Enjoy the beautiful and diverse landscapes of south Iceland, including Þingvellir National Park, the great Geysir area, Skaftafell, Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon and much more. The driving distances per day are moderate and leisurely optional activities can be found all along the route, making this 7 day tour suitable for families or active travellers.
Just a few of the majestic sights you’ll take in during your trip.
A day-by-day plan to guide your Nordic adventure.
On arrival to Keflavík Airport, you will be greeted by a driver who will take you to your accommodation in Reykjavík. After settling in, the rest of the day is free for you to explore the vibrant city centre with its abundance of museums, restaurants and bars to suit all tastes. If you're interested in checking out Icelandic design or experiencing the city's thriving coffee culture, head to the main street, Laugavegur, and enjoy its various shops and cosy cafes.
Spend the night in Reykjavik.
Start the day by picking up your rental car before taking in some of the best known attractions in the south of Iceland. The first leg of your journey is along the south coast, with a stop at the fairy tale-like Seljalandsfoss waterfall—the only one of its kind in Iceland where you can walk behind the cascade on a footpath!* For those who are a bit more adventurous, we recommend visiting a hidden waterfall in the canyon, known as Gljúfrabúi, located near Seljalandsfoss. Further along you can visit the magnificent 60 metre free-falling Skógafoss waterfall in Skógar. From there, the journey takes you past the beautiful Eyjafjöll mountain range.
Spend the night in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.
Driving distance approx. 250 km / 155 miles
Kick off the day by exploring Skaftafell, part of Vatnajökull National Park and home of the amazing Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon where you can take a boat ride among the floating icebergs that vary in colour and size. You can spend time marvelling at the area’s great beauty by trekking the many well-maintained hiking trails, including a short walk to the beautiful Svartifoss waterfall. In this area you can also go on a guided glacier walk or try your hand at ice-climbing with an optional guided tour.* Journey back to your accommodation along the South Coast for the evening.
Spend the night in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.
Driving distance: 250 km/155 miles
*NOTE: Venturing onto a glacier or engaging in ice climbing should only ever be attempted with the assistance of a licensed and experienced guide. It is extremely dangerous to go on your own. If a guided tour is of interest to you, please contact Nordic Visitor.
Drive along the south coast today and visit worthwhile stops along the way, including the Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon and the Dverghamrar "elf cliffs." Then, check out the volcanic black sand beaches* near the village of Vík í Mýrdal and the 120 metre-high promontory of Dyrhólaey** with its spectacular rock arch, jagged bird cliffs and awe-inspiring views along with the Reynisdrangar basalt columns jutting out of the ocean. It is ideal today to join some of the optional activities available in the area such as glacier walking, snowmobiling or horse riding.
Spend the night in the Selfoss area.
Driving distance: 200 km/124 miles
* Caution should always be exercised when visiting Reynisfjara beach near Vík due to powerful rogue/sneaker waves and the strong undertow current. Always stay far back from the water’s edge and never turn your back to the sea.
**The cliffs at Dyrhólaey are closed from mid-May until late June due to the puffin nesting season.
You have a full day to visit the Golden Circle region, a popular route for viewing some of the best-known natural sites in Iceland. Visit the great Geysir area and explore the bubbling mud pots and spouting Strokkur geyser before arriving at the picture perfect two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall. After, you could choose to visit the old bishopry at Skálholt and the explosion crater Kerið, now partially filled with bright blue water. Complete the circle at Þingvellir National Park, which appears on UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list for being historically significant to the founding of Icelandic democracy and a place of immense natural beauty.
Spend the night in the Selfoss area.
Driving distance: 190 km / 118 miles
Continue your journey to the volcanic wonderland of the Reykjanes Peninsula, where you can visit the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, set amidst a haunting black lava field. The waters are rich in silica and blue-green algae, giving the lagoon its reputed healing powers and characteristic milky blue colour. In-water massages are available (must be booked in advance) but you can also unwind in a sauna and steam bath or get a soothing massage under the mini waterfall.*
If you wish to head directly to Reykjavík without visiting the Reykjanes peninsula, you can drive along the south coast back to the capital city. Worthwhile stops along the way include the surroundings of the small village Hveragerði, which has a lovely park. Once back in Reykjavík, you have the option of doing some last-minute shopping or simply spending the night at your leisure.
