Self-Launched Northern Lights, Golden Circle, South Coast & Ice Cave — Iceland in 5 Days
5 days · Iceland
Arctic Adventures charges £1,280
No-markup version: ~£695 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Skip the guided minibus and explore Iceland's most jaw-dropping landscapes on your own terms. This self-launched itinerary covers all the same ground as Arctic Adventures' flagship 5-day tour — Northern Lights hunts, the Golden Circle, the South Coast, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, and a natural ice cave — at roughly half the cost. The key to making this work independently is hiring a rental car (essential in Iceland) and pre-booking your ice cave tour and Northern Lights boat trip in advance. Iceland rewards self-launched travellers: roads are well-signposted, most attractions are free to visit, and you get complete flexibility to linger at that waterfall or chase the aurora when the forecast looks good. All cost estimates are approximate and per person based on two people sharing a rental car and accommodation.
Day-by-day
Arrive Reykjavik — Northern Lights Boat Tour
Reykjavik
Fly into Keflavík International Airport and take the Flybus or Strætó bus to Reykjavik city centre (around £25–30 one-way; book at re.is). Check into a centrally located hostel or guesthouse so you're within walking distance of the Old Harbour. This evening, head to the Old Harbour for your pre-booked Northern Lights boat tour — operators like Elding or Special Tours depart around 9–10pm and cost roughly £55–70pp booked direct. Wrap up warm with thermals and a windproof layer. If the forecast is poor, reputable operators will cancel and reschedule or refund you.
🚌Flybus from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavik BSÍ terminal (~£27pp, book at re.is). Central Reykjavik is walkable.
🛏Kex Hostel or Loft Hostel, Reykjavik — dorm from ~£35pp/night, private double from ~£80/night
- →Arrive at Keflavík Airport and take the Flybus to Reykjavik city centre (~£27)
- →Check in to centrally located hostel (e.g. Kex Hostel or Loft Hostel)
- →Walk along the Old Harbour and grab dinner at a local bakery or Bæjarins Beztu hot dog stand
- →Northern Lights boat tour from Old Harbour — book direct with Elding or Special Tours (~£60pp)
Golden Circle & South Coast — Drive to Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Golden Circle & South Coast
Pick up your pre-booked rental car first thing — this is the single biggest enabler of self-launched Iceland travel. Book with Sad Cars, Blue Car Rental, or Lagoon Car Rental for budget options; expect to pay around £60–80pp/day for a small car split between two. Today follows the classic Golden Circle: Þingvellir National Park (free entry), Geysir Geothermal Area with Strokkur geyser (free), and Gullfoss waterfall (free). Continue southeast along Route 1 to Seljalandsfoss waterfall — you can walk behind the curtain of water (free). Drive on to your guesthouse near Kirkjubæjarklaustur or Vík for the night. Keep an eye on the Northern Lights forecast via the Vedur app — the South Coast away from city light pollution is excellent for aurora spotting.
🚌Self-drive rental car along Route 1 (Ring Road) and Route 35 (Golden Circle). Total driving ~330km. Fuel cost roughly £20–25 for the day split between two.
🛏Guesthouse near Kirkjubæjarklaustur or Vík — e.g. Hótel Kirkjubær or Vík HI Hostel. From ~£40pp/night sharing.
- →Pick up rental car from Reykjavik city or airport (pre-book: ~£65pp/day split between two)
- →Þingvellir National Park — walk the Almannagjá rift valley (free entry)
- →Geysir Geothermal Area — watch Strokkur erupt every 5–10 minutes (free)
- →Gullfoss waterfall — two-tier glacial waterfall viewpoint (free)
- →Seljalandsfoss waterfall — walk behind the falls (free; parking fee ~£5)
- →Northern Lights watch from South Coast roadside if forecast KP index is 3+
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach & Natural Ice Cave
Jökulsárlón & Vatnajökull
Drive east along the Ring Road to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon — one of Iceland's most surreal landscapes, where icebergs calve from Breiðamerkurjökull glacier and drift out to sea. Entry is free; allow 1–2 hours. Just across the road is Diamond Beach, where ice blocks wash up on jet-black sand — utterly photogenic and free. In the afternoon, join a pre-booked natural ice cave tour near Skaftafell or Vatnajökull — these must be booked with a certified glacier guide for safety (October–April). Operators like Tröll Expeditions or local glacier guides charge approximately £90–120pp. Book via GetYourGuide or direct. This is a highlight not to miss — the blue ice caves are genuinely otherworldly. Drive back west to your accommodation near Vík or Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
🚌Self-drive rental car. Jökulsárlón is approximately 180km east of Kirkjubæjarklaustur on Route 1. Return to South Coast accommodation in the evening (~360km round trip). Fuel ~£30 split between two.
