Iceland Self-Launched: Northern Lights, South Coast & Snæfellsnes
7 days · Iceland
G Adventures charges £1,780
No-markup version: ~£1,245 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 7-day self-launched version of G Adventures' Iceland Adventure (ELWS), covering Reykjavík, the Golden Circle, the South Coast waterfalls, a night near Álftröð for aurora hunting, and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. You do it yourself using a budget car share or the public bus network (Strætó + long-distance buses), hostel/guesthouse dorms and private budget rooms, and self-booked activities via GetYourGuide or directly with local providers. Iceland is expensive, so costs here are realistic budget-traveller estimates in GBP and exclude international flights — book tours early in winter as departures fill up and weather can cancel outings.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Land at Keflavík (KEF) and take the Flybus or Strætó bus 55 into Reykjavík (about £20-25 one way, Flybus ~£22). Check into a hostel dorm in the 101 or Laugavegur area — Hostel B47, Kex Hostel or Bus Hostel are good value. In the afternoon wander the old harbour, Hallgrímskirkja church (free to enter the tower for a small fee) and the Harpa Concert Hall, which is free to visit. Buy groceries at Bónus or Krónan for the week's breakfasts and snacks — eating out in Iceland is the biggest budget killer.
🚌Flybus/Strætó from KEF airport to Reykjavík city, ~£22
🛏Hostel dorm in central Reykjavík (Kex, B47 or Bus Hostel), £35-45 pp
- →Hallgrímskirkja church & tower
- →Harpa Concert Hall (free entry)
- →Reykjavík old harbour walk
Golden Circle self-drive or bus tour
Þingvellir / Geysir / Gullfoss
Do the Golden Circle independently. Cheapest option is a shared rental car (split 3-4 ways, ~£65-90/day total plus fuel) or a self-booked Golden Circle day tour via GetYourGuide (~£60-75). Hit Þingvellir National Park (free, park in P1), the Geysir hot spring area (free, Strokkur erupts every few minutes) and Gullfoss waterfall (free). Optional extras: Silfra fissure snorkelling between tectonic plates (~£110-130, book direct with Dive.is or via GetYourGuide — must be able to swim). Return to Reykjavík for the night and check the aurora forecast at vedur.is before bed.
🚌Shared rental car (~£25 pp if split 3 ways) or Golden Circle coach tour ~£65
🛏Hostel dorm in central Reykjavík, £35-45 pp
- →Þingvellir National Park
- →Geysir & Strokkur
- →Gullfoss waterfall
- →Optional: Silfra snorkelling ~£120
South Coast waterfalls & black sand beach to Álftröð
Seljalandsfoss → Skógar → Álftröð
Drive or take the Strætó/seasonal south-coast bus down Route 1. Stop at Seljalandsfoss (walk behind the waterfall — bring waterproofs) and Skógafoss, then visit the Skógar Museum (~£12) for turf houses and Viking history. Optional: a guided glacier hike on Sólheimajökull (~£85-100, book direct with Arctic Adventures or Troll Expeditions). Continue east to the Álftröð/Hvolsvöllur area and check into a rural guesthouse or farmstay for two nights — this is aurora country with dark skies. Self-cater dinner or cook in the guesthouse kitchen.
🚌Shared rental car (~£25 pp) or south-coast bus ~£20-30
🛏Rural guesthouse or farmstay near Álftröð/Hvolsvöllur, £45-60 pp
- →Seljalandsfoss waterfall
- →Skógafoss waterfall
- →Skógar Museum ~£12
- →Optional: Sólheimajökull glacier hike ~£90
Lava caving & Icelandic horses, aurora night
Álftröð / Blue Mountains area
Book a lava caving tour in the Leiðarendi or Gjábakkahellir caves near the Blue Mountains (~£55-70 via GetYourGuide or direct with a local caving operator; includes helmet, torch and overalls). In the afternoon visit an Icelandic horse farm for a meet-the-horses session or a short ride (~£45-85 depending on length — book direct with farms around Hveragerði/Selfoss). Cook dinner at the guesthouse, then head out for a self-guided aurora hunt — check vedur.is cloud maps and drive 10-15 minutes to a dark viewpoint. Two nights here gives you two shots at the lights.
🚌Shared rental car, ~£10 pp in fuel for local driving
🛏Rural guesthouse or farmstay near Álftröð/Hvolsvöllur, £45-60 pp
- →Lava caving tour ~£60
- →Icelandic horse farm visit ~£50
- →Self-guided northern lights hunt
Back to Reykjavík — Sky Lagoon & city
Reykjavík
Drive back to Reykjavík and return the rental car. Spend the afternoon at Sky Lagoon geothermal spa — book the Saman or Pure Lite pass online in advance (~£55-75) for the ocean-view infinity edge and the 7-step ritual. Alternatively the public Laugardalslaug pool is only ~£8 if you want the budget version. Evening: free walking tour of the city centre (tip-based, ~£10 tip) or a wander along Laugavegur for happy-hour beers, which is the only affordable way to drink in Iceland.
🚌Self-drive back to Reykjavík + city walking, ~£10 pp fuel
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Reykjavík, £35-50 pp
- →Sky Lagoon geothermal spa ~£65
- →Free walking tour (tip ~£10)
- →Laugavegur street & harbour
Snæfellsnes Peninsula day trip
Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Long day trip (12-14 hrs) west to Snæfellsnes — book a self-guided seat on a small-group Snæfellsnes tour via GetYourGuide (~£85-110) or drive yourself if you kept the car. Highlights: Kirkjufell mountain and waterfall, Djúpalónssandur black sand beach with rusted shipwreck remains, Arnarstapi coastal cliffs, and the Snæfellsjökull glacier volcano views. Bring a packed lunch — food stops out west are sparse and pricey. Return to Reykjavík in the evening.
🚌Small-group Snæfellsnes tour coach ~£95 (or self-drive shared car)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Reykjavík, £35-50 pp
- →Kirkjufell mountain & waterfall
- →Djúpalónssandur black sand beach
- →Arnarstapi cliffs
- →Snæfellsjökull views
Depart (or add a lagoon day)
Reykjavík / Keflavík
Final morning for a last Bónus grocery run and a coffee at Reykjavík Roasters before the Flybus out to Keflavík. If your flight is late, book a Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon slot on the way to the airport (Sky Lagoon is closer to town; Blue Lagoon is en route to KEF but requires advance booking, ~£50-70). If you want to extend, add a day for Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach — it's a 5-hour drive each way, so an overnight in Vík or Höfn is far better than a day trip.
🚌Flybus/Strætó to Keflavík airport, ~£22
🛏None (departure day)
- →Reykjavík Roasters coffee
- →Optional: Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon en route to airport
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,245 | £1,780 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £535 per person (30%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,245
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 Iceland Self-Launched: Northern Lights, South Coast & Snæfellsnes cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,245 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 £1,780 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,245 — a saving of roughly £535 (30%) 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, budget, backpacker 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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