South Iceland Itinerary - 7-day Road Trip
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Dynkur waterfall in the Central Highlands
7 days in Iceland is not enough time to see everything, but with some good planning you can create an itinerary that gives you an excellent introduction to the country. So, to help you out, we spoke with veteran Reykjavik-based driver-gude Óli for his perfect one week itinerary in Iceland.
This 7-day Iceland itinerary is intended for first time visitors and it offers a good balance of the main highlights along with some off-the-beaten-path places with fewer crowds. The itinerary makes time for sightseeing, relaxing, outdoor activities, history & culture, and some exploring in more remote areas.
We’ve included some time in Reykjavik, a day touring the Golden Cricle, a few days on the South Coast exploring Vik, Reynisfjara, Skogafoss and lots of waterfalls, and then a few days in the highlands and F-roads, before heading over to Jokulsarlon, the glacier lagoons, Skaftafel, and Diamond Beach.
The days in the Southern Highlands would require a 4x4 vehicle and are best done with a guide or only for travelers experienced in driving in rough and remote terrain. Please remember that commercial rentals prohibit things like crossing rivers.
We’ve only listed a few of the many possible stops for each day, but it gives a good idea of what there is to see and the best order to do it in.
More Iceland travel info:
If you could use some one-on-one help planning your itinerary, schedule an Iceland travel consultation with Andrés, our Local Expert!
Table of Contents
How to get to Iceland
Best time to visit
How long to spend
Where to stay
How to get around
7-day Iceland itinerary
Day 1 - Golden Circle
Thingvellir, Gulfoss, Geyser, Secret Lagoon, and some of Iceland’s most iconinc sights.
Day 2 - Into the Highlands
Hot-spring hunting and hiking far from the crowds in Landmannalaugar to Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
Day 3 - Glaciers, Lagoons, and Diamond Beach
Zodiac cruising, snowmobiling, and lots of adventure today!
Day 4 - Southern Highlands to South Coast
Back into the highlands for some more hiking and otherwordly scenery before exploring the South Coast.
Day 5 - Þórsmörk National Park
Time for some ATV riding, Super Jeep, and adventure!
Day 6 - Vik, Reynsifjara beach, and the South Coast
See some more of Iceland’s heavy hitters before you return to Reykjavik.
Day 7 - Departure day
Time to start planning for your next trip!
Plan your itinerary with local help
If you could use some help figuring our your itinerary, schedule an Iceland travel consultation with our Reykjavik-based Local Expert, Andrés!
These are one-hour Zoom calls where you’ll get to chat with Andrés about the trip you’re planning and he’ll share his tips and advice, answer your travel questions, and help you perfect your itinerary.
How to get to Iceland
Getting to Iceland is easy, especially if coming from Europe or North America.
From Europe, you have direct flights from major cities like London, Paris, Milan, Amsterdam, and Vienna, as well as the capitals and major cities in Scandinavia (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland) and the Baltic nations (Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia).
Most flights are offered via low-cost carriers like Play, Wizzair, Transvia, and Easyjet, but you also have plenty of connections with Iceland’s national carrier, Icelandair.
From the United States, you have non-stop flights to Iceland’s capital city of Reykjavik from Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit, Raleigh, Washington DC, New York, Newark, Providence, and Boston. Flights are operated by United, Delta, American Airlines, Icelandair, and Play (a low-cost carrier).
Flights from the midwest of the United States typically take about 6 hours each way, and roundtrip tickets cost $400-800 USD. From the east coast, flights to Reykjavik take 5-6 hours, and roundtrip tickets can cost as little as $285 USD.
From Canada, Icelandair offers one daily non-stop flight from both Vancouver and Toronto.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Iceland entirely depends on your interests. If you’re looking to do cold weather activities and see snow, then obviously you should come in the winter. But for just about every other type of interest, you should come in summer.
Summer - The best time to visit for most people
In general, I think the summer is the best time for a visit to Iceland because you have warmer weather, 15-20 hours of daylight, the entire country is open and accessible, and you won’t encounter issues like road closures or unsafe weather.
