Snæfellsnes & Blue Lagoon Northern Lights Road Trip - 8 Days

Absolutely! The ice cave experience is actually at its best during winter months when the caves are most stable and accessible. You'll be equipped with professional-grade helmets and crampons, and our local guides know these caves like the back of their hand. The natural ice formations are stunning this time of year – think crystal blue walls and otherworldly formations you can't see any other season. Just wear warm, waterproof clothing and you're good to go. The whole experience lasts about 3 hours, so you'll have plenty of time to soak it all in without getting too chilly.

Day 7 at the Blue Lagoon is perfectly timed – you'll have spent 6 days exploring Iceland's wild winter landscapes, and now you get to soak those adventure-weary muscles in geothermal bliss! After days of ice caves, glacier hikes, and chilly waterfall visits, slipping into those milky blue waters at 38°C (100°F) feels absolutely incredible. It's like nature's own spa day. Plus, by day 7, you'll have tons of amazing stories to reflect on while you're floating in the mineral-rich waters. The Blue Lagoon's silica mud masks and in-water bar make it feel like the ultimate reward for completing your epic Iceland winter adventure.

Iceland's winter weather can be unpredictable, but that's part of the adventure! You've got total flexibility with this self-drive tour. If route 1 (the Ring Road) closes due to storms, you can hang tight in your accommodation, explore the local area on foot, or check out indoor attractions nearby. Most road closures are temporary – usually 12-24 hours max. Your itinerary has built-in flexibility, so you can easily adjust your schedule. Plus, some of the most magical moments happen during winter storms – imagine watching the snow fall while you're cozy in a local café with a hot chocolate.

The ice caves you'll visit are the real deal – the famous natural glacier caves that make Iceland so Instagram-worthy! However, keep in mind that ice caves are living, breathing formations that change throughout the winter season. The cave you visit might look different from photos taken earlier or later in the season, and that's what makes each visit unique. Your local guide will take you to the most spectacular accessible cave on your tour day. Some years it's the Crystal Cave, other years it might be a newly discovered formation. You're guaranteed an otherworldly experience either way!

The drive to Jökulsárlón is totally doable – it's about 4.5 hours (370 km/230 mi) from Reykjavík along route 1, which is Iceland's best-maintained road. Winter driving here is slower but not scary if you take your time. The route is mostly flat coastal driving with incredible views of glaciers and black sand beaches along the way. Your rental car comes with winter tires, and you'll have 24/7 roadside assistance. The key is leaving early (like 8:00 a.m.) to give yourself plenty of daylight. Once you see those massive icebergs floating in the lagoon against the black sand, you'll know the drive was worth every minute.

Your chances are pretty awesome with 8 nights in Iceland during winter! From late September through March, Iceland gets up to 19 hours of darkness – perfect Northern Lights hunting time. You'll be staying outside Reykjavík most nights, away from light pollution, which gives you even better odds. The key is checking the aurora forecast (there are great apps for this) and being ready to step outside when conditions look good. Even if it's cloudy some nights, 8 days gives you multiple opportunities. And honestly? Even without the Northern Lights, Iceland's winter night sky is pretty spectacular.

While the core 8-day route and accommodations are set (which is great for securing those hard-to-get winter bookings!), you've got plenty of ways to make this tour your own. Want to extend your stay? You can totally add extra days in Reykjavík before or after the tour to explore the capital's foodie scene, museums, or cozy cafés. Plus, most days offer optional activities you can add on – think helicopter tours, snowmobile adventures, or extra glacier hikes. The scheduled accommodations and main stops give you that peace of mind, but you're still in control of how deep you want to dive into each experience. It's like having the best of both worlds – structure when you need it, freedom when you want it.

Gullfoss is magical any time of day during winter, but if you want those perfect photos, aim for late morning to early afternoon (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) when you'll get the best light. The waterfall often has incredible ice formations in winter – sometimes it's partially frozen, creating these massive ice sculptures that'll blow your mind. The viewing platforms can be icy, so wear good grip shoes or the crampons provided. Pro tip: the mist from the waterfall can freeze on your camera lens, so keep a lens cloth handy and maybe bring a plastic bag to protect your gear.

Eight days is actually the sweet spot for this combo! You'll have plenty of time to experience the ice cave adventure without rushing, plus explore the south coast's greatest hits – Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, Reynisfjara black sand beach, and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. The beauty of self-drive is you can linger at spots that wow you and breeze through areas that don't grab you as much. Most people find 8 days gives them that perfect balance of adventure and relaxation, with enough time for spontaneous stops and cozy evenings in charming Icelandic accommodations.

The ice cave gear is provided (helmet, crampons, flashlight), but you'll want to dress smart for the experience. Think layers – thermal underwear, warm mid-layer, and a waterproof outer shell. Waterproof gloves are crucial since you'll be touching ice walls for photos. Wear sturdy hiking boots (the crampons fit over them) and warm wool socks. Don't forget a buff or warm hat that fits under the helmet, and maybe hand warmers for extra toastiness. Your phone battery drains fast in cold, so bring a portable charger. The ice cave stays around 0°C (32°F) year-round, so you won't be freezing, but you'll definitely want to stay warm and dry.

On a self-drive trip with Iceland Tours, you’ll be at the wheel of the rental car of your choice and free to go pretty much where you want, whenever you want.

We provide a detailed itinerary to help you plan your route and where you want to stop along the way. But it’s up to you whether you want to stick to it or go your own way. If you do take detours, make sure that you aren’t too far from your accommodation on any given night.

