Self-Drive Tours Iceland
Get behind the wheel and explore Iceland from the freedom of the open road with our self-drive vacations. Esja Travel has a wide selection of year-round itineraries hand-picked by our expert travel advisors. Our conveniently pre-booked services allow you to make your own schedule and discover Iceland's extraordinary vistas, charming fishing villages, and hidden natural wonders at your own pace.
Spring offer special!
We are happy to be able to offer a special pre-season offer for one of our most popular self-drive itineraries. Experience Iceland in May when spring arrives and days are getting longer. Migration birds arrive to breed and new born lambs enjoy their first days on the pasture.
Of course, this tour also features the best known attractions on your jounrey from the West through the Golden Circle area followed by a few days on the South Coast. Get familiar with Iceland’s history at the Settlement Center in Borgarnes village, visit waterfalls and hot spring areas, National Parks and fishing villages.
Highlights & recommended activities
- Deildartunguhver hot spring, Hraunfossar waterfalls, The Snæfellsnes peninsula, The Golden Circle with Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall and Geysir, Reynisfjara Black Beach, Seljalandfoss and Skogafoss waterfall, Sólheimajökull Glacier, Reykjanes peninsula and Reykjavík.
- The Settlement Center, Shark Museum, Skógar folk museum, Horse Riding, The Secret Lagoon, Glacier hike, Snowmobiling, Lava tube caving and Whale Watching.
- Puffins arrive in Iceland in the springtime and early May they have all arrived back "home" from their winter location.
Around Iceland in 11 days
If you are visiting Iceland for the first time and want to experience a good mixture of Iceland‘s top tourist attractions and other interesting spots this is the program for you. A classic self-drive around Iceland placing you next to various forms of natural wonders, such as waterfalls, volcanoes, lava fields, glaciers and hot spring areas, still having time to participate in exciting activities.
Highlights & recommended activities
- National parks Þingvellir and Vatnajökulsþjóðgarður with Skaftafell. Geysers. Waterfalls Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Dettifoss, Hraunfossar, Barnafoss and Goðafoss. The Glacial Lagoon Jökulsárlón and Borgarfjörður district with Deildartunguhver hot spring.
- Riding, Whale watching, River-Rafting, Glacier Hike, Snowmobiling, Glacier Lagoon boat tour, Kayak tour, Papey boat tour, Secret Lagoon, Fontana Spa, Mývatn Nature Bath, Lava Cave Viðgelmir.
- Blue Whales are sometimes sighted early in the summer in the Whale Watching tour from Húsavík.
West and South Express
A sharp voyage from the West Side of Iceland through the Golden Circle area followed by a few days on the South Coast. Get familiar with Iceland’s history at the Settlement Center in Borgarnes village, visit waterfalls and hot spring areas, three National Parks and fishing villages.
Highlights & recommended activities
- Deildartunguhver hot spring, Hraunfossar waterfalls, The Snæfellsnes peninsula, The Golden Circle with Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall and Geysir, Reynisfjara Black Beach, Seljalandfoss and Skogafoss waterfall, Sólheimajökull Glacier, Reykjanes peninsula and Reykjavík.
- The Settlement Center, Shark Museum, Skógar folk museum, Horse Riding, The Secret Lagoon, Glacier hike, Snowmobiling, Lava tube caving and Whale Watching.
- The Northern Lights season is from September to April.
South Coast Adventure
Your perfect trip exploring the best of what Iceland’s South Coast offers with nature in the foreground. Witness the eruption of Strokkur hot spring and walk behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall. Feel like you have just stepped into a fairy tale while walking around small valley Gjain and see the floating Ice bergs on Jokulsarlon Glacier lagoon. An unforgettable adventure awaits you.
Highlights & recommended activities
- The Golden Circle, Gjain gorge, Reynisfjara Black Beach, Skaftafell National Park, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Reykjavik.
- Horse Riding, The Secret Lagoon, Glacier Lagoon Boat Tour and Whale Watching.
- The Northern Lights season is from September to April.
Around Iceland in 15 days
This tour is a great option to get a good look at Iceland’s many natural attractions along the ring road at a relaxed pace. In addition to driving the ring road you visit Snaefellsnes Peninsula, often referred to as Iceland in a nutshell. Waterfalls, volcanoes, lava fields, glaciers and hot spring areas, this program has it all.
Highlights & recommended activities
- The Golden Circle, Reynisfjara Black Beach, Skaftafell National Park and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Dettifoss - Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Lake Myvatn, Snaefellsnes Peninsula and Reykjavik.
