Golden Circle Self-Drive

Day 1 Reykjavik Airport - Hveragerdi
Driving distance: approx. 100-130 km/62-81 miles
Pick up your car at the airport and start your Iceland experience! From Keflavik International Airport, we recommend driving the southern coast of the Reykjanes peninsula, towards your first overnight stay in the charming village of Hveragerdi. This village is one of the few sites in the world located directly on top of a geothermal area and, because of its many greenhouses heated by hot water from nearby springs, it is often called the “flower village.“ Depending on your arrival time in Iceland, it may be ideal to stop and visit the renowned Blue Lagoon where you can relax in the geothermal waters (Important: admission to the Blue Lagoon needs to be booked in advance).

Overnight: Hveragerdi
Meals included: None

Day 2 Hveragerdi - Vik
Driving distance: approx. 215 km/134 miles
Drive along the scenic South Shore and the area near the infamous Eyjafjallajokull volcano whose massive 2010 eruption caused air traffic around the world to be cancelled. We recommend a stop at the interactive LAVA Centre where you’ll learn about the powerful volcanic and tectonic forces that shaped both Iceland and Earth. Continue to see the majestic Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls and Myrdalsjokull glacier.
Stop by the seafront village of Vik to explore a dramatic stretch of coastline poised between glacier-topped mountains, rugged sea cliffs and black- sand beaches. Dyrholaey is a rocky headland characterised by a black lava arch. Every year thousands of sea birds and puffins nest here during the summer (mid-May and early August).

Overnight: Vik area
Meals included: Breakfast

Note: Please note that Dyrholaey is closed during nesting season, from about the middle of May until late June.

Day 3 Vik - Thjorsardalur Valley - Golden Circle
Driving distance: approx. 285 km/177 miles
Explore Thjorsardalur Valley and its contrasting landscapes of birch woods, sandy lava fields, rivers and waterfalls. The impressive Mt. Hekla volcano towers over the region. This valley is also where you can visit the excavated site of a Viking age farm that had been destroyed by one of Hekla‘s eruptions. Continue to the amazing sites of Gullfoss waterfall, considered to be the most beautiful in Iceland and the Geysir hot spring area. Geysir is an active geothermal field with many bubbling steam vents and spouting hot springs, including the famous Strokkur geyser.
Take time this afternoon to visit one of the many baths or lagoons in the area and relax in the geothermal waters.

Overnight: Golden Circle area
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4 Golden Circle - Thingvellir - Borgarfjordur - Reykjavik
Driving distance: approx. 300 km/187 miles
Visit Thingvellir National Park, site of the ancient Icelandic Viking parliament and a jewel of nature. Here you can enjoy many walking trails that take you to historic points of interest as well as see the rift between the continents. Then travel via either Hvalfjordur fjord or the Kaldidalur highland track (Open June-August, 4WD needed), to the beautiful Borgarfjordur region and Reykholt, home of the 13th-century Saga author Snorri Sturluson.
As you head towards Reykjavik in the afternoon, you may wish to take in two more impressive waterfalls. Hraunfossar, the Lava Falls, appear as though glacial water is bursting through lava formations and witness the brilliantly blue waters of Barnafoss Falls.

Overnight: Reykjavik
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5 Reykjavik
Driving distance: approx. 50 km/30 miles
Return the car back to Keflavik International Airport today. If you have time and missed it the first day, travel via the Blue Lagoon as it is on your way to the airport.

Meals included: Breakfast