Girls’ Trip to Iceland | No Driving Skills? The Ultimate "Brainless" Guided Tour Guide! 🇮🇸
Iceland has always been on my bucket list, and I finally made it happen with a friend during winter break! 🥹
But here was the catch—neither of us can drive. 😂
Plus, Iceland's winter weather is notoriously unpredictable, so the idea of a self-drive road trip was completely out of the question for us...
In the end, we booked the "8-Day Song of Ice and Fire Ring Road Tour" on Trip.com. We circled the entire island via Route 1 in a private chartered car with a flexible itinerary. It made the whole trip so much more relaxing!
For those of you who also "can’t drive but desperately want to see Iceland," here’s the breakdown 👇
🧊 Iceland 8-Day Ring Road Tour | Private Car + 7 Nights Accommodation
We chose the [8-Day Song of Ice and Fire Ring Road Tour]. Starting from Reykjavik, we traveled through the Golden Circle, the South Coast, Vik, Höfn, Egilsstaðir, Akureyri, and Borgarnes, before finally returning to Reykjavik.
Basically, we hit all the most classic regions of Iceland in one go. We didn't have to worry about how long to drive each day, where to park, or how to schedule attractions. For two people who can't drive, this was incredibly friendly 🤣
I especially loved the Golden Circle!
It is absolutely worth going!!!
On the second day, we set off from Reykjavik to Vik, heading straight for the classic Golden Circle, including iconic spots like Þingvellir.
After that, we headed south toward Vik and Höfn. The scenery along the way was staggeringly beautiful. Glaciers, waterfalls, black sand beaches, and charming towns—everything you imagine about Iceland appears right before your eyes.
And this itinerary isn't just one of those "get off the bus, take a photo, and get back on" tours!
❄️ Glacier Hiking is a must-try!
One of the activities I looked forward to most was glacier hiking.
Actually walking on thousand-year-old blue ice and seeing the glacier up close is a completely different feeling than just taking photos from an observation deck 😭
There was also a boat tour of the glacier lagoon, where you can sail right next to massive chunks of blue floating ice. If you’re lucky, you might even spot "wild seals"!
In that moment, I felt: Iceland is totally worth it!!!
♨️ Day 1 at the Blue Lagoon—I loved this arrangement
After such a long flight, I really didn't want to start an intense sightseeing schedule immediately after landing 😂
Scheduling the Blue Lagoon for the first day was perfect. We got to soak in the hot springs and relax before officially starting the ring road tour the next day.
Beyond glacier hiking and the lagoon, the trip also included ATV off-roading and whale watching on the final day. The 8 days weren't just about sitting in a car and taking photos—the experience was much richer!
🐋 Whale watching on the final day
Returning to Reykjavik on the 8th day, I thought it would just be travel time, but a whale-watching excursion was arranged!
I really liked this setup. Having seen the glaciers, waterfalls, fjords, and towns in the previous days, ending the trip with whale watching made the whole journey feel complete.
✅ A few more highlights:
1️⃣ Private chartered car—so much more comfortable if you can't drive
Iceland's winter road conditions are tricky, especially since we don't know how to drive at all, so we never even considered a self-drive.
This tour provides a vehicle based on the number of people in your group. For all 8 days, you have someone driving you to every location, so you don't have to worry about transportation at all.
For first-time visitors, it really takes a lot of stress off your plate.
2️⃣ Flexible itinerary—you can adjust it yourself
I really liked this part!
They offer 1-on-1 itinerary planning. The starting point, route, and actual activities can all be discussed.
If there’s somewhere specific you want to go or an activity you’re not interested in, you can talk to the travel planner and adjust it to your liking.
Compared to starting a guide from scratch, this method is perfect for people like me who "want freedom but don't want to plan everything themselves" 😂
3️⃣ A full Ring Road tour, not just the South Coast
This was one of the reasons I chose this package.
Besides the must-see spots like the Golden Circle, Vik, and the South Coast, we also went all the way to Höfn, Egilsstaðir in the east, and Akureyri in the north before returning via Borgarnes.
Over the 8 days, we saw everything from the south to the east and the north. Seeing all the different landscapes of Iceland in one trip is perfect for those who want a comprehensive experience.
In summary, if you are:
A first-time visitor to Iceland / Can't drive 🚗 / Traveling with friends 👭 / Don't want to plan your own itinerary every day 🗺️
You really don't need to force yourself to do a winter self-drive.
In my opinion, the most annoying thing about a place like Iceland isn't "where to go," but the long distances between attractions, combined with unpredictable winter weather and road conditions.
Having someone handle the transportation, accommodation, attractions, and activities allows you to just focus on the scenery and taking photos 🤣
Especially if you want to hit the Golden Circle + South Coast + East + North all at once, while trying glacier hiking, glacier lagoons, ATVs, the Blue Lagoon, and whale watching, this kind of Ring Road tour is much more convenient.
For me, it was simple—no driving, no daily planning, just 8 days of worry-free travel around the island!