Southern Iceland

You arrive at Keflavík airport where you pick up your rental car. Kick off your Iceland vacation by taking a dip in the world famous Blue Lagoon straight from the airport (must be booked in advance). The Lagoon is like a crystal blue oasis in the midst of barren lava landscapes on the way from the airport to Reykjavík, and gets its water from springs over 6561 feet below the surface of the Earth. Enjoy the warm (91–102°F) and mineral rich water in the outdoor pool, or make use of the geothermic indoor pool, sauna and restaurant as well.

Re-energized from bathing in the healing waters of the Blue Lagoon, make your way to your hotel in Hveragerdi for your first night in Iceland.

After breakfast at your hotel, leave the capital city and travel south following road no 1 (riksveg 1). You will pass through the towns Hveragerdi, Selfoss and Hella. East of Hvolsvöllur you will reach the two waterfalls Seljandsfoss and Skógafoss, two stops not to be missed. At Skógar you will also find a museum giving interesting insights into how Icelandic people lived in the past as well as in current times. You can also explore the glacial tongue Solheimajökull and the bird cliffs of Dyrhólaey, where many migrating sea birds nest, among them the famous puffins during spring and summer.

The black lava beaches on the South Coast are renowned, and you can take a walk along the Reynishverfi beach or on the little beach in the village Vik. Be careful when walking too close to the waves, their powerful pull can easily drag a person out to sea!

After Vik you pass through the black sand dessert Mýrdalssandur and later the enormous lave field Eldhrayn, which was formed during the big volcanic outbreak in 1783. You later arrive at Kirkjubæjarklaustur, a small town in beautiful surroundings. You can stop here to take a look at the so-called ”church floor”, formed by strange basalt cliff formations reminiscent of a lime floor and situated just east of town. Overnight stay in or nearby Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

Start you third day by driving to the area at the foot of the Vatnajökull glacier. On the way west you can see Dverghamrar, a belt of basalt columns a few kilometres from Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Continue east from here over Skeidarásandur, a wonderful viewpoint with views over Europe’s larges glacier, Vatnajökull.

Past this wide stretch of dessert is Skaftefell National park, a beautiful area resting at the foot of the Vatnajökull glacier known for its unique natural flora and lush green vegetation, like an oasis between the black desert and the glacier. There are a number of walking paths you can take from here, for example through the park to the beautiful Svartifoss waterfall, or to the edge of the glacial tongue Skaftafell. Further east you get he the magical glacial lagoon Jökulsárlon, where enormous icebergs released from the glacier float in the still blue water. It is possible to take a boat trip of 30-40 minutes here to get right in between the icebergs.

Drive back via Kirkjubæjarklaustur to Vík or nearby, where you stay overnight.

During today you will visit some of the most famous and interesting attractions Iceland has to offer. Follow road no 1 through Hella until you pass the river Thjórsá, and then continue on in the direction of Fludir. If there is enough time and you are interested we recommend a visit to the volcanic crater Kerið as well as the historically important Skálholt.

From there continue on to the world famous geothermic area of Geysir, where Strokkur, the most active of the geysers, has regular outbreaks every 5 minutes. Close by the Geyser area is the majestic waterfall Gullfoss, ”the golden waterfall”, many described as Iceland’s most beautiful. Next stop is Þingvellir national park, an area interesting both historically and due to its fascinating geology, as it’s the meeting point of the North American and European continental plates. Overnight stay in Reykjavík.

If you booked a 4-night trip, it’s time to get ready for your journey home. Pack up, drive to the airport, drop off your rental car, and check in for your flight back to the US.

If you're staying 5 nights, you've got a full day to enjoy Reykjavík however you like. If the weather’s nice, why not take a stroll along the waterfront or head to Öskjuhlíð forest, where winding trails weave through lava and trees? Maybe a museum or an art gallery sounds more appealing. Or, if you're in the mood for shopping, Reykjavík has plenty of small boutiques, vintage stores, and artisan shops where you might find something one-of-a-kind to bring home. End the day with a great meal at one of Reykjavík’s many fantastic restaurants. And if you’d like to add a guided day tour, just let us know—we’d be happy to arrange something for you.

Drive from Reykjavík to Keflavík airport (approx. 45 mins) and leave the car there in connection with your return flight.