Six Days in Iceland: Self-Launched

Fly into Keflavik International Airport (KEF). Skip the expensive private transfer — Flybus (re.is/flybus) or Strætó airport express run regularly to BSÍ Bus Terminal in Reykjavik for around £25-30 each way. Alternatively, if you're hiring a car (recommended for this trip), collect it at the airport and drive the 50-minute route into the city. Check into your hostel or guesthouse in the city centre. Spend the evening exploring Reykjavik's compact but lively old town: grab a Pylsur (Icelandic hot dog) from Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur (~£4), wander down Laugavegur street, and sample the craft beer scene at bars like Skúli Craft Bar or Kaldi Bar. Tonight is all about settling in and orienting yourself.

🚌Flybus airport shuttle from KEF to Reykjavik BSÍ Terminal (~£27 one way, book at re.is/flybus), or collect pre-booked rental car at airport. A compact car for 6 days typically costs £250-400 total depending on season — budget ~£50-80/day split between travellers.

🛏Reykjavik City Hostel or Kex Hostel — dorm beds from ~£35-45/night, private rooms from ~£80. Book directly or via Hostelworld.

• →Arrive at Keflavik Airport and take Flybus to Reykjavik BSÍ terminal (~£27 one way) or collect hire car
• →Check in to hostel/guesthouse in central Reykjavik
• →Walk Laugavegur street and explore the old town
• →Try an Icelandic hot dog at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur (~£4)
• →Sample craft beers at Skúli Craft Bar or Kaldi Bar

The Golden Circle is Iceland's most famous day route and is entirely self-driveable — no guide required. Start early and head to Þingvellir National Park (free entry), where you can walk the Parliament Plains and peer into the Silfra fissure where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. Follow the route east to the Geysir Geothermal Area (free entry) and watch Strokkur erupt every 5-10 minutes. Continue to Gullfoss waterfall (free entry) — a dramatic two-tiered cascade on the Hvítá River. On the return leg, detour south to Flúðir to visit the Secret Lagoon (Gamla Laugin) — Iceland's oldest pool, a far more affordable and authentic alternative to the Blue Lagoon. Book Secret Lagoon direct at secretlagoon.is (~£22/person). Pick up breakfast supplies at a Bonus supermarket in Reykjavik before departing to save money.

🚌Self-drive rental car along the Golden Circle route. Total driving ~230km / ~3.5 hours. Route: Reykjavik → Þingvellir (45 min) → Geysir (1 hr) → Gullfoss (10 min) → Flúðir (40 min) → overnight accommodation near Selfoss or Flúðir.

🛏Guesthouse Árnanes or Selfoss HI Hostel near Selfoss — dorm beds ~£30-40/night, private rooms ~£80-100. Book via Booking.com or direct.

• →Þingvellir National Park — Parliament Plains and Silfra fissure viewpoint (free entry)
• →Geysir Geothermal Area — watch Strokkur geyser erupt (free entry)
• →Gullfoss Waterfall — walk the viewing platforms (free entry)
• →Secret Lagoon, Flúðir — soak in Iceland's oldest geothermal pool (~£22, book at secretlagoon.is)

Drive east along Iceland's stunning South Coast — one of the most scenic stretches of road in Europe. Begin at Gluggafoss (also called Merkjarfoss), a hidden gem waterfall you can walk right up to and peek through the rock windows — it's free and often uncrowded. Continue to the iconic Skógafoss waterfall: climb the 370-step staircase to the right for panoramic views and spot puffins nesting in the cliffs in summer (free entry). If conditions allow, visit Dyrhólaey Nature Reserve for dramatic arch cliff views over the Atlantic (seasonal access). Then head to Reynisfjara black sand beach — one of the most striking non-tropical beaches in the world, with towering basalt columns. Note: never turn your back on the ocean here — sneaker waves are dangerous. Pass through the village of Vík for supplies and dinner before heading to your overnight accommodation near Reynivellir. Stock up on groceries at the Krónan supermarket in Vík to keep costs down.

🚌Self-drive east on Route 1 (Ring Road) from near Selfoss. Total driving ~180km / ~3 hours not including stops. Route: Guesthouse → Gluggafoss → Skógafoss → Dyrhólaey → Reynisfjara → Vík → overnight accommodation near Reynivellir.

🛏Guesthouse Carina or Black Beach Hostel near Vík — dorm beds ~£35-45/night, private rooms ~£90-110. Book via Booking.com.

• →Gluggafoss (Merkjarfoss) waterfall — walk-up access through the rock windows (free)
• →Skógafoss waterfall — climb the staircase for panoramic views (free)
• →Dyrhólaey Nature Reserve — cliffs and sea arch viewpoint (seasonal, free)
• →Reynisfjara black sand beach and basalt columns (free)
• →Explore the village of Vík and stock up on supplies at Krónan supermarket

An extraordinary day in the remote east of Iceland. Drive to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon — icebergs calved from Breiðamerkurjökull glacier drift surreally through the lagoon before floating out to sea. Entry to view the lagoon is free; optional boat tours (amphibious or zodiac) can be booked on-site or via GetYourGuide (~£50-65). Cross the road to Diamond Beach, where translucent ice chunks wash up on black volcanic sand — a photographer's dream and completely free. Head into Vatnajökull National Park and hike to Svartifoss waterfall — a 1.5hr round-trip trail from Skaftafell visitor centre through birch woodland to a cascade framed by black basalt columns. A glacier hike on Vatnajökull is highly recommended: book via Icelandic Mountain Guides or GetYourGuide (~£75-90/person including crampons and ice axe). If time and season allow, stop at Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon on the return — a serpentine gorge with a short walking trail above the rim.

