Iceland: The South Coast and the Highland Edge
The Ring Road in a week is a driving holiday, not a trip. We take the southern quarter instead and actually stop: behind Seljalandsfoss, into the Þórsmörk highland, out onto Sólheimajökull with crampons on, and two nights at Jökulsárlón where the icebergs go out with the tide.
- Days
- 7
- 6 nights
- Group size
- 8–12
- Hard cap
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- See the day-by-day below
- From, per person
- $3,480
- Land price, no flights
The 7 days, in order
Written by the guide who runs it. Where a day is hard, it says so.
Keflavík, and east along the coast
Day 1 of 7Straight out of the airport and east — Reykjavík can wait until the end. Guesthouse near Hvolsvöllur under Eyjafjallajökull, with the volcano that closed European airspace directly above the breakfast table.
Night: Guesthouse, HvolsvöllurMeals: DSeljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi and Skógafoss
Day 2 of 7Behind Seljalandsfoss first — you will get wet, that is the point — then the hidden one up the slot canyon next door that the coaches drive past. Afternoon on the Fimmvörðuháls trail above Skógafoss, as far as the tenth waterfall.
Night: Guesthouse, HvolsvöllurMeals: B · LÞórsmörk by highland bus
Day 3 of 7Across the unbridged rivers in a modified 4×4 bus, into the valley between three glaciers. Valahnúkur for the view in every direction, then the birch woods at Básar. This road is open about four months a year.
Night: Guesthouse, HvolsvöllurMeals: B · LReynisfjara, Dyrhólaey and the glacier tongue
Day 4 of 7The black beach and the basalt stacks, the arch at Dyrhólaey, and then crampons and an ice axe for two hours on Sólheimajökull with a glacier guide. Sleep at Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
Night: Country hotel, KirkjubæjarklausturMeals: B · DSkaftafell and Svartifoss
Day 5 of 7Into Vatnajökull National Park: the walk up to Svartifoss under its hanging basalt columns, then on to the Skaftafellsjökull overlook. East to the lagoon for two nights.
Night: Hotel, JökulsárlónMeals: B · LJökulsárlón, Diamond Beach and the boat
Day 6 of 7A zodiac in among the icebergs in the morning, Diamond Beach on the outgoing tide when the ice is stranded on black sand, and Fjallsárlón in the evening light. Aurora watch after dinner if the sky is clear and the season is right.
Night: Hotel, JökulsárlónMeals: B · DBack west, and out
Day 7 of 7The long drive back along the coast with a stop at Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, then Keflavík. Evening flights only — it is five hours of road.
Depart todayMeals: B
Iceland, month by month
Average daily high and average monthly rainfall. Our own recommendation is June to August for the light, late September for the aurora.
Average high temperature
3–14 °C across the year
| Month | Average high (°C) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 3°C |
| Feb | 3°C |
| Mar | 4°C |
| Apr | 6°C |
| May | 10°C |
| Jun | 12°C |
| Jul | 14°C |
| Aug | 13°C |
| Sep | 11°C |
| Oct | 7°C |
| Nov | 4°C |
| Dec | 3°C |
Average rainfall
44–86 mm a month
VerdictSweet spot: June–August — 12–14 °C, the lowest rainfall of the year, and light enough at midnight to keep walking. Come late September instead if you want a real chance of aurora.
What is and is not in the price
Included
- 6 nights in guesthouses and country hotels, twin share
- All transport in a 4×4 minibus, plus the Þórsmörk highland bus
- Guide throughout and a certified glacier guide at Sólheimajökull
- Crampons, harness, helmet and axe for the glacier walk
- Zodiac boat among the icebergs at Jökulsárlón
- National park fees and the Þórsmörk access
- Breakfast daily, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
Not included
- Flights to and from Keflavík (KEF)
- Travel insurance — required, and it must cover glacier travel
- Waterproofs and walking boots (hire available on day one)
- Meals not listed, and all drinks
- The Blue Lagoon, if you want it on the last afternoon — we will book it
- Tips
Jökulsárlón, Iceland
Centred on where the trip is based. OpenStreetMap, so nothing is requested from a third party that sets cookies.
Before you book Iceland
When is the best time to visit Iceland?
June to August for the light, late September for the aurora. Sweet spot: June–August — 12–14 °C, the lowest rainfall of the year, and light enough at midnight to keep walking. Come late September instead if you want a real chance of aurora. The two charts in the "best time to visit" block above plot the average daily high and the average monthly rainfall for all twelve months, so you can judge it against your own tolerance for heat and rain rather than taking our word for it.
How hard is the Iceland trip?
We rate it moderate. It runs 7 days with a group of 8–12, and the day-by-day itinerary above says exactly what each day asks of you. If a particular day looks like too much, say so when you book — sitting one out is normal and costs nothing.
What is included in the Iceland price?
6 nights in guesthouses and country hotels, twin share; All transport in a 4×4 minibus, plus the Þórsmörk highland bus; Guide throughout and a certified glacier guide at Sólheimajökull — and more; the full list is in the inclusions above. Flights are not included.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation for 14 days after booking, with the deposit refunded in full. After that: cancel more than 60 days before departure and you lose the 20% deposit only; between 60 and 30 days, 50% of the trip price; inside 30 days, the full amount. If we cancel a departure — too few travellers, or a route genuinely closed — you choose between a full refund and a transfer to any other date.