Over the summer, you can hike in Iceland’s wild places, camp at pristine alpine lakes, ride ATVs on rugged trails, and do boat trips and kayaking by glaciers. There’s interesting wild life spotting and the landscapes are simply surreal.
For road trips, you have so much daylight that you can fill each day with 16 hours worth of activities. And because Iceland has glaciers year round, many of the activities that you’d do in winter you can still do even in the summer time.
Winter - For well-prepared cold weather lovers
Most people coming to Iceland want to do a road trip and/or visit sites that are far apart and require driving. If you come in winter, not only will you have very little daylight with which to accomplish this, but you also may have entire days that get washed out due to weather conditions and road closures.
Much of Iceland is also hard to reach or entirely inaccessible in the winter. The Highlands, for example, are essentially only open for a 3-month stretch in the middle of summer. You can’t usually visit them in spring or fall, and much less in winter.
The entire north of the country is also often covered under a blanket of snow and ice, making it hard to travel there and even harder to travel around if you can get there. And if you’re not used to absolutely frigid temperatures, heavy snow, and ice, the reality of Iceland in winter might not totally match up with your expectations for a “winter wonderland”.
That said, if you’re looking to do activities like snowmobile, climb through ice caves, walk on glaciers, see unparalleled winter landscapes, or just soak up the festive Christmas atmosphere, and you come well prepared and with reasonable expectations, then a winter visit should be fantastic!
How many days to spend
The beauty of a trip to Iceland is that you can have a great time no matter how many days you have. Even a 12-hour layover can be a great little visit. That said, you need at least 5 days for a good trip to Iceland.
A minimum of 5 days - Focus on Reykjavik and the South Coast
5 days in Iceland won’t let you see the whole country or even much of it, but you can get a good taste. The best thing to do with 5 days is to focus on the Reykjavik area, west Iceland (around Borgarfjörður), and the south coast. 5 days will let you see Reykjavik, visit Borgarfjörður, drive the Golden Circle, and then see south coast highlights like Vatnajoküll National Park, Vik, Reynisfjara beach, Thorsmark nature reserve, and the glacial lagoons.
7 days - Enough time for Reykjavik, South Coast, and Snaefellsnes or the Highlands
If you have 7 days for a trip, you could look at the places we just mentioned and then add in 2 days either in the Highlands or in Snafellsnes peninsula.
10 days - A very fast Ring Road trip or South Iceland + Eastfjords or Westfjords
If you have 10 days in Iceland, you could conceivably do the entire Ring Road, circling the entire country. However, 10 days is really too little time to do the Ring Road - you’ll spend so much time in the car and will only be able to make quick stops everywhere you go. You won’t be able to visit anywhere in depth.
Instead, with 10 days you could focus on seeing all of South Iceland (Snaefellsnes, Borgarfjörður, Reykjavik, and the South Coast) and then add in a few days in either the isolated Westfjords or the lovely Eastfjords.
14 days - The world is your oyster
If you’ve got 14 days, you have enough time to run a great Ring Road trip, and that’s what I’d do!
Where to stay
As this itinerary focuses entirely on Southern Iceland, I’ve selected 6 towns that serve as good potential bases.
Keep in mind, though, that Iceland is not like many countries that you’ve probably been to. There are very few cities and the country is sparsely populated. Towns are small, and, outside of the occasional museum or a good restaurant or bar, there’s really not much to do in most of them. The attraction is the countryside near to them.
With that, where you stay in Iceland really isn’t terribly important. If you’re doing a road trip, you shouldn’t choose your bases based on which towns you like the most. Instead, you should choose them based on where is most convenient for your sightseeing and driving. Try to plan each base in a way that you minimizes your driving and maximizes your time outdoors (and your daylight).
Reykjavik
The capital city is an excellent base for those with only a handful of days and who don’t plan on doing a road trip. The city has lots to do, loads of excellent restaurants and bars, and the best selection of accommodation in the country.
You can also get to most places in Southern Iceland within 4 hours, so during the summertime you can day trip to almost everywhere you’d like to go. You just have to be prepared for very long days in the car.
