Highlights of the South

Title: Highlights of the South

Length : 8 days / 7 nights
From 750 to 1150 Euros per person

This self-drive tour in Southern Iceland will have you marvelling at a fantastic variety of landscapes; wild seafront, black sand beaches, glaciers on the horizon, farms of green pastures, waterfalls, hot water sources, the list goes on…Despite its short length, it is a great representation of the diversity of the island’s natural marvels. And, if you choose to travel by four wheel drive vehicle, you’ll be able to access the Fjallaback natural reserve, uninhabited and majestic.
This trip is available all year round

Strengths:

- Trip can be undertaken year round in a saloon car (sedan) even though 4WD is highly recommended in the winter.
- Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls.
- The Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon and its Icebergs.
- Walking through the Vatnajokull National Park.

Summary:

Day 1: Keflavik - Reykjavík. 50 km. 1h
Day 2: Reykjavík - Gulfoss. Golden Circle 150 km about 2h30
Day 3: Flúdir – Skogar – Vík - Kirkjubæjarklaustur . 230 km about 4h
Day 4: Skaftafell National Park – Jökulsarlon – Höfn. 200 km about 3h30
Day 5: Höfn - Vík . 270 km about 4h30
Day 6: Vik – Reykjanes Peninsula - Reykjavík. 300 km about 5h
Day 7: Hvalfjordur – Reykholt. 300 km about 5h
Day 8: Reykjavik – Keflavik. 50km about 1 h

Friendly Advice:

- Take this trip in May or June to take advantage of permanent daylight and nature coming out of hibernation. This is also the best time for watching sea birds, and escaping the craziness of high tourist season.
- In September this trip is also nice thanks to the autumn light, the mountain roads still being open, the possibility of seeing northern lights and, again, the tranquillity of off season travel.
- If you are on a small budget do not travel in July or August or or stay in hostels, mountain huts or campsites during your trip.

In hotels, guesthouses, farmhouses, mountain huts or campsites…
For this itinerary you have lots of very different choices of where to spend the night. In most of the regions you will drive through, you’ll find several guesthouses, farmhouses, hotels, hostels, chalets and mountain huts. Only the region of Jokulsarlon and Skaftafell necessitates longer legs of driving for lack of accommodation options. The majority of Icelandic establishments are simple but well kept, clean and comfortable. Most of the guesthouses, farlhouses and hotels provide meals for travellers. Meanwhile, know that we cannot guarantee a stay in a particular establishment before making reservations and there are a fair amount of disparities between accommodations, even for those in the same category. We recommend that you reserve as early as possible in order to benefit from the most choices when it comes to the places you stay during your trip as well as the category of accommodations you will stay in.

We also offer a camping option. Our voucher system allows you to camp where and when you’d like, giving you a great amount of freedom and flexibility to change your itinerary on location depending on the weather or if you simply change your mind. This is a very interesting option financially, but cannot be undertaken outside of the summer months (June to September). Note that we will provide you with all the necessary equipment (tent, floormat, cooking kit, and cooler). For trips in mountain huts or hostels we also provide cooking kits and coolers. For all these options sleeping bags are available on location but must be ordered before you leave.

What's Included:

- Transfer back and forth between Reykjavik accommodations and Keflavik International Airport.
- Three nights in Reykjavik in a guesthouse with a double room and breakfasts included.
- Four nights in the countryside in private or shared rooms or a campsite depending on the option you choose.
- Breakfasts included in guesthouses, farmhouses and country hotels.
- A travel folder full of road maps, and a detailed day by day road book full of tips and tricks.
- Rental of a category A two wheel drive vehicle for 6 days, unlimited distance, 25.5% VAT, CDW insurance and second driver.
- For camping, hostel and mountain hut options: a hotplate for two, kitchen utensils, a cooler, a thermos, and a dish kit.
- For the camping option a tent for two and one floor mat per person.

What's not Included:

- Your international flight
- Meals, drinks and personal expenses.
- Breakfasts in hostels, mountain huts and campsites.
- Fuel.
- Optional visits and activities.
- Super CDW insurance and gravel protection including liability.
- A sleeping bag available on location to be ordered ahead of time.

Price:

PRICE BASED ON A TWO PERSON TRIP
In guesthouses, farmhouses or countryside hotels, year long
- In a room with a private bathroom: from 750 to 1150 Euros
- In a room with a shared bathroom: from 675 to 1000 Euro
In mountain huts, or hostels from May to September
- In dorms or shared rooms in the countryside: from 700 to 850 Euros
Camping, from June to September
-With equipment provided: from 600 to 750 Euros

4WD vehicle supplement (category G): from 230 to 330 Euros

Final price varies depending on the number of people, the season and the category of vehicle.

