South and West Iceland Northern Lights Road Trip - 7 Days

Daylight varies throughout Iceland's winter season. December and January offer 4-5 hours of daylight (approximately 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM), while February and March extend to 8-10 hours, giving you more time to explore.

On a self-drive trip with Iceland Tours, everything is pre-arranged before you arrive. Your rental car, accommodation, and any booked activities are confirmed in advance, so when you land at Keflíavík Airport you can collect your keys and get on the road without any logistics left to sort out. All you need to manage is your own time each day.

Every trip comes with a detailed day-by-day itinerary created by our Reykjavík-based travel team, giving you a clear route, suggested stops, and things to do and see at each stage. You can follow it closely or adapt it as you go. The important thing is staying within reasonable distance of your accommodation each night, which is already booked for you throughout the trip.

Every car also comes with a portable Wi-Fi device (Mi-Fi), so navigation and staying connected are both covered from day one. If anything comes up during your trip, a 24/7 emergency helpline staffed by our local Reykjavík team is available throughout your journey. You can explore our full range of Iceland self-drive tours to find the right length and route for your trip, or read more about how car rental in Iceland works before you book.

Booking at least a few weeks before your travel date gives us enough time to confirm your preferred accommodation and finalize your itinerary. We are unable to accept bookings with less than one week’s notice.

For summer travel between June and August, booking several months ahead is strongly recommended. Accommodation in rural areas fills up quickly during peak season, and popular activity add-ons like glacier walks and whale watching can sell out well in advance. Booking early also lets you lock in your preferred car type and accommodation tier before availability narrows.

You only need a 5% deposit to secure your trip, with the balance due closer to your departure date. This low-deposit model means you can confirm your plans early without a large upfront commitment. If your plans change, our cancellation policy offers up to a 95% refund up to five days before arrival, with the retained 5% converted into a long-valid travel credit you can use on a future booking. See our how to book with us page for full details.

Most international driving licenses are accepted in Iceland. You need to be at least 20 years old to rent a standard car, or 23 years old for larger vehicles like 4x4s and vans, and you must have held a valid license for at least one year. You will also need to present a credit card in the main renter’s name when collecting your vehicle.

An International Driving Permit is only required if your license is not in Latin script, for example if it is in Arabic or Chinese characters. If you are unsure whether your license qualifies, our team is happy to advise before you book.

Iceland drives on the right, with speed limits and distances in kilometers. Roundabouts are common, especially around towns, and in rural areas you may encounter single-lane bridges, gravel roads, and sheep on the road. Our detailed itinerary includes route guidance for each day, and the portable Wi-Fi device means you can use live navigation throughout the trip. For a full overview of what to expect behind the wheel, see our guide to driving in Iceland and our page on car rental in Iceland.

Yes. Every self-drive trip can be extended with additional nights in Reykjavík or elsewhere along the route. If you have a particular interest or a region you want to spend more time in, we recommend getting in touch with our travel team before you book. This way we can advise on what’s possible, flag any additional costs, and make sure your preferences are built into the booking from the start. This means a smoother process and no amendment fees down the line.

The itinerary itself provides a well-tested route and daily plan, but the self-drive format gives you genuine flexibility to adjust your pace, linger at stops you enjoy, or take side routes as conditions allow. The structure handles the logistics so the day-to-day decisions remain yours.

If you are looking at a range of itinerary lengths or want to compare what is covered across different trips, you can browse the full Iceland self-drive tour collection or get in touch with our Reykjavík-based team through the contact page to talk through your options.

Optional activities are available to add during the booking process, and you will be shown exactly what is on offer for each day of your trip at checkout. Popular additions include glacier walks, whale watching, ice cave tours, lava cave explorations, horseback riding, and geothermal spa visits.

Adding activities through Iceland Tours at the time of booking means everything is coordinated with your itinerary and accommodation in advance, rather than arranging things independently on arrival. This is particularly worth considering for activities that require guides or have limited availability, since spots can fill up during peak season.

If you would like more activities built directly into the itinerary rather than added as extras, our 10-Day Active Ring Road & Snæfellsnes Self-Drive is structured with more activity inclusions as standard. You can also read more about planning your trip on our Iceland travel guide.

Iceland drives on the right, with steering wheels on the left side of the car. Speed limits are posted in kilometers per hour. The rules of the road broadly follow European conventions, but there are a few things worth knowing before you set off.

Roundabouts are very common throughout Iceland, particularly in and around towns. Traffic already in the roundabout has right of way, and if you are in the inner lane of a multi-lane roundabout, you also have priority over vehicles in the outer lane. In rural areas, you may encounter one-lane bridges, blind hill crests, and gravel roads on some secondary routes.

