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A 7-day journey unlike any other begins with the dramatic landscapes of the Snaefellsnes peninsula. The itinerary then guides you to the three landmarks of Iceland, Thingvellir National Park, the Geyser and Gullfoss Waterfall, famously known as the Golden Circle. Your South Coast exploration will include black sand beaches, hidden waterfalls and serene lava fields. Book this self-drive tour and you won’t need to worry about planning and you’ll have all the freedom you want. Plus, you’ll receive exclusive tips, top restaurants and much more in all these areas.
Your Tour Package Includes:
√ A rental car
√ Accommodation
√ Detailed Itinerary
√ A glacier hike
Your Car:
Options: A mini/economy (Toyota Aygo or similar) vehicle option is included in the tour by default. You can upgrade the vehicle to a Standard (Toyota Avensis or similar), Economy SUV (Dacia Duster or similar), or Full-Size SUV (Mitsubishi Pajero or similar) car model. All rental cars have automatic transmissions. The van option can come with a manual transmission in case an automatic is not available.
Pick-up: Choose between pick-up locations at Keflavik International Airport (KEF) or BSI Bus Terminal in downtown Reykjavik, at flexible times.
For the best experience, we recommend that you pick your car up early on the first day and return it in the afternoon or evening on your last day.
Dropoff: By default, the dropoff location for your car will be Keflavik International Airport (KEF). You can change it and drop off the car at the BSI Bus Terminal in Reykjavik (details about this process will be included in your confirmation email).
Your Accommodation:
Comfort accommodation is included in this package. Great locations, complimentary breakfast, and all necessary amenities will be at hand.
When booking for 2 or 4 persons you get twin/double rooms. When booking for 3 or 5 persons you get a combination of double/twin rooms and a single room.
Your itinerary includes:
√ Detailed map of Iceland with all stops
√ Easy-to-follow daily travel plans
√ Mobile-friendly design
√ Descriptions & photos for all major stops
√ Approximate time you will need at each stop
√ Tips about the best nearby restaurants
√ Must-have Iceland travel apps
√ Exclusive locations not included in the tour description
√ The option to print and share with friends
Other information:
Your glacier hike on Sólheimajökull's outlet glacier is included in the specified price, but entry to the Blue Lagoon is not. You will need to book in advance at their website.
To offer the best price possible, this self-drive package is fixed and cannot be changed or altered. The package has been optimized for the best experience.
On your first day, you will pick up your car and make the scenic journey toward the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Colorful houses of Reykjavik, gorgeous Icelandic countryside, a stop at the old Akranes lighthouse – you are off to a great start.
The towns of Husafell and Reykholt are up next. The former is known for ice caving adventures you can book on location and the latter is an intellectual center of Iceland with top notch geothermal baths. In between the towns, your itinerary will guide you to two waterfalls with milky waters and introduce you to some fascinating folklore tales surrounding them. Last up, the most powerful geothermal hot spring in Europe will crown your first day on the road.
Your accommodation for the evening will be in a hotel near Ytri Tunga, a famous seal colony, surrounded by the magical scenery of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
You’ll start your day with a great breakfast, which will set the tone for an entire day of cascading waterfalls, imperious mountains and coal-black beaches. The first stop, Ytri Tunga, will treat you to wild beaches and friendly seals. Nearby you can discover two secluded villages and a large statue of a half-man half-troll, commonly found in Icelandic sagas.
As you pick your way along the jagged cliffs, you will soon find yourself at Londrangar, a craggy rock formation reminiscent of a castle. It looms over a black-pebble beach and an abandoned fishing area, both of which serve the atmosphere.
Your remaining drive along the coast features green meadows, mighty glaciers and the famous stratovolcano described in Jules Verne’s Journey to the Centre of the Earth. You’ll make your final stop at Kirkjufell mountain and waterfall as well as a few other attractions before you get to rest in a comfy bed.
The hotel will treat you to a traditional Icelandic breakfast to kickstart your journey. You’ll pass the town of Borgarnes and visit the second-highest waterfall in Iceland before you begin the famous Golden Circle. Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with otherworldly topography, is your first of the three Golden Circle stops.
The meeting place of the first Icelandic parliament and Mid-Atlantic Ridge are located there as well. To put things into perspective, you’ll see the origins of the world’s oldest continuously running democratic institution and two tectonic plates moving apart.
As you proceed along the route, you’ll visit a village famous for geothermal pools, the Secret Lagoon, and the iconic Geyser area, a phenomenon so stunning it gave birth to the English word geyser.
You’ll close the Golden Circle with the roaring Gullfoss Waterfall. If you make it there early, you can book a glacier snowmobiling tour on the Langjokull Glacier for an additional fee.
On day four, your adventure starts with a nutritious breakfast. As you travel toward the South Coast, you’ll catch a glimpse of the capricious Hekla Volcano and visit Hella and Hvolsvöllur villages.
Today lots of waterfalls will be visited, the first two feature water falling from angles you didn’t know were possible. The highlight of the first waterfall is a cave that lets you see the waterfall from behind and the second waterfall is hiding in a sheer canyon, making them both outstanding sights.
