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Home Tours Nature & Saga Sites in Iceland

Nature & Saga Sites in Iceland

This self drive tour in Iceland focuses on the beautiful South Coast and the highlights of the Golden Circle. Follow the footsteps of the Viking Sagas while visiting many striking waterfalls, magnificent geysers and infamous glaciers and volcanoes along the way. Rental car is included in the tour price.

Duration

5 days

Transportation

Self-drive

Season

Summer

Tour Type

Self-guided

Itinerary - Day by day

day 1
  • Arrival at Keflavik airport according to your own itinerary
  • Pick up rental car at the airport
  • Drive from Keflavik airport to Hveragerdi
    • Driving distance: 110 km
    • Approximate driving time: 1,5-2 hours
  • Recommended attraction:
    • Visit to the Blue Lagoon (pre-booking recommended)
  • Accommodation in the Hveragerdi area

Arrival at Keflavik airport, Iceland, according to your own itinerary. The rental car will be waiting for you at the airport. We recommend starting your tour by visiting the Blue Lagoon which is in only a 15 minutes' drive from the airport (pre-booking recommended to secure space). From there you can head straight towards Hveragerdi, the town you will be staying in this night, or drive an alternative route that will take you to the capital Reykjavik before continuing to Hveragerdi. Hveragerdi is a small town surrounded by many natural hot springs which explains the name: "Hver" means hot spring in Icelandic. Accommodation in the Hveragerdi area.

day 2
  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Drive from Hveragerdi to Vik
    • Driving distance: 190 km
    • Approximate driving time: 2,5 hours
  • Recommended stops along the way:
    • The waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss
    • Thorvaldseyri volcano visitor center
    • Dyrholey promontory
  • Accommodation in South Iceland

Breakfast at the hotel. From Hveragerdi you will drive towards the South Coast, passing through a few small towns and villages along the way. As you continue along the South Coast you will reach the picturesque Seljalandsfoss waterfall, a waterfall you can walk behind. Other highlights you will see along the South Coast are Skógafoss waterfall and the famous Eyjafjallajökull glacier area where the volcanic eruption took place in 2010. We recommend a stop at Thorvaldseyri volcano visitor center where you can learn more about the eruption. From there you can head towards Dyrholaey, a rocky headland where thousands of sea birds and puffins nest during the summer (closed during nesting season from mid-May until late June). From there you head to Vik, Iceland’s southernmost village. Accommodation in South Iceland.

day 3
  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Drive from the Vik area to Brattholt
    • Driving distance: 300 km
    • Approximate driving time: 3,5 hours
  • Recommended stops along the way:
    • Thjodveldisbaerinn museum (old Viking farm)
    • Gullfoss waterfall
    • Geysir hot spring area
  • Accommodation in the Golden Circle area

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will explore Thjorsardalur valley and its landscape of sharply contrasting birch woods, sandy lava fields, rivers and waterfalls. Close by you will see the volcano Hekla, one of the most active volcanoes in Iceland. We recommend a stop at Thjodveldisbaerinn museum where you can see a replica of an old Viking farm and learn more about the way Icelanders lived back in the days. Continue towards Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most impressive waterfalls and Geysir hot spring area with geysers that spout water up to 40 meter in the air! Accommodation in the Golden Circle area.

day 4
  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Drive from Gullfoss area to Reykjavik
    • Driving distance: 350 km
    • Approximate driving time: 4 hours
  • Recommended stops along the way:
    • Thingvellir National Park
    • Reykholt, historic site
    • Deildartunguhver geothermal spring
    • Hraunfossar waterfall
  • Accommodation in Reykjavik

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you drive to one of the most important places in Icelandic history, the Thingvellir National Park, site of the ancient Icelandic parliament. Thingvellir has been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2004. The area is surrounded by mountains and encompasses a vast lava plain of green moss and wild flowers. From Thingvellir you drive via Hvalfjordur fjord, a route many skip due to the tunnel that opened under the fjord in 1998. However, we recommend that you take the detour and drive along this beautiful fjord. Continue to the Borgarfjordur region and Borgarnes, the largest town in the area. Here you can visit the Settlement Center which tells the saga of the settlement of Iceland. From Borgarnes you head towards Reykholt, home of a known Icelandic historian from the 13th century. Close by you you will find Europe’s largest geothermal spring named Deildartunguhver. It boils up at a temperature of 97°C, at a rate of 180 litres per second and supplies nearby towns with water for central heating. We also recommend a stop at the breathtaking Hraunfossar waterfalls before heading to the capital, Reykjavik, where your tour will end. On the way to Reykjavik you can save time by driving through the tunnel that goes under Hvalfjordur fjord. 
Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital. Legend says the Norse gods themselves guided Iceland’s first settler, Ingolfur Arnarson, to make his home in what is now the capital area. He named the settlement Reykjavik (“Smoky Bay”) after the misty geothermal steam he saw rising from the ground. Today, this geothermal stream heats homes and outdoor swimming pools throughout the city – a pollution-free energy source that leaves the air outstandingly fresh, clean and clear. Although 60% of Island’s inhabitants live in Reykjavik, it is a small capital by international standards. Even so, the Icelandic capital is known for its vibrant nightlife and its unique boutiques and shops. Why not add an extra night in Reykjavik to have the next day to look around the city. Accommodation in Reykjavik.

Add extra nights in Reykjavik - From EUR 240 per person per night

day 5
  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Return the rental car at the airport.
  • Departure from Reykjavik according to your own itinerary.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the airport where you return your rental car. Departure from Reykjavik according to your own itinerary. 

Important: The tour includes the rental car for 4 days; 1 day meaning 24 hours. If your arrive early on day 1 and depart late on day 5, an extra rental day needs to be added. Alternatively, you can choose to return the car in Reykjavik (delivery place is outside the centre) on day 4 or early on day 5, and take the airport bus on your departure day.


Extra night(s): The extra night price stated includes the rental car for another 24 hours. If you want to return the rental car in Reykjavik before the extra night, please contact us for an offer.

Tour category

Hotel in the Hveragerdi area

Silver

Accommodation at good tourist class hotels equal to 3 to 3+ stars according to Scandinavian standard.

Inside cabin included during overnight cruises.

See Silver accommodation

About the tour categories

Services included:

  • 4 nights hotel accommodation in a standard room with private shower/WC, including breakfast.
  • Rental car category 2 (Toyota Auris or similar) for 4 days with CDW, theft protection, unlimited mileage and including VAT. Free GPS system and free additional driver. Car pick up/drop off at Keflavik airport including airport service charge.
  • Tablet with a travel app incl a road map, travel guide and other useful information.
  • Electronic travel documentation, including a detailed travel itinerary and travel vouchers.

Please note: The package price is based on 4 × 24-hour rental days for the car, starting at the time of rental. If your flight arrives early on day 1 and departs late on day 5 an additional cost will occur unless you choose to return the car in Reykjavik when the 4 day rental is over and you take the airport transfer bus on day 5.

Triple rooms are unfortunately not available for 3 adults. Triple rooms can only be booked for 2 adults and 1 child under the age of 12.

Minimum driver age: The driver must be 21 years of age to rent a car (23 years of age to rent car cat. 5.0 or higher = 4WD).