5 Days Self-Drive Tour with Pick Up – Northern Lights Adventure Camper´ Break

Iceland packs a lot into five days here: tectonic plates, geothermal springs, waterfalls, black beaches, an ice cave, and a glacier lagoon. You drive your own campervan, but the route, campsites, booked activities, Wi-Fi, and airport transfers are arranged for you.

I like the privacy of having your own vehicle and the useful airport shuttle from Keflavík. I also like that the route includes major sights plus memorable stops such as the Katla Ice Cave and Diamond Beach. The main drawback is a busy schedule, with long driving days and extra costs for fuel, parking, food, and optional activities.

Key points at a glance

• A private road trip with structure: You get the freedom of a campervan without having to plan every stop yourself.
• Pickup near Keflavík: A complimentary shuttle runs from Keflavík International Airport or selected Keflavík hotels.
• The south coast is the star: Waterfalls, Reynisfjara, Dyrhólaey, Skaftafell, Jökulsárlón, and Diamond Beach fill the middle of the trip.
• Katla Ice Cave is included: This four-hour super-jeep outing is one of the tour’s biggest adventure moments.
• Camper comforts matter: Wi-Fi, kitchen gear, bedding, heating, gas, and a tablet guide are supplied.
• Budget beyond the headline price: The $1,125.85 per-person price excludes fuel, parking, food, and optional extras.

Why this five-day campervan route works

This is not a standard coach tour. You collect a campervan at CampEasy in Keflavík and follow a prepared plan at your own pace. Only your group participates, which gives you privacy and avoids being tied to a large bus.

The route has a sensible geographic shape. You begin on the Reykjanes Peninsula, move east through the Golden Circle and south coast, reach the glacier country around Jökulsárlón, then return toward Reykjavík. That cuts down on needless backtracking, though five days still leaves little room for delays.

The package includes a quality campervan, zero-risk coverage, Wi-Fi, gas, a tablet guide, campsites, airport transfer, and booked activities. It does not include fuel, parking, food, personal accident insurance, or optional stops such as Fríðheimar and the Blue Lagoon.

That distinction matters. At $1,125.85 per person, the price can be good value for two or more people sharing a vehicle and campsite costs. You are paying for transport, lodging, planning help, and selected experiences in one package. Still, you should keep a separate allowance for fuel and meals. Iceland is not a cheap place to buy food on the road.

Day one: Reykjanes begins with fire and fault lines

Your complimentary shuttle collects you at Keflavík International Airport or from one of 12 selected hotels in the Keflavík area. Pickup is available between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., and the CampEasy office is about five minutes from the airport.

Allow time for the vehicle handover. You need a valid international driving license that is valid for the vehicle and has at least 12 months remaining at pickup. The minimum driver age is 20.

The first sightseeing stop is the Bridge Between Continents, also called Leif the Lucky Bridge or Miðlína. It crosses a fissure linked to the meeting of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. The stop takes about 45 minutes and gives you an easy first look at Iceland’s geology.

Next comes Gunnuhver, a geothermal area filled with steam vents and hot mud pools. Minerals color the ground, and the Reykjanes lighthouse appears in the distance. Stay on marked paths and be careful around hot ground. The steam and smell make this feel like a real volcanic region, not a polished park.

Kleifarvatn is the longest stop of the day, at about 70 minutes. It is one of Iceland’s deepest lakes, reaching almost 100 meters, and sits among porous lava and old moss. The scene is quieter than the famous Golden Circle, which makes it a good opening to the trip.

Day one is relatively gentle in mileage, but you still need to learn the camper’s systems, find your campsite, and settle into a small living space. The included Wi-Fi and tablet guide should help you get organized quickly.

Day two: the Golden Circle, hot bread, and two famous falls

Þingvellir National Park brings together geology and Icelandic political history. You can see the effects of continental movement, visit Öxarárfoss, and look toward Silfra Fissure. The visit is free, but parking is not included.

Plan about 80 minutes here. If you want time for walks rather than quick photographs, start early. Þingvellir is one of the busiest sections of this route, and its importance is easy to miss if you treat it as only a scenic stop.

