Categories Summer Tours Iceland Self Drive Vacations Self Drive Tours

Here’s your perfect way to spend a week in the wonders of South and West Iceland. You’ll see the “must-see” places but also enjoy an easy-going travel pace.

Want a week of natural wonders? Done! Experience all the must-see wonders of South and West Iceland, including hot spring areas, mystical glaciers and picturesque waterfalls, and witness the shimmering icebergs of Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon during this unforgettable tour. Since you won’t need to change hotels every day, you’ll have the time to enjoy Iceland’s famous places to the fullest. 

Recommended Car Type: May – September: Any car type

Prices listed are based on Group Y car

Itinerary

Arrival in the Land of Fire and Ice

Approximate Distance:100 km / 62 miles

Once you have landed at Keflavik Airport, please pick up your luggage and head through customs. Collect your rental car at the airport and proceed to your hotel. Drive along the mystical lava landscapes of the South Coast to the charming village of Hveragerdi for your overnight. The road takes you past rocky beaches with thundering waves. Hveragerdi is perfect for getting to know typical small-town Icelandic culture, but with a unique twist. Hveragerdi is one of the few sites in the world located directly on top of a geothermal area and, because of its many greenhouses heated by hot water from nearby springs, it is often called the “flower village.”

Overnight in the Hveragerdi area.

Please note check-in for most hotels begins at 14:00 – 16:00 (2:00pm-4:00pm)

Approximate Distance:290 km / 180 miles

Bubbling Geysers – Golden Waterfall – Cliffs & Stone Arches – Black Sandy Beaches & Seabird Colony

Today you’ll be exploring the amazing sites of Gullfoss waterfall and the Geysir hot spring area. Gullfoss (the Golden Falls) is considered by many visitors to be Iceland’s most beautiful waterfall. Geysir is an active geothermal field with many bubbling steam vents and spouting hot springs, including the famous Strokkur geyser that shoots like clockwork.

Drive along the scenic South Shore and the area near the infamous Eyjafjallajokull volcano. This is the volcano whose massive 2010 eruption caused air traffic around the world to be cancelled We recommend a stop at the interactive LAVA Centre where you’ll learn about the powerful volcanic and tectonic forces that shaped both Iceland and Earth. The center has interesting exhibits for all age groups.

Your journey takes you by the beautiful Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls (each a photo worthy visit) and Myrdalsjokull glacier. You can opt for a fun snowmobiling trip on the glacier and (if the weather is clear) a splendid view over southern Iceland. Stop by the seafront village of Vik to explore Reynisfjara, a dramatic stretch of coastline poised between glacier-topped mountains, rugged sea cliffs and black- sand beaches.

Dyrholaey* is a rocky headland famous in photos for its black lava arch. During the summer, thousands of sea birds and puffins nest here (puffins are generally in Iceland between mid-May and early August)

Overnight in the Vik area.

*Important: Please note that Dyrholaey is closed during nesting season, from about the middle of May until late June.

Optional:

Gullfoss Canyon Rafting – From Drumbó Base

Fontana Geothermal Lagoon

Secret Lagoon

Kayaking by Solheimajokull Glacier

Solheimajokull Glacier Walk

Approximate Distance:400 km / 249 miles

Europe’s Largest National Park – Glacial Lagoon with Icebergs – Europe’s Largest Glacier

Today you’ll be in Vatnajokull National Park, named after Europe’s largest glacier. Visit the awe-inspiring Skaftafell area of the park, which is set between glaciers. There are several excellent hiking trails including one to the basalt lined Svartifoss Falls. If you want to experience a glacier adventure, we definitely recommend taking a guided hike on one of the park’s glaciers. Continue to the shimmering icebergs of Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon and enjoy the amazing view. If you’re lucky you might glimpse a few sunbathing seals. Many people enjoy taking an amphibian or Zodiac boat trip on the Glacier Lagoon itself. Nearby the Glacier Lagoon is the Diamond Beach, an area where glittering pieces of glaciers perch on the volcanic black sand coastline.

Return to the charming village of Vik in the late afternoon.

Overnight in the Vik area

Optional:

Zipline Adventure in Vik

Amphibian Boat on the Glacier Lagoon

Glacier Wonders-glacier hike in Skaftafell

Zodiac tour on Fjallsarlon Ice Lagoon

Approximate Distance:325 km / 202 miles

National Park of Geological Wonders – Saga Sites – Lava Falls – Europe’s Most Powerful Hot Spring

Visit one of the places most beloved to us Icelanders: Thingvellir National Park. This area is the site of the ancient Icelandic Viking parliament and a jewel of nature. Here you can see (and even walk between) the meeting point between the North American and Europe continents. Many important historical events happened here. Several walking trails and hiking trails take visitors to historical points of interest. Since 2004 Thingvellir has been a UNESCO World Heritage site, and there is plenty to enjoy in this special area.

