Iceland Winter Tour – South and West For 10 days

The Iceland winter holidays version of our Snæfellsnes and south coast tour. Ten adventurous days in the land of ice and fire. Snæfellsnes being one of the most spectacular places in Iceland combined with the rough landscapes of the south creates a combination not to be missed. This Iceland winter tour package gives an opportunity to see the perfect scope shaped mountain Kirkjufell, fishing villages of the west, the Vatnajökull national park and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, just to name a few. On your way, you will have a great opportunity to get acquainted with Icelandic sagas and you will see all the major natural attractions including volcanoes, geysers, and waterfalls. If you are lucky, you might also witness the magical northern lights during the long and cold, yet peaceful Icelandic winter nights.

SEASON
Oct - Apr
travel style
Self-Drive Tours
Duration
10 days / 9 nights
Location
South Iceland, West Iceland
accessibility
Not Recommended

The itinerary

This itinerary can be offered throughout the year (some adjustments might be required depending on travel dates).

Day 1 - Arrival in Reykjavik

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DAY ENDS IN
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About your day

Welcome to your Iceland winter holidays! After you have cleared customs, you will be transferred to your hotel in Reykjavik. If you arrive around noon, it is possible to stop at the Blue Lagoon before continuing to the capital. After you have checked in to your hotel and received your travel documents, we would like to have an optional private information meeting during office hours at our headquarters. After the meeting, you’ll have free time in Reykjavik to explore and enjoy the northernmost capital of the world. Overnight in downtown Reykjavík.

Day 2: Snæfellsnes Peninsula

dAY STARTS IN
Reykjavík
DAY ENDS IN
Snæfellsnes area
DRIVING DISTANCE
~248 km / 154 miles
About your day

Today, a representative from our car rental company will be picking you up in the morning, taking you to their headquarters, where you will sign the rental agreement and receive your rental car. You should then be ready to leave town and head to the Snæfellsnes peninsula. In the town of Stykkishólmur, the largest town in the area, you will find the dark and magnificent Norwegian House (built in 1832 as the first double story timber house in Iceland), which is now the folk museum with rather interesting objects. On your way around the peninsula, you will find a number of stunning natural attractions such as Arnarstapi, the small church in Buðir, the shark museum in Bjarnarhöfn, Kirkjufell mountain and the Eldborg crater. It is also possible to go on a guided tour to a lava cave called Vatnshellir which is located in the Snæfellsjökull National Park and is 8000 years old. In the evening, if the skies are clear, and it’s chilly outside you should definitely go out and search for the northern lights, – and this goes for all the nights ahead of you. Most hotels in Iceland offer wake-up-calls during the night, should these mystical forces of nature choose to appear in the wee hours. Stay the night in the area.

Day 3: West of Iceland

dAY STARTS IN
Snæfellsnes area
DAY ENDS IN
Borgarnes area
DRIVING DISTANCE
~270 km / 167 miles
About your day

After breakfast and packing, start your day by visiting the attractions you missed out on yesterday if any. Then, start making your way back south again. If you’re up for a small detour, we recommend that you check out the volcanic crater Grábrók, Hraunfossar waterfalls, Deildartunguhver (the largest hot spring in Europe) and finally the settlement centre in Borgarnes. Today, it is also possible to visit Iceland´s second largest glacier Langjökull. and join an “Into The Glacier” tour. This truly is a unique experience where you witness the glacier´s beauty from the inside! Stay overnight in the area for a good night’s sleep.

Day 4: The Golden Circle

dAY STARTS IN
Borgarnes area
DAY ENDS IN
Selfoss area
DRIVING DISTANCE
~287 km / 179 miles
About your day

Drive south towards Mosfellssveit, and then off to the your Þingvellir National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, rich with its incredible natural beauty, history and where you can see how the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are diverging. Continue on to the famous Geyser geothermal fields and witness the great spouting spring, namesake of every other spouting spring in the world. Close by you’ll find Gullfoss (Golden Falls), recently voted one of 10 most beautiful waterfalls in the world. In the area, you will find lunch stops where you should definitely stop for a traditional Icelandic meal. We strongly recommend the Icelandic lamb soup. Then, make your way towards the south coast and drive through lush farmlands, but be sure to make a stop at Kerið, a volcanic crater displaying its crystal clear water. Stay the night in the Selfoss area.

Day 5: The South Coast

dAY STARTS IN
Selfoss area
DAY ENDS IN
Vík / Kirkjubæjarklaustur area
DRIVING DISTANCE
~203 km / 126 miles
About your day

Today you are continuing down to the beautiful South coast of Iceland. Drive east to the picturesque waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. Close to Skógafoss, you will find the Skógar museum, where you can get a glimpse of how Icelanders used to live in the old days. Next stop is Mýrdalsjökull glacier where you can join a guided glacier hike or a snowmobiling tour. Drive further along the south shore to the village of Vík. Once there, visit the black volcanic beach of Reynisfjara with a view of the Reynisdrangar ocean cliffs. This is the perfect opportunity for a nice afternoon/evening walk. Take extra care though, as the waves are strong and have caused serious and fatal accidents. You stay the night in the Vík/ Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.