🛏Return to guesthouse near Kirkjubæjarklaustur or Vík — from ~£40pp/night sharing.
- →Drive east along Route 1 to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon (free entry; ~£5 parking)
- →Walk Diamond Beach and photograph ice chunks on black sand (free)
- →Visit Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park — short walk to Svartifoss waterfall (free)
- →Natural ice cave tour with certified glacier guide — book via GetYourGuide or Tröll Expeditions (~£100pp)
- →Northern Lights watch from eastern Iceland if forecast permits
South Coast Highlights — Fjaðrárgljúfur, Reynisfjara & Skógafoss
South Coast — Vík to Reykjavik
Spend the morning exploring the South Coast's most dramatic landmarks before driving back towards Reykjavik. Start at Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon — a narrow, winding gorge with incredible viewpoints (check if open; free). Continue to Eldhraun lava field, a moss-covered expanse stretching to the horizon along Route 1. Stop at Reynisfjara black sand beach near Vík — the basalt columns and sea stacks (Reynisdrangar) are stunning, but heed the warning signs about sneaker waves (free). Finally, stop at Skógafoss waterfall — you can climb the 527 steps to the top for panoramic views (free). Drive back to Reykjavik in the early evening. Tonight is your best chance for a Northern Lights sighting on the outskirts of Reykjavik — drive to Grótta lighthouse or the Reykjanes Peninsula if the forecast looks promising.
🚌Self-drive rental car from South Coast back to Reykjavik (~250km on Route 1). Fuel ~£20 split between two. Return rental car before end of day if flying tomorrow, or keep for day 5.
🛏Kex Hostel or Loft Hostel, Reykjavik — dorm from ~£35pp/night, private double from ~£80/night.
- →Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon walk and viewpoints (free; check seasonal access)
- →Eldhraun lava field stop along Route 1 (free)
- →Reynisfjara black sand beach and Reynisdrangar basalt sea stacks (free; parking ~£5)
- →Skógafoss waterfall — climb 527 steps to the top for panoramic views (free)
- →Drive back to Reykjavik — Northern Lights hunt at Grótta lighthouse or Reykjanes Peninsula
Reykjavik — Explore the City & Depart
Reykjavik
Return your rental car if you haven't already, then spend your final morning exploring central Reykjavik on foot. The compact city centre is very walkable. Visit Hallgrímskirkja church (tower entry ~£10), stroll Laugavegur shopping street for local boutiques and coffee shops, and walk along the Atlantic shoreline at Sæbraut. If time allows, the Harpa Concert Hall is free to enter and architecturally spectacular. For a quintessentially Icelandic send-off, visit Laugardalslaug (the local swimming pool and hot pots, ~£7) rather than the pricey Blue Lagoon. Catch the Flybus back to Keflavík for your flight home.
🚌Walkable city centre. Flybus from BSÍ terminal to Keflavík Airport (~£27pp, book at re.is).
🛏Check out — no accommodation needed.
- →Walk to Hallgrímskirkja church — climb the tower for city views (~£10)
- →Stroll Laugavegur street — browse independent boutiques and grab coffee
- →Walk the Old Harbour and Atlantic shoreline at Sæbraut (free)
- →Visit Harpa Concert Hall — stunning architecture, free to enter
- →Laugardalslaug geothermal swimming pool and hot pots — local favourite (~£7)
- →Flybus back to Keflavík Airport (~£27)
Self-launched vs. Arctic Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Arctic Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£695 | £1,280 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £585 per person (46%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Arctic Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£695
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 Self-Launched Northern Lights, Golden Circle, South Coast & Ice Cave — Iceland in 5 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £695 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 Arctic Adventures?+
Yes — Arctic Adventures charges around £1,280 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £695 — a saving of roughly £585 (46%) 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, hiking, wildlife 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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