South Iceland Waterfalls Self-Drive Adventure - 6 Days

On a self-drive trip with Iceland Tours, you’ll be at the wheel of the rental car of your choice and free to go pretty much where you want, whenever you want.

We provide a detailed itinerary to help you plan your route and where you want to stop along the way. But it’s up to you whether you want to stick to it or go your own way. If you do take detours, make sure that you aren’t too far from your accommodation on any given night.

That said, it’s a good idea to stick to the suggested itinerary if you’ve never visited Iceland before. Created by our Reykjavík-based travel experts, it contains plenty of things for you to and see and do on each leg of your trip. One thing’s for sure: you won’t be short on ideas!

You also get unlimited in-car Wi-Fi, so you can stay connected and use maps on your phone for navigation.

It’s best to book your trip at least a few weeks before you travel. This gives us enough time to organize your preferred accommodation and itinerary. For this reason, we’re unable to accept bookings with less than 1 week’s notice.

In the summer, which is the most popular time of year, booking a few months ahead is a good idea. In certain parts of the countryside, accommodation options are more limited and can be booked up well ahead of your trip.

You have to be at least 20 years old to rent a car in Iceland, or 23 years old for larger vehicles like jeeps and vans. You’ll need to have held a valid driver’s license for at least 1 year and present a credit card when you collect your car.

You don’t need an International Driving Permit unless your license is not in Latin script (for example, Arabic or Chinese).

Find out more about car rental in Iceland.

Yes! It’s possible to add extra activities or extend your trip with additional nights in Reykjavík or the countryside. Check the itinerary above to see what activities are available on what day.

Of course you can add extra adventures! We want you to be able to get the absolute most out of your trip to Iceland, so you can pick optional extra activities at checkout. You’ll be shown exactly what’s on offer for each day of your trip.

And if you feel like you just don’t have enough time to fit it all in, you can also add extra days.

The rules of the road in Iceland are similar to most other countries, although there are some local quirks that you might not be familiar with.

Iceland drives on the right and steering wheels are on the left side of the car. Distances and speed limits are given in kilometers only.

Roundabouts are very common in Iceland, especially in towns. If you’re not familiar with these, make sure you understand how to give way (yield) to other traffic.

In the countryside, you might encounter sheep on the road, or even reindeer in East Iceland. You may also come across gravel roads, single-lane bridges, and blind summits.

For all the info on how to handle these, see this guide to driving in Iceland.

Once you’ve paid your deposit for your trip, we’ll finalize bookings for your accommodation, rental car, and any activities. As soon as we receive confirmation of everything, we’ll email you, letting you know your travel documents are available in our portal.

We aim to finalize everything within a few weeks of receiving your booking request, but in busy periods this might take longer. That said, you’ll always receive all of your documents before your departure date.

You’ll be able to pick up your rental car at Keflavík International Airport from the arrivals hall. Before your trip, we’ll send you information about where to go in the terminal to collect your keys.

Make sure you have your driver’s license and credit card ready when you collect your vehicle.

If you land late at night, you can use the out-of-hours phone at the pick-up desk to contact someone who will be able to help you.

You also have the option to collect your rental car in Reykjavík, if you’re planning to spend some extra days in the city before your trip starts. If you’d like to do this, please let us know in the ‘Special requests’ box at checkout.

Yes, you can easily collect your rental car from Reykjavík instead of Keflavik Airport.

During the booking steps on our website, just let us know you'd prefer your pick-up/drop-off location to be in the city centre. We'll take care of it for you, no problem.

Just a quick heads-up: if you request different pick-up and drop-off locations (e.g. collect from the airport, drop off in the city, or vice versa) there's a one-way fee of around ISK 7.900 ISK (EUR 60). You'll pay this directly to the rental company when you pick up the car.

All of our self-drive tour packages include the following as standard:

• Rental car of your choice, with unlimited mileage
• Basic liability insurance coverage
• Collision damage waiver
• Authorization for second driver
• Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi
• Accommodation level of your choice
• Breakfast every day
• Detailed itinerary crafted by local travel experts
• 24/7 helpline in Iceland, just in case you need it

When you book your vacation on our website, you’ll be able to choose your preferred rental car and accommodation level.

