Nine days covering Iceland's two most rewarding regions. Snæfellsnes in the west, the Golden Circle, and the full South Coast to the glacier lagoon and back. A Travel Consultant who knows every stop worth making along the way.
Price from 1808 EUR per person
This tour can be customized for following traveler types:
The South and West covers the two most concentrated regions of natural spectacle in Iceland. Snæfellsnes, with its glacier, its black church, and Kirkjufell rising from the water. Then the Golden Circle and the full South Coast: waterfalls, black sand beaches, Vatnajökull hanging over everything, and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon at the end of the road. Nine days gives all of it the space it deserves.
Your Travel Consultant knows this route. Any questions before you leave, they’re easy to reach by email or phone. Accommodation and any pre-booked activities will be confirmed. The handwritten map goes with you. The rest is yours.
A private transfer meets you at Keflavík International Airport and takes you straight to your hotel in central Reykjavík. The drive in crosses open lava fields: the landscape starts before the city does. Check in, collect your travel documents, and take the afternoon at your own pace.
Reykjavík is compact and easy on foot. Hallgrímskirkja church has a lift to the viewing platform and a clear view across the rooftops. Harpa concert hall and the Sun Voyager sculpture sit along the flat waterfront. The Old Harbour is the right place for a first evening.
Optional — book through your Travel Consultant
Suggested hotel: Hotel Saga (Superior) or Hotel Skuggi (Classic)
Collect your car and head north through the Hvalfjörður tunnel or the scenic fjord route. Borgarnes is worth a stop: the Settlement Center tells Iceland's Norse history through a well-designed indoor exhibition that earns an hour. Hraunfossar follows: spring water seeping from beneath an ancient lava field into the Hvítá river in a long curtain of small cascades, one of Iceland's more quietly extraordinary sights. Barnafoss is a short walk upstream. You can go on an optional hike to see Glymur, one of Iceland's highest waterfalls, if the scenic fjord route suits your timing.
Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot spring, produces 180 liters of near-boiling water per second and is worth a stop just for the scale of it. From there, the road leads onto the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
Optional — book through your Travel Consultant
Suggested hotel: Hotel Búðir (Superior) or Fosshotel Stykkishólmur (Classic)
A full day on Snæfellsnes, a peninsula that manages to compress almost everything Iceland has to offer into a single stretch of road. Búðakirkja black church stands alone in a lava field: one of the most photographed buildings in Iceland and one of the few that earns it. Arnarstapi village sits where the lava meets the sea, with dramatic sea arches and a coastal path carved through the cliffs. Hellnar Cove is a short walk further along that same path, quieter, with basalt arches and nesting birds along the cliffs.
On the west tip of the peninsula, Djúpalónssandur black pebble beach is enclosed by lava cliffs and feels almost completely isolated. On the north side, Kirkjufell mountain rises in a near-perfect cone from the water at Grundarfjörður: the most photographed peak in Iceland, and one of those places that earns the reputation. Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum is nearby if you want to try fermented shark. Stykkishólmur is worth a stop: coloured houses along a natural harbour, a view across Breiðafjörður bay.
Optional — book through your Travel Consultant
Suggested hotel: Hotel Búðir (Superior) or Fosshotel Stykkishólmur (Classic)
Drive south from Snæfellsnes and east toward Þingvellir National Park: a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull slowly apart and you can walk the rift between them. The Alþingi parliament was established here in 930 AD.
The Golden Circle continues to Geysir geothermal field, where Strokkur erupts every few minutes, and Gullfoss waterfall, two-tiered and thundering into its canyon. Kerið volcanic crater is worth the short stop on the drive south.
Optional — book through your Travel Consultant
Suggested hotel: Hotel Grímsborgir (Superior) or Hotel South Coast (Classic)
The South Coast is Iceland at its most dramatic, and most of it is right there from the road. Seljalandsfoss comes first: walk behind it if conditions allow, which in summer they usually do. Wear something waterproof. Skógafoss follows, 60 meters of vertical drop with the Skógar Folk Museum beside it.
Reynisfjara black sand beach is where the basalt columns rise in perfect geometric stacks and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks stand offshore. Your Travel Consultant will make sure you know the wave rules before you get there. Overnight in Vík or Kirkjubæjarklaustur: your Travel Consultant will have confirmed the better option for the following day's start.
Optional — book through your Travel Consultant
Suggested hotel: Hotel Vík (Superior) or Hotel Katla (Classic)
Drive east through the Eldhraun lava field, ancient and carpeted in moss. Foss á Síðu waterfall sits close to the road and is worth a brief stop. Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park is next: a green oasis between Europe's largest glacier and the vast black sand plains. The walk to Svartifoss waterfall earns its reputation, basalt columns framing black water in a setting that looks deliberate. Svínafellsjökull glacier tongue is visible from the road.
