4-Day Northern Lights Winter Self-Drive Tour of the Golden Circle, Glaciers & Black Sand Beaches

Day two of your winter adventure in Iceland brings you to the Golden Circle, the most visited sightseeing route in the land of fire and ice.

Leave the city behind today and start your adventure on the road. If you'd like to begin the day by creating unforgettable memories, you can take a short drive out of the city to a horse farm where you can meet and ride the friendly Icelandic horse. 

Begin your sightseeing journey by visiting the Golden Circle. The first stop is the Thingvellir National Park, the birthplace of Iceland's parliament. Viking settlers would gather here to settle disputes and create land laws, which, in 930 AD, led to the creation of the world's longest ongoing parliament, Iceland's Althingi.

Not only is Thingvellir a historical treasure, but it's a geological wonder as it sits on a valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. As the plates move, they tear open the earth, creating huge fissures in the surrounding landscape. You can add an exciting snorkeling tour at Thingvellir during the booking process. Participants need to be comfortable in the water and be able to swim.

Continuing onwards, you'll move to the Geysir geothermal area. This place is the home of bubbling mud pools of unusual colors, hissing steam vents, hot springs, and erupting geysers. The most active geyser is Strokkur, which erupts every 5-10 minutes, reaching around 66 feet (20 meters).

The last part of the Golden Circle is the thunderous waterfall Gullfoss. Power and beauty are rolled into one as this double-drop waterfall tumbles 105 feet (32 meters) into a canyon. Visiting in the winter, you'll see the surroundings covered in ice, appearing frozen as if in awe of the violent water.

If you're looking for excitement today, you can detour from the Gullfoss waterfall to Langjokull glacier, where you'll race across the white expanse of snowy plains and hills on a snowmobile.

At the end of the day, make your way to your accommodation in Southwest Iceland. If the sky is clear of clouds, you can search for the beautiful northern lights before sleeping.

On day three, you'll explore the wonders that line the South Coast of Iceland. The day will be filled with glaciers, waterfalls, black sand, spectacular ocean views, and adventures.

Head east to your first attraction, the magnificent Seljalandsfoss waterfall. The days are dark in Iceland during winter, and if you set out early, the sun might not be up. But don't worry, Seljalandsfoss is lit in the winter with strong lights that create a sense of drama and mystery.

You'll move on to another equally impressive waterfall, Skogafoss. This one is much wider than Seljalandsfoss and has a more classic shape, tumbling down cliffs of around 197 feet (60 meters) with a width of 82 feet (25 meters). If the sun is up by now, you might see a rainbow forming in the cascade's mist.

As you travel between these two falls, the glacier volcano Eyjafjallajokull will be visible in the north. Then, the mighty Myrdalsjokull and its outlet glacier, Solheimajokull, will start to appear further along.

At Solheimajokull, you can opt for one of two tours to better view the glacier. On a glacier hike, you can explore the massive ice cap, where a knowledgeable guide will lead you past deep crevasses and ash-covered peaks. Or, if you missed it the day before, you can go on a snowmobile tour.

Nearby is the village of Vik. This is a great place to stop and relax before returning to Reykjavik. Vik sits on the banks of the black sand beach of Reynisfjara, known for its hauntingly beautiful scenery and treacherous waves. 

As this is a self-drive tour, you're in charge of the itinerary, so you decide which amazing sites you'll visit first. 

If you're looking for an exciting way to start the day, you can head straight to the village of Vik in the morning to tour an authentic ice cave in Myrdalsjokulll glacier. Afterward, you can drive back to Reykjavik, stopping at these mesmerizing sights mentioned above.

You'll spend the night in comfortable Reykjavik accommodation.