Golden Circle & South Coast Tour
Iceland Independent Self Drive Tours
This tour will take you to Iceland’s best waterfalls, gorgeous canyons, the most epic black sand beaches and glacial lagoons sure to provide some of Iceland’s most incredible views. Prepare to be astounded! You will also visit the Golden Circle to see three of Iceland’s must-see attractions.
Iceland Golden Circle & South Coast Tour Highlights
- Visit the Golden Circle- the mighty Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir geothermal area (where the Strokkur geyser erupts every 5-10 minutes), and Thingvellir, where Iceland's parliament was established (the world's oldest parliament) and where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates converge unlike anywhere else in the world.
- Enjoy swimming in Iceland! Hike to a hot spring river, visit a geothermal spa or pool, and soak in hidden hot springs.
- Explore black sand beaches, spectacular canyons, and several glacial lagoons full of icebergs.
- Delight in fresh seafood in Höfn, the lobster capital of Iceland.
- Discover Iceland's most beautiful waterfalls such as Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss, a waterfall you can walk behind!
- Stay at comfortable accommodations, including a guesthouse in the quaint fishing town of Höfn and a charming farmhouse with a hot tub and sauna.
- Additional activities available for a free. Click here to view an extensive list of possible activities you can add on to your itinerary.
Itinerary
This is our suggested itinerary for a self-drive South Coast and Golden Circle trip. The itinerary can be changed and customized to suit your needs.
Leave Reykjavik to go and explore the Golden Circle attractions. Visit the magnificent Gullfoss waterfall, one of the largest in Iceland, as well as Geysir where Iceland’s most active geyser is located (it erupts every 5-10 minutes!). The third attraction on the Golden Circle is Thingvellir National Park, where Iceland’s parliament (and the world’s first) was founded over 1,000 years ago. This is also where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are drifting apart, an incredible phenomenon that you can only witness in Iceland! You can also go snorkeling, whitewater rafting, or snowmobiling on a glacier. (Approx. 2-3 hours driving)
Drive along the southern coast of Iceland to Jökulsárlón, Iceland’s famous glacier lagoon. The lagoon is filled with magnificent icebergs that broke off from the glacier in the distance, which is part of Vatnajökull- Europe’s largest glacier. You can walk around the lagoon or take a zodiac tour to see the icebergs from the water. On the drive over, you can stop at several incredible waterfalls (including one that you can walk behind!) and at a breathtaking canyon for a hike. (Approx. 5 hours driving)
Today we recommend partaking in an incredible glacier-related activity- either kayaking among icebergs in a glacial lagoon (summer trips) or exploring ice caves inside a glacier (winter trips). These are once in a lifetime experiences that you can only have in a handful of places in the world, and Iceland is one of the best! You then return to Reykjavik, stopping on the way to hike to a hot spring river for one last geothermal soak. You can finish your tour with dinner at an “earth cooking” restaurant where your food is cooked using the steam from the earth- the perfect ending to an incredible trip! (Approx. 5 hours driving)
Optional 4th Day: would like to extend your trip, you can make this into a 3 night, 4 day trip. You can either spend an additional night at the Snaefellsnes Peninsula (we recommend this if you prefer more hiking and a more relaxed area) or an additional night at the Golden Circle (recommended if you would like to partake in whitewater rafting, snorkeling/diving, snowmobiling, horseback riding, or a glacier hike).
This is our suggested itinerary; your trip can be customized based on your preferences.
Prices
Low Season
November - April
Shoulder Season
May, September, October
High Season
June, July, August
*Prices are in US Dollars, based on two people traveling together // Luxury room upgrade available some or all nights upon request.
*Prices are in US Dollars, based on two people traveling together // Luxury car upgrade available upon request // Upgrade to a larger car is free of charge for groups of three or more travelers
IncludeD:
- Appropriate sized car rental with unlimited miles.
- Comfortable accommodations with shared or private bathrooms (some may include breakfast)
- Taxes/fees for car rental and lodging
- Fuel discount card (also gives you free coffee and discounts on food at select gas stations)
- CDW insurance
- Customized itinerary suggestions
- Personalized digital map of your tour
- Suggested Apps for smart phones to help make the trip as enjoyable as possible
Not IncludeD:
- Airfare
- Fuel/Gasoline
- Meals
- Excursions/Activities (suggestions will be provided for both free and paid activities based on your selected trip, we will make the reservations for you!)
- Personal travel insurance
- Car Extras (such as additional driver fee, additional insurance, etc)
- Any other item not mentioned in our "Included" section
Supplemental:
Additional Information
Tours for a number other than 2 or 4 people are possible- pricing will vary depending on the number of rooms desired- contact us for pricing for tours of 1, 3 or 5+ travelers. If you have questions about the self drive tours, check out our Self Drive FAQs or contact us.
To book your trip, please pay a deposit and we will then contact you to collect additional information about your trip.
About the prices: The quoted prices are per person, based on double occupancy. On a rare occasion, the pricing may be slightly higher depending how far in advance the trip is booked, as well as availability at preferred accommodations. Lower prices are available if you are interested in staying at hostels. Any of our self-drive itineraries can be customized for you- please contact us with any requests for modifications.
About the car rental: For two travelers, the quoted price includes a mini car (Chevy Spark or similar model). For four travelers, the quoted price includes a compact car (Opel Astra or similar model). The rentals include unlimited miles. Car rental pickup and drop off is from downtown Reykjavik or Keflavik Airport. The rental includes basic CDW insurance, but you can add enhanced protection (super collision damage waiver, gravel protection, and sand/ash protection) for a fee.
About the accommodations: The standard price includes private rooms but a bathroom that is shared with other rooms. Upgraded room options include rooms with private bathrooms. Accommodations will vary but will include a mixture of guesthouses, farmhouses, bed & breakfasts, hotels, apartments, or cottages. Some include shared or private hot tubs. All of the accommodations we choose are well liked by previous travelers. Further details will be given when we are provided with your trip dates and we can check availability at our preferred lodgings.