During summer, sheep roam freely and often wander onto the road, so be prepared to slow down and give way when you encounter them. In East Iceland during winter, you may also encounter reindeer. Your trip comes with a portable Wi-Fi device for navigation, and our detailed itinerary notes specific things to watch for on each leg of the route.

If you are planning a winter trip, our local team monitors road and weather conditions and is reachable 24/7. For a comprehensive overview of driving conditions, road types, and seasonal considerations, see our guide to driving in Iceland.

Once you have paid your deposit, we begin finalizing your accommodation, rental car, and any booked activities. As soon as confirmation is received from all partners, we will email you to let you know your travel documents are ready to access in our booking portal.

We aim to have everything confirmed within a few weeks of receiving your booking. During busy periods this may take a little longer, but you will always receive your complete documents before your departure date. Your documents include your full day-by-day itinerary, accommodation details, rental car pickup information, and contact details for our 24/7 in-Iceland helpline.

If you have questions about your booking at any point before your trip, you can reach our Reykjavík-based team through the contact page. Iceland Tours has been organizing Iceland trips for over 40 years, and our local team is available to help with any questions about your itinerary or preparations.

Your rental car can be collected from the arrivals hall at Keflavík International Airport. Your travel documents will confirm the name of the car rental company and advise you to proceed to their service desk in the arrivals hall. Have your driver’s license and credit card in the main renter’s name ready when you arrive.

Rental car desks at Keflavík operate at different hours depending on the provider. If your flight arrives outside standard desk hours, the rental company will typically have made arrangements given your expected arrival time. Your travel documents will include a contact number if you need assistance on arrival.

Your car comes with unlimited mileage, collision damage waiver, and authorization for a second driver as standard, along with the portable Wi-Fi device included with every trip. If you are planning to spend extra days in Reykjavík before your self-drive begins, you also have the option to collect your car from the city rather than the airport. See question 9 for details.

Yes. If you prefer to pick up your rental car in Reykjavík rather than at Keflíavík Airport, simply let us know in the special requests field during checkout and we will arrange it for you.

This is a practical option if you are arriving early and want to spend time in the city before your self-drive itinerary begins. Reykjavík has a lot worth exploring, from the iconic Hallgrímskirkja church and the waterfront Harpa concert hall to the city’s well-regarded restaurant scene. Our downtown Reykjavík and Reykjavík attraction pages are a useful starting point for planning those extra days.

If you request different pick-up and drop-off locations, for example collecting in the city and returning at the airport or vice versa, a one-way fee of around ISK 7,900 (approximately EUR 60) applies. This is paid directly to the rental company when you collect the car.

Although Iceland’s weather can sometimes get in the way, it’s perfectly possible to have a safe self-drive trip in winter. The main roads are cleared regularly and there is good 4G coverage in most of the countryside if you need it.

That said, roads can sometimes close in winter if there are storms or heavy snowfall. When you book with Iceland Tours, you’ll get access to a 24/7 helpline while you’re in Iceland. Rest assured that help is at the end of the phone when you need it.

We’ll often contact you proactively if we think your trip will be affected by bad weather and adjust your plans accordingly. This means you’ll always stay safe and get the most out of your trip, no matter the weather.

When you book a self-drive package with Iceland Tours, you choose from three accommodation levels: Budget, Comfort, or Quality. All three include continental breakfast every day.

Budget accommodation is guesthouses and country hotels with shared bathrooms, a practical and affordable choice that still puts you in well-located, locally run properties.

Comfort moves to a selection of hotels, guesthouses, and country and farmhotels with private bathrooms, offering a comfortable step up in quality and facilities.

Quality represents the best available accommodation in each area from our selection. This typically means four-star hotels or superior rooms at three-star properties, though in more remote parts of Iceland, where the options are naturally more limited, it means the highest-quality property available in that location. Breakfast is included at all levels.

All accommodations are handpicked by our team and pre-booked before your trip begins. In rural Iceland, accommodation options are more limited than in the cities, which is one of the reasons booking ahead matters. Securing your places early as part of a package means you are not left searching for availability in remote areas during peak season. For travelers who prefer something closer to nature, we also offer Iceland self-drive camping tours. Read more about all accommodation options on our accommodation in Iceland page.

Every Iceland Tours self-drive package includes the following as standard: a rental car of your choice with unlimited mileage, collision damage waiver, authorization for a second driver, and a portable Wi-Fi device. Accommodation at your chosen level is booked for every night of the trip, and continental breakfast is included daily. You also receive a detailed day-by-day itinerary built by our local travel experts, along with access to a 24/7 emergency helpline staffed by our Reykjavík-based team throughout your trip. Carbon offsetting of your tour is included, and all VAT, taxes, and service fees are covered.

What is not included: international flights, fuel and parking, personal travel insurance, the Iceland Road Tax (a small charge collected at pickup), food and drink beyond breakfast, and attraction entrance fees unless otherwise stated on your specific tour page.

