West Iceland Itinerary Self Drive Tour

West Iceland Self Driving Tour Itinerary

This is our suggested West Iceland itinerary for a self-drive West Iceland trip. The itinerary can be changed and customized to suit your needs.

Day 1: Reykjavik to the Golden Circle. Leave Reykjavik to go and explore the Golden Circle attractions. Visit the magnificent Gullfoss waterfall, one of the largest in Iceland, as well as Geysir where Iceland’s most active geyser is located (it erupts every 5-10 minutes!). The third attraction on the Golden Circle is Thingvellir National Park, where Iceland’s parliament (and the world’s first) was founded over 1,000 years ago. This is also where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are drifting apart, an incredible phenomenon that you can only witness in Iceland! You can also go snorkeling, whitewater rafting, or snowmobiling on a glacier. (Approx. 2-3 hours driving)

Day 2: Drive to Snæfellsnes. Leave the Golden Circle and head northwest to explore the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. This is one of the most stunning regions of Iceland. You can hike along the coast, hike to waterfalls, and visit small fishing towns with some of the freshest seafood in Iceland. The gorgeous Snæfellsjokull volcano and glacier dominate the peninsula, creating a dramatic backdrop everywhere you go. This is the same volcano that Jules Verne wrote about in Journey to the Center of the Earth! (Approx. 3 hours driving)

Day 3: Snæfellsnes to the Westfjords.In the morning you can explore more of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, including a visit to a lava tube, an incredible ravine, and a hike up an extinct volcano! You then drive north to the Westfjords- the least touristy region of Iceland. You can soak in a variety of hot springs, go fishing, kayak in the fjords and with seals, or go horseback riding. You will stay at a country hotel with it’s own hot spring and geothermal swimming pool, and visitors often see arctic foxes! (Approx. 3-4 hours driving)

Day 4: Westfjords to Reykjavik. After visiting more of the attractions in the Westfjords or going on a morning hike, you can return to Reykjavik. Stop at a farm to try some delicious farm fresh cheese or ice cream, or if you leave early enough you can make a stop to hike to a hot spring river! (Approx. 4 hours driving)

Optional 5th Day: If you would like to extend your trip, you can make this into a 4 night, 5 day trip. You can either spend an additional night in Westfjords or at the Snaefellsnes Peninsula (recommended if you prefer more hiking and a more relaxed area) or an additional night at the Golden Circle (recommended if you would like to partake in whitewater rafting, snorkeling/diving, snowmobiling, or a glacier hike).

This is our suggested itinerary; your trip can be customized based on your preferences.