Inspirational Landscapes of Iceland Tour: 10 Days Off the Beaten Path

My wife and I are back from seven days of road-tripping along Iceland's south coast from Reykjavik to Kirkjubæjarklaustur and back to Borgarnes along the west coast on a trip planned by our Zicasso travel specialist.

The Land of Fire and Ice truly lives up to its name and the hype. Our itinerary was packed with what felt like two weeks of experiences in a single week. We’re exhausted, but we feel deeply connected to nature and are thrilled to have seen so much of Iceland. The vast volcanic landscapes, moss-covered mountains, and pearl-white glaciers were simply breathtaking.

We visited waterfalls, explored an ice cave, walked black-sand beaches, boated through a glacial lagoon, spotted a rainbow over Vatnajökull glacier, wallowed in hot springs, and enjoyed some much-needed retail therapy in Reykjavík. To top it off, celebrating our decade together alongside a serendipitous waterfall-side wedding was very special. We were also lucky enough to catch the Northern Lights on both clear nights of our trip.

Working with our Zicasso specialist was fantastic. Since we drove ourselves, everything was mapped out in a nifty travel app containing all our tickets, timing recommendations, live Google Maps links, and ongoing support. We never felt rushed, stressed, or confused. Aside from adjusting to driving on the right side of the road (we drive on the left in SA), we didn't have to think about a thing. All activity and hotel bookings were taken care of. We just showed up and had an incredible time.

We will definitely return. Next time to tackle the full Ring Road loop.

Oh, and some top tips from the locals:

Never call an Icelandic horse a pony (and don't feed them).

Hold onto your car door in high winds. Gusts can literally rip them off their hinges.

Respect the Huldufólk (Hidden People). Leave stones where they are so you don't bring home a curse!

Protect the ecosystem and do not walk on the moss.

Skip bottled water. Iceland's tap water is among the cleanest in the world.

Iceland is beautiful and makes for the most unique and amazing vacation! Zicasso’s travel company arranged a breathtaking and comprehensive itinerary for our vacation. It included all the big, important stops like the Blue Lagoon, Northern Lights boat tour, and Hallgrimskirkja church. But our trip also took us all the way to the east side of the country to see Diamond Beach, a blue ice-cave tour, and a glacier hike. Our itinerary included all of the beautiful stops in between, so we saw waterfalls, volcanic formations, and museums.

We stayed in our lodge in Iceland to see the Northern Lights. Every hotel selected was cozy, comfortable, and welcoming. And the food was delicious everywhere. A surprising highlight was a tomato farm—a delicious meal in a beautiful restaurant inside the greenhouse! Their wine bar was even more beautiful!

This was our second trip through Zicasso and we are already starting to dream up the next destination...

Going to Iceland was a very unique experience. So much beautiful scenery and a laid-back, outdoorsy type of trip. Our guide was the perfect choice for us. He was a native of Iceland and knew everything about the whole island. All our accommodations and the food were excellent. Twelve days in Iceland was the perfect amount of time. We were so glad to be able to see the Icelandic horses and learn about them.

Zicasso's tour planner designed an amazing two-week trip for us to Iceland. She was wonderful to work with. Every detail was precisely planned and communication was prompt and helpful. We would highly recommend her and the agency for any travel to the north. If we head in that direction again, we will certainly use her.

Our trip surpassed all of our expectations and we have very high expectations! We spent a whole week with our guide doing a counterclockwise tour of Iceland, ending with dinner at his gracious home and the solar eclipse on August 12, 2026.

He is a highly educated, well-read guide who has been a teacher and has created his tours with history, geology, culture, religion, and much, much more. He is a native Icelander whose family has been there for generations.

In addition to fjording rivers, looking at rainbows over full, magnificent waterfalls, riding ATVs over lava beaches, and arranging a Zodiac boat tour of the Blue Lagoon, he educated us about Icelandic life.

He talked a lot during our tour. He is an excellent driver. He was courteous to us and also provided time for my husband and me to take walks, have dinners, and spend evenings alone.

He has traveled widely, so we also enjoyed talking with him about his travels. He chose exotic, out-of-the-way places to show us that we were obviously off the beaten path. We have nothing but gratitude that he was at our helm. We look forward to visiting when he travels to California. Bravo!!

Iceland did not disappoint! From our arrival in Reykjavík to our final day at the Blue Lagoon, every moment was nothing short of magical.

A huge thank you to Zicasso’s travel consultant at the travel company for creating an amazing itinerary filled with the best Iceland has to offer. Highlights included exploring inside a volcano, marveling at Geysir Park, a full day in Vatnajökull National Park, the breathtaking glacier lagoon, the black-sand Diamond Beach, and the unforgettable waterfalls at Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss.

We ended the trip perfectly with a relaxing soak at the Blue Lagoon—an ideal way to close out an incredible adventure.

Finally, a special thank-you to our guide. This trip would not have been the same without you! The hidden gems and personal touches you added turned a great trip into the experience of a lifetime.