Iceland Self-Launched: Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Volcanoes & Húsafell Hiking

Fly into Keflavík International Airport and take the Flybus shuttle directly to central Reykjavik (~£25, ~45 mins). Check into your hostel in the city centre and spend the afternoon wandering the colourful streets of the old town. Visit the iconic Hallgrímskirkja church (free exterior, £8 to ascend the tower), stroll Laugavegur street, and warm up with a bowl of Icelandic lamb soup at a local bakery. In the evening, head to the harbour for fish and chips or a cheap hot dog from Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur — the most famous street food in the country.

🚌Flybus from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavik city centre (~£25 one-way, bookable at re.is)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in central Reykjavik (e.g. Kex Hostel or Loft Hostel) — dorm from ~£35/night, private room from ~£80/night

• →Flybus shuttle from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavik (~£25)
• →Hallgrímskirkja church tower viewpoint (~£8)
• →Self-guided walk around Laugavegur and the old town harbour (free)
• →Hot dog at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur (~£3)

Spend the morning exploring Reykjavik's free highlights: Tjörnin pond, the National Museum of Iceland (~£15), and the Harpa Concert Hall (free exterior). If your budget allows, consider an afternoon visit to the famous Blue Lagoon (~£65–£90, pre-book well in advance at bluelagoon.com) — or save money by visiting one of Reykjavik's public geothermal pools like Laugardalslaug (~£6) for an equally authentic soak. Pick up a rental car or campervan this afternoon for the road trip ahead — essential for this route. Budget rental cars start from ~£50–£70/day; split between 2–4 travellers this is very affordable.

🚌On foot in Reykjavik; collect hire car from city or airport rental desk

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in central Reykjavik

• →National Museum of Iceland (~£15)
• →Harpa Concert Hall exterior (free)
• →Geothermal soak at Laugardalslaug public pool (~£6) OR Blue Lagoon (~£65–£90, pre-book)
• →Collect rental car or campervan for the trip ahead (~£50–£70/day)

Hit the road early and drive the scenic Route 54 west onto the Snæfellsnes Peninsula (~2.5 hours from Reykjavik). Stop at Eldborg crater for a 3km round-trip hike with sweeping lava field views. Continue to Búðir Black Church — one of Iceland's most photographed spots — then onwards to Arnarstapi for dramatic coastal basalt cliffs and a short coastal walk. End the day at Hellnar or Arnarstapi and check into a guesthouse. On a clear evening, the glacier cap of Snæfellsjökull looms above — Jules Verne set his 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth' here.

🚌Self-drive via Route 54 from Reykjavik (~2.5 hours, ~170km)

🛏Guesthouse near Hellnar or Arnarstapi (e.g. Hellnar Guesthouse or Arnarstapi Cottages) — from ~£60–£90/night

• →Scenic drive on Route 54 to Snæfellsnes Peninsula
• →Hike to Eldborg crater (3km round trip, free)
• →Búðir Black Church stop and lava field walk (free)
• →Coastal walk at Arnarstapi (free)

Spend a full day exploring Snæfellsjökull National Park. Drive to the Djúpalónssandur black pebble beach and lift the ancient 'lifting stones' used by fishermen to test their strength (free). Hike the Snæfellsjökull glacier summit trail or join a guided snowcat/snowmobile glacier tour from the park (~£60–£90 via local operators such as Glacier Guides Iceland or Troll Expeditions). Visit the lava cave Vatnshellir, where guided 45-minute underground tours run throughout the day (~£18, book at the cave entrance or at icelanidcaves.is). In the afternoon explore Kirkjufell mountain — Iceland's most photographed peak — and its nearby waterfall at Grundarfjörður.

🚌Self-drive around the peninsula loop

🛏Guesthouse near Hellnar or Grundarfjörður

• →Djúpalónssandur black pebble beach & lifting stones (free)
• →Vatnshellir lava cave guided tour (~£18)
• →Snæfellsjökull glacier snowcat tour (~£60–£90, optional)
• →Kirkjufell mountain & Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall (free)

Drive back east along the south coast toward Hella (~3 hours from the peninsula). En route, stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall and walk the famous path behind the waterfall — one of Iceland's most memorable short walks (free, ~10-min walk). Continue to the equally stunning Skógafoss waterfall and climb the 550-step staircase to the top for panoramic views (free). If time allows, drive a short detour to Eyjafjallajökull, the volcano whose 2010 eruption famously disrupted European air travel — the visitor centre nearby tells the story (~£8). Arrive in Hella for the night.