Iceland Tours has been organizing self-drive trips in Iceland for over 40 years and is Travelife-certified for sustainable operations. When you book a package with us rather than piecing together a trip independently, every element of the logistics is handled in advance by people who know the country well, so you can focus on the trip itself. See our accommodation page and car rental page for more detail on what is available at each level, and visit our why book with us page for a full overview of what sets Iceland Tours apart.

Iceland’s weather can change quickly regardless of the time of year, so packing for multiple conditions is the right approach even in summer. The essentials are: waterproof walking boots, waterproof trousers, thermal underlayers, fleeces or warm sweaters, a waterproof rain jacket, a warm outer jacket, and a hat, scarf, and gloves. Sunglasses are useful year-round. Swimwear is worth packing since hot springs and geothermal pools appear throughout the country, and lip balm and moisturizer will be appreciated given the wind.

For practical self-drive needs, your car comes with a portable Wi-Fi device so a phone mount for navigation is useful. A portable power bank is handy for longer days out. If you are visiting in winter, ice scrapers are typically provided with the car, but dressing in proper thermal layers for time spent outside makes a real difference.

For a full seasonal packing guide covering everything from summer hiking to winter driving, see our Iceland packing list. The Iceland in winter guide and our Iceland winter weather and packing article are also useful if you are traveling in the colder months.

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.

This Iceland 7 day winter tour is designed to showcase Iceland's most spectacular winter attractions across two of the country's most accessible regions! You'll experience the dramatic beauty of South Iceland's frozen waterfalls and glacial lagoons combined with the mystical charm of West Iceland's Snæfellsnes peninsula where Jules Verne set his famous novel "Journey to the Center of the Earth." Winter transforms Iceland into an otherworldly landscape with ice-covered waterfalls creating frozen columns and icebergs at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon taking on incredible blue hues in the crisp winter light. The tour includes the famous Golden Circle attractions plus the chance to hunt for the Northern Lights dancing across the dark winter skies. This Iceland Tours winter experience gives you seven full days to explore at a comfortable pace while roads remain well-maintained and accessible.

This Iceland 7 day winter tour provides excellent Northern Lights viewing opportunities throughout your entire week! Winter's extended darkness from September through March creates perfect conditions for aurora hunting with up to 19 hours of darkness in peak winter months. You'll stay in countryside locations away from Reykjavík's light pollution including the south coast near Vík and the Borgarfjörður region where clear skies offer unobstructed views of the night sky. The self-drive format gives you complete freedom to chase the Northern Lights whenever conditions are favorable - you can easily drive to optimal viewing spots or even step outside your accommodation when aurora activity peaks. Your Iceland Tours documentation includes information about how to check aurora forecasts yourself, allowing you to plan your Northern Lights viewing throughout your journey. The varied locations throughout your 7 day Iceland winter tour mean you'll have multiple chances to witness this incredible natural phenomenon across different landscapes.

This Iceland 7 day winter tour showcases attractions that are absolutely magical during the cold season! Frozen waterfalls like Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss create stunning ice formations and columns that you simply cannot experience in summer. Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon becomes even more dramatic in winter as icebergs appear more vivid blue against the stark landscape and Diamond Beach features ice sculptures carved by winter storms. The Geysir geothermal area provides incredible contrast as steaming hot springs meet freezing air creating impressive vapor clouds. Snæfellsjökull glacier appears more imposing covered in fresh winter snow while the Snæfellsnes peninsula's dramatic coastlines showcase powerful winter waves. During certain periods ice caves may be accessible providing unforgettable underground glacier experiences. Your winter Iceland Tours adventure captures the raw power and beauty that makes Iceland's cold season so special.

This Iceland 7 day winter tour follows carefully planned routes along Iceland's most well-maintained roads ensuring safe and manageable winter driving! The main roads connecting all your destinations including the Ring Road and major routes to the Snæfellsnes peninsula are regularly cleared by snowplows and treated for ice. Daily driving distances are designed to be comfortable typically ranging from 2-4 hours with frequent stops at attractions. Iceland Tours provides you with a reliable rental car suitable for winter conditions and unlimited Wi-Fi to check road conditions. The 24/7 emergency helpline means support is always available if weather conditions change. Road closures due to severe storms are rare on these main routes but if they occur Iceland Tours will proactively contact you to adjust your itinerary. Your winter driving experience focuses on major highways and well-maintained access roads to attractions rather than challenging mountain passes or remote highland routes.