To give you an idea, here are details for some driving trips you’d be likely to take:
Reykjavik to Arnarstapi (Snaefellsnes) - 194 km/2.5 hours.
Reykjavik to Vik (South Coast) - 188 km/2.5 hours.
Reykjavik to Thingvellir (Golden Circle) - 44 km/45 minutes.
Reykjavik to Skaftafell (glaciers) - 327 km/4 hours.
Flúðir
Flúðir is a cute town with a few good hotel options. It’s not as big or as busy as other towns near to the Golden Circle, but that means that hotel prices are generally much more reasonable.
Gardur Stay Inn - Guesthouse with bright, spacious, and comfy rooms just a stone’s throw away from the Secret Lagoon. A major bonus, all rooms have little kitchenettes in case you want to prepare your own meals. Nightly rates from around $250 USD.
Blue Hotel Fagrilundur - About 10 minutes away from Fludir and located right near the famous Friðheimar tomato farm and restaurant, this modern hotel offers comfortable and stylish-enough rooms. Prices range from $160 - 350 USD.
Hill Hotel at Fludir - Big, open rooms with comfortable beds and nice bathrooms. Lots of parking and free hot tubs on the property. One thing to keep in mind, rooms’ big windows do face out into common areas, so it certainly isn’t very private. Rooms from $150 USD per night.
Klettar Tower - A fun option for a unique stay in a very curious property. As the name suggests, rooms are located inside a round tower (a silo) in an open field. Views from the observation desk are great and rooms, while small and unusual, are very thoughtfully designed. Rooms from $150 USD.
Guesthouse Fludir - Basic, but functional motel-style accommodation. This is a totally forgettable hotel, but it gets the job done well for a budget price. Nightly rates start at $165 USD.
Hella
Hella is a little village about halfway between Reykjavik and Vik. It sits along the Ytri-Ranga river and makes for a good place to stop and spend the night after you’ve visited the Golden Circle or Secret Lagoon if your next destination is Vik or further east.
Hotel Rangá - In Hella, this is one of few luxury properties that you’ll find in Iceland. The hotel restaurant and bar are also excellent. Rooms from $400 USD per night.
Hotel Lækur - A few minutes off the ring road between Hella and Hvolsvöllur, this hotel has undergone a renovation recently and the small, but comfortable rooms are very pleasant. The suites (cabins) are ideal for families or groups of friends. Rooms from $150 USD and cabins from $280.
Hvolsvöllur
While nowadays Hvolsvöllur is just another little town in south Iceland, the area around it features prominently in the Icelandic Sagas and it was once a very important region. It’s home to two excellent museums: the Icelandic Saga Center and the Lava Center.
Seljalandsfoss Horizons - About 20 minutes east of Hvolsvöllur, this is frankly out of the way, but worth it. Two bedroom private cabins that ooze style and Scandinavian design dot a windswept patch of land. Prices start at around $500, but vary depending on the season.
Skálakot Manor Hotel - This lovely chic farmhouse-style hotel is also about 20 minutes from Hvolsvöllur. The 14 tastefully decorated rooms are very comfortable and there’s a lovely sauna and glass-enclosed hot tub too. Rooms from $300 USD.
Aurora Lodge Hotel - Just outside Hvolsvöllur, this is a stylish boutique hotel. It’s great if you’re looking for a romantic stay. Expect to pay $250 USD and up.
Hotel Fljotshlid - Halfway between Hvolsvöllur and Thorsmark park, these simple, but renovated and pleasant rooms on a working horse farm in the countryside are a good mid-range option that retains a more authentic feel. A good buffet breakfast includes many products produced on-site and you also have a hotel restaurant for dinners. Nightly rates run around $200 USD.
Brú Guesthouse - Spartan, but new and modern cabins with multiple beds and huge glass windows are spread out across the hotel’s property, offering fabulous views. It’s not luxurious or boutique or any of those things, but you get a great location and comfortable rooms at a very modest price. Cabins for as low as $150 USD per night.
