Hiking Southern Iceland — Self-Launched
6 days · Iceland (South Coast & Highlands)
G Adventures charges £2,130
No-markup version: ~£880 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, hostel-and-guesthouse version of G Adventures' 6-day Hiking Southern Iceland loop: the waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, a guided glacier walk on Skaftafell, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach, the Múlagljúfur and Fjaðrárgljúfur canyons, and the volcanic highlands around Laki and Landmannalaugar. Instead of a private minibus you use the public Strætó bus network plus a couple of bookable day tours (the only practical way to reach the highlands without a car), and instead of hotels you stay in hostels and farm guesthouses in Reykjavík and Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Book your own hikes freely — Iceland's trails are open, well marked and free to walk. Costs are approximate and assume summer (June–August) travel, when buses and highland access actually run; shoulder-season prices for the glacier walk and highland tours are similar but bus frequency drops.
Day-by-day
Reykjavík → Kirkjubæjarklaustur: Seljalandsfoss & Skógafoss
Reykjavík / South Coast / Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Start early and head to Mjódd bus terminal for the Strætó route 51 bus south along the Ring Road (about 4 hours to Vík, longer to Kirkjubæjarklaustur). Better still, book a one-way South Coast bus ticket (e.g. Reykjavík Excursions or Sterna 'South Coast' service) that stops at Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss — around £45–55 one way, far cheaper than a private tour. Walk behind Seljalandsfoss (bring a waterproof), then hike the steps above Skógafoss and continue the trail up the Skógar river for 2–3 km of waterfall after waterfall. Continue east by bus to Kirkjubæjarklaustur, check into a guesthouse or the local hostel/hostelling annex, and cook dinner in the shared kitchen — the village has a small supermarket (Kjörbúðin).
🚌Strætó route 51 or a bookable South Coast one-way bus ticket from Reykjavík (~£45–55, 4–5 hrs with stops)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Kirkjubæjarklaustur (dorm ~£35–45/night, private room ~£70–90)
- →Seljalandsfoss waterfall walk-behind
- →Skógafoss and the Skógar waterfall trail
- →Optional Kvernufoss detour near Skógar
Skaftafell: Svartifoss hike & glacier walk on Vatnajökull
Skaftafell / Vatnajökull National Park
Take the morning bus east to Skaftafell (Strætó 51 continues toward Höfn; ~45–60 mins). Hike the free marked trail to Svartifoss, the black basalt-column waterfall, via Sjónarnípa viewpoint — about 5–6 km, 2 hours, no guide needed. In the afternoon join a bookable guided glacier walk on a Vatnajökull outlet glacier (Skaftafell/Virkisvatn area) — these must be booked in advance through GetYourGuide, Icelandic Mountain Guides or Glacier Guides; crampons and guide are included, ~£95–120 for a 3-hour walk. Buses back toward Kirkjubæjarklaustur run in the late afternoon; check timetables at the Skaftafell visitor centre and don't miss the last one.
🚌Strætó route 51 return Kirkjubæjarklaustur–Skaftafell (~£15–20 total for the day)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Kirkjubæjarklaustur
- →Svartifoss & Sjónarnípa self-guided hike
- →Guided glacier walk on Vatnajökull (book via GetYourGuide or Glacier Guides)
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Diamond Beach & Múlagljúfur canyon
Jökulsárlón / Múlagljúfur / Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Ride the early bus further east to Jökulsárlón (~1 hr from Skaftafell) and walk the lagoon shore — icebergs, seals and, across the road, the ice chunks washed up on Diamond Beach. If you want to get on the water, an amphibian Zodiac boat tour is bookable on the spot or online (~£60–75); simply watching is free and spectacular. On the way back, get off at the Múlagljúfur trailhead near Hvoll and walk the 5 km out-and-back canyon hike to the Hangandifoss viewpoint — about 2–2.5 hours, moderate, free and mostly solitary. Catch a later bus back to Kirkjubæjarklaustur; stock up on groceries in the village.
🚌Strætó route 51 east to Jökulsárlón and back with a Múlagljúfur stop (~£18–25)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Kirkjubæjarklaustur
- →Jökulsárlón lagoon shore walk
- →Diamond Beach
- →Optional Zodiac/amphibian boat tour
- →Múlagljúfur canyon hike
Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon & Mt. Laki / Lakagígar hike
Fjaðrárgljúfur / Lakagígar / Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Morning: hike the rim of Fjaðrárgljúfur, the twisting moss-green canyon 10 km west of the village — reachable by a short taxi or hitch, or as a stop on some South Coast bus services; the loop trail takes about 1.5 hours and is free. Afternoon: the Laki craters are deep in the highlands on F-roads with no public transport, so book a guided Lakagígar/Laki super-jeep day tour from Kirkjubæjarklaustur (local operators run these; ~£150–190) which includes the bumpy river crossings and the climb up Mt. Laki / Tjarnargígur. If you'd rather keep costs down, swap Laki for free local walks to Systrafoss, Systrastapi and Kirkjugólf around the village and save the highland day for Day 5.
🚌Local taxi/short transfers (~£15) plus a bookable super-jeep tour for the highlands
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Kirkjubæjarklaustur
- →Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon rim hike
- →Guided Lakagígar / Mt. Laki super-jeep tour
- →Alternative: Systrafoss, Systrastapi & Kirkjugólf village walks
Highlands: Eldgjá, Ófærufoss & Landmannalaugar — return to Reykjavík
Eldgjá / Landmannalaugar / Reykjavík
Book a one-way Highlands day tour (or a combined highland transfer) that runs the F208 from Kirkjubæjarklaustur via Eldgjá chasm and Ófærufoss waterfall, then on to Landmannalaugar, ending in Reykjavík — operators like Reykjavík Excursions, Trex and Icelandic Mountain Guides sell these; ~£110–150 including the highland crossing. At Landmannalaugar walk the Brennisteinsalda loop (about 6 km, 2.5–3 hours, steep in places, spectacular rhyolite colours) and, if time allows, a dip in the natural hot river. Arrive Reykjavík in the evening; check into a downtown hostel and head out for a cheap meal (Bæjarins Beztu hot dog, or a hostel kitchen dinner).
🚌Bookable highland tour/transfer Kirkjubæjarklaustur → Eldgjá → Landmannalaugar → Reykjavík (~£110–150)
🛏Hostel in central Reykjavík (dorm ~£40–55/night)
- →Eldgjá chasm & Ófærufoss waterfall
- →Landmannalaugar Brennisteinsalda hike
- →Hot river soak at Landmannalaugar
Reykjavík: city wander & departure
Reykjavík / Keflavík
Slow morning in Reykjavík: walk the harbour and old town, see Hallgrímskirkja and the Sun Voyager, grab a bakery breakfast (Brauð & Co) and a geothermal-swim at a city pool like Vesturbæjarlaug (~£6) if you have time. Take the Flybus or Strætó 55 to Keflavík Airport (~£22–28, 45–50 mins) for your flight home. No group transfer is included here, just as with the original tour.
🚌Flybus or Strætó 55 Reykjavík–Keflavík Airport (~£22–28)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Old town & harbour walk
- →Hallgrímskirkja
- →Optional city geothermal pool
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£880 | £2,130 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,250 per person (59%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£880
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 Hiking Southern Iceland — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £880 per person for 6 days in Iceland (South Coast & Highlands). 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 £2,130 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £880 — a saving of roughly £1,250 (59%) per person.
How long is the Iceland (South Coast & Highlands) trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Iceland (South Coast & Highlands).
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, wildlife trip through Iceland (South Coast & Highlands), 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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