Home / Multi-Day Tours / South Iceland / Accessible Holidays Iceland – South Coast Self Drive Tour for 7 Days
Iceland is a wonderful place to explore and there are countless natural wonders that are also accessible for visitors with disabilities. This self-drive tour concentrates on the south of Iceland and either your travel companion drives the car or we organize a hand-controlled car for you. In this Iceland tour, you will visit places like Geysir, Gullfoss waterfall, the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon and Krýsuvík a geothermal area. Iceland unlimited is the #1 expert for disabled-friendly and accessible tours in Iceland.
If you are interested in receiving more information about this tour, please click on the “Request a quote” widget on the left side of the page. A quick form will open up where you will provide us with more information about your travel expectations. You will then be connected with your specialized travel agent who will assist you throughout the planning a provide a fully detailed quote.
Please note that this itinerary can be adjusted and customized to meet your travel needs and preferences. The package can also be offered as a privately guided tour if a self-drive option is not what you had in mind for your Iceland experience.
AT-07
Apr - Oct
Self-Drive
7 days - 6 nights
South Iceland
No Age Limit
Welcome to Iceland! After arriving in Keflavik Airport you will met by our driver outside the customs area, who will transfer you to your hotel in Reykjavik. After you have checked in to your wheelchair accessible room and received all the travel documents that we prepared for you, we would like to invite you for an optional tour briefing. Afterwards you’ll have free time to explore Reykjavik and enjoy the northernmost capital in the world.
After breakfast you will receive your rental car (we can organize hand controls in your vehicle). Start the day by driving east towards Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The natural beauty and history of the park make it a must see highlight of Iceland. Here you can see how the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are diverging, as well as the location of the first democratic parliament in the world. The paths in Þingvellir are covered in dense gravel and most of the places are accessible by wheelchair. Your next stop for the day will be the famous Geyser geothermal area where you will see the great spouting spring, namesake of every other spouting spring in the world. Gullfoss (the Golden Falls), will complete your “Golden Circle” tour. Leaving Gullfoss, you will start driving towards the south coast through lush farmlands. Spend the night in a hotel in the area.
It’s time to travel further east along the beautiful south coast. The impressive Seljalandsfoss waterfall will be your first stop for the day. A wheelchair friendly path will take you closer to that 60 m high waterfall. Continue to Skógar where you’ll find the picture perfect Skógafoss waterfall and the Skógar Folk museum. Above you can get a glimpse of Eyjafjallajökull glacier which was made famous by its 2010 eruption. Drive further along the south shore to the village of Vík. Once there you can admire the giant pillars of rock (Reynisdrangar), as high as 66 meters that rise out of the sea to the south of Reynisfjall and are highly visible from Vík. In folklore, they are explained as the remains of some giants caught by the sun at dawn and turned into stone. If you are planning to buy some Icelandic Wool products, you might want to check out the Icelandic Wool Factory in Vík. Spend the night in the area.
After breakfast continues to Skaftafell, a part of the Vatnajökull National Park. A short movie presented at the visitor center tells you the story of fire and ice in Iceland and how those two powers have affected the formation of this area. Further east, you will find the spectacular Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon; the crown jewel of Icelandic nature where surely be amazed by the floating icebergs and the spectacular beauty of this location. An optional boat tour is always recommended, to admire the floating icebergs from a closer distance. The tours are suitable for disabled people and the staff on the boat is always willing to help. After enjoying this unique experience, continue to the village of Höfn – the lobster capital of Iceland, so don’t miss the chance to taste a delicious lobster menu in the evening at a local restaurant. Overnight in the Höfn area.
After breakfast you will make your way towards the capital. On the way you will pass through the largest lava field formed in historical times, The”Eldhraun” lava field. After that you will pass through the charming village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, home of Iceland’s first monastery (built in 1186). Continue to the Hvolsvöllur area where you’ll stay for the night. We recommend you visit the Lava Centre, an interactive, high-tech educational exhibition depicting volcanic activity, earthquakes and the creation of Iceland over millions of years.
