Three Days in Iceland: Self-Launched Reykjavik & Snæfellsnes Peninsula
3 days · Iceland
G Adventures charges £590
No-markup version: ~£430 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A do-it-yourself version of G Adventures' 3-day Reykjavik and Snæfellsnes loop — same highlights, no group markup. Walk Reykjavik's colourful downtown with a free city walking tour, soak in the Sky Lagoon (booked direct, cheaper than the group add-on), and take a budget coach tour or public bus out to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula for lava tubes, fishing villages and Mount Kirkjufell. Stay in a central hostel or guesthouse, use the Flybus from Keflavík, and add the Silfra snorkel independently only if you want it. Costs are rough estimates based on hostel dorms, supermarket meals and public/coach transport at current budget-traveller rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive Reykjavik — city walk & Sky Lagoon soak
Reykjavik
Land at Keflavík (KEF) and take the Flybus or Airport Express coach into the city (~£25 one way, roughly 45 mins to BSÍ terminal, then a short walk or city bus to your hostel). If you want the Silfra experience, book it yourself in advance with a local operator — snorkelling between tectonic plates in Thingvellir National Park runs about £170-225 including pickup, wetsuit/drysuit and hot drinks, and pickups leave early morning so you'd need a pre-noon arrival. Otherwise, spend the afternoon on a free walking tour of downtown Reykjavik (tip-based, ~2 hours, covers Hallgrímskirkja, the Sun Voyager and the old harbour). In the late afternoon head to Sky Lagoon — book a direct 'Saman' pass online (roughly £55-70 depending on date and time) for the geothermal infinity-edge pool, cold plunge and seven-step ritual. Eat cheaply from Bónus supermarket or a hot-dog stand at Bæjarins Beztu (~£4).
🚌Flybus/Airport Express from Keflavík to Reykjavik BSÍ, then walking and city bus (Strætó) around town
🛏Central Reykjavik hostel dorm (e.g. Kex Hostel, Loft HI Hostel or Bus Hostel) — £35-50 per night
- →Free walking tour of Reykjavik
- →Sky Lagoon geothermal soak (direct booking)
- →Optional: Silfra Fissure snorkelling in Thingvellir (pre-book direct with a local operator)
Snæfellsnes Peninsula full-day loop
Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Do the peninsula the cheap way: book a small-group day tour with a budget local operator (e.g. Sterna, Reykjavik Excursions or Arctic Adventures, roughly £85-110 for a 12-hour Snæfellsnes tour booked direct or via GetYourGuide) — same stops as the group version but you're not paying for a multi-day trip. Expect Djúpalónssandur black-sand beach, the Lóndrangar basalt cliffs, the 8,000-year-old Vatnshellir lava tube (cave entry extra, ~£22 — book the guided cave tour on arrival), Arnarstapi's coastal arches, the shark-farming village of Bjarnarhöfn, and the classic photo stop at Mount Kirkjufell with Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall. Pack your own lunch from the supermarket the night before; tour stops for food are pricey. Alternatively, if you're comfortable driving, hire the cheapest small car (~£55-75/day plus fuel) and self-drive Route 54-56 — this only beats the coach tour with two or more people.
🚌Small-group coach tour from Reykjavik (included in tour price) or self-drive hire car via Route 54/56
🛏Central Reykjavik hostel dorm — £35-50 per night
- →Full-day Snæfellsnes coach tour
- →Djúpalónssandur beach and Lóndrangar cliffs
- →Vatnshellir lava tube guided visit
- →Arnarstapi and Hellnar coastal walk
- →Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss
Reykjavik free morning and departure
Reykjavik
Use the morning for what the group tour skips: the National Museum of Iceland (~£15) or the Saga Museum, a swim at the local Laugardalslaug geothermal pool (~£8, far cheaper than the tourist lagoons), or brunch at a bakery on Laugavegur. If you haven't done the Blue Lagoon, it's easiest to slot in on the way to the airport — book direct online in advance (~£55-90) and use the operator's bus connection. Then take the Flybus back to Keflavík, leaving at least 2.5 hours before your flight.
🚌Walking, city bus, Flybus/Airport Express to Keflavík (~£25)
🛏Checkout from hostel (no overnight)
- →National Museum of Iceland
- →Laugardalslaug public geothermal pool
- →Optional: Blue Lagoon on the way to the airport
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£430 | £590 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £160 per person (27%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£430
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 Three Days in Iceland: Self-Launched Reykjavik & Snæfellsnes Peninsula cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £430 per person for 3 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 £590 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £430 — a saving of roughly £160 (27%) per person.
How long is the Iceland trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 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, budget, backpacker 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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