6-Day Self-Drive Holiday in Iceland with the Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon & Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Upon arrival, collect your car from the Keflavik International Airport before driving to your accommodation in the capital's downtown area.

The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa is close to Keflavik, and you can choose to add this activity when booking your tour. This excursion will be arranged around your flights. 

The Blue Lagoon is world-famous, boasting vivid azure waters, therapeutic treatments, and a reputation for healing qualities. Relaxing in its warm, milky-blue waters surrounded by the beautiful, moss-covered lava fields of the Reykjanes Peninsula is an unforgettable way to start your trip.

If you can't fit a visit today, your travel agent can book you for day five or six of your adventure instead.

After settling at your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to explore the vibrant city center with its abundance of cultural attractions, restaurants, and bars.

Reykjavik has many sites that reflect the nation's rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning natural surroundings. Hallgrimskirkja, a dramatic Lutheran church, offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the city from its tower. Its unique design, inspired by Iceland's basalt lava flows, makes it one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city.

Nearby, the Harpa Concert Hall impresses with its modern, geometric glass design and is the center for cultural events like music concerts and theater performances.

For a taste of history, visitors can explore the National Museum of Iceland, which provides a comprehensive overview of the country's heritage from the Viking era to modern times.

Art enthusiasts can visit the Reykjavik Art Museum, Iceland's most significant visual art institution.

If you're looking for a relaxing afternoon, visiting Tjornin, a central pond often teeming with birdlife, followed by a stroll in the Hljomskalagardur park, can be rewarding.

If you want to check out Icelandic design or experience the city's thriving coffee culture, head to Laugavegur street and enjoy its various shops and cozy cafes.

You'll spend your first night in a great location in downtown Reykjavik.

On day two of this summer adventure, you'll go on a trip around Iceland's famous Golden Circle driving route. 

Your first stop on the Golden Circle is the Thingvellir National Park. Here, you can see the spectacular Almannagja gorge, where the national assembly, founded in 930 AD, used to gather.

A natural wonder of Iceland, the gorge also marks the divide between two tectonic plates. A walk along the easy path is literally a stroll between the continents of Europe and North America.

You can opt into an exhilarating snorkel tour through the Silfra fissure at Thingvellir. Don't worry about the cold water, because you'll be cozy and warm in a dry suit. Silfra is known for having some of the most transparent water on the planet, so clean it's even drinkable! Participants need to be comfortable in the water and be able to swim.

Next on your Golden Circle tour is the Geysir geothermal area in the Haukadalur geothermal valley. There are many steaming hot pools and fumaroles here, including the geyser Strokkur, which erupts every 10 minutes. Its spray can reach 66 feet (20 meters), but it has been known to blast water to heights almost double that.

Lastly, the magnificent Gullfoss waterfall is Iceland's most popular attraction on the traditional Golden Circle route. It's possible to walk close to the edge of these falls in decent weather, where you get a beautiful view of the cascading water and can feel nature's incredible power.

After Gullfoss, you can add an exciting snowmobiling excursion on Langjokull glacier. If neither this nor the snorkel appeals to you, you can opt for a horse-riding tour instead. 

Otherwise, head straight to the main road and stop at the volcanic crater lake Kerid. The volcanic rock here is painted in fiery orange and rust-red colors, while the lake within is an azure oasis. The contrast is a breathtaking sight.

You'll spend the night in a charming accommodation in Southwest Iceland near the Golden Circle.

As you continue your journey on day three, you'll drive towards Eyjafjallajokull, the volcano under a glacier that made world headlines in 2010, bringing European air traffic to a standstill.

You'll then visit the beautiful waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. Seljalandsfoss is unique for the path encircling it, allowing you to view its beauty from different angles. Skogafoss is known for its power and is equally as beautiful. You can walk up a staircase to the top of Skogafoss for stunning South Coast vistas.

After admiring the waterfalls, a detour to the Skogar folk museum is highly recommended, where you can explore life in the old days of Iceland through the restored turf house, church, and other buildings.

Then, drive towards the Solheimajokull glacier, where you can go on an optional glacier hike or snowmobiling tour. Both experiences promise excitement and incredible beauty.

You can also opt for an exciting ice cave tour that departs from the Vik village, where you're picked up by a super jeep and driven up the volcano Katla before you descend into the cave in Myrdalsjokull glacier. The Katla ice cave is one-of-a-kind because you can enjoy its vivid blue colors and striking formations in summer. Other ice caves are open only in winter.

After your tour, take a moment to walk along Reynisfjara beach, with a short stop at the village of Vik. Reynisfjara is one of Iceland's most spectacular beaches because of its impressive black basalt cliffs and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. It's also a fantastic puffin-watching location.

This beach, however, is one of Iceland's most dangerous places, so be careful not to get too close to the pounding surf. Currents hidden in the swirling water can sweep you out to sea in no time. 

After this day of witnessing many breathtaking sights, you can rest for the night in one of the villages and accommodations along the South Coast.

