North & East
Iceland.
A seven-day journey through waterfalls, whales, basalt canyons and glaciers — the half of Iceland most travelers skip.
You've already seen the south coast and the Westfjords. This is what's left — and the wildest, least-crowded part of the country.
The Diamond Circle
Goðafoss, Mývatn's lunar geothermal fields, and Dettifoss — Europe's most powerful waterfall by volume.
Húsavík Whales
Iceland's whale-watching capital. Late August is peak season for humpbacks, minke, and even blue whales.
The East Fjords
Stuðlagil basalt canyon, Seyðisfjörður's rainbow street, wild reindeer country, and dramatic Vestrahorn.
Nine stops, one continuous Ring Road loop.
Click any pin for details. Drag to pan, scroll to zoom.
Seven days, start to finish.
Each day plotted with destinations, drive times, and where to lay your head at night.
Land in Iceland, fly to the north
A travel day that ends with a soak in a geothermal pool.
- Icelandair overnight from JFK/EWRLand at Keflavík (KEF) around 6–7 AM. Taxi or Flybus 50 min into Reykjavík city airport (RKV).
- Domestic hop to AkureyriIcelandair Domestic or Mýflug, ~45 minutes. Pick an early-afternoon departure for buffer. Far better than a 5-hour drive.
- Evening in AkureyriIceland's "second city" sits on the country's longest fjord. Hit Forest Lagoon or the town's geothermal baths before dinner.
After a red-eye plus a domestic flight, don't drive anywhere on Day 1. Just settle in, eat at Strikið or Rub23, and let the timezone catch up to you.
Waterfall of the Gods & lunar landscapes
The Diamond Circle begins.
- Goðafoss — Waterfall of the Gods30 min east of Akureyri. Horseshoe-shaped, easy parking, viewpoints on both banks. Markedly less crowded than the southern falls.
- Dimmuborgir lava formationsOtherworldly black lava pillars and arches. Easy 1-hour loop. Game of Thrones filmed Mance Rayder's camp here.
- Hverir geothermal fieldBubbling mud pots, sulfur vents, steaming earth. Pure Mars. Bring a buff for the smell.
End the day at the Mývatn Nature Baths — Iceland's quieter, cheaper, more local alternative to the Blue Lagoon. Open until midnight, with sunset over the lake.
Europe's mightiest waterfall, then whales
Power and patience.
- Dettifoss500 m³/s of glacial water thundering over a 100m-wide cliff. The west side is paved; the east side is wilder and far less crowded.
- Ásbyrgi CanyonHorseshoe-shaped canyon said in Norse mythology to be Odin's horse Sleipnir's hoofprint. Easy walks and a serene lake.
- Húsavík whale watchingLate August = humpbacks everywhere, often blue whales too. Book North Sailing or Gentle Giants.
Approach Dettifoss from the east side (Road 864) for a more dramatic, raw experience and far fewer people. It's gravel — slow and steady — but worth it.
Cross to the East Fjords
A big driving day with a jaw-dropping stop in between.
- Möðrudalur highland driveIceland's highest farm, surreal volcanic plateau. Stop at Fjalladýrð café for the famous lamb soup.
- Stuðlagil CanyonTowering basalt columns framing a turquoise glacial river. One of Iceland's most photogenic spots — only widely known since 2017.
- Arrive in the East FjordsEgilsstaðir is the regional hub. Seyðisfjörður (next day) is the more atmospheric place to sleep if you can swing it.
Park at the west-side Stuðlagil viewpoint for easy access (10-min walk). The east side needs a 5km hike each way but gets you down to the water — only worth it with time and a 4×4.
The most photogenic fjord town in Iceland
Rainbow streets and reindeer country.
- Rainbow street + blue churchIceland's most-photographed street view. Best light in early morning. The mountain pass road in (Route 93) is itself the experience.
- Drive the East Fjords coastWinding road along sheer fjord walls — Reyðarfjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Stöðvarfjörður. Stop in Djúpivogur for puffin sightings.
- Reindeer watchingOnly place in Iceland to see wild reindeer. Late summer they come down from highlands — scan the slopes.
Petra's Stone Collection in Stöðvarfjörður is a quirky, must-stop museum — one woman's lifetime collection of Icelandic rocks in her garden. $7 and unforgettable.
The dramatic finale
Mountain, lagoon, beach of diamonds.
- Vestrahorn at StokksnesSharp, jagged peaks rising straight from a black sand beach. Pay ~1,100 ISK ($8) at the Viking Café. Best at sunrise or sunset for reflections.
