Best 7-Day Winter Self-Drive Tour in Iceland

Day two of your Icelandic self-drive winter vacation takes you into West Iceland to visit the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, known as "Iceland in Miniature," thanks to the diversity of its attractions. 

You'll drive north out of Reykjavik through some splendid countryside. You can take the tunnel under the Hvalfjordur fjord to reach the Snaefellsnes Peninsula quickly or take a more scenic route and drive around the fjord's edge. You can make several stops and short detours on the way. Many visitors stop at the village of Borgarnes, the Glymur waterfall, and the Eldborg crater. 

Once you reach the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, you'll travel along its southern shore and quickly notice the region's diversity. Stop at the Gerduberg cliffs and Ytri Tunga beach to admire basalt columns and other geological features, then continue to the Raudfeldsgja gorge. 

Other beautiful places to stop include the abandoned hamlet of Budir and the basalt fortress of Londrangar. 

At the peninsula's western tip, you'll find Snaefellsjokull National Park, one of three national parks in Iceland. Snaefellsjokull is a glacier-capped volcano with twin peaks visible all over the peninsula on clear days. There are several hiking routes and walking paths in the national park that you can follow.

From here, you can continue onto the northern edge of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, enjoying views over the Breidafjordur bay and the various islands that lead out to the Westfjords. Drive along the peninsula's north coast and stop to take photos on the way. 

Don't forget to stop at the Kirkjufell mountain, one of Iceland's most photographed natural sights. This iconic cone-shaped mountain has walking paths around it, and the nearby Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall makes an excellent place for a stroll. 

Travelers visiting in September or October can also participate in an "Into the Volcano" excursion today. You'll have the chance to descend into the chamber of the dormant Thrihnukagigur volcano and explore its vast cavern dyed brightly with the elements of the earth. 

This tour will take up much of your day, but the longer daylight hours in September and October mean you should have plenty of time to explore the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. 

Your accommodation for tonight is located on the peninsula.

Day three of your week-long winter holiday to Iceland takes you around the famous Golden Circle sightseeing route. 

You'll wake up on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and will drive from West Iceland toward the start of the Golden Circle, Iceland's most popular tourist route. Since this is a self-drive tour, you also have the freedom and flexibility to spend more time on the peninsula before you leave.

On your way to the Golden Circle, you can detour to the Vidgelmir cave if you chose a lava-caving tour when booking. This excursion is a fantastic way to explore the world beneath Iceland's lava fields and learn about the dramatic volcanic forces that shaped the island nation.

From here, you'll travel into Thingvellir National Park, a spectacular expanse of natural countryside located between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The valley has incredible terrain, with forests, lava fields, and waterways leading to the country's largest natural lake. 

During your time at Thingvellir, you'll also have the chance to take a pre-booked snorkeling tour in the Silfra fissure. The water in this spring is so clear that you can see more than 325 feet (about 100 meters) in front of you. It filters through volcanic rock for over 100 years before reaching this pool. Participants need to be comfortable in the water and be able to swim.

You'll receive a dry suit to keep you warm and dry in the water throughout this adventure, and Silfra's gentle current makes it a surprisingly easy activity.

Thingvellir National Park has enormous appeal, even for those who want to keep both feet firmly planted on dry land. You can explore the beautiful nature around you and learn more about its integral role in Iceland's political history.

The second site of the Golden Circle is the Geysir geothermal area, home to some of the world's most famous geysers. While Geysir is inactive these days, the nearby Strokkur geyser erupts every few minutes, shooting pillars of steam and water into the sky in a spectacular display.

The final attraction on the Golden Circle route is the majestic and powerful Gullfoss waterfall. Though these are the three most renowned attractions, your itinerary will list plenty of lesser-known sites and hidden gems in the area that you can visit before retiring for the evening.

You'll now head to a hotel in the Southwest Iceland countryside for a good night's sleep. Be sure to look for the aurora borealis before bed.

Spend the fourth day of your week in Iceland traversing the spectacular South Coast, another of the country's prime sightseeing stretches.

The waterfalls you'll visit early in your journey (Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss) are two of the most spectacular in the country. Both are almost 200 feet (about 60 meters) tall, but Seljalandsfoss is renowned for the enormous cavern behind it, while Skogafoss is more famous for its impressive power.

As you continue along the South Coast, you can glimpse the Eyjafjallajokull volcano and Myrdalsjokull glacier to your left on a clear day. Eyjafjallajokull famously erupted in 2010 and grounded planes across Europe due to the enormous ash cloud.

