7-Day Self-Drive Private Tour Northern Lights Adventure – Iceland South & West

A campervan puts Iceland’s waterfalls, black-sand beaches, lava fields, and geothermal pools on your own schedule. I like two things here: the Easy Guide tablet and planned route take much of the guesswork out, and campsite fees plus several major activities are included. You get the freedom of a self-drive trip without having to build every day from scratch.

The trade-off is a packed week with plenty of time behind the wheel. You’ll need to manage the driving, weather, and daily schedule yourself, while fuel, parking, food, and some suggested stops cost extra. Northern Lights sightings are possible, not promised.

What to know before booking

• The route covers both west and south Iceland: Snæfellsnes, Borgarfjörður, the Golden Circle, the south coast, and Reykjanes all feature.
• Several big activities are included: Vatnshellir Lava Cave, Krauma, Laugarvatn Fontana, an ice-cave trip, and the Lava Show.
• You drive the campervan yourself: The driver must be at least 20, and the tour is for your private group.
• Campsite fees are covered, but not every campsite cost: Electricity and other campsite services are extra.
• CampEasy’s support is a practical plus: The tablet, airport shuttle, and responsive staff support help simplify the parts around the sightseeing.
• Budget for extras: Fuel, parking, meals, and optional stops such as the Blue Lagoon are not included.

A self-drive trip with the planning already done

This is not a guided coach tour. CampEasy supplies a campervan, a tablet guide, a detailed route, reserved activities, airport transfers, and campsite fees. You do the driving and decide how closely to follow the plan.

That arrangement suits you if you want independence but would rather not spend weeks researching every stop and booking each activity. The tablet replaces paper maps as your route companion, while the itinerary gives the week a clear shape. You still need to keep an eye on the clock: several days include a string of stops, and the route does not list driving times between them.

The tour is priced at $1,511.93 per person. That figure covers more than the van: it also includes campsite fees and a handful of paid experiences, including the Vatnshellir cave, two geothermal baths, the Vatnajökull ice-cave outing, and the Lava Show. Whether it feels like good value depends partly on how many people share the campervan and how much you would otherwise spend arranging activities and overnight stops.

Do not mistake the price for an all-in holiday budget. Fuel is excluded, as are food, drinks, parking fees, and electricity or other campsite services. Optional stops such as the Blue Lagoon and Friðheimar restaurant are also on your own tab. The trip includes zero-risk coverage, but personal accident insurance is not included unless you are driving or a passenger.

Day 1: Keflavík pickup and a first look at Reykjavík

A complimentary shuttle takes you from Keflavík International Airport or a hotel in Keflavík town to CampEasy’s office, about five minutes from the airport. The tour ends back at the meeting point, with a shuttle to the airport or a Keflavík hotel available on request.

The first day leaves room to see a few Reykjavík sights. The Sun Voyager sculpture stands by the sea, and Harpa’s glass exterior draws on Icelandic forms and light. You can enter Harpa for free, though parking costs extra. Hallgrímskirkja is near downtown and Rainbow Street; entry to the church is free, but its tower has a separate fee, listed at about $9.20 for adults and $2 for children aged 7 to 16.

If your arrival time leaves space for another stop, FlyOver Iceland is suggested as an optional visit. It is not included, and you need to book it yourself. A first-day city visit can be a pleasant introduction, but do not force it if you arrive tired or late. The week ahead asks for steady energy.

Day 2: Snæfellsnes’ black church, lava cave, and Kirkjufell

The route heads to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, beginning at Gerðuberg, where tall, strikingly regular basalt columns line a cliff. Búðir’s black church is a short, photogenic stop, followed by Arnarstapi’s coastal formations, including the Gatklettur arch carved by erosion.

At Vatnshellir, you descend by spiral stairs into an ancient lava tube, with a helmet and headlight provided. The cave visit is included and takes about an hour. It is one of the week’s more distinctive stops, but it does require comfort with stairs and being underground. Some tour activities have minimum age or height requirements, so check these before booking for children.

Djúpalónssandur adds a different kind of history. The black-pebble shore still has the stones once used to test sailors’ strength, as well as remains of a shipwreck. At Saxhóll, wooden steps lead up to a volcanic crater with views across lava fields and the sea. The day ends at Kirkjufellsfoss, with the famous, layered mountain Kirkjufell as its backdrop. It is a popular photo stop, so give yourself time to enjoy the view rather than treating it as a quick roadside picture.

There is a lot packed into this day, and the stops vary in pace. The cave has a set time, while the outdoor visits depend more on your own rhythm. Follow the tablet, but leave room for weather and sensible breaks.

Day 3: Harbor views, lava-fed waterfalls, and Krauma

In Stykkishólmur, walk up Súgandisey Island to the lighthouse for a view over the harbor. The town is known for fish dishes, so it is a natural place to think about lunch, though meals are not included.

Next come Hraunfossar and Barnafoss. At Hraunfossar, water threads out through the lava and vegetation along a broad stretch of riverbank. Nearby Barnafoss pushes through a narrow lava opening with far more force. The time allocated to Hraunfossar is generous compared with many stops, which gives you room to walk and take in the different viewpoints.

At Deildartunguhver, you can see the powerful hot spring from a safe distance. Its water reaches about 97°C, so this is a place to watch the steam and feel the heat, not to approach the pools. The day finishes at Krauma, where several pools use geothermal water from the nearby spring. Admission is included, making this a useful chance to rest after a day of sightseeing.

Day 4: The Golden Circle, warm pools, and south-coast waterfalls

Þingvellir combines geology and history. The national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the visible rifts reflect the movement of the North American and Eurasian plates. Parking costs extra, even though there is no park entrance charge.