Vik
Vik is a busy little hamlet on the south coast with a clutch of hotels and some good restaurants. It’s most closely associated with Reynisfjara beach, an iconic stretch of black send beloved by visitors.
Hotel Vik I Myrdal - Everything at this new hotel feels design-forward with lots of steel, glass, and wood, and they’ve thoughtfully covered all the bases. The showers are excellent, sitting around the fire in the lobby is pleasant, and breakfast is very good. Rooms start at $350 USD, increasing in high season.
Hotel Kría - The style here is pretty similar to Vik I Myrdal (although a bit simpler) and it’s also just a few hundred meters away. Rooms have giant glass windows that offer gorgeous views and everything is modern and new. Nightly rates from $230 USD.
Hotel Katla - Off of the Ring road a little ways east of Vik, this larger hotel has over a 100 rooms in a few different buildings. It’s not fancy, but the rooms are modern, spacious, and well maintained and the common areas have been nicely spruced up. Room prices range from $220-350 USD, depending on the season.
The Barn - Just outside of town, this new hostel offers beds in small dorms and private rooms. A bed in a 4-bed dorm costs around $90 USD which is really expensive compared to hostels most places, but ok value for Iceland. Private rooms with en suite bathroom cost $200 USD
Kirkjubæjarklaustur
This tiny village (with an impossible to pronounce name!) doesn’t have anything to do in it, but that’s besides the point. The location is fantastic for visits to places like Vatnajökull National Park, Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, and Landmannalaugar/Fjallabak Nature Reserve. It’s also one of the only places between Vik and Hofn that has amenities like a gas station and a grocery store.
Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon - This upscale hotel is a no-brainer if the price works with your budget. It’s located as close to the park and lagoons as you can get and rooms are stylish and comfortable. Nightly rates start at $300 USD.
Hotel Skaftafell - Basic for the price, but you’re paying for the location just outside Skaftafell. In terms of sheer convenience, it’s tough to beat. Rooms cost $250 USD and up depending on the season
Hotel Klaustur - Modern hotel with well-equipped, comfortable rooms, and a good location for a stop-over on your way to the next day’s destinations. The hotel restaurant is actually pretty good, there’s a bar, and breakfast is very nice. Rooms from $200 USD.
Hunkubakkar Guesthouse - Charming private cabins dotting an idyllic slice of countryside make this one of my favorite places to stay. Dinner in the on-site restaurant is very good. You can get a cabin with multiple beds for $200 USD in shoulder season.
Landbrot Guesthouse - Brand new hotel with small, but immaculately clean and comfortable rooms outfitted with little kitchenettes. Nightly rates from $200 USD.
How to get around
Iceland is firmly road trip territory, so for any visit you really want to have your own car. While Iceland looks small on a map, it’s a pretty big island and getting between places takes time. For example, Reykjavik to Vik is 2.5 hours while Reykjavik to Damond Beach and the glacier lagoons is 5 hours each way. Not exactly day trip terriorty…
With this in mind, you really need to have multiple bases while visiting. Also, much of what you’ll want to see are natural places that you simply can’t access with public transport. If you don’t have a car, you’ll need to rely on expensive private tours or big bus group tours, which give you pretty minimal time at many sites.
That said, if you’ll only be visiting for a couple of days and want to base yourself out of Reykjavik and do day trips, that’s doable, at least in the summer months. In the winter, the limited daylight hours mean that having only one base and having to drive long distances from it means that you lose too much time (and too much potential daylight) in transfers. Additionally, road and weather conditions may make routes impassable, meaning that you can’t even get to your destination.
In short, for a visit to Iceland of anything more than just a few days, you need to rent a car. All the major international companies have offices in Iceland and you also have some large local companies like Blue Car Rental, which is highly regarded. The easiest place to pick up your car is at Keflavik Airport in Reykjavik.
Where to rent a car
DiscoverCars is a car rental website that I always recommend checking. It includes offerings from all the major international rental companies as well as lots of smaller local agencies, which often have much better pricing. You can frequently find terrific deals.
Our local expert Andrés has answers!
