Compare Explore Iceland by G Adventures vs Iceland's hidden highlights self-drive by Audley Travel

Day 1 Reykjavik

Arrive at any time.

There is a lot to do in and around Reykjavik - should you wish to take advantage of the many optional activities, such as the Blue Lagoon thermal pools, we recommend booking a pre or post night. Hotel accommodation in Iceland is very limited and rooms/facilities can be fairly simple with few amenities. Hotels are chosen for their location and access to the wonderous landscapes and natural wonders of Iceland. Hotels are often remote, all the better to enjoy the beautiful natural setting.

During winter months (generally November through early March) the itinerary and inclusions are highly subject to change based on weather conditions and less "daylight" hours. Your CEO will go over the schedule and advise you of any alterations on a daily basis. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding that this is completely outside of G Adventures control. Please note that due to high demand there may be limited availability when booking optional activities during the tour.  Many of these can be pre-booked and we recommend that they are purchased in advance in order to secure space as they are quite popular. See the Available Extras below for details and add them in the Tour Extras section when confirming your trip.

Day 2 Reykjavik/Skaftafell

Discover the beauty of Iceland’s southern coast as we drive towards Skaftafell.Take in views of the infamous Eyjafjallajökull volcano, whose 2010 eruption sent massive clouds of ash into the atmosphere of the North Atlantic. See the stunning Seljalandsfoss waterfall, and follow a hidden path through a canyon to the secluded falls of Gljúfrabúi. Stop in Hveragerði, nicknamed the “hot spring village,” where you will have the opportunity to taste bread baked in a hot spring. Then visit the Lava Center in Hvolsvöllur for a look at how volcanoes and earthquakes have shaped the island.

Day 3 Skaftafell

Continue exploring the southern shore, driving through sandy plains and moss-covered lava fields and stopping along the way at historical and geological sites. Visit Diamond Beach, scattered with icebergs that wash up on the black sands, and see iridescent ice formations in the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon. Consider enhancing your experience by opting for the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride, or take take some time on your own to soak in the stunning scenery. Hike in Vatnajökull National Park to Svartifoss waterfall, framed by basaltic lava columns, and pause at a historic farmstead in Öræfi, home to one of Iceland’s best preserved turf churches.

Day 4 Skaftafell/Vik

Embark on a guided walk atop a glacier in Skaftafell National Park, which was incorporated into Vatnajökull National Park in 2008. Strap on a pair of crampons and get close-up views of intriguing ice formations, deep sinkholes, and rugged crevasses. Later, stroll along the black sands of Reynisfjara beach, capturing images of the towering Reynisdrangar sea stacks.

Depending on the season and nesting habits of birdlife, we may also visit Dyrhólaey Cape. As well, it is possible to see puffins at Reynisfjara beach, Dyrhólaey Cape or near Vík in the summer months (15 May - 15 August).

Day 5 Vik/Golden Circle/Selfoss

This morning, learn about Icelandic cultural heritage at the Skógar Folk Museum and visit the awe-inspiring Skógafoss waterfall, opting to climb 400-odd steps to the viewing platform for spectacular vistas. Then set out on a tour of the celebrated Golden Circle. Visit the mighty Gullfoss waterfall and stand in awe before the steaming Geysir, from which the English word “geyser” derives.

Day 6 Selfoss/Snæfellsnes

Begin the day with a walk in Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where we’ll see the meeting point of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Continue to a traditional Icelandic farm—located in the narrow fjord of Hvalfjörður—to learn about rural Icelandic life and enjoy a farm-to-table lunch. We’ll then make our way to the stunning Snæfellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland.

Thingvellir National Park is the meeting place of the two tectonic plates on which America and Europe rest. This rift is clearly visible in the huge fissures that scar the landscape surrounding the lake and lava fields.

Day 7 Snæfellsnes

Spend the day exploring the peninsula, including Snæfellsjökull National Park and its mystical glacier-topped volcano, which Jules Verne wrote about in his novel Journey to the Center of the Earth. See Búðir church, a tiny black church perched in the middle of a lava field; the Lóndrangar sea stacks; the black pebble beach at Djúpalónssandur; and the iconic peak of Kirkjufell, featured in Game of Thrones.

