6 Days Self -Drive Tour with Pick Up – Golden Circle & Waterfalls -4×4 Campervan

In six days, this self-drive trip links Iceland’s big sights with memorable local experiences: you can watch real lava flow at the Lava Show, taste rye bread baked in geothermal ground, and finish a day in a hot spring. The 4×4 campervan makes the route your own, while a tablet gives you directions and a planned sequence of stops.

I like that campsite fees and several major activities are included, so you spend less time arranging every detail. I also like the mix of famous stops and smaller places, from Kirkjufell and Gullfoss to the seal-watching shore at Ytri Tunga.

The main consideration is the pace. Some days cover a lot of ground, and Day 5 pairs a south coast visit with a drive back to Reykjavík for evening activities. You’ll need to keep an eye on the clock, especially if weather slows the drive.

• Pick up close to Keflavík Airport: A complimentary shuttle connects the airport or a Keflavík hotel with the CampEasy office.
• Drive a 4×4 campervan: The vehicle includes Wi-Fi, gas, camping equipment and an Easy Guide tablet, but fuel is extra.
• Follow a six-day route: The plan covers Snæfellsnes, Þingvellir, the Golden Circle, waterfalls, the south coast and Reykjanes.
• Bookable experiences are built in: Krauma, a geothermal rye bread tour and bath, the Vatnshellir Cave tour, Icelandic Lava Show, Magic Ice and Sky Lagoon are included.
• Budget for added charges: Parking, fuel, meals, campsite electricity and optional activities are not included.
• It’s a private self-drive trip: Only your group participates, but you are responsible for the driving and the timing between stops.

A self-drive route with the useful parts arranged

This is not a guided coach tour. You pick up the van, drive the route yourself, and use the Easy Guide tablet for directions, the day’s stops and camper information. That distinction matters: you get privacy and flexibility, but you also manage road conditions, meal stops and arrival times for activities.

CampEasy offers pickup from Keflavík International Airport or a hotel in Keflavík, with a short shuttle ride to its office. The complimentary return shuttle takes you back to the airport or a Keflavík hotel when you drop off the camper. The tour starts and ends at the CampEasy meeting point in Keflavík.

The package costs $1,331.02 per person. Its value depends on how you travel. You get a quality campervan, zero-risk coverage, campsite fees, Wi-Fi, gas, sports equipment, an itinerary, the Easy Guide tablet, airport transfers and several booked activities. You still need to pay for fuel, food, parking and any extra activities, and campsite electricity and other services cost extra.

For two people who want to travel together and cook some meals, a camper can combine transport and accommodation in one booking. But don’t treat the price as all-in: fuel, meals and parking add up, and the vehicle size or configuration can affect how comfortable your days feel. The listed price is per person, so check the booking total for your group before you commit.

The van gets strong marks for being warm, dry and well equipped. Customers have described comfortable bedding, enough room for their needs, and the ability to cook in poor weather. That is practical praise, not just a nice extra: Iceland’s conditions can change quickly, and a warm place to retreat to makes a long driving day easier.

Day 1: Waterfalls, hot springs and a soak at Krauma

After collecting the van, you head toward Reykholt, a historic site connected with Iceland’s medieval Sagas. It offers a change of pace from the scenery-focused stops and gives the opening day a bit of cultural context. Plan about 50 minutes there.

Hraunfossar and Barnafoss sit close together, but they look quite different. Hraunfossar spreads in many small streams through the lava edge into the river. Barnafoss pushes through a narrow opening in the rock with more force. The walk between them is short, so you can see both without turning the stop into a major hike.

Deildartunguhver is a powerful geothermal spring. From a safe viewing area, you can see the water bubble at about 97°C and feel the heat it gives off. This is a place to look, not to bathe. The day ends at Krauma, where four pools receive naturally heated water from the nearby spring. Two hours gives you time to settle in before heading to a campsite.

That spa stop is a smart first-day inclusion. After airport pickup and several visits, warm water is a welcome reward. Still, the day involves driving after your flight, so don’t underestimate the value of a calm start. Glanni Waterfall is an optional detour the next morning, rather than a reason to rush through the first day.