Connect with Icelander and local guide Andrés for help perfecting your itinerary, fabulous local tips, and expert advice on your trip planning!
7 Day Iceland Itinerary
Day 1 - Reykjavik and Golden Circle to Flúðir
Today you'll spend the morning visiting Reykjavikl before exploring the Golden Circle on your way to the town of Flúðir.
So you know what to expect, be aware that the Golden Circle is Iceland’s most-visited route and the crowds are often shoulder to shoulder. While the sights are lovely, they are crowded and this is Iceland at is most touristy.
Brúarhlöð in the Golden Circle
Start the day with some short sightseeing in Reykjavik. Be sure to visit the iconic Hallgrimskirkja church, take a walk down the main commercial thoroughfare of Laugavegur, stop by the futuristic Harpa Concert Hall, and go for a walk through historic Reykjavik (the neighborhood located between Tjörnin lake and the harbor).
Once you’ve seen a bit of town, grab your car and take off for the Golden Circle.
Your first stop on the route is Thingvellir national park, Iceland’s first national park and the location where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. The Silfra fissure, where they meet, has become a popular spot for snorkeling. In the park, you'll get a mix of fascinating landscapes and a thousand years of Icelandic history - this is the spot where Iceland’s parliament was first formed over 1,000 years ago. In the park, you have hiking trails, fishing, and the aformentioned scuba diving,
After Thingvellir, continue on to the active geysers at the Geysir and Strokkur area. You can see bubbling mud pits, hot springs, and all sorts of interesting geothermal activity in addition to the geysers.
Next, carry on to the mighty Gullfoss waterfall. Over 2,000 people visit every day, so prepare for some crowds. Even so, once you see (and feel) the massive columns of water plunging over the 30+ meter drop, you won’t care how many people are around you!
As we move into the later evening, hop back in the car for a 30-minute drive to the Secret lagoon, where you’ll finish a day with a soak in the lovely (and less crowded) hot springs.
After a long day, spend the night in Flúðir which is just a few minutes’ from Secret lagoon.
*Some doable additional activities today could be horseback riding, fly-fishing, rafting, and kayaking.
Overnight in Flúðir
Flúðir is a cute town with a few good hotel options. It’s not as big or as busy as other towns near to the Golden Circle, but that means that hotel prices are generally much more reasonable.
Here are a few places I recommend:
Gardur Stay Inn - $250 USD.
Blue Hotel Fagrilundur - $160 - 350 USD.
Guesthouse Fludir - $165 USD.
Hill Hotel at Fludir - $150 USD.
Klettar Tower - $150 USD.
Day 2 - Landmannalaugar to Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Prepare for a packed day as you’ll be heading up into the southern highlands for some Viking history, spectacular waterfalls, secret hot springs, and great views amongst canyons, rivers, and volcanos in this stunning landscape
Today is best done with a guide, but if you're going on your own make sure that you have a 4x4 and have spoken with someone knowledgeable to safely plan your route. Also make sure that your car rental contract and insurance covers you to drive on F-roads.
The hills and mountains of Landmannalaugar
The Fjallabak area near Landmannalaugar
The remote Fjallabak area
En route to the Highlands, begin with a drive along Route 32 up to the Gaukshöfði lookout point for fabulous views over the Þjórsá river and Þjórsárdalur valley.
From here, carry on to the beatuiful Hjalparfoss waterfalls where you should get out of the car and go for a walk. Next, head to Stöng farm, a preserved Viking-era settlement, where you’ll get to learn a bit about Icelandic history and traditions.
From the farm, make a detour up route 322 to Háifoss waterfall, one of many which you’ll pass on your route. Your next destination is an area with two gorgeous crater lakes, Hnausapollur and Ljótipollur.
Here, you're entering Landmannalaugar, an otherworldy geologic area with constant geothermal activity that is perfect for hiking, swimming, and secret hot spring hunting. To get to the crater lakes, you’ll be moving onto F-roads and following F-26 to F-208. There are river crossings on this route, so plan the route carefully with an experienced guide and only do it if you have off-roading driving experience.