That said, it’s a good idea to stick to the suggested itinerary if you’ve never visited Iceland before. Created by our Reykjavík-based travel experts, it contains plenty of things for you to and see and do on each leg of your trip. One thing’s for sure: you won’t be short on ideas!

You also get unlimited in-car Wi-Fi, so you can stay connected and use maps on your phone for navigation.

It’s best to book your trip at least a few weeks before you travel. This gives us enough time to organize your preferred accommodation and itinerary. For this reason, we’re unable to accept bookings with less than 1 week’s notice.

In the summer, which is the most popular time of year, booking a few months ahead is a good idea. In certain parts of the countryside, accommodation options are more limited and can be booked up well ahead of your trip.

You have to be at least 20 years old to rent a car in Iceland, or 23 years old for larger vehicles like jeeps and vans. You’ll need to have held a valid driver’s license for at least 1 year and present a credit card when you collect your car.

You don’t need an International Driving Permit unless your license is not in Latin script (for example, Arabic or Chinese).

Find out more about car rental in Iceland.

Yes! It’s possible to add extra activities or extend your trip with additional nights in Reykjavík or the countryside. Check the itinerary above to see what activities are available on what day.

Of course you can add extra adventures! We want you to be able to get the absolute most out of your trip to Iceland, so you can pick optional extra activities at checkout. You’ll be shown exactly what’s on offer for each day of your trip.

And if you feel like you just don’t have enough time to fit it all in, you can also add extra days.

The rules of the road in Iceland are similar to most other countries, although there are some local quirks that you might not be familiar with.

Iceland drives on the right and steering wheels are on the left side of the car. Distances and speed limits are given in kilometers only.

Roundabouts are very common in Iceland, especially in towns. If you’re not familiar with these, make sure you understand how to give way (yield) to other traffic.

In the countryside, you might encounter sheep on the road, or even reindeer in East Iceland. You may also come across gravel roads, single-lane bridges, and blind summits.

For all the info on how to handle these, see this guide to driving in Iceland.

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.

Once you’ve paid your deposit for your trip, we’ll finalize bookings for your accommodation, rental car, and any activities. As soon as we receive confirmation of everything, we’ll email your travel documents to you.

We aim to finalize everything within a few weeks of receiving your booking request, but in busy periods this might take longer. That said, you’ll always receive all of your documents before your departure date.

You’ll be able to pick up your rental car at Keflavík International Airport from the arrivals hall. Before your trip, we’ll send you information about where to go in the terminal to collect your keys.

Make sure you have your driver’s license and credit card ready when you collect your vehicle.

If you land late at night, you can use the out-of-hours phone at the pick-up desk to contact someone who will be able to help you.

You also have the option to collect your rental car in Reykjavík, if you’re planning to spend some extra days in the city before your trip starts. If you’d like to do this, please let us know in the ‘Special requests’ box at checkout.

Yes, you can easily collect your rental car from Reykjavík instead of Keflavik Airport.

During the booking steps on our website, just let us know you'd prefer your pick-up/drop-off location to be in the city centre. We'll take care of it for you, no problem.

Just a quick heads-up: if you request different pick-up and drop-off locations (e.g. collect from the airport, drop off in the city, or vice versa) there's a one-way fee of around ISK 7.900 ISK (EUR 60). You'll pay this directly to the rental company when you pick up the car.

All of our self-drive tour packages include the following as standard:

• Rental car of your choice, with unlimited mileage
• Basic liability insurance coverage
• Collision damage waiver
• Authorization for second driver
• Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi
• Accommodation level of your choice
• Breakfast every day
• Detailed itinerary crafted by local travel experts
• 24/7 helpline in Iceland, just in case you need it

When you book your vacation on our website, you’ll be able to choose your preferred rental car and accommodation level.

You can see what vehicles are available on this car rental page.

On a self-drive package with Iceland Tours, you can choose from 3 levels of accommodation:

• Budget – Guesthouses and country hotels, with shared bathrooms
• Comfort – Hotels or guesthouses of around 3 stars, with private bathrooms
• Quality – Hotels or guesthouses of around 4 stars, with private bathrooms

Each accommodation level offers different types of rooms. We’ve described them below to help you choose the best one for you. Just keep in mind that not every hotel has all these room types available.

• Single room: one single bed in a room, perfect for solo travelers.
• Double room: a full-sized double bed for 2 people.
• Twin room: a room with 2 single beds that fit 1 person each.
• Triple room: these vary in size and layout, but are designed to fit 3 adults. Triple rooms feature a combination of double, single or sofa beds, depending on the hotel.

No matter which accommodation level you pick, breakfast is included. Read more about the differences between the levels on this accommodation page.

Feel like getting closer to nature? Check out these self-drive camping tours.

In Iceland, you can expect all weathers no matter what time of year you visit. With that in mind, it’s good to make sure you’ve got everything you need to stay cozy, warm, and dry.

Here’s a packing list to help you get ready for your trip:

• Tough, waterproof walking boots
• Thermal underlayers
• Sweaters or fleeces
• Waterproof raincoat
• Warm winter jacket
• Scarf, hat, and gloves
• Sunglasses
• Swimwear (for pools and hot springs)
• Lip salve and moisturizer

For more tips on what to bring with you, see this Iceland packing list.

No worries! Iceland Tours is already offsetting the carbon footprint of your tour package. We've teamed up with an environmental fund in Iceland to cover the carbon offset for all our tours.

Carbon offsetting for international flights is not included, but we suggest checking with your airline or through a local environmental fund for options.