Categories Iceland Winter Tours Winter Tours Self Drive Tours

Indulge yourself and enjoy South and West Iceland’s natural wonders, Viking history and suggested culinary delights on this popular winter self-drive.

Iceland’s fall and winter are the best times of the year to enjoy tasty local cuisine in a cozy atmosphere. Fall harvests and winter festivals result in delicious seasonal delights. Iceland’s dramatic southern coastline is full of epic stops including monstrous waterfalls and glaciers. West Iceland’s highlights include unique lava formations, the inspiring Snæfellsjokull glacier-volcano and places of historical significance from the Sagas. We’ve even suggested culinary stops in each area, based on our staff recommendations.

Highlights

Discover the famous natural wonders of the Golden Circle route; Geysir, Gullfoss falls and Thingvellir National Park

Walk along the banks of the famous Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon with its blue-tinted icebergs; nearby is the legendary Diamond Beach

Enjoy a variety of optional culinary stops and excursions, including some you can book with us in advance

Visit areas of amazing beauty—perfect for catching images to share with friends and family

Car types:

Cat. 1.3 Suzuki Swift, 4wd, manual or similar

Cat. 2.5 Suzuki SX4, 4wd, manual, or similar

Cat. 4.0 Skoda Octavia, 4wd, SW, manual, or similar

Cat. 4.1 Skoda Octavia, 4wd, SW, automatic, or similar

Cat. 5.0 KIA Sportage, 4wd, SUV, manual, or similar

Cat. 5.1 KIA Sportage, 4wd, SUV, automatic, or similar

Cat. 5.2 Davia Duster, 4wd, SUV, manual, or similar

Cat. 5.4PH Hyundai Tucon, 4wd, automatic/hybrid, or similar

Cat. 5.5PH KIA Sorento Phev, 4wd, automatic/hybrid, or similar

Cat. 5.6 KIA Sorento, 4wd, automatic, or similar

Cat. 7.1 Toyota LandCruiser, 4wd, automatic, or similar

Cat. 7.2 Toyota LandCruiser, 4wd, automatic, or similar

Cat. 9.4 VW Caravelle, 4wd van, automatic, or similar

Itinerary

Approximate Distance:

50 km / 30 miles

Once you have landed at Keflavik Airport in Iceland, please pick up your luggage and head through customs. Collect your rental car at the airport and drive along lava landscapes to your hotel in Reykjavik. The rest of the day is yours to rest and use at your own leisure.

Overnight in Reykjavik.

Please note: check-in for most hotels begins at 2:00pm-4:00pm

Our Iceland Travel Staff Culinary suggestions:

Pop by Café Loki, a small and friendly family-run café located across from Hallgrimskirkja Church in the center of Reykjavik. The restaurant’s cuisine is inspired by traditional Icelandic home recipes that have been passed on from one generation to the next.

Discover Iceland’s version of street food: upmarket, food-truck style kiosks at two new food halls. Hlemmur Food Hall is near the main shopping street, Laugavegur. Grandi Matthöll is in the Grandi neighborhood of the Old Harbor.

Join the Reykjavik Food Walk, a small-group guided tour of the old city area. During the trip you’ll visit several restaurants to sample delicious food that are typical of everyday Icelandic favorites.

Optionals:

Northern Lights Boat Tour

Reykjavik Food Walking Tour

Sky Lagoon Pass

Approximate Distance:

300 km / 186 miles

Thundering waterfalls – Bubbling geysers – Black Sand Beaches

Head out of the city, where you’ll explore some of the Golden Circle and South shore areas. Drive to Gullfoss waterfall and the nearby Geysir hot spring area. Continue your trip along the south coast, viewing highlights such as Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls. On a clear day you might glimpse majestic Eyjafjallajokull, the site of the (in)famous volcanic eruption in 2010. This region is one of Iceland’s best farming districts, providing geothermal vegetables and some of Iceland’s best known dairy and meat products.

Overnight in the Vik area.