View Drive Iceland’s Southern Coast in a larger map

Day 1: Keflavik - Reykjavík. 50 km. 1h
Arrive at Keflavik International Airport. Greeting and transfer to Reykjavik. Settle in to your accommodations; the rest of your night is at your leisure in the world’s northernmost city.
Overnight Reykjavík.

Day 2: Reykjavík - Gulfoss. 150 km about. 2h30
After picking up your rental car, you’re off to discover Iceland’s famous Golden Circle. Your first stop will be Thingvellir to discover the effects of oceanic rifting and the site of the oldest parliament in the world. Then you’ll continue your drive passing lots of farms and livestock to reach Geysir and its famous Stoffur geyser. A bit further is the Gulfoss waterfall, where the Hvítá River has dug an impressive canyon.
Overnight in the Flúdir region.

Day 3: Flúdir – Skogar – Vík - Kirkjubæjarklaustur. 230 km about 4h
Discover the piedmonts of the volcano glaciers Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull. On the side of the road with the sea you’ll see black sand beaches and bird nesting cliffs. On the side with the mountains, waterfalls crash down from steep rockfaces. Stop at the Skogar waterfall and visit the folk museum of its nearby village. In the Vik region, you can observe a large puffin colony in their natural habitat. Overnight in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur region.
In summer, only with the 4WD option: Cross the Fjallaback natural reserve and discover some of the country’s most untouched landscapes, the Helka volcano, the Elgya foult, and of course go for a swim in the hots springs at Landmannalaugar, nestled into a mountain range turned multicoloured due to geothermal activity.

Day 4: Skaftafell National Park – Jökulsarlon – Höfn. 200 km about 3h30
Hike around the Skaftafell part of the Vatnajokull National Park. Many spectacular trails are available, one of which will take you to the Svartifoss waterfall and its stunning basaltic rock formations. Driving east, you’ll reach the Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon. You may think you’re in Greenland for a minute as you take in the sight of these icebergs cast off of Europe’s largest glacier and the lazy seals that sunbathe on them.
Overnight in the Höfn region.

Day 5: Höfn - Vík . 270 km about 4h30
Continue your discovery of the area surrounding the Vatnajökull glacier, Europe’s largest. Then move on to the verdant region of Kirkjubæjarklaustur : waterfalls, ancient lava flows left by Laki’s eruption in 1783 and covered today by a thick layer of moss. Stop at the canyon of Fjardrarglufur, a short walk from the road. Then you’ll cross through the long desert expanses of Mýrdalssandur. Overnight in the Vík region.
In summer, only with the 4WD option: Discover the Laki region, home to the most powerful eruptions since Iceland’s settlement, and the lunar landscapes these left behind. You’ll discover a line of 120 craters extending over 25 km. The black lava and green moss make for an interesting contrast. The Tjarnargígur Lake and the Fagrifoss waterfall are also on the menu today!

Day 6: Vik – Reykjanes Peninsula- Reykjavík. 300 km about 5h
Return towards the capital by driving along the southern coast of the Reykjanes peninsula. Savage coasts and lunar landscapes formed by numerous volcanic eruptions. Geothermy manifests itself here under many forms: the bubbling cauldrons of earth in the ground at Krýsuvík the thermal turquoise waters of the Blue Lagoon. Overnight in Reykjavik.
In summer, only with the 4WD option: Take a detour to drive by the surprising cliffs of Krýsuvíkurberg and the isolated trail of Vigdísarvellir.

Day 7: Hvalfjordur – Reykholt. 300 km about 5h
Drive on the shores of the long and impressive Hvalfördur, “or whale fjord” until you reach the valley of Reykholt. Here you’ll find the hot water sources of Deildartunguhver that are often said to be the most extensive in the world. Stop at the waterfalls of Hraunfossar and Barnafoss and then head back to the capital. Return your rental car before overnighting in Reykjavik.
In summer, only with the 4WD option: Follow the trail of Kaldidalur that links the valley of Reykholt to that of Thingvellir along the western flanks of the Langjökull glacier.

Day 8 : Reykjavik – Keflavik. 50km about 1 h
Transfer to Keflavik International Airport for your flight home.