Self-Launched Iceland: Reykjavík, the Golden Circle & the Fjords of the North
9 days · Iceland
G Adventures charges £8,800
No-markup version: ~£2,100 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 9-day DIY version of G Adventures' National Geographic Signature Iceland circuit — Iceland is genuinely one of Europe's most expensive countries, so the savings here come from swapping luxury hotels and private vehicles for hostels/guesthouses and public buses plus a few booked day tours, not from slashing quality. You'll still see the south coast waterfalls, walk on Sólheimajökull, do the full Golden Circle, go inside Langjökull's ice tunnels, soak in the Húsafell Canyon Baths, hit the turf farms of Skagafjörður, whale-watch from Húsavík and finish with Perlan and Sky Lagoon in Reykjavík. The original tour is £8,500+ per person; this version lands at roughly a quarter of that.
Day-by-day
Arrive Reykjavík — lava fields and a first wander
Reykjavík
Land at Keflavík and skip the private transfer: the Flybus (or Strætó bus 55) runs to BSÍ bus terminal in central Reykjavík for about £20-25 one way, taking 45-50 minutes across the moss-covered Reykjanes lava fields. Check into a hostel or guesthouse in the 101/Miðborg area. Spend the late afternoon walking the harbour, Hallgrímskirkja and the Sun Voyager sculpture, then eat cheaply at a hot-dog stand or a bakery-café (Icelandic food is pricey — self-catering breakfasts from Bónus supermarket will save you a fortune over the week). Book your south-coast day tour for tomorrow online tonight.
🚌Flybus Keflavík → BSÍ ~£22; walk everywhere in town
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, central Reykjavík (£30-45)
- →Hallgrímskirkja church
- →Old Harbour & Sun Voyager
- →Laugavegur street
- →Book south-coast tour
South coast: Lava Centre, Seljalandsfoss and a glacier walk
Hella / Hvolsvöllur
Join a small-group south-coast tour (GetYourGuide/Reykjavík Excursions, ~£85-110) heading east along Route 1. Stop at the Lava Centre in Hvolsvöllur — the volcanic exhibits are excellent and the observation deck gives you the tectonic story the tour's volcanologist covers. Walk behind the curtain of Seljalandsfoss (bring a waterproof — you will get soaked), then do a guided glacier hike on Sólheimajökull with crampons included (~£65-80 as an add-on, or book the combined glacier-hike tour). Overnight in Hella or Hvolsvöllur so you're positioned for the Golden Circle tomorrow.
🚌Small-group minibus tour along the south coast
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Hella/Hvolsvöllur (£40-55)
- →Lava Centre, Hvolsvöllur
- →Seljalandsfoss waterfall walk-behind
- →Guided Sólheimajökull glacier hike
- →Optional Skógafoss stop
Golden Circle: Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss and a geothermal greenhouse
Hella (Golden Circle loop)
Do the Golden Circle by organised day tour from Hella (~£70-90) or, if you have a group of 3-4, hire a car for the day — it's often cheaper and lets you set your own pace. Walk the rift valley at Þingvellir National Park between the North American and Eurasian plates, watch Strokkur erupt every ~10 minutes at Geysir, and stand above Gullfoss. Book the Friðheimar greenhouse visit and tomato-lunch directly (friheimar.is, ~£30 for the tour-plus-lunch) — it's a highlight and easy to arrange independently. Return to Hella for the night.
🚌Golden Circle minibus tour or shared car hire
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Hella/Hvolsvöllur (£40-55)
- →Þingvellir National Park rift walk
- →Geysir & Strokkur
- →Gullfoss waterfall
- →Friðheimar greenhouse tour & tomato lunch
Into the glacier at Langjökull, then Húsafell
Húsafell
Book the Into the Glacier tour from Húsafell directly with the operator (~£160-180, includes the 8-wheel glacier truck and the man-made ice tunnels) — this is the one splurge worth keeping, and it's genuinely self-bookable. Getting to Húsafell without a car is the tricky bit: either take the tour operator's transfer from Reykjavík, or take the Strætó bus to Borgarnes (~£15) and pre-arrange a taxi/shuttle onward (~£60-80 shared). Most independent travellers hire a car from Reykjavík for days 4-7; splitting a small SUV four ways costs about £45-55 per person per day including fuel. Settle into Húsafell for two nights.