Our Iceland Travel Staff Culinary suggestions:

The small café at Fontana Geothermal Baths bakes traditional sweet rye bread using the earth’s natural geothermal heat. You can watch as the bread is removed from its cooking tins in the ground and taste it fresh with plenty of Icelandic butter and smoked Arctic trout (this experience must be pre-booked).

Efstidalur II traditional dairy farm is just a 10-minute drive from Gullfoss waterfall. The farm’s restaurant overlooks the milking area and features cuisine with locally sourced beef and vegetables, as well as homemade milk products such as ice cream, feta cheese and skyr. You can watch the dairy cows through a big window in the dairy barn.

Fridheimar is a charming horse farm and greenhouse facility near Fludir. Clean geothermal and hydroelectric energy provides resources to grow many types of organic vegetables such as tomatoes and bell peppers. A restaurant specializes in a buffet featuring Fridheimar’s famous tomato soup, fresh bread, and salsas.

Optionals:

Snowmobiling on Myrdalsjokull Glacier (from Basecamp)

Fontana Geothermal Baths

Secret Lagoon

Glacier Discovery (from Solheimajokull Base Camp)

Approximate Distance:

395 km / 245 miles

Glacier National Park – Iceberg Lagoon – Europe’s Largest Glacier

Today you’ll be in the area of the largest national park in Western Europe: Vatnajokull National Park. First, you’ll drive past the largest single lava flow in the world in recorded history, Eldhraun. You’ll also cross over vast sand plains created by glacial washes. Visit the majestic Skaftafell area of Vatnajokull National Park, named after Europe’s largest glacier. The area is ringed by glaciers offers good winter hiking possibilities. You can even join a guided hiking tour taking you onto a glacier, an unforgettable experience. Continue to the shimmering icebergs of Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. Nearby is the Diamond Beach, which has become quite famous in the social media community.

Overnight in the Vik area.

Our Iceland Travel Staff Culinary Suggestions:

Thorbergur Cultural Centre honors one of Iceland’s beloved authors, Thorbergur Thordarson. The center’s building resembles a giant shelf of books, a unique photo opportunity. The Hali restaurant has become famous among Icelanders for its traditional Icelandic specialties, especially its arctic char (trout) sourced from a nearby farm.

If you’re itching for barbecue and a cold beer the Smidjan Brugghus in Vik specializes in their own craft beer, along with other Icelandic labels. Enjoy slow-cooked barbecued ribs, pulled pork, burgers, and legendary french fries “possibly made by unicorns.”

Optionals:

Glacier Wonders – Glacier Hike in Skaftafell

Crystal Ice Cave Tour from the Glacier Lagoon

Approximate Distance:

340 km / 211 miles

National Park of Geological Wonders – Lava Waterfalls – Powerful Hot Spring

Drive to the UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park, site of the ancient Icelandic parliament and a jewel of nature. The park itself is situated in a stunning volcanic landscape of mountains and lava flows on the edge of Iceland’s largest lake. You can enjoy the unique experience of walking between continents on a path leading through the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Continue to charming Borgarfjordur fjord, a region known for local culinary and craft traditions. Visit the remarkably beautiful Hraunfoss and Barnafoss waterfalls and Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in Europe. We recommend a visit to the nearby Krauma natural geothermal baths, where you can relax in pools fed by a perfect blend of water from Deildartunguhver and nearby glacial springs.

Overnight in the Borgarfjordur area.

Our Iceland Travel Staff Culinary suggestions:

The restaurant at Krauma geothermal baths offers bistro-style courses with produce from West Iceland farms. Two signature dishes are an appetizer featuring cheese and cured meats from a traditional goat farm and a colorful salad with vegetables from a nearby greenhouse farm.

The Settlement Centre in Borgarnes offers a fascinating insight into the history of the Iceland’s settlement by Vikings. After looking at the exhibits, check out the excellent restaurant on site. Choose from an assortment of traditional Icelandic dishes such as fish soup and grilled lamb.

The Ljomalind Country Market in Borgarnes is open daily. This sustainable country market was created by women from the region. Discover home-made treats like ice cream, candy, cheese, and jams, as well as handicrafts and herbal remedies.