Laugarvatn Fontana is a more personal kind of stop. A rye bread tour begins at 11:45 a.m., showing how dough is cooked in geothermal ground. You also taste the bread, then have time in the warm baths overlooking the lake. The two-and-a-half-hour allocation gives this stop room to feel like a break rather than another quick photo stop.

Fríðheimar tomato farm is suggested as an optional addition. Its greenhouse uses geothermal energy and biological pest controls, and the restaurant serves tomato-based dishes. It adds about an hour, including driving from Fontana, but you must book it yourself and pay separately.

At Geysir, Strokkur sends hot water up to about 15 meters. Eruptions are frequent, so you should not have to wait long. Give the area 45 minutes, and keep your distance from the hot pools.

Gullfoss is the day’s big waterfall, dropping in two stages into a narrow gorge from a height of about 32 meters. The viewing paths give you several angles, and spray can make the walk wet. Waterproof outerwear is useful.

The route then continues south to Seljalandsfoss, the 60-meter waterfall where you can walk behind the falling water. The area is free to enter, but parking costs extra. The two-hour, 15-minute allocation may include time for nearby views, but you should expect slippery ground and heavy spray behind the falls.

Skógafoss closes the day with force. Meltwater from Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers feeds the broad chute, often creating rainbows in the spray. The waterfall itself is free, and an hour gives you time to see it from below.

This is a full day. Fontana, Fríðheimar, the Golden Circle, and two major waterfalls can easily leave you tired before you reach camp. If weather slows driving, skip the optional farm rather than rushing every main stop.

Day three: black beaches and the Katla Ice Cave

Vík is the base for the day’s main booked activity. It is a small south coast village near the sea, with black sand and glaciers inland. The four-hour Katla Ice Cave trip begins at 9:30 a.m., so you need to arrive at the meeting point about 20 minutes early.

A super jeep carries you toward Katla Volcano, where volcanic material and an ice cap have worked together to form the cave area. This is not an ordinary walk into a frozen tunnel. Conditions can change, and the minimum age for some activities on the trip is eight, so check the activity requirements for your group before booking.

The ice cave is an excellent reason to choose this package over a simple self-drive plan. It is a booked, specialist experience that would be harder to arrange around a tight route. At the same time, it fixes your morning schedule, so you cannot sleep late or adjust the day at the last minute.

Reynisfjara Beach is known for black sand, basalt columns, and three rock formations offshore. The Atlantic can be dangerous here, so keep well back from the water and follow local warnings. The stop is only about 30 minutes, which is enough for the main view but not a long beach walk.

Dyrhólaey is a 120-meter rock formation with a large opening through it. It is also a bird area, and the viewpoint looks back over the southern coast. Allow 45 minutes, though access can depend on conditions and seasonal restrictions.

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon takes about an hour and 45 minutes. Its twisting form, river, and open walking paths make it one of the more unusual stops of the route. The canyon was also used in a Justin Bieber music video, a small piece of modern pop culture in an otherwise very old volcanic setting.

Near Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Systrafoss falls from Lake Systravatn above the town. A short uphill walk gives you a wider view. You can also drive about five minutes farther to Stjórnarfoss.

Skaftafell National Park is the final major stop. Its paths lead through a mix of ice, lava, and mountain scenery, with Svartifoss as the main target. The waterfall is framed by dark basalt columns. The park has no admission charge, but parking costs extra. Two hours is enough for a focused walk, not every path in the area.

Day four: ice on black sand at Jökulsárlón

Diamond Beach is one of Iceland’s most memorable shorelines. Ice blocks from the nearby glacier lagoon wash onto black sand, where sunlight can make them look like scattered glass or stones. The pieces vary in size, and the scene changes with tide, light, and the amount of ice reaching the sea.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is close by. Icebergs break away from the Vatnajökull glacier and float across the lagoon before heading toward the ocean. The lagoon began forming roughly 90 years ago as the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier tongue melted back.

The schedule gives you 90 minutes at Diamond Beach and 40 minutes at the lagoon. I would pay attention to the order and road conditions on the day, since the two sites are close enough to visit together but deserve more than a rushed stop.

The drive back toward Selfoss is the long return leg. The itinerary allows about four and a half hours in Selfoss, where you spend the night and prepare for the final day. That time is less about sightseeing than recovery, food, and checking the camper before returning it.

