Is 5 Days Enough for Iceland’s Ring Road? Our Honest Itinerary

Is 5 days enough to drive Iceland's entire Ring Road? Becky and I drove the full Route 1 loop in a Cozy Campers camper van in late November while chasing the northern lights, plus two extra days snorkeling Silfra and relaxing at Sky Lagoon. This video covers our complete day by day itinerary, where we stopped, what we'd change, and how to plan your own first trip to Iceland. One of my bucket list moments was driving the road into Seyðisfjörður, the same stretch made famous by The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, a movie that pushed me to travel more than almost anything else. If you're a first-time traveler wondering whether the Ring Road is doable on a short trip, this guide is for you. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:18 Iceland Ring Road basics 02:52 Day 1: Keflavik, Hraunfossar and Hvammsvík Hot Springs 04:34 Day 2: Sólheimasandur, Vík, Fjaðrárgljúfur and Skaftafell 05:38 Day 3: Vatnajökull ice cave and Diamond Beach 07:11 Day 4: Hengifoss, Seyðisfjörður and Forest Lagoon 09:10 Day 5: Goðafoss and back to Reykjavik 09:53 Days 6 and 7: Silfra, Sky Lagoon and flying home 11:08 How we chased the northern lights 12:45 What we'd do differently 13:41 What to pack and camera gear 15:24 Before you go TRIP AT A GLANCE Route: Iceland's Ring Road (Route 1), driven counterclockwise from Reykjavik Distance: about 1,300 km (800 miles) around the island Time: 5 days on the Ring Road, 7 days total in Iceland Season: late November, with short days and long, dark nights Vehicle: Cozy Campers camper van Northern lights: we saw them every single night WHAT YOU'LL LEARN A realistic Iceland Ring Road itinerary for 5 days How we found the northern lights every night, and the app we used My aurora camera settings: f/2.8, ISO 1600, 8 second shutter Driving Route 1 in winter, including the new 2026 road fees and tolls What we'd do differently on a second trip PLACES WE VISITED Hraunfossar, Hvammsvík Hot Springs, Skógafoss, Sólheimasandur plane wreck, Reynisfjara, Vík, Fjaðrárgljúfur, Skaftafell, Vatnajökull ice cave, Diamond Beach, Egilsstaðir, Hengifoss, Seyðisfjörður, Forest Lagoon, Akureyri, Goðafoss, Silfra, Sky Lagoon ICELAND RING ROAD FAQ Is 5 days enough for the Ring Road? It's doable, but expect long driving days with little time at each stop. We break down exactly what that looked like and what we'd change in the video. When can you see the northern lights in Iceland? Aurora season runs roughly September through April. You need dark, clear skies, so check the aurora and cloud cover forecasts every evening and be ready to drive to find a break in the clouds. What camera settings work for the northern lights? I shot at f/2.8, ISO 1600 and an 8 second shutter on a tripod. Start there and adjust based on how bright and fast the aurora is moving. Can you camp in Iceland in winter? Yes, but many campsites close for the season, so confirm ahead of time where you'll stay each night. Do you need expensive gear to see the aurora? No. You can see the northern lights with your own eyes and capture them on a modern phone. Good gear just helps you get sharper, cleaner shots. Before you drive, check road conditions and weather alerts at https://safetravel.is and the forecast at https://en.vedur.is GEAR I USE (affiliate links) Camera: Canon EOS R5 https://amzn.to/47m2sZX Lens: Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 https://amzn.to/4hRBmjk Tripod: Peak Design Pro Tripod https://amzn.to/4hUh0WD Power: SmallRig X99 V-Mount Battery https://amzn.to/4BcnyHP Lens warmer: MSM Lens Warmer https://amzn.to/3VUbZ7Z Drone: DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine https://amzn.to/4hT3XVB Action camera: GoPro HERO10 Black https://amzn.to/4sdkJCi The gear links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. It's one of the easiest ways to support the channel. USEFUL LINKS My Aurora Forecast app (iPhone): https://apps.apple.com/app/id1073082439 Flybus from Keflavik Airport: https://www.icelandia.com/flybus Camper van rental, Cozy Campers: https://cozycampers.is ABOUT THE WANDERERS COMPASS I'm Danny, a 13-year Air Force veteran, and together with Becky we make travel films and honest trip guides for first-time travelers. We're adventurers, not tourists, and we want to help you find your direction and build the life you actually want to live. MUSIC Music from Epidemic Sound New travel films every Sunday. Subscribe to follow along as we head to Norway next for the Lofoten Islands and more aurora chasing. Instagram: @dannyburnabee Business inquiries: danielb@blacksheep.media #iceland #ringroad #northernlights #icelandroadtrip #icelanditinerary #waltermitty #campervan #travelvlog #canon #peakdesign #wandererscompass