South Coast - Golden Circle and The Northern Lights 7 days

• Flybus Transfer upon arrival to your accommodation in Reykjavík
• Accommodation
• Breakfast
• Admission for Northern Lights Center
• Rental car including VAT, unlimited milage and CDW
• Two authorized drivers
• WiFi included with the rental car
• Detailed Itinerary
• Road map with the route and accommodation marked in
• 24/7 Emergency Services
• Flybus transfer to Keflavik international airport
• How to drive in Iceland Booklet
• Taxes, Service fee and VAT

• Optional Activities
• Fuel

Day 1. Arrival – Reykjavik City – Northern Lights Centre

Following your arrival at the airport, you will take a comfortable bus ride, with Wi-Fi Internet connection on board, to your accommodation in Reykjavik or to a nearby drop off point.

You have the option of upgrading to a private door-to-door airport transfer. You can also receive and return the rental car at the airport if you prefer that.

Enjoy the rest of the day in Reykjavik, which offers a great variety of things to do. Included is a visit to the Northern Lights Center in Reykjavik where you can learn about the Northern lights and how to take good photographs of them, which might come in handy if you get to see them on your tour. See iconic buildings including the Perlan (the Pearl), the Alþingishúsið (where the Icelandic parliament is housed), and Hallgrímskirkja Church. If you don't have time to shop on Laugarvegur Street, don't worry; you can do that when you return from your adventure.

Included:
Admission to the Northern lights Center

Highlights:
Gamla Höfnin (The Old Harbour)
Harpa Concert Hall
Perlan
Hallgrímskirkja Church
Laugavegur Shoppping Streat

Overnight:
Reykjavik city

Optional Extras:
Private Airport Transfers
Reykjavik City Card

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Day 2. The Scenic South Coast and The Northern Lights

In the morning you will be picked up at your accommodation and taken to the car rental to receive your car. Head to the south and visit Hveragerði, a small town with many steaming vents and where hot spring water is used for heating greenhouses.
Continue to the beautiful waterfall Seljalandsfoss where you can take a walk behind the waterfall if conditions allow. A little further east, stop at Skógafoss, another impressive waterfall with two majestic glaciers towering above it. One of the glaciers is the infamous Eyjafjallajökull Glacier and a volcano that last erupted in 2010 causing a huge disturbance in air traffic in both Europe and America.
Visit the spectacular black beach at the Reynisdrangar Pinnacles on your way to the charming town of Vik, the southernmost town in Iceland.
The town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur waits across the Mýrdalssandur floodplains and Eldhraun, the most extensive lava field ever to flow on Earth in historical time. Stop by Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon located just west from Kirkjubæjarklaustur and the Kirkjugólfið (the Church Floor), a protected natural monument just east of Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
In the evening if weather conditions are right head out on a hunt for the magical northern lights. We will provide you with a link to the northern lights forecast.

Highlights:
The Blue Lagoon
Selfoss Town
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Skógafoss Waterfall
Eyjafjallajökull Glacier
Vík Town
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canion
Kirkjubæjarklaustur Town

Optional Extra:
Glacier Walk
Snowmobiling on Mýrdalsjökull Glacier
LAVA Centre

Driving Distance:
270 kilometers

Overnight:
Kirkjubæjarklaustur area

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Day 3. Skaftafell National Park and the Glacial Lagoon

Continue across Skeidarársandur, a black sand desert, washed down by the numerous glacial rivers that originate at the nearby Vatnajökull Glacier, the largest in Europe, and the place where a sub-glacial eruption took place in the Grímsvötn Volcano, beneath Vatnajökull Icecap, in 2011. The powerful eruption quickly broke the ice cover of the glacier and began spewing ash into the air in a magnificent display.
Continue to Skaftafell National Park, an oasis at the foot of the glacier that is famous for its tranquil, but rugged natural beauty. We recommend a hike to Svartifoss waterfall if conditions allow. After exploring the area continue to Jökulsarlón Glacial Lagoon, considered by many to be the greatest natural sight in the country where huge icebergs float in the crystal clear lagoon towards the sea. Sometimes in winter the lagoon freezes over. A scene from the James Bond movie, Die another day was shot here.
Drive back to Kirkjubæjarklaustur for an overnight stay. In the evening you can go out on a search for the northern lights.

Highlights:
Vatnajökull Glacier
Skaftafell
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Optional Extra:
The Glacier Lagoon - Amphibian Boat Tour

Driving Distance:
245 kilometers

Overnight:
Kirkjubæjarklaustur area

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Day 4. A Leisurely Day

Take a leisurely drive back to Hella and perhaps revisit the sites along the south coast. Today is ideal to take part in some activities like a glacier walk tour or a snowmobiling tour. On your way to Hella you might want to visit Skógar Museum to learn about the old way of living in turf houses as well as other interesting information about the inhabitants of Iceland. We recommend a visit to the pool area at Hella for a swim or a relaxing bath in one of the hot tubs or steam baths. The pool area is open until 21:00 on weekdays and 18:00 during weekends. Head back out on the hunt for the northern lights in the evening.

