Self-Launched Iceland Ring of Wonders: Golden Circle, Snæfellsnes, Glacier Lagoon & Ice Cave in 5 Days
5 days · Iceland
Troll Expeditions charges £1,390
No-markup version: ~£820 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of Troll Expeditions' 5-day minibus tour covering the Golden Circle, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, the South Coast waterfalls, a certified glacier hike and an ice cave, ending at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. Rather than paying for a guided minibus loop, you self-drive (or mix public buses with day tours for the non-drivers) and book the glacier hike and ice cave directly with certified local guides — the one thing you genuinely cannot do alone. Accommodation is in hostels and guesthouses along the route instead of the operator's 3-star countryside hotels. Costs assume a shared car for 2 people and shoulder-season (Oct–Nov/Apr) pricing; winter ice-cave prices rise and some F-roads close. All figures are approximate.
Day-by-day
Reykjavík to Borgarfjörður — hot springs, waterfalls and sagas
Reykjavík / Borgarfjörður
Pick up a small rental car in Reykjavík in the morning (book a compact 4x4 or at minimum a car with winter tyres — around £45-60/day, split between travellers). Drive north past Mount Esja and along Hvalfjarðarflói (Whale Fjord). Stop at Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot spring, then explore the medieval Reykholt historical site (Snorri Sturluson's home). Walk the short trails to Hraunfossar, where water seeps out from under a lava field, and neighbouring Barnafoss. Check into a hostel or farm guesthouse in the Borgarfjörður/Húsafell area and cook dinner in the shared kitchen. After dark, drive a few minutes away from any lights for your own northern-lights stakeout — no guide needed, just clear skies and patience. Check vedur.is for the aurora forecast.
🚌Rental car from Reykjavík, ~200 km driving. Fuel ~£30-35 for the day split between travellers.
🛏Húsafell/Borgarfjörður hostel or farm guesthouse, dorm or private twin (~£30-45 pp)
- →Deildartunguhver hot spring (free)
- →Reykholt historical site (free)
- →Hraunfossar & Barnafoss waterfalls (free)
- →Self-guided northern lights spotting
Snæfellsnes Peninsula — Kirkjufell, cliffs and black pebble beaches
Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Drive up to Stykkishólmur on the north coast, then loop anticlockwise around Snæfellsnes. Photograph Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss, then continue to Grundarfjörður. Walk the basalt cliffs at Gerðuberg, and stop at Ytri-Tunga beach (seals often haul out here). Follow the coast to Arnarstapi for the cliff-top path to Hellnar, then continue to Djúpalónssandur black pebble beach with its rusted shipwreck remains and 'lifting stones'. Optionally book the Vatnshellir lava-tube cave tour directly with the on-site operator (about £22 pp, 45 min). Overnight in a guesthouse near Stykkishólmur or Hellissandur.
🚌Self-drive loop, ~250 km. Fuel ~£30 split. Optional Vatnshellir cave tour ~£22 booked direct.
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Stykkishólmur/Hellissandur (~£35-50 pp)
- →Kirkjufell viewpoint (free)
- →Gerðuberg basalt cliffs (free)
- →Ytri-Tunga seal beach (free)
- →Arnarstapi–Hellnar coastal walk (free)
- →Djúpalónssandur black pebble beach (free)
- →Optional Vatnshellir lava cave tour (~£22)
Golden Circle — Geysir, Gullfoss, Kerið and Þingvellir
Golden Circle / South Coast
Drive back east and start with Þingvellir National Park, where you can walk between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates (free, parking ~£5). Continue to the Geysir geothermal area and wait for Strokkur to erupt every 5-10 minutes. Stop at the Kerið volcanic crater (small entry fee ~£3) and finish at Gullfoss, the two-tiered waterfall. Push on south to your base near Hvolsvöllur or Vík, where you'll be well placed for tomorrow's glacier day. Grocery shop at Bónus or Krónan on the way — countryside food is expensive.
🚌Self-drive, ~330 km. Fuel ~£40 split. Parking fees ~£10 total.
🛏Hostel or guesthouse near Hvolsvöllur/Vík (~£30-45 pp)
- →Þingvellir National Park tectonic plates (free, parking fee)
- →Geysir & Strokkur (free)
- →Kerið crater (~£3)
- →Gullfoss waterfall (free)
South Coast waterfalls + glacier hike and ice cave
Seljalandsfoss / Skaftafell / Vatnajökull
Early start: walk behind Seljalandsfoss (bring a waterproof jacket — you will get soaked) and stop at Skógafoss, where you can climb the staircase for the clifftop view. Then drive to Skaftafell and join a certified glacier hike on Falljökull or Svínafellsjökull — book directly with a local guiding company (Icelandic Mountain Guides, Arctic Adventures or Glacier Guides, around £95-130 pp for the 3-hour glacier walk including crampons, harness and ice axe). In winter, add an ice cave tour into the Vatnajökull glacier (roughly £130-160 pp — this is the priciest single item of the trip and must be booked weeks ahead as slots sell out). Overnight in a hostel or guesthouse near Skaftafell/Höfn; look for aurora again if the forecast is clear.
🚌Self-drive, ~230 km. Fuel ~£30 split. Glacier hike booked direct with certified operator.
🛏Hostel or guesthouse near Skaftafell/Höfn (~£35-50 pp)
- →Seljalandsfoss (walk behind the waterfall, free)
- →Skógafoss & clifftop staircase (free)
- →Certified glacier hike on Vatnajökull outlet glacier (~£110)
- →Ice cave exploration with certified guide (~£145)
- →Northern lights spotting (free)
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Diamond Beach and Reynisfjara
Jökulsárlón / Vík / Reykjavík
Drive east early to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and walk the shoreline among floating icebergs, then cross the road to Diamond Beach where ice chunks wash up on the black sand. In summer you can book an amphibian or Zodiac boat tour on the lagoon directly with the operators at the site (about £40-70 pp). On the way back west, stop at Reynisfjara black sand beach and the Dyrhólaey cliffs — obey the sneaker-wave warnings and stay well back from the waterline. Return the car in Reykjavík in the evening (drop-off ~18:00-20:00).
🚌Self-drive back to Reykjavík, ~380 km. Fuel ~£45 split. Car return in Reykjavík.
🛏Not included — book your own Reykjavík hostel/hotel for the final night (~£30-50 pp) or fly out that evening
- →Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon (free)
- →Diamond Beach (free)
- →Optional boat tour among icebergs in summer (~£45)
- →Reynisfjara black sand beach (free)
- →Dyrhólaey viewpoint (free)
Self-launched vs. Troll Expeditions
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Troll Expeditions | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£820 | £1,390 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £570 per person (41%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Troll Expeditions-style trips? Check them out here.~£820
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 Ring of Wonders: Golden Circle, Snæfellsnes, Glacier Lagoon & Ice Cave in 5 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £820 per person for 5 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 Troll Expeditions?+
Yes — Troll Expeditions charges around £1,390 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £820 — a saving of roughly £570 (41%) per person.
How long is the Iceland trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 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, hiking, budget 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?
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