This is also the day when the route’s limitations become clear. Jökulsárlón is far from Keflavík and Reykjavík, and the return drive is substantial. If you want a slower visit to Skaftafell or extra time around the lagoon, five days may feel tight.

Day five: Reykjavík icons before returning the camper

The final morning moves into Reykjavík. At the waterfront, the Sun Voyager sculpture presents a message of hope and freedom against the mountains. It takes about 40 minutes and is an easy stop before the city center.

Harpa Concert Hall is free to enter for a basic look inside, though parking costs extra. Its glass architecture reflects Icelandic natural forms, and half an hour is enough for a quick visit.

Hallgrímskirkja is close to downtown and Rainbow Street. Entry to the church is free, but the tower costs extra if you want a 360-degree city view. The stop is listed at 40 minutes, so decide in advance if the tower is worth the added fee.

The Blue Lagoon is an optional final stop. It is not included, and you must book admission yourself through its website. The suggested addition takes about two hours, including driving from Hallgrímskirkja. Only add it if your flight schedule leaves comfortable room for bathing, returning the camper, and reaching the airport.

You return the vehicle at CampEasy, then use the free shuttle to Keflavík Airport or your selected Keflavík hotel. The final transfer is listed at about one hour, so do not plan a tight flight connection.

Camper comfort, support, and the real cost

The supplied equipment makes a major difference in Iceland’s changeable weather. Gas, Wi-Fi, kitchen equipment, bedding, heating, and an Easy Guide tablet are included. Personal accounts of CampEasy service also highlight clean, well-maintained vans, strong heating, comfortable beds, and batteries that held up well overnight.

Staff members named in customer feedback include Lidia, Natalia, Florentina, Nicole, and Kamila. Lidia was praised for explaining the pickup process, while Nicole and Kamila were associated with helpful support and communication. That is useful because a first campervan trip can feel daunting, especially when you are learning heating, power, and campsite routines at the same time.

The package also includes zero-risk coverage, but that does not replace personal accident insurance for the driver or passengers. You remain responsible for traffic fines, parking fees, fuel, and electricity or other campsite services.

The free cancellation policy allows a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted.

Who should book this Iceland camper break?

I would choose this for a couple, family, or small private group that wants independence but does not want to build a five-day Iceland plan from scratch. It suits you if you enjoy driving, can handle early starts, and like the idea of sleeping in a camper rather than changing hotels.

It is less suitable if you want long, unhurried walks, luxury accommodation, or a fixed guarantee of seeing the Northern Lights. The title suggests a Northern Lights adventure, but the listed route does not include a dedicated Northern Lights hunt, and no display can be guaranteed.

Before booking, check the driver requirements, activity age limits, weather forecast, flight timing, and the extra budget for fuel, parking, food, and optional admissions. If those points fit your plans, this gives you a strong mix of freedom and structure, with the south coast’s best-known sights and a worthwhile ice cave trip already built in.

FAQ

Is airport pickup included?

Yes. A complimentary shuttle is available from Keflavík International Airport or selected hotels in the Keflavík area. Pickup operates between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Where do I collect and return the campervan?

You collect and return the vehicle at CampEasy, Selvík 5, 230 Keflavík, Iceland. A free shuttle transfers you to or from Keflavík Airport or your selected Keflavík hotel.

What is the minimum age for the driver?

The minimum driver age is 20. You must also show a valid international driving license suitable for the vehicle and valid for at least 12 months at pickup.

Is the Katla Ice Cave activity included?

Yes. The four-hour Katla Ice Cave super-jeep activity is included. It begins in Vík at 9:30 a.m., and you should arrive at the meeting point 20 minutes early.

Are campsites included in the price?

Yes. Campsite fees are included. Electricity and other campsite services are not included.

Do I need to pay for parking?

Yes. Parking fees at places such as Þingvellir, Seljalandsfoss, and Skaftafell are not included. You also pay for parking at some Reykjavík sights.

Are fuel and food included?

No. Fuel, food, and beverages are excluded. Gas and Wi-Fi are listed among the included extras.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted or refunded.