Explore breathtaking sights on the Golden Circle, south coast & Snæfellsnes peninsula
Delve into Icelandic culture and discover some of the country’s most beautiful natural wonders on this winter getaway. Plus, your private guide will also take you to the best spots for chasing the Northern Lights.
Along the way, you’ll gain insider insight into the local folklore and history, thanks to your guide’s expertise. What’s more, you’ll get to travel the must-see Golden Circle route and marvel at black sand beaches and towering waterfalls on the south coast. Not to mention soaking up the otherworldly scenery on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, home to glaciers, volcanoes, and more.
On this tour you will...
Visit tumbling waterfalls like Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss
Wander black sand beaches and gaze out at troll-like sea stacks
Soak up pristine landscapes in Skaftafell
Watch icebergs bobbing on Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon in Vatnajökull National Park
See geological wonders like a gushing geyser and rift valley on the Golden Circle
Head to Kirkjufell mountain and Arnastapi village on the Snæfellsnes peninsula
Top attractions
Downtown Reykjavík
Skógafoss
Seljalandsfoss
Vík í Mýrdal
Gullfoss
Þingvellir National Park
Geysir and Strokkur
Skaftafell
Vatnajökull Glacier & National Park
Snæfellsjökull Glacier & National Park
Breiðafjörður bay
Kirkjufell
Arnarstapi
Deildartunguhver
Hraunfossar and Barnafoss
Blue Lagoon
Why book a privately guided trip with Iceland Tours?
Let your own driver take you around Iceland
Expert local guidance in English
Start your tour on the date that suits you
24/7 emergency helpline in Iceland
Secure your booking with just a 5% deposit
Handpicked local accommodation options
Your 5-day privately guided itinerary
Your memorable Icelandic adventure begins today. Your guide will meet you at your hotel and you will head off to enjoy the stunning winter scenery of the south coast of Iceland. The first two stops will be the spectacular waterfalls the Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. Take your chance to walk behind a waterfall at Seljalandsfoss. In Skógar, you could pop in for a visit at the Folk Museum (not included), where your guide will tell you more about how people in Iceland used to live centuries ago.
Your journey continues along the coast lined with black sand beaches. Later, you will go for a stroll and visit the little villages of Vík and Reynishverfi.
Highlights
Seljalandsfoss
Skógafoss
Vík í Mýrdal
Extra activities
ExtraRaufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel
Today your guide will take you east to explore one of the most popular and beautiful sights of Iceland. Look out for the breathtaking views of Skaftafell, an oasis surrounded by glaciers and black sand.
Finally, you will arrive at the spectacular Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, where enormous icebergs drift onto the water like shining diamonds. Capture some fantastic photos and marvel at the sight with a walk along the banks of the lagoon. Later, your guide will drive you back to Kirkjubæjarklaustur for a second night.
Today, you visit some of the most interesting and popular areas in Iceland, which are part of the famous Golden Circle. At the geothermal area of Geysir, the hot spring Strokkur ejects its water column high into the air every 5 to 10 minutes. There are also numerous smaller springs boiling and bubbling nearby. You will then continue with a short drive to Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls.
You’ll then journey to Lake Laugarvatn where you can have a nice thermal bath at Laugarvatn Fontana spa. It is composed of a series of interconnected baths and steam rooms that complement each other to create a healthy, natural, and unique spa experience.
The crowning jewel of the day is Thingvellir (Þingvellir) National Park. It is considered one of the geological wonders of the world where you can see the effects of the tectonic plate movements which have opened various cracks and fissures in the earth’s crust. It was here that the Icelandic parliament was founded in the 10th century.
Today is the day to explore the Snæfellsjökull National Park. Along the way your guide will drive through a stunning snow-carpeted landscape, passing by charming fishing villages and the majestic, and iconic, Kirkjufell mountain.
You will then have the chance to explore the black sand beach of Djúpalónssandur and see the basaltic columns of Gerðuberg, the cliffs of Arnarstapi, and the hamlet of Búðir with its small wooden church surrounded by a lava field.
Later, you’ll explore the northern part of the peninsula passing through Stykkishólmur, a charming fishing village overlooking the Breiðafjörður bay, before returning to Borgarnes for a second night stay.
From Borgarnes, your guide will take you to the Borgarfjörður area and visit the Deildartunguhver hot spring. It is the biggest in Iceland in terms of water production per second. You’ll also get to marvel at the photogenic Hraunfossar waterfalls, where the water flows out from beneath a lava field and into the river below.
After exploring the Borgarfjörður area, it is now time to head back to the capital where your privately guided Iceland adventure ends. If you are staying extra nights in the capital, we can help you plan some optional activities. Please contact your travel consultant for more information.
What’s included?
Comfort or Quality accommodation every night
Continental breakfast every day
Rental car of your choice for 5 days
Private driver-guide
Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi
24/7 emergency helpline when you’re in Iceland
Carbon offsetting of your tour
VAT, taxes & service fees
Flights to Iceland
Airport transfer
Accommodation in Reykjavík
Food & drink, unless otherwise stated
Attraction entrance fees, unless otherwise stated
Personal travel insurance
FAQs about our private guided trips
All of our private guided tours start in Reykjavík. Here your driver-guide will pick you up from your accommodation and you’ll hit the road.
With your enthusiastic guide leading the way, you will head out into the Icelandic countryside. As you’re immersed in the country’s incredible nature, you’ll learn from your guide about the places you’re visiting.