Spend the night in Reykjavík.
Driving distance approx. 180 km / 111 mi.
*Reservations are required for the Blue Lagoon. Entrance to the Blue Lagoon is not included in the price of the tour.
On your day of departure, a shuttle bus will collect you from your hotel in Reykjavík and deliver you back to Keflavík International Airport ahead of your scheduled flight.
We recommend adding your extra activities to the tour now for the best booking experience and to secure your spot, as activities are likely to sell out.
16998ISK
ISK
5480ISK
ISK
36900ISK
ISK
28000ISK
ISK
19000ISK
ISK
55000ISK
ISK
31000ISK
ISK
5290ISK
ISK
16998ISK
ISK
5480ISK
ISK
Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.
Don’t worry, we’ve got this covered.
We recommend that you read carefully through the following information before booking this summer self-drive tour in Iceland. We’ve answered the most frequently asked questions here so you know what to expect. You’ll also find more practical advice and attraction recommendations in our online Iceland Travel Guide.
On a self-drive tour, Nordic Visitor supplies you with a quality rental car and a detailed personal itinerary. You act as your own tour guide and driver, and you get to pick the road trip music!
All your services will be pre-booked by your personal travel consultant at Nordic Visitor. This includes your rental car and accommodation in Iceland, along with airport transfers and planned activities, as specified in the itinerary.
And rest assured that we’re with you every step of the way. Upon your arrival, you’ll receive personalised information, including an itinerary, map, leaflets about driving in Iceland, and our very own Iceland Travel Guide. You’ll also have in-car Wi-Fi included in your car rental, meaning you’ll be able to stay connected and check things on the go.
Plus, you’ll have access to our 24/7 helpline during your trip should you need to contact us.
Yes, when you book your Iceland tour with Nordic Visitor, you always get airport transfers to and from Keflavík Airport included. This will be a private, shared or bus transfer, depending on your itinerary. Please check the details of your tour to confirm.
If you add extra nights to your stay before or after the scheduled trip, we’ll rearrange your transfers to fit your new itinerary.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with your travel consultant if you have any specific requests about optional activities or services.
During your self-drive tour, you’ll stay in accommodation hand-picked by our local Iceland travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and selected hotels and guesthouses based on excellent ratings, comfort and our personal experience.
On our self-drive packages, you can choose from single, double and triple rooms. Please note that in Iceland room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America.
For example, a double bed often consists of 2 single beds pushed together. Twin rooms are 2 separate single beds. Triple rooms include a double bed along with an extra bed, rollaway or sofa bed. And single rooms are often smaller than the standard double.
If you have anything specific in mind, please contact us to discuss customising your accommodation options.
By booking with Nordic Visitor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that there’s always someone there for you throughout your trip.
For support and advice during the day, you can call our office. And if anything unexpected happens outside working hours, you can reach us on our 24/7 helpline.
During your tour, there will always be a Reykjavík-based travel expert on call to handle any unforeseen situations, such as unusual weather or events.
If you’re arriving from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand, you won’t need a visa to visit Iceland.
Visiting from another country? You can find the complete list of countries whose nationals require a visa to enter Iceland on the website of Iceland’s Directorate of Immigration. If you do require a visa, they maintain a list of local embassies that can assist you with the process.
Your passport must also be valid for at least 3 months from your departure from Iceland. It’s good to check your passport expiry date early in case you need to renew it.
Read more about visas, airports and airlines in the getting to Iceland section of our travel guide.
Travelling with your kids? No problem! You'll be able to enter your children's ages during the booking process. This lets us know whether to arrange either a baby cot or roll-away bed for your trip.
If you'd like us to arrange for a car seat to be provided for your trip, please let us know ahead of time. It's also possible to book this directly with the car rental agency. This will incur a small, extra cost.
Only you can pick the best time to visit Iceland for your trip. It’ll depend on how much time you have to explore, what you want to see in Iceland and any events you might like to attend.
In summer, June to August, you’ll have milder temperatures and longer daylight hours, compared to the winter. This is ideal for outdoor excursions and sightseeing.
If you’d like to experience the top attractions with fewer visitors around then you could book your summer trip in May or September. These shoulder season months have more tour and attraction availability.
