7 Day Self Drive Tour | South Coast, Snaefellsnes & Golden Circle

Arriving in the land of ice and fire will be an exciting moment and what is ahead even more. You pick up your rental car, at the selected pickup location, and head right out for a road trip to the North East. There are numerous points of interest to explore for the day and the drive is quite the scenic one.

Driving through Reykjavík you will see colorful houses but soon you will be in the outskirts and under Reykjavík’s totem mountain Esja. You continue along the seacoast through an underwater tunnel in Hvalfjörður e. Whale fjord and make your way into Borgarfjörður known for exquisite beauty and picture-book-like settings.

In Borgarfjörður you will find the most powerful hot spring in Europe, Deildartunguhver a real must stop to take in the true power that lived in Icelandic nature. Then we have the outstanding waterfall brothers Hraunfossar e. Lava Waterfalls and Barnafossar Waterfalls. These stops are an absolute must and make sure that your camera is charged. You are going to want to remember these amazing views. For those you haven’t had enough of Borgarfjörður and want to go a little deeper, we recommend driving around the beautiful birch paradise Húsafell where you can join an Ice Cave tour with a monster truck to Iceland’s second-largest glacier. The Into the Glacier tours take about 2-4 hours.

Another recommended stop would be at Reykholt w. Smoky Hill where you can often find markets during weekends in the summertime. It is a historic place where the Icelandic poet and historian Snorri Sturluson lived in ancient times and it has a beautiful church and a hot pool, Snorralaug. Or at the Krauma geothermal baths and spa where you can relax in a newly built hot pool that takes its waters from the great Deildartunguhver hot spring. They also have a restaurant with great lunch or dinner options.

The night will be spent at a hotel in the Snaefellsnes peninsula in where lava surrounds you, deeply stunning.

The theme of the day will be the Snæfellsnes peninsula, a place that has often been nicknamed “Iceland in a nutshell” - as it has everything from waterfalls to grand mountains to lava fields and black sand beaches. You can drive the peninsula clockwise or counterclockwise but here the drive will be described clockwise. The first stop is at the amazing Ytri Tunga where you will find a seal paradise, where they relax and play at the beach surprisingly unafraid of the humans who often stop by to admire these cuties.

From Ytri Tunga you will make your way to Arnarstapi, the drive is very beautiful and you will want to make extra stops here and there just to take it all in (make sure to park well off road). Arnarstapi is a tiny charming fishing village on the coast of Snæfellsnes peninsula and close by another similar one called Hellnar. Between those two you will find a café, located down by the ocean with a great view and excellent food options. Perfect for a lunch stop!

Prepare for a ravishing vista as you make your way along the coast of the peninsula first stopping at the alluring Lóndrangar sea cliff and then at the movie looking Djúpalónssandur pebble rock beach with its high basalt columns. This place was once home to sixty fishing boats and was at that time one of the most prolific fishing villages in the West of Iceland but today it remains uninhabited.

Along the coast, you will continue driving up and down graceful hills and beautiful roads, over bridges, and past dazzling unnamed waterfalls. During the drive, you will see Snæfellsjökull glacier from all directions, the famous stratovolcano that Jules Verne wrote about in his book Journey to the Center of the Earth.

The reason for the next stop is hard to hide since as soon as you reach the town’s border you will see the towering mountain of Kirkjufell standing tall out on a peninsula. Right next to the mountain you will find the waterfall Kirkjufellsfoss which adds a magical charm to the scene and makes the overview otherworldly.

A dinner at Stykkishólmur, the neighboring town is a great idea before settling at the hotel for the night which will be in the area.

Today we wake up and enjoy our complimentary breakfast before continuing the route through the Hvalfjörður e. Whale fjord a fascinating drive in complete serenity. The drive will take you over a hill and into the valley where the National Park Þingvellir is located. Þingvellir, often spelled Thingvellir is a world-famous geological wonderland and a home to waterfalls, lakes, and stunning lava formations. It is where the continental plates meet and drift apart in an intriguing way adding to the charm of this historical site where one of the world’s first democratic parliaments was founded in the year 930. The park is a UNESCO protected world heritage site as it is truly unique and fascinating on a global scale.

Back on the route, you will drive past the local favorite Laugarvatn lake home to the Laugarvatn Fontana spa, where many like to make a stop and bathe. Other great stops before you get to the Geysir Hot Springs is at Reykholt, Flúðir geothermal village, the Secret Lagoon oldest swimming pool in Iceland or Friðheimar a tomato plantation where you can taste delicious greenhouse-grown tomatoes or tomato soup, a fantastic lunch or café stop!

Next up on the 7 day Iceland itinerary is one of Iceland’s most famous landmarks, the Geysir Hot Springs. This must-do stop will bring you a memory that you will never forget as the geyser Strokkur bursts up into the sky like a rocket every 4-10 minutes creating a synchronized but unavoidable awe with the crowd watching.

