FROM PARIS TO THE SOUTH OF FRANCE - a 10 day adventure
Iceland, one of the most freeing and adventurous trips I’ve ever taken. For 9 days I was able to escape the crowded, noisy life in the city and trade it for quiet drives through fjords, amazing views of waterfalls, and dips in hot springs under the midnight sun. As someone who loves the great outdoors and stunning scenery, this trip was an absolute dream.
My goals for the 9 days were simple – to see, do, and take in as much of this beautiful country as I could in the limited time I had. It’s a fast paced itinerary with some days more hectic than others, but if you follow along it will guarantee you an experience of a lifetime.
Logistics
- Length/Pace: 9 days, medium paced
- Vehicle: 2WD campervan
- Accommodation: Airbnb/Hotel
- Budget: $2000 – $2500 per person
- Season: Spring/Summer
Itinerary OVERVIEW
DAY 1 // Thingvellir National Park, Geysir, Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Gljufrabui, Skogafoss, Seljavallalaug
DAY 2 // DC-3 Planewreck, Dyrholaey, Reynisfjara, Fjadrargljufur
DAY 3 // Skaftafell National Park, Jokulsarlon, Diamond Beach
DAY 4 // Stokksnes, East Fjords
DAY 5 // Seydifjordur, Borgarfjordur Eystri, Dettifoss
DAY 6 // Hverir, Grjotagja, Hverfjall, Dimmuborgir, Myvatn Nature Baths, Godafoss
DAY 7 // Glaumbaer Farm, Kirkjufellsfoss, Snaefellsjokull, Arnarstapi, Budakirkja Black Church
DAY 8 // Ytri Tunga, Olkelduvatn Mineral Spring, Glymur, Reykjavik
DAY 9 // Reykjavik, Blue Lagoon, Airport
PREPARATION + ARRIVAL
AIRPORT
Arriving to Iceland is quick and easy. We landed in Keflavik on the morning of Day 1 at 10 AM, and went through customs and baggage claim in under 30 minutes. First thing on the agenda is getting to your campervan’s pickup location. Assuming your camper is in Reykjavik like ours was, the most affordable way to get into the city from the airport is by public transport. There are a few bus options, all of which are conveniently located in front of KEF’s arrival gate. We took Flybus, the cheapest option by far, which drops you off at different locations in Reykjavik (including the BSI bus terminal, where our camper was) at different price points. You can buy tickets in advance online or when in person the day of for around 3,400 isk one way. Flybus only takes card transactions, but has free wifi and no restrictions on luggage.
STOCKING UP
After picking up the camper, we took advantage of our stop in Reykjavik to stock up on food and supplies for the trip. We made sure to go to either a Kronan or Bonus, which are the biggest and cheapest grocery stores. To start, we bought around 1-2 days worth of snacks and groceries to cook quick meals with.
Dining out in Iceland will pretty much drain your wallet. If you’re not looking to spend around $30-$40 on an entree every day, cooking your own meals is pretty much the way to go. Our campervan rental, like most, came with a cooler, portable gas stove, a pot, dishes, and utensils. Most of the campsites we stayed at also provided campers with a kitchen to cook in. Read more about our camping food here.
DAY 1 | Arrival in paris:
Total Drive Time: 5 hours 15 minutes | Accomodation: Vik Campsite
DAY 1 introduction
Day 1… our craziest, most ambitious day. With only 9 days, we wanted to do and see as much as possible. In our logic, we figured we would have the most energy and adrenaline on day 1, but we still felt pretty worn out when we finally ended our day around 4 AM. Feel free to split this day up into two if you need to.
Our Iceland journey started with the famous Golden Circle. Made up of a group of sites a short drive outside of Reykjavik, the Golden Circle attractions are close by and convenient to get to but extremely tourist heavy.
These sites can be driven in a loop that takes you back to Reykjavik, or in a path that leads you to the start of Route 1. Although some points of interest may feel a bit overrated, others are areas that locals say every first timer should experience. If you’re really limited on time, I’d say skip this. But if you can, pick and choose a few that will fit into your schedule. We chose to visit the three main sites: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir/Stokkur, and Gullfoss.
DAY 1 | Arrival in pROVENCE:
Total Drive Time: 5 hours 15 minutes | Accomodation: Vik Campsite
DAY 1 traveling to the luberon
Day 1… our craziest, most ambitious day. With only 9 days, we wanted to do and see as much as possible. In our logic, we figured we would have the most energy and adrenaline on day 1, but we still felt pretty worn out when we finally ended our day around 4 AM. Feel free to split this day up into two if you need to.
Our Iceland journey started with the famous Golden Circle. Made up of a group of sites a short drive outside of Reykjavik, the Golden Circle attractions are close by and convenient to get to but extremely tourist heavy.
These sites can be driven in a loop that takes you back to Reykjavik, or in a path that leads you to the start of Route 1. Although some points of interest may feel a bit overrated, others are areas that locals say every first timer should experience. If you’re really limited on time, I’d say skip this. But if you can, pick and choose a few that will fit into your schedule. We chose to visit the three main sites: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir/Stokkur, and Gullfoss.