The winter months are also popular, but generally quieter, apart from the Christmas holiday season. This is the ideal time to try to spot the northern lights.
Find out what annual Icelandic events and festivals are on in our travel guide. Or read more about the best time to visit Iceland on our blog.
Driving in Iceland during the summer months might be slightly different than what you’re used to. For this reason, you’ll want to make yourself aware of local driving laws and potential road hazards, such as:
And finally, with all the beautiful scenery, you’ll want to take it slow and enjoy the drive!
For more information, we strongly recommend taking a few minutes to read through our guide to driving in Iceland. Additionally, when you arrive on your tour, you’ll receive a brochure telling you more about driving in Iceland.
Because of its northerly location close to the Arctic Circle, Iceland enjoys long days throughout the summer.
Around the summer solstice, from early June until mid-July, you’ll experience almost 24 hours of daylight. This phenomenon, known as the midnight sun, occurs within the Arctic Circle and is when the sun doesn’t fully set below the horizon.
These long daylight hours give you plenty of time to drive around and explore. That said, you may want to pack a sleeping mask if you are a light sleeper or tend to wake up at dawn.
Find out what the daylight hours will be during the month of your visit in this guide to time and daylight in Iceland.
Summer in Iceland is mild and boasts the best weather and longest days of the year. You can expect temperatures of around 10–15°C (50–59°F), with potential lows of 5°C (41°F) and highs of 25°C (77°F).
It’s good to know that weather conditions are changeable in Iceland, so you should come ready for sun, rain and wind. For more information on the local climate, read the page Iceland weather conditions.
Please note that sightseeing is dependent on weather and road conditions. This means that your itinerary might need to be altered if these conditions are not favourable during your visit.
Even in summertime Iceland’s climate can feel cool. As you’ll probably spend a lot of time outdoors, you should be ready for a variety of weather conditions.
Here is a recommended summer packing list for your trip to Iceland:
For more information, check out this Iceland packing guide.
On your Iceland road trip, you should budget for petrol costs of around 300-400 ISK per litre.
As for meals, your breakfast is included at all your accommodation in Iceland. For the rest of your meals, your spending money will depend on the standard of restaurants you decide to go to.
Budget between 2,000–3,000 ISK for lunch per person, each day. Dinners at casual restaurants might cost between 3,000–6,000 ISK. Meanwhile at upscale restaurants, you can expect to pay 7,000 ISK or more. This does not include the cost of alcoholic beverages.
Yes, you can customise this tour online. During the booking process, you can add extra nights to your itinerary as well as optional day trips, excursions and upgrades.
If you have something specific in mind, get in touch with your travel consultant and they’ll create your dream trip.
It’s best to book as soon as you can to secure your preferred travel dates. Once you have picked your tour, check the availability calendar to see which months are open for booking. Then, select the date you want and complete your booking.
Nordic Visitor offers 10–20% deposits so you can reserve your trip as early as it’s convenient for you. The remaining balance is due 30 days before you travel.
Many tours are also open for the following year if you like to plan well ahead. And if you have any questions or need advice, you can always contact us.
After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip.
At that time, they’ll confirm the availability of your tour. Then the booking process starts, which may take a few weeks. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip. You will also receive more information about what to expect during your trip.
No need! Nordic Visitor is already working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours.
Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund.
You can get in touch with our Iceland travel experts ahead of your trip if you have any questions. The live chat option is useful for getting a quick reply as someone answers live every day during office opening hours.
Once you’ve booked, we’ll provide you with a travel guide packed full of local tips and top attractions for your visit. You can also check out our online Iceland Travel Guide where we’ve compiled useful information about topics, including:
After you have booked your tour, it will only take a few days to confirm its availability. But it may take a few weeks to create your itinerary and book everything. Once your trip details are finalised, we’ll email you copies of your travel documents.
When you arrive in Iceland, you’ll receive a welcome bag with hard copies of your itinerary, attraction and tour vouchers, the Nordic Visitor Iceland Travel Guide and more.
So when do you check in? And what can you expect upon landing in Keflavík?
After picking up your luggage, you will be greeted by a driver holding a sign with your name in the arrivals hall. The driver will hand over your welcome package with hard copies of your travel documents. You’ll then be driven to your hotel in Reykjavík.