After mesmerizing waterfalls, you'll reach the Sólheimajökull glacier - where your glacier adventure takes place. Our expert glacier guides will wait for you at the booking office and take you out to discover the pristine snow and vast, white landscapes with black volcanic ashes.
Next comes another waterfall, the glorious Skogafoss with its cascading glacial water. Breathtaking panoramas come as an award, but before long you’ll have to start making your way to the main highlight, two coal-black beaches and jaw-dropping lava rock formations.
You’ll start your morning by a picturesque drive featuring moss-covered lava fields and black sand beaches. The route will take you through the dramatic countryside all the way to Skaftafell/Vatnajökull National Park.
In Skaftafell/Vatnajökull National Park you can stop at the visitor center and continue your adventure by going for a little hike to Svartifoss waterfall surrounded by black lava columns. Ice-cold meltwater from Svinafellsjokull glacier tumbles down 20 meters (80 ft) over a cliff and feeds the famous Svartifoss waterfall.
The legendary Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and the Diamond Beach are the last stop. With floating bright blue icebergs that contrast against the black beaches, this sight will crown what was already an eventful day.
After breakfast, you will start heading back toward Reykjavik. First up are rocks so peculiar they have earned a status as a natural monument. Then your itinerary will take you to two waterfalls known mostly to the locals. Iceland’s version of the Grand Canyon is the third stop on your itinerary. While not as grand in size, with all the moss-covered rocks and blue icy waters, this river canyon excites and delights in equal measure.
Two idyllic Icelandic towns are included in your journey: one known for its contribution to shaping Iceland’s cultural landscape and the other for being a historical trading center and a fishing town.
Once in Reykjavik, you can choose from an array of restaurant and bar suggestions tailored for you to get the most out of the buzzing capital.
The itinerary of your last day on this self-drive is more flexible. You’ll get a bunch of suggestions you can pick and choose from depending on where and when you’re dropping off your car. They will include something for everyone’s taste, from the famous Kleifarvatn crater lake to a crack between two continents.
We suggest that you finish strong by visiting the Blue Lagoon. This landmark of Iceland’s spectacular nature will serve as the perfect way to relax and share memories of your trip while soaking in mineral-rich waters. Please note that the ticket to the Blue Lagoon is not included in the price of your tour.
Self-drive tour is a package tour that includes accommodation, car rental and suggested itinerary. The tours are self-guided but we provide you with information to make sure you know where to go and what to see, as well as general practical information about Iceland.
Included with our tours are accommodation and car rental, as described for each tour, itinerary with suggested points of interest along the way, GPS points for each stop (accommodation, activities, points of interest), and a detailed self-drive handbook with lots of practical information.
We use a very varied mix of local accommodations.
Comfort rooms are private rooms with private bathroom in guesthouses, hotels, motels, lodges, etc. Approximately 3-star rating.
Budget rooms are private rooms with shared bathroom at guesthouses, hostels, hotels, etc. Approximately 2-star rating.
4WD vehicles are recommended during winter months (October – April) but it doesn’t need to be a jeep, it is safest to drive a vehicle that you are comfortable with so if you’re not used to driving large cars then a smaller, but 4WD, might be a better option. In summer any vehicle is good, depending on how many are traveling together, how much luggage you carry along and how much you’re willing to pay.
This depends on the itinerary, some are faster paced while others are more relaxed. Days can range from 200-400 km, though very few days exceed 350 km. Of course you are your own driver and guide while on a self drive tour so you are free to make detours as you wish.
It is always a good idea to make sure you have good travel insurance, as you never know what might happen while in a foreign country. Sure it costs a bit extra, but it can take a load off the mind and end up being totally worth it in case something should happen.
Take a look at what type of insurance is provided with your credit card, alternatively buy special travel insurance from an insurance provider.
As for the car rental, you can opt to buy extra insurance at the time of collecting the car. It may be wise to buy extra insurance such as windshield protection, as a cracked windshield from a stone being thrown off another car is among the most common incidents on Icelandic roads.
Other extra car insurances would be for example sand and ash protection, or additional insurance to lower the self-risk in case of an incident.
Our self drive adventures have been optimized for the best value experience, which includes doing some thrilling activities in the amazing Icelandic nature. As the packages are offered at the best possible price no partial refunds or modifications to the itinerary can be permitted. That includes opting out of an included activity and getting a refund for that activity. You can, of course, choose not to do the activity but as mentioned there would be no partial refunds of the package price.
You should contact the service provider in question: If there is a problem with the car, contact the car rental. If you have troubles finding the hotel (which shouldn’t happen as you will be provided with the address and GPS coordinates), you should call the hotel.
If you have questions about an activity, contact the activity provider. You will receive all the necessary contact information from us.
We cannot guarantee twin beds but a large majority of our hotels can accommodate twin bed arrangements and clients can contact the hotels directly after purchase to request a twin bed arrangement.
