7-Day Self-Drive Private Tour Northern Lights Adventure – Iceland South & West

Iceland’s best sights arrive one after another here, but the real treat is having your own wheels. You can stop for a waterfall, change your route when the weather shifts, and sleep at included campsites instead of chasing a coach schedule. The Vatnajökull ice cave trip adds a memorable half-day outing by super jeep and on foot.

I like the practical setup: the Easy Guide tablet replaces paper maps, and the airport shuttle saves you from an expensive taxi ride. I also like the mix of famous sights and quieter stops, from Gerðuberg’s neat basalt columns to the black beach at Djúpalónssandur. The catch is that you must drive, cook or buy your own meals, watch the weather, and keep moving on several long days.

Key points at a glance

• A true self-drive holiday: You control the pace, route adjustments, and stops.
• Five major activity bookings included: Vatnshellir lava cave, Krauma, Laugarvatn Fontana, the Vatnajökull ice cave outing, and the Icelandic Lava Show.
• Campsite fees are covered: Electricity and other campsite services cost extra.
• The guide tablet matters: It provides route help and instructions without paper maps.
• The route packs in a lot: Snæfellsnes, the Golden Circle, Reykjavík, the south coast, and Reykjanes all appear within seven days.
• Strong practical support: Airport transfers and responsive staff, including Natalia, Íris, Nicole, and Kamila, are part of the CampEasy service.

What you are really buying for $1,511.93

The price is $1,511.93 per person. That is not simply a van rental. It combines the campervan, zero-risk coverage, Wi-Fi, gas, the guide tablet, campsite fees, airport transfer, a prepared route, and several paid activities.

That bundle can be good value if you plan to use the included experiences. A separate campervan rental would still leave you arranging campsites, finding the right route, booking the lava cave and spa visits, and organizing the ice cave excursion. Here, much of that work is handled before you arrive.

Still, budget beyond the headline price. Fuel, food, flights, parking, personal accident insurance, electricity at campsites, and optional stops are not included. You also pay separately for the Hallgrímskirkja tower, Kerið Crater, and suggested extras such as the Blue Lagoon, FlyOver Iceland, Fridheimar, and Skógar Museum.

The value is strongest for two or more people sharing the vehicle and for anyone who wants a ready-made route without joining a bus group. Solo drivers pay the full per-person cost alone, while larger groups should check the exact campervan capacity before booking.

Day one: Reykjavík icons after the Keflavík pickup

Your trip begins at Selvík 5 in Keflavík, about five minutes from the airport. A complimentary shuttle can collect you at Keflavík International Airport or from a hotel in Keflavík town. That small detail matters. Airport taxis in Iceland can be costly, and the transfer gives you a clean start.

The first Reykjavík stops are easy introductions. At the Sun Voyager sculpture, you get sea air, mountain views, and a simple place to stretch your legs. Harpa Concert Hall is free to enter for a look at its nature-inspired architecture, though parking costs extra.

Hallgrímskirkja gives you a useful orientation point near downtown and Rainbow Street. Entry to the church is free, but the tower has a separate fee, about $9.20 for adults and $2 for children ages 7 to 16. If the weather is clear, the tower view can help you understand Reykjavík’s compact layout.

You might also fit in FlyOver Iceland, but it is an optional extra and takes about 90 minutes including driving time from Hallgrímskirkja. Do not force it into an already late arrival. The route works better if you collect the van, learn the controls, and buy food before setting off.

Day two: Snæfellsnes brings basalt, lava, and black beaches

The second day is full. Gerðuberg begins the route with tall, unusually symmetrical basalt columns. You can spend about 90 minutes here, and the stop gives you a quick lesson in Iceland’s volcanic geology without a long hike.

At Búðir, the small black church is one of Iceland’s most photographed buildings. Nearby Búðir hotel adds a useful landmark, and seals are sometimes seen offshore. Do not count on wildlife, but keep your eyes toward the water.

Arnarstapi brings a short coastal walk and the Gatklettur arch, cut into the rock by erosion. The coast is dramatic without requiring a major hike, making it a good stop for travelers who want scenery but have limited walking ability.