On your fourth day, set out for the waterfall Foss a Sidu and the nearby Dverghamrar basalt columns in South Iceland before taking the road over the vast glacial sands of Skeidararsandur.

Foss a Sidu waterfall cascades gracefully down a cliff face and is framed by the rugged beauty of the surrounding landscape, so ensure you've got your camera ready.

Dverghamrar, often called the "Dwarf Cliffs," is a unique geological formation featuring striking hexagonal basalt columns believed to have formed from rapidly cooling lava.

Next on your route is the Skaftafell Nature Reserve, part of Vatnajokull National Park. Once there, you can hike to yet another impressive waterfall, Svartifoss. Its basalt columns inspired architect Gudjon Samuelsson when he designed the Hallgrimskirkja church and the roof of the National Theatre in Reykjavik.

There are plenty more options for hiking at Skaftafell. One popular choice is a guided glacier walk along the edge of the Skaftafellsjokull glacier, a breathtaking trip that offers fantastic views over the surrounding area. You need to make sure to opt into this while booking.

Once you're finished at Skaftafell, drive about 40 minutes further east to reach the magnificent Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, the highlight of this trip. The lagoon is famous for its glistening icebergs.

You can take an optional boat tour for a closer look at them, either in a zodiac or amphibious vessel. Keep your eyes peeled in this area for the resident seals, whether from a boat or the shore. 

From Jokulsarlon, walk down to Diamond Beach, where icebergs become stranded upon the shore like glittering jewels. Jokulsarlon and Diamond Beach are considered by many to be the most beautiful locations in Iceland.

After you have made the most of these incredible sights, spend a night in a peaceful countryside hotel in Southeast Iceland.

At the start of your fifth day, head back towards Reykjavik. You can check in at your hotel in the afternoon and explore the city. Dotted around the downtown area are numerous cafes, bars, and restaurants. 

You can also find a slew of fascinating museums. Learn about the Viking settlers at the Settlement Exhibition or the history of Iceland at the National Museum. You can also explore the alternative culture at the Icelandic Punk Museum and the Freddi Arcade and Toy Museum.

The Arbaer Open Air Museum is a vibrant window into Iceland's past. The museum comprises over 20 buildings, including traditional turf houses, a church, and a village shop, each relocated and authentically restored to represent different eras of Icelandic history. Through interactive exhibits and live demonstrations, visitors get an immersive insight into the lifestyles and occupations of Icelanders in ancient times.

If you're in the mood for relaxation after your days on the road, you can take a trip to the mystical Blue Lagoon Spa for a soak in its mineral-rich waters. After the long drive along the South Coast, it's well worth it to soothe those tense muscles and do nothing but bask in peace.

Alternatively, you could opt for an underground adventure where you descend into the empty magma chamber of a volcano. The journey begins with a moderate hike across the stunning Icelandic landscape to the Thrihnukagigur volcano.

After reaching the volcano, visitors are lowered 393 feet (120 meters) down into the volcano's vast and colorful magma chamber inside an open cable lift. This remarkable geological phenomenon is the only place on earth where the magma chamber of a volcano is safely accessible and provides an unparalleled view of the inner workings of a volcanic eruption.

With its vibrant mineral colors and the sheer scale of the chamber, the "Inside the Volcano" tour is a truly one-of-a-kind geological adventure, so don't miss out. You can add it when booking.

After another fantastic day, you'll retire to your Reykjavik accommodation.

On your departure day, you'll drop your car at the Keflavik International Airport in time to check in for your flight home. 

For those who have a later flight and choose to visit the Blue Lagoon today, you'll finish your stay unwinding before heading to the airport. This is the perfect place to relax as you bathe in the warm, mineral-rich waters and look back on the incredible adventure you have just taken in the land of fire and ice.

If your flight is later, there are plenty of things to do in Reykjavik.

You could consider exploring more attractions in downtown Reykjavik and nearby. Have you stopped by Perlan, a remarkable landmark with fascinating exhibitions and a viewing deck that allows you to see for miles around? Or have you climbed the church tower at Hallskrimskirkja for a panorama across the city? 

A stop by Ellidaardalur might be nice too. This is a lovely green park southeast of the city, with plenty of walking paths for a sedate stroll and biking trails beside charming waterways.

With the freedom of a rental car, you could explore the Seltjarnarnes peninsula, west of the city center. It's known for its beautiful coastal views, birdwatching opportunities, and the iconic Grotta Lighthouse. The lighthouse isn't usually open to visitors, but even so, it provides fine views on a clear day across Faxafloi bay, by which Reykjavik sits.

If you like, visit some attractions on the Reykjanes Peninsula on your way to the airport. Aside from the Blue Lagoon spa, the Reykjanes Peninsula boasts unique attractions. You could visit the Bridge Between Continents, the otherworldly landscapes of the Seltun geothermal area, the active Gunnuhver hot springs, and the historic Reykjanes Lighthouse.

You'll drop your rental car at the airport in plenty of time for your flight home. We wish you a pleasant journey and hope to see you again soon.