West Coast Wonders & Southern Classics

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Do you have just a short time in Iceland but want a great overview of the country’s landscapes? Book this West and South Iceland road trip and you can experience Iceland’s most famous natural wonders in a few short days.

Enjoy a delightful week in one of Iceland’s most enchanting and lesser-known regions, one surprisingly close to Reykjavík. West Iceland contains everything that makes Iceland so unique in one area. Discover hot springs, glacier capped volcanoes, gorgeous waterfalls, lava caves and charming villages. You´ll also explore the famous geysers, waterfalls, and black sand beaches of South Iceland’s Golden Circle and South Shore areas. The combination of West and South Iceland provides a perfect overview of the landscapes that make the Land of Fire and Ice so special.

Itinerary

Arrival and Reykjanes Peninsula

Approximate Distance:

50 km / 30 miles, with Reykjanes Peninsula 95 km / 55 miles

Once you have landed at Keflavík Airport, please pick up your luggage and head through customs. Collect your rental car at the airport and proceed to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time in Iceland, we suggest that you take some time to explore the Reykjanes Peninsula (a UNESCO GeoPark site) before you head to Reykjavík.

Reykjanes is a great introduction to Iceland’s unique geology and volcanoes, and the site of eruptions between 2021 and 2025. You’ll see unusual and stunning features around the peninsula, including craters, lava cliffs, and fissures. We recommend a stroll in the surreal Krýsuvík area where you can view quirky colourful mud pools and steam vents bubbling away.

Reykjanes is also home to the renowned Blue Lagoon, and you might enjoy the chance to relax in the soothing azure waters. Important: admission to the Blue Lagoon needs to be booked in advance. We can help you with that!

Drive to your hotel in Reykjavík, the colorful capital of Iceland. Overnight in Reykjavík.

Please note check-in for most hotels begins at 14:00 – 16:00 (2:00pm-4:00pm).

Optional:

Entrance to the Blue Lagoon

South Coast

Approximate Distance:

295 km / 183 miles

Thundering waterfalls – Dramatic Cliffs – Black sand beaches

Drive along the scenic South Shore and the area near the infamous Eyjafjallajökull volcano. This is the volcano whose massive 2010 eruption caused air traffic around the world to be cancelled. We recommend a stop at the interactive LAVA Centre where you’ll learn about the powerful volcanic and tectonic forces that shaped both Iceland and Earth.

Your journey takes you by the beautiful Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls (each one worth visiting) and Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Stop by the seafront village of Vík to explore a dramatic stretch of coastline poised between glacier-topped mountains, rugged sea cliffs and black-sand beaches.

Overnight in the Hella area.

Optional Tours

Icelandic Lava Show in Vík

Glacier Experience – Sólheimajökull Easy Glacier Hike

Glacier Discovery

Black Sand Beach & Plane Wreck ATV Tour

Gullfoss – Geysir – Þingvellir – Borgarfjörður

Approximate Distance:

240 km / 149 miles

Golden falls – Lively geysers – Famous national park

Visit the amazing sites of Gullfoss waterfall and the Geysir hot spring area. Gullfoss is considered by many visitors to be Iceland’s most beautiful waterfall. Geysir is an active geothermal field with many bubbling steam vents and spouting hot springs, including the famous Strokkur geyser. If you enjoy adventure, you might try snorkeling in clear waters between two continents.

A wonderful way to relax is a visit to the Fontana Steam Baths, the Secret Lagoon, or the Laugarás Lagoon. These places are a part of the area’s history and popular with both Icelanders and visitors.

Visit Þingvellir National Park, site of the ancient Icelandic Viking parliament and a jewel of nature. Here you can see the meeting point between the North American and Europe continents. Several walking trails take visitors to historical points of interest.

Head to Borgarfjörður in West Iceland via Iceland’s famous Road 1.

Overnight in the Borgarfjörður area.

Optional Tours

Fontana Geothermal Baths

Secret Lagoon

Laugarás Lagoon Entrance

Snorkelling Silfra (Meet on Location)

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Approximate Distance:

230 km / 149 miles

Sea cliffs with birdlife – Glacier-crowned mountain – Rock formations

Today you are for a treat: A whole day to explore the countless natural wonders of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, home of Snæfellsjökull National Park. Snæfellsnes is known as “Iceland in a Nutshell” since you can see samples of most Icelandic landscapes in one area.

Visit Arnarstapi sea cliffs where many types of seabirds live. If you are travelling during the summer and enjoy hiking, there is a great nature trail you can hike between Arnarstapi and Hellnar villages. (About 4.3 km/2.7 miles). Crowning the area is the glacier topped Snæfellsjökull volcano, legendary home to a guardian spirit. Driving through the park gives you a chance to view the mountain from many different angles.

Visit Djúpalónssandur with its mysteriously shaped rocks and black pebbled beach. Then head along the north coast through lively fishing villages. Keep an eye out for Kirkjufell, the photogenic Church Mountain. Ólafsvík town is a great place for whale watching tours.

Overnight in the Snæfellsnes Peninsula area.

Optional Tours

Vatnshellir Caving (from Snæfellsnes Peninsula)

Whale Watching from Ólafsvík village

Snæfellsnes – Borgarfjörður – Reykjavík

Approximate Distance:

290 km / 180 miles

Lava waterfalls – Europe’s most powerful hot spring – Whale fjord

Today, explore the beautiful Borgarfjörður region. While in the area, you might visit the colourful Víðgelmir lava cave or take an exciting ride up Langjökull glacier in a special truck to view a unique ice tunnel and ice cave and see a glacier from the inside out.

Visit two scenic, impressive waterfalls. Hraunfossar, the Lava Falls, appears as though glacial water is bursting through lava formations. The nearby Barnafoss falls has brilliant blue waters.

Stop at Deildartunguhver, the most powerful and fastest hot springs in Europe. You can’t bathe in these springs, but the nearby Krauma natural geothermal baths uses water from Deildartunguhver combined with cool mountain springs to create the ideal temperature for relaxation.

If you prefer a more nature-influenced hot spring experience, we recommend the Hvammsvík Nature Area in the Whale Fjord region. You can relax in a series of stone lined seaside pools with beautiful views over the sea and Icelandic nature. Though modern, this hot spring area’s design reflects the rustic charm of hot pools of Iceland’s old-fashioned days.

Head to Reykjavík in the afternoon for your last night in Iceland.

Overnight in Reykjavík.

Optional Tours

Krauma Nature Baths

Into the Glacier – Classic Tour (from Húsafell)

Hvammsvík Hot Springs

Sky Lagoon Pass

Approximate Distance:

50 km / 30 miles

Reykjavík no later than at least 3 hours before your flight departure. It takes approximately 1 hour to drive to the airport, and check-in will start 2 hours before your departure.

If you did not visit the Blue Lagoon on your first day but have some free time today, you might want to use the opportunity en route to the airport. For this detour, please be sure to allow for at least 2-21/2 hours extra so you’ll have ample time at the lagoon.

Another hot pool experience you might consider on your way to the airport is the Sky Lagoon located just outside Reykjavík. This seaside spa offers a wonderfully relaxing Skjól Ritual that combines modern and historical spa experiences.

Your rental car should be returned to the airport service area, which is located only 2 minutes from the airport building.

Notes