Personally i think just doing the south coast is enough ( days 1-4) but with added hikes and activities ( whale watching, waterfall hikes, secret lagoons, land cruiser trips into the interiors, boat trips int he glacier, glacier hike, volcano hikes etc). Spend 2 days at each place and explore rather than rush the whole ring road as it is allt he same after 3 ays. The north part is rugged and beautiful but you wont gain much.
Places we stayed at with the girls- Gerdi , Hofn / Welcome hotel, Vik/Glaesibaer guesthouse, Akureyi/Hofdi cottages , Dalvik/Moar Guesthouse, Akranes.
Also I would not splurge out on accomodations as you will hardly be indoors and also the acco are usually of very high standards. Clean and simple.
ICELAND FULL 10 DAY ITINERARY-
Days 1-6
https://goo.gl/maps/cfwvPAPNMtGdunTu8
Days 1-9
https://goo.gl/maps/gtUxo55HmeE59mD8A
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Day 1- Blue Lagoon
Total Driving Distance and Time: 21km, 22 mins
DAY 1- Reach airport, car hire and go straight to Blue Lagoon Spa ( saves time). Early morning or after 2 is better to avoid crowds. Buy tickets in advance.
overnight-
Day 2- The Golden Circle:
Total Driving Distance and Time: 165 km, 2.5 hours
Visit Gulfoss waterfall, Geysir and Thingvellir Park ( mid-Atlantic ridge) .
Day 3- Reynisfjara black sand beach, Dyrholaey Arch, Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss ( we went behind this waterfall )
Total Driving Distance and Time: 153km, 2 hours
All these places have been in the KJo – Dilwale 🙂
Day 4-Jokulsarlon, Glacier hike, Skaftafell waterfall ( where we got nearly kicked out!)
Total Driving Distance and Time: 140 km, 2 hours
Day 5-
Total Driving Distance and Time: 350 km, 4.75 hours (not including detours)
Longest day as it involves driving to the north west. Better not to stop for any detour unless you are really keen.
Day 6-Myvatn
Distance and Driving Time: 225 km, 3.5 hours
Myvatn town with its baths , Dettifoss waterfall ( missable place as you would have by now be fed up of waterfalls. So jsut relax and take it easy here)
Day 7- Akureyi
Distance and Driving Time: 140 km, 2 hours (not including the detour to Aldeyjarfoss)
Akureri, GodaFoss waterfall , whale watching
Day 8- Kirkjufell
Driving Time and Distance: 480 km, 6.5 hoursKirkjufell- supposedly the most photographed place in Iceland. I was not much impressed. Would personally not do this and go to reykjavik instad.
Day 9 – Reykjavik
2 days at least, it is a nice place, people usually overlook it.