Iceland

Iceland Bucket List Tour - 5 Days

Journey past lava fields, icebergs, and glacier lakes on this 4 day self guided tour of southern Iceland.

Iceland Bucket List Tour - 5 Days

Journey past lava fields, icebergs, and glacier lakes on this 4 day self guided tour of southern Iceland.

Explore the best of South Iceland on this 4 day self-drive tour combining a relaxing stay in the beautiful countryside with a day in Reykjavík. Tour the famous 'Golden Circle' and the stunning South Coast viewing waterfalls, volcanoes and glaciers along the way. Add some exciting activities such as a snowmobile trip! Available from 1 May to 30 September.

OVERVIEW:
  • Type: Self-Drive Tour
  • Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
  • Areas: Reykjavik area, Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Golden Circle, South Iceland
  • Seasons: May - Sept
BRIEF ITINERARY:

Arrival day | Reykjavík (can be day 1 if you arrive early)

Day 1: Drive from Reykjavik to Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Day 2: Snæfellsnes to the Golden Circle.

Day 3: Golden Circle.

Day 4: Drive along the South Coast.

Day 5: Glacier Activities & Return to Reykjavik.

HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Visit the famous Blue Lagoon
  • Tour the impressive 'Golden Circle' attractions
  • Snæfellsnes Peninsula's dramatic landscapes
  • See waterfalls, pretty villages and vast black sands along the beautiful South Coast
  • Admire the glacial landscapes of the Southeast
  • Visit top sites in the south: Black beach, Diamond beach, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Plane wreck beach
  • Enjoy Reykjavík‘s vibrant cultural scene and energetic nightlife
No items found.
No items found.

Trip ITINERARY

Day 1: Drive from Reykjavik to Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Leave Reykjavik and head north to explore the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. This is one of the most stunning regions of Iceland. You can soak in natural hot springs, walk through an old lava flow along the coast, hike to hidden waterfalls, and visit small fishing villages with some of the freshest seafood in Iceland.  The gorgeous Snæfellsjokull volcano and glacier dominate the peninsula, creating a dramatic backdrop everywhere you go. This is the same volcano that Jules Verne wrote about in Journey to the Center of the Earth!

(Approx. 3 hours driving).

Day 2: Snæfellsnes to the Golden Circle

In the morning you can explore more of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula where you can choose to descend into a lava tube, hike to an incredible ravine and/or an extinct volcano, or watch seals play in the surf on a beach! You then drive to the Golden Circle (one of the most popular areas in Iceland, and for good reason) where you spend the next two nights.

(Approx. 3 hours driving).

Day 3: Golden Circle

Today you will visit Iceland’s most popular sights on the Golden Circle. Visit the magnificent Gullfoss waterfall, one of the largest in Iceland, as well as Geysir where Iceland's most active geyser is located (it erupts every 5-10 minutes!). The third attraction on the Golden Circle is Thingvellir National Park, where Iceland's parliament (and the world's first parliament) was founded over 1,000 years ago. This is also where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are drifting apart, an incredible phenomena that you can only witness in Iceland! You can choose to partake in additional activities such as relaxing at a geothermal spa, snorkeling, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, hiking to a hot spring river, or snowmobiling on a glacier. Since this is your custom trip, you can choose to do whatever you want and we will include it in your itinerary!

(Approx. 2 hours driving)

Day 4: Drive along the South Coast

Today you’ll leave the Golden Circle to drive along the southern coast of Iceland. You’ll visit the famous Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, as well as the black sand beach at Vik. If you’re visiting in the summer, you have a very good chance of seeing puffins!  You can also stop for a short walk to an incredible canyon or imposing sea cliffs, visit a geothermal swimming pool tucked away in a valley, visit a museum highlighting Iceland’s history and culture (including several turf roof buildings), or walk to the ruins of a plane crash on a beach. While driving, you will have views of some of Iceland’s famous volcanoes (including Hekla, Katla, and Eyjafjallajökull).

(Approx. 4-5 hours driving)

Day 5: Glacier Activities & Return to Reykjavik

Today you will visit the beautiful Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Get up close to blue icebergs that are drifting off to sea after breaking off from the glacier in the distance, which is part of Vatnajökull- Europe’s largest glacier. This area is ideal for joining an awe-inspiring glacial activity. You can get close to the icebergs on a kayak or zodiac tour (summer trips), or you can explore ice caves underneath the glacier (winter trips), and/or go glacier hiking or ice climbing (all year)!. These are once in a lifetime experiences that you can only have in a handful of places in the world, and Iceland is one of the best! You then return to Reykjavik, stopping on the way to visit any of the sights you may have missed the day before. You can finish your tour with dinner at an “earth cooking” restaurant where your food is cooked using the steam from the earth- the perfect ending to an incredible trip!

(Approx. 5 hours driving)

Additional Trip Info

  • Accommodation for 4 nights in the countryside, with shared or private bathrooms (some may include breakfast)
  • Rental car for 5 days, with unlimited mileage and CDW insurance
  • Pick up/Drop off fee for the rental car at Keflavík International Airport
  • Personalized digital map of your tour.
  • Customized itinerary suggestions
  • Taxes and service fee

  • Travel Insurance - We recommend  World Nomads, or Global Rescue
  • Airfare
  • Fuel/gasoline
  • Meals
  • Excursions/activities (suggestions will be provided for both free and paid activities based on your selected trip, and we will make reservations for you)
  • Car extras (such as additional driver fee, additional insurance, etc.)
  • Any other item not mentioned above under “Includes”

Have Questions?

Interested in building a custom trip? We want to help you travel to places you have dreamt about.

Build a Custom Trip