Iceland Ring Road by Van: Live It
Overview
Nine days. One full loop around Iceland. Vans, waterfalls, black-sand beaches, glaciers, the wild north, and plenty of hours on the road. Enough time to go from complete strangers to one solid crew.
We’ve done more than 100 roadtrips here. We know which stop is worth making when the weather turns, where to find the waterfall that never makes it onto social media, and where we need to be when the Northern Lights forecast starts looking promising.
This is the Altervan way of doing Iceland: the Ring Road, the Golden Circle, the South Coast, Jökulsárlón, the north and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
Nine people per van. Evenings spent cooking together. Will it rain? Definitely. We’ll probably end up dancing in it.
You in?
| Destination | Iceland |
|---|---|
| Dates | 21 Mar 2027 → 29 Mar 2027 |
| Duration | 9 days |
| Group size | up to 16 people |
| Price | €2,190 / person |
| Deposit | €750 |
Included
Not included
Before you get in the van…
It is for you if…
- you love the road, the music, the conversations and the hours inside the van
- you're cool with the schedule changing when the weather has other plans
- you're up for coming in as strangers and leaving as a new crew
- you'd rather fill your day with sights and moments than lounge around the hotel
It is probably not for you if…
- for you, a holiday means chilling out and resting
- long hours on the road wear you out
- you want the schedule to say 2:20pm and at 2:20pm, that's exactly what happens
- you're expecting a classic organised tour with a guide and a coach
Moments
1,524 moments from 114 previous departuresItinerary · day by day
01Arrival in Reykjavik
We fly out of Athens at midday, change planes in Warsaw and land in Iceland late in the evening. From the airport we head straight to our hotel in Reykjavik, drop the bags and go to sleep. The next day starts early, so you'll want a good night's sleep.
02Golden Circle: Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss
First day of the roadtrip and we head straight for the Golden Circle. At Thingvellir we walk between the two tectonic plates, the North American and the Eurasian, where the Oxararfoss waterfall falls between them. This is where the Althingi, the world's first parliament, was founded in 930 AD. Next is Bruarfoss, with water so turquoise it looks like you put a filter on your phone. At Geysir we wait for Strokkur, which shoots water up to 30 metres high when it goes off, and we finish at Gullfoss, the "Golden Falls", which you hear long before you see it. In the evening we sleep in wooden cabins by a river. We split the kitchen jobs and cook together, and by the time dinner is on the table you know everyone's name.
03South coast: Seljalandsfoss, Reynisfjara and Jokulsarlon
04Studlagil, Dettifoss and Myvatn
We leave the south behind and head east and north, where Iceland gets wilder. First Folaldafoss, a small waterfall, then the Studlagil canyon, with basalt rocks and a river that changes colour with the light. Dettifoss is the most powerful waterfall in Europe, and when you stand above it you are left speechless. At Hverir the ground steams, it smells of sulphur and the soil is red, as if we had landed on another planet. We drive along Lake Myvatn with its volcanic islets and stop at Godafoss, the "waterfall of the gods". They say this is where the idols of the old gods were thrown when Icelanders became Christians. In the evening we reach Akureyri, where even the red traffic lights are heart shaped.
05Husavik: whales and GeoSea
06Snaefellsnes and Kirkjufell
07A walk around Reykjavik
08Reykjanes and Blue Lagoon
09Back to Athens
The route
Gallery · Iceland
Answers to your questions
What luggage do I bring?
One carry-on bag up to 8 kg (55 x 40 x 23 cm) and a small backpack that fits under the seat in front of you. Your ticket also includes a 23 kg suitcase, but space in the van is tight and bigger bags don’t fit. If you like, pack your carry-on up to a few more kilos. Come on, don’t look at us like that. Everything you need really does fit.
I'm coming on my own. Who will I share a room with?
Most Altervan travellers come on their own and get to know the group on the trip. Rooms are twin, so if you’re travelling solo you share with another member of the group of the same gender. We take care of the room allocation, or sometimes little groups form at the airport, and then you decide.
How do I book my spot?
With a deposit of €750 per person. You pay the rest in instalments, up to 30 days before departure.
What if I need to cancel?
Everything about cancellations is in our General Terms of Participation, section 5. If anything isn’t clear, ask us before you book.
What travel document do I need?
A new-type Greek ID card or a valid passport. Either one is fine.
Is there an age limit?
All ages are welcome. If you’re under 18, you travel with a companion.
What clothes should I bring?
Waterproof clothes, a windbreaker, thermal layers and waterproof hiking or sports shoes. The weather in Iceland changes during the day, and at some waterfalls you’ll get wet anyway. Closer to departure we send you gear details based on the forecast. What are you thinking? No, you don’t need any special gear.
What isn't included in the price?
Your personal expenses and the optional activities: the Blue Lagoon, GeoSea and whale watching in Husavik. We talk them through together in the group we set up on Viber, and you decide later.
Will we see the northern lights?
We don’t promise it, because you can’t book the northern lights. They show up when it gets properly dark and the sky is clear, so the darker the nights, the better the odds. In March the odds are on our side. In April the nights get shorter, but if it gets dark and the sky opens up, there is still a small chance. Wherever we sleep far from the lights, like just outside Hofn, we all look up before bed.