The whole route is spectacular with scenery that will have you jumping out of the car every 5 minutes.
After Ljótipollur, your final stop of the day is the stunning Eldgjá canyon, located just a slight detour off F-208. From here, drive on to Kirkjubæjarklaustur to spend the night.
Optional activities today include lots of hiking, swimming, and natural hot spring relaxing.
Overnight in Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Kirkjubæjarklaustur is a tiny little town on the Ring road, between Vik and Hofn. It’s nearby to a wealth of natural attractions and makes for a very good base from which to explore the surrounding area.
A few of my tried and true hotels are below:
Hotel Klaustur - $200 USD.
Hunkubakkar Guesthouse - $200 USD.
Landbrot Guesthouse - $200 USD.
Day 3 - Glaciers, Lagoons, and Diamond Beach
Today will bring you along the coast with a Zodiac boat ride on a glacier lagoon and lots of time time for kayaking, glacier walking, ice climbing, & ice caves. You’ll also have a chance to stop at Diamond Beach and do a little Puffin watching to finish the day. For accommodation, you'll spend another night in Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
Kvíárjökull glacier
Local guide Óli on zodiac boat in Fjallsárlón
Diamond Beach
You should start early, and before heading in the direction of Skaftafell, plan on a short hike into the awe-inspiring Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon which is right near your hotel.
After your hike, get ready for something totally different as you drive to Skaftafell in Vatnajoküll National Park.
Here. you have the option for lots of short hikes (including one to Svartifoss waterfall), but for something more adventurous go to Svínafellsjökull glacier and try your hand at ice climbing or glacier hiking.
After a morning of outdoor adventure, double down with an afternoon of even more! Shoot over to the glacier lake Fjallsarlon for a Zodiac cruise in amongst the icebergs. Budget a couple hours here.
After your boat ride, it’s off to Fjallsaron’s bigger sister lagoon, Jökulsárlón, for some speedboating or kayaking. I recommend doing the Zodiac ride at Fjallsarlon instead of Jökulsárlón as the smaller lagoon is almost always less crowded.
After enjoying some time on the water at the lagoons, you should make some time for a visit to very famous Diamond Beach.
From here, you can wind down the day at Ingólfshöfði with a tractor ride for Puffin spotting.
Overnight in Kirkjubæjarklaustur
See my recommended hotels from Day 2.
If you want to stay right next to the park and lagoons, you could also consider two hotels:
Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon - $300 USD.
Hotel Skaftafell - $250-400 USD .
Day 4 - Southern Highlands to South Coast
Today you are headed back into the Southern Highlands for some more off-the-beaten-path exploring as you make your way down towards Vik on the South Coast.
Deep in the Central Highlands
Háifoss waterfall
A professional guide crossing a river in the Central Highlands
Make sure to pack a picnic lunch today as there are no restaurants where you're going.
Ideally, hire a guide to join you as you head back into the Highlands by 4x4 en route to Hvolsvöllur via the South Fjallabak tracks. Be aware that even in summer you can encounter winter conditions in this region, so it is not the type of day where you can just “wing it”.
Driving through the Fjallabk reserve is one of the greatest experiences you can have in south Iceland and this unique and remote region is filled with gorges, glaciers, and rivers formed by constant volcanic activity over millennia.
This is also the location of one of Iceland's most famous Sagas, so it's a good idea to read up a bit ahead of time to fully appreciate the history in addition to the landscape.
Be prepared for some bumpy driving en route to today's first stop, Laki crater. It's an enormous volcanic fissure that bisects a mountain in Vatnajökull Park.
From here, drive to the Fjallabak Nature Reserve where you'll spend the day hiking and exploring away from the crowds.
Done with your hiking, grab your car and continue south. Marvel at the beautiful scenery as you follow the south tracks (South Fjallabaksleið) down towards Hvolsvöllur, where you'll be spending the night.
If you’re looking for a tour of the Highlands, connect with our favorite guide Óli, and chat about what you could arrange together.
