Jan
min : -2°C
max : 1°C
We love —
- Driving through ever-changing volcanic landscapes, where lava fields, glaciers and dramatic coastlines unfold at every turn.
- Chasing the Northern Lights beneath Iceland’s dark Arctic skies, away from city lights, as nature puts on one of its most extraordinary displays.
- Standing beside the floating icebergs of Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and the black sands of Diamond Beach.
Customer reviews —
8.6/10
7 reviews
Your itinerary in brief —
Spend 5, 6 or 7 nights discovering the dramatic natural wonders of South and South-West Iceland during the peak Northern Lights season.
From the vibrant capital of Reykjavík to the volcanic landscapes of the Golden Circle, from black-sand beaches to glacial lagoons, this self-drive journey offers the freedom to explore at your own pace. Drive through lava fields, stand before powerful waterfalls, walk between tectonic plates and witness floating icebergs in Europe’s largest national park.
Your itineraries:
5-night road trip:
Day 1: Reykjavík - Arrival
Day 2: The Golden Circle
Day 3: Iceland’s South Shore
Day 4: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Vatnajökull National Park
Day 5: Hveragerði → Blue Lagoon → Reykjavík
Day 6: Reykjavík - Departure
6-night road trip:
Day 2: The Golden Circle
Day 3: Iceland’s South Shore
Day 4: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Vatnajökull National Park
Day 5: Hveragerði → Blue Lagoon → Reykjavík
Day 6: Reykjavík
Day 7: Reykjavík - Departure
7-night road trip:
Day 1: Reykjavík - Arrival
Day 2: The Golden Circle
Day 3: Iceland’s South Shore
Day 4: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Vatnajökull National Park
Day 5: Hveragerði → Blue Lagoon → Reykjavík
Day 6: Reykjavík
Day 7: Reykjavík
Day 8: Reykjavík - Departure
Please note: your itinerary may have minor adjustments, but your overall trip experience will remain the same.
The freedom to explore:
Discover our expertly curated self-guided tours, designed to offer the perfect balance of structure and flexibility. While our travel experts suggest itineraries to help you explore each destination in depth, you have the freedom to tailor activities and pace to suit your personal preferences. Rest assured, the carefully selected hotels will remain as listed, ensuring a comfortable and seamless experience throughout your journey.
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Please note that your hotels may be located inside or outside cities and towns. You may park your car inside or outside the hotels (subject to availability). Additional charges may apply on-site.
Your itinerary in detail —
DAY 1 | REYKJAVÍK - ARRIVAL
After landing at Keflavík Airport (KEF), collect your luggage, clear customs and pick up your rental car. Drive to Reykjavík and check in at your hotel.
The rest of the day is at leisure. A visit to a local geothermal pool is a wonderful way to unwind after your flight. Alternatively, stroll through the Old Town, explore a museum or relax in one of the capital’s cosy cafés.
- Overnight in Reykjavík
- Breakfast included
DAY 2 | THE GOLDEN CIRCLE → HELLA (124 MILES)
Drive to Þingvellir National Park, where you can walk between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Continue to the geothermal area of Geysir, where Strokkur erupts regularly, before visiting the spectacular two-tiered waterfall of Gullfoss.
The Golden Circle region is rich in hot springs and popular local bathing pools. Laugarvatn Fontana is built directly over a hot spring, with steam baths known for their soothing properties. The Secret Lagoon is a charming, historic, stone-lined geothermal pool with a small geyser nearby. Laugarás Lagoon offers a unique two-storey pool design and a relaxing mini forest bathing area (all at additional cost).
Afterwards, travel through the Icelandic countryside towards South Iceland. With favourable conditions, you may spot the Northern Lights.
- Overnight in the Hella / Hvolsvöllur area
- Breakfast included
DAY 3 | SOUTH SHORE → KIRKJUBÆJARKLAUSTUR AREA (115 MILES)
Today you’ll explore Iceland’s iconic South Shore, a dramatic stretch of coastline framed by volcanic mountains and sweeping glacier views. We recommend a stop at the LAVA Centre in Hvolsvöllur, where interactive exhibitions bring to life the volcanic eruptions and earthquakes that shaped Iceland’s unique landscape (at additional cost).
