Family Explorer the Icelandic Way | Self Drive Itinerary

iceland south west children on basalt cliff reynisdrangar istk

Family Explorer the Icelandic Way

from £1347 excluding flights

7 nights
Year round

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Highlights

iceland snaefellsnes londrangar volcanic plugs rth

Explore Snaefellsnes Peninsula’s stunning coast and volcanoes

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See the natural treasures of Iceland’s iconic Golden Circle route

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See the black-sand beaches and waterfalls on the South Coast

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Try exciting optional excursions, from horse riding to snowmobiling

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Take a dip in the naturally-heated waters of the Blue Lagoon

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Enjoy Reykjavik with quirky museums or head our whale watching

Why this trip...

Tailor made

This itinerary can be tailor made to suit you and is intended to give you a guideline of what is possible in a given timeframe

Explore at leisure

With the route, transport and accommodation sorted, each day offers the freedom to explore

norway north cape globe midnight sun istk

Nordic Heritage

With 40 years of experience in creating trips to Nordics we know this region inside out

Overview

Anyone for whale watching, horse riding, snowmobiling or a superjeep safari…? Iceland is Europe’s ultimate adventure playground. It not only blows children away, but they also get a geography lesson the fun way. This two-centre self-drive is ideal for a family or group of friends. Self-catering in cosy cottages, it’s how Icelanders like to go on holiday themselves.

Two beautiful locations

With the freedom of self-drive and the flexibility of self-catering, this seven-night holiday is great value for families. About 75km north of Reykjavik, your first base is Glacier Lodge, a modern self catering cottage offering magnificent views of Snaefellsjokull to the north and a panorama across Faxafloi bay to the south. About the same distance southeast of Reykjavik, base number two brings the terrific trio of the Golden Circle within reach – as well as the black-sand beaches, waterfalls and glaciers of the South Coast.

What shall we do today?

That’s not a particularly vexing question on this holiday! Optional excursions include horse riding along the empty beaches of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, a superjeep safari to the legendary Thorsmork valley, ice cave exploration on Langjokull and whale watching in Faxafloi Bay.

Itinerary & Accommodation

Fly to Keflavik, collect your rental vehicle and drive to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula for a 4 night stay. We suggest you stop in the town of Borgarnes to pick up a few supplies before arriving at your accommodation for four nights.

Glacier Lodge, Snaefellsnes

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Located in a spectacular rural location near to Hellnar, Glacier Lodge offers magnificent views of Snaefellsjokull to the north and a panorama across Faxafloi bay to the south.

Spend your time at leisure exploring the beautiful Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Perhaps hike to the nearby fishing village of Arnastapi with its striking rock formations, join a snowmobile tour on the glacier, go horse riding or take a bird watching tour from Stykkisholmur.

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iceland snaefellsnes whale watching boat grundarfjordur cs

Drive to the south of Iceland perhaps via the iconic Golden Circle route visiting Thingvellir, Gullfoss and Geysir. Arrive at your accommodation near the south coast for the next three nights.

See the sights of the south at your own pace taking in the south shore with its dramatic rock formations and black sand beaches as well as the two of Iceland’s most impressive waterfalls, Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss. Perhaps head west to the volcanic Reykjanes Peninsula, home to Iceland’s most famous attraction, the Blue Lagoon.

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Make the one hour journey west to Iceland’s capital city Reykjavik for a day visit. Here there are plenty of optional excursions to choose from, including whale watching, or simply take some time to walk the streets and soak up the atmosphere of this lively city.

Drive to Keflavik, drop off your rental vehicle and fly back to your destination.

Excursions

Iceland

Eyjafjallajokull by Superjeep

from £225

4 hours | Year round

This unique superjeep tour takes you up onto Eyjafjallajokull, the glacier atop the volcano that infamously erupted in 2010.

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Iceland

Ice Adventure on Vatnajokull Glacier

from £162

3.5 hours | Year round

Explore the glacier in a superjeep.

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Iceland

Thorsmork and Eyjafjallajokull volcano by Superjeep

£300

7 hours | Jun-Sep

A fascinating day trip by Superjeep, this excursion departs from Reykjavik and heads to the magnificent southern coast of Iceland.

