Highlights: Reykjavik
Approximate distance: ca. 50 km / 30 miles
Arrival in Iceland – The world’s northernmost capital city
Once you have landed at Keflavik Airport in Iceland, please pick up your luggage and head through customs. Collect your rental car at the airport, make sure you receive a tablet with protective case and chargers, and proceed to your hotel in Reykjavik. The rest of the day is yours to rest and use at your own leisure.
Overnight in Reykjavik.
Highlights: Gullfoss Geysir Thingvellir National Park Laugarvatn Fontana Nature Baths Kerid
Approximate distance: ca190km / 118miles
National Park with Geological Wonders (UNESCO) – Spouting Geysers
Today you‘ll visit the must-see sites in Iceland.
Start with the UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park, famous for its history and geological wonders. Continue to Geysir Hot Spring Area, with its collection of bubbling pools and spouting geysers. Then drive onwards to the majestic, two-tiered Gullfoss (Golden Falls). Bathe in the Secret Lagoon or Laugarvatn Fontana Baths, or why not try horseback riding? Afterwards, take a pit stop at Fridheimar greenhouses to see how food is grown in Iceland and sample the fresh local cuisine.
Overnight in Fludir area.
Highlights: Eyjafjallajokull Seljalandsfoss Skogafoss Vík Skogar Museum Reynisdrangar Cliffs
Approximate distance: ca290km / 180miles
Looming volcanoes – Black-Sand Beaches – Thundering Waterfalls – Sea Cliffs & Stone Arches
This day is chock-full of selfie-worthy destinations!
Drive along the scenic southern coast and the area near the infamous Eyjafjallajokull volcano which erupted and disrupted air traffic in the northern hemisphere for weeks in 2010. A stop at LAVA center in Hvolsvöllur is highly recommended.
Continue onwards and explore the beautiful Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls and Myrdalsjokull glacier, which covers the powerful Katla volcano. Here it’s possible to explore an ice cave, go snowmobiling or glacier hiking on the glacier, and get envy-worthy photos of southern Iceland’s epic coastline. Stop by the peaceful seafront village of Vik to grab a meal and explore a dramatic stretch of coastline photogenically poised between glacier-topped mountains, rugged sea cliffs and world-famous black sand beaches.
Overnight again in the Fludir area.
Highlights: The Blue Lagoon Reykjavik Bridge Between Continents Gunnuhver Viking World Krysuvik
Approximate distance: ca180km / 112miles
Geothermal Activity and the World Famous Blue Lagoon
It’s your last day and there’s still so much to see and do. It’s entirely up to you!
Drive to the Reykjanes Peninsula and the famous Blue Lagoon for a relaxing dip in the pleasantly warm geothermal waters, rich in silica and minerals that are great for the skin. We recommend you book your entrance to the Blue Lagoon online well in advance.
Explore the Mars-like landscapes of Reykjanes Peninsula – a UNESCO Global Geopark – and its fishing villages, lighthouse and the colorful geothermal area of Krysuvik. Or simply head to your hotel, relax or explore Reykjavik, the northernmost capital in the world.
Between the months of September and October, we recommend a northern lights tour by boat. From May through July, why not try an ATV ride under the midnight sun?
Overnight in Reykjavik.
Highlights: Reykjavik Viking World The Blue Lagoon Grindavík Lighthouses Bridge Between Continents Kleifarvatn Gunnuhver
Approximate driving distance: 50 km/31 miles
Return to Keflavik International Airport**
We recommend leaving your hotel approximately 3 hours prior to the departure of your international flight.
If your flight departs late in the afternoon, we recommend spending the morning either exploring the city of Reykjavik or explore the Reykjanes Peninsula. Several natural wonders such as Gunnuhver hot spring, the Bridge Between Continents, Reykjanesta cliffs and Reykjanesviti lighthouse can be found in close proximity to Keflavik International Airport. You could also use the time to visit the famous Blue Lagoon or Viking World Museum before heading to the airport.
**Please note that the package price is based on 4 x 24-hour rental days starting at the time of rental. If your flight arrives early on day 1 and departs late on day 5, an additional supplement will be charged unless you choose to return the car in Reykjavik when the 4-day rental is up and use our Flybus departure transfer.
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All the waterfalls, the glaciers and the black sand beaches. This road trip was incredible!
When booking a road trip with Iceland Travel you can choose between different categories:
The main difference between each category is the standard of the hotels or rooms booked. Please note that accommodation is always subject to availability.
All categories use the same rental vehicles and all include breakfast.
Further information about what each category offers, and examples of accommodation can be found below. Please select first the area on the Iceland map below, and then you can browse through your preferred category.
By selecting a budget self-drive holiday you’ll lower your costs considerably as you’ll be staying in accommodation with shared facilities.
These are a combination of basic hotels, farmhouses and guesthouses. All rooms have made-up beds and some rooms have washbasins. Showers and WC are shared facilities.
Our economy self-drives offer you the chance to travel around Iceland in a worry free spirit, staying in accommodation with private facilities without stretching your budget.
Throughout your stay you’ll be residing in a combination of standard hotels, farmhouses and guesthouses. Your final night will be in a 3 star hotel in Reykjavik.
Our comfort self-drive holidays allow you to spend your days exploring rural Iceland, knowing your nights will be spent in the most comfortable accommodation each area has to offer. Throughout the tour you’ll stay in quality guesthouses and hotels where all rooms have private facilities. Your final night will be in a 4 star hotel in Reykjavik.
Upgrade your comfort car rental holiday to the best possible accommodation with premium amenities, either for the full duration of your stay or only selected nights. Let us know during the booking process just how superior you want your holiday to be, and we’ll customize your trip!
Our road trips, also known as self-drive tours, are self-guided tours of Iceland. Every road trip includes car rental, GPS, accomodation, and the Iceland Travel Companion app (preinstalled on a tablet) to help guide you on your trip. Additional activities may be purchased to enhance your trip. Read more about our road trips.
Please note: you must be a licensed driver to rent a car in Iceland.
The distance in which you would drive each day would depend on your length of stay and how far you would like to travel in Iceland. We always try to find the most suitable itinerary so that our guests have the opportunity to relax and are not subjected to driving the whole day. Our aim is to keep driving under 2-3 hours each day, though depending on the distance between hotels, it may be up to 4 hours a day.
If special circumstances require emergency assistance, we have a 24 hour/7 day a week emergency phone and if the emergency is connected to your vehicle then the car rental provides an emergency phone as well.
Driving around Iceland in a rental car gives you greater flexibility than the bus system. Of course, you should familiarize yourself with the road laws and driving hazards of Iceland before embarking on your journey.
Route 1 (the “Ring Road”), which runs around the island, is mostly paved except for a stretch of gravel between Lake Mývatn and Egilsstaðir in the north-eastern part of Iceland. Many smaller roads are also gravel surfaced, but in the summertime they should be fairly easy to drive if you make sure to slow down.
For in-depth information about roads in Iceland, visit the Icelandic Public Roads Administration website: www.vegagerdin.is and SafeTravel website: www.safetravel.is.
While nearly all national driver’s licenses are recognized in Iceland, if your driver’s license is not in Roman script, you must obtain an international driver’s license. For more details about driving in Iceland, please check out our webpage.