DAY 2 | Exploring luberon valley:
gourdes
Day 1… our craziest, most ambitious day. With only 9 days, we wanted to do and see as much as possible. In our logic, we figured we would have the most energy and adrenaline on day 1, but we still felt pretty worn out when we finally ended our day around 4 AM. Feel free to split this day up into two if you need to.
Our Iceland journey started with the famous Golden Circle. Made up of a group of sites a short drive outside of Reykjavik, the Golden Circle attractions are close by and convenient to get to but extremely tourist heavy.
These sites can be driven in a loop that takes you back to Reykjavik, or in a path that leads you to the start of Route 1. Although some points of interest may feel a bit overrated, others are areas that locals say every first timer should experience. If you’re really limited on time, I’d say skip this. But if you can, pick and choose a few that will fit into your schedule. We chose to visit the three main sites: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir/Stokkur, and Gullfoss.
DAY 3 | Driving through valensole:
Valensole | A DRIVE THROUGH THE COUNTRY
Day 1… our craziest, most ambitious day. With only 9 days, we wanted to do and see as much as possible. In our logic, we figured we would have the most energy and adrenaline on day 1, but we still felt pretty worn out when we finally ended our day around 4 AM. Feel free to split this day up into two if you need to.
Our Iceland journey started with the famous Golden Circle. Made up of a group of sites a short drive outside of Reykjavik, the Golden Circle attractions are close by and convenient to get to but extremely tourist heavy.
These sites can be driven in a loop that takes you back to Reykjavik, or in a path that leads you to the start of Route 1. Although some points of interest may feel a bit overrated, others are areas that locals say every first timer should experience. If you’re really limited on time, I’d say skip this. But if you can, pick and choose a few that will fit into your schedule. We chose to visit the three main sites: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir/Stokkur, and Gullfoss.
Valensole | A DRIVE THROUGH THE COUNTRY
Day 1… our craziest, most ambitious day. With only 9 days, we wanted to do and see as much as possible. In our logic, we figured we would have the most energy and adrenaline on day 1, but we still felt pretty worn out when we finally ended our day around 4 AM. Feel free to split this day up into two if you need to.
Our Iceland journey started with the famous Golden Circle. Made up of a group of sites a short drive outside of Reykjavik, the Golden Circle attractions are close by and convenient to get to but extremely tourist heavy.
These sites can be driven in a loop that takes you back to Reykjavik, or in a path that leads you to the start of Route 1. Although some points of interest may feel a bit overrated, others are areas that locals say every first timer should experience. If you’re really limited on time, I’d say skip this. But if you can, pick and choose a few that will fit into your schedule. We chose to visit the three main sites: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir/Stokkur, and Gullfoss.
Moustiers Sainte Marie | A Town built in the mountains
Day 1… our craziest, most ambitious day. With only 9 days, we wanted to do and see as much as possible. In our logic, we figured we would have the most energy and adrenaline on day 1, but we still felt pretty worn out when we finally ended our day around 4 AM. Feel free to split this day up into two if you need to.
Our Iceland journey started with the famous Golden Circle. Made up of a group of sites a short drive outside of Reykjavik, the Golden Circle attractions are close by and convenient to get to but extremely tourist heavy.
These sites can be driven in a loop that takes you back to Reykjavik, or in a path that leads you to the start of Route 1. Although some points of interest may feel a bit overrated, others are areas that locals say every first timer should experience. If you’re really limited on time, I’d say skip this. But if you can, pick and choose a few that will fit into your schedule. We chose to visit the three main sites: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir/Stokkur, and Gullfoss.
DAY 1 | Arrival in THE FRENCH RIVIERA:
Total Drive Time: 5 hours 15 minutes | Accomodation: Vik Campsite
NICE | HELLO TO THE COAST
Day 1… our craziest, most ambitious day. With only 9 days, we wanted to do and see as much as possible. In our logic, we figured we would have the most energy and adrenaline on day 1, but we still felt pretty worn out when we finally ended our day around 4 AM. Feel free to split this day up into two if you need to.
Our Iceland journey started with the famous Golden Circle. Made up of a group of sites a short drive outside of Reykjavik, the Golden Circle attractions are close by and convenient to get to but extremely tourist heavy.
These sites can be driven in a loop that takes you back to Reykjavik, or in a path that leads you to the start of Route 1. Although some points of interest may feel a bit overrated, others are areas that locals say every first timer should experience. If you’re really limited on time, I’d say skip this. But if you can, pick and choose a few that will fit into your schedule. We chose to visit the three main sites: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir/Stokkur, and Gullfoss.
MONACO | ON YACHT WATCH
Day 1… our craziest, most ambitious day. With only 9 days, we wanted to do and see as much as possible. In our logic, we figured we would have the most energy and adrenaline on day 1, but we still felt pretty worn out when we finally ended our day around 4 AM. Feel free to split this day up into two if you need to.
Our Iceland journey started with the famous Golden Circle. Made up of a group of sites a short drive outside of Reykjavik, the Golden Circle attractions are close by and convenient to get to but extremely tourist heavy.
These sites can be driven in a loop that takes you back to Reykjavik, or in a path that leads you to the start of Route 1. Although some points of interest may feel a bit overrated, others are areas that locals say every first timer should experience. If you’re really limited on time, I’d say skip this. But if you can, pick and choose a few that will fit into your schedule. We chose to visit the three main sites: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir/Stokkur, and Gullfoss.
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