Classic Family Iceland Self Drive Holiday

Discover the best of Iceland on this Classic Family Iceland Self Drive holiday.

To make everything as easy and seamless as possible you have GPS included, unlimited mileage and the use of the excellent Iceland Travel Companion App which serves as a guide to the destinations you're visiting.

This journey is best undertaken between April and September.

We've included a Land Rover Discovery in the price as this is a suitable spacious vehicle for this journey for a family of 4. We have vehicle options to suit all family sizes.

This Iceland Family Self Drive Holiday can be tailored to suit your exact requirements, so just let us know your ideal trip.

Everything can be adjusted to suit your needs and create your perfect Iceland holiday.

Day 1: UK - Reykjavik

Fly directly to Reykjavik from Gatwick with Iceland Air (or with your preferred airline).

Once you have landed in Reykjavik, you'll collect your rental car at the airport.

Explore the Mars-like landscapes of Reykjanes Peninsula – a UNESCO Global Geopark – and its fishing villages, lighthouse and the colourful geothermal area of Krysuvik.

Complete the Reykjanes tour with a visit to the Viking Worlds Museum featuring Islendingur a Viking replica ship and a Viking Millenium Exhibition.

We have included a pre-booked session at the famous Blue Lagoon on this day. This geothermal spa is one of the 'must do's' on any Iceland tour.

Continue on to your hotel in Reykjavik.

Overnight in Reykjavik.

Day 2: South Iceland

Today you can visit many of the must-see sights in Iceland.

Begin your day with the UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park, famous for its Viking history and geological wonders.

Continue to Geysir Hot Spring Area, with its collection of bubbling pools and spouting geysers.

Drive onwards to the majestic, two-tiered Gullfoss (Golden Falls). Soak in the Secret Lagoon or Laugarvatn Fontana Baths.

Try riding an Icelandic horse. Take a pit stop at Fridheimar greenhouses to see how food is grown in Iceland and sample fresh local cuisine.

Overnight in the Fludir area.

Day 3: South Iceland

This day is chock-full of selfie-worthy destinations!

Drive along the scenic southern coast and the area near the infamous Eyjafjallajokull volcano which erupted and disrupted air traffic in the northern hemisphere for weeks in 2010.

Star Wars fans will be pleased to know that the opening scenes from The Force Awakens were shot in this area.

Continue onwards and explore the beautiful Skogafoss (don’t miss the beautiful nearby hidden waterfall Gljufrabui) and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls and Myrdalsjokull glacier, which covers the powerful Katla volcano.

Here it’s possible to explore an ice cave, go snowmobiling on the glacier, and get envy-worthy photos of southern Iceland’s epic looking coastline.

Stop by the peaceful seafront village of Vik to grab a meal and explore a dramatic stretch of coastline, photogenically poised between glacier-topped mountains, rugged sea cliffs and world-famous black sand beaches.

Near Vik are the famous Reynisfjara black sand beach and Dyrholaey promontory.

Overnight in the Vik area.

Day 4: South East Iceland

Drive from Vik village through the village of Kirkjubaejarklaustur. Explore Skaftafell, a green oasis nestled below the great Vatnajokull glacier, the largest glacier in Europe.

Be sure to stop by Skaftafell area, an oasis and hiker’s paradise which is a part of Vatnajokull National Park. Here you can go on amazing glacier hikes! Continue across black sand plains created by glacial activity.

Stop at the incredible Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon, a filming location for many Hollywood blockbusters. These include Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and the James Bond films Die Another Day and A View to a Kill. On the other side of the road you can find the unique Diamond Beach.

Head onwards to the seaside town of Hofn. It is known as the langoustine capital of northern Europe. We recommend trying out langoustine for dinner!

Overnight in the Hofn area.

Day 5: East Iceland

Today you’ll be visiting some of Iceland’s oldest landscapes, the rugged and scenic East Fjords! Give yourself plenty of time to navigate the steep roads and to enjoy the beautiful views.

Reykjavik

Located on a bay, presided over by mighty mount Esja, Iceland’s sprawling capital city stands in stark contrast to the quiet fishing villages and minute hamlets found in this remarkable island nation.