🚌Self-drive from Snæfellsnes Peninsula to Hella via Ring Road (~3 hours, ~230km)

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Hella (e.g. Árhús Guesthouse or Hotel Hella budget rooms) — from ~£55–£80/night

• →Seljalandsfoss waterfall — walk behind the falls (free, ~£3 parking)
• →Skógafoss waterfall and staircase climb (free)
• →Eyjafjallajökull volcano visitor centre (~£8, optional)

Today is the classic Golden Circle route — entirely driveable yourself and free to access. Start at Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can walk the rift valley between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates (free). The Silfra fissure here offers world-famous snorkelling between the continents — book independently via Dive.is or Arctic Adventures (~£100–£120, includes drysuit). Continue to Geysir geothermal area to watch Strokkur erupt boiling water up to 30 metres every 5–10 minutes (free entry). End at Gullfoss, Iceland's most dramatic two-tiered waterfall, with walking paths right to the edge (free). Return to Hella or drive toward Húsafell for the next leg.

🚌Self-drive Golden Circle loop (~230km round circuit)

🛏Guesthouse in Hella or drive north toward Húsafell (guesthouse from ~£60/night)

• →Þingvellir National Park tectonic rift walk (free)
• →Silfra fissure snorkelling (~£100–£120, optional, book via Dive.is)
• →Geysir geothermal area — watch Strokkur erupt (free)
• →Gullfoss waterfall (free)

Today's showstopper: the Langjökull glacier ice tunnel. Drive to the Into the Glacier base near Húsafell, where a converted monster truck carries you up to the glacier (this is the same operator used by most group tours and is directly bookable at intotheglacier.is). The 1.5-hour guided ice tunnel tour takes you deep inside Europe's second-largest glacier through a network of illuminated ice passages and chambers — an unforgettable experience (~£80–£95 per person, book in advance). Spend the afternoon hiking around the Húsafell area or visiting Hraunfossar, where natural springs bubble out from beneath a lava field creating a row of delicate waterfalls (free).

🚌Self-drive to Húsafell base (~1.5 hours from Hella via Route 1 and F-roads; standard 4WD sufficient in summer)

🛏Guesthouse or self-catering cabin near Húsafell (e.g. Hotel Húsafell budget options or Stracta Hotel nearby) — from ~£65–£100/night

• →Into the Glacier — Langjökull ice tunnel expedition (~£80–£95, book at intotheglacier.is)
• →Hraunfossar lava spring waterfalls (free)
• →Húsafell area hiking (free)

Start the morning with a hike across the Hallmundarhraun lava field near Húsafell — a surreal, moon-like landscape carpeted in moss (free, well-marked trails). Visit Langjökull's outwash river channels for dramatic photography opportunities. Drive back toward Reykjavik via Borgarnes, stopping at the Snorrastofa museum or Borgarfjörður viewpoints along the way. Check into accommodation in or near Reykjavik. This evening treat yourself to a slap-up Icelandic dinner — try lamb stew or fresh Arctic char at one of Reykjavik's mid-range restaurants (~£20–£30).

🚌Self-drive from Húsafell to Reykjavik via Route 1 (~1.5–2 hours, ~130km)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Reykjavik — dorm from ~£35, private from ~£80

• →Hallmundarhraun lava field hike (free)
• →Borgarnes and surroundings scenic drive
• →Dinner in Reykjavik — Icelandic lamb or Arctic char (~£20–£30)

Your last full day in Iceland — use it well. Return the hire car if you haven't already (check drop-off terms with your rental provider). Spend a leisurely morning at the Reykjavik Art Museum or the Settlement Exhibition, an underground archaeological museum built around a Viking longhouse (~£12). In the afternoon, indulge in a long soak at Vesturbæjarlaug or Sundhöllin public pools (~£6) — these are where locals actually go, not tourists. Browse the flea market at Kolaportið (weekends only, free entry) for Icelandic wool products and vintage finds. Toast your adventure tonight at Kaldi Bar or a craft brewery along Laugavegur.

🚌On foot or city bus (~£3 per journey)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in central Reykjavik

• →Reykjavik Settlement Exhibition (~£12)
• →Public geothermal pool soak at Sundhöllin or Vesturbæjarlaug (~£6)
• →Kolaportið flea market (free entry, weekends only)
• →Farewell drinks on Laugavegur (~£8–£12 per drink)

Check out of your accommodation and take the Flybus or Reykjavik Excursions shuttle back to Keflavík International Airport (~£25, book at re.is). Allow at least 2.5 hours before your flight. If your flight departs in the afternoon, squeeze in one last geothermal pool visit or a final Reykjavik coffee before hitting the road. The Flybus also connects via BSÍ bus terminal with most Reykjavik hotels and hostels for door-to-step convenience.

🚌Flybus from Reykjavik BSÍ terminal to Keflavík Airport (~£25, ~45 mins)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final coffee or bakery breakfast in Reykjavik (~£5–£8)
• →Flybus to Keflavík Airport (~£25)