Iceland’s Ring Road: The Great Shortcut—or the Great Mistake?
The Grand Circuit—But at What Cost?
Few destinations spark wanderlust quite like Iceland. Towering waterfalls, brooding volcanoes, steaming hot springs, and rugged fjords make it a dream for adventurers. And for many, the famous Ring Road of Iceland—the 821-mile Highway 1 that loops around the entire country—seems like the perfect way to see it all. After all, it’s a simple concept: rent a car, drive in a circle, and tick Iceland off your list.
But is the Ring Road the best way to experience Iceland? That’s where things get tricky. While the idea of completing the full circuit sounds appealing, it often leads to rushed itineraries, missed opportunities, and a road trip that feels more like a race against the clock than an immersive journey.
At SilverOpus, we’ve spent years crafting high-end, guided tours of Iceland that focus on depth over distance. Instead of pushing travelers to speed around the country in a whirlwind, we’ve developed a portfolio of expertly curated experiences that allow you to truly see Iceland—the way it should be seen.
So, before you commit to a tour of the Ring Road, let’s break down the pros and cons of this famous circuit and explore a better way to experience Iceland.
The Pros & Cons of Taking the Ring Road
✅ Why People Love the Ring Road
There’s no doubt that a self-drive tour of the Ring Road offers some advantages:
- Ease of Access – Renting a car in Iceland is straightforward, and the Ring Road is well-maintained, making it one of the most accessible road trips in the world.
- Independent Travel – If you love the freedom of a self-drive itinerary, the Ring Road gives you control over your schedule. Want to stop at a remote waterfall or spend extra time soaking in a hot spring? No problem.
- A Full Circuit of Iceland – You can technically say you’ve “seen the whole country” by completing the loop.
But here’s the catch: Iceland isn’t just what’s along the Ring Road.
❌ The Reality of the Ring Road Experience
- You Miss Iceland’s Most Breathtaking Regions
- The Westfjords of Iceland—home to dramatic fjords, puffin colonies, and untouched landscapes—lie far outside the loop.
- The Icelandic Highlands, with their surreal rhyolite mountains and hidden geothermal valleys, are inaccessible from Highway 1.
- The Westman Islands, where you can hike a volcano and see one of the world’s largest puffin colonies, are also skipped entirely.
- The Timeline is Unrealistic
- Most tours of the Ring Road offer itineraries ranging from 7 to 10 days—which sounds reasonable until you realize how much driving that requires.
- A realistic pace for a full Ring Road tour should be at least 14 days, but even then, it doesn’t allow time for deeper exploration.
- One of the reasons it takes 2 weeks or more to see Iceland (from the Ring Road) correctly is that you will feel like stopping every 10 minutes, when you are driving, to take pictures. Google Maps certainly doesn’t take that into account when predicting the length of an A-to-B drive in Iceland, but our experience does!
- The Weather Can Derail Your Plans
- Iceland’s weather is infamously unpredictable—one minute it’s sunny, the next you’re driving through dense fog and gale-force winds.
- Winter road closures can disrupt plans, especially in remote areas like the East Fjords or North Iceland.
So, if speeding through Iceland in a whirlwind drive doesn’t sound appealing, what’s the alternative?
The SilverOpus Approach: Seeing Iceland the Right Way
Instead of trying to cram Iceland into one exhausting road trip, we’ve designed three luxury guided tours of Iceland, each offering a deeper, more rewarding experience of specific regions.
1. The Iceland That Icelanders Love: Tour of South, East, and North Iceland
This 8-day journey exposes you to South Iceland’s iconic waterfalls, a favorite among visitors. Then, it takes you to explore, in depth, East Iceland’s stunning fjords, and North Iceland’s geothermal wonders.
Why This Program Is Special:
- Instead of rushing past the landscapes, we take our time in each region.
- Stay at Siglo Hotel, a luxury property combing rustic elegance with modern comfort, featuring cozy rooms and a vibrant on-site restaurant.
- Enjoy the attractions of East Iceland, a favorite of Icelanders.
- Visit Lake Mývatn, a geothermal wonderland with bubbling mud pools, lava fields, and natural hot springs.
- Explore the iceberg-filled Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, one of Iceland’s most photogenic spots.
2. Icelanding on Your Feet: Tour of Central Iceland & the Westman Islands
This 6-day tour takes a more off-the-beaten-path approach, focusing on Iceland’s untouched Highlands, and the Westman Islands.
What Makes This Tour Special:
- Experience the Westman Islands, where puffins outnumber people and you can hike a volcano that erupted in 1973.
- Stay at Skalakot Manor Hotel, a five-star luxury retreat in the heart of Iceland’s scenic countryside.
- Hike through Landmannalaugar, a surreal landscape of rainbow-colored mountains and geothermal rivers.
- Enjoy a unique combination of softcore adventures with deep relaxation.
3. More Puffins Than People: Tour of West Iceland & the Westfjords
The Westfjords of Iceland are one of Europe’s last true wilderness areas, and this 9-day tour showcases hidden waterfalls, remote coastal villages, and surreal fjord landscapes.
Why This Is a Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience:
- Enjoy a tourist-free Iceland, where you can truly connect with nature and peace.
- Visit Dynjandi Waterfall, one of Iceland’s most breathtaking (and least crowded) waterfalls.
- Stay at Hotel Budir, a boutique hotel with spectacular fjord views.
- Experience Iceland’s 2026 Solar Eclipse (August 2026 departure only!) from one of the best locations on Earth to witness this celestial event.
This is the ultimate escape for travelers who want to experience Iceland’s raw beauty—without the crowds of the Golden Circle.
Why Choose a SilverOpus Guided Tour Instead of a Self-Drive Tour?
At SilverOpus, we design tours exclusively for travelers aged 50+ who value comfort, expert guidance, and immersive experiences.
What You Get with Our Tours:
✔ Small-group travel (never a packed bus tour)
✔ Luxury accommodations at Iceland’s best hotels
✔ Expert local guides who provide real insight into Iceland’s landscapes, history, and culture
✔ No stress, no rushed itineraries—just pure discovery
What You Avoid:
❌ Exhausting long drives that leave little time for real experiences
❌ Weather-related road risks that can throw off self-drive plans
❌ Missing out on Iceland’s best regions because they aren’t on the Ring Road
Conclusion: The Right Way to See Iceland
A tour of the Ring Road may seem like the fastest way to “see it all,” but in reality, it often leads to a rushed and incomplete experience. Instead of treating Iceland like a checklist destination, why not explore it the right way?
With SilverOpus, you’ll see Iceland as it’s meant to be seen—slowly, deeply, and with expert guidance.