🚌Bus/taxi to Borgarnes then Húsafell, or shared car hire
🛏Húsafell guesthouse, cabin or hotel (£50-70)
- →Into the Glacier: Langjökull ice tunnels
- →Borgarnes coastal drive
- →Highland views
Lava caves, Hraunfossar and the Húsafell Canyon Baths
Húsafell
Walk down into Viðgelmir lava tube with a local guide (~£35-45, book direct with the cave operator at Fljótstunga) — it's the largest lava cave in Iceland and full of copper-coloured formations. Drive or shuttle 10 minutes to Hraunfossar and Barnafoss, where water streams out from under a lava field. In the afternoon, book the Húsafell Canyon Baths directly (~£50-60) — the stone-lined geothermal pools in the canyon are exactly what the tour includes, without the private group markup. Self-cater dinner at your cabin.
🚌Local roads; walking/shuttle between sites
🛏Húsafell guesthouse, cabin or hotel (£50-70)
- →Viðgelmir lava cave guided tour
- →Hraunfossar & Barnafoss waterfalls
- →Húsafell Canyon Baths soak
North over the moors: turf farms and Akureyri
Akureyri
Head north through Skagafjörður — with a hire car this is a beautiful 3-4 hour drive; without one, take the Strætó bus towards Sauðárkrókur and stop in the region, or use a day-tour connection. Visit Glaumbær Turf Museum (~£13 entry) and wander the 18th-century sod farmhouses. Continue to Akureyri, Iceland's 'Capital of the North', and stroll the Botanical Garden (free) — the northernmost botanical garden in the world. Base yourself here for two nights in a hostel or guesthouse; Akureyri's cafés and the geothermal pool (Sundlaug Akureyrar, ~£7) are the cheap evening options.
🚌Shared hire car or Strætó bus north (~£25-35 pp if by bus)
🛏Akureyri hostel or guesthouse (£35-50)
- →Glaumbær Turf Museum
- →Akureyri Botanical Garden
- →Akureyri town & geothermal pool
Húsavík whale watching and the marine research centre
Akureyri / Húsavík
Drive or bus the 45 minutes to Húsavík (Strætó bus 78, ~£8). Book a whale-watching tour from Húsavík harbour directly (~£75-95 for a 3-hour rib or oak boat trip) — Skjálfandi Bay is one of the best humpback and minke spots in Europe. Add the Húsavík Whale Museum (~£15) which covers the same cetacean research and conservation ground as the tour's marine biologist meeting, and check if the University of Iceland research centre has a public talk or open session that day. Back to Akureyri for the evening.
🚌Bus 78 or shared car to Húsavík and back
🛏Akureyri hostel or guesthouse (£35-50)
- →Húsavík whale watching from Skjálfandi Bay
- →Húsavík Whale Museum
- →Geosea sea baths (optional)
Fly south, Perlan and Sky Lagoon
Reykjavík
Fly Akureyri to Reykjavík domestic airport with Icelandair (~£70-100, 45 min) — or, if you're driving, allow a full day for the Ring Road back via the north coast. In the afternoon visit Perlan Museum (~£35-40), which has the real indoor ice cave, the planetarium and the 360° observation deck — the same geology and glacier story as the tour. Then book Sky Lagoon directly online (~£55-70 for the standard or Saman pass) for a sunset geothermal soak before a farewell dinner on Laugavegur. Overnight near the city centre.
🚌Icelandair domestic flight ~£85; local buses/walk
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Reykjavík (£30-45)
- →Perlan Museum & observation deck
- →Reykjavík old town wander
- →Sky Lagoon geothermal soak
- →Farewell dinner
Depart Reykjavík
Reykjavík / Keflavík
Depending on your flight time, squeeze in one last bakery breakfast or a walk along the Grótta lighthouse. Take the Flybus back to Keflavík (~£22) leaving enough buffer — the airport is genuinely 45 minutes from town and security queues in summer are long.
🚌Flybus Reykjavík → Keflavík ~£22
🛏—
- →Grótta lighthouse walk
- →Last-minute souvenir shopping
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£2,100 | £8,800 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £6,700 per person (76%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£2,100
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Iceland: Reykjavík, the Golden Circle & the Fjords of the North cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £2,100 per person for 9 days in Iceland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £8,800 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £2,100 — a saving of roughly £6,700 (76%) per person.
How long is the Iceland trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Iceland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Iceland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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