You can see what vehicles are available on this car rental page.

On a self-drive package with Iceland Tours, you can choose from 3 levels of accommodation:

• Budget – Guesthouses and country hotels, with shared bathrooms
• Comfort – Hotels or guesthouses of around 3 stars, with private bathrooms
• Quality – Hotels or guesthouses of around 4 stars, with private bathrooms

Each accommodation level offers different types of rooms. We’ve described them below to help you choose the best one for you. Just keep in mind that not every hotel has all these room types available.

• Single room: one single bed in a room, perfect for solo travelers.
• Double room: a full-sized double bed for 2 people.
• Twin room: a room with 2 single beds that fit 1 person each.
• Triple room: these vary in size and layout, but are designed to fit 3 adults. Triple rooms feature a combination of double, single or sofa beds, depending on the hotel.

No matter which accommodation level you pick, breakfast is included. Read more about the differences between the levels on this accommodation page.

Feel like getting closer to nature? Check out these self-drive camping tours.

In Iceland, you can expect all weathers no matter what time of year you visit. With that in mind, it’s good to make sure you’ve got everything you need to stay cozy, warm, and dry.

Here’s a packing list to help you get ready for your trip:

• Tough, waterproof walking boots
• Thermal underlayers
• Sweaters or fleeces
• Waterproof raincoat
• Warm winter jacket
• Scarf, hat, and gloves
• Sunglasses
• Swimwear (for pools and hot springs)
• Lip salve and moisturizer

For more tips on what to bring with you, see this Iceland packing list.

This 6 day Iceland tour stands out by including a visit to the Westman Islands, one of Iceland's best-kept secrets that many tourists never discover. While most Iceland Tours focus on the mainland, this itinerary takes you to the volcanic island of Heimaey via the Herjólfur ferry (tickets included), where you can hike to the Eldfell volcano that erupted in 1973, spot the famous "Elephant" mountain, and explore the world's largest Atlantic puffin colony during the season. Combined with classic South Iceland attractions like walking behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall, witnessing Strokkur geyser's eruptions, and exploring Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, this tour offers both iconic sights and lesser-visited locations that create an unforgettable 6 day Iceland itinerary.

This comprehensive waterfall-focused Iceland tour showcases South Iceland's most spectacular cascades. You'll experience Seljalandsfoss waterfall twice – once on your way to the Westman Islands ferry and again for closer exploration, where you can walk behind the falling water for a unique perspective. Gullfoss, known as the "Golden Falls," displays its iconic two-tiered cascade where rainbows often appear in the spray on sunny days. Skógafoss waterfall, one of Iceland's largest at 60 meters high, offers both ground-level viewing and a climbing path to an elevated viewpoint above the dramatic spray. At Skaftafell, you'll have hiking opportunities to discover additional waterfalls in this glacial oasis surrounded by black sand plains.

The Westman Islands adventure is a highlight of this Iceland tour, with ferry tickets for the Herjólfur crossing to Heimaey included in your package. On the volcanic island, you can hike to the summit of Eldfell volcano, which famously erupted in 1973 and nearly buried the town. The islands offer incredible wildlife viewing opportunities where whale and seal sightings are common. The Westman Islands are renowned as the world's largest Atlantic puffin colony. However, puffin viewing is seasonal – Dyrhólaey cliff closes during nesting season from May 15 to June 23, and puffins depart for sea from mid-August onward. For the best puffin experience, plan your visit between late June and mid-August. You'll also discover the distinctive "Elephant" mountain formation and experience the unique culture of this isolated island community.

Iceland Tours offers three accommodation tiers to suit different budgets and preferences. Budget accommodations are guesthouses and country hotels with shared bathroom facilities. Comfort accommodations are hotels or guesthouses of around 3 stars with private bathrooms. Quality accommodations are hotels or guesthouses of around 4 stars with private bathrooms, or superior/plus rooms in 3-star properties. All accommodation levels include continental breakfast daily and are handpicked by local experts for their quality and convenient locations near your route. You'll experience both Reykjavík city stays and countryside accommodations in areas like Hvolsvöllur and Vík/Kirkjubæjarklaustur, giving you diverse perspectives on Icelandic hospitality and landscapes.

