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The Best of South and West: 9 Days Self-Drive Tour

For a real Iceland road trip, consider our best-seller tour – the Snæfellsnes peninsula and the South Coast in 9 days tour. Snæfellsnes being one of the most spectacular places in Iceland combined with the rough landscapes of the south creates a combination not to be missed.

This Iceland road trip in 9 days, gives an opportunity to see the perfect cone-shaped mountain Kirkjufell, fishing villages of the west, the Vatnajökull national park, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon just to name a few.

On the way, you will have a great opportunity to get acquainted with the Icelandic sagas and you will see all the major natural attractions including volcanoes, geysers and waterfalls. If you are keen on fully enjoying your vacation in Iceland, we are sure that this is the perfect tour package for you.

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.

Tour Code

SD-05

Season

May - Sept

Travel Style

Self drive

Duration

9 days / 8 nights

Location

South and West Iceland

Accessibility

Moderate

Included

  • 8 nights accommodation (budget/comfort/quality) with breakfast
  • Rental car of your choice for 7 days with unlimited mileage/CDW & VAT
  • WiFi hotspot in your rental car for easy internet access
  • 1 extra driver for each rental car
  • Optional private information meeting with our travel consultant in Reykjavik before your tour starts
  • Transfer from Keflavik International Airport to your accommodation in Reykjavík (private or by bus)
  • Handwritten, detailed map with route, sightseeing recommendations and accommodations highlighted
  • Written guides of the regions you will be visiting
  • Transfer to Keflavík International Airport with pickup at your accommodation in Reykjavik upon departure (private or by bus)
  • 24-hour emergency service
  • Taxes and service fee

Not Included

  • Flights to/from Iceland
  • Meals and drinks at restaurants and entrance fees (unless otherwise agreed upon)
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Gasoline
Day 1 | Góðan Dag Reykjavik!

Welcome to Iceland! At the airport, you will either hop on the Flybus (budget) or be met by a driver from Iceland Unlimited in the arrival hall of Keflavík International Airport (comfort & quality). Transfer to your accommodation in the city centre in Reykjavík. Your travel documents, such as the hard copy of your final itinerary, map of Iceland and more will either be handed to you by your driver or wait for you at your hotel/guesthouse.

On your way to Reykjavík, you will see endless lava fields and moon-like landscapes. After you have checked into your hotel room, we would like to invite you to an optional private information meeting during office hours at our headquarters. As for the rest of the day, you can enjoy by exploring the capital of Iceland or simply resting up for your upcoming road trip in your cosy hotel room (check in is normally at 14:00). There are also many interesting guided tours available in Reykjavik. Overnight at a hotel or guesthouse in the heart of Reykjavík.

Day 2 | West of Iceland with Hraunfossar Waterfalls

Today, your adventure starts for real! You will pick up your rental car and drive north, towards the mystical and powerful Snæfellsnes peninsula. Drive through the Route #1 underwater tunnel, and later, take road 50 via Borgarfjörður. This road will lead you to Hraunfossar, a series of waterfalls coming from underneath the lava, and then Deildartunguhver, Europe´s most powerful hot spring. Afterwards, you can visit Langjökull glacier and take a tour of the man-made ice tunnel and ice caves located in Europe´s second largest glacier. Then, head to Snæfellsnes where you will stay in the area for a good night’s sleep.

Day starts in

Reykjavik

Day ends in

Snæfellsnes area

Driving distance

~301 km / 187 miles

Day 3 | Snæfellsnes – Small Fishing Towns, Beautiful Beaches

In southern Snæfellsnes, you can explore places such as Sönghellir cave and the spectacular Hellnar Cove. Here you can have lunch at the beautiful Hellnar café whilst gazing at the crashing waves on the shore. You should also visit the famous black church – Búðir and don´t forget to test your strength on the four stones at the Djúpalónssandur. In the northern part of the peninsula, visit the small towns Ólafsvik and Grundarfjörður, and the well-known, perfectly cone-shaped Mount Kirkjufell.

Not far away from Grundarfjördur, driving east via lava fields, you will end up in Stykkishólmur. On your way there, a stop at the Bjarnarhofn shark museum is a must. There you can taste some rotten shark meat, a traditional Icelandic delicatessen. Stykkishólmur is a gate to Breiðafjörður´s amazing islands. At the harbour of Stykkishólmur, you will find the dark and magnificent Norwegian House (built in 1832 as the first double story timber house in Iceland). This old house is now a folk museum with rather interesting objects. There you will also find a cliff with an amazing view over the Breiðaförður fjord. Overnight in a hotel or guesthouse in the area.

Day starts in

Snæfellsnes area

Day ends in

Snæfellsnes area

Driving distance

~197 km / 122 miles

Day 4 | Golden Circle with Gullfoss Waterfall and Geyser Strokkur

Start the day by driving back south and head to the amazing Þingvellir National Park. Driving there, you have a choice between taking the underwater tunnels again, or doing a small detour via Hvalfjörður route, where you will find the amazing Glymur waterfall.

Þingvellir is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rich with its incredible natural beauty and history. There you can see how the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are diverging. On the Golden Circle tour, your next stop is the Strokkur geyser, which gushes a column of water up to 30 meters high. Later, continue to Gullfoss waterfall, recently voted as one of 10 most beautiful waterfalls in the world.

