Best Summer Self Drive Tours in Iceland — Biggest Selection & Lowest Prices Guaranteed

Summer self-drive tours are the perfect way to experience Icelandic nature. These tour packages include customizable itineraries, pre-arranged accommodations, and rental car options, making it easy to book your dream road trip in one place. You’ll have the support of a personal travel agent throughout your journey, ready to assist whenever needed.

Iceland’s summer offers milder weather and extensive daylight because of the midnight sun, creating ideal conditions for adventure and discovery. You’ll have the freedom to explore at your own pace, seeing iconic landmarks and discovering hidden beauty. Whether you’re seeking natural wonders, cultural attractions, or thrilling activities, a summer self-drive tour lets you experience the magic of Iceland in your own way.

Booking a Summer Self-Drive Tour

Self-drive tours are carefully planned to provide a stress-free and easy travel experience. Everything is arranged to ensure a smooth journey tailored to your needs.

• Accommodation: You'll have pre-arranged stays near key attractions. Choose from a selection of great accommodations for each night, selected for comfort and convenience. They suit a range of preferences and budgets.
• Rental Car: Choose a vehicle suited to your itinerary, with options for standard roads or rugged F-road exploration, depending on your itinerary.
• Custom Itinerary: Get a detailed travel plan highlighting Iceland’s natural wonders, cultural landmarks, and more hidden locations. You can easily see how much of Iceland you can explore with each package, from two-day trips to multi-week journeys, and customize it to your needs.
• Optional Experiences: Add adventures like whale-watching tours, glacier hiking, or relaxing in hot springs during your trip. You can also book admissions to museums and other cultural attractions with ease.
• Travel Support: You'll get a personal travel agent ready to assist with questions, updates, changes of plans, or unforeseen issues during your trip.

All summer self-drive packages are carefully crafted using local expertise to help travelers best experience Iceland’s natural wonders, culture, and rich history during their adventure.

Best Summer Self-Drive Tours in Iceland

Iceland offers a wide variety of summer self-drive tours, each tailored to showcase the country’s incredible landscapes and attractions. Whether you have just a few days or several weeks to explore, you can find the perfect itinerary for your adventure.

Best Multi-Week Self-Drive Tours

There's so much to see in Iceland, with incredible nature around every corner. Longer trips allow more time to explore the magic of different regions, and these are the best tours to choose from.

• 10-Day Self-Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road of Iceland with Top Attractions & Snaefellsnes: Travel around the Iceland Ring Road in 10 days with this best-rated self-drive tour. It includes the Snaefellsnes peninsula and offers plenty of options for additional activities.
• 13-Day Self-Drive Tour of the Ring Road of Iceland with the Snaefellsnes Peninsula & the Westfjords: This highly rated tour brings you to all regions of Iceland, including the remote Westfjords, known for their dramatic landscapes.
• Epic 2-Week Self-Drive Tour of the Ring Road of Iceland & the Westfjords: Drive all around Iceland with plenty of time to explore freely. This two-week tour includes the Ring Road, the Westfjords, and the Snaefellsnes peninsula.

Best Week-Long Self-Drive Tours

There's a lot you can do on a week-long self-drive tour in Iceland. These tours are highly rated by travelers for their variety and unforgettable experiences.

• Incredible 1-week Summer Self-Drive Tour of the Ring Road of Iceland & Golden Circle: This popular tour brings you around the whole Ring Road of Iceland. You'll be able to see the major sights around the country in a week, including the Golden Circle.
• One Week Summer Self-Drive Tour of Iceland’s West & South Coasts with Waterfalls & Glaciers: Explore the hidden beauty of West Iceland and the whole South Coast in a week, with time to see the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon and Snaefellsnes peninsula. You can add fun activities like glacier hiking, whale watching, and horse riding.
• Adventurous 1-Week Summer Self-Drive Tour of Iceland with Highlands Exploration: See the major sights on the South Coast, the Snaefellsnes peninsula, and West Iceland with a taste of the remote Highlands. Explore the beautiful Landmannalaugar area and customize your trip with activities like lava caving, snorkeling, snowmobiling, and more.

Best Short Self-Drive Tours

These are the best self-drive tours for travelers with limited time and who want to see some of Iceland’s highlights within a week.

