Visitors to Iceland will often undertake their holiday in one of two ways. The first method is to opt for a guided tour, allowing the guest to sit back and relax as the logistics of their holiday are worked out for them.
Self drive tours, however, provide far greater levels of flexibility, allowing guests to customise everything from the quality level of their room and board to their day-to-day itinerary.
Self drive tours, therefore, perfectly suit those who relish the opportunity for independent travel, longing for the freedom that only comes with taking to the road under one’s own initiative.
Awe-inspiring landscapes—from cascading waterfalls to glittering glacier lagoons, quintessential fishing villages and misty mountainscapes, volcanic black-sand beaches and steaming geothermal valleys—lie in the wait for in the self-governing traveller.
Driving in Iceland requires a basic understanding of the country’s road rules, as well as a keen awareness toward some of the more common hazards.
To begin, driving off-road in Iceland is strictly illegal and comes with large fines for those that are caught. Note that this is due to the fragility of Iceland’s natural environment, a fact tempered by the long periods of recovering time needed for the ecosystem to repair.
Also be aware that despite this country’s staggering beauty, it is important to stop your vehicle for sightseeing and photos at the safest possible opportunity rather than merely by the roadside. The most popular attractions in the country will usually have a designated car park.
It is the law that headlights must be turned on at all times while driving, and naturally, drink-driving and texting behind the wheel are both strictly prohibited.
In Iceland, vehicles navigate on the right side of the road, with the most popular route being Road Nr. 1, which circles the country. The vast majority of self drive tours will take you along this route, with diversions being made throughout in order to visit other attractions.
It is important to check weather conditions before taking to the road. This is for your own safety and also allows you plenty of time to pack any spare items you might otherwise have forgotten. For instance, despite the summer’s glorious climate, it is crucial to bring along sunglasses in order to protect your eyes from its glaring rays during summer self drive tours. Undertaking a winter self drive tour, on the other hand, demands a more thorough cache, with items such as scarves, hot coffee flasks and extra socks all taking an essential place in the boot of your car.
Also, be keenly aware that the weather in Iceland is notoriously temperamental, often switching from one extreme to the other within a matter of minutes. This can make planning rather difficult, especially whilst taking a multi-day trip across the country, and thus it is so important to stay alert, whenever you’re driving in Iceland. This also goes for the wildlife, particularly sheep, who enjoy licking salt from the roadside, hence constituting a driving hazard.