Continue to two of the country’s most impressive waterfalls. Seljalandsfoss cascades in a narrow ribbon over a high cliff, weather permitting, you may walk behind the falls for a unique perspective. Nearby, the powerful Skógafoss plunges 60 metres into a broad pool below and is one of Iceland’s most photographed natural landmarks.
As you drive, you will see Mýrdalsjökull glacier dominating the horizon, a popular location for guided glacier hikes or snowmobile excursions (at additional cost).
The route then leads to the striking black sands of Reynisfjara beach, where roaring Atlantic waves crash against dramatic basalt columns and sea stacks rising from the ocean.
Continue east through the vast Eldhraun lava field, the largest known single lava flow in the world, before arriving at your accommodation.
- Overnight in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area
- Breakfast included
DAY 4 | VATNAJÖKULL NATIONAL PARK → JÖKULSÁRLÓN (155 MILES)
Today you explore the southern part of Vatnajökull National Park, the largest national park in Western Europe, dominated by Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice cap.
Begin at the breathtaking Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where luminous blue icebergs drift across the deep glacial waters. Just across the road lies Diamond Beach, where fragments of ice rest on striking black sand — an unforgettable setting for photography.
For a more adventurous experience, you may join an optional guided tour to explore a crystalline ice cave beneath the glacier (at additional cost, subject to conditions).
If you prefer a quieter setting, nearby Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon offers a similarly dramatic landscape, often with fewer visitors.
The Skaftafell area within Vatnajökull National Park is renowned for its exceptional natural beauty and winter hiking opportunities. The visitor centre guides on open trails. Guided glacier hikes are also available (at additional cost), offering the chance to step directly onto the ice and learn more about these extraordinary formations.
- Overnight in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area
- Breakfast included
DAY 5 | HVERAGERÐI → BLUE LAGOON → REYKJAVÍK (229 MILES)
Drive towards Hveragerði, often called the “flower village”, one of the few communities in the world located directly above an active geothermal area. Its greenhouses are heated by nearby hot springs.
Continue along a scenic coastal road known for its dramatic ocean views, where powerful waves crash against rugged cliffs. The route leads to the Reykjanes Peninsula, a UNESCO Global Geopark characterised by striking geological contrasts.
Discover the bubbling geothermal area of Krýsuvík and the stark, lunar-like landscapes surrounding Kleifarvatn lake.
You may choose to unwind at the world-famous Blue Lagoon (at additional cost, booking recommended), soaking in warm, mineral-rich geothermal waters set within a dramatic lava field.
For those interested in history and culture, the Viking World exhibition (optional, entrance not included) offers insight into Viking life and features a replica Viking ship that sailed from Iceland to North America in 2000.
Return to Reykjavík in the evening. The night is at leisure to explore Iceland’s lively capital.
- Overnight in Reykjavík
- Breakfast included
DAY 6 | REYKJAVÍK - DEPARTURE
Drive back to Keflavík International Airport. We recommend leaving your hotel at least three hours before departure. The journey takes approximately one hour, and check-in opens two hours before your flight.
Your rental car should be returned at the airport car rental office, located just two minutes from the terminal. A shuttle service will transfer you to the departures hall.
Tip: If you have not yet visited the Blue Lagoon and have time before your flight, you may stop on the way to the airport. Allow an additional 2 to 2.5 hours for this visit.
- Breakfast included
DAY 7 & 8 | REYKJAVÍK (6- OR 7-NIGHT ROAD TRIP)
If you have selected the 6- or 7-night itinerary, you will enjoy one or two additional days in Reykjavík. Take time to explore the city’s museums, harbour area, design boutiques and cosy cafés, or join optional excursions to further discover Iceland’s unique landscapes.
- Overnight in Reykjavík
- Breakfast included
Important information about your tour and visits: The hotels, which comply with local standards, are indicative and may be changed locally for hotels of a similar category. The itinerary is subject to changes due to compelling reasons such as delayed flights, weather conditions or other cases of force majeure. The order of visits is also subject to change without affecting the overall experience of the itinerary.
