Geysers, Glaciers & Golden Circle - Self-Launched Iceland South Coast
3 days · Iceland South Coast
On The Go Tours charges £920
No-markup version: ~£395 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 3-day version of On The Go Tours' guided South Iceland circuit — the Golden Circle (Thingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss), the south coast waterfalls (Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss), Reynisfjara's black-sand beach, and the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon with Diamond Beach and a self-booked glacier hike and ice cave. Rather than a private minibus and guide, you drive yourself in a small rented car or join a public Straeto bus and book day tours through GetYourGuide/Klook for the glacier activities. Overnight in budget guesthouses in the Vik/Kirkjubaejarklaustur area. Costs are approximate and depend heavily on season — Icelandic car rental and fuel swing widely between winter and summer.
Day-by-day
Reykjavik to Kirkjubaejarklaustur via the Golden Circle
Reykjavik / Golden Circle / Kirkjubaejarklaustur
Pick up a small rental car in Reykjavik (book weeks ahead — around £55-75/day for a compact with insurance, split if you're sharing). Drive the classic Golden Circle: start at Thingvellir National Park where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates split, then Geysir geothermal area to watch Strokkur erupt every few minutes, then Gullfoss waterfall. Continue south-east on Route 1, stopping at Seljalandsfoss where a path lets you walk behind the falling water (bring a waterproof). Push on past Skogafoss to your overnight base around Kirkjubaejarklaustur or Vik. Alternatively, if you don't want to drive, take the Straeto bus Route 51 from Reykjavik's BSÍ terminal towards Vik (~£30-40 one way) and join an organised Golden Circle day tour from Reykjavik (~£55-70) before your bus south.
🚌Rental car from Reykjavik (~£55-75/day) or Straeto bus Route 51 (~£30-40). Fuel ~£40-55 for the loop.
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Kirkjubaejarklaustur / Vik area (dorm £25-40, private room £70-110)
- →Self-drive Golden Circle: Thingvellir National Park
- →Strokkur geyser at Geysir geothermal area
- →Gullfoss waterfall viewpoint
- →Walk behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach & Ice Cave
Jokulsarlon / Vatnajokull / Skaftafell
The big glacier day. Drive east early (or take a GetYourGuide/Klook glacier-and-lagoon day tour from your guesthouse area, roughly £130-180 including a certified glacier guide and all safety gear). Visit Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon to see icebergs calving off Breidamerkurjokull, then cross the road to Diamond Beach where ice chunks wash up on black sand. In winter (Sept-April) join a guided glacier hike with a natural ice cave visit on Vatnajokull; in summer (May-Aug), the equivalent is a Katla ice cave tour from Vik or a hike to Svartifoss waterfall in Skaftafell. All glacier activities must be booked with a certified operator — never attempt them unguided.
🚌Self-drive continuing east (~1.5-2 hrs each way) or pre-booked glacier day tour with hotel pickup
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Kirkjubaejarklaustur / Hof area (dorm £25-40, private room £70-110)
- →Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon boat or shore viewing
- →Diamond Beach icebergs on black sand
- →Guided glacier hike + natural ice cave (winter)
- →Katla ice cave or Svartifoss hike (summer)
South Coast Waterfalls & Return to Reykjavik
Fjadrargljufur / Reynisfjara / Skogafoss / Reykjavik
Head back west along Route 1. Stop first at Fjadrargljufur Canyon (weather permitting — the access road closes in bad conditions) and cross the moss-covered Eldhraun lava field. At Reynisfjara black-sand beach admire the basalt sea stacks and columnar cliffs — stay well back from the water, sneaker waves here are genuinely deadly. Then Skogafoss: if you have energy, climb the 527 steps to the top for panoramic views towards Eyjafjallajokull volcano. Continue to Reykjavik, drop the rental car and overnight there or head straight to Keflavik for an evening flight.
🚌Self-drive west along Route 1 back to Reykjavik (~4-4.5 hrs) or Straeto bus Route 51 southbound (~£30-40)
🛏Reykjavik hostel dorm (£30-45) or budget guesthouse (£80-120) if staying a final night
- →Fjadrargljufur Canyon viewpoint
- →Eldhraun lava field
- →Reynisfjara black-sand beach and basalt columns
- →Skogafoss waterfall and optional 527-step climb
- →Eyjafjallajokull volcano views
Self-launched vs. On The Go Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | On The Go Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£395 | £920 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £525 per person (57%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more On The Go Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£395
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 Geysers, Glaciers & Golden Circle - Self-Launched Iceland South Coast cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £395 per person for 3 days in Iceland South Coast. 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 On The Go Tours?+
Yes — On The Go Tours charges around £920 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £395 — a saving of roughly £525 (57%) per person.
How long is the Iceland South Coast trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Iceland South Coast.
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 South Coast, 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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