Day 2: Seals, lava coast and a cave below ground

Day 2 takes you around the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, where coast, lava formations and volcanic features come in quick succession. Ytri Tunga is known as a place where seals sometimes rest. They are not guaranteed to be there, so enjoy the shore for its quiet setting as well as the chance of a sighting.

Búðir church is a short stop and a favorite subject for photographers. Its black exterior gives it a stark look against the surroundings. At Gatklettur, erosion has carved an arch through the rock, and the listed visit takes about two hours and 20 minutes. Check the walking conditions and leave enough room in your day for the full visit.

The booked Vatnshellir Cave tour takes you down a spiral staircase into an 8,000-year-old lava tube, about 32 metres below the surface. Helmets and headlamps are provided. The cave is a change from the open-air stops, but it also has a fixed start time, so make that appointment the anchor for your day.

Djúpalónssandur is a black pebble beach with a maritime past. The shore still holds lifting stones once used to test sailors’ strength, along with pieces of a shipwreck. Treat the water with care and stay aware of the sea. Saxhóll Crater rounds out the day with a stairway to a viewpoint over the crater and surrounding lava fields.

Day 3: Kirkjufell, a fishing town and Þingvellir

Start with Svöðufoss, a waterfall reached from a nearby parking area. On a clear day, the Snæfellsjökull glacier may appear above it. Kirkjufell, one of Iceland’s most photographed mountains, is paired with Kirkjufellsfoss. The two make a classic view, but a short stop means you will likely be taking in the scene rather than walking far.

Stykkishólmur brings a human scale to the day. This fishing town is known for fish dishes, and a walk up to the lighthouse on Súgandisey Island gives you a view over the harbor. It’s a useful place to pause before driving on to Gerðuberg, whose basalt columns rise in strikingly regular shapes.

Eldborg Crater is an optional longer walk, with a 45- to 50-minute hike each way. The suggested visit lasts nearly three hours, so decide whether that climb fits your energy and driving schedule. Skipping it may be the sensible choice if you want more time at the next major stop.

Þingvellir National Park combines geology and history. The park sits where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull apart, and the fissures make that movement visible. It is also an important site in Iceland’s political history and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Allow about two and a half hours, and remember that parking costs extra.

The route is ambitious, moving from Snæfellsnes toward Þingvellir in one day. You control the pace, but not the distance. A 4×4 can help with suitable roads and conditions, yet it does not remove the need to check current driving conditions or to leave time for weather and stops.

Day 4: The Golden Circle, geothermal bread and south coast falls

Kerið is a volcanic crater with a lake in its base. The route allows an hour to look around, but a small admission fee applies if you walk up to the crater. It’s a worthwhile stop if you enjoy seeing the shape of a volcano from close range, though it is one more paid entry to add to your budget.

At Laugarvatn Fontana, the geothermal rye bread tour shows how heat from the ground can cook dough. You get to taste the bread, then have time for the baths, which look out over the lake. This is one of the trip’s more distinctive experiences: it connects Iceland’s geothermal resources to everyday food, not just hot water and dramatic scenery.

At Geysir, Strokkur sends a column of hot water into the air, reportedly reaching about 15 metres. It erupts often enough that you can wait for the next burst without committing a long stretch of the day. Gullfoss then brings the Golden Circle to a grand finish, with water dropping into a narrow gorge.

Friðheimar tomato farm and restaurant is an optional stop. Its greenhouses use geothermal energy, and the farm is also known for horse breeding and horse shows. You need to arrange a visit yourself, and its admission or restaurant costs are not part of the package.

The day continues to Seljalandsfoss, where a path lets you walk behind the waterfall when conditions allow. Expect spray, and note the parking charge. Skógafoss is another powerful cascade, fed by meltwater from the Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers. The spray can make a rainbow when the light is right. Both falls are striking, but they are popular stops, and wet weather makes waterproof layers useful.

