Iceland feels like stepping onto another planet. One minute you’re looking at giant glaciers, the next you’re standing beside steaming geysers or staring up at a waterfall that looks like it belongs in a fantasy film. It’s wild, dramatic and completely unforgettable.
If you want to experience Iceland properly, a tour is one of the best ways to do it. Whether you fancy driving yourself through volcanic landscapes or joining a guided adventure around the country, these three Iceland tours show off the very best of this incredible destination.
Holiday Details
Travelling to Iceland from the UK is surprisingly easy, with flights from several UK airports to Keflavík International Airport taking around three hours.
The self-drive tours include return flights, car hire, hotel stays in comfortable 3-star accommodation and daily breakfasts. They’re ideal if you like the freedom to explore at your own pace while still having a well-planned route.
The guided Journey Around Iceland tour includes flights, transfers, accommodation, breakfasts, several excursions and entrance fees, along with local English-speaking guides who help bring Iceland’s landscapes and history to life.
Whichever tour you choose, you’ll experience some of Iceland’s most iconic sights including the Golden Circle, black-sand beaches, giant waterfalls, volcanic landscapes and glacier lagoons.
Tour 1 – Iceland Glaciers & Waterfalls Self Drive Tour
If you love a good road trip, this six-day self-drive tour is one of the best ways to experience Iceland. It combines the country’s biggest natural highlights with the freedom to explore at your own pace.
Your journey begins in Reykjavík, Iceland’s colourful capital, after collecting your rental car at Keflavík Airport. The drive into the city gives you your first taste of the country’s unique scenery – lava fields, rugged coastline and dramatic volcanic landscapes.
The following day brings one of Iceland’s most famous routes – the Golden Circle. This easy loop includes Thingvellir National Park, where two tectonic plates slowly drift apart, the bubbling Geysir geothermal area, and the powerful Gullfoss waterfall crashing into a deep canyon.
The adventure continues along Iceland’s famous south coast, where waterfalls and black-sand beaches appear around almost every corner. Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss are two of the country’s most famous cascades, while the village of Vík offers dramatic views over Reynisfjara’s volcanic beach and towering sea stacks.
Further east, the scenery becomes even more impressive as glaciers begin to dominate the landscape. Vatnajökull – Europe’s largest glacier – stretches across the horizon, while the glacier lagoon at Jökulsárlón delivers one of Iceland’s most magical sights, with floating icebergs drifting silently through icy water. Just across the road, Diamond Beach sparkles with chunks of ice scattered across black sand.
Before returning to Reykjavík, there’s time to relax in the famous Blue Lagoon, soaking in warm mineral-rich waters surrounded by lava fields – the perfect way to finish an unforgettable road trip.
Tour 2 – Journey Around Iceland
If you’d prefer someone else to handle the driving, the Journey Around Iceland tour offers a fully guided adventure around the country’s most spectacular landscapes.
After arriving in Reykjavík, the tour quickly dives into Iceland’s dramatic scenery with a trip to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Often called “Iceland in Miniature”, this region packs volcanic craters, dramatic cliffs, black beaches and waterfalls into one incredible landscape. You’ll even stop at the iconic Kirkjufell mountain, one of the most photographed places in the country.
The journey continues north through fjord-filled countryside to the charming town of Akureyri. Along the way you’ll pass rural villages, fishing harbours and sweeping coastal views.
One of the highlights of the tour is exploring the Lake Mývatn region. This area feels otherworldly, with steaming geothermal fields, lava formations and volcanic landscapes that look like they belong on another planet. The mighty Goðafoss waterfall also makes an appearance here.
From there the tour travels along Iceland’s wild eastern fjords before heading south toward the country’s famous glacier region. At Jökulsárlón you’ll take a boat trip among drifting icebergs, offering an unforgettable close-up view of the glacier lagoon.
The final part of the journey follows the south coast, where you’ll visit black-sand beaches, towering waterfalls and vast lava plains before finishing the trip back in Reykjavík after completing the famous Golden Circle route.
Practical Tips
Weather changes fast in Iceland, so pack layers and waterproof clothing.
Bring sturdy walking shoes for waterfalls, trails and rocky landscapes.
Keep your camera ready – incredible scenery appears around every corner.
Try Icelandic hot dogs from a local stand – they’re surprisingly famous.
Book Blue Lagoon entry in advance, especially during busy months.
Download offline maps if you’re driving through remote areas.
Respect safety signs near beaches and waterfalls – Iceland’s nature is powerful.
Look up at night in winter – the Northern Lights might appear unexpectedly.
For activities, Viator and GetYourGuide are great for finding experiences you can book in advance.
Iceland is the kind of destination that leaves you speechless. Towering waterfalls, enormous glaciers, volcanic landscapes and steaming geothermal pools all combine to create one of the most unique places on Earth. Whether you choose a self-drive adventure or a fully guided tour, exploring Iceland is guaranteed to be an experience you’ll never forget.
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