South & West Iceland in a Week

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7 days / 6 nights
Strokkur erupting on a sunny summer day
The Barnafoss waterfall
A woman with sunglasses swims in the Seljavallalaug pool in South Iceland
Houses and green landscape in Þingvellir National Park
The Reykjavík skyline next to the Tjörnin pond on a sunny day
Kirkjufell in golden light
The Reykjavík skyline next to the Tjörnin pond on a sunny day
Kirkjufell in golden light
Strokkur erupting on a sunny summer day
The Barnafoss waterfall
A woman with sunglasses swims in the Seljavallalaug pool in South Iceland

7 days, dozens of unforgettable sights

Spend a week on a road trip along Iceland’s south coast and the Snæfellsnes peninsula. On this 7-day self-drive tour, you’ll take in classic sights such as waterfalls, hot springs, the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, and more.

This itinerary includes the famous Golden Circle, with its active geyser, Strokkur, the Gullfoss waterfall, and Þingvellir National Park. You’ll also experience the majestic Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, the first of which you can walk behind.

Travel styleSelf-drive
Trip length7 days / 6 nights
VibeIn depth
SeasonSummer
(1 Apr–31 Oct)
TransportRental car
Starts fromReykjavík
Tour codeSD04

On this tour you will...

  • Roam black sand beaches on Iceland’s south coast

  • Hop between powerful and majestic waterfalls

  • Watch geysers erupt and hot springs bubble

  • Dive into the diversity of the Snæfellsnes peninsula

  • Immerse yourself in the pristine nature of national parks

  • Stay at guesthouses and hotels all over the countryside

Top attractions

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

Þingvellir National Park, Iceland, in autumn colors

Þingvellir National Park

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

Skaftafellsjökull glacier in Vatnajökull National Park

Skaftafell

The Hraunfossar waterfall in winter covered in ice

Hraunfossar and Barnafoss

Gatklettur rock arch at Arnarstapi

Arnarstapi

A man standing below Kirkjufellsfoss

Kirkjufell

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 7-day self-drive itinerary

Staying inReykjavík
Driving distance50 km (31 mi)

Your memorable Icelandic adventure begins the very moment you arrive at Keflavík Airport. Collect your rental vehicle and drive through the beautiful landscape all the way to the capital for your 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

whale breaching in front of orange and yellow sunsetExtra

Classic Whale Watching from Reykjavík

An Atlantic puffin perched on a cliff in IcelandExtra

Puffin Watching

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 inVík / Kirkjubæjarklaustur area
Driving distance260 km (162 mi)

Enjoy the stunning scenery of the South Coast of Iceland on this day of exploration. 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 to see how people in Iceland used to live centuries ago.

You could also take a dip in one of Iceland’s oldest swimming pool, Seljavallalaug. It is a naturally heated, thermal pool located in a beautiful hidden valley.

Another famous sight of the South Coast are black sand beaches. Go for a stroll and visit the little villages of Vík and Reynishverfi. Before arriving in Vík you could make a stop at the magnificent Dyrhólaey cape.

Please note that Dyrhólaey is closed during the nesting season, from 15 May to 23 June. Puffins disappear back to sea from mid-August.

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

Today you head east to visit one of the most popular and beautiful sights of Iceland. As you drive, you won’t miss the breathtaking views of Skaftafell, an oasis surrounded by glaciers and black sand, which offers many hiking possibilities.

Finally, you’ll arrive at your destination of the day, 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, drive back to Vík/Kirkjubæjarklaustur for a second night

Staying inGeysir / Laugarvatn area
Driving distance275 km (171 mi)

Now it is time to visit some of the most interesting and famous areas in Iceland. 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 small springs boil and bubble nearby.

You then only have a short drive to Gullfoss, which is one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls. For a relaxing end to your day, you could visit Laugarvatn lake for a nice thermal bath at Laugarvatn Fontana Spa, composed of a series of interconnected baths and steam rooms. They complement each other to create a natural and unique spa experience.

Staying inSnæfellsnes area
Driving distance360 km (224 mi)

Start your day by visiting Þingvellir National Park which is considered one of the geological wonders of the world and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you can see the effects of the tectonic plate movements which have opened various cracks and fissures in the Earth’s crust. Its importance is also historical as it was here that the Icelandic Parliament was first founded in the 10th century.

From Þingvellir, continue to the Borgarfjörður area and visit the Deildartunguhver hot spring. It is the biggest in Iceland in terms of water production per second. You could also pop by Reykholt and marvel at the Hraunfossar waterfalls, where the water flows out from beneath a lava field and into the river below.

Staying inReykjavík
Driving distance300 km (186 mi)

Today you will start your day by exploring the Snæfellsjökull National Park. Along the way you will drive through charming fishing villages as well as pass by the majestic Kirkjufell mountain.

You can explore the black sand beach of Djúpalónssandur, see the basaltic columns of Gerðuberg, the cliffs of Arnarstapi, and the hamlet of Búðir with its small wooden church surrounded by lava field. Then make your way back to Reykjavík for your last night in Iceland.

Driving distance50 km (31 mi)

Your journey to fabulous Iceland is coming to an end today. Drive back to Keflavík Airport to return your vehicle and catch your flight home. Depending on your flight time, you may be able to squeeze in a few last activities in Reykjavík, for a final taste of what this colorful 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 6 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

Food & drink, unless otherwise stated

Attraction entrance fees, unless otherwise stated

Fuel & parking charges

Personal travel insurance

Customer reviews

Read what real customers had to say about South & West Iceland in a Week.

Overall rating for this trip
4.9
based on 52 reviews
S
Sarah - Canada
October 22, 2023 - Verified booking
This trip was 10/10! Everything was straightforward with booking. The hotels and hosts were great. We used the suggested itinerary quite a bit and it made our trip very smooth. I loved Iceland and I will be definitely returning when I have more time to do a longer trip. I have already recommended
N
Nicole - United States
October 8, 2023 - Verified booking
Iceland Tours was extremely easy and pleasant to use for booking our trip. They happily accommodated our request to add a day in the middle of our trip at a specific location.
S
Susan - United States
October 3, 2023 - Verified booking
What a wonderful trip! Iceland Tours booked the car and hotels and we just drove and enjoyed the fantastic scenery throughout Iceland. It was everything we expected, and more!

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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