- Jökulsárlón glacier lagoonIcebergs calving off Vatnajökull glacier drift across a lagoon. Take a Zodiac tour to get close. Mid-afternoon = best light.
- Diamond BeachAcross the road from the lagoon — translucent ice chunks scattered on black sand. Surreal.
Book the Zodiac boat tour in advance — they sell out in August. Cheaper amphibious-vehicle tours don't get nearly as close to the icebergs. Worth the $90 upgrade.
Back to Reykjavík & flight home
A last stop along the south coast.
- Option A — Drive back along the south coastRe-visit Skaftafell briefly, then continue west to Reykjavík. Long day but no return-rental hassle.
- Option B — Fly Egilsstaðir to ReykjavíkIf you can backtrack to Egilsstaðir on Day 6, you can fly out on Day 7 (~1 hour). Eliminates the 6-hour drive but adds $150-200.
- Flight buffer is criticalBuild at least 4 hours between domestic landing in RKV and your international departure from KEF. Weather can ground domestic flights.
If you have a late-evening flight from KEF, stop at the Sky Lagoon in Kópavogur (15 min from the airport) for a final geothermal soak. Shower, store luggage, head to the gate refreshed.
Lamb soup, langoustines, and arctic char straight from the fjord.
North and east Iceland's food scene punches above its size. A handful of standouts worth planning a meal around.
Strikið
Top-floor dining room with sweeping fjord views. Reservations essential in August. Strong cocktail list — ask for the rhubarb sour.
Rub23
Locals' favourite for fresh sashimi and creative spice-rubbed mains. Lower-key vibe than Strikið, often easier to walk into.
Vogafjós Cowshed Café
Eat metres from the cows whose milk made the cheese. Famously serves hverabrauð — dense dark rye slow-baked underground using geothermal heat.
Naustið
Tiny harbourside spot in a former boat shed. Whatever came off the boat that morning is what's on the plate. Great post-whale-watch lunch.
Fjalladýrð
Highest farm in Iceland, halfway between Mývatn and the East Fjords. A bowl of kjötsúpa with their own lamb is one of the best meals on the route.
Norð-Austur Sushi & Bar
Second floor of Hotel Aldan. Reputation as one of Iceland's best sushi spots — fish caught hours earlier in the fjord below. Book in advance.
Café Lára / El Grillo
Casual sister-spot to the sushi place. Burgers, fish & chips, El Grillo beer (named after a WWII tanker sunk in the fjord). Good lunch stop.
Pakkhús
Höfn is Iceland's langoustine (humarinn) capital. Pakkhús, in a restored warehouse on the harbour, serves them grilled, in soup, and in butter. Don't skip.
Practical notes.
Rental car
4×4 not strictly required — most of this route is paved Ring Road. Strongly recommended for F-roads to Dettifoss east, Stuðlagil, and Möðrudalur. Budget $100–150/day in August.
Accommodation
Book everything 2–3 months ahead for August. Akureyri, Mývatn, and Höfn fill first. Guesthouses over hotels for local character — Booking.com works well.
Daylight & weather
14–15 hours of daylight in late August. Highs 50–60°F, lows 40–45°F. Pack waterproof layers, hiking shoes, hat & gloves. Weather changes by the hour.
Northern lights
Late August = first realistic shot at aurora once nights get dark again (after ~10 PM). Watch vedur.is forecast and head away from town lights. Bonus, not guaranteed.
Pack for four seasons in a day.
Late August in north Iceland can swing from t-shirt to gloves in an hour. Layer relentlessly.
Clothing
- Waterproof shell jacket + rain pants
- Fleece or wool mid-layer
- Merino base layers (top + bottom)
- Sturdy waterproof hiking boots
- Hat, gloves, buff / neck gaiter
- Swimsuit — for geothermal pools
Gear
- Daypack with rain cover
- Reusable bottle (tap water is incredible)
- Camera + extra batteries (cold drains fast)
- Power adapter (Type F, European)
- Headlamp for late-night driving
- Sleep mask for the long days
Driving
- International driving permit (easy to get)
- Offline maps downloaded
- vedur.is & safetravel.is bookmarked
- Tank up at every chance up north
- 112 Iceland app for emergencies
- Coins for parking lots
Other things you might actually see up there.
In late August the nights get dark again. The roads are mostly empty. Anything is possible.
750 km. Nine stops.
One unforgettable
week up north.
Next step: lock in flights and book Akureyri + Mývatn accommodation. Everything else has flexibility.