South Coast, Vatnajökull, Westman Islands & Golden Circle

Four days pairing the south coast and Vatnajökull glacier region with a full Westman Islands day and a Golden Circle finale ​ pre-booked end to end so you simply drive and enjoy. Designed-not-brokered: built in Reykjavík by your Trip Designer, with a high-end 4x4 and hand-selected hotels matched to your route.

1. Day 1

   South Coast Highlights

   You collect your vehicle and point it toward the south coast. Seljalandsfoss comes first ​ a narrow waterfall with a path behind it when conditions allow ​ followed by Skógafoss, a straight drop of glacial water that throws up spray and, on brighter days, rainbows. From there you continue to Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, backed by basalt columns and open to the North Atlantic. The nearby village of Vík makes an easy coffee stop. Farther east you turn off for Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, where the path along the rim is simple and the views are some of the most delicate on the route. Glaciers and Iceland's highest peaks begin to fill the horizon as you cross into the Vatnajökull region. By evening you reach your accommodation near the national park.

   Seljalandsfoss · Skógafoss · Reynisfjara · Vík · Fjaðrárgljúfur

2. Day 2

   Glacier Adventures in Vatnajökull National Park

   Today is all about the glacier. In the morning you travel to Falljökull with local guides. Super jeeps handle the rougher valley track, then you hike the last section to the ice edge. Once crampons are on, you move at a steady pace, threading between crevasses and over compressed blue ice. After the glacier, you stop for lunch before driving to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. A zodiac boat tour takes you into the quieter sections of the lagoon, closer to the calving face. Diamond Beach is just across the road. In the late afternoon you begin driving back west, arriving at your second hotel in time for dinner.

   Falljökull glacier hike · Jökulsárlón zodiac · Diamond Beach

3. Day 3

   Volcanic Westman Islands

   This morning you head to Landeyjahöfn and take the ferry across to Heimaey, the only inhabited island in the Westman archipelago. Once ashore, a RIB boat takes you around part of the coastline ​ into sea caves and narrow inlets that larger scheduled boats can't reach. Puffins and other seabirds are common in season. Back on land, you sit down to lunch at a local restaurant built around island ingredients. In the afternoon you visit Eldheimar, the museum built around homes that were half-buried in the 1973 eruption. It is one of the few places in Iceland where you see a modern volcanic event preserved mid-story rather than read about it on an information board. You return by ferry to the mainland and overnight on the south coast.

   Heimaey ferry · RIB boat tour · Local lunch · Eldheimar museum

4. Day 4

   Golden Circle Sightseeing

   On your final day you loop inland for the Golden Circle before returning to Reykjavík. Gullfoss comes first, followed by the Geysir geothermal area. Lunch at Friðheimar breaks up the day before you continue to Þingvellir National Park, where walking paths follow the rift and lead down into the valley where Iceland's early parliament once met in the open air. A short drive then brings you back to Reykjavík, usually by late afternoon.

   Gullfoss · Geysir · Friðheimar · Þingvellir