South Coast, Golden Circle & Northern Lights Road Trip - 8 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 8-day Northern Lights and South Coast self-drive tour is specifically designed for winter aurora hunting, taking you away from Reykjavík's light pollution to prime viewing locations across South and West Iceland. You'll spend nights in countryside accommodations along the south coast, Snæfellsnes peninsula, and Borgarnes area, giving you excellent opportunities to spot the Northern Lights from your hotel or by taking short drives to optimal viewing spots.

With Iceland Tours' self-drive flexibility, you can chase the aurora whenever solar activity peaks - no rigid tour schedules holding you back. The winter timing means longer darkness hours perfect for Northern Lights viewing, plus you'll experience Iceland's magical winter scenery with frozen waterfalls, snow-covered mountains, and icicle-draped landscapes that make this season truly spectacular.

Your 8-day Iceland self-drive adventure includes some of the country's most iconic waterfalls and glacial wonders. You'll visit the legendary Seljalandsfoss waterfall where you can actually walk behind the cascading water, and the powerful 60-meter Skógafoss with its dramatic mist and rainbow displays.

At Gullfoss, you'll witness Iceland's most famous "Golden Falls" where glacial waters plunge dramatically into a canyon. The tour takes you to Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier, and the spectacular Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon where enormous icebergs drift in surreal blue waters. You'll also discover the unique Hraunfossar waterfalls, where crystal-clear water seems to flow magically from beneath a lava field, and nearby Barnafoss with its rushing turquoise waters.

The Snæfellsnes peninsula, often called "Iceland in Miniature," showcases incredible diversity in a compact area during your 8-day self-drive tour. You'll explore Snæfellsjökull National Park, dominated by the mysterious Snæfellsjökull glacier that inspired Jules Verne's "Journey to the Center of the Earth."

Your Iceland Tours itinerary includes dramatic coastal formations at Arnarstapi where basalt columns meet pounding Atlantic waves, the black pebble beach of Djúpalónssandur with its scattered shipwreck remnants, and the distinctive crater Eldborg rising from surrounding lava fields. You'll drive through the charming fishing village of Stykkishólmur with its colorful houses overlooking Breiðafjörður bay, experiencing authentic Icelandic coastal culture alongside stunning natural attractions.

Winter driving in Iceland requires extra caution, but this 8-day self-drive tour follows well-maintained routes that are regularly cleared by snowplows. Iceland Tours provides detailed driving guidance and 24/7 emergency support throughout your journey, plus your rental car comes equipped for winter conditions.

The main Ring Road sections and routes to major attractions like Gullfoss, Geysir, and Jökulsárlón remain accessible during winter, though conditions can change rapidly. Your Iceland Tours itinerary allows flexibility - if weather affects specific areas, you can adjust timing or take alternative routes. Most roads on this tour are paved and well-marked, making winter navigation manageable for cautious drivers. The shorter daylight hours actually work in your favor for Northern Lights viewing opportunities.

This 8-day self-drive tour offers fantastic opportunities to experience Iceland's geothermal wonders, starting with the mighty Deildartunguhver hot spring - Iceland's most powerful in terms of water flow per second. You can witness steam dramatically rising from the earth, showcasing Iceland's volcanic energy.

Your Iceland Tours itinerary includes time in Reykjavík where you can soak in authentic Icelandic "hot pot" culture at the city's geothermal pools. For a more adventurous experience, you can visit Seljavallalaug, one of Iceland's oldest geothermal pools hidden in a scenic valley along the south coast. The contrast of warm, mineral-rich waters against winter's crisp air creates an unforgettable Icelandic experience that perfectly complements your Northern Lights hunting.

Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park represents both Iceland's democratic heritage and unique geology, making it an essential stop on your 8-day self-drive tour. This UNESCO World Heritage site is where Iceland's parliament was established in 930 AD, creating the foundation of the world's oldest existing parliament.

Geologically, Þingvellir offers the rare opportunity to walk between the North American and European tectonic plates - you can literally stand where two continents meet. The dramatic rifts, fissures, and cliffs created by tectonic activity showcase Earth's powerful forces in action. During winter, snow-covered volcanic landscapes create stunning contrasts, while the historical significance adds cultural depth to your Iceland Tours experience beyond just natural attractions.

This comprehensive 8-day Northern Lights and South Coast tour covers significantly more ground than shorter Iceland Tours packages, giving you time to explore both the famous south coast and the distinctive Snæfellsnes peninsula in West Iceland. While 5-day tours focus primarily on the Golden Circle and south coast highlights, this extended itinerary adds the magical Snæfellsnes region with its glacier, coastal villages, and diverse landscapes.

The extra days mean less rushing between attractions, more opportunities for Northern Lights viewing across different regions, and time to truly appreciate each location. You'll experience both Iceland's most famous sights and lesser-known gems like Hraunfossar waterfalls and Deildartunguhver hot springs. The 8-day duration also allows for weather flexibility - if conditions prevent visiting certain areas on scheduled days, you have buffer time to adjust your Iceland Tours itinerary.

Your 8-day Iceland Tours package includes carefully selected accommodations ranging from Reykjavík city hotels to countryside properties that enhance your Northern Lights viewing opportunities. You'll stay outside the capital in areas like Vík/Kirkjubæjarklaustur along the south coast, Borgarnes in West Iceland, and other strategic locations away from light pollution.

Countryside accommodations often feature cozy, traditional Icelandic hospitality with modern amenities, and many offer easy access to outdoor areas perfect for aurora watching. All accommodations include continental breakfast to fuel your daily adventures. Iceland Tours offers Budget, Comfort, and Quality accommodation levels, so you can choose the experience that matches your preferences and travel style while maintaining the tour's focus on optimal Northern Lights positioning.

Absolutely! This self-drive format gives you maximum flexibility to enhance your 8-day Iceland adventure with optional activities that match your interests. Popular add-ons include glacier hiking experiences, ice cave expeditions from Vík area, whale watching tours from coastal towns, and geothermal spa experiences.

Your Iceland Tours itinerary provides the perfect framework while allowing spontaneous discoveries. You might choose to spend extra time at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, take detours to hidden waterfalls, extend stops at geothermal areas, or potentially add experiences like spa visits. The self-drive nature means you can adjust timing based on weather, Northern Lights forecasts, or personal preferences. Iceland Tours' 24/7 support helps coordinate any changes while ensuring you don't miss your pre-booked accommodations.

For the best Northern Lights opportunities on this 8-day Iceland self-drive tour, plan your visit between late September and early April when darkness hours are longest. Peak aurora season typically runs from October through March, with December and January offering the most darkness but also the most challenging weather conditions.

Iceland Tours recommends booking at least a few weeks in advance to secure preferred accommodations and rental cars, especially for winter travel when availability is more limited. The tour's multi-location itinerary increases your chances of clear skies somewhere during your week-long stay. Solar activity cycles affect aurora intensity, but this 8-day duration provides multiple nights across different regions, significantly improving your odds of witnessing the spectacular Northern Lights dancing across Iceland's winter sky.