Relaxing 11 Day Northern Lights Winter Self Drive Tour of Iceland’s South Coast & Snaefellsnes

Wake up and get your adventure on the road. Today you will be exploring the West of Iceland and the beautiful Snæfellsnes peninsula. Head towards the historical town Borgarnes, known to be inhabited since the early settlement years.

From here, it is highly recommended that you head to two very different but equally majestic waterfalls that so happen to be neighbors. Hraunfossar waterfall is a series of rivulets gently trickling from the lava plateau. Barnafoss, no more than a stone's throw away, it's a tempestuous torrent of frothing water carving its way through the rock. Be sure to check out the nearby Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot spring.

Decide now how to spend the rest of your day. You could pay a visit to the easily accessible Viðgelmir Lava Cave, a colorful cavern teeming with fascinating rock formations and icicles.

Alternatively, you might fancy something a little more chilled-out, in which case, lay back and relax in the geothermally heated waters at Krauma spa. You can also explore a man-made ice tunnel carved out of Iceland's second-largest glacier, Langjökull.

However you choose to spend your day, you are guaranteed to be bowled over by the wealth of natural beauty around you. Retire for the evening at your accommodation on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Don't forget to keep an eye out for the Auroras.

Today you wake up to 'Iceland in Miniature'; Snæfellsnes peninsula has been given this nickname thanks to the wealth and diversity of attractions on this modest 56 miles (90 kilometers) of coastline.

You are the designer of the day! You could plan your sightseeing around a visit to the mesmerizing Vatnshellir cave on a guided tour. In his famous novel, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Jules Verne imagines that Snæfellsjökull, the glacier volcano that dominates the peninsula, was the gateway to the deep. Awaken your imagination and delve into the depths of the earth.

You could also explore the gorgeous Snæfellsjökull National Park. On the peninsula's South Coast, you could go to Djúplaónssandur black pebble beach and admire the crashing waves and remains of a historic shipwreck. Heavy lifting stones lie on the beach. In the past, sailors used them as a show of strength.

Another option is to pay a visit to the quiet towns of Arnarstapi and Hellnar, all the while keeping your eye out for curious rock formations for which this coastline is famous. You can also stop at the Black Church at Búðir, which is very photogenic, especially when surrounded by snow and illuminated by the Northern Lights.

On the northern side of the peninsula, be sure to visit the town of Grundarfjörður and admire the 'most photographed mountain in Iceland', Mount Kirkjufell. The angular peak of this striking elevation is best enjoyed in front of a small waterfall, Kirkjufellsfoss, that bubbles close to the mountain's base and is named in honor of its mountain neighbor.

Spend another evening in the beautiful Iceland in Miniature and prepare for the rest of Iceland tomorrow!

Back on the road, and you have the Golden circle route to look forward to. This well-loved circuit takes you to Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, and the Haukadalur geothermal valley, home to the geysers.

Þingvellir National Park is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Iceland. Historically significant in the heart of every Icelander, it served as the assembly point of the first parliament, the Alþingi, 930 AD. The Alþingi is still in operation today, albeit now in Reykjavík, making it the world’s longest ongoing parliament.

It is just as geologically impressive as it is cultural. Þingvellir is defined by the ridge that runs through it, which is caused by the pulling apart of the tectonic plates. Iceland sits atop the mid-Atlantic Rift, and it is the only country in the world where you can observe this phenomenon above ground. As you walk through the park, you are walking between continents with the North American plate on one side and the Eurasian.

The nearby Haukadalur valley is home to Geysir, the hot spring from which all other similar features get their name, Geysers. Although Geysir itself is sporadically active, you can still get your fill of erupting boiling water from Strokkur, a neighboring geyser that blasts to a height of 66 ft (20m) every 5 minutes or so.

Close by is the second most powerful waterfall in Iceland, Gullfoss. It cascades in two levels and can be observed from many different angles. Whichever way you take it in, you are guaranteed to be impressed by the sheer scale of this thundering behemoth. In the depths of winter, part of the falls freezes into gnarled ice formations, which only add to its appeal.

You have a range of activities to choose from to enrich your Golden Circle experience. If you’re feeling pumped for adventure and fancy cranking up your adrenaline levels, you could hop on the back of a snowmobile and dash over the glistening Langjökull glacier in style.

Or maybe all the water you’ve seen today inspires you to get submerged? You can opt to go snorkeling in the Silfra fissure and float between the continents. This crack in the earth’s crust has filled with clear glacier water further filtered through the surrounding lava rocks producing waters with approximately 328-foot (100-meter) visibility.

If you’ve had enough adventure for one day, take a dip in the Secret Lagoon, a geothermally heated hot spring close to the charming town Flúðir.

You will spend the evening in the  Golden Circle area.

Your adventure continues, and today you will be making your way along the country's South Coast, famous for its black sand beaches and countless waterfalls plunging from the great heights of the South Highlands. A must-see is two of these waterfalls: Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, which both fall from heights of 197 ft (60m), the former in a hypnotic cascade, the latter in a thick thundering curtain.

