Iceland Waterfall & Glacier Adventure

Use WINTER_10 at checkout for 10% off
6 days / 5 nights
Snow covered Gullfoss in Iceland
Snow-covered village of Vík í Mýrdal in Iceland
 Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Iceland
Geysir geothermal area in Iceland

Witness water in all of its wonderful forms

Experience Iceland’s winter wonders for yourself on this nature-packed 6-day self-drive tour. See frozen waterfalls such as Gullfoss and Skógafoss, with icicles taller than church spires. On a clear night, hunt down the magnificent Northern Lights. And see Iceland’s spectacular geothermal activity at work at the Strokkur geyser.

Head further along the south coast, stopping at the village of Vík with its incredible black sand beaches. Venture eastwards to the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon and see icebergs slowly drift out to sea. Top it all off with a night or two in Reykjavík, Iceland’s buzzing capital, for an unforgettable winter adventure.

Travel styleSelf-drive
Trip length6 days / 5 nights
VibeEasy-going
SeasonWinter
(1 Oct–31 Mar)
TransportRental car
Starts fromReykjavík
Tour codeSD11

On this tour you will...

  • Take in the stunning sights of Iceland’s south coast

  • Soak up Viking history at Þingvellir National Park

  • Marvel at baby icebergs drifting out to sea

  • Witness geothermal forces at work at Geysir

  • Have the chance to unwind in warming hot springs

  • Stay in both the city and countryside

Top attractions

The Seljalandsfoss waterfall covered in icicles

Seljalandsfoss

A rainbow over the Skógafoss waterfall on a sunny day

Skógafoss

Vik Church with Reynisdrangar sea stacks in the distance

Vík í Mýrdal

Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon at sunrise with a pink sky

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

The edge of the Vatnajökull glacier

Vatnajökull Glacier & 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

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

  • 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 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

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 the 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 Seljavallalaug, a naturally-heated thermal pool located in a beautiful hidden valley.

Staying inVík / Kirkjubæjarklaustur area
Driving distance390 km (242 mi)

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

Staying inÁrnes/Laugarvatn
Driving distance275 km (171 mi)

Today it is time to visit some of the most interesting and famous areas of Iceland: the famous geothermal area of Geysir 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. After this you only have a short drive to reach Gullfoss, surely the country’s most famous waterfall. If you wish you can continue to Lake Laugarvatn for a nice thermal bath at Laugarvatn Fontana spa, composed of a series of interconnected baths and steam rooms that complement each other to create a healthy, natural and unique spa experience.

Staying inReykjavík
Driving distance180 km (112 mi)

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. Take time to walk around in the unique landscape of Þingvellir. Now you can take some time to relax in Reykjavík.

Driving distance50 km (31 mi)

Now it is time to head back home, after an amazing journey through one of the world’s most picturesque landscapes.  You will drive back to Keflavík Airport for your flight back home. Depending on your flight time, you may be able to enjoy your last day strolling around Reykjavík. Or, even better, consider booking an extra night in Reykjavík to really give yourself time to experience all the amazing things Iceland’s capital 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 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 Waterfall & Glacier Adventure.

Overall rating for this trip
5.0
based on 9 reviews
K
Karen - United Kingdom
February 10, 2024 - Verified booking
Excellent communication from enquiry to booking and final arrangements. Staff very knowledgeable and helpful and were able to adapt to our requirements.
M
Manjeet - United States
October 8, 2023 - Verified booking
Overall experience was just wonderful. We did have a some weather related setbacks (high winds, snow and cold weather etc.) but those were minor inconveniences in reference to overall experience.
N
Nora - United States
October 4, 2023 - Verified booking
It was great!

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.

Use WINTER_10 at checkout for 10% off

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Ages 12+

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