Iceland Ring Road Itinerary – Complete 10-14 Day Guide (+ Westfjords)

Iceland Ring Road Itinerary – Complete 10-14 Day Guide (+ Westfjords)

So, you want to visit Iceland and see as 
much as you can during your road trip? But here’s the big question. Which region is 
the one you will actually fall in love with? Is it land of glaciers, mountains, and black 
sand beaches? The alien looking lava fields, and bubbling sulfur? Maybe the wild untouched 
Westfjords with their remote vibe? Or do you want to feel like a true explorer driving on gravel 
roads surrounded by wildlife? There are even magical forests filled with flowers there. Yes, 
forests in Iceland. Hi, I’m Kamil, the creator of Shot by Reality. I’ve spent over two weeks filming 
cinematic series across Iceland, driving almost 4,000 kilometers. And if you’re planning your own 
trip, I know exactly how exhausting it can be to choose where to go, especially when your time is 
limited. That’s why in this video, I’ll break down the Iceland’s regions, not only by geography, but 
also the feeling of being there. And by the end, you’ll know exactly which part of Iceland is worth 
spending more time in. The diversity of Iceland is unlike anything else. Driving here feels like 
playing a video game in real life. One moment you’re walking in a lush green forest and just 
hours later you’re standing on landscapes that look like another planet. Here’s Iceland divided 
into its official regions. But to make things simple, I use my own divisions based on what it 
feels like when you’re actually driving through the Ring Road and even the remote Westfjords. On 
this map, I’ll only highlight the areas I actually visited, not every single corner of the region. 
So, let’s start this adventure with the Golden Circle, the most famous and also the most crowded 
part of Iceland. And make sure to stick around until the end because I’ll share my recommended 
road trip plans. Basically, how many days I would spend in each region. Here, you’ll experience 
wide open landscapes that immediately put you in the mood for adventure. To me, it has a very 
American road trip vibe. This region is also home to some of Iceland’s most iconic spots. The Geysir 
and its hot springs, Gullfoss with its massive and powerful waterfalls and Þingvellir, the place 
where two continental plates meet. In some parts, the ground even almost turns red. So, you can feel 
like you’ve stepped on the surface of Mars. But remember that you have to start early because 
those places get very crowded, especially when the tour buses arrive. Next, let’s move to the 
second region, what I like to call the welcoming south. If you enjoy green farmland and the sight 
of animals grazing freely, you’ll love it here. This part of Iceland is lush and beautiful with 
horses running through the fields and of course some of the country’s most famous waterfalls. And 
the further east you go, the fewer tourists you’ll see and the more adventurous the vibe becomes. 
Some of the iconic spots here are Skógafoss, the powerful curtain waterfall, Seljalandsfoss, 
where you can actually walk behind the water, and Reynisfjara, the dramatic black sand beach with 
towering basalt columns and lots of seagulls. Now, the real journey begins as we head further east 
and almost instantly enter a whole new world, the frozen south. Here, the black sand beaches 
turn colder and blend with patches of ice. Lagoons are filled with floating icebergs. Glaciers carve 
their way down to the sea. And instead of wide open farmlands, you’re now surrounded by sharp 
towering peaks. This place feels extraordinary, a complete contrast to the green scenery we’ve 
just left behind. It’s also much less crowded, and from this point on, you’ll notice fewer 
cars and fewer tourists. Also, the sense of wilderness will be stronger with each passing day. 
We continue the journey reaching another region, the remote east, the land of silence and 
winding fjords. Here the road itself becomes the main attraction carving along the ocean with 
mountains rising straight from the sea. This is one of the least crowded parts of Iceland. 
And if you’re lucky, you might even spot a wild reindeer roaming through the valleys. When 
I visited in May, the whole area was covered in flowers, adding a softer beauty to the rugged 
landscape. And while driving along the fjords, keep an eye on the water. You might spot whooper 
swans gliding across the sea or suddenly flapping their wings right in front of you. Those that 
you see were just outside of Djúpivogur. We are still in the east, but now let’s focus on 
one of my favorite areas. I call it the eastern forests. Everything around Egilsstaðir feels so 
different from anything I had seen before. After days of rugged mountains and harsh landscapes, 
my eyes couldn’t believe in the lush greenery of the surrounding forests and the fields full 
of flowers. If you’re looking for a peaceful, calming place to slow down and simply enjoy 
nature, this is perfect for you. For me, this place was truly magical. It’s one of 
my favorite regions in all of Iceland. And it’s actually here where I got inspired almost 
called to create this channel. That’s why it will always stay special to me. If you’re enjoying 
this journey, consider subscribing. It really helps me keep sharing both beauty of nature and 
behind the scenes of filmmaking. As we continue, the landscapes change once again. The 
greenery disappears and suddenly you find yourself in what feels like a post-apocalyptic 
desert. Endless volcanic planes, black gravel, and steaming vents. It’s like stepping straight 
into MadMax or Fallout in real life. If you’ve ever dreamed of extraterrestrial experience, this 
is the place. Here you’ll drive completely alone, surrounded by only barren wasteland with volcanoes 
looming in the distance. The region is full of steaming vents and sulfur fields where the ground 
literally boils beneath your feet. I’ve actually made a separate cinematic film just about this 