🚌Self-drive east on Route 1 from near Vík to Skaftafell/Jökulsárlón (~180km / ~2.5 hrs). Return west to overnight near Vík (~3 hrs). This is a long driving day — start early. Alternatively, stay overnight in the Höfn area to break the drive.

🛏Hostel Skaftafell or Guesthouse Hof near Skaftafell, or drive back to Vík-area guesthouses. Dorm beds ~£35-45, private rooms ~£90-110. Book via Booking.com or Hostelworld.

• →Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon — walk the shores and watch icebergs calve (free entry)
• →Diamond Beach — photograph ice chunks on black sand (free)
• →Svartifoss waterfall hike in Vatnajökull National Park — 1.5hr round trip from Skaftafell (free)
• →Optional: Glacier hike on Vatnajökull (~£75-90, book via Icelandic Mountain Guides or GetYourGuide)
• →Optional: Glacier Lagoon amphibious boat ride (~£47, book on-site or GetYourGuide)
• →Optional: Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon viewpoint walk (free, seasonal)

Drive west along the South Coast with three more waterfall highlights. Stop at Seljalandsfoss — one of Iceland's most magical falls where you can walk a path behind the curtain of water for a unique perspective (bring a waterproof jacket and bag cover for your camera). Just a 10-minute walk away, duck into the hidden gorge to find Gljúfrabúi — a secretive waterfall tucked inside a cave-like ravine; wade through a shallow stream to reach it. Both are free. Continue west to Urriðafoss on Iceland's longest river, Þjórsá — the most voluminous waterfall in Iceland, often overlooked by tourists and entirely free. Arrive back in Reykjavik in the afternoon. Take a self-guided walk around the city highlights: Hallgrímskirkja church (exterior free, tower lift ~£8), Harpa Concert Hall (exterior/lobby free), the old harbour and Faxaflói Bay. Tonight, celebrate your last evening with your travel companions — try Icelandic lamb soup at Café Loki or fish and chips at Reykjavik Fish.

🚌Self-drive west on Route 1 from Vík/South Coast back to Reykjavik (~200km / ~3 hours with stops). Return rental car to airport or city drop-off point.

🛏Kex Hostel or Reykjavik City Hostel — dorm beds ~£35-45/night, private rooms ~£90-110. Book directly or via Hostelworld.

• →Seljalandsfoss waterfall — walk behind the falls (free entry, wear waterproofs)
• →Gljúfrabúi hidden canyon waterfall — short wade to reach it (free)
• →Urriðafoss waterfall — Iceland's most voluminous waterfall (free)
• →Self-guided walk around Reykjavik: Hallgrímskirkja, Harpa Concert Hall, old harbour (mostly free)
• →Optional: Hallgrímskirkja tower lift (~£8)
• →Farewell dinner at Café Loki (traditional Icelandic food) or Reykjavik Fish (~£20-30)

Your trip ends today but Reykjavik rewards an extra morning of exploration. If you haven't already, the Blue Lagoon on the Reykjanes Peninsula is a classic Iceland bucket-list experience (~£60-100 depending on package; book well in advance at bluelagoon.com as it sells out fast). A more affordable alternative is Sky Lagoon on the edge of Reykjavik (~£50, book at skylagoon.com) with equally stunning oceanside views. Free options include Nauthólsvík thermal beach (geothermally heated cove, free), the Settlement Exhibition museum (~£14), and the Whales of Iceland Museum (~£20). If snorkelling is your thing, book a Silfra Fissure snorkelling day trip via GetYourGuide or Arctic Adventures (~£130-160 including transport from Reykjavik) — a genuinely world-class experience. Return hire car to Keflavik Airport and take Flybus back for your departure flight.

🚌Flybus from Reykjavik BSÍ Terminal to Keflavik Airport (~£27, book at re.is/flybus). If you have a hire car, return it at the airport. Allow 45-60 minutes for the journey.

🛏No accommodation needed — check out this morning.

• →Optional: Blue Lagoon geothermal spa (~£60-100, book in advance at bluelagoon.com)
• →Optional: Sky Lagoon oceanside hot pools (~£50, book at skylagoon.com)
• →Optional: Silfra Fissure snorkelling day trip (~£130-160, book via GetYourGuide or arcticadventures.is)
• →Optional: Nauthólsvík thermal beach (free)
• →Optional: Settlement Exhibition (~£14) or Whales of Iceland Museum (~£20)
• →Optional: Perlan Museum (~£28) with panoramic Reykjavik views
• →Return to Keflavik Airport via Flybus (~£27)