7D6N WINTER WONDERS AND DELICIOUS DETOURS - SELF DRIVE
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
Day 1: Arrival
Approximate distance: ca50km / 30miles
Arrival in Iceland – The world’s Northernmost Capital City
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.
Please note: check-in for most hotels begins at 14:00 – 16:00 (2:00pm-4:00pm)
Overnight in Reykjavik.
Day 2: Gullfoss, Geysir and the South Coast
Approximate distance: ca299km / 196miles
Thundering waterfalls – Bubbling geysers – Sea Cliffs & Stone Arches – Black sand beaches of the South Shore
Breakfast at your hotel. 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 are, highlights of Iceland’s famous Golden Circle. 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. You’ll pass by many charming farms, some with their own on-site geothermal greenhouses.
Overnight in the Vik area.
Day 3: Skaftafell – Jokulsarlon – Vik
Approximate distance: ca395km / 245miles
Vatnajokull National Park – Glacial Lagoon with Icebergs – Europe's Largest Glacier
Breakfast at your hotel. 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.
Return again to your overnight in the Vik area.
Day 4: Thingvellir – Borgarfjordur
Approximate distance: ca325km / 202miles
National Park of Geological Wonders (UNESCO) – Europe's Most Powerful Hot Spring
Breakfast at your hotel. 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 Borgarfjordur fjord and 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. The landscape around the spa is peaceful and beautiful.
Overnight in Borgarfjordur area.
Day 5: Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Approximate distance: ca330km / 205miles
Sea Cliffs – Rock Formations – Quaint Fishing Villages
Breakfast at your hotel. 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 different types of landscapes in one area. A visit here will be a feast for your eyes and for your camera! 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 take a look at Kirkjufjall, the most photographed mountain in the country.
Overnight in Borgarnes area.
Day 6: Reykjanes Peninsula – Reykjavik
Approximate distance: ca189km / 117miles
Volcanic Landscapes – Bubbling Mud Pools – Active Fishing Community – Geothermal Spa
Breakfast at your hotel. 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 a huge 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.
Day 7: Departure from Iceland
Approximate distance: ca50km / 30miles
Return to Keflavik International Airport. **
Breakfast at your hotel. Drive back to Keflavik International Airport. ** We recommend departing your hotel in Reykjavik no later than at least 3 hours before your flight departure. It takes approximately 1 hour to drive to the airport, and check-in will start 2 hours before your departure.
If you did not visit the Blue Lagoon earlier but have some free time today, you might want to use the opportunity en route to the airport. For this detour, please be sure to allow for at least 2-2,5 hours extra so you’ll have ample time at the lagoon. Your rental car should be returned to the airport service area, which is located only 2 minutes from the airport building. A shuttle will then transport you to the departure hall.
**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 FlyBus departure transfer.
Please note: The northern lights are a natural phenomenon and therefore sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Included:
Accommodation in a standard room for 6 nights
Breakfast (except arrival day)
Rental car for 6 days with unlimited mileage, CDW, theft protection and VAT**
FREE GPS system and no charges for an additional driver
Car pick up/drop off at Keflavik International Airport
Tablet with the Iceland Travel Companion App. The app includes:
Your hotel bookings with check-in and check-out dates.
A map view of your entire trip.
Thousands of points of interest with descriptions clearly displayed on your map. The points of interest can be customized to suit your interests and individual route.
Book day tours or activities directly into the app
GPS Road Guide in several different languages, safety guidelines and the apps of the Icelandic Meteorological Office and The Icelandic Road Administration, emergency numbers and more.
Detailed Travel Booklet – Electronic version in English, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and French
Customer care service during office hours
24-hour Iceland Travel emergency line assistance while you are in Iceland
Service fee and taxes
Not included:
Breakfast on arrival day
International airfare
Personal travel insurance (highly recommended)
Petrol/Gasoline
Tolls (tunnels, roads and other route tolls), unless specified. More information here.
Admissions and activities other than those noted in itinerary
Beverages, snacks, lunches, dinners unless otherwise noted in itinerary
Guaranteed early check-in (check-in time for most hotels in Iceland starts 14:00 (2:00pm) – 16:00 (4:00pm)
Guaranteed late check-out
Any service not specifically listed under "included"