Iceland Winter — Self-Launched 7-Day Ring of the South

Land at Keflavík (KEF) and get into town on the cheap. The Flybus or Strætó bus 55 to BSÍ bus terminal costs around £20–25 each way and takes ~45–50 min; a shared shuttle is similar. Check into a downtown hostel (Kex Hostel, Bus Hostel or Galaxy Pod Hostel are all solid budget picks). Spend the afternoon orienting yourself: walk the harbour, Hallgrímskirkja church, and the Sun Voyager sculpture. If you want the Harpa Concert Hall experience the original lists as an optional add-on, just walk in — the building's public areas and the glass facade are free to view, and a guided tour runs ~£15 if you want it. Stock up on groceries at Bónus or Krónan for breakfasts to keep food costs down.

🚌Flybus or Strætó bus 55 from KEF to BSÍ/Reykjavik, ~£20–25

🛏Downtown Reykjavik hostel dorm (e.g. Kex Hostel), ~£28–38/night

• →Flybus/Strætó transfer from KEF to Reykjavik
• →Self-walk city orientation: Hallgrímskirkja, Harpa, Sun Voyager
• →Grocery shopping at Bónus/Krónan

Do exactly what the tour does on day two, but self-booked. Reserve a half-day lava cave tour in the Bláfjöll Mountains (the Leiðarendi cave is the classic) directly with a local operator or via GetYourGuide — most include hotel pick-up, so you can book from your Reykjavik hostel. In the afternoon, join an Icelandic horse riding experience (Íslenski Hesturinn or Laxnes run beginner-friendly rides from near Reykjavik). In the late afternoon, transfer south to a countryside guesthouse around Hveragerði/Selfoss (the Álftröð area). Evening: your first Northern Lights hunt — walk away from building lights and look north; a self-drive or a small-group aurora minibus is the more reliable option on cloudy nights.

🚌Local bus from Reykjavik to Hveragerði/Selfoss (~£12–18), or afternoon transfer included with activity operator

🛏Icelandic countryside guesthouse near Álftröð/Hveragerði, ~£45–70/night (shared)

• →Bláfjöll/Leiðarendi lava cave tour (self-booked, ~£70–90)
• →Icelandic horse riding (~£80–95)
• →Northern Lights hunt from countryside guesthouse

Recreate the tour's headline day as a self-guided Golden Circle. From your guesthouse, base yourself at Selfoss or Hveragerði and join a Golden Circle public/independent tour, or take the public Strætó buses (bus 51 to Þingvellir, then connections onward). You'll hit Þingvellir National Park (UNESCO site — the tectonic rift between the North American and Eurasian plates), the Geysir geothermal area with the erupting Strokkur every ~10 minutes, and the mighty Gullfoss waterfall. Back at the guesthouse in the evening, cook dinner together (self-catering, like the included tour dinner), then head out for a second Northern Lights attempt.

🚌Golden Circle day tour pickup or Strætó bus 51 + local connections, ~£15–20

🛏Icelandic countryside guesthouse (same base), ~£45–70/night (shared)

• →Þingvellir National Park (free entry)
• →Geysir & Strokkur geothermal area (free)
• →Gullfoss waterfall (free)
• →Self-catered guesthouse dinner
• →Second Northern Lights attempt

Head out early on a self-booked South Coast day tour from Reykjavik or Hveragerði (most operators pick up along the route). Visit Sólheimajökull glacier for a guided glacier walk (book directly with a local glacier guide or via GetYourGuide, ~£90–120 including crampons and ice axe), then stop at the thundering Skógafoss and walk behind the curtain of water at Seljalandsfoss on the way back. Return to Reykjavik in the evening and check back into your downtown hostel.

🚌South Coast day tour with pick-up, or Strætó Ring Road bus + local transfers, ~£25–35

🛏Downtown Reykjavik hostel dorm, ~£28–38/night

• →Sólheimajökull glacier walk (self-booked, ~£90–120)
• →Skógafoss waterfall visit (free)
• →Seljalandsfoss waterfall visit (free)

The original tour leaves days 5–7 unescorted, so just keep doing your own thing. Use today to explore Reykjavik properly: the National Museum of Iceland, the Settlement Exhibition, Harpa, the street art and coffee culture of the downtown grid, and the excellent (and free) geothermal pools at Nauthólsvík beach. Optional: a half-day Golden Circle repeat or a Whale Watching tour from the old harbour. Consider a day trip to the Reykjanes Peninsula or the town of Vík if you want to push further south.

🚌Walking + local Strætó city bus (~£3–4 per ride)

🛏Downtown Reykjavik hostel dorm, ~£28–38/night

• →Reykjavik museums & Old Harbour
• →Nauthólsvík geothermal beach (free)
• →Optional whale watching or Reykjanes day trip

Another independent day. Sleep in, do the Blue Lagoon-area transfer prep for tomorrow, or take a relaxed local swim at Laugardalslaug (city geothermal pool, ~£8 entry — far cheaper than the lagoons). If you haven't yet caught the aurora, this is the night to book a small-group Northern Lights minibus tour out of Reykjavik (~£45–60), which is a much more reliable way to see them than hoping from the city. Otherwise enjoy a low-key evening in Reykjavik's bars and restaurants.

🚌Walking + local Strætó city bus

🛏Downtown Reykjavik hostel dorm, ~£28–38/night

• →Laugardalslaug geothermal pool (~£8)
• →Optional Northern Lights minibus tour (~£45–60)
• →Reykjavik evening out

Finish the journey the way the tour does — at the famous Blue Lagoon. Book your entry slot online in advance (it sells out; the basic Comfort package runs ~£70–90 depending on season), and use the Flybus or a Strætó/bus connection that drops you at the Blue Lagoon and continues to Keflavík airport (the Flybus+ with a stop at the lagoon is the easy option, ~£25–35). Allow a few hours to soak before your flight. The original tour advises booking onward travel after 15:30 on day 7 — mirror that and don't cut it close.

🚌Flybus Plus via Blue Lagoon to KEF, ~£25–35

🛏None (departure day)

• →Blue Lagoon entry (~£70–90, book online in advance)
• →Flybus transfer via Blue Lagoon to KEF (~£25–35)