Self-Drive Along the South Coast

Fly to Iceland and collect your rental car on arrival at Keflavik International Airport. Dive into the geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon before heading south to your first accommodation. A visit to the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa could be a good start on your stay in Iceland. Guests renew their relationship with nature, soak up the scenic beauty and enjoy breathing the clean, fresh air while relaxing in the warm geothermal seawater. Please note that admission to the Blue Lagoon needs to be booked ahead, and entrance is not included in this offer. On the roundtrip in Iceland, you will also find other geothermal pools to visit. First night either in Reykjavik.

Drive to the World Heritage Site of Thingvellir National Park. This is the location of Iceland‘s original parliament. Enjoy views across the clear waters of Lake Thingvallavatn. Visit the thundering Gullfoss waterfall and famous Geysir geothermal area, where the geyser of Strokkur regularly erupts and numerous other hot springs bubble and steam. Nearby Laugarvatn area, we can recommend stop at the farm Efstidalur. Here you can enjoy a nice lunch or dinner or just have a taste of homemade ice cream. The geothermal natural pool, Secret Lagoon is in this area, so maybe an evening bath will be a good way to finish the day. Accommodation one night in the area.

From the foot of Mount Hekla, it is well worth taking a trip to the valley of the Thjorsa River. The earliest settlers in Iceland chose this valley. In this valley, you can visit the old Viking farm Stöng, which is a reconstruction of the farm. The original farm was destroyed in an eruption in 1104. 

Many of the scenes in the popular TV-show Game of Thrones has been filmed here due to the beautiful landscape and scenery. 

Continuing along the Ring Road, you will end up in Vik, but before you reach the small city of Vik, you will find the two magnificent waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skogarfoss. These are two very different but both powerful waterfalls. You will also have a good view over the world famous Eyjafjallajökull. The volcano got a lot of attention in 2010 when it had a large eruption that halted almost all airplanes in Europe. 

When you reach Vik, you will find the black sand beach Reynisfjara, Reynisdrangar and Dyrholaey. This area has a rich bird life and is a very good attraction for bird enthusiasts. Dyrholaey is a small peninsula at Reynisdrangar. Here you should take pictures of the wonderful view of Vik and the black sand beaches. 

Right next to the Ring Road is the Skaftafell National Park. The mountains are reminiscent of the Alps and have been formed by volcanoes, glaciers, and water. Skaftafell is an area where you can spend a whole day. Go up to the glacier or just for a short trip to Svartifoss waterfall, one of the most popular attractions in the park. Svartifoss is a unique natural gem framed in black lava columns. Nearby is Europe‘s biggest glacier, Vatnajokull, and the extraordinary Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon. Without a doubt, these are the highlights of the day. You can join a tour by boat on the lagoon or maybe a kayak tour. Make sure to visit the Diamond Beach, just by the Glacier Lagoon. Here you will find icebergs from the lagoon that have drifted ashore and created the most magical setting.  White melting icebergs on a black beach.  If time allows you, can also take a tour of the coast outside Höfn, and enjoy the views of the most photographed mountain in Iceland, Vestrahorn on the Stokksnes peninsula.  

We drive back to the Hella area. On the way, it is ideal to visit Iceland's oldest pool still standing, located in a narrow valley under the infamous Eyjafjallajokull volcano. Seljavallalaug was built in 1923 by some visionaries who wanted to give the locals a place where they could learn to swim. From the parking lot, you hike for about 15-20 minutes toward the bottom of the valley and finally, you will see the pool behind a corner. Remember swimwear if you want to take a dip in the water. Otherwise, on the journey from Skaftafell to Hella area, you can take extra stops at the beautiful places on the way, and with a new day and new lighting, the waterfalls and the black beaches could look quite different from earlier. Accommodation for 2 nights in Hella/Hvolsvollur area.

Not far from Hella, you will find the port of Landeyar. The car is parked on the dock, and you take the ferry from Landeyjar to Vestmannaeyjar in the morning. The journey will take about 35 minutes. The archipelago of Vestmannaeyjar was formed by subsea volcanic eruptions 10,000 years ago. The youngest of the islands emerged from the sea in the year 1963. We land in the harbor of Heimaey, the only inhabited island in the group. Residents live with the constant threat of new volcanic eruptions. In 1973, the entire population had to be evacuated after the Helgafell volcano suddenly exploded. In many places at Heimaey, one can still see the houses half buried under lava and ash. It is recommended to take some organized excursion with a guide on the island, by either bus or boat. In the afternoon or evening, take the ferry back to the mainland and drive to the accommodation. Other activities to do that day, are visiting an abandoned plane wreck on the desolate Solheimasandur black sand beach or visiting the glacier Myrdalsjokull or Solheimajokull.

You will reach Reykjavik within a couple of hours drive. If you like, an extra hike on the way, you can stop for a hike to Reykjadalur by Hveragerdi. Reykjadalur Valley is one of the most popular and perhaps most beautiful hiking areas in and around the town of Hveragerdi. Hot springs and colorful areas full of geothermal activity entertain you along a hiking trail that leads to a warm river. The river's temperature is perfect for swimming, but you have to walk for about 50-70 minutes to reach the first places that are warm enough to dip in. The longer you hike, the warmer it will be. This is a fantastic natural experience. Do not forget your swimwear and a towel. Get to know the most northern Capital in Europe in the afternoon. You will find many shops, cafes, and museums in the city. The best way to enjoy the city is to take an easy stroll through the city center, with the small houses and nice atmosphere. From Hallgrimskirkja church in the city center, you can take panorama views of the city from the tower. Accommodation in Reykjavik.

Spend the day as you wish, depending on your return flight. Drop off your rental car at Keflavik Airport.