South Iceland Whistlestop with Highlands

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6 days / 5 nights
A man standing in front of mountains at Landmannalaugar
Seljalandsfoss waterfall in Iceland from above
Water coming out of colorful rocks at Deildartunguhver hot spring
Icebergs in Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Reykjavík skyline with mountains in the background, Iceland
View over Þingvellir National Park
Reykjavík skyline with mountains in the background, Iceland
View over Þingvellir National Park
A man standing in front of mountains at Landmannalaugar
Seljalandsfoss waterfall in Iceland from above
Water coming out of colorful rocks at Deildartunguhver hot spring

See the Golden Circle, south coast, and rugged highlands

Combine time exploring must-see sights with a journey into the country’s remote volcanic heart. On this trip, you could be luxuriating in a hot spring at Landmannalaugar one day and visiting a glacier lagoon the next.

Begin your tour in the Icelandic capital, Reykjavík. But it won’t be long until you’re gazing out at unforgettable scenes. Driving through Iceland’s highlands is a proper adventure with river crossings and roads over lava fields. You’ll also have time to see ‘cool’ spots along the south coast. Think vast glaciers and iceberg-strewn beaches. And of course, let’s not forget the famous Golden Circle.

Travel styleSelf-drive
Trip length6 days / 5 nights
VibeAdventure
SeasonSummer
(25 Jun–31 Aug)
TransportRental car
Starts fromReykjavík
Tour codeSD20

On this tour you will...

  • Journey into the remote highlands, where volcanic craters and colorful mountains await

  • See active geysers shooting water into the sky on the Golden Circle

  • Glimpse stunning waterfalls, such as Gullfoss, Skógafoss, and Seljalandsfoss

  • Delve into Viking history and see geological wonders in Þingvellir National Park

  • Soak up the sights in Reykjavík, and make the most of the top-notch food scene

  • Visit Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and marvel at the country’s largest ice cap

Top attractions

A man standing in front of mountains at Landmannalaugar

Landmannalaugar

Þingvellir National Park, Iceland, in autumn colors

Þingvellir National Park

Skaftafellsjökull glacier in Vatnajökull National Park

Skaftafell

The Gullfoss waterfall in summertime

Gullfoss

The Strokkur geyser erupting in winter against a sunset

Geysir and Strokkur

The edge of the Vatnajökull glacier

Vatnajökull Glacier & National Park

Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon at sunrise with a pink sky

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Vik Church with Reynisdrangar sea stacks in the distance

Vík í Mýrdal

A rainbow over the Skógafoss waterfall on a sunny day

Skógafoss

The Seljalandsfoss waterfall covered in icicles

Seljalandsfoss

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 6-day self-drive itinerary

Your 6-day self-drive itinerary
Staying inReykjavík
Driving distance50 km (31 mi)

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 “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 Saman Pass

An Atlantic puffin perched on a cliff in IcelandExtra

Puffin Watching

whale breaching in front of orange and yellow sunsetExtra

Classic Whale Watching from Reykjavík

Close up of a hand holding a hot dogExtra

The Reykjavík Food Walk

Group on a horse riding tourExtra

Horse Riding from Reykjavík

A group of people being lowered into a lava cave © Inside the VolcanoExtra

Inside the Volcano tour from Bláfjöll

Staying inLaugarvatn/ Geysir area
Driving distance285 km (177 mi)

Today you will see some of the most famous sights in Iceland. You will start by exploring Borgarnes region. You can make a stop at Deildartunguhver hot spring (the biggest in Iceland in terms of water production per second), Reykholt where the famous medieval writer Snorri Sturluson lived and the Hraunfossar waterfalls where the water flows out from beneath a lava field into the river below. The Barnafoss waterfall is just a short walk away from Hraunfossar.

From there you continue your journey along the Kaldidalur highland road until you reach Þingvellir National Park, consider a geological wonder of the world. This is a highly interesting area both from the geological and the historical point of view. At Þingvellir you can see the effects of the tectonic plate movements which have opened various cracks and fissures in the earth’s crust, and it was here that the Icelandic Parliament was founded in the 10th century. 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 boil and bubble. Afterwards you only have a short drive to reach Gullfoss, surely one of the country’s most beautiful waterfalls.

Staying inVík / Kirkjubæjarklaustur area
Driving distance315 km (196 mi)

From Geysir you drive to Landmannalaugar, a highlight of every trip to Iceland an unforgettable journey over lava fields and moon- like landscape. To reach this colourful rhyolite mountains of Landmannlaugar you will be crossing rivers and passing over mountain passes.

Here you can walk between colourful mountains, black obsidian lava and hot springs. Get comprehensive information about all hiking tracks in the mountain hut. Some of the hot springs are located at the bottom of a river, creating a wonderful temperature for a relaxing bath! Afterwards you continue your journey over lava fields and a moon-like landscape along the highland road “behind the mountains” to the South Coast.

Staying inVík / Kirkjubæjarklaustur area
Driving distance330 km (205 mi)

Your next stop is Iceland’s scenic southeast. After passing various, outlet glaciers belonging to Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice cap, you’ll arrive at the stunningly surreal beauty of Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon. This exceptional sight sits at the foot of Iceland’s highest mountain, Hvannadalshnúkur. Skaftafell is another area definitely worth a visit. This oasis, surrounded by glaciers and black sand plains, offers a broad range of options for great hiking. Continue through Kirkjubæjarklaustur village, the Eldhraun lava field and the Mýrdalssandur plain, before you arrive in the Vík area.

Staying inReykjavík
Driving distance270 km (168 mi)

Today you will spend the day along the south coast of Iceland. Drive through the black sands of Mýrdalur before arriving to the village of Vík. A walk is recommended on the huge black sand beach and discover the great puffin colony by Reynisfjall mount. A stop can be made as well at Dyrhólaey*, then drive along Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers to Skógar, known for its waterfall and folk museum. A visit to the museum recommended. Continue to Seljalandsfoss waterfall a stop you must not miss.
*Please note that the Dyrhólaey cliff is closed during the breeding season (until late June) and that the puffins leave the land around mid August!

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 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 5 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

Customer reviews

Read what real customers had to say about South Iceland Whistlestop with Highlands.

Overall rating for this trip
5.0
based on 5 reviews
J
Jeremy - United States
August 1, 2023 - Verified booking
It was very good. Car was fine, 4 of the 5 hotel rooms were fine. Liked the daily suggestions in the itinerary. Only complaint is that the daily maps included in each day were general maps, not specific to the locations of our specific hotels. that would have ben helpful.
P
Peter - United States
July 3, 2023 - Verified booking
We did the 6-day Highland self-drive tour. It was fantastic and well-planned. I was a bit nervous about the attempting the highland roads (the F mountain roads) but that ended up being some of the best portions of the trip. All-in-all, it was an unforgettable trip to the land of Fire & Ice.
K
Kelly - Canada
August 14, 2022 - Verified booking
Everything was great. Well organized, nice hotels, good route suggestions, easy. From car pick up at airport to hotel check-ins, everything was very smooth. We pivoted to Iceland Tours when the first company we were working with couldn't arrange a tour for us due to no space. We are so glad we ended up with Iceland Tours!

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.

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.

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.

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