Home / Multi-Day Tours / South Iceland / Iceland South Coast Sensation: 7 Days Self-Drive Tour
For an eventful and adventurous Iceland vacation, you should consider our Iceland south coast tour. The south coast has arguably, some of the most spectacular natural features that can be found in Iceland. This self-drive holiday package focuses on this area and places like Skaftafell in Vatnajökull national park, Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, the beautiful village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur and much more.
There are a plethora of available activities to choose from in this south coast Iceland vacation, such as snowmobiling, glacier hiking, riding tours, hiking tours, ATV tours and much more. If you are interested in spending a few vacation days in Iceland at a leisurely pace, this is the perfect holiday 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.
SD-04
May - Sept
Self-Drive
7 days / 6 nights
South Iceland
Welcome to Iceland! After you have cleared customs, 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 will either be handed to you by your driver or wait for you at your hotel/guesthouse.
If you arrive around noon, it is possible to stop at the Blue Lagoon before continuing to the capital. After you have checked in to your hotel and received your travel documents, we would like to have an optional private information meeting during office hours at our headquarters. After the meeting, you’ll have free time in Reykjavik to explore and enjoy the northernmost capital of the world. Overnight at a hotel in the heart of the city.
Today you will receive your rental car and your Iceland vacation begins for real! Start the day by driving east towards the amazing Þingvellir National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, rich with its incredible natural beauty, history and where you can see how the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are diverging. Continue to the famous Geyser geothermal fields and witness the great spouting spring, namesake of every other spouting spring in the world. Close by you’ll find Gullfoss (Golden Falls), recently voted one of 10 most beautiful waterfalls of the world. By Gullfoss and Geyser are popular lunch stops and for a chance to enjoy a traditional Icelandic meal we recommend the Icelandic lamb soup.
From there, make your way towards the south coast and drive through lush farmlands, but be sure to make a stop at Kerið, a volcanic crater displaying its crystal clear water. Stay overnight in the Hvolsvöllur area.
It’s time to travel further east along the beautiful south coast. Shortly after leaving Hvolsvöllur, you will reach the wonderful Seljalandsfoss waterfall. You can (and should) take the opportunity to enjoy a 360°view of the waterfall as it is possible to walk behind it if you are wearing good shoes and don’t mind the light drizzle. Continue to Skógar where you’ll find the picture perfect Skógafoss waterfall and the Skógar Folk museum where you can see reconstructed turf houses and ancient artefacts on display.
Drive further east to the mighty Mýrdalsjökull glacier and enjoy optional activities such as glacier hiking and or snowmobiling with professional guides. Continue to the charming village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, home to Iceland’s first monastery (built in 1186) where you will stay for the night in the area.
After breakfast an to Skaftafell, a part of the Vatnajökull National Park. Skaftafell is a site of immense beauty and variations. It’s a lush green oasis between a mighty glacier and vast black sand beach. In Skaftafell you’ll find many different hiking routes. We recommend a light hike to Svartifoss waterfall, that features pitch black hexagonal basalt columns and a rugged canyon. Continue east to the spectacular Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon; the crown jewel of Icelandic nature where you can enjoy an unforgettable 40-minute boat ride between the icebergs on the lagoon that’s offered in summer. After that, continue to the village of Höfn – the lobster capital of Iceland. In Höfn you will, of course, find great, gourmet lobster restaurants. Overnight in the Höfn area.
Time to turn around and head back towards Reykjavik. On the way, nature lovers will want to visit the village of Vík in Mýrdalur and walk along the Reynisfjara beach with its beautiful view of the Reynisdrangar cliffs. In summer you have the chance to see puffins that nest in this area. Continue to the Hvolsvöllur area where you’ll stay for the night.
Today you will return to the city but with a slight twist. Drive west from your hotel and make a left turn in the village of Selfoss, towards the coast and head for the Reykjanes peninsula; an active geothermal area and a diamond in the rough. In Seltún (Krýsuvík) you will find boiling mud pools and colourful mountains. (There are two ways of getting there: One is by using the map, the other is by following the sulfur “aroma”!) Continue along the coastline to Grindavík village where you’ll find the Salt-fish Museum; a museum dedicated to the history of salt fish that in the late 19th century was to Iceland’s exporting industry what oil is to Saudi Arabia.
Continue to the unique Blue Lagoon where you can stop to relax and unwind after a few days on the road. Continue to your hotel in Reykjavik after returning the rental car. Overnight in the heart of the city.
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!
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 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.
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.
Type: Compact
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 2
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: Compact Economy
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 2
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
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)
Type: SUV Full Size
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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/
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.
By the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur you will find the „church floor“, an odd attraction of basalt columns. In fact, just the tops of them can be seen, and they seem to have an appearance of a paved church floor.
Svartifoss, or the Black Fall, is a beautiful waterfall in Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park. It falls off dark lava columns. The hike to the waterfall takes approximately 45 minutes.
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.
Svínafellsjökull is a part of the great Vatnajökull glacier. All glacier tongues have names and Svínafellsökull is the most famous with its raw and grand icy curves. This astonishing and majestic outlet of Vatnajökull Glacier offers amazing scenery and views all around with the possibility to see the glacier crevasses and sculptures.
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.
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.
Eldhraun is a lava field in the southern highlands of Iceland. It was created by a great volcano eruption known as Skaftareldar.
Vík is the southernmost village in Iceland, located on the ring road (Road number 1), featuring the impressive and popular black sand beach.
Reynisfjara is a famous black sand beach in the South of Iceland, just next to the village of Vik. Black sand, lava formations, and basalt columns make it a popular stop for all visitors.
Reynisdrangar cliffs are towering basalt-type rock formations situated near the shore of Reynisfjara black sand beach, on the South Coast of Iceland. The folk legend wants them to be the rocky representation of two trolls turned into stone after being caught by the sunlight after dawn.
The famous promontory named Dyrhólaey is located in the south coast of Iceland. From this peninsula, that once was a volcanic island, the views are stunning. Glacier, lava columns, the open sea. The highlight of this area is the lava arch that is standing in the ocean. Dyrhólaey is also well known for its puffin colonies during the summertime.
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 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 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.
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.