Highlights:
The South Coast

Optional Extra:
Glacier Walk
Snowmobiling on Mýrdalsjökull Glacier

Driving Distance:
180 kilometers

Overnight:
Hella area

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Day 5. Volcanic Crater – Geysers – the Golden Waterfall – Þingvellir National Park

After breakfast head inland and stop by the impressive Kerið Volcanic Crater and then further inland to Faxi Waterfall. Continue on to see the famous Geysir and Strokkur Geysers. Strokkur is an active geyser that spouts boiling hot water 15 to 20 meters up every few minutes and is a magnificent sight not to be missed.
Continue a short distance to the majestic Gullfoss Waterfall, one of Iceland’s largest and most impressive waterfalls.
Continue on your journey and visit Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the place where the Icelandic Parliament was established in 930. It is located on the spot where two continental plates meet creating a fascinating rift valley. Þingvellir is hauntingly beautiful despite its rugged lunar-like landscapes. Then, drive across Mosfellsheiði Heath to Reykjavík. In the evening you can go out again to look for the northern lights given that the weather conditions are favorable.

Highlights:
Kerið Crater
Faxi Waterfall
Geysir Geothermal Area
Gullfoss Waterfall
Þingvellir National Park

Driving Distance:
230 kilometers

Overnight:
Reykjavík city

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Day 6. The Blue Lagoon

Take a drive to the Blue Lagoon and enjoy a relaxing bath in the mineral rich waters. At the Blue Lagoon you will find a cafe and a restaurant. The Blue Lagoon is open until 20:00 so you might want to spend the first half of your day in Reykjavik and go to the Blue Lagoon in the afternoon. You can enjoy dinner at the Lava restaurant before heading back to Reykjavik for an overnight stay. Make sure to look into the night sky on your way back to see if the northern lights are dancing tonight. Drop off the car in the evening and spend the night in Reykjavik.

Highlights:
The Blue Lagoon


Driving Distance:
100 km

Overnight:
Reykjavík city

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Day 7. Departure

You will be transferred from your accommodation to the airport by a comfortable Wi-Fi connected bus in time for your departure flight.

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This tour can be customized to your specifications and needs, so if you have any special requests, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be more than happy to help you arrange the perfect Icelandic vacation.

This tour is also available as a private guided tour: PT07 - South Coast, Golden Circle and Northern Lights - 7 days

*FAQ*

We are arriving very early. What is the check in time?
Check in time is usually between 14:00 - 16:00 for accommodation in Iceland. The only way to secure an early check in is to book the night before as well. However if a room is ready you should be able to check in early.

When is the best time to see the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights are clearly visible between 20. September – 25. March in Iceland. The northern lights are only visible during winter due to the darkness and sightings are very weather dependant and clear skies are essential to see them. The prime conditions to see them are clear skies and away from the city lights.

Where to eat during the tour?
In the small towns around Iceland you will find restaurants, bakeries and cafes where you can get something to eat. If you are going to the highlands we recommend purchasing something to take with you as there are very limited options for meals in the remote highland areas.

Are there any hidden charges?
There are no hidden charges or fees you should be aware of. Note that fuel and meals other than breakfast are not included.

What type of car is recommended?
During summer (May - September) any type of vehicle is sufficient for this tour. In winter between mid September – mid April we recommend a 4x4 vehicle as there is a chance of some snow or ice on the road. The cars are equipped with good winter tires during winter.

Do I need an international driver’s license?
No you do not need an international drivers license but you need a valid driver’s licence, which you will have held for at least two years. Travellers from overseas will need a licence issued in their country of residence along with an English translation (where appropriate). Some form of picture Identity is required, e.g. Passport, ID card etc. A valid credit card is also required.

How far is it between gas stations?
Gas stations can be found in almost all towns around Iceland so running out of gas is not a likely scenario. However before going to the highland areas we recommend filling up the tank as there are no gas stations in the highlands.

Do hotels and guesthouses offer Wi-Fi internet connection?
Most hotels and guesthouses in Iceland do provide free access to Wi-Fi internet. Some hotels and guesthouses do charge a small fee for access to the internet.

How do I book and what is the process?
There are several factors that determine the tour price:
• Time of the year you plan on visiting
• Number of people travelling together
• Type of car Car Info (Only applicable with self drive trips)
• Accommodation type (we offer 2 categories of accommodation or you can choose mixture of both)
• Optional Activities (Various optional activities are available with each trip)

There is a special Price Calculator button with every self-drive tours and private guided tours where you can enter your choice of type of accommodation, car, number of people and your arrival date. The Price Calculator will calculate and display the price according to your specifications. This way you can see how different choices in car and accommodation types affect the price of the package.

Once you are confident about your trip selection proceed to press the book now tab. Here you will fill in the required information and proceed through the booking process.

We require a 15% deposit at the time of booking. Full payment is due 5 weeks prior to arrival.

Once a booking is made an automatic e-mail is sent informing you that the order has been placed and is currently being processed by the IcelandRoadtrip.com team. You will then be contacted with by one of our trusted travel agents with further details.

For more practical information please visit our Travel Guide