- Horse Riding, Glacier Walk, Papey Boat Tour, Whale Watching, Seal Watching, River Rafting and Shark Museum.
- In 2010 Eyjafjallajökull Volcano erupted and it's ashes closed down air traffic across the Atlantic ocean. At Þorvaldseyri along the main road nr. 1 you will find an exhibition about this event.
Grand Tour of Iceland in 15 days
An extensive tour around Iceland including the remote West fjords and the picturesque Snaefellsnes Peninsula. This program combines the most popular sites along the ring road, such as waterfalls, volcanoes, hot springs and glaciers, with the tranquillity and beauty of the West fjords. The program is ideal for those who do not want to miss out on well-known attractions and get off the beaten track at the same time.
Highlights & recommended activities
- The Golden Circle, Reynisfjara Black Beach, Skaftafell National Park and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Dettifoss - Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Lake Myvatn, The West fjords and Dynjandi Waterfall, Latrabjarg Bird Cliff, Snaefellsnes peninsula and Reykjavik.
- Horse Riding, Laugarvatn Fontana, Glacier Walk, Glacier Lagoon Boat Tour, Papey Boat Tour, Whale Watching, Myvatn Nature Baths, Seal Watching, River Rafting and a Shark Museum.
- Program includes three National Parks.
The Circle Express
This program is based on driving the ring road in just eight days visiting Iceland’s most popular locations. Get to know several waterfalls and walk behind one of them. See some volcanoes and drive through mossy lava fields. Drive by glaciers and take a walk on the ice side if you feel like it. Witness the eruption of Strokkur hot spring and relax in a natural warm lagoon. Place yourself within dramatic fjord landscapes and feel the energy of Europe’s most powerful waterfall. This story continues so what are you waiting for?
Highlights & recommended activities
- The Golden Circle, Reynisfjara Black Beach, Skaftafell National Park and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Dettifoss - Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Lake Myvatn and Reykjavik.
- Glacier Walk, The Secret Lagoon, Whale Watching and River Rafting.
- Blue Whales are sometimes sighted early in the summer in the Whale Watching tour from Húsavík.
Highland Safari
On this 4WD self-drive tour you will discover colourful mountains and desert like landscapes while driving between two glaciers in the Icelandic highlands. Take a moment to listen to the silence on Sprengisandur highland route before reaching Aldeyjarfoss, one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls. See the Askja Caldera, accessible from the north and the 25 km row of Laki craters, accessible from the south. In addition to the highland attractions you will visit the famous Golden Circle, Lake Myvatn and Skaftafell National Park.
Highlights & recommended activities
- The Golden Circle, Landmannalaugar, Sprengisandur Highland Route, Lake Myvatn and Dettifoss - Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Askja Caldera, Laki Craters, Skaftafell National Park and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Reynisfjara Black Beach and Reykjavik.
- Myvatn Nature Baths, Whale Watching, Glacier Walk, Papey Boat Tour.
- The Laki Craters were created in a volcanic eruption that took place in 1783. It left an area of 565 km² covered in lava fields.
Grand Tour of Iceland in 22 days
An extensive tour around Iceland including the remote West fjords and the picturesque Snaefellsnes Peninsula at a relaxed pace, allowing plenty of time to experience all the marvels of Iceland. This program combines the most popular sites along the ring road, such as waterfalls, volcanoes, hot springs and glaciers, with the tranquillity and beauty of the West fjords. The program is ideal for those who do not want to miss out on well-known attractions and get off the beaten track at the same time.
Highlights & recommended activities
- The Golden Circle, Reynisfjara Black Beach, Skaftafell National Park and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Dettifoss - Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Lake Myvatn, The West fjords and Dynjandi Waterfall, Latrabjarg Bird Cliff, Snaefellsnes peninsula and Reykjavik.
- Horse Riding, Laugarvatn Fontana, Glacier Walk, Glacier Lagoon Boat Tour, Papey Boat Tour, Whale Watching, Myvatn Nature Baths, Seal Watching, River Rafting and a Shark Museum.
- Program includes three National Parks.
Family Cottage Adventure
The ideal choice for families travelling with children. You will experience spectacular nature in two of Iceland‘s popular areas, the North and the South. With 3 nights in cozy cottages in each place instead of driving between accomodations each day, your family‘s holiday happens at your own pace.
Highlights & recommended activities
- The Golden Circle, Reynisfjara Black Beach, Skaftafell National Park and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Dettifoss - Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Lake Myvatn, Reykjavik.
- Horse Riding, The Secret Lagoon, Slakki Petting Zoo, Glacier Lagoon Boat Tour and Whale Watching.
- The Northern Lights season is from September to April.