Optionals:

Krauma Nature Baths

Into the Glacier – Classic Tour (from Husafell)

Silfra Snorkeling (Meet on Location)

Approximate Distance:

330 km / 205 miles

Sea Cliffs – Rock Formations – Quaint Fishing Villages

Explore the countless natural wonders of the Snaefellsnes peninsula, which also includes Snaefellsjokull National Park. Snæfellsnes has become known as “Iceland in a Nutshell” because it has so many diverse types of landscapes in one area. We recommend you stop at the wind tangled Arnarstapi sea cliffs and the rocky beach of Djupalonssandur. The beautiful Snaefessjokull glacier-volcano is the crown jewel of the peninsula. Legends say that the mountain is home to a benevolent half-troll guardian. Drive along the north coast through bustling fishing villages, stopping to look at Kirkjufell, Iceland’s most photographed mountain.

Overnight in the Borgarfjordur area.

Our Iceland Travel Staff Culinary Suggestions:

The House of Food (Bjargarsteinn) in Grundarfjordur is a little restaurant in an adorable renovated early 20th century house with a lovely view over the seacoast. The menu changes based on the best products each season, with good seafood, lamb and vegetarian offerings.

Stykkishólmur town is considered one of Iceland’s most eco-friendly communities. The town’s Sjarvarpakkhusid restaurant is committed to low environmental impact. They get ingredients from local fishermen, farmers, and breweries. Diners enjoy the view over the island-filled Breidafjordur Bay and watching the fishing boats and fishermen at work.

Optionals:

Vatnshellir Caving (from Snaefellsnes Peninsula)

Approximate Distance:

189 km / 117 miles

Volcanic Landscapes – Bubbling Mud Pools – Active Fishing Community – Geothermal Spa

Drive to the Reykjanes peninsula and visit the moonlike lava fields around Lake Kleifarvatn.The peninsula is a UNESCO GeoPark, with over 50 interesting sites connected to geothermal activity, volcanoes and tectonic plates. One of the most interesting of these is Krysuvik geothermal area with primordial bubbling mud pools. We recommend a stop at Grindavik fishing village, famous for its heritage of producing salt fish (bacalao). Salt fish made an enormous impact on the prosperity of the Icelandic nation, particularly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Perhaps you will also visit the famous Blue Lagoon and enjoy its pleasantly warm geothermal waters, rich in silica and minerals that are great for the skin. (Note: Bookings must be made in advance. We are happy to book a time for you.)

After a great trip, it’s time to head to Reykjavik for your last night in Iceland!

Overnight in Reykjavik.

Our Iceland Travel Staff Culinary suggestions:

Salthusid Restaurant (The House of Bacalao) is located in Grindavik and is open for dinner. The menu features beautifully presented seafood. The specialty is salted cod, but the restaurant also offers salmon, lobster, arctic charr, as well as meat courses.

Grindavik is also home to Hjá Höllu (At Halla’s), a family-owned, cozy restaurant specializing in light, healthy soups, salads, pizza, and main courses. Ingredients are organic. The menu changes weekly.

Lava Restaurant at the Blue Lagoon is a fine dining experience using locally sourced ingredients. Built into an 800 year-old lava cliff, the restaurant looks out over the Blue Lagoon. The fish of the day comes right from Grindavik’s harbor. Lunchtime fixed menus showcase Icelandic favorites. The restaurant’s dinner menu offers an elegant 4-course tasting menu.

Optionals:

Blue Lagoon Entrance

Sky Lagoon Pass

Panorama ATV/Quad tour in Reykjanes

Northern Lights Boat Tour

Return to Keflavik International Airport.**

We recommend departing the hotel approximately 3 hours prior to the departure of your international flight.

**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 charged unless you choose to return the car in Reykjavik when the 6- day rental is up and use our FlyBus plus departure transfer.

Please note: The northern lights are a natural phenomenon and therefore sightings can not be guaranteed.

Notes