South and West Iceland in 8 Days Self-Drive Tour

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

Suggestion: If your flight arrives early enough, you can start your trip off in a spectacular way with a visit to Iceland’s world-famous, Blue Lagoon. Be sure to pack your swimsuit, so you can take a relaxing dip in the Lagoon’s soothing, geothermal waters, before heading to your hotel.

Are you ready for invigorating exploration of the natural wonders of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula? Drive through its northern portion, passing through Stykkishólmur, a charming fishing village beautifully situated overlooking Breidafjörður Bay. From Stykkishólmur consider sightseeing among the uncountable islands and exploring the unique flora and fauna Breidafjörður has to offer.

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. From there you continue your journey along the Kaldidalur highland road until you reach Thingvellir (Þingvellir), considered 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 boil and bubble. Afterwards you only have a short drive to reach Gullfoss, surely one of the country’s most beautiful waterfalls.

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 the colorful rhyolite mountains of Landmannlaugar you will be crossing rivers and passing over mountain passes. Here you can walk between colorful 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 Kirkjubaejarklaustur.

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 Jokulsarlon, a glacial lagoon. This exceptional sight sits at the foot of Iceland’s highest mountain, Hvannadalshnúkur.Skaftafell National Park 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 Kirkjubaejarklaustur village, the Eldhraun lava field and the Mýrdalssandur plain, before you arrive in the Vík area.

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 Vik. 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 bird cliff where you can usually see puffins (Please note: Dyrholaey is closed from May 15 till June 23 and from mid- August the puffins will have gone to sea!). Continue along the 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. Drive back and overnight stay in Reykjavik.

Today you can visit the famous Blue Lagoon spa for a relaxing swim in the geothermal water.

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.