Itinerary
- Day 1
Keflavik to Reykjavik
You'll land at Keflavik Airport and pick up your rental car for the drive to Reykjavik. Depending on when you arrive, there's time to check out the Reykjanes Peninsula, a UNESCO GeoPark with volcanic craters, lava cliffs, and views of the Mid-Atlantic ridge. The Gunnuhver area has colorful mud pools and steam vents worth seeing. If you're interested, the Blue Lagoon offers a relaxing soak before heading to your hotel in Reykjavik for the night.
- Start point
- Keflavik International Airport / Keflavíkurflugvöllur (KEF), Keflavíkurflugvelli, Sandgerði, Southern Peninsula Region 235, Iceland (Hertz Car rental desk)
Optional Activities
- Explore Reykjanes Peninsula and volcanic features
- Visit Gunnuhver area with mud pools and steam vents
- Relax at the Blue Lagoon (admission must be booked in advance)
Landmarks Reykjanes Peninsula Gunnuhver Blue Lagoon 
- Day 2
Reykjavik to Borgarfjörður
Head to Borgarfjördur through the Hvalfördur tunnel or take the scenic coastal route instead. The Hvammsvik area has natural seawater hot spring pools if you want to stop there. After checking out Borgarnes Settlement Museum to learn about Viking history, you'll see Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot springs, and Hraunfossar waterfalls. Krauma geothermal baths are available for a relaxing break. If conditions are right, watch for northern lights before settling in for the night in the Borgarfjördur area.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Hvammsvik nature area with warm seawater pools
- Visit Borgarnes Settlement Museum
- Visit Deildartunguhver hot springs
- Visit Hraunfossar (Lava Falls) waterfalls
- Relax at Krauma natural geothermal baths
- Northern lights viewing (weather dependent)
Landmarks Hvammsvik Borgarnes Settlement Museum Deildartunguhver Hraunfossar Krauma - Day 3
Borgarfjörður or Snæfellsnes Peninsula
You have two different options today. Stay in Borgarfjördur and explore volcanic landscapes and glacier views, with chances to explore Langjökull glacier's ice cave by 18-wheeled vehicle, visit Viðgelmir lava cave, or do a guided winter hike to Húsafell Canyon Baths. Alternatively, drive to Snæfellsnes Peninsula to see wind-tangled Arnarstapi sea cliffs, the rocky Djúpálónsandur beach, Snæfellsjökull glacier-volcano, and the iconic Kirkjufell mountain. You'll stay overnight in the Borgarfjördur area either way.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore ice cave and tunnel in Langjökull glacier (18-wheeled vehicle adventure)
- Guided visit to Viðgelmir lava cave
- Guided winter hike to Húsafell Canyon Baths
- Visit Arnarstapi sea cliffs
- Visit Djúpálónssandur rocky beach
- View Snafellsjökull glacier-volcano
- Visit Kirkjufell mountain
Landmarks Langjökull Glacier Viðgelmir Lava Cave Húsafell Canyon Baths Arnarstapi Djúpálónssandur Snafellsjökull Kirkjufell - Day 4
Golden Circle Route
Start at Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO site where you can walk between the North American and European continental plates and see where the world's oldest parliament met. From there, head to Geysir's geothermal fields with their colorful mud pools and the Strokkur geyser that erupts roughly every ten minutes. The dramatic two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall comes next before driving south for overnight accommodation. Optional stops include Laugarvatn Fontana or the Secret Lagoon for geothermal pools. Northern lights may be visible depending on weather and darkness.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Walk between continental plates at Þingvellir National Park
- Explore Geysir geothermal fields
- View Strokkur geyser eruptions
- Visit Gullfoss waterfall
- Bathe at Laugarvatn Fontana geothermal pools
- Visit Secret Lagoon
- Northern lights viewing (weather dependent)
Landmarks Þingvellir National Park Geysir Strokkur Geyser Gullfoss Waterfall Laugarvatn Fontana Secret Lagoon 
- Day 5
South Coast
Travel along Iceland's south coast farming region on the Ring Road, spotting Icelandic horses and farms. You'll see Skógafoss waterfall and the Skógar Folk Museum with its turf-roofed buildings. Stop in Vik village for the black sand beach and dramatic black basalt columns of Reynisdrangar. As you drive toward Southeast Iceland, you'll spot glaciers including Mýrdalsjökull and Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier. Overnight accommodation is in Southeast Iceland.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Skógafoss waterfall
- Visit Skógar Folk Museum
- Visit Vik village
- View black sand beach at Vik
- View Reynisdrangar basalt columns
Landmarks Skógafoss Skógar Folk Museum Vik Reynisdrangar Mýrdalsjökull Vatnajökull 
- Day 6
Vatnajökull National Park
Spend the day exploring Vatnajökull National Park, Western Europe's largest glacier area. At Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon, you'll see blue, white, turquoise, and black-streaked icebergs. Walk onto Diamond Beach where icebergs rest on black sand. The Skaftafell area offers winter hiking between two glaciers. A guided Super Jeep tour to crystal ice caves deep in the glacier is available if booked ahead, or try Fjallsárlón Iceberg Lagoon which often has fewer visitors. Guided glacier hikes are also an option. You'll stay in Southeast Iceland tonight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon
- Visit Diamond Beach
- Guided Super Jeep tour to crystal ice cave (must be booked in advance)
- Visit Fjallsárlón Iceberg Lagoon
- Winter hiking at Skaftafell area
- Guided glacier hike at Skaftafell
Landmarks Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon Diamond Beach Fjallsárlón Iceberg Lagoon Skaftafell Vatnajökull National Park 
- Day 7
South Coast to Reykjavik
Drive back toward Reykjavik along the south coast, seeing familiar landscapes from a new perspective. Walk behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall if trail conditions allow. Pass through areas affected by the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption. Check out Selfoss Center with its reconstructed 19th and early 20th century buildings, restaurants, pubs, and galleries. Stop in Hveragerði for its geothermal greenhouses and local restaurants. Optional activities include horseback riding, hiking, or e-biking. Return to Reykjavik by evening, and consider the Sky Lagoon seaside geothermal spa near the city if you're interested. Overnight in Reykjavik.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Walk behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall (subject to trail conditions)
- Visit Selfoss Center with 19th-20th century reconstructed buildings
- Stop in Hveragerði village
- Guided horseback riding near Hveragerði
- Guided hiking near Hveragerði
- Guided e-biking near Hveragerði
- Relax at Sky Lagoon (7-Step Ritual)
Landmarks Seljalandsfoss Eyjafjallajökull Selfoss Center Hveragerði Sky Lagoon 
- Day 8
Departure
Leave your Reykjavik hotel no later than 3 hours before your flight departure time for the 1-hour drive to Keflavik International Airport. Plan to arrive about 2 hours before departure for check-in. If you haven't visited the Blue Lagoon yet, you can stop on the way and allow 2 to 2.5 extra hours for that. Return your rental car to the airport service area (2 minutes from the terminal), then take the shuttle to the departure hall.
- End point
- Keflavik International Airport / Keflavíkurflugvöllur (KEF), Keflavíkurflugvelli, Sandgerði, Southern Peninsula Region 235, Iceland (Car Rental drop of location)
Optional Activities
- Visit Blue Lagoon en route to airport (if not visited earlier, allow 2–2.5 hours extra)
Landmarks Keflavik International Airport Blue Lagoon