Then Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon: icebergs the size of houses drifting in silence across water so clear the color shifts from white to deep blue. Diamond Beach is just across the road, the same icebergs on black sand.
Optional — book through your Travel Consultant
Suggested hotel: Hotel Jökulsárlón (Superior) or Hotel Höfn (Classic)
Turn west and begin the return. The drive from Höfn gives the South Coast back in reverse: the glaciers above, the black sand plains below, the lava fields lining the road. Kirkjubæjarklaustur is worth a brief stop. Kirkjugólf, a natural formation of flat hexagonal basalt tiles worn smooth by glacial action, is a short walk from the road and one of those stops most visitors miss.
Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon is a deep, dramatic gorge just off the road and one of the more unexpected finds on the South Coast. Vík is worth a brief stop. Reynisfjara black sand beach is worth a second look if you have time. Dyrhólaey headland gives the wide coastal view. Overnight in the Hvolsvöllur area, positioned well for tomorrow's drive.
Optional — book through your Travel Consultant
Suggested hotel: Hotel Lóa (Superior) or Hotel Stracta (Classic)
The return to Reykjavík takes a deliberate detour through the Reykjanes Peninsula: an active geothermal landscape that most Iceland visitors fly over without stopping. Drive south from Selfoss toward the coast. Seltún geothermal area has boiling mud pools and sulfurous vents right beside the path, and the colorful mineral formations on the hillside behind make it one of the more photogenic geothermal stops in Iceland.
Kleifarvatn, Iceland's largest lake on the Reykjanes Peninsula, sits just off the road with a black sand shore and an almost eerie quiet. Continue along the coast to Grindavík and the Bridge Between the Continents: a short walkable bridge over the visible rift between the tectonic plates, a neat bookend to Þingvellir on Day 4. The Blue Lagoon is an optional stop before returning the car in Reykjavík. If you want to go, your Travel Consultant can have the timing and entrance pre-arranged. Last night in the city.
Optional — book through your Travel Consultant
Suggested hotel: Hotel Saga (Superior) or Hotel Skuggi (Classic)
Your private transfer to Keflavík Airport is arranged and ready. If your flight departs in the afternoon, Reykjavík is worth one last morning on foot. The Old Harbour for a final coffee, the waterfront, the kind of unhurried morning that closes a trip properly.
If you want to extend, an extra night in Reykjavík is straightforward to arrange through your Travel Consultant.
Optional — book through your Travel Consultant
Let your personal travel consultant know what other activities catch your eye and we’ll add them to your custom-made trip itinerary.
We handpick accommodations to ensure memorable stays for every type of traveler.
Experience a higher level of comfort with our carefully selected comfort accommodations, each offering private facilities including a shower and toilet for your convenience and privacy. These lodges fall under the 3-star hotel category, providing a perfect blend of quality and value. Most properties boast an on-site restaurant where you can enjoy a variety of meals without needing to venture far. In Reykjavik, all comfort accommodations are ideally situated in central locations, giving you easy access to the city’s main attractions, shopping districts, and vibrant cultural spots. This category represents a significant upgrade in both comfort and service compared to budget options, making it an excellent choice for travelers seeking a cozy yet affordable stay. To make your mornings hassle-free, a delicious breakfast is included with your stay.
Our quality accommodations feature spacious private rooms with en-suite bathrooms, offering the choice of a relaxing bath or a refreshing shower, along with a private toilet to ensure maximum comfort and privacy. These rooms represent the best available lodging options, found within prestigious 4-star hotels or the finest, highest-quality lodges across each region. In Reykjavik, all quality accommodations are centrally located, placing you within easy reach of the city’s key attractions, shopping areas, and vibrant dining and cultural scenes. These accommodations provide an elevated experience with superior comfort, thoughtful amenities, and attentive service designed to make your stay truly memorable. To enhance your visit, a complimentary breakfast is included each morning, helping you start your day well-nourished and ready to explore.
Our luxury accommodations feature exquisite suites and premium rooms within top-tier lodges and resorts, offering an elegant and sophisticated ambiance. Designed with refined decor and upscale touches, these accommodations provide a seamless blend of style, comfort, and exclusivity. Personalized services cater to your every need, ensuring a truly indulgent and tailored experience. In Reykjavik, all luxury accommodations are centrally located, placing you at the heart of the city’s vibrant cultural scene, fine dining, shopping, and key attractions. Whether you’re seeking a tranquil retreat or an immersive urban experience, these upscale lodgings deliver the perfect base. Classy, elegant, and supremely comfortable, our luxury options strive to provide a first-class stay marked by exceptional amenities, impeccable service, and attention to detail. Every aspect is carefully crafted to make your visit not just memorable, but extraordinary.
Prepare for your adventure with these essential tips and information for a smooth journey.
