South and West Iceland in 7 Days

Seven days gives you enough time to properly cover the Snæfellsnes peninsula, the Golden Circle and the south coast without rushing between stops. Each day is built around one region, so you get a full day at Snæfellsjökull National Park and Kirkjufell, a full day on the Golden Circle with time at Friðheimar farm, and two days working east along the south coast to Jökulsárlón and back. The pacing means you spend time at each attraction rather than just stopping for photos.

The package includes 6 nights of accommodation, continental breakfast every morning, 3 dinners on days 2, 4 and 5, a private airport transfer on arrival and a shared transfer on departure, and local minibus transport with an English-speaking guide throughout. It also covers admission and a food tasting at Friðheimar farm, entry to the Lava Centre, entry to the Skógar Folk Museum, and a guided amphibian boat tour on Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. A 24/7 emergency helpline, carbon offsetting and VAT are included too. Flights, drinks, extra attraction fees and travel insurance are not.

You travel by minibus with the same English-speaking guide for all 7 days, starting and ending in Reykjavík. Each night you stay at a different hotel along the route, with 3 dinners included at the accommodation. The tour is open to travellers aged 12 and over, and a 20% deposit secures your booking.

Yes. You will be one of a small group travelling together for the week, with your own room each night. The minibus format makes it easy to get to know the rest of the group over the 7 days.

The route covers Snæfellsjökull National Park, Kirkjufell mountain, Dritvík Cove and the village of Hellnar on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, all three Golden Circle sites at Þingvellir, Gullfoss and Geysir, Friðheimar tomato farm, the south coast from Seljalandsfoss to Reynisfjara and Vík í Mýrdal, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach, Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park, and Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, Skógafoss waterfall and the Skógar Folk Museum on the way back to Reykjavík.

This tour operates during summer months, typically late May through September, when the Arctic Coast Way Iceland roads are fully accessible and in best condition. Summer provides extended daylight hours (nearly 24-hour daylight during peak season), allowing maximum flexibility for sightseeing and photography. The gravel roads along the Arctic Coast Way are well-maintained during these months, and all attractions remain open. Weather remains variable year-round in Iceland, so pack layers regardless of travel dates. Summer also coincides with wildlife viewing opportunities, wildflower blooms in remote areas, and the most reliable road conditions for exploring both the main Ring Road and the scenic Arctic Coast Way detour that makes this Iceland 10 day itinerary so special.

You’ll likely be with people from a whole mix of backgrounds, from different countries and of different ages. Your guide will entertain you with fun facts and jokes as you journey around Iceland. It’s almost guaranteed you’ll be laughing along with your group!

There will most probably be a mix of solo travelers, couples, and small groups of friends and family.

Yes, that combination is what this tour is built around. Snæfellsnes is covered on day 2, the Golden Circle and Friðheimar farm on day 3, and the south coast, including Jökulsárlón, spans days 4 and 5, with the return leg through Fjaðrárgljúfur and Skógafoss on day 6. Splitting the regions across separate days means you are not trying to fit west and south Iceland into the same long drive.

Yes. Day 5 includes a guided amphibian boat tour on Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon among the icebergs, followed by time at Diamond Beach next door, where ice from the lagoon washes up on the black sand.

Snæfellsnes packs a glacier, lava fields, fishing villages and sea cliffs into around 90 kilometres of coastline. Snæfellsjökull, the glacier-capped volcano at its tip, and Kirkjufell mountain are the peninsula's best known landmarks.

A 5-day tour typically covers the Golden Circle and the south coast as far as Jökulsárlón. This 7-day tour adds a full day on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, including Snæfellsjökull National Park and Kirkjufell, plus an extra day of exploration time along the south coast and a stop at Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon on the return journey.

No. A Ring Road tour circles the entire island over 7 days or more, including north and east Iceland. This tour stays in the south and west of the country, covering Snæfellsnes, the Golden Circle and the south coast in more depth rather than spreading the same amount of time across the whole ring.

When visiting Iceland, it pays to pack smart and be prepared. The weather is changeable and conditions are likely to be different to what you’re used to at home.

