Discover the movie-set montage of unique landscapes in southern Iceland on a bespoke adventure – stay in amazing places and choose to explore independently by car or tap into in-depth local knowledge with a private-guide.
We know Iceland’s South Coast intimately. Our Travel Specialists have explored every waterfall, glacier and black-sand beach along the length of this rugged and astonishingly beautiful shoreline. And they’ve ventured inland too. Volcanoes, remote valleys, wilderness rivers… this is Iceland at its most iconic and bewitching. We’ve been sending clients there for decades and now we’re proud to offer discerning travellers the ultimate experience: a luxury holiday tailored to your exact requirements.
Secrets of the South Coast
From the vast black-sand beaches, seabird colonies and sea stacks of Vik to Jokulsarlon’s iceberg lagoon and ‘diamond beach’, the South Coast of Iceland is awash with natural wonders. One of Europe’s most spectacular drives, the coastal road threads a fine line between the wild Atlantic and the brooding interior of volcanoes, waterfalls, icecaps and glaciers.
Exploring the interior
During your week, we’ve included a privately guided superjeep adventure in Thorsmork – an excursion that will rank as one of the highlights of your trip. The scenery almost defies belief: ice-smothered volcanoes, braided glacial rivers and a hidden valley of birch trees surrounded by mountains and glaciers. Then there’s your mode of transport: the iconic, go-anywhere superjeep with its huge wheels and thirst for adventure. To be honest, though, it could well be your driver-guide that steals the show. An expert behind the wheel of one of these impressive 4x4s, he will also share with you his deep knowledge of the land, history and culture of Iceland’s breathtaking interior.
Reykjavik, the Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon
To round off an extraordinary week surrounded by Iceland’s natural wonders, we suggest spending your final two nights in a stylish hotel right in the heart of vibrant Reykjavik. As well as time for enjoying the city’s excellent restaurants and designer shops, you’ll be given recommendations by our Travel Specialists for a wide choice of museums, galleries and cultural attractions. You could also take a tour of the Golden Circle (with a private guide if you like), visiting the celebrated trio of Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall and the geothermal site of Geysir. To add to your ‘hotlist’, we can arrange for you to visit the Secret Lagoon for an indulgent soak in the gorgeous outdoor pool. And if that’s not enough pampering, we can also book an ‘in-water massage’ at the Blue Lagoon’s Retreat Spa – the perfect way to relax before your flight home.
Suggested Itinerary
Fly from your preferred airport to Keflavik where you will either collect your rental vehicle or be met on arrival for a private transfer to Hotel Ranga. Driving through the dramatic lavascape of the Reykjanes Peninsula, you will reach this wonderful lodge in just under two hours. One of Iceland’s leading hotels, Hotel Ranga is a Discover the World favourite. We‘re proud of our longstanding partnership and you can be confident of a friendly welcome and unrivalled levels of care and attention-to-detail.
Fine dining is one of the highlights of a stay here, as are the outdoor hot tubs and state-of-the-art observatory – ideal for stargazing and northern lights watching under the clear, pollution-free skies of this rural corner of Iceland. Ranga’s eight extravagant suites are each themed on a different continent, and offer views across a wild salmon-fishing river or the distant cone of Mt Hekla. Spend two nights at Hotel Ranga
Board a Superjeep for a private tour across the dramatic lunar landscapes of the interior, fording glacial rivers as you probe the stark grandeur of the highlands. Scale the slopes of ice-smothered volcanoes before descending to Thorsmork, a hidden valley of sparkling streams and twisted birch trees, surrounded by a trio of glaciers.
Returning to Hotel Ranga, relax in one of the outdoor hot tubs, or perhaps take a drive to nearby Seljalandsfoss to watch the sunset transform this elegant waterfall into a golden horsetail plume. Enjoy a drink at the bar, sampling the signature Brennivin schnapps served in chilled lava-stone cups, while perusing the seasonal gourmet menu of innovative Nordic-inspired dishes, rich in fresh local produce. After dinner, stroll over to the observatory where one of Iceland’s leading astronomers will open your eyes to the wonders of the cosmos, aiming powerful telescopes at everything from Mars and Neptune to the aurora borealis and distant nebulae.
Travel east along the coastal ring road, stopping to admire an incredible succession of natural wonders… rainbow-garnished Skogafoss plunging 60m over an ancient sea cliff; the forbidding flanks of the sleeping giant, Eyjafjallajokull; coastal vistas that range from saw-tooth sea stacks to seemingly endless beaches of black basalt sand. Ahead looms the mighty Vatnajokull icecap. Reaching depths of 950m, this vast, frozen wilderness consumes entire mountains, but explore its fringes and you will encounter some truly staggering sights.
At Jokulsarlon, step from your car to gaze across a glacial lagoon filled with icebergs calved from the immense ice sheet. Take an optional boat trip to admire the cerulean blue beauties close-up. Then walk on the black-sand beach where icebergs, tumbled and polished by the sea, have been washed ashore as sparkling crystal sculptures. It’s a leisurely three-hour drive from Ranga to Glacier Lagoon – your base for the next two nights.
A full day to explore the wonders of the Vatnajokull National Park. Revisit Jokulsarlon, or explore one of the lesser known glacial lagoons nearby, and head to Skaftafell where walking trails lead to Svartifoss waterfall – picture-perfect against its backdrop of basalt columns. If you like, we can arrange a privately-guided glacier hike, an exhilarating snowmobiling adventure on the Vatnajokull ice cap or an ice cave tour into one of its surreal, seasonal blue-ice caverns.
Drive west, back along the coast road, for around two and a half hours to your next overnight stop in Vik.
Journey to Iceland’s vibrant capital city, Reykjavik for a two-night stay.
Explore the city or perhaps spend time luxuriating in the soothing warm waters of the Blue Lagoon. Consider a private excursion around the Golden Circle. City highlights include the striking Hallgrimskirkja cathedral and the Perlan, with its northern lights planetarium and indoor ice cave. Cafes, bars and boutique shops line Laugavegur Street, while the city has no shortage of fine-dining restaurants.
Transfer to Keflavik for your flight home. If you didn’t take the opportunity yesterday, a visit to the Retreat Spa at the Blue Lagoon can be arranged on your way for a soak in the naturally-heated waters.
Prices & departures
What's Included
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Car hire for 8 days
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2 nights at Hotel Ranga, with dinner & breakfast
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2 nights Fosshotel Glacier lagoon, with breakfast
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1 night at Hotel Umi, with breakfast
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2 nights at ION City Hotel, with breakfast
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Privately guided superjeep adventure in Thorsmork
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No surcharge guarantee
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Full financial protection
From £3025 Excluding Flights
7 Nights
Year Round
We recommend
Self-drive | 7 nights / 8 days
From £3,025 per person
Make this trip yours
Every trip you see here can be adapted to suit you using inside-out knowledge to create one-off experiences created just for you.
Bruno
6
Whale species seen
8
Out of 10 northern lights success
We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch.
Experts with real experience
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Gary
Travel Specialist
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Ben
Travel Specialist
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Eric
Travel Specialist
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Freya
Travel Specialist
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Lauren
Travel Specialist
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Jo
Travel Specialist
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Darren
Travel Specialist
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Kieran
Travel Specialist
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Phoebe
Travel Specialist
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Rosie
Travel Specialist