area. So, if you would like to see what it feels like, check it out. I’ll link it here and in the 
description below. And just a bit further north, you’ll find the Dettifoss, the most powerful 
waterfall in Europe. It’s absolutely a must visit. Then, if you want a complete contrast, I recommend 
heading into Ásbyrgi Canyon, a peaceful oasis of lush greenery, crystal clear water, and abundant 
wildlife. And right at the edge of this volcanic wasteland, you will find another surprising 
contrast. Lake Mývatn. This area is full of geothermal activity, colorful craters, and surreal 
lava formations. Yet, the lake itself feels alive, surrounded by flocks of birds and often sheep and 
horses grazing nearby. For me, it’s one of the best places to slow down and take a breath after 
all the alien looking landscapes around. The next region is what I like to call the gentle north. 
Here you’ll finally notice more people around, but still nothing that feels crowded. The 
landscapes are filled with life, from grazing sheep to birds flying over the fjords, though the 
atmosphere is colder and more arctic compared to the south. This is a place of history and climate. 
You can really feel the north here, both in the crisp air and in the character of the land. Do you 
already have a favorite region so far? Let me know in the comments. Beyond the dramatic mountains, 
you’ll also find unique crater-like formations and something unforgettable, swarms of tiny midges. 
They’re harmless, but they come in thousands, if not millions. And trust me, you won’t forget them. 
This region is also home to the Iceland’s second largest city, Akureyri. And I mean, come on, just 
look at their heart-shaped traffic lights. But be prepared. This is where you step back to the 
civilization for a little while. And now something for the true adventurers. The most remote and 
untouched part of Iceland, the Wild Westfjords. Here you’ll find deep abandoned fjords, endless 
gravel roads, and landscapes that feel like the edge of the world. It’s a place full of wildlife, 
changing moods, and a raw isolated beauty unlike anywhere else. I’m going to split it into two sub 
regions. The first one is what I called the deep fjords, the northern part centered around. Here, 
long stretches of gravel roads take you through the valleys where the time feels frozen. You’ll 
pass abandoned boats, crumbling buildings, and small villages that seem forgotten by the world. 
Yet, right along the road, you’ll find stunning waterfalls pouring straight from the cliffs. 
The icon of this region is Dynjandi, a massive waterfall that looks almost unreal. And don’t 
forget Bolungarvik, a dramatic cliff above the town, but when I visited it was completely covered 
in fog. That’s the Westfjords. The experience really depends on the weather. When the clouds 
are heavy, the atmosphere is dark and dramatic. But when the sun breaks through, the Westfjords 
turn into something out of a fairytale. From here, we continue south to what I call the edge of 
the world. Gigantic green cliffs rise straight from the ocean. Isolated towns are scattered 
between winding gravel roads and everything feels far removed from the rest of Iceland. 
The highlight here is definitely Látrabjarg, the largest bird cliff in Europe. It’s packed 
with puffins, seagulls, and countless other birds all nesting on cliffs that drop straight into the 
open Atlantic. Standing there with nothing but the ocean in front of you truly feels like the end of 
the world. If you would like to dive deeper into this feeling, the puffins, the cliffs, the edge 
of the world, I’ve made a separate cinematic short film just about this place. Check it out here and 
in the description below. And then out of nowhere, you’ll discover a golden beach. its sand glowing 
almost orange. A stunning contrast to the black beaches you’ve seen across the rest of Iceland. 
The last region of my journey is what I like to call Iceland in miniature. Located on the western 
part of the Ring Road, it feels a bit like the Westfjords but in a more compact and accessible 
way without the same level of remoteness. Here you’ll find some truly iconic sites. Sharp 
mountains rising from the sea, smaller yet stunning bird cliffs and colorful waterfalls like 
Hraunfossar and my personal favorite of them all, Bjarnarfoss. For me, this area feels like Iceland 
in a nutshell. All the beauty of the country concentrated in one region. The Snæfellsnes 
peninsula especially left a mark on me with its mix of dramatic coastlines, peaceful villages, 
and that unmistakable Icelandic atmosphere. So, after traveling through all these regions, 
you might be asking yourself, okay, but how should I plan my own trip? At the beginning of the 
video, I promised to share my own road trip tips. How many days would I spend if I had 10 or 
14 days to explore? On the map you see here, I’ve marked the places where I stayed each night. 
This is the 11 night route I actually did, not counting the first and last night in Reykjavík. It 
was enough to visit all the main locations without rushing and still have time to film them properly. 
If you would like to see what I managed to capture during this route, check out my cinematic Iceland 
series. I’ll link it here and in the description below. If you only have eight nights, I would 
suggest skipping the Westfjords. That way, you still have time to experience the south and 
east. And I’d definitely recommend keeping at least two nights in the Mývatn area. It’s worth 
it. And if I had more time, I’d personally add an extra night around Egilsstaðir and another one in 
the south just to slow down, enjoy the landscapes, and spend more time with the herds of horses. 
And that wraps up my journey around Iceland. If you would like to see what Iceland really 
looked like through my lens, click here for a cinematic Iceland series. Thanks for watching and 
consider subscribing if you enjoyed the video. It really helps me share more filmmaking adventures. 
And remember, let your films be Shot by Reality.