Your 6 day Iceland tour includes a rental car of your choice for 5 full days, featuring new vehicles with comprehensive coverage. Two authorized drivers are included as standard, allowing you to share driving responsibilities throughout your journey. The package includes unlimited mileage, collision damage waiver insurance, and unlimited in-car Wi-Fi for navigation and communication. Vehicle pickup occurs at Keflavík Airport upon arrival, and return is at the same location before departure. If you arrive in the morning or depart in the afternoon, additional charges may apply for vehicle rental outside standard tour days. While fuel and parking charges aren't included in the package price, the detailed itinerary helps you plan your route effectively.

This Iceland tour is designed with manageable daily driving distances to maximize sightseeing time while minimizing road fatigue. Day 1 involves the short airport-to-Reykjavík drive (45 minutes). Day 2's Golden Circle route from Reykjavík through Þingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss to Hvolsvöllur covers approximately 210km with multiple stops. Day 3 includes the drive to Landeyjarhöfn ferry port (about 1 hour) plus the unique ferry crossing to Westman Islands. Day 4 features the journey to Iceland's southeast, passing glaciers en route to Jökulsárlón lagoon and continuing to Vík area. Day 5 provides South Coast exploration returning to Reykjavík. All routes follow well-maintained roads with clear signage and excellent infrastructure.

This 6 day Iceland tour offers flexibility within its self-drive format, and the itinerary mentions "Extra activities" available on certain days. At Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, you might add boat trips among the icebergs or amphibian tours for closer iceberg encounters. The Skaftafell area provides various hiking options to suit different fitness levels and interests. Since this tour already includes unique experiences like the Westman Islands ferry crossing that most visitors miss, additional customization typically enhances rather than replaces core attractions. Contact Iceland Tours directly to discuss specific add-on options and availability for your travel dates.

Pack layered clothing suitable for variable conditions, as this 6 day Iceland itinerary includes coastal, mountainous, and island environments. Essential items include waterproof hiking boots with excellent grip, warm insulating layers, waterproof outer jacket and pants, and wind-resistant clothing for the Westman Islands ferry crossing and island exploration. The waterfall visits require waterproof gear since you'll be walking behind Seljalandsfoss and near powerful sprays. Don't forget swimwear if you plan to visit any geothermal pools, warm hat and gloves, sunglasses for glacier glare, and a daypack for island hiking. Camera equipment should include extra batteries (cold weather drains power quickly) and protective cases for waterfall photography.

This Iceland tour is specifically designed as a summer experience, operating from approximately April through September when conditions are optimal for waterfall exploration and Westman Islands adventures. The peak season is June through August, offering the warmest weather, longest daylight hours (up to 19+ hours), and prime puffin viewing in the Westman Islands. The tour is particularly spectacular from late June through early August when you can witness the world's largest Atlantic puffin colony in full activity. Early summer (May-June) provides excellent waterfall flow from snowmelt, while July-August offers the most stable weather for ferry crossings and island hiking. Note that Dyrhólaey bird cliff closes during nesting season (May 15-June 23), and puffins depart for sea from mid-August, making late June through early August the optimal window for this 6 day Iceland tour.

Iceland Tours ensures comprehensive support throughout your 6 day Iceland itinerary with our 24/7 emergency helpline available whenever you need assistance in Iceland. Before departure, you receive a detailed PDF itinerary with attraction descriptions to help guide your journey. Your booking is secured with just a 5% deposit and comes with the Best Price Guarantee for complete confidence. All VAT, taxes, and service fees are transparently included in the upfront pricing, and the tour includes carbon offsetting through our partnership with Icelandic environmental funds, demonstrating our commitment to sustainable tourism. This route visits many of Iceland's most popular attractions, so you can expect to share these spectacular sights with other travelers during your journey.