Exciting 4-Day Summer Self-Drive Tour of the South Coast and the Golden Circle

On the first day of your self-drive tour in Iceland, you'll arrive at the airport, collect your car, and head off to your adventure.

You'll land at the Keflavik International Airport, the main port of arrival for most travelers in Iceland. After going through customs, you'll find your rental car waiting. On your way to Iceland's capital city, Reykjavik, you could stop at the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. 

This world-renowned spa is known for its healing waters, vivid azure colors, and luxurious treatments. It's in the middle of a moss-covered lava field, giving it a unique atmosphere. It's also a great place to relax and unwind after a flight.

Adding the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa to your itinerary will be arranged according to your flights. If there's no time to visit the spa today, it can be added to another day. Your personal travel consultant will be able to arrange this for you. 

Another option is a dip in the Sky Lagoon, closer to Reykjavik. The Sky Lagoon features an infinity pool with stunning views overlooking the ocean, and the Skjol bathing ritual, drawing from Icelandic wellness traditions, delivers a calming and unique experience. With the premium ticket, you can enjoy the added comfort of private changing rooms, elevating your visit.

If you have extra free time on your first day in the country, there's still plenty to see and do in Reykjavik and the Reykjanes Peninsula.

If you want to make the most of every moment in Iceland's nature, the Reykjanes Peninsula will be appealing. The region boasts cone-shaped volcanoes, barren expanses of moss-coated lava, dramatic coastal geology, and several steaming geothermal areas.

Meanwhile, if you want to experience Icelandic culture, you can do so in the capital. Reykjavik is home to museums and galleries, parks and nature reserves, feats of architecture, and public art. It also has an array of boutiques, restaurants, and bars, offering something for everyone.

Check out the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center, the city's premier cultural hub. It also boasts a wonderful facade, showcasing 714 glass panels with LED lighting.

You can also visit the Hallgrimskirkja church, Iceland's tallest church, standing 245 feet (74.5 meters) tall. Another is the Perlan, an interactive museum with a hemispherical rotating glass dome that serves as a viewing deck.

After experiencing the freedom of a self-drive tour and making the most of your day, you'll retire for the night at your accommodation in Reykjavik.

On the second day of your trip, you'll experience the magnificent, diverse sites of the Golden Circle, Iceland's premier sightseeing route.

Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and the Gullfoss waterfall are the main attractions on your itinerary. However, you can add to your day by including a thrilling excursion and seeking hidden gems.

Thingvellir National Park is a geological marvel. It is framed by two sheer cliff faces marking the edges of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. It means the entire location is between the two continents.

It's a breathtaking place to explore, filled with birch woodland and lava fields, surrounded by volcanoes and a great lake, and littered with ravines and springs.

Meanwhile, the appeal of the Geysir geothermal area should be instantly apparent. It is home to geysers, bubbling mud pools, and steaming fumaroles. The most impressive of these exploding hot springs is Strokkur, which erupts at least every ten minutes, often reaching over 66 feet (20 meters).

The Gullfoss waterfall is a classic Icelandic waterfall that's powerful, mesmerizing, and unforgettable. Formed by a glacier river pouring from the nearby ice cap of Langjokull, it surges down two steps into a dramatic, beautiful valley.

As it hits the bottom, the waterfall throws spray blooms into the air. Traveling between these sites, you can choose between three tours to break up your sightseeing.

At Thingvellir, you can join a snorkeling excursion into the ravine of Silfra. Snorkeling participants need to be comfortable in the water and be able to swim. The visibility in this magnificent place often exceeds 328 feet (100 meters). The vividness of the underwater blues is astounding, and it's consistently hailed as one of the best snorkeling sites in the world. 

Alternatively, you can board a super jeep from Gullfoss waterfall to be whisked up Langjokull glacier for a snowmobiling tour. Only a few activities are more thrilling than rushing across gleaming plains of pristine snow. Zooming across the glacier, you'll get incredible south, west, and Highlands views.

Thirdly, you can embark on a horse-riding tour through the beautiful countryside surrounding the Golden Circle sites. Icelandic horses are famously friendly, and witnessing the landscapes from their backs is a great way to experience the country. Whether you've experienced riding or if it's your first time, this tour will be tailored to you.

Though you're welcome to see the major attractions and add on an adventure, you can also make the most of having a vehicle. You can detour to one of the dozens of hidden gems within easy driving distance. The crater lake of Kerid and the serene Secret Lagoon are examples of these exciting stops.

After a tiring day of exploring, you'll return to your hotel in Reykjavik.

On the third day of your four-day summer vacation to Iceland, you'll explore the magnificent sights of the South Coast.

Today will truly show you how much freedom you have on a self-drive holiday, as you can tailor what you see and do to your group's desires.

Setting out from Reykjavik, you'll likely want to spend some time at the waterfalls in the region. Seljalandsfoss waterfall is one of the country's most iconic, around 80 miles (129 kilometers) from Reykjavik. It's visible from the Ring Road and is famous for the enormous cavern that opens behind it. In turn, the cavern lets you walk around the falls.

Its neighbor, Gljufrabui waterfall, is lesser-known. It's only 3,000 feet (900 meters) away, though hidden in a magical grotto that requires a little wading through a stream.

Meanwhile, Skogafoss waterfall, 18 miles (29 kilometers) from Seljalandsfoss, is unmissable. At around 197 feet (60 meters) tall, at least 33 feet (10 meters) wide, and mesmerizingly powerful, this waterfall is a fantastic example of the power of Iceland's nature.

After making the most of these sites, you can leave the Ring Road to get a close-up view of two of the South Coast's most incredible glaciers. Myrdalsjokull glacier is the third-largest in the country and conceals the notorious volcano of Katla. Eyjafjallajokull glacier is smaller but much more famous after its 2010 eruption that caused massive air travel disruptions in Europe.

You can take one of the three tours today onto the outlet glacier of Myrdalsjokull, Solheimajokull. Glacier hiking is a fantastic way to see beautiful ice formations and experience breathtaking views.

The two other tours leave from the village of Vik, your next destination. The first is an ice-caving tour closer to Myrdalsjokull glacier's summit. Rather than hiking across the glacier's surface, you'll descend into its hidden crevasses to explore it from within.

The second is a super jeep tour to Landmannalaugar. Landmannalaugar is a spectacular Highland reserve best known for its abundant natural hot springs you can bathe in.

This area also has dramatic rhyolite mountains in vibrant yellow, green, and pink shades and many hiking trails. Many of these trails lead to magnificent crater lakes, providing stunning panoramic views.

Regardless of your tour, you'll want to spend some time at Reynisfjara, the beach beside Vik. Reynisfjara is a black sand beach rich in folklore. Offshore, you'll be able to see the rock formations of Reynisdrangar, said to have once been a pair of trolls turned to stone by sunlight.

Very close to this beach is the incredible rock arch of Dyrholaey. It's one of the best places to marvel over nesting Atlantic puffins in summer.

After immersing yourself in the stunning South Coast of Iceland, you'll head back to your hotel in Reykjavik.