Day 6: Skaftafell & Jökulsárlón

dAY STARTS IN
Vík / Kirkjubæjarklaustur area
DAY ENDS IN
Vík / Kirkjubæjarklaustur area
DRIVING DISTANCE
~260 km / 161 miles
About your day

When ready to leave the Vík/Kirkjubæjarklaustur area behind, continue to Skaftafell, a part of the Vatnajökull National Park. On your way, make sure not to miss the amazing Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, just outside the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. The canyon reaches down to 100m in depth, and has the striking length of 2km, with the Fjaðrá river flowing through it. Skaftafell is a site of immense beauty and variations. There you’ll find many different hiking routes. We recommend a light hike to Svartifoss waterfall, that features pitch black hexagonal basalt columns and a rugged canyon. Continue east to the amazing Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon and enjoy the floating icebergs in this crown jewel of Icelandic nature. This is your turning point unless you would like to continue on to the village of Höfn for a nice dinner, as it is dubbed “the lobster capital of Iceland” – before turning back). This night you will be staying in the area of Kirkjubæjarklaustur/Jökulsárlón.

Day 7: Way Back West

dAY STARTS IN
Vík / Kirkjubæjarklaustur area
DAY ENDS IN
Hella / Selfoss area
DRIVING DISTANCE
~167 km / 104 miles
About your day

In Kirkjubæjarklaustur, where Iceland’s first monastery was built in 1186, there are several sights to be seen, for example, the Systrafoss waterfall and Kirkjugólf (The church Floor) – although never a church floor, in reality, it is an 80m of columnar basalt, eroded and shaped by glaciers and waves. On your way back west, nature lovers will want to make another stop by the village of Vík in Mýrdalur, which is Iceland´s most southerly village. It is the only seaside settlement in Iceland left without a harbour, due to natural circumstances. When in Vík, you can expect a lot of rain, snow, wind and/or fog, as the average precipitation there is the highest in the whole of Iceland. Because of this, rainbows are also more frequent and vivid in this area than anywhere else. In the afternoon you can join a horseback riding tour where you will meet the Icelandic horse. This is the only breed of horse in Iceland and it displays two gaits in addition to the typically walk, trot, and canter/gallop commonly displayed by other breeds. Overnight in the night in the area of Hella/Selfoss.

Attractions of the day

Day 8: Reykjanes Peninsula

dAY STARTS IN
Hella / Selfoss area
DAY ENDS IN
Reykjavík
DRIVING DISTANCE
~241 km / 150 miles
About your day

Today you will discover the geothermal wonders of Reykjanes peninsula with its endless lava fields and black beaches. You will find several geothermal areas around, and you should definitely visit the Krýsvík area. Here you have the chance to visit the geothermal area in Krýsuvik with boiling mud pools and colourful mountains. A well-maintained path winds through the bubbling and hissing field and information boards explain the geology of this geothermal area. This geothermal field is situated in the middle of the fissure zone in the mid-Atlantic ridge which traverses Iceland. In the afternoon, you may choose to make a stop at the Blue Lagoon (optional) and relax after a few exciting days on the road. Then, drive back to Reykjavík where you drop off your rental car and stay at a downtown hotel.

Day 9: A Full Day in Reykjavik

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About your day

Enjoy a free day in the capital. You might want to visit some of Reykjavik’s many art and culture museums and exhibitions. To name a couple, there is the National Museum and Saga museum, which traces Iceland’s Viking history. If you are lucky with the weather you might enjoy a stroll around the city and some of Reykjavík sightseeing spots and landmarks, such as the Hallgrímskirkja church, Harpa concert hall, The Sun Voyager sculpture by the sea and some more. You could also join a guided walking tour in the old town and hear stories of Reykjavík in the olden days. Don´t forget to grab yourself a hot dog at the infamous hot dog stand “The Town’s Best”, and if it happens to be a weekend, make sure to check out Reykjavík’s flea market Kolaportið. If you are not the city type, or would simply like to experience a final adventure in Iceland, there are various day tours to choose from which we would be happy to book for you. In the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner at one of Reykjavík many gourmet restaurants. Stay the night at the same hotel as the night before.

Day 10: Departure from Iceland

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About your day

It is time to leave! We hope you have had a wonderful time experiencing the Icelandic winter. You will be transferred to the International Airport Keflavík. We wish you a nice journey back home, and hopefully, we will be seeing you again someday!

Attractions of the day
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What's included in the tour

Included

  • 9 nights accommodation (Budget, Comfort or Quality) with continental breakfast
  • Rental car of your choice for 7 days with unlimited mileage, CDW & VAT
  • WiFi hotspot in your rental car for easy internet access
  • 1 extra driver for each rental car
  • Transfer from Keflavik International Airport to your accommodation in Reykjavík
  • Optional private information meeting with our travel consultant in Reykjavik before your tour starts
  • Transfer with pickup at your accommodation in Reykjavik upon departure
  • Big, handwritten, detailed map with route, recommendations and accommodations highlighted
  • Written guides of the regions you will be visiting
  • 24-hour emergency service
  • Taxes & service fee

Not included

  • Flights to/from Iceland
  • Meals & drinks at restaurants apart from what’s stated in the itinerary
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Gasoline

Discover local activities and adventures

Let your personal travel consultant know what other activities catch your eye and we’ll add them to your custom-made trip itinerary.

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Unwind in the perfect accommodations

We handpick accommodations to ensure memorable stays for every type of traveler.

Comfort

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.

Quality

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.

Luxury

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.

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