Your hotels —
Just for you:
Hand-picked just for you
During your Iceland road trip, you will stay in carefully selected Standard Rooms (or similar), chosen to ensure a comfortable and restful stay throughout your journey. Accommodation varies according to the hotel category selected.
Your Comfort hotels (3* or similar):
Reykjavík: Storm Hotel
Hella: Stracta Hotel
Kirkjubæjarklaustur: Fosshotel Núpar
Your Quality hotels (4* or similar):
Reykjavík: Fosshotel Reykjavík
Hella: Stracta Hotel
Kirkjubæjarklaustur: Magma Hotel
Your Superior hotels (4* or similar):
Reykjavík: Fosshotel Reykjavík
Hella: UMI Hotel
Kirkjubæjarklaustur: Magma Hotel
If any of the hotels listed above are unavailable, you will be accommodated in hotels of a similar standard. Local standards apply.
The maximum capacity of a room is 2 adults. Single rooms available at extra cost.
Your dining choices
This is a bed and breakfast stay.
Your optional excursions —
Blue Lagoon - comfort admission
Experience a truly unique setting at the Blue Lagoon, surrounded by moss-covered lava fields and striking volcanic landscapes, complemented by modern facilities. Relax in the mineral-rich waters, apply a silica mud mask and enjoy water renowned for leaving your skin feeling firmer and exceptionally soft.
Your journey to Iceland —
Flights:
You will be able to choose your airline and flight times when you make your booking, in either Economy, Premium, or Business class, depending on the destination and carrier. This flight may include one or more stopovers. Please review your flight options carefully as departure and arrival airports may differ, in order to offer the best price.
Luggage information
Luggage, meals and other services on board may be subject to an additional fee on certain airlines. It is possible to view details of luggage allowances when you choose your flights at the next stage of the booking process. If luggage is not included with your flight, please go to the airline's website before your departure to purchase your luggage for an additional fee.
For domestic flights, airlines do not always offer the option of reserving luggage. In this case, you will need to pay for it at the airport counter.
You will receive all the information you need to check in for your flights after you have made your reservation.
Your destination —
Iceland
Iceland, a land of striking contrasts, invites travellers to experience its otherworldly beauty, where glaciers meet volcanic landscapes and folklore blends with modern life. This remote Nordic island offers a unique fusion of dramatic scenery, geothermal wonders, and a deep-rooted cultural heritage shaped by centuries of storytelling and exploration.
Must-sees:
- Þingvellir National Park – A UNESCO-listed site where history and geology converge, home to the ancient Viking parliament and the meeting point of two tectonic plates.
- Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon – A mesmerising expanse of floating icebergs, where visitors can witness nature's raw beauty and perhaps spot a few seals basking on the ice.
- Reykjanes Peninsula – Often overlooked, this rugged coastal region is dotted with steaming fumaroles, dramatic cliffs, and Iceland’s famed Blue Lagoon, an oasis of warm, mineral-rich waters.
Culinary culture:
Iceland’s cuisine reflects its harsh yet bountiful environment, with fresh seafood, free-roaming lamb, and innovative uses of local ingredients. Traditional dishes such as plokkfiskur (creamy fish stew) and rye bread baked using geothermal heat are must-tries, while modern Reykjavik restaurants experiment with Nordic flavours, bringing creativity to every plate.
Dive deeper:
Beyond its famous landmarks, Iceland’s lesser-known treasures reward those willing to explore. The Westfjords remain an untouched paradise, with towering cliffs, remote fishing villages, and Europe’s westernmost point, Látrabjarg, home to vast colonies of puffins. In the north, the town of Akureyri offers a glimpse into Icelandic daily life, with its botanical gardens flourishing just below the Arctic Circle.
Good to know:
The ideal time to visit is late spring to early autumn for long daylight hours and accessible roads, while winter offers the mesmerising Northern Lights. Iceland’s landscapes are as unpredictable as its weather—layered clothing and sturdy footwear are essential for exploring its rugged terrain. Car rentals are popular, but the country's extensive network of guided tours ensures a hassle-free journey into the wild.