Today you will return to Reykjavik. On your way you will explore Reykjanes peninsula, an active geothermal area and a diamond in the rough. Your first stop is Krýsuvík cove that consists of several geothermal fields, such as Seltún. Here solfataras, fumaroles, mud pots and hot springs, are all buzzing with geothermal activity. Another geothermal area is Gunnuhver, a highly active geothermal area of mud pools and steam vents. Named after an angry female ghost, Gudrun, whose spirit was trapped in the hot springs by a priest 400 years ago, the steamy area has an eerie atmosphere and an incredible sulfur vapor. Next up is the Bridge between the continents. Did you know that Iceland is drifting apart at almost 2 cm per year? Iceland is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge; therefore, the tip of the Reykjanes peninsula, where you can see the ridge rise above sea level, marks the boundary between Europe and North America. Your last stop is the unique Blue Lagoon where you can relax and unwind after a few days on the road (included). The Blue Lagoon is easily accessible to everyone and offers a special changing room, a lift for easier access into the lagoon and special shower wheelchairs. The deepest part of Blue Lagoon is around 1.60m/5.2ft but most parts of the lagoon are far shallower. In the afternoon drive back to Reykjavik, drop-off your rental car and stay for the night in a hotel in the center.
This is the last day of your accessible holidays in Iceland. From your hotel, you will be transferred to Keflavik International airport for your flight home. Have an enjoyable trip back home!
Comfort accommodations offer access to private facilities (shower and toilet). This type of lodges belongs to the 3-star hotel category. Most of these properties have an in-house restaurant. This section offers an upgrade in comfort and service compared to the budget category. Breakfast is included.
Quality accommodations offer private rooms with en-suite shower/bath and toilet. These rooms are the best available accommodations in 4-star hotels or the highest quality lodges in each region. Luxury accommodations - the highest class of lodges, suites, and penthouses - are available upon request. Breakfast is included.
Type: Intermediate Wagon
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: SUV Economy
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 3
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: SUV Full Size Intermediate
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Hallgrímskirkja Church is most certainly Reykjavík´s best-known landmark. The white concrete Church whose image is printed in many postcards, dominates the city. As a matter of fact its tower can be seen from almost every corner of Reykjavík. Its distinctive and futuristic exterior made the Church one of the most visited spots in Reykjavík.
This sublime museum displays artifacts from the settlement to the modern age of Iceland history. The exhibition gives you an excellent and enlightening overview of Iceland's history and culture. The museum functions as the center for the preservation of Iceland´s national heritage. It counts about 300,000 artifacts and nearly four million photographs in its collation.
The Kolaportið flea market is located in the old harbour area just a few minute walk from the city center. It is an indoor market that opens every weekend. It is located in a large industrial building and it is features an authentic display of secondhand clothes, toys, jewellery and much more. A realReykjavik Institution and the perfect place to find a bargain.
Harpa is the famous concert hall and conference center located in Reykjavik. The building features a distinctive and original colored glass facade inspired by the basalt landscape of Iceland. Its unique architecture makes it one of Reykjavik most loved landmarks.
Solfar Sculpture, also known as the Sun Voyager, is the famous steel sculpture created by artist Jón Gunnar Árnason. The art piece is located next to the Sæbraut road in downtown Reykjavík. Its shape reminds of a ship floating on air, facing the ocean.
Þingvellir National Park is the most important historic and geological sites in Iceland. The area is part of a fissure zone running through Iceland, being situated on the tectonic plate boundaries of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Major events in the history of Iceland have taken place at Þingvellir and today the entire area is a protected national treasure.
Gullfoss, also called the Golden Waterfall, is one of the most iconic gems of the likewise named Golden Circle. The waterfall is located in the upper part of the River Hvíta. Gullfoss is actually two separate waterfalls, the upper one has a drop of 11 meters and the lower one 21 meters.
Geysir is the famous hot spring area located in the Haukadalur valley. The main attraction is known as Strokkur, which erupts energetically at regular intervals of 10 minutes or so its boiling waterjets can reach as high as 30 meters.
Kerið is a volcanic crater lake located in the area called Grímsnes in the South of Iceland, along the famous Golden Circle route. The crater walls are steep and often covered with Icelandic moss. The inside of the crater is a lake whose water is aquamarine colored due to the minerals from the soil. The crater is 55 meters deep and about 3000 years old.
Seljalandsfoss is one of the most famous and visited waterfalls in Iceland. It located along the South Coast of the Country right by the road n. 1. The waterfall is part of the Seljalands river that originated from the famous volcano glacier Eyjafjallajökull. The waterfall is approximately 60-meter high and it is famous for its path that leads visitor behind its powerful water flow.