Here’s an Iceland packing list that’s good for all seasons:

• Warm, waterproof coat
• Toasty inner layers
• Hat, scarf, and gloves
• Sturdy hiking boots
• Sunglasses
• Moisturizer and lip balm

The luggage restrictions on this guided group tour are as follows:

• 1 suitcase or large bag per person for clothes and overnight items
• 1 day bag for essential items, like a camera, extra clothes, and valuables

Each day your luggage will be loaded onto the bus. In the evening, you’ll take all your bags with you to your room.

Our guided group tours have fixed start dates and itineraries. While it’s not possible to customize the actual tour, you can tailor your trip with extra days and activities before or afterwards.

For example, you could add a couple more days in Reykjavík at the end of your trip. Fill these with day tours or exciting activities like ice caving and snowmobiling.

Because guided group tours have fixed departure dates, it’s a good idea to book your vacation package before your flights. Once you’ve received the confirmation from Iceland Tours, you’re clear to book with your preferred airline.

That said, you might want to do a rough check for flights before you book your package to get a feel for what’s available.

Iceland is well connected to Europe and North America with daily direct flights to lots of major cities.

On a guided group tour, you’ll learn a lot about Icelandic history, nature, and culture from experienced tour guides. You’ll find their passion for the country infectious and gain a perspective on life in Iceland from these travel experts.

Guided group tours also mean you don’t need to worry about driving yourself on unfamiliar roads. They’re a fantastic way to explore Iceland if you want to meet like-minded travelers too.

That said, guided tours are by no means the only way to experience Iceland. If you’d prefer something more customizable, you could go for a multi-day tour by bus. Or if you want to set your own pace on a road trip, it’s hard to beat a self-drive tour.

Another option is a privately guided tour. This combines the experience of a locally guided tour with the intimacy of traveling in your own private group.

On an Iceland guided tour, you can expect to travel by bus in a small or large party. You can choose your preferred group size when you book.

Iceland small group tours are more intimate, whereas standard group tours are more wallet-friendly. The maximum number of people in a small group is 16, and 36 in a standard group.

Your driver-guide will lead the entire trip, which includes stays in the Icelandic countryside. Each day you’ll explore a new part of Iceland and enjoy commentary from your guide between stops.

As you’ll be with the same group of people throughout your trip, you’ll have the chance to socialize with fellow travelers and make friends (maybe even for life). There’s nothing like diving into Iceland’s epic nature for a bonding experience!

In general, tipping is not as commonplace in Iceland as in some other countries. While tour guides would never expect to be tipped, they would receive them gratefully.

You can start planning your Iceland adventure right on this page. Browse the guided vacation packages above until you find the one for you.

Next, check departure dates on the tour page. Guided group tours have fixed dates and durations, although you can extend your trip with extra days in Reykjavík if you like. This would be your chance to add activities, like exploring an ice cave or bathing in hot springs.

After that, simply follow the checkout instructions to complete your booking. You’ll receive a confirmation email straight away, followed by your travel documents closer to your departure date.

You can check dates on the individual tour pages. Guided tours are available in a small or large group, with separate departure dates for each.

There are weekly or fortnightly departures throughout the popular summer and winter seasons. Make sure you book in advance as spaces can sell out quick.

Carbon offsetting is already included as standard with every Iceland Tours package. We have partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to cover the carbon footprint of the tour itself, so there is nothing extra you need to do or pay.

Iceland Tours is Travelife-certified, meaning our operations are independently assessed against sustainability standards covering environmental, social, and supply chain criteria. This certification reflects a commitment to responsible travel that goes beyond carbon offsetting, including how we select local accommodation and activity partners.

Carbon offsetting for international flights to and from Iceland is not included in the tour package, but your airline may offer offset options at the time of booking, or you can arrange this through a local or national environmental fund. For more on how we approach sustainable travel, see our sustainability policy and our article on responsible and sustainable travel in Iceland.

Yes, small group tours are one of the most sustainable ways to experience Iceland. By traveling together in a single vehicle with up to 20 guests, small group tours significantly reduce per-person carbon emissions compared to individual car rentals or private tours. This shared travel approach means fewer vehicles on Iceland's roads, less fuel consumption per traveler, and a lighter environmental footprint overall. When you choose a small group tour, you're not only getting expert guidance and a social travel experience, you're also making a more responsible choice for Iceland's pristine landscapes.