Amazing 8 Day Summer Self Drive Holiday on Iceland’s South Coast with a Taste of the Highlands

Today, you will leave Reykjavik and start your eight-day adventure in Iceland by visiting its most popular sightseeing route, the Golden Circle.

This journey includes stops at Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall. However, as this is a self-drive tour, you are welcome to go off the beaten track and visit lesser-known attractions that travelers on guided excursions may miss.

Thingvellir National Park is where Iceland's parliament, the Alþingi, was formed in 930 AD. The area's geology is also astounding. It is one of the only places on the planet where it is possible to see both the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates exposed above the ground.

At Thingvellir National Park, it is possible to add on a snorkeling tour in Silfra Fissure. The water in this spring has nearly 328 ft (100 m) visibility and is often described as one of the top snorkeling and scuba diving sites worldwide. 

A dry suit will protect you against the cold water and help you float, providing a relaxing experience. Participants need to be comfortable in the water and be able to swim.

The next stop on the Golden Circle is Geysir Geothermal Area, home to the famous exploding hot spring of Strokkur. Strokkur erupts every five to ten minutes, shooting jets of boiling water high into the air. 

While waiting to photograph this geyser going off, guests are advised to check out some of the other forty steaming volcanic vents that can be found in the area.

The final stop of the Golden Circle is Gullfoss, the country's most famous waterfall. Here, guests will watch in awe as roaring glacial water cascades over two rocky steps, dropping 105 feet (32 meters) into the rocky canyon below.

From the car park at Gullfoss, it is possible to upgrade your tour once again with a snowmobiling tour on Langjokull glacier. Not only will such an experience provide another level of adventure and excitement to your day, but you will also get to see one of this country's glaciers up close and experience the incredible vistas seen from above.

You will spend the night at your accommodation in Southwest Iceland this evening.

The South Coast of Iceland is one of the most popular sightseeing strips in the country. Not only will you visit the natural gems, Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, and Reynisfjara black sand beach, but you will also have the chance to add on either a glacier hike or an ice cave.

Seljalandsfoss will be the first stop of the day. This 197 feet (60-meter) high feature has water tumbling over the lip of a towering cliff face into a small pool below. Seljalandfoss is a rare example of an Icelandic waterfall that can be walked directly behind, making for some truly unique photographs. 

Skogafoss, a little further up the road, is the same height but much wider. Visitors here can climb the adjacent staircase to gain many perspectives of this incredible waterfall.

Further along the coast, you will come across the scenic fishing village of Vik i Myrdal, an excellent spot to grab some lunch and even do a little souvenir shopping. Next to the village, you can visit Reynisfjara black sand beach, known for its dark volcanic sand and the strange hexagonal basalt stacks in the nearby cliffs.

You can also see the Reynisdrangar sea stacks from here, which are said to be trolls in Icelandic folklore.

It is possible to upgrade the day with an adventurous activity. One option might be to try glacier hiking at Solheimajokull Glacier, offering you the chance to experience the exciting challenges of ascending an ice cap.

Such an adventure provides incredible views over the South Coast and the chance to see features such as crevasses, ice walls, and formations.

Alternatively, you could visit Katla ice cave, one of the only ice caves in Iceland accessible during the summer months. Stepping inside these caverns provides incredible insight into the glaciers, and the tour is even more exciting, considering that it occurs over an active volcano.

You will be spending the evening at accommodation in South Iceland.

Today, you will experience the beauty of Vatnajokull National Park, found further along the South Coast and named after the glacier that dominates the landscape. In fact, Vatnajokull glacier is the largest ice cap in Europe, and its forces create your primary destinations. 

The Skaftafell Nature Reserve is your first attraction and is a spectacular place, filled with snow-capped mountains, shimmering ice caps, and lush green forests. 

You can go on exciting walks through these beautiful landscapes, marveling over mighty waterfalls that cascade down from towering cliffs, creating a breathtaking sight. Whether you're an adventurer or just love exploring nature's beauty, Skaftafell is a paradise you won't want to miss.

For those who have yet to experience the adrenaline surge that comes with hiking on Iceland's glaciers, today presents the opportunity to do so in Skaftafell Nature Reserve. 

Your next stop of the day is the amazing Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, a vast lake separating the sea and a glacier. Thousands of enormous icebergs fill these waters, gradually floating to the open Atlantic Ocean. 

You can appreciate the lagoon from the shoreline or upgrade with either a speedy Zodiac or a slower Amphibian boat tour.

Boat tours take you to the icebergs, putting them into scale as you gaze up at the massive glacier above you. Boat trips also provide a new perspective of the resident seals who call the lagoon home— these curious creatures make a regular appearance here, so keep your eyes peeled!

A short walk from Jokulsarlon is a stretch of black sand shoreline decorated with hundreds of washed-up icebergs called the Diamond Beach. This area is fascinating for nature enthusiasts and photographers who will be eager to capture the stark contrasts between the dark volcanic sand and the pale blue of the ice. 

This evening, you will be staying in Southeast Iceland.