Check-in times vary between hotels and guesthouses, but it normally starts between 2 PM and 4 PM.
You are welcome to request an early check-in for an additional fee. Although this isn’t always available, you’ll be able to store your luggage at the hotel so you can start exploring before check-in. Please contact your travel consultant well in advance of your arrival if you’d like an early check-in.
When you depart may depend on the time of your return flight. Check out early if you’re heading to the airport for a morning flight. On the other hand, if you’re flying home later in the day, you might like to enjoy a leisurely day or visit one more attraction.
You will need to check out from your room, but will be able to store your luggage at the hotel reception. Simply return later to collect your bags before catching your transfer to the airport.
All bookings are billed in Icelandic Króna (ISK), the official currency of Iceland.
Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate as issued by the Central Bank of Iceland. This means conversions from ISK to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.
Just wait until you see this with your own eyes.
We don’t like to brag, so we’ll let our happy customers do it for us.
VIÐJA, our travel consultant, was terrific to work with, and explained all the trip details. Everything worked out just as she said. The Hertz car rental was just as expected and the hotels were all comfortable and clean. And yes, the scenery was amazing!
Customer service from Clarence was the best. He even sent out a weather warning during our visit. Hertz rental car was brand new and we delivered it after the trip in the same condition, with extra mileage and in dire need of a car wash.Used taxi service a few times and the vehicles were clean and the fares reasonable, and drivers knew their territory. Hotels were good and staff friendly and helpful. Best hotel was Magma on the south coast; great staff, great views and best food.We did a lot of walking in Reykjavik, shopping and eating . Everyone is very friendly.Best events: Perlan museum tour, helicopter tour with pilot narrating sights and history, Sky lagoon. Scenery was spectacular everywhere: volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls.
The trip exceeded my expectation. and Nordic Visitor created the kind of experience that we were looking for. Their sequencing of all of our activities worked really well. We had a good mix of days with amazing activities and other 'free' days which allowed for spontaneity. I had asked Gudrun to give us a list of the various towns/sites that were in between our planned stops, so that we could pick and choose what to do depending on whatever time that we had available. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a wonderful, huge driving map of Iceland with our itinerary highlighted and a large spiral bound book containing the itinerary and lots of useful information. It was impressive and very useful.
Using Nordic Visitor for our trip made everything seamless. We are a family of five, with children ages 3-14. Through the help of our consultant, we had many wonderful recommendations that filled our time that the whole family loved. Transport from one place to another was easy, and every hotel was top notch. Each day was filled with something new and exciting, but we were never overbooked. Whenever I had questions, they were able to answer them, may it be on excursions, hotels or general Icelandic costs. I would definitely recommend this group in booking your next adventure.
Everything was great! Our travel consultant was able to answer all of our questions. The accommodations were wonderful and the extra excursions were amazing.
We were very pleased with our recent trip to Iceland. Put over 700 miles on the rental car, and loved every minute. Having a person meet us at the airport was a nice touch, and helpful. Also appreciated the wireless hotspot in the vehicle at all times.
Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.
You can expect rooms in good quality guesthouses, farmhouses, or hostels. Most of the properties are run by small, family-run busi..
ViewIn this category, you’ll stay in standard rooms in good quality 3-star hotels. Or, you'll spend the night in similar rooms in rura..
ViewWith Superior accommodation, you’ll enjoy standard rooms in 4-star hotels or boutique guesthouses. You might also stay in superior..
ViewEnjoy the journey, in the rental car of your choice.
16998ISK
ISK
5480ISK
ISK
36900ISK
ISK
28000ISK
ISK
19000ISK
ISK
55000ISK
ISK
31000ISK
ISK
5290ISK
ISK
14990ISK
ISK
33999ISK
ISK
14900ISK
ISK
19900ISK
ISK
10100ISK
ISK
14990ISK
ISK
33999ISK
ISK
22900ISK
ISK
16990ISK
ISK
5480ISK
ISK
36900ISK
ISK
31000ISK
ISK
15800ISK
ISK
2250ISK
ISK
Whether you have a single question or a special request, we're here for you.
.jpg?345x231;crop)
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
