Home / Multi-Day Tours / South Iceland / South Coast Winter Sensation for 7 Days
For an eventful and adventurous Iceland winter vacation, you should consider the winter edition of our Iceland south coast sensation tour. With a plethora of available activities such as snowmobiling, glacier hiking, riding tours, hiking tours and much more. And last but not least you also have the opportunity to witness the wonders of the northern lights, that ever so often grace the crisp Arctic sky over Iceland during the winter months.
If you are interested in receiving more information about this tour, please click on the “Request a quote” widget on the left side of the page. A quick form will open up where you will provide us with more information about your travel expectations. You will then be connected with your specialized travel agent who will assist you throughout the planning and provide a fully detailed quote.
Please note that this itinerary can be adjusted and customized to meet your travel needs and preferences. The package can also be offered as a privately guided tour if a self-drive option is not what you had in mind for your Iceland experience.
NL-06
Sept - Apr
Self- Drive
7 days / 6 nights
South Iceland
Welcome to your Iceland winter tour! After you have cleared customs, you will be transferred to your hotel in Reykjavik. If you arrive around noon, it is possible to stop at the Blue Lagoon before continuing to the capital. After you have checked in to your hotel and received your travel documents, we would like to have an optional private information meeting during office hours at our headquarters. After the meeting, you’ll have free time in Reykjavik to explore and enjoy the northernmost capital of the world. Stay the night in central Reykjavík.
Today you will receive your rental car and your Iceland vacation begins for real! Start the day by driving east towards the amazing Þingvellir National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, rich with its incredible natural beauty, history and where you can see how the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are diverging. Continue to the famous Geyser geothermal fields and witness the great spouting spring, namesake of every other spouting spring in the world. Close by you’ll find Gullfoss (Golden Falls), recently voted one of 10 most beautiful waterfalls of the world. By Gullfoss and Geysir are popular lunch stops and for a chance to enjoy a traditional Icelandic meal we recommend the Icelandic lamb soup.
From there, make your way towards the south coast and drive through lush farmlands, but be sure to make a stop at Kerið, a volcanic crater displaying its crystal clear water. Another interesting visit we recommend should you have the time, is to visit Hellisheiðavirkjun geothermal power plant. Stay overnight in the Hvolsvöllur area.
It’s time to travel further east along the beautiful south coast. Shortly after leaving Hvolsvöllur, you will reach the wonderful Seljalandsfoss waterfall, partly covered by icy layers in the wintertime. Continue to Skógar where you’ll find the picture-perfect Skógafoss waterfall and the Skógar Folk museum where you can see reconstructed turf houses and ancient artifacts on display. Drive further east to the mighty Mýrdalsjökull glacier and enjoy optional activities such as glacier hiking and or snowmobiling with professional guides. Continue to the charming village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, home of Iceland’s first monastery (built-in 1186) where you will stay for the night. Stay the night at Kirkjubæjarklaustur and search for the Northern Lights in the evening.
After breakfast continue along the Iceland South Coast to Skaftafell, a part of the Vatnajökull National Park. Skaftafell is a site of immense beauty and variations. It’s a lush green oasis between a mighty glacier and vast black sand beach. In Skaftafell you’ll find many different hiking routes. We recommend a light hike to Svartifoss waterfall, that features pitch-black hexagonal basalt columns and a rugged canyon. After that, continue to the village of Höfn – the lobster capital of Iceland. On the road between Skaftafell and Höfn you will find Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, considered by many the crown jewel of Icelandic nature. This is a great spot for photographs. The glacier lagoon is the turning point of your tour. In the afternoon you drive back to Kirkjubæjarklaustur where you will stay for the second night.
Last day on the road on your Iceland South Coast journey and time to turn around and head back towards Reykjavik. On the way, nature lovers will want to visit the village of Vík in Mýrdalur and walk along the Reynisfjara beach with its beautiful view of the Reynisdrangar cliffs and the stunning Dyrhólaey Peninsula with its natural stone arch. Head back to the capital and drop off the rental car before checking into your downtown hotel.
Enjoy a free day in the capital. Reykjavik is an exciting city with a rich cultures life. You might want to visit some of Reykjavik’s many art and culture museums and exhibitions. If you are lucky with the weather you might enjoy a stroll around the city and some of Reykjavík sightseeing spots and landmarks, such as the Hallgrímskirkja church, Harpa concert hall, The Sun Voyager sculpture by the sea and some more. If you are interested in some more adventure we can also organize an exciting super jeep tour for you today. You could visit some great places in the countryside which are not accessible with a normal car during winter. In the evening enjoy a delicious dinner at one of Reykjavík many gourmet restaurants.