It is extremely progressive, yet proudly traditional; exceedingly remote, yet surprisingly cosmopolitan; inextricably tied to its natural landscape, yet embracing of modern technology.

The tiny city centre is characterised by an eclectic mix of brightly painted houses, elegant shops, stylish bars, and highbrow museums.

A slew of restaurants serves up a delicious range of culinary delights as well as an array of exotic treats such as pickled ram’s testicles and putrefied shark meat!

Whether you plan on spending your vacation gallery-hopping while listening to Bjork on repeat, scuba diving between tectonic plates, or relaxing in the myriad geothermal pools, Reykjavik is the ultimate destination for pleasure seekers and adventure junkies alike.

Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is a popular 300-kilometre circuit in southwest Iceland that takes in three main attractions: Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall and the Geysir Geothermal Field.

First stop is Thingvellir National Park, located just under an hour’s drive from Reykjavik, the capital. The park is famed for its exceptional geology: it sits directly over the original splitting point of the North American and Eurasian continents, and you can clearly see the rift valley that was formed by the shifting of the tectonic plates.

The Silfra Fissure, in the park’s Thingvallavatn Lake, offers the chance to go diving or snorkelling between the continents in water that displays exquisite shades of blue.

The Geysir Geothermal Field at Haukadalur is home to bubbling hot springs, fumaroles and two geysers, one of which is extremely active, shooting spouts of steaming water as high as 40 metres into the air every 5 to 10 minutes.

The Gullfoss Waterfall is a place of superb scenic beauty, where you will be amazed by the sheer force and volume of the water that cascades over a 36-metre high drop.

South Iceland

South Iceland is an exquisitely scenic region of ‘The Land of Fire and Ice’.

This volcanic paradise boasts breathtaking landscapes, a rich cultural heritage, and picturesque Icelandic villages.

The south of Iceland is home to the country's most popular natural attractions including numerous volcanoes, hot springs, geysers, waterfalls and glaciers.

Explore Europe’s largest glacier at Vatnajokull National Park, take a boat cruise past floating icebergs in the Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon and catch a glimpse of the magical Northern Lights.

Visitors can also look forward to exploring other spectacular sites including: Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a highlight of the popular ‘Golden Circle’ route; the Great Geysir, one of Iceland’s main attractions; and Gullfoss, a powerful cascading, two-tier waterfall.

Thingvellir National Park

Thingvellir is an expansive lava field lying on the banks of the largest natural lake in Iceland – Pingvallavatn.

It is situated directly on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the European and North American tectonic plates are slowly shifting away from each other.

This was a historical meeting place of the first parliament called the Alpingi where representatives all around Iceland came together in an open-air assembly from 930 to 1798.

It is now listed as a Unesco World Heritage site and the area around Pingvellir has great geological significance because of its unique mineral rich landscape combined with an abundant diversity of animal and plant life.

Vík í Mýrdal

Resting at the base of the magnificent Mýrdalsjökull glacier the remote village of Vik, also known as Vík í Mýrdal rests on Iceland’s exquisite southern coast.

The village of Vík í Mýrdal is a popular stopover for intrepid travellers keen to see all the stunning attractions this remote region has to offer.

The closest village to the majestic Katla volcano and Myrdalsjokull glacier, Vík í Mýrdal is also known for its black pebble beaches and intriguing rock formations.

Visitors can swim in Seljavallalaug, the oldest hot spring pool in Iceland; visit the Reynisfjall mountain, famous for its many bird species; or head to the coast to view the iconic Reynisdrangar – black basalt columns sculpted by the sea and located close to the village.

Kirkjubaejarklaustur

The town of Kirkjubaejarklaustur, or just Klaustur as many locals refer to it, lies between Vík í Mýrdal and Vatnajokull Park.

Literally translated, Kirkjubaejarklaustur means ‘Church Farm Convent’ – a reminder that monks and Benedictine nuns lived here many years ago.

Travellers use the town as a base to explore its impressive surroundings, and Klaustur is a service centre, with most basic amenities available year round.

Walking trails from the town lead to the lovely Systrafoss waterfall and Systravatn lake. Klaustur and its surrounds are also a popular area for fishermen looking to enjoy world-class trout and salmon fishing.