Skógafoss is a waterfall located on the Skógá river on the South Coast of Iceland. This picture-perfect waterfall descends 60 meters from the cliffs. Before pouring down the cliffs becoming the famous waterfall, the river flows through the Skógárgil gorge.
Skogár Folk Museum is located next to the Skógafoss waterfall, in south Iceland. It consists of a cultural heritage collection of folk craft artifacts and examples of typical Icelandic turf farmhouses.
Please visit the museum's webpage for further information. https://www.skogasafn.is/
Vík is the southernmost village in Iceland, located on the ring road (Road number 1), featuring the impressive and popular black sand beach.
Jökulsárlón is a large glacial lake located in the Southeast of Iceland on the edge of the Vatnajökull National Park. The Lagoon developed into a lake after the glacier started receding from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The lake can be seen from Route 1 between Höfn and Skaftafell. The lagoon offers outstanding views of the ice cap and it is one of the most spectacular and loved, natural destinations in all Iceland.
Höfn is an Icelandic fishing town located in the southeastern part of the Country. The town, the second largest in the southeastern part of Iceland, offers scenic views of Vatnajökull (the largest ice cap in Europe by volume). The main economic activities in Höfn are fishing and tourism. The location is also well known for its culinary tradition with lobster being the most acclaimed specialty of the area.
The newly named Diamond Beach is a popular site for visitors in recent years. The icebergs floating out of the glacier lagoon wash up on the black beach and visitors get a chance to get up close with crystal clear ice.
The visitor center for the Vatnajökull national park is a source of information and support for weary travelers all year round. From Skaftafell hikers enjoy paths to Sjónarnípa, Svartifoss as well as the ever-popular glacier hiking tours, including a day climb to the highest summit in Iceland, Hvannadalshnúkur.
Vatnajökull glacier is the 3rd largest glacier in Europe at 8100 km is the largest ice cap in Iceland and covers close to 9% of the entire country. The glacier is named after the lakes that can be found on top of the ice cap as the several active volcanoes melt the ice from below.
Kirkjubæjarklaustur is home to Iceland’s first monastery, built in 1186. In the area of the village there are many of the South Coast's interesting attractions such as the Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon and Kirkjugolf- the church floor.
Eldhraun is a lava field in the southern highlands of Iceland. It was created by a great volcano eruption known as Skaftareldar.
The Blue Lagoon is a famous geothermal spa located in Reykjanes peninsula nearby the International Airport of Iceland. It was formed during an operation at the nearby geothermal power plant. Reservations in advance are necessary for those who are planning a visit.
The Reykjanes peninsula is located on a drift zone, between two continents, the North American and Eurasian plate. It is a unique area where you can see different elements of the drift zone; very active geothermal energy, lava fields and other natural phenomenon. The Blue Lagoon and Keflavik international airport are also located in the area.
Seltún is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, a highly active geothermal area. Seltún consists of boiling mud pools and colourful mountains.
The Bridge Between the Continents is a small footbridge over a large fissure, where the continental plates are diverging. The bridge is located on the Reykjanes peninsula and is a symbol of the connection between Europe and North America.
Here you can have one foot in each continent at the same time.
Gunnuhver is an active geothermal area. It is located within the Reykjanes UNESCO Geo park and there you can find mud pools, boiling hot springs and steam coming up from the ground.
Gunnuhver is named after a female ghost named Gunna and she had caused great disturbance in the area until a priest set a trap for her and she fell into the spring.
Reykjavík is the capital and biggest city of Iceland with a population of approximately 124,000. It is the northernmost capital in the world. Despite its small size, you can find many attractions and museums, making Reykjavik a popular destination.
Perlan Dome is a landmark of Reykjavik, offering magnificent views to the city as it is located on a hill. From 2017, it features an exhibition with a man-made ice cave 100 meters long.
Reykjavík Old Harbour is fast becoming the new lively center of the city. There you will find museums such as Maritime Museum, the Northern Lights center and the Whales of Iceland exhibition. The harbour, which is quickly transforming into a modern city space, is also home to restaurants and cafes. A local favourite is ice cream shop Valdís, which makes fresh ice cream every morning and always offers new flavours.
Laugavegur is the main shopping street in Reykjavik and it is located in the heart of the city. Its name means literally „wash road“ as this was once the route to the hot springs where many Icelanders took their clothes to launder. Today it is a vibrant and innovative street filled with designer ateliers, tourist gift shops, bars, and restaurants.