Magical 6-Day Northern Lights Self-Drive Tour in the South Coast of Iceland with Ice Caving

Visit the most popular attractions in Iceland with a trip to the Golden Circle sightseeing route. 

After a comfortable night’s sleep in your Reykjavik accommodation, you’ll wake refreshed and ready to start your Icelandic adventure. Today, you’ll visit the Golden Circle, the most popular sightseeing route in the country.

Drive out of Reykjavik toward Thingvellir National Park. This is one of only three national parks in Iceland and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can see a fault line where two tectonic plates are pulling apart, go snorkeling in the Silfra fissure, or learn about Iceland’s political history. Participants in the optional snorkeling tour need to be comfortable in the water and be able to swim. 

Next, many visitors choose to visit the Fontana Spa. If you’ve booked this as an optional extra, you can spend a couple of hours relaxing in the luxurious geothermal waters as you enjoy spectacular lake views. 

The next destination is the Geysir geothermal area. Geysir itself isn’t very active these days, but the nearby Strokkur geyser erupts every few minutes, shooting water as high as 66 feet (about 20 meters) into the air. Witnessing this eruption among the fumaroles and hot springs is a fantastic experience you won’t want to miss.

From here, you’ll continue to the final stop on the Golden Circle, the Gullfoss waterfall. The word “Gullfoss” means “golden waterfall.” It gives its name to the Golden Circle route and is one of the most iconic falls in Iceland. Take a walk down to the edge to get an unforgettable view. 

Optional add-ons for the Golden Circle include a thrilling snowmobiling or monster truck adventure on the mighty Langjokull glacier. Get your adrenaline pumping as you take in the spectacular snowy landscapes around you. 

You could also book a horseback riding tour. Icelandic horses are known for their friendly temperaments and unique gait called the tolt. Discover the majestic beauty of these gentle creatures as you ride through the Icelandic countryside.

Your accommodation for tonight is in Southwest Iceland. Spend your evening having dinner and looking up at the sky to try and spot the northern lights.

The third day of this self-drive tour takes you to waterfalls, glaciers, and an iconic black-sand beach.

You'll start your morning in Selfoss. From here, you'll drive toward the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which famously erupted in 2010 and brought European air traffic to a standstill with its enormous ash clouds. 

The first stops of the day are the Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls. Skogafoss is one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland, with a width of 82 feet (about 25 meters) and a drop of almost 200 feet (approximately 60 meters). You can get some fantastic photos here before you continue to the nearby Seljalandsfoss waterfall.

Seljalandsfoss is about the same height as Skogafoss but isn't as wide. One of the best things about this waterfall is that you can fully encircle it. A cave behind the waterfall lets you stand behind the water as it crashes into the plunge pool below. Although the path is closed in winter, you can still enjoy its fairytale-like setting.

While in the area, you might want to visit the Skogar Folk Museum to see recreations of the traditional turf houses that early settlers would have lived in. 

From here, continue your journey to the Solheimajokull glacier, where you can participate in a thrilling glacier hike as an optional add-on. This unique experience combines excitement and adventure with jaw-dropping views over South Iceland.

Other optional tours for today include a snowmobiling trip on the Myrdalsjokull glacier or a visit to an Icelandic horse farm. Alternatively, you can visit the Caves of Hella or the Lava Center Exhibition and Cinema in Hvolsvollur to learn more about Iceland's volcanic past.

A must-see attraction for today is the Reynisfjara black-sand beach, where you can discover basalt cliffs and witness the full force of the North Atlantic Ocean. Here, you can embark on today's final optional adventure, a black-beach buggy tour. 

You'll retire to accommodations in South Iceland. There's hardly any light pollution in the area, so you'll have an excellent chance to see the northern lights if the skies are clear.

The fourth day of your self-drive tour takes you to the iconic Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, the crown jewel of Iceland. 

You'll start the day in Vik. You can take the black-beach buggy tour offered yesterday to begin your day with some excitement. 

After this, you'll set off toward the Skaftafell nature reserve. On the way, you'll pass the picturesque Foss a Sidu waterfall, the Dverghamrar basalt columns, and the vast glacier sands of Skedarasandur. 

The Skaftafell nature reserve is within the Vatnajokull National Park and is a popular destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts. You can take a short hike to the Svartifoss waterfall or participate in a guided glacier hike with an expert guide. This is ideal if you did a different tour on day three of your trip.

You'll continue driving east from here until you reach the magnificent Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach. Jokulsarlon is known as the "jewel of Iceland" and is a trip highlight for many. You'll want to spend as much time here to soak up the breathtaking views.

If you've booked a boat tour in advance, you can head out onto the water to get a closer look at the icebergs floating in the lagoon. There are often seals here, so you might be able to spot some of them playing or swimming in the waters.

Another optional add-on for today is a visit to a nearby ice cave. Ice caves appear in the glacial landscapes of Iceland between November and March. 

This winter season, two beautiful ice caves have been discovered in the Vatnajokull National Park: the Western Ice Cave and the Eastern Ice Cave. Choose to add this amazing adventure to your trip and visit the best ice cave accessible on the day, taking into account the weather conditions and visibility to ensure the ultimate ice-caving experience. This activity is very popular, so you must book it well in advance. 

After your tours, check out the village of Kirkjubaejarklaustur. It's a small settlement with a remote location, making it another excellent night for northern lights hunting. 

You'll retire to your accommodation in Southeast Iceland this evening.