From there, make your way towards the south coast, passing through beautiful Icelandic lush farmlands. Finally, make sure to stop at Kerið, a volcanic crater displaying its crystal clear water. Stay overnight in the Hella/ Hvolsvöllur area.

Day starts in

Snæfellsnes area

Day ends in

Hella/ Hvolsvöllur area

Driving distance

~395 km / 246 miles

Day 5 | Adventurous South Coast with Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

This day will take you along the beautiful south coast of Iceland. Shortly after leaving the Hella/Hvolsvöllur area, you will reach the spectacular Seljalandsfoss waterfall. Take the opportunity to enjoy a 360° view of the waterfall, as it is possible to walk behind it. Above, you will have a very good view of Eyjafjallajökull volcano, famous for its 2010 eruption. Next on your map, is the majestic Skógafoss, which is an impressive 60 meters high waterfall. If interested, visit the Skógar Folk museum where you can see reconstructed turf houses and ancient artefacts on display. From there, continue to Dyrhólaey and Reynisfjara beach, with its black sand and stunning cliffs and basalt columns. Stay the night in the area of Vík or Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

Day starts in

Hella/ Hvolsvöllur area

Day ends in

Vík or Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Driving distance

~155 km / 96 miles

Day 6 | National Park Vatnajökull and the Famous Glacial Lagoon

Today your journey takes you to the famous Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. On your way there, make a stop at Foss á Síðu (waterfall) and then enjoy a hike in Skaftafell, a part of the Vatnajökull National Park. We recommend a light hike to Svartifoss waterfall, that features pitch black hexagonal basalt columns and a rugged canyon. Moreover, Skaftafell is a site of enormous splendor and variations of landscape: from a lush green oasis to a mighty glacier and black sands. When you reach Jökulsárlón, you will witness the impressing floating icebergs and if you are lucky, you might even spot some seals. Then, continue to the village of Höfn – the lobster capital of Iceland. Once there, enjoy a luxurious lobster dinner at one of Höfn’s gourmet lobster restaurants. Overnight in the area.

Day starts in

Vík or Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Day ends in

Höfn area

Driving distance

~206 km / 126 miles

Day 7 | Waterfalls, Canyons & Lava

From Höfn you will turn back and drive west towards Reykjavik. On the way, you can make stops here and there, according to your preferences. You will pass Ingolfshöfði, where you can join a guided bird watching tour. In Kirkjubæjarklaustur we recommend stopping by Systrafoss, a truly beautiful waterfall in the middle of the village. The story behind its name refers to the first monastery in Iceland, built there, back in 1186. A few kilometres west of Kirkjubæjarklaustur you will be passing Iceland’s second-biggest lava field – Eldhraun. Also near Kirkjubæjarklaustur, you will find Fjarðárgljúfur canyon which is a beautiful sight. In the afternoon, you can meet and get to know the Icelandic horse on a horseback riding tour. Continue to the Hvolsvöllur area where you’ll stay for the night.

Day starts in

Höfn area

Day ends in

Hvolsvöllur area

Driving distance

~352 km / 219 miles

Day 8 | Blue Lagoon and Reykjanes Hot Springs

As your holiday slowly comes to an end, it’s time for you to spoil yourself and relax in the unique Blue Lagoon (optional, needs to be booked in advance). This part of the trip will give you a very good feeling of how powerful Iceland is. Drive west from your hotel and make a left turn by the village of Selfoss, towards the coast and head for the Reykjanes peninsula; an active geothermal area with dramatic coastlines and quaint, historic towns. In Seltún (Krýsuvík) you will find boiling mud pools and colourful mountains. Take a moment to stand on the “Bridge between the Continents” which connects the American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Continue to your hotel in Reykjavik after returning the rental car. In the evening, we recommend enjoying a nice dinner in one of the many gourmet restaurants Reykjavík has to offer.

Day starts in

Hvolsvöllur area

Day ends in

Reykjavík

Driving distance

~226 km / 140 miles

Day 9 | Good bye Iceland

Sadly your Iceland vacation has come to an end. You will be transferred to Keflavík International Airport by bus (budget and comfort) or our private driver (quality) in time for your flight home. Have a safe and enjoyable trip back home!

Highlights:

Budget

Budget accommodations include shared facilities in guest houses, country hotels, farmhouses, etc. In some cases, the rooms might be equipped with a TV and a washbasin. The in-room amenities are limited and basic but they all adhere to a high standard of cleanliness.
Breakfast is included.

Comfort

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

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.

Luxury

Luxury accommodations include Suites and high-end rooms in Quality Accommodations. These types of lodges and resorts provide an upscale look and personalized services.
Classy, elegant, and comfortable, luxury accommodations strive to offer a first-class experience and top-quality services to ensure a truly extraordinary and memorable stay.

Volkswagen Golf


or similiar

Type: Compact
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 2
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)

Kia Ceed Wagon


or similiar

Type: Intermediate Wagon
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)

4×4 Hyundai Kona


or similiar

Type: SUV Economy
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 3
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)

4×4 Kia Sportage


or similiar

Type: SUV Full Size Intermediate
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)

4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser


or similiar

Type: SUV Full Size
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)

Hyundai H1


or similiar

Type: VAN
Passenger: 8
Luggage: 5
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)

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