Discounted prices

Iceland South Shore & Glacier Winter Adventure

Discounted prices
5 days / 4 nights
The Gullfoss waterfall in wintertime
Northern Lights glowing above icebergs on the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon
The Gullfoss waterfall in wintertime

Waterfalls, glaciers, and black sand beaches abound

Experience Iceland’s winter highlights on this 5-day tour of the country’s south. Kick things off by visiting two spectacular waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. At this time of year, they may well be frozen solid!

Carry on along the coast, taking in the incredible wintertime scenery. Look out for Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier. Then you’ll arrive at Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, where you can see icebergs being born. Finally, head back westwards and see the classic Golden Circle, which includes the Geysir geyser, Gullfoss waterfall, and Þingvellir National Park.

Travel styleSelf-drive
Trip length5 days / 4 nights
VibeShort & sweet
SeasonWinter
(1 Oct–31 Mar)
TransportRental car
Starts fromReykjavík
Tour codeSD16

On this tour you will...

  • Get up close to glistening glaciers and icebergs

  • Complete the classic Golden Circle touring route

  • Experience the majesty of powerful waterfalls

  • Spend time in small villages and country towns

  • Have the chance to unwind in geothermal pools

  • Get behind the wheel and set your own pace

Top attractions

A rainbow over the Skógafoss waterfall on a sunny day

Skógafoss

The Seljalandsfoss waterfall covered in icicles

Seljalandsfoss

The edge of the Vatnajökull glacier

Vatnajökull Glacier & National Park

Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon at sunrise with a pink sky

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Mountains in the Skaftafell Nature Reserve on a cloudy day

Skaftafell Nature Reserve

Vik Church with Reynisdrangar sea stacks in the distance

Vík í Mýrdal

The Gullfoss waterfall in summertime

Gullfoss

The Strokkur geyser erupting in winter against a sunset

Geysir and Strokkur

Þingvellir National Park, Iceland, in autumn colors

Þingvellir National Park

The Tjörnin pond in Reykjavík in summer

Downtown Reykjavík

Why book a self-drive trip with Iceland Tours?

  • Start your tour on the date that suits you

  • 24/7 emergency helpline in Iceland

  • Secure your booking with just a 5% deposit

  • New rental cars with 2 drivers as standard

  • Handpicked local accommodation options

  • Best Price Guarantee

Your 5-day self-drive itinerary

Your 5-day self-drive itinerary
Staying inReykjavík
Driving distance50 km (31 mi)

Your memorable adventure in Iceland begins the very moment you arrive at Keflavík Airport. Once you have picked up your rental vehicle, you’ll head directly for Reykjavík and your exciting, first night in “the land of fire and ice.”

Highlights

The Tjörnin pond in Reykjavík in summer

Downtown Reykjavík

Extra activities

Riders on FlyOver Iceland above a virtual waterfallExtra

FlyOver Iceland

The Sky Lagoon at sunsetExtra

Sky Lagoon Pure Pass

Staying inVík /Kirkjubæjarklaustur area
Driving distance260 km (162 mi)

Enjoy the scenery of the south coast of Iceland. On the way you will pass two spectacular waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss – two stops you must not miss. You can walk behind Seljalandsfoss and at Skógar you will find a folk museum showing how people lived in past centuries in Iceland. The black sand beaches of the south coast are famous and you can take a walk on them in the little village of Vík or in Reynishverfi. You can go swimming in one of Iceland’s oldest swimming pool, the Seljavallarlaug, a naturally-heated thermal pool located in a beautiful hidden valley.

Staying inVík /Kirkjubæjarklaustur area
Driving distance250 km (155 mi)

Today you will visit one of the most popular and beautiful sights of Iceland. Enjoy the breathtaking sights of the Skaftafell Nature Reserve, an oasis surrounded by glaciers and black sand with many hiking possibilities, and visit the spectacular Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. Enormous icebergs drift in the lagoon while you can walk along the banks and admire the fantastically-shaped icebergs. Drive back to Vík/Kirkjubæjarklaustur area for a second night.

Staying inReykjavík
Driving distance390 km (242 mi)

Continue westbound to the south coast of Iceland and explore the Golden Circle, which takes you to the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland: Gullfoss, Geysir and Thingvellir (Þingvellir) National Park. On your way back to Reykjavík you will pass the magnificent waterfalls, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss.
Your day will end in Reykjavík where you will spend your last night in Iceland.

Driving distance50 km (31 mi)

It seems as if your journey to fabulous Iceland only began a moment ago, but now it is time to head back home, driving back to Keflavík Airport for your flight. Depending on your flight’s departure time, you may be able to squeeze in a last day in Reykjavík or an extra night in there to experience all the amazing things that the city has to offer.

What’s included?

Detailed itinerary

Budget, Comfort, or Quality accommodation every night

Continental breakfast every day

Rental car of your choice for 4 days

2 authorized drivers as standard

Unlimited mileage

Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi

Collision damage waiver

24/7 emergency helpline when you’re in Iceland

VAT, taxes & service fees

Flights to Iceland

Fuel & parking charges

Food & drink, unless otherwise stated

Attraction entrance fees, unless otherwise stated

Personal travel insurance

Special offer
Best price

Adults

Ages 12+

2

Children

Ages 2-11

0

Infants

Ages 0-1

0

FAQs about our self-drive trips

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.

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.

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.

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.

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