As you drive, you will have the coast on your right and mighty glaciers covering the interior to your left such as Mýrdalsjökull, Eyjafjallajökull, and Sólheimajökull. Get to know the ice caps and opt to go for a glacial hike; feel the ice underneath your crampons and marvel at the remote beauty of the frozen landscape.

Perhaps you would rather delve inside a glacier and sign yourself up for the Katla Ice Cave tour. It's guaranteed to leave you enchanted with the electric blues the way the light shimmers on these awe-inspiring natural features.

You will spend the evening in the Vík area.

Leaving the charming town of Vík, you can choose to go for a glacial hike in Skaftafell Nature Reserve. Get up early to make the most of the sunshine and spend the morning admiring the magnificent Svínafellsjökull glacier outlet.

Now, prepare yourself for the ‘Crown Jewel of Iceland’, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. There you can watch enormous white, and blue icebergs peacefully drift out to sea, scarred in places by veins of black ash from historical volcanic eruptions.

If you are traveling in September or October, you can take a boat tour to get closer to these natural wonders. Take an Amphibian tour or the slightly faster Zodiac boat tour, you decide.

You can also pay a visit the Diamond Beach, just adjacent to the lagoon, and you will find some of these icebergs washed ashore, standing in their frozen glory against the contrasting black sand - unless it’s covered in snow!

You will spend your evening in accommodation close by, don’t forget to look out for the Northern Lights!

Today you have the opportunity to see one of the most beautiful attractions in Iceland and a must-see on a winter tour, the fascinating blue ice cave. Located on Europe’s largest ice cap, Vatnajökull, you will feel transported to another world as ethereal blues, and striking ice formations surround you. Don’t miss out, as this will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your trip.

You can decide how to spend the rest of the day. Perhaps you would like to venture to the Stokksnes peninsula to catch a glimpse of the ‘Batman Mountain’ Vestrahorn. The clustered jagged peaks of this elevation have inspired countless photographers, so don’t forget your camera.

You could also spend the day in the charming town of Höfn, renowned for its langoustine lobster. If you couldn’t quite believe your eyes yesterday, why not go back to the glacier lagoon at a different time and immortalize the icy giants on camera once more.

At the end of the day, you will be staying in the same accommodation as the night before, near Höfn township.

You have the whole day to familiarise yourself with Skaftafell Nature Reserve. It used to be a National Park in its own right before becoming part of Vatnajökull National Park, and it’s easy to understand why.

Skaftafell is rich in diverse attractions from forests to lava fields, glacial tongues to waterfalls; there really is a lot to take in. The area has been labeled a hiker’s paradise. Why not explore some of the shorter paths in the area. One such trail leads to Svartifoss, an impressive waterfall cascading in front of black basalt columns, so be sure to find it.

Knowing Skaftafell a bit better, you will then return to Vík for the evening. Go for an evening walk and scout for the Aurora over the black coastline. The elevated church makes for an excellent viewpoint for the Northern Lights.

With no end to glaciers, there is no end to glacial activities on offer in this part of the country! Today, you could ascend Mýrdalsjökull, Iceland's fourth-largest ice cap, to hop on the back of a snowmobile and race across the white wintery wilderness. This is a promise of adventure that cannot be resisted. 

Whatever you decide upon, don't miss a visit to Reynisfjara beach, famed for its photogenic sea stacks and impressive basalt columns. Watching the waves crash at the shore is thoroughly hypnotizing but be careful not to get too close as the beach is famous for sneaker waves, and there have been some terrible accidents.

This evening you will say your goodbyes to the South Coast and make your way back to Reykjavík.

This is your last whole day in Iceland, so why not make the most of it! Watch the capital Reykjavík become even smaller as you soar above the city in a helicopter before getting an aerial view of a geothermal area close to Reykjavík.

Animal lovers will be delighted at the option to meet the Icelandic horse, a special breed famous for its fifth gait, the 'tölt', as well as its calm and friendly temperament. Suitable for experienced and beginners alike. If traveling before October 31st, you can explore the insides of a volcano and admire the magic of these geological giants from the inside!

Alternatively, you could spend your day exploring the city. You could go to the top of Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík's most iconic landmark and largest church, to enjoy panoramic views all over the city. Be sure to look into Harpa Concert Hall, a fantastic feat of architectural design and engineering.

There are many art galleries, museums, and bars and cafes, so there's no end to things to do. In the evening, why not get a taste for the quirky Reykjavík nightlife.

The time has come for you to make your way back to Keflavík International airport. Drop off your car at Keflavík airport and go to catch your flight. For those who have a later flight and choose to visit the Blue Lagoon today, you will finish off your stay unwinding before you head to the airport. This is the perfect place to relax as you bathe in the warm, mineral-rich waters as you 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. If you have an early flight back home, we wish you a pleasant journey.