Then travel via either Hvalfjordur fjord or the Kaldidalur wilderness track. (Kaldidalur is open June-August; a 4WD vehicle is needed. We recommend Category 5.0 or higher.) Your journey continues to the beautiful Borgarfjordur region and Reykholt, home of the colorful 13th-century chieftain and Saga author Snorri Sturluson. While in the area you might stop by the Visiting Horse Farm, where you can meet friendly Icelandic horses and try home-made baked treats in the farm’s café.

Visit Hraunfossar Falls, were glacial water rushes beautifully through lava formations. Then see how powerful hot springs can be at Deildartunguhver, where boiling water rushes by at 180 liters (48 gallons) per second. You cannot bathe here, but the nearby Krauma Geothermal Natural Spa is a wonderful place to relax in a nice blend of water from Deildartunguhver and cool mountain springs.

Overnight in the Borgarfjordur area.

Optional:

Into a Glacier tour

Krauma Nature Baths

Approximate Distance:330 km / 205 miles

Sea Cliffs with Birdlife – Glacier-Crowned Mountain – Rock Formations

Today you are for a treat: a whole day to explore the countless natural wonders of the Snaefellsnes peninsula, home of Snaefellsjokull National Park. Snaefellsnes is known as “Iceland in a Nutshell” since you can see samples of most Icelandic landscapes in one area. Visit Arnarstapi sea cliffs where many types of seabirds live. If you enjoy hiking, there is a great nature trail you can hike between Arnarstapi and Hellnar villages. (About 4.3 km/2.7 miles). Crowning the area is the glacier topped Snaefellsjokull volcano, legendary home to a guardian spirit. Driving through the park gives you a chance to view the mountain from many different angles.

Visit Djupalonssandur with its mysteriously shaped rocks and black pebbled beach. Then head along the north coast through lively fishing villages. Keep an eye out for Kirkjufell, the photogenic Church Mountain. Olafsvik town is a great place for whale watching tours. In eco-friendly Stykkisholmur, you might join a boat tour in Breidafjordur Bay (approx. 2 hours) to admire the rich birdlife and sea life of the area. During the boat tour, a shellfish plough is lowered into the ocean and a wonderful selection of shellfish and sea life is caught for viewing and tasting scallops, sea urchins, crabs, starfish, sea cucumbers and much more.

Overnight in the Borgarfjordur area.

Optional:

Vatnshellir Caving

Whale Watching from Olafsvik

Viking "Sushi" boat tour

Approximate Distance:215 km / 134 miles

Volcanic Landscapes – Bubbling Mud Pools – Quaint Fishing Village – Geothermal Spa

Today explore a different side of Iceland with a visit to Reykjanes peninsula. Designated a UNESCO Geopark in 2015, Reykjanes lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It has over 50 geosites related to geothermal and tectonic plate activity. It’s a paradise for geologists and photographers alike! Visit the moon-like surroundings of Lake Kleifarvatn and the Krysuvik geothermal area with its multicolored bubbling mud pools. You can also cross the Mid-Atlantic ridge on the Bridge between Continents. Visit Grindavik fishing village, known for its delicious local food, especially a focus on saltfish. If you enjoy hiking and volcanoes, you can take a trail to visit the site of Iceland’s most recent volcanic eruptions in 2021 and 2022 at Geldingardalur and see the island’s newest lava up close. Reykjanes is also home to the famous Blue Lagoon where you can relax in the soothing mineral waters. Note: The Blue Lagoon must be booked in advance. We can help with that!

If you enjoy adventure, you can enjoy guided ATV tours, hiking, snorkeling, and golfing. Or indulge your inner explorer at the Vikingaheimur museum where you can learn about Viking discoveries between Iceland and the New World.

Afterwards head to Reykjavik for your overnight. Enjoy the food scene and lively culture of Iceland’s capital.

Overnight in Reykjavik.

Optional:

Blue Lagoon Pass

ATV tour of Reykjanes Peninsula

Sky Lagoon Pass

Approximate Distance:50 km / 30 miles

Return to Keflavik International Airport.**

Drive back to Keflavik International Airport.* We recommend departing from your hotel in Reykjavik no later than at least 3 hours before your flight. It takes approximately 1 hour to drive to the airport, and check-in will start 2 hours before your departure.

**Please note that the package price is based on 6 x 24-hour rental days starting at the time of rental. If your flight arrives early on day 1 and departs late on day 7 an additional supplement will be necessary unless you choose to return the car in Reykjavik when the 6-day rental is up and use our airport transfer.

Notes