Overnight in Hvolsvöllur or Hella
This part of South Iceland has a lot of accommodation options, with most of them being right along the Ring road. Because it’s so heavily visited, it’s also a relatively expensive part of the country to stay in. I’d recommend staying in/around the towns of Hvolsvöllur or Hella.
Hvolsvöllur is a little town on Iceland’s south coast. There’s not much here aside from the Laca Center museum and the Icelandic Saga Center, but you have all the basic services and amenities (hotels, gas station, grocery store, tour operators, etc.) and it’s a convenient location for accessing Þórsmörk National Park, which is where you’re headed tomorrow.
Hella is a somewhat larger town about 10 minutes away and situated on the banks of Ytri-Rangá River. It’s in a lovely setting; very picturesque and pastoral.
Here are some recommended hotels:.
Seljalandsfoss Horizons - $500 USD.
Hotel Rangá - $400 USD
Skálakot Manor Hotel - $300 USD.
Aurora Lodge Hotel - $250 USD.
Hotel Lækur - $150 - $280 USD.
Hotel Fljotshlid - $200 USD.
Brú Guesthouse - $150 USD.
Day 5 - Þórsmörk National Park
Your 5th day will be spent taking in the splendid scenery of Þórsmörk (Thorsmark) National Park. To minimize packing, you'll stay another night in Hvolsvöllur.
Þórsmörk (Thorsmark) National Park
As always, prepare for an early start so you can get into Þórsmörk National Park before the crowds begin to arrive.
Some major highlights today are can’t-miss Stakkholtsgjá canyon and Gljufrabui waterfall which many tourists overlook in favor of the much more famous Seljalandsfoss waterfall.
Þórsmörk has a fantastic selection of hiking trails, with all different lengths and difficulties. You can hike on your own, but there are also good tourist services so you can easily join a tour or arrange to have a private hiking guide accompany you.
For those wanting a little more action, you also have the possibility of doing ATV riding in the park, which is one of my favorite activities to do in Iceland.
Super Jeep tours are a possibility as well, but I think you’ll have more fun out in the open air on an ATV or your own two feet.
Towards the end of the day, plan on a short visit to the Lava Centre in Hvolsvöllur to learn about all the volcanic activity you've been seeing over the past 5 days.
Overnight in Hvolsvöllur or Hella
For hotel recommendations, see my list from Day 4.
Day 6 - Vik and South Coast
After 5 days of hiking and outdoor activities, today is a more relaxing day to wind down the trip. You’ll visit Vik and enjoy an easygoing day along the South Coast before heading back to Reykjavik for your last night.
Reynisdrangar rocks seen from Reynisfjara beach (black sand beach)
Skogafoss waterfall
After a good breakfast, depart from your hotel in the direction of the town of Vik, stopping along the way at Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls for a walk/hike. While at Skogafoss, make time for a brief visit to the Skogar Museum.
After, head into town at Vik and enjoy a wander and lunch. You have a few good restaurant options in town and it’s your best bet for a lunch break, so take advantage of it.
After fueling up, make your way down to Reynisfjara black beach. Bear in mind, while the sand here is black, the name “black beach” used only in reference to this beach does not really make much sense as almost all of the beaches in Iceland are black!
Nearby you should detour to the Dyrhólaey peninsula for truly astounding views.
From Vik, it's about a 2.5 hour drive back to Reykjavik, though you should budget closer to 4 to give yourself time to stop at the two riverside towns of Hella and Selfoss en route.
After Selfoss, you’re on the road back to the capital for one final night in Iceland before heading home to foreign lands.
Overnight in Reykjavik
You have loads of hotels in Reykjavik and the city is small, so what area you stay in really doesn’t matter very much.
Day 7 - Departure day
Somewhere in Southern Iceland
As they say, all good things come to an end and so too must your visit to my country. So, takk fyrir heimsóknina - thanks for visiting!
Remember, there’s lots more to see in Iceland, so if I can leave you with one piece of advice it is to resist the urge to overstuff your itinerary. Once you accept that you can’t see everything in just one visit, you can get to work on planning your fantastic holiday.
Happy planning and safe travels!
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