🌍 Which of Iceland’s 9 epic regions would you fall in love with? In this Iceland road trip travel guide, I’ll take you across the Ring Road and Westfjords, showing glaciers, waterfalls, lava deserts and hidden forests – so you can decide which region is truly for you.

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⏱ Chapters:
00:00 Intro: Iceland Road Trip & 9 Worlds (Find Yours)
01:11 Map & How This Guide Works
01:28 Golden Circle – Geysir, Gullfoss, Þingvellir (Start Early!)
02:15 Welcoming South – Waterfalls, Horses & Black Beaches
02:51 Frozen South – Glaciers, Ice Lagoons & Sharp Peaks
03:26 Remote East – Silent Fjords, Flowers & Swans
04:03 Eastern Forests – Egilsstaðir Magic
04:49 The Wasteland – Lava Desert, Steam Vents (Dettifoss + Ásbyrgi)
05:47 Lake Mývatn – Oasis Between Lava & Life
06:12 The Gentle North – Midges, Craters & Akureyri
07:06 Wild Westfjords – Deep Fjords (Dynjandi & Ísafjörður)
08:12 Wild Westfjords – Edge of the World (Látrabjarg & Golden Beach)
09:03 Iceland in Miniature – West Highlights (Hraunfossar & Bjarnarfoss)
09:43 Road Trip Plans – 11 Nights (+ 8 & 13 Nights Variant)
10:41 Outro – Next Steps & Subscribe if You Enjoyed!

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ℹ️ About this video:
This video is a full Iceland travel guide in cinematic style, based on my two-week journey driving almost 4000 km across the island 🌍 If you’re planning an Iceland road trip itinerary, this breakdown of 9 unique regions will help you decide where to spend your limited time.

From the famous Golden Circle and the waterfalls of the South Coast, through the icy lagoons and glaciers of the Frozen South, the remote fjords in the East, and the volcanic wastelands near Lake Mývatn, all the way to the wild Westfjords and the diverse Snæfellsnes Peninsula – each part of Iceland feels like stepping into a different world.

I’ll share my personal experiences, tips for driving the Ring Road, advice on how many days to spend in each region, and my recommended stops for both a 10-day and 14-day itinerary. Whether you’re interested in photographing waterfalls, hiking near glaciers, exploring lava fields, or just enjoying the magical Icelandic landscapes, this guide will help you plan an unforgettable adventure.

If you want to see more, don’t miss my full Cinematic Iceland series, where I captured the beauty of this journey in detail.

🎬 Filmed and edited by Kamil Gumula / Shot by Reality

🔥Let your films be Shot by Reality.

#icelandtravel #icelandroadtrip #ringroad