Once you’ve arrived at your accommodation for the night, you and your guide will say goodbye until the morning. You’ll have time to yourself to enjoy dinner and recharge before the next day’s adventure.
At the end of your tour, you’ll be dropped off back at your hotel in the capital.
Good to know: Our private tour packages do not include hotel stays in Reykjavík at the start or end of the tour, or a transfer from the airport as standard. The option to add extra nights in Reykjavík is available on the tour’s page after clicking “Find your price.” You’ll see options to select extra nights before or after the tour, and the updated price will display on the right side of the screen as you make your selections.
If you’d like us to arrange airport transfer for you, please let us know in the ‘Special requests’ box at checkout.
You’ll get to meet your guide for the first time when they collect you from your hotel in Reykjavík. Over the course of your trip, you’ll have the chance to get to know them and swap stories and jokes!
Guidance is in English as standard, although if you would like a guide that speaks a different language, please let us know in the ‘Special requests’ box at checkout.
We can’t guarantee that a guide that speaks a language other than English will be available for your selected tour dates, but we’ll do our best to honor your request.
It’s normally possible to book a guide that speaks Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch, or a Scandinavian language. Note that there may be an additional charge for a non-English-speaking guide.
In Iceland, tipping is not commonplace in restaurants, hotels, taxis, and the like.
That said, if your guide goes above and beyond to make your tour extra special, they would graciously receive a tip. Just know that it’s not expected, so it’s totally up to you.
You can customize your trip to Iceland with extra days in Reykjavík at the start or end of your trip. This is your chance to pack in day tours and activities like snowmobiling and ice caving.
If you want to customize the itinerary of your actual guided tour, contact us and we’ll be happy to help. Just so you know, there’s an extra fee for this service. See our terms and conditions for all the details.
Packages from Iceland Tours don’t include flights. We do this so that you can get a wider choice and a better price overall. When you’ve figured out roughly what your travel dates will be, you can start to look for flights online.
There are direct flights to Iceland from many cities across Europe and North America, with connections further afield also available. Major airlines such as British Airways, easyJet, Delta, and Icelandair all fly to Iceland.
On a privately-guided package with Iceland Tours, you can choose from 2 levels of accommodation:
- 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.
Our drivers are experienced guides that know Iceland inside-out. They’ve built up years of local knowledge. This means they’ll be able to add those special moments and surprises to your itinerary that you can only get by going private.
Most of our guides have had formal training and qualifications. In any case, they’ll use their know-how to add that element of delight to your private trip.
Start by browsing the vacation packages above. You can choose from both summer and winter trips.
Once you’ve picked out your perfect package, simply follow the steps on the tour page to complete your booking. At checkout, you can add more days and extra activities so you can get even more out of your trip.
You’ll then receive a confirmation by email. Closer to your time of travel, we’ll send you all the documents you need for your upcoming Iceland vacation.
All of the privately guided vacation packages featured on this page include:
- Comfort or Quality accommodation each night
- Continental breakfast every morning
- Rental vehicle of your choice (4x4 or van)
- Expert guidance in English
- 24/7 helpline while you’re in Iceland
For info about the difference between Comfort and Quality options, see our accommodation page.
Good to know: These private trips do not include transfers to and from Keflavík airport or accommodation in Reykjavík. The option to add extra nights in Reykjavík is available on the tour’s page after clicking “Find your price.” You’ll see options to select extra nights before or after the tour, and the updated price will display on the right side of the screen as you make your selections.
If you’d like us to arrange airport transfer for you, please let us know in the ‘Special requests’ box at checkout.
The different seasons offer completely different experiences in Iceland, so there’s no one best time to go.
In winter in Iceland, you can chase the Northern Lights and visit ice caves. There’s a good chance the country will be blanketed in fresh snow.
On the other hand, Icelandic summer gives you longer hours of light, so you can fit more into each day of your trip. You’ll also get warmer weather and see greener landscapes.
If you still can’t make up your mind between summer and winter, check out this blog about the best times to go to Iceland.
No matter what time of year you choose to visit, it pays to pack well so you stay warm and comfortable throughout your stay.
Here’s a suggested Iceland packing list:
- Warm, waterproof jacket
- Sturdy hiking boots
- Thermal layers
- Light raincoat
- Gloves, scarf, and hat
- Sunglasses
- Swimming gear (for hot springs and pools)
- Moisturizer and lip balm
For all the info on what conditions you can expect, check out this guide to weather in Iceland.
Iceland is stuffed to the brim with jaw-dropping natural attractions and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Take a private tour and you could:
- Watch a geyser erupt on the Golden Circle route
- Follow in the footsteps of Vikings at Þingvellir National Park
- Come up close to Vatnajökull, Iceland’s largest glacier
- Chase the Aurora Borealis under the clear winter skies
- Walk behind the powerful Seljalandsfoss waterfall
- Explore the awesome sights of Snæfellsjökull National Park
- Wind in and out of the spectacular Eastfjords
- See freshly calved icebergs drift by at Jökulsárlón
- Roam the jet-black sands of Reynisfjara beach
- Hike the picturesque trails of Skaftafell
- Savor mouth-watering cuisine at Iceland's best restaurants
You can also enhance your trip with exciting optional activities like:
- Relaxing in hot springs like the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon
- Gliding on top of a glacier on a snowmobile
- Horseback riding through moss-blanketed lava fields
- Touring natural ice caves with a guide in wintertime
- Snorkeling between the tectonic plates at Silfra
To see the available upgrade options, check out the detailed itineraries for one of the tour packages above.
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.
