Explore Iceland: Self-Launched Ring Road South Coast
7 days · Iceland
G Adventures charges £2,950
No-markup version: ~£1,180 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on G Adventures' 7-day "Explore Iceland" National Geographic Journeys tour — same route, done independently. You'll cover the Golden Circle, the south coast waterfalls, Reynisfjara black sand beach, a guided glacier hike in Skaftafell, and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, travelling by public Strætó bus, the Flybus, and a shared south-coast tour/rented car instead of a private minivan. You stay in hostels and guesthouses rather than hotels, and book the same activities yourself through GetYourGuide, Klook, or directly with local operators. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller rates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Land at Keflavík and take the Flybus or Airport Express into town (~£20-25 one way, book online in advance). Settle into a hostel in the 101 or Laugavegur area, then walk the compact centre: Hallgrímskirkja church (free to enter the nave, small fee for the tower), the Sun Voyager sculpture, and the old harbour. Grab a cheap dinner — Bæjarins Beztu hot dogs (~£4), a bakery sandwich, or a grocery run at Bónus for self-catering breakfasts. Pre-book your Golden Circle day tour and glacier hike tonight if you haven't already.
🚌Flybus/airport shuttle from Keflavík (~£20-25)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in central Reykjavík (£30-40)
- →Hallgrímskirkja church
- →Sun Voyager and old harbour walk
- →Bónus grocery shop for breakfast supplies
Golden Circle self-launched day tour
Reykjavík / Golden Circle
Take a full-day Golden Circle coach tour booked via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£55-70, far cheaper than a private guide). Stops cover Þingvellir National Park and its tectonic rift valley, the Geysir geothermal area with Strokkur erupting every ~10 minutes, and Gullfoss waterfall. Many tours include the Friðheimar tomato farm greenhouse stop — book that variant if you want the famous tomato soup lunch (~£18), otherwise bring a packed lunch. Return to Reykjavík late afternoon; use a public geothermal pool such as Laugardalslaug (~£8) for the hot tub and sauna experience your hotel tub would have given you.
🚌Coach day tour with hotel pickup
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in central Reykjavík (£30-40)
- →Þingvellir National Park
- →Geysir and Strokkur hot springs
- →Gullfoss waterfall
- →Friðheimar geothermal tomato farm (optional, booked separately)
- →Laugardalslaug public geothermal pool
South coast waterfalls and Reynisfjara
Reykjavík to Vík
Cheapest independent option: book a south coast day tour (~£60-75) running Reykjavík-to-Vík, or take the Strætó bus route 51 to Selfoss/Vík (~£20-25) if you'd rather move under your own steam. Either way you'll see Seljalandsfoss (walk behind the curtain of water — bring a waterproof), the hidden Gljúfrabúi falls, Skógafoss, and the Skógar folk museum (~£12). Finish at Reynisfjara black sand beach and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks — watch the sneaker waves. Sleep in Vík, where hostel dorms are the best value on the south coast.
🚌South coast tour coach OR Strætó bus route 51 (~£20-25)
🛏Hostel dorm in Vík (£30-38)
- →Seljalandsfoss waterfall walk-behind
- →Gljúfrabúi hidden waterfall
- →Skógafoss waterfall and Skógar museum
- →Reynisfjara black sand beach
Glacier hike in Skaftafell
Vík to Skaftafell / Höfn
Move east along the Ring Road to Skaftafell — either a pre-booked south-coast transfer tour (most operators sell multi-day hop-on legs, ~£40-50) or the Strætó 51 bus to Höfn via Kirkjubæjarklaustur with a stop at Skaftafell. Book a guided glacier walk directly with a local operator (Glacier Guides, Arctic Adventures, or Troll Expeditions, ~£95-120 for a 3-4 hour Vatnajökull ice walk including crampons and ice axe — solo travellers can join a shared group, no private guide needed). The guides are mandatory for safety, so this one is worth the money. Overnight near Skaftafell/Höfn in a hostel or farm guesthouse.
🚌South coast transfer tour or Strætó rotue 51 to Höfn (~£40-50)
🛏Hostel or farm guesthouse near Skaftafell/Höfn (£38-45)
- →Vatnajökull glacier hike with local operator
- →Skaftafell National Park trails
Jökulsárlón lagoon and Diamond Beach
Skaftafell / Höfn to Reykjavík area
Reach Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and neighbouring Diamond Beach (Crystal Beach) by the Strætó 51 bus (~£10 each way) or as part of a south-coast day tour. Optional amphibious boat ride on the lagoon (~£30-65, May-October) — book direct with the lagoon operator. If you're interested in the local culture stop, the Þórbergssetur heritage museum at Hali (~£10) is on the route. Then start heading back west; the cheapest build is an evening bus to Vík or Selfoss for the night rather than a full return to Reykjavík in one go.
🚌Strætó bus 51 / south coast coach (~£25)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Vík or Selfoss (£30-40)
- →Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
- →Diamond Beach icebergs
- →Optional lagoon boat ride
- →Þórbergssetur heritage museum
Fjaðrárgljúfur, Hveragerði and back to Reykjavík
South coast to Reykjavík
Continue west with a stop at Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon (a short walk from the Ring Road, or included on most return south-coast tours), then Hveragerði for the geothermal area and a hike to Reykjadalur hot river if you have the legs (free, ~3 hours round trip). Optional: the Hellisheiði geothermal power plant exhibition (~£8) for the energy story the group tour covers. Arrive back in Reykjavík for a final night — cheap eats on Laugavegur or a self-catered hostel dinner, and check out the harbour bars if you want a last night out.
🚌Strætó bus or south coast return coach (~£25)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in central Reykjavík (£30-40)
- →Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon
- →Hveragerði geothermal town and Reykjadalur hike (optional)
- →Hellisheiði power plant exhibition (optional)
Reykjavík and departure
Reykjavík
Last morning for a free walking tour of the city centre (tip-based, ~£5), the Kolaportið flea market on weekends, or a soak at the Sky Lagoon or Blue Lagoon if you pre-booked it (note: both are outside town and best done before/after your trip — book well ahead, ~£45-70). Take the Flybus back to Keflavík allowing 3+ hours before your flight.
🚌Flybus to Keflavík (~£20-25)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Free walking tour of Reykjavík
- →Optional Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon soak
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,180 | £2,950 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,770 per person (60%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,180
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Explore Iceland: Self-Launched Ring Road South Coast cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,180 per person for 7 days in Iceland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,950 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,180 — a saving of roughly £1,770 (60%) per person.
How long is the Iceland trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Iceland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, budget trip through Iceland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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