Iceland's Golden Circle & South Coast — Self-Launched
5 days · Iceland
Intrepid Travel charges £2,650
No-markup version: ~£760 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on Intrepid's 5-day Golden Circle in Depth tour: Reykjavik, the Reykjanes Peninsula, the Golden Circle (Thingvellir, Strokkur, Gullfoss, Secret Lagoon) and the South Coast waterfalls and glacier. Instead of a guided minibus package, you'll use a hostel base in Reykjavik plus two nights in Hveragerdi, book the classic Golden Circle and South Coast day tours on GetYourGuide (or self-drive a rented car split between travellers), and hit the geothermal pools independently. Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Reykjavik — city wander
Reykjavik
Fly into Keflavik and take the Flybus or Airport Direct coach into Reykjavik (~£22-25 one way, 45 mins) — far cheaper than the private transfer Intrepid quotes. Check into a hostel dorm in the 101 district. Spend the afternoon on a free self-led wander: Harpa Concert Hall (free), the Sun Voyager sculpture, the old harbour and Laugavegur street. In the evening, pick one museum if you fancy it — the Settlement Exhibition (~ISK1,700 / £10) or the free-ish Volcano House cinema. Self-cater or grab a hot dog from Bæjarins Beztu (~£4) to keep costs down.
🚌Flybus/Airport Direct coach from Keflavik, ~£22
🛏Hostel dorm in central Reykjavik (e.g. Kex Hostel or Bus Hostel), ~£40/night
- →Harpa Concert Hall (free)
- →Sun Voyager & old harbour walk
- →Optional: Settlement Exhibition (~£10)
Reykjanes Peninsula & Viking Village day trip
Reykjanes Peninsula / Hveragerdi
Book a small-group Reykjanes Peninsula tour via GetYourGuide or Viator (~£75-90) — it covers the Bridge Between Continents, Gunnuhver mud pools, Krisuvik/Seltun geothermal fields, Strandarkirkja church and Hafnarfjordur's artist quarter. Many operators include the Viking Village lunch at Fjorukrainn as an optional add-on (~£30) — you can also just order a bowl of lamb soup there. If you'd rather self-drive, hire a car from Reykjavik (~£55-70/day split between travellers) and follow Route 425 yourself. In the evening, take the local Strætó bus #51/#1 combination or hop on the tour's drop-off to Hveragerdi and check into a guesthouse for two nights.
🚌Small-group tour minibus ~£85, or shared rental car
🛏Guesthouse in Hveragerdi (e.g. Hveragerdi Guesthouse), private twin/studio ~£70/night
- →Bridge Between Continents
- →Gunnuhver geothermal area
- →Seltun & Krisuvik
- →Strandarkirkja church
- →Hafnarfjordur artists' quarter
- →Optional Viking Village lunch (~£30)
Golden Circle: Thingvellir, Strokkur, Gullfoss, Secret Lagoon
Golden Circle / Hveragerdi
Join a Golden Circle small-group tour (GetYourGuide, ~£70-85) covering Thingvellir National Park (walk the Almannagja rift and view the Silfra fissure), the erupting Strokkur geyser at Geysir, and the double cascade of Gullfoss. Most tours stop at the Secret Lagoon at Fludir (~£25 entry) — buy your ticket directly via the lagoon's website to skip the queue. Book the Silfra snorkelling separately if that's your thing (Silfra tours ~ISK21,900 / ~£125 via dive.is or GetYourGuide) — it needs a full morning and doesn't fit the standard Circle schedule, so swap it for the Gullfoss stop. Back to Hveragerdi for the evening.
🚌Golden Circle day tour minibus ~£78
🛏Guesthouse in Hveragerdi, ~£70/night
- →Thingvellir National Park & Silfra fissure viewpoint
- →Strokkur geyser & Geysir area
- →Gullfoss waterfall
- →Secret Lagoon soak (~£25 entry)
- →Optional: Silfra snorkelling (~£125)
South Coast waterfalls & Solheimajokull glacier
South Coast (Vik / Skogar area)
Take a South Coast day tour from Reykjavik or Hveragerdi (GetYourGuide, ~£85-100) hitting Seljalandsfoss (walk behind the cascade — bring waterproofs), Skogafoss, the short hike to hidden Kvernufoss, and a drive to the Solheimajokull glacier tongue. Overnight near Skogar or Vik in a hostel or farm guesthouse — try the Skogar Hostel or a Vik hostel (~£45-55 dorm). A self-drive version with a rented car costs roughly the same once split between two or more and gives you more timing freedom.
🚌South Coast day tour ~£90
🛏Hostel dorm near Skogar/Vik, ~£50/night
- →Seljalandsfoss (walk behind the falls)
- →Skogafoss
- →Kvernufoss hike
- →Solheimajokull glacier viewpoint
Return to Reykjavik — walking tour & finish
Reykjavik
Take the Strætó bus #51 back to Reykjavik (~£15-18, 2.5 hrs) or hop on the tour's return leg. Join the free City Walk Reykjavik (tip-based, ~2 hrs, meets at Ingolfur Square) to cover the city's history and culture without a private guide. Finish with a bowl of lamb soup or a bakery stop, then Flybus back to Keflavik for your flight.
🚌Strætó bus #51 to Reykjavik ~£16; Flybus to airport ~£22
🛏None (departure day)
- →Free City Walk Reykjavik (tip-based)
- →Hallgrimskirkja church
- →Old harbour & Kolaportid flea market
Self-launched vs. Intrepid Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Intrepid Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£760 | £2,650 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,890 per person (71%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Intrepid Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£760
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's Golden Circle & South Coast — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £760 per person for 5 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 Intrepid Travel?+
Yes — Intrepid Travel charges around £2,650 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £760 — a saving of roughly £1,890 (71%) per person.
How long is the Iceland trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 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, culture, hiking 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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