The top hits of Icelandic nature mixed with city life
Experience the south coast on this 5-day Iceland winter self-drive tour. See where North America and Europe meet at Þingvellir National Park. Marvel at the Strokkur geyser, which erupts every few minutes.
And get your fill of striking waterfalls, including the incredible Gullfoss, Skógafoss, and Seljalandsfoss. That last one you can even walk behind!
Of course, because it’s wintertime, you also have the chance to chase the Northern Lights. This incredible natural light show can often be seen on clear winter nights.
On this tour you will...
See the Strokkur geyser shoot water into the air
Experience 3 of the most popular waterfalls
Walk the sands of Reynisfjara black sand beach
Spend a full day exploring Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital
Stay overnight in the countryside and the city
Have the chance to bathe in geothermal pools
Top attractions
Why book a self-drive trip with Iceland Tours?
Start your tour on the date that suits you
New rental cars with 2 drivers as standard
24/7 emergency helpline in Iceland
Handpicked local accommodation options
Secure your booking with just a 5% deposit
Best Price Guarantee
Your 5-day self-drive itinerary
Your memorable, Iceland adventure begins the very moment you arrive at Keflavík Airport. Once you pick up your rental vehicle, you’ll head directly for Reykjavík and your exciting, first night in Iceland.
Highlights
Extra activities
You can start by a drive to Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site and 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. You continue to the famous Geysir area where the Strokkur hot spring ejects its water column high into the air every 5–10 minutes and where numerous small springs are boil and bubble. Afterwards you only have a short drive to reach Gullfoss, surely one of the country’s most beautiful waterfalls. Drive back in direction to Selfoss area for an overnight stay.
Today you will spend the day along the south coast. You will pass two spectacular waterfalls, the Seljalandsfoss waterfall which you can walk behind and Skógafoss waterfall. At Skógar, you will find a folk museum showing how people lived in the past 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 Reynisfjara. Drive back to Selfoss for a second night.
Drive back to Reykjavík through Hveragerði. Take some time to explore Iceland’s capital, with its cool cafés and restaurants, interesting shops, and captivating museums and galleries. And why not relax and unwind in a “hot pot” at one of the city’s many pools? This is a great way to experience authentic Icelandic culture.
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 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 in-car Wi-Fi
Unlimited mileage
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
Customer reviews
Read what real customers had to say about Iceland South Shore Winter Adventure.
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.