• 3-Day Summer Self-Drive Tour | Golden Circle & South Coast to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon: This tour includes the famous Golden Circle route and the beautiful South Coast, bringing you all the way to the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.
• Summer 4-Day Self-Drive Tour with the Golden Circle & South Coast: Take more time to explore the Golden Circle and travel along the South Coast to Reynisfjara black sand beach. You can also add exciting additional activities like snorkeling in the Silfra fissure and bathing in the renowned Blue Lagoon spa.
• Scenic 5-Day Self-Drive Tour of Iceland with Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon & Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon: See the Golden Circle and South Coast on this highly rated tour. It includes the Jokulsarlon Glacier lagoon and the nearby Diamond Beach, nicknamed after its glistening icebergs on black volcanic sand. You'll also have time to explore Reykjavik and enjoy a soak at the Blue Lagoon spa.

Best Summer Self-Drive Activities

There are endless opportunities to enhance your journey with unforgettable experiences. Here are some of the best meet-on-location activities to include in your summer self-drive tour in Iceland.

1. Skaftafell Glacier Hiking Tour: Hike across the stunning Skaftafell glacier, an outlet of Vatnajokull, the largest glacier in Europe. Enjoy incredible views of the surrounding landscapes on this highly rated tour.
2. The Katla Ice Cave Tour: This natural ice cave by the Katla volcano is accessible year-round and is known for its blue ice, striped with black volcanic sands.
3. The Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon Boat Tour: See the famous Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon on a boat, exploring dramatic icebergs and wildlife with this popular tour.
4. Silfra Snorkeling Tour Between Continents: Swim between the tectonic plates of North America and Eurasia in the crystal-clear waters of Silfra fissure, one of the most unique snorkeling places in the world.
5. Zodiac Boat Tour of Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon: Explore the majestic icebergs of the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon with a zodiac boat for a more intimate and up-close experience.
6. Family-Run Whale Watching & Puffin Safari RIB Boat Tour from Husavik: Sail on a RIB boat for a close-up encounter with Iceland’s whales and adorable puffins in their natural habitats.
7. Kayaking in Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon: Paddle through the serene waters of the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, navigating between glittering icebergs with a guide.
8. Visit the Blue Lagoon: Relax in the famous blue waters of the Blue Lagoon, an unmissable experience for any visit to Iceland. The Blue Lagoon comfort ticket includes a silica mud mask and a refreshing drink.
9. Horseback Riding on the Black Sand Beach from Vik: Ride Icelandic horses along the beautiful Reynisfjara black sand beach by Vik, with views of the Reynisdrangar sea stacks.
10. Family-Run Husavík Whale Watching Tour: Take a boat tour from Europe’s whale-watching capital, Husavik, for the chance to see humpback whales and puffins.
11. Snowmobile Tour on Langjokull Glacier from Gullfoss Waterfall: Speed across the Langjokull glacier on a thrilling snowmobile ride, departing from the famous Gullfoss waterfall. It's a great addition to a self-drive tour of the Golden Circle area.
12. Whale Watching Tour with Transfer from Akureyri: Discover the majestic whales and marine life in Akureyri, the charming "Capital of North Iceland."

Driving in Iceland in Summer

Renting a car in summer and heading out to explore is the best way to experience the country’s stunning landscapes. Most roads, like the Ring Road (Route 1), are in good condition and easy to drive in summer. With long daylight hours, you can travel safely and enjoy the views without worrying about darkness. Just remember to keep an eye on the Icelandic weather forecast and road conditions throughout your trip.

Gravel roads are common in rural areas, such as the Westfjords, and can usually be driven with a small car in summer, though we recommend choosing a 4x4 rental car for road trips as it's safer and more practical. However, mountain roads in the Highlands, called F-roads, require a proper 4x4 vehicle. They're only open in summer and can be challenging to drive, so make sure to choose a suitable car for the path you'd like to explore.

Fuel stations can be far apart in rural areas, so refuel whenever you can. Stick to marked roads, as off-road driving is not allowed in Iceland to protect nature. To help prepare for your self-drive adventure, check out our guide to driving in Iceland, where you’ll find further information and advice for a safe and enjoyable road trip.