Day 5: South coast drama, then a tight evening in Reykjavík

Dyrhólaey is a high coastal formation with a large opening through the rock and a well-known bird habitat. Reynisfjara follows, with basalt columns on the shore and three rock stacks offshore. The old story says trolls were caught by daylight and turned to stone. Enjoy the view from a safe distance: the sea here deserves respect, and the black sand is not a place to turn your back on the water.

In Vík, the Icelandic Lava Show lets you watch real hot lava flow in a controlled setting. It is a vivid way to understand volcanic activity without approaching an actual eruption. The show is included and takes about an hour.

The schedule then calls for a drive back to Reykjavík, Magic Ice at 6 p.m., and Sky Lagoon at 7 p.m. That is a packed finish after a day on the south coast. The drive can take longer than planned, so be realistic about the timing and avoid adding extra stops unless you have confirmed that they fit. Magic Ice combines an ice museum and ice bar; Sky Lagoon follows with a two-hour visit and the Sky Pass seven-step ritual.

Hallgrímskirkja and Rainbow Street are near downtown Reykjavík. You can enter the church for free, but there is a separate charge to go up its tower for city views. With the evening already full, treat the church as an optional stop, not a must-do squeezed between timed bookings.

Day 6: Reykjanes before the airport

If your flight time allows, the final morning includes Krýsuvík, a geothermal area with steaming ground and bands of yellow, white, red and green. The Bridge Between Continents offers a simple way to stand above the gap between the North American and Eurasian plates.

Viking World Museum is an optional stop, not included in the price. It displays a full-size Viking ship built in 2000 and sailed to New York to mark Leifur Eiríksson’s journey to the New World. Allow about an hour and 20 minutes, including the drive from the bridge, if you choose to visit.

Return the camper at CampEasy and take the included shuttle to Keflavík Airport or a hotel in Keflavík. Keep your departure time in mind when deciding how much to fit in. The Reykjanes stops are possibilities, not a reason to risk a rushed return.

Who should book this campervan trip?

I’d choose this package if you want a broad Iceland sampler, like the freedom of driving, and value having campsites and selected activities arranged ahead of time. It suits couples, families or small private groups who are comfortable managing their own route and happy to make simple meals in the van. The minimum driver age is 20, and some activities require participants to be at least five.

I’d look elsewhere if you want a guide with you throughout, dislike long drives, or prefer to linger without fixed activity times. This route covers a lot, and the value comes from combining transport, camping and several booked experiences, not from avoiding every extra expense.

Before booking, check the exact camper model, what equipment it includes, and your likely costs for fuel, food, parking and campsite services. The strongest reason to book is the combination of independence and useful structure. If that balance suits you, it is a practical way to see several very different parts of Iceland in one trip.

FAQ

Is this a guided tour?

No. You drive the campervan yourself and follow a planned route using the Easy Guide tablet. It is a private activity for your group.

Where does the trip start?

The meeting point is CampEasy at Selvík 5 in Keflavík. A complimentary shuttle is offered from Keflavík International Airport or a hotel in Keflavík to the CampEasy office.

Is the airport transfer included?

Yes. The package includes airport transfer. At the end, a free shuttle takes you from the CampEasy office to Keflavík Airport or a hotel in Keflavík.

What is included in the price?

The package includes a campervan, zero-risk coverage, Wi-Fi, gas, an Easy Guide tablet, an itinerary, selected booked activities, sports equipment, campsite fees and airport transfer.

Is fuel included?

No. Fuel is not included. Food, beverages, parking fees, campsite electricity and other campsite services are also excluded.

Which activities are included?

Included activities are Krauma, the Vatnshellir Cave tour, the Laugarvatn Fontana rye bread tour and bath, the Icelandic Lava Show, Magic Ice and Sky Lagoon with the Sky Pass ritual.

Do I need to pay parking fees?

Yes, at some stops. Parking fees are not included, including at Þingvellir and Seljalandsfoss. Kerið also charges a small fee if you walk up to the crater.

What is the minimum age to drive?

The minimum age for a driver is 20. Some activities have a minimum participant age of five.

Are the optional stops included?

No. Friðheimar and Viking World Museum are suggested stops with separate costs. The Hallgrímskirkja tower admission is also extra, as are other activities not included in the package.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund or change.