A country shaped and sculpted by the elements, Iceland deserves to be discovered on a road trip.
Given the green light for travel (though you can only enter freely if you’ve had both your vaccinations), the Nordic nation is now open for business. Dodge the crowds by following this route through the west and north, touring coastlines clustered with bird colonies and venturing inland for panoramic mountain views.
Lava tunnels and rock art
Leaving Reykjavik behind, head north along the ring road (or route 1), turning west onto route 54 at Borgarnes. A two-and-a-half-hour drive from the capital, a backbone of snow-streaked peaks stretches along the Snaefellsnes peninsula, ending in the sugar-dusted dome of Snaefellsjökull, a dormant volcano and glacier.