Your Iceland adventure is about to come to its end. You will be transferred to Keflavik International Airport. If your flight is in the afternoon, you still have time to stop at Blue Lagoon and enjoy a soak in the milky blue earth sea, a perfect end to your stay and a nice way to relax and unwind before your flight home.
We wish you a nice journey back home and hope you will leave our island with fond memories of Iceland and its inhabitants.
Budget accommodations include shared facilities in guest houses, country hotels, farmhouses, etc. In some cases, the rooms might be equipped with a TV and a washbasin. The in-room amenities are limited and basic but they all adhere to a high standard of cleanliness.
Breakfast is included.
Comfort accommodations offer access to private facilities (shower and toilet). This type of lodges belongs to the 3-star hotel category. Most of these properties have an in-house restaurant. This section offers an upgrade in comfort and service compared to the budget category. Breakfast is included.
Quality accommodations offer private rooms with en-suite shower/bath and toilet. These rooms are the best available accommodations in 4-star hotels or the highest quality lodges in each region. Luxury accommodations - the highest class of lodges, suites, and penthouses - are available upon request. Breakfast is included.
Type: SUV Economy
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 3
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: SUV Full Size Intermediate
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: SUV Full Size
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: SUV Full Size Luxury
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Reykjavík is the capital and biggest city of Iceland with a population of approximately 124,000. It is the northernmost capital in the world. Despite its small size, you can find many attractions and museums, making Reykjavik a popular destination.
Alþingi is the national parliament of Iceland. It is one of the oldest parliaments in the world, founded in 930 at Þingvellir National Park. It is located in downtown Reykjavik.
Reykjavík Old Harbour is fast becoming the new lively center of the city. There you will find museums such as Maritime Museum, the Northern Lights center and the Whales of Iceland exhibition. The harbour, which is quickly transforming into a modern city space, is also home to restaurants and cafes. A local favourite is ice cream shop Valdís, which makes fresh ice cream every morning and always offers new flavours.
The Aurora is a natural phenomenon caused by electrically charged particles, mainly electrons and protons ejected from the sun colliding with atoms of oxygen and nitrogen causing them to emit light that is visible to us. These hypnotic lights are known as Aurora Borealis, Polar Lights or Northern Lights in the arctic north and Aurora Australis (southern lights) around the south pole. The color of the Aurora has to do with the type of gas that these particles collide with, oxygen produces green light at low altitudes and red at high altitudes. Nitrogen produces purple Aurora. The green color is the most common and red can only be seen at the strongest of geomagnetic storms. The full understanding of the physical processes that cause the aurora are still a mystery but we know the fundamental causes of the Aurora is the interaction of solar wind with the Earth‘s magnetosphere.
There are three basic requirements for seeing the northern lights. Solar activity, darkness and clear skies. This means that you cannot see the northern lights during summer, they are still happening, there's even a phenomenon called daylight aurora, but our eyes cannot detect them as sunlight drowns out the Aurora. So the darker the better. Going out of the city is not a requirement, the Aurora can often be spotted within city limits in Iceland, however to best enjoy them going away from city lights enhances the experience. Also people should not use mobile phones if they are looking for the northern lights, as the light from the screen will make it harder for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. It‘s always a good idea to take warm clothes on your Aurora excursions as Iceland can get very cold in the winter, that means wool undergarments, warm mid layer and a windproof shell.
Þingvellir National Park is the most important historic and geological sites in Iceland. The area is part of a fissure zone running through Iceland, being situated on the tectonic plate boundaries of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Major events in the history of Iceland have taken place at Þingvellir and today the entire area is a protected national treasure.
Gullfoss, also called the Golden Waterfall, is one of the most iconic gems of the likewise named Golden Circle. The waterfall is located in the upper part of the River Hvíta. Gullfoss is actually two separate waterfalls, the upper one has a drop of 11 meters and the lower one 21 meters.
Geysir is the famous hot spring area located in the Haukadalur valley. The main attraction is known as Strokkur, which erupts energetically at regular intervals of 10 minutes or so its boiling waterjets can reach as high as 30 meters.
Kerið is a volcanic crater lake located in the area called Grímsnes in the South of Iceland, along the famous Golden Circle route. The crater walls are steep and often covered with Icelandic moss. The inside of the crater is a lake whose water is aquamarine colored due to the minerals from the soil. The crater is 55 meters deep and about 3000 years old.
