in the landscape begins around East Fjords.
That's where you'd discover the true joy of driving around the Icelandic roads. This drive is from Hofn to Egilsstaðir via Djúpivogur with steep cliffs surrounding you on all sides and sheep and reindeers grazing all around the route.
Let's now talk about the most sought after experience while driving on on Route 1.
Your hunt for the northern light ends here and on a drive along this circuit you'd witness nights with strong aurora activity and breathtakingly clear skies on most of the days.
170 km from Egilsstaðir, Myvatn nature baths is a region with highly delicate ecosystem. The tourist activity in Myvatn has been limited smartly to designated pool of geothermal water with steam rising up to make it a mystical experience for everyone.
In the highlands of Northern Iceland, near Myvatn the geothermal activity in the Námafjall Hverir geothermal area makes it the best site to see some solfataras and boiling mud pots.
Spend a night at the second largest city of Iceland, Akureyri and the city is also known as the capital of North Iceland. Surrounded by mountains and a coastal strip of land, this town surprisingly has a more inland climate than coastal. While in Akureyri you can go for activities like whale watching and see the volcanos around the area.
Here you are at the western end of the majestic country at Snæfellsnes Peninsulah. It has been aptly named the Iceland in Miniature. It's the part of the country where you'd find the stunning Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall and Snæfellsjökull volcano. Snæfellsjökull is known to be the setting if the famous novel Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Your final drive along the western peninsula for the next 150 kms will take you back to the capital city of Reykjavík. It takes almost 7 days to complete this road trip on Route 1 and yes, these might just be the best 7 days of your entire life.