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Iceland

Katla Ice Cave Tour

from £175

3 hours | Year round

Explore the inside of a remote natural ice cave with its beautiful colours and formations in the company of an experienced guide.

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Iceland

Snowmobiling on Myrdalsjokull Glacier

from £222

2.5 hours | Year round

This exhilirating snowmobiling adventure takes you to the top of the spectacular Mýrdalsjökull glacier, offering, weather permitting, breathtaking views over South Iceland,…

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Iceland

Snowmobiling on Langjokull

from £182

3 hours | Year round

An exhilarating snowmobile trip on Iceland's second largest glacier, this journey heads to the sparkling expanse of Langjokull, which stretches to a…

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Iceland

Lava Centre

from £31

Various hours | Year round

The new Lava Centre offers visitors a full multimedia experience; immersing guests into Iceland’s volcanic and seismic life.

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Iceland

The Lava Tunnel

from £53

Year round

Explore the magnificent lava tunnel Raufarhólshellir, one of the longest and best-known lava tubes in Iceland

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Iceland

Blue Ice Experience

from £125

3 hours | Mar-Aug

Walk on Svinafellsjokull Glacier Tongue in Skaftafell National Reserve part of Vatnajokull National Park.

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Iceland

Boat Trip on the Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon

from £42

35 mins | May-Aug

Boat Trip on the Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon

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Iceland

Secret Lagoon

from £23

Variable hours | Year round

The 'Secret Lagoon' was built in 1891 and is the oldest swimming pool in Iceland. This outdoor geothermal bathing spot remains at…

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Iceland

Into the Glacier – Ice Cave in Langjokull

from £156

5 hours | Year round

The Langjokull ice cave is a unique and magical glacier experience and is one of Iceland's most innovative attractions located in the…

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Iceland

Cave Explorer

from £50

1.5 hours | Year round

Enjoy an exciting guided walk into the mighty Vidgelmir lava cave a short distance from Husafell near to Borgarfjordur.

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Iceland

Whale Watching from Olafsvik

from £88

3 hours | Feb-Sep

Take a cruise from the coastal village of Olafsvik along the north shore of Snaefellsnes Peninsula on this whale watching excursion. There…

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Iceland

Thorsmork Valley by Superjeep

from £225

5 hours | Year round

A fascinating trip by Superjeep to Thorsmork, a unique area between the three glaciers; Myrdalsjokull, Eyjafjallajokull and Tindfjallajokull.

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Prices and Departures

Price from £1347 excluding flights

Airfares vary widely and are quoted separately to the holiday price, starting from around £250pp return with Icelandair and British Airways, though may be lower with Play or EasyJet. We'll provide the best fare available at the time of enquiry, which tend to be cheaper the earlier you book.

UK Airports with flights direct to Iceland are Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. We can also arrange flights from non-UK destinations. Discover more »

Iceland Volcano Disruption Protection
We are proud of our excellent reputation for looking after our clients, without question. Should the unexpected occur our team of dedicated Travel Specialists are on call 24/7 to make any necessary alternative plans at no cost to you.

What's Included

Accommodation in self catering properties
Car rental throughout with unlimited mileage
No charge for additional driver
24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
No surcharge guarantee
Full financial protection

This itinerary starts from around £1,347 per person, up to 2 children aged 11 years or under travel free of charge. Price includes cottage accommodation and car hire. Prices for other combinations of passengers and rooms available on request.

Prices may vary depending on departure date and booking date, as well as any changes to the included components. The final cost of a tailored holiday will be based on the level of accommodation, size of vehicle, included activities, travel season, and how far in advance it is booked. We will confirm the exact price for your holiday in your individual quotation, based on your chosen travel dates and inclusions.

* Choice of Vehicles

We would always recommend a 4WD for winter travel, but many clients also prefer the greater security and comfort that a larger vehicle provides year round – upgrade your vehicle from as little as £10 per person per day.

We can offer a wide range of rental vehicles for this holiday – our team will be happy to talk you through the options and provide a quote for the most suitable category based on your individual requirements.
Our long-standing relationship with the local Europcar franchise means that our clients enjoy many exclusive benefits, including priority on the newest and best appointed vehicles available.