There are two options for excursions on the Myrdalsjokull glacier. The first is a snowmobiling tour, allowing you to race across the ice cap's gleaming, snowy plains. Such an excursion is the perfect choice for adrenaline lovers, although those seeking out the country's most spectacular views will also appreciate the magical vistas from the summit.

Alternatively, you can enjoy a glacier hike on Solheimajokull, an outlet glacier from Myrdalsjokull. This adventure is perfect for those who want a little physical activity and are keen to see glacial crevasses and ice walls up close. The panoramas from its heights are just as beautiful.

You'll continue along the South Coast until you reach the beautiful Reynisfjara black-sand beach. This beach is famous for its eerie volcanic sand and powerful waves. Walk along the jet-black sands and admire the view of the Reynisdrangar sea stacks standing proudly in the Atlantic Ocean.

The nearby village of Vik is one of the southernmost points in Iceland, and this is where you'll spend the evening. Vik offers beautiful views over Reynisfjara beach and is a fantastic place to wait for the northern lights to appear on a clear night. 

Enjoy a delicious Icelandic dinner in Vik and head to South Iceland accommodation for a good night's sleep.

Day five of your self-drive winter holiday to Iceland lets you discover the wonders of Vatnajokull National Park. 

You’ll leave your accommodation in the morning and travel into the national park. On the way, you’ll pass through beautiful, diverse scenery and historic locations, including the village of Kirkjubaejarklaustur.

One of the best places to admire the spectacular landscapes of Vatnajokull National Park is the Skaftafell nature reserve. This area is sheltered by several glacier tongues and defined by its terrain of lava fields, lagoons, and geological structures. 

If you missed the first glacier tour, you could organize a glacier hiking tour on the Svinafellsjokull ice cap. This glacier is known for its distinctive ridges, making it a brilliant place to learn about glacial power and structures. 

Another favorite feature in the nature reserve is the Svartifoss waterfall. This beautiful waterfall is surrounded by hexagonal basalt columns that form as lava cools quickly. Iceland is one of the best places in the world to see such structures, and you’ll be able to get up close to them on this self-drive tour. 

From here, you’ll continue to another area of the national park, the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. Known as the crown jewel of Iceland, this stunning glacial lake is dotted with enormous icebergs that drift from the tongue of the Vatnajokull glacier. The icebergs float in the water and drift onto shore on the Diamond Beach.

The icebergs are massive in size and quantity, making this an unforgettable experience. Ensure your camera has plenty of battery to capture some photos of your time here. You might even be lucky to spot some of the seals that call this area home. You can often see them swimming in the waters or resting on a floating iceberg.

Your accommodation for tonight is in Southeast Iceland, so enjoy the magnificent views as long as you like. 

The penultimate day of your winter holiday in Iceland takes you on an ice-caving adventure before your return to Reykjavik.

Travelers enjoying this seven-day self-drive tour between October and March can book an optional add-on that takes them into the depths of a glacial ice cave. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is one of the most sought-after tours in Iceland in winter, so you must ask your travel consultant to book your place on the excursion in plenty of time.

You’ll drive from your accommodation to the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon car park, where you’ll meet the other guests on this excursion. The group will travel in a super jeep to a remote corner of the Vatnajokull National Park. 

The expert guide leading the tour will provide you with the necessary safety gear and take you into the mouth of an ice cave on a glacier. You can see bright-blue ice walls and learn how the constant melting and refreezing of the ice forms the otherworldly shapes you encounter. 

You’ll have plenty of time in the cave to take photos and ask your guide questions before you return to the super jeep and the glacier lagoon. From here, you can drive along the South Coast back to Reykjavik. 

If you visit in September or April, the ice cave tours don’t run, as the weather isn’t cold enough to form the caves. However, you could book a boat trip on the lagoon for up-close iceberg viewing, an activity not available in the depths of winter.

Then, head to Reykjavik in your own time to enjoy more sightseeing in the capital or the surrounding area. 

Along the way, you can stop at lesser-known sites and hidden gems in the area that other travelers might not have time to visit. For example, the Fjallsarlon glacier lagoon and the Kvernufoss waterfall are excellent additions to an Icelandic self-drive tour. 

When you arrive in Reykjavik, you can check into your final night’s accommodation and make the most of the city’s nightlife. Reykjavik is known for its excellent live music nights and friendly atmosphere, so you’ll have a great time celebrating your trip.