At 2 p.m., you descend into Vatnshellir lava tube, an 8,000-year-old formation about 32 meters underground. Helmets and headlamps are provided, and spiral stairs lead into the cave. The one-hour visit is one of the route’s most distinctive activities, but you need to arrive on time and meet the minimum age and height rules that apply to some activities. The minimum age for certain parts of the trip is 8, and some activities require a height of at least 102 centimeters.

Djúpalónssandur is a black pebble beach with old lifting stones once used to test sailors’ strength. The stones range from about 23 to 155 kilograms, and rusty remains of a shipwreck sit near the shore. The site connects the scenery with working coastal life, though the rocks and surf call for care.

Saxhóll Crater is reached by wooden steps and offers a 100-meter-deep volcanic view. Finish at Kirkjufellsfoss, one of Iceland’s most recognizable waterfalls, with Kirkjufell mountain behind it. This is a photography stop, so allow time for weather and light. The drawback of this day is simple: there are many stops, and you may need to choose between lingering and reaching the final sights comfortably.

Day three: Stykkishólmur and the hot water of Borgarfjörður

Stykkishólmur starts the day with a harbor walk to Súgandisey Island and its lighthouse. The road reaches the island, but you walk up the mound for the view. This is a calmer morning after the packed Snæfellsnes circuit.

Hraunfossar is different from a single-thundering waterfall. Water trickles through vegetation along a broad riverbed, creating many small streams. The planned visit lasts about two and a half hours, which gives you time to walk and take in the detail.

Nearby Barnafoss is more forceful, with water pushing through a lava opening. Seeing both waterfalls together helps you understand how varied Iceland’s volcanic rock can be.

Deildartunguhver is Europe’s largest hot spring. Water reaches about 97 degrees Celsius, so you view the bubbling pools from a safe distance rather than treating them as a bathing spot. Steam and heat make this a quick but memorable stop.

The reward comes at Krauma, a geothermal spa beside the hot spring. You get two hours in four pools supplied by a constant natural flow, with no chemicals used to maintain the water quality. Pack swimwear and a towel plan, and remember that relaxation time can make the rest of the day feel less rushed.

Day four: The Golden Circle with two geothermal baths

Þingvellir National Park combines geology and Icelandic political history. You can see the effects of continental movement, visit the area around Öxará, and understand why this place has UNESCO World Heritage status. Entry is free, but parking is not included.

At Laugarvatn Fontana, you have a two-and-a-half-hour bathing session scheduled for 11:30 a.m. The pools look across the lake, giving you a quiet pause before the busier Golden Circle sights.

Geysir’s geothermal area includes Strokkur, which can shoot water up to 15 meters. Fumaroles, mud pots, and steaming openings fill out the visit. At Gullfoss, the river drops 32 meters into a narrow gorge. Spray can fill the air, and rainbows are common when sunlight reaches the water.

Fridheimar is an optional stop, not part of the included package. The farm grows tomatoes with geothermal energy and uses biological pest control, and it also offers a restaurant and horse-related activities. You must arrange a booking yourself.

Kerið Crater adds another volcanic setting, with a small entry fee of about $3. Its red and colorful slopes surround a lake that can look especially striking in cold weather. The day ends with Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. Seljalandsfoss lets you walk behind the falling water, so waterproof clothing is sensible. Skógafoss is broader and louder, with spray and frequent rainbows.

This is another ambitious driving day. Parking fees at Þingvellir and Seljalandsfoss are extra, and you need enough daylight and energy for the final waterfalls.

Day five: Canyon, ice, and the best booked excursion

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon takes about two hours and gives you a curved gorge, a cold river, and green ground where sheep may be grazing. The site became widely known after appearing in a Justin Bieber music video, but its appeal comes from the rock walls and winding river rather than pop culture.

Diamond Beach is one of the route’s essential stops. Ice blocks from the nearby glacier wash onto the black sand, where they glitter like pieces of glass. The shapes and sizes change, so you can visit the same area at different times and see a different arrangement.

The main event is the half-day Vatnajökull ice cave tour. A super jeep carries you into the glacial valley, then you hike to a naturally formed blue ice cave. The cave changes as summer melting reshapes it, so the exact formation is not fixed from year to year.

This activity requires moderate physical fitness and punctuality. Arrive at the meeting point 20 minutes early, follow the local guide’s instructions, and wear clothing suitable for cold conditions. The ice cave is included, but food and drinks are not, so carry supplies for the day.