This is a moment you will remember forever. Last but not least on the Golden Circle is the Gullfoss waterfall stop. The Golden Falls like the name would translate is a two-story water force that originated in Iceland’s second-largest glacier Langjökull. Some like to add a tour to this stop as a pick up for a Glacier Snowmobiling Tour on the Langjökull glacier can be booked from the Gullfoss waterfall parking lot.

Your hotel for this night is located within the Golden Circle route.

After breakfast at the accommodation, the adventure continues this time driving along the South Coast heading East. Along the route, you will be greeted with a view over the acclaimed Hekla volcano and the stratovolcano which so famously erupted in 2010, Eyjafjallajökull. You will drive through the town Hella and later Hvolsvöllur before getting up close and personal with a waterfall that originates in Eyjafjallajökull, Seljalandsfoss. This picture-perfect waterfall drops down a mountain hill that is carved underneath giving you a chance to walk behind it. It is a magical feeling to walk behind a glacier waterfall, an experience you never forget.

Right next to the Seljalandsfoss waterfall is a hidden gem, in a gorge in the same hill you can find the eerie Gljúfrabúi waterfall. Prepare to get a little wet when exploring it but it’s fully worth it!

After a short drive, you will have the chance to join a glacier hike tour. (Please note that this is an optional extra. Instructions are presented in the itinerary after purchase.) You'll meet a glacier guide for an exciting glacier hike on Sólheimajökull glacier. There is yet another experience that you will hold on to and cherish.

After your glacier adventure, you will find the powerful and marvelous waterfall Skógafoss, located at the historical Skógar. There you can hike up to the top of the waterfall but don’t do it without a stop in the middle to see the fairy-tale-like troll face that sits on the hill.  Legend says that the troll lost track of time admiring the waterfall and its beauty and as a result turned into stone. Skógar also has a fantastic museum.

The drive will to you in the direction of the village Vík but before you reach it take a right turn towards the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. This mystical and staggering volcanic sand utopia is home to divine basalt columns that stand tall and strong against the ocean's strong waves. Be careful not to go too close to the ocean as the waves are known to be intensely powerful.

Dyrhólaey cape is not far off and for many a welcomed extra stop to make. From there you can see Reynisfjara and its columns, Reynisdrangar from a whole different angle. It is a place of angelic views and is known to capture people’s hearts and souls.

The night will be spent in the village of Vík.

Today the drive takes you from Vík over the lava, moss, and sand fields towards East. The landscape is sublime and you will want to stop a few times to take it all in. Today you will be making your way to the Glacier Kingdom of Skaftafell and Vatnajökull National parks. You will drive through the town on Kirkjubæjarklaustur about an hour from Vík and onwards until you reach the National Park Skaftafell.

We recommend hiking up to the Svartifoss waterfall where you are in for a true visual treat. Fun Fact: Svartifoss was an inspiration for the Hallgrímskirkja church in Reykjavík.

Next up is a location not to be missed, the stop that you have likely been waiting for. It’s the mighty, heavenly Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon where celestial aqua blue icebergs float around and seals and arctic terns roam the area. There are no real words that can explain this vision. You simply must see the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Both Zodiac and Amphibian boat tours are available in the glacier lagoon. On the other side of the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, you have the Diamond Beach another must-visit where glistening icebergs have drifted ashore on a pitch-black sand beach and sit perfectly creating a supernaturally beautiful scene.

The night is spent at a hotel in the Klaustur, Skaftafell, Höfn area.

You’ll start off your day by visiting Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, a place even locals have a difficult time pronouncing, but everyone can agree on its insane beauty!

When visiting the Kirkjubæjarklaustur village, many like to take a picnic stop in the Eldhraun lava field and enjoy the area's uniqueness.

Near Kirkjubæjarhlaustur, you will find the lesser-known waterfalls, Stjórnarfoss and Systrafoss. You will not want to miss them. If you want to go fully local, take a swim in the swimming pools at Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Vík, Hvolsvöllur, or Hella and use the time to enjoy the pleasant drive towards Selfoss.

Today is the day of departure and its itinerary is quite up to you and dependant on your flight’s departure time. We advise you on the route to Keflavik International airport to explore the lava-covered Reykjanes peninsula it stands on and hopefully you will have time to make a stop at the distinguished Blue Lagoon. If you are looking to take a dip in the silica-filled turquoise waters remember you need to book you in advance to make sure you get a spot as it is very popular.

Other great spots to see on the Reykjanes peninsula area:

• Lake Kleifarvatn
• Seltún Geothermal Area
• Grindavík Fishing Village
• The Lighthouse Reykjanesviti
• Gunnuhver Hot Springs
• The Museum of Rock and Roll in Keflavík
• The Viking World Museum in Keflavík

When you arrive at the airport again you drop the rental car off, free from the hassle of busses or challenging luggage transfers or storing.

Have a safe trip back!