South & West, with Landmannalaugar

Your memorable adventure in Iceland begins the very moment you arrive at Keflavík Airport. Once you have picked up your rental vehicle, you will head directly for Reykjavík, the colorful capital city of Iceland. If your flight arrives early enough, we recommend visiting Iceland’s world-famous Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon, the newest spa and wellness attraction situated just a short drive from Reykjavík. Be sure to pack your swimsuit, so you can take a relaxing dip in either of these spa’s soothing geothermal waters before heading to your hotel.

Overnight in Reykjavík.

(Approximately 50 km)

After breakfast, drive towards Borgarnes and then make your way to Snæfellsnes Peninsula, famous for the majestic Snæfell volcano. Spend the day exploring its numerous places of interest including the basalt pillars of Gerðuberg, the lovely wooden church of Búdir, and Arnarstapi, a small fishing village, where basalt columns have been eroded by the the North Atlantic Ocean. Observe seabirds along the cliffs like home kittiwakes, cormorants, and arctic terns. Take a stroll at Djúpalónssandur black sand beach and at Skardsvík, its white-sand counterpart. Along the north shore of the peninsula, discover fishing villages, beautiful mountains such as Kirkjufell and ancient lava fields such as Berserkjahraun. Nearby, you can visit Bjarnarhöfn’s Shark Museum and even “enjoy” a snack of this local treat.

Overnight on Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

(Approximately 280-320 km)

Today, you will see some of the most famous sights in Iceland. Start by exploring Borgarnes region. You can make a stop at Deildartunguhver hot spring before heading to Reykholt where the famous medieval writer Snorri Sturluson lived and the Hraunfossar Waterfalls. From there, continue your journey along the Kaldidalur Highland Road until you reach Thingvellir (Þingvellir) where you can see the effects of tectonic plate movements which have opened various cracks and fissures in the earth’s crust. 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, take a short drive to reach Gullfoss, one of the country’s most beautiful waterfalls. 

Overnight in Laugarvatn or Geysir area.

(Approximately 300 km)

After breakfast, drive to Landmannalaugar, a highlight of every trip to Iceland thanks to its lava fields and moon-like landscape. To reach the rhyolite mountains of Landmannlaugar and then Eldgjá Canyon, you will be crossing many rivers and mountain passes. Please note that off-road driving is strictly forbidden and harshly punished by Icelandic authorities. In Landmannalaugar, you can walk between colourful mountains, black obsidian lava and hot springs. Before you start your exploration of the area, stop by the warden hut for information about the hiking trails. After hiking, relax in a natural geothermal spring close to the mountain hut. Continue your journey along Fjallabaksleid, "behind the mountains". Explore the volcanic fissure of Eldgjá and hike to the beautiful Ófærufoss Waterfall before heading to the region of Vík and Kirkjubaejarklaustur. 

Overnight in Vík or Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.

(Approximately 250 km)

Discover Iceland’s scenic southeast today. Start by exploring the Vatnajökull Glacier area, observing numerous glacial outlets along your route. At Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon, the glacier breaks into stunning icebergs that drift peacefully towards the ocean (“Diamond Beach”). This exceptional site sits at the foot of Iceland’s highest mountain, Hvannadalshnúkur.

Further to the west, discover the towering cliffs of Lómagnúpur, Iceland's highest at 670m, the Skeidarársandur sand plains and Skaftafell National Park, where multiple hikes are possible, including up to the beautiful Svartifoss waterfall. 

Afterwards, drive across the vast Mýrdalssandur sand plains and Eldhraun lava field. As you near Kirkjubæjarklaustur, take the time to discover the beautiful Fjardrárgljúfur canyon.

Overnight in Vík or Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.

(Approximately 250-400 km)

Discover the South Coast before heading back to Reykjavík. On your way there, explore the famous black sand beach and basalt columns of Reynisfjara and discover beautiful waterfalls along your way, such as Skógarfoss and Seljalandsfoss. Then, take a short detour to Dyrhólaey promontory, Iceland’s southernmost point. A small road will take you to the top of this 120m high sea cliff where you often can see some puffins from late April to early August. However, note that access to Dyrhólaey is closed during nesting season, approximately from May 15 until June 23. Past mid-August, the puffins have all gone out to sea and are nowhere to be seen! Finally, you might also want to take some time to explore the Sólheimajökull glacier outlet and its breathtaking surroundings. 

Overnight in Reykjavík.

(Approximately 200-280 km)

Today, you can either enjoy a relaxing time in Reykjavík or you can drive to the Reykjanes volcanic peninsula, where you will discover the Krýsuvík and Gunnuhver geothermal areas, as well as the recent lava fields of Fagradalssfjall volcano which erupted in 2021, 2022 and 2023! Once in that area, you can also enjoy a relaxing bath at the Blue Lagoon if you didn’t get the chance to do it earlier in your stay.

Overnight in Reykjavík.

(Approximately 0-180 km)

Drive to Keflavík International Airport and return your rental car before your flight home. Depending on your flight schedule, you may be able to enjoy your last day strolling around Reykjavík discovering some of its attractions.

(Approximately 50 km)