Hellisheiði power station is the third-largest geothermal power station in the world, located in southwest Iceland. The plant has a geothermal energy exhibition and offers presentations on sustainable energy as well as educational tours.
Seljalandsfoss is one of the most famous and visited waterfalls in Iceland. It located along the South Coast of the Country right by the road n. 1. The waterfall is part of the Seljalands river that originated from the famous volcano glacier Eyjafjallajökull. The waterfall is approximately 60-meter high and it is famous for its path that leads visitor behind its powerful water flow.
Skogár Folk Museum is located next to the Skógafoss waterfall, in south Iceland. It consists of a cultural heritage collection of folk craft artifacts and examples of typical Icelandic turf farmhouses.
Please visit the museum's webpage for further information. https://www.skogasafn.is/
Skógafoss is a waterfall located on the Skógá river on the South Coast of Iceland. This picture-perfect waterfall descends 60 meters from the cliffs. Before pouring down the cliffs becoming the famous waterfall, the river flows through the Skógárgil gorge.
Sólheimajökull glacier is the southwestern outlet of the Mýrdalsjökull icecap. It is about 8 km long and 1-2 km wide. It is popular for exciting tours such as glacier hikes and ice climbing.
Kirkjubæjarklaustur is home to Iceland’s first monastery, built in 1186. In the area of the village there are many of the South Coast's interesting attractions such as the Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon and Kirkjugolf- the church floor.
Svartifoss, or the Black Fall, is a beautiful waterfall in Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park. It falls off dark lava columns. The hike to the waterfall takes approximately 45 minutes
Jökulsárlón is a large glacial lake located in the Southeast of Iceland on the edge of the Vatnajökull National Park. The Lagoon developed into a lake after the glacier started receding from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The lake can be seen from Route 1 between Höfn and Skaftafell. The lagoon offers outstanding views of the ice cap and it is one of the most spectacular and loved, natural destinations in all Iceland.
Höfn is an Icelandic fishing town located in the southeastern part of the Country. The town, the second largest in the southeastern part of Iceland, offers scenic views of Vatnajökull (the largest ice cap in Europe by volume). The main economic activities in Höfn are fishing and tourism. The location is also well known for its culinary tradition with lobster being the most acclaimed specialty of the area.
Vík is the southernmost village in Iceland, located on the ring road (Road number 1), featuring the impressive and popular black sand beach.
Reynisfjara is a famous black sand beach in the South of Iceland, just next to the village of Vik. Black sand, lava formations, and basalt columns make it a popular stop for all visitors.
Reynisdrangar cliffs are towering basalt-type rock formations situated near the shore of Reynisfjara black sand beach, on the South Coast of Iceland. The folk legend wants them to be the rocky representation of two trolls turned into stone after being caught by the sunlight after dawn.
The famous promontory named Dyrhólaey is located in the south coast of Iceland. From this peninsula, that once was a volcanic island, the views are stunning. Glacier, lava columns, the open sea. The highlight of this area is the lava arch that is standing in the ocean. Dyrhólaey is also well known for its puffin colonies during the summertime.
Hallgrímskirkja Church is most certainly Reykjavík´s best-known landmark. The white concrete Church whose image is printed in many postcards, dominates the city. As a matter of fact its tower can be seen from almost every corner of Reykjavík. Its distinctive and futuristic exterior made the Church one of the most visited spots in Reykjavík.
Harpa is the famous concert hall and conference center located in Reykjavik. The building features a distinctive and original colored glass facade inspired by the basalt landscape of Iceland. Its unique architecture makes it one of Reykjavik most loved landmarks.
Solfar Sculpture, also known as the Sun Voyager, is the famous steel sculpture created by artist Jón Gunnar Árnason. The art piece is located next to the Sæbraut road in downtown Reykjavík. Its shape reminds of a ship floating on air, facing the ocean.
This sublime museum displays artifacts from the settlement to the modern age of Iceland history. The exhibition gives you an excellent and enlightening overview of Iceland's history and culture. The museum functions as the center for the preservation of Iceland´s national heritage. It counts about 300,000 artifacts and nearly four million photographs in its collation.
The Kolaportið flea market is located in the old harbour area just a few minute walk from the city center. It is an indoor market that opens every weekend. It is located in a large industrial building and it is features an authentic display of secondhand clothes, toys, jewellery and much more. A realReykjavik Institution and the perfect place to find a bargain.
The Blue Lagoon is a famous geothermal spa located in Reykjanes peninsula nearby the International Airport of Iceland. It was formed during an operation at the nearby geothermal power plant. Reservations in advance are necessary for those who are planning a visit.