Day 8 Snæfellsnes/Reykjavik

Venture to Borgarfjörður, a picturesque fjord that has provided the setting for many of Iceland’s sagas. See the Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls; and step into Reykholt, the homestead of the 12th-century writer Snorri Sturluson. We’ll also visit Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot spring, whose water heats most buildings in western Iceland. In the afternoon we'll take some much-needed time to relax at Krauma Spa and Geothermal Baths before continuing on to Reykjavík for our final evening.

Day 9 Reykjavik

Depart at any time.

Day 1: Hveragerði

Accommodation: Frost & Fire Boutique Hotel

On arrival at Keflavík airport and collect your rental car. All insurances have been included for you, and a GPS navigation system can be added locally. To navigate Iceland’s more remote rugged landscape, we’ve booked a 4x4 for you. Drive to your hotel, located in the heart of the Reykjadalur valley where geothermal activity causes steam to rising atmospherically from the surrounding hills.

Day 2: Hveragerði

Accommodation: Frost & Fire Boutique Hotel

Meet your guide this morning and embark on a full-day, private superjeep tour to the Þjórsárdalur valley in Iceland’s remote southern highlands. This region is celebrated for its impressive waterfalls, including Háifoss and Gjáin, and its verdant meadows, which bloom with wildflowers during the summer. You’ll also stop at the Stöng farmhouse – one of Iceland’s few Viking archaeological sites.

Day 3: Vík

Accommodation: Hotel Vík

Drive to Landeyjahöfn where you’ll take the half-hour ferry across to the Westman Islands. Formed thousands of years ago by submarine volcanoes, the Westman Islands are scenically and culturally different from the rest of Iceland, and you’ll have the full day at leisure to explore. You might like to visit the Eldheimar Museum to learn more about the devastating impact the 1973 eruption had on the island community, or hike to the top of Eldfell volcano and take in the views across the sea of the glaciers on the Icelandic mainland.

Day 4: Vík

Accommodation: Hotel Vík

See the renowned south coast from another perspective, joining a local Icelander on a small-group quad-bike tour. Along the way, your guide will share stories of Iceland’s past, and cook a meal for you in an ancient cave that was hand-carved by Irish monks over a millennia ago.

Day 5: Hof

Accommodation: Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon

Continue your self-drive tour east towards the town of Kirkjabæjarklaustur and the vast Eldhraun lava field, which was created by a huge eruption in the 18th century and is the largest in the world. Your 4x4 will allow you to access some of the area’s more rugged roads and explore the waterfalls, canyon and lava formations of this extensive wilderness area at leisure.

Day 6: Höfn

Accommodation: Hotel Höfn

Your focus today is the vast Vatnajökull National Park, whose mammoth ice cap covers 20% of Iceland. Most visitors flock to the much-celebrated Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon; instead you’ll take a small-group, guided boat tour on its nearby sister lagoon Fjallsárlón, and watch huge chunks of ice, which have calved from the glacier above, float beside your boat.

Day 7: Fáskrúðsfjörður

Accommodation: Fosshotel Eastfjords

Your self-drive tour continues along the coast to Iceland’s spectacular Eastfjords. This region is one of the least visited in the country, and you can expect some of Iceland’s best scenic driving opportunities as you weave your way through this remote fjordland area, passing towering mountains, alpine lakes and tiny fishing communities that are scattered along the coast.

Day 8: Egilsstaðir

Accommodation: Gistihúsið — Lake Hotel Egilsstaðir

Continue your drive through the Eastfjords to the village of Borgarfjörður Eystri. Here, take a guided tour with a local, learning more about traditional folklore and the way of life for Icelanders in this remote corner of the country. If visiting between May and August, you can also visit a thriving puffin colony, whose residents come to nest on a rocky outcrop just outside the village. Spend the rest of your day at leisure, exploring the region’s wide array of hiking trails, visiting some of its museums, or simply taking in the rural scenery by car.

Day 9: Reykjavík

Accommodation options: Centerhotel Miðgarður, Hotel Borg, Icelandair Hotel Reykjavík Marina & Reykjavík Residence Hotel

Drop off your car at Egilsstaðir Airport and take a short flight west to Reykjavík. On arrival, take a taxi to your hotel, which is a short distance away in the heart of the city. You’ll have the afternoon to explore Iceland’s compact capital under your own steam; stroll through the town’s Old Harbour, browse the shops of Laugavegar, admire the architecture of the Harpa concert hall or get sweeping views from the top of Hallgrímskirkja cathedral.

Day 10: Return home

You’ll be met at your hotel this morning and transfer by private car to Keflavík International Airport in time for your flight.