Day six: Sea cliffs, dangerous surf, and real lava

Dyrhólaey is a 120-meter rock formation with a large opening cut through it. The area is also used by many bird species. At Reynisfjara, basalt columns form a wall above the black beach, while three offshore rock formations carry the local troll story.

You should treat Reynisfjara as a viewing place, not a swimming beach. The Atlantic is powerful, and the rock shelves can be slippery. Stay alert near the water and follow local safety signs.

In Vík, the Icelandic Lava Show lets you watch real hot lava flow in a controlled recreation of a volcanic eruption. It is a good change of pace after several outdoor stops and adds useful context to the country’s volcanic character.

The Skógar Museum is an optional alternative or addition. Its collection of about 15,000 objects is spread across three museums and six buildings, showing parts of Icelandic life and culture. Admission is extra, and adding it means allowing roughly 90 minutes including driving time from the Lava Show.

Day seven: Reykjanes before the airport

The final day moves across the Reykjanes Peninsula. Kleifarvatn is nearly 100 meters deep and surrounded by porous lava ground covered in old moss. The lake is simple and quiet compared with the waterfalls, but that is its appeal.

Gunnuhver brings steaming vents, hot mud pools, mineral-colored ground, and views toward the Reykjanes lighthouse. Do not walk beyond marked safe areas around geothermal features.

At the Bridge Between Continents, you can stand between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The stop is brief, but it makes the peninsula’s geology easy to picture.

The Blue Lagoon is only a suggestion and is not included. If you choose it, allow about two and a half hours including driving from Kleifarvatn, and book directly with the spa. At the end, return the campervan to CampEasy, where warm drinks, souvenirs, and the airport or Keflavík hotel shuttle are available.

Campervan life, support, and practical limits

The campervan includes cooking gear, bedding, a small gas stove, a fridge, and a sink according to the equipment described by past customers. A connected tablet, heating, and Wi-Fi reduce the usual strain of a road trip. The included campsite fees also make overnight planning easier.

The self-service system can help with very late arrivals. One customer landed at 2 a.m. and used the organized self-service check-in, while another praised the van’s cleanliness, comfort, and safety. CampEasy staff have included Natalia, Íris, Nicole, Kamila, and Razvan in customer support, and the repeated theme is quick answers before and during the trip.

The van is not a magic solution to Iceland’s weather. You still need to drive carefully, budget for fuel, pay parking charges, and accept that some roads or stops may become difficult in poor conditions. The minimum driver age is 20, and a moderate fitness level is needed for several activities.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Within 24 hours, the payment is not refunded and changes are not accepted.

Should you book this Iceland campervan tour?

Book it if you want freedom but do not want to spend weeks building a route. It suits couples, friends, and families who can share driving and small-space living, especially if you value included campsite fees and booked activities.

Skip it if you want a fully guided holiday, dislike driving in uncertain weather, or prefer slow mornings and long stays in fewer places. Seven days cover a lot of ground, and the route asks you to keep an eye on time.

For the right kind of explorer, this is a practical way to see Iceland’s fire and ice without surrendering your independence. The strongest reasons to choose it are the ready-made route, supportive campervan service, included activity bookings, and access to places a large coach may pass by.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins at CampEasy’s office at Selvík 5, 230 Keflavík, Iceland, and ends back at the same meeting point. Airport or Keflavík hotel shuttle service is available.

Is the campervan included?

Yes. The package includes a quality campervan, zero-risk coverage, Wi-Fi, gas, a guide tablet, bedding and cooking equipment, campsite fees, and the prepared route.

What costs extra?

Flights, fuel, food, beverages, parking, personal accident insurance, campsite electricity, traffic fines, and optional activities are not included. Hallgrímskirkja tower entry and Kerið Crater entry also cost extra.

Which activities are included?

Included activities are the Vatnshellir Lava Cave, Krauma Spa, Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths, the Vatnajökull ice cave tour, and the Icelandic Lava Show in Vík.

Is this suitable for children?

Some activities have a minimum age of 8 years, and some require a minimum height of 102 centimeters. Check the rules for each booked activity before traveling.

How old must the driver be?

The minimum age for driver participants is 20 years.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.