During your Iceland 7 day winter tour you can expect typical winter conditions that make Iceland beautifully dramatic! Winter temperatures in Iceland are milder than many expect with coastal areas averaging around 0-5°C (32-41°F) rather than extremely cold conditions. You'll experience shorter daylight hours ranging from about 4 hours in deep winter to 8-10 hours in early winter and late winter providing magical golden light during the day. Snow is common especially in inland areas and higher elevations creating the perfect winter wonderland atmosphere. Wind can be significant along the coast adding to the dramatic experience of viewing winter waves and waterfalls. Weather can change quickly so you'll want to pack layers and waterproof clothing. The winter landscape transforms familiar attractions into completely different experiences with ice formations and snow-covered mountains creating incredible photographic opportunities throughout your 7 day Iceland winter adventure.

This perfectly planned winter Iceland 7 day tour maximizes your time across both regions while accounting for shorter winter days! The itinerary strategically moves you from South Iceland's glacial wonders including Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and spectacular frozen waterfalls to West Iceland's Snæfellsnes peninsula with its mystical glacier and dramatic coastlines. You'll experience the famous Golden Circle attractions during winter when geothermal features create impressive steam clouds in the cold air. The Snæfellsnes peninsula portion showcases "Iceland in miniature" with diverse landscapes from lava fields to fishing villages, like Stykkishólmur, all within a compact area perfect for winter exploration. Accommodation locations in Vík area and Borgarfjörður region provide excellent bases for Northern Lights viewing while keeping driving distances manageable during shorter winter days. This Iceland Tours winter itinerary ensures you experience the highlights of both regions without rushing despite the seasonal time constraints.

Your winter accommodations with Iceland Tours are carefully selected to provide comfort and warmth throughout your Iceland 7 day tour! You'll stay in well-positioned hotels and guesthouses that offer cozy refuges from winter weather while putting you close to major attractions. Accommodation categories vary by your selected package with Comfort and Quality levels including private bathrooms and heating systems perfect for cold nights. All accommodations include continental breakfast to fuel your winter adventures and most feature common areas where you can warm up and plan your Northern Lights viewing. Strategic locations near Vík for south coast exploration and in the Borgarfjörður region for Snæfellsnes peninsula access provide excellent bases for both sightseeing and aurora hunting. The countryside locations offer darker skies for Northern Lights viewing while still maintaining easy access to attractions and services throughout your winter Iceland Tours experience.

This Iceland 7 day winter tour provides excellent opportunities to enhance your adventure with seasonal activities that showcase Iceland's winter magic! Ice cave exploration during winter months allows you to venture inside glacier formations for an unforgettable underground experience with crystal blue ice walls and formations. Glacier hiking with crampons on accessible glaciers provides incredible perspectives of winter ice landscapes. Northern Lights photography tours can enhance your aurora viewing with professional guidance and equipment. Snowmobile tours on glacier surfaces offer thrilling winter adventures when conditions permit. Geothermal experiences like the Blue Lagoon provide perfect contrast to cold weather exploration. Horse riding on sure-footed Icelandic horses through winter landscapes creates magical memories. The self-drive format of your winter Iceland Tours package provides flexibility to arrange activities independently that match weather conditions and your interests throughout the week.

Winter transforms the south coast waterfalls into absolutely spectacular natural sculptures during your Iceland 7 day tour! Seljalandsfoss becomes partially frozen creating incredible ice curtains and formations while still maintaining its thundering power behind the falls. Skógafoss develops massive ice formations at its base where mist freezes instantly in cold air creating a winter wonderland atmosphere. The contrast between flowing water and ice formations provides incredible photographic opportunities as sunlight plays through ice crystals creating rainbow effects. Winter's low angle sunlight during shorter days casts dramatic shadows and golden light on both water and ice. The powerful sound of waterfalls becomes even more impressive in the crisp winter air while frozen spray creates unique ice sculptures that change daily. These winter waterfall experiences represent some of the most beautiful and dramatic scenes you'll encounter during your Iceland Tours winter adventure combining the raw power of Icelandic nature with the artistry of winter's ice formations.

This winter Iceland 7 day tour with Iceland Tours offers distinct advantages that create an unforgettable seasonal experience! Winter provides exclusive access to phenomena you simply cannot experience in summer including Northern Lights displays ice caves and the dramatic frozen landscape transformations that make Iceland feel like another planet. The 7-day duration allows sufficient time to experience both South and West Iceland's winter highlights while working within winter's shorter daylight hours. You'll avoid summer's crowds and experience Iceland's raw natural beauty in peaceful winter settings. The focused two-region approach means more time appreciating each location rather than rushing between distant areas in challenging winter conditions. Winter's dramatic weather and lighting create incredible photographic opportunities and atmospheric experiences impossible during other seasons. Plus winter travel often offers better accommodation availability and pricing compared to peak summer months. This Iceland Tours winter format provides the perfect balance of adventure and comfort allowing you to experience Iceland's magical cold season safely and thoroughly.