At Laugarvatn Fontana, the included visit gives you two and a half hours to soak in geothermal baths with a view over the lake. Then Strokkur erupts at the Geysir geothermal area, sending water into the air amid steaming vents and bubbling pools. There is no admission charge for the geothermal area.

Gullfoss is a forceful waterfall that drops into a deep ravine. On a sunny day, spray can catch the light, but the weather decides what you see. Friðheimar, a geothermal tomato farm and restaurant, is suggested as an optional detour. You must book it yourself, and the visit adds about an hour and a half including driving. Kerið, a volcanic crater with a lake in its base, is another stop; entry costs about $3.

The route then reaches Seljalandsfoss, where a path goes behind the waterfall. The ground can be wet from spray, so take care and expect to get damp if you walk around it. Parking costs extra. Skógafoss closes the day with a broad, powerful cascade. This is a full schedule, and the combination of geothermal baths, geysers, a crater, and two major falls leaves little room for a slow afternoon.

Day 5: Fjaðrárgljúfur, Diamond Beach, and a blue ice cave

Fjaðrárgljúfur is a curved canyon with a river at its base and paths along the rim. Give it time: the listed stop is two hours, and the views change as you walk. The route then reaches Diamond Beach, where pieces of ice from the nearby glacier rest on black sand. The sight depends on what ice has washed ashore and on the light, so no two visits need look exactly alike.

The day’s main booked activity is a Vatnajökull ice-cave trip run by Local Guide of Vatnajökull. A super jeep carries you into a glacial valley, then you hike to a naturally formed blue ice cave. The outing takes about three hours and forty minutes. Because the cave changes as ice melts and reforms, its shape is not fixed. The activity is included, but be ready for a guided outdoor outing rather than a simple walk from the van.

The combination of canyon, beach, and ice cave is one of the week’s strongest stretches. It is also a day when the schedule and road time matter. Keep to your booked meeting time, and arrive at paid activities 20 minutes early, as advised.

Day 6: Sea cliffs, Reynisfjara, and real molten lava

Dyrhólaey is a high rock formation with a large opening through it and views over the coast. It is also home to bird species. The next stop, Reynisfjara, is known for its dark sand, basalt columns, and sea stacks. The Atlantic here is powerful. Keep a careful distance from the water and follow any local safety instructions; the beach is a place to admire, not to underestimate.

In Vík, the included Lava Show offers a rare indoor look at real hot lava flowing during a simulated eruption. It gives you a direct sense of volcanic heat and movement without taking you onto an active volcano. The Skógar Museum is suggested for anyone who wants to add a cultural stop, but it is not included and would take about an hour and a half with driving.

This day mixes open coast with a booked indoor activity, a useful balance if conditions outdoors are rough. The schedule gives the Lava Show a stated start time, so plan the coastal stops around it rather than assuming you can linger everywhere.

Day 7: Reykjanes geothermal ground and the return to CampEasy

The final day visits the Reykjanes Peninsula. Kleifarvatn is a deep lake surrounded by porous lava ground, while Gunnuhver has steaming vents and hot mud pools. At the Bridge Between Continents, you can stand between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. These stops offer a final look at Iceland’s volcanic geology before returning the van to CampEasy.

The tour also suggests a Blue Lagoon visit if you have time before your flight. It is not included, and you must book admission yourself. The stated estimate is about two and a half hours including driving from Kleifarvatn, so check your flight schedule carefully before adding it. The listed stop order for the final day is not entirely clear, so confirm the sequence with CampEasy rather than relying on a tight connection.

The campervan, support, and northern lights question

The strongest practical thread running through this trip is the campervan setup. CampEasy’s vehicles are described as clean, comfortable, and straightforward to drive, with some feedback noting useful cooking gear, a sink, and heating that can run overnight. The exact van depends on your booking, so check what is included with your chosen model rather than assuming every layout is the same.

The connected tablet is another useful feature. It gives you directions and a prepared route without juggling paper maps, and the included airport shuttle helps avoid arranging a separate transfer after a flight. CampEasy staff members Natalia and Íris are named in feedback for helping with questions and customer support. They are staff contacts, not named tour guides.

The trip’s title mentions the Northern Lights, but the route does not include a scheduled aurora outing or guarantee a sighting. One account described seeing the lights three times, a reminder of what may happen when conditions cooperate, not a promise. If seeing the aurora is your main reason for booking, treat it as a possible bonus and plan around the season and conditions rather than expecting it on a fixed night.

Who should book this Iceland road trip?

I would consider this tour if you want the independence of driving, appreciate a ready-made route, and like having several major activities arranged in advance. It suits couples, friends, and families who meet the age and height rules for the activities and are comfortable with a moderate level of physical effort.

Think twice if you want a relaxed pace, dislike driving, or need every cost bundled into one price. The week includes substantial sightseeing, and fuel, parking, meals, and optional attractions add to the budget. Book it for the combination of freedom and structure, not as a hands-off guided holiday. If that balance sounds right, this is a practical way to cover a remarkable slice of Iceland in seven days.

FAQ

Is this a guided group tour?

No. It is a private self-drive activity, and only your group participates. You drive the campervan and use the Easy Guide tablet and prepared itinerary.

What is included in the price?

The package includes a campervan, zero-risk coverage, an Easy Guide tablet, a prepared itinerary, booked activities, airport transfer, and campsite fees. Fuel, food, parking, and campsite electricity or other services are extra.

Is fuel included?

No. Fuel is listed as not included, so add it to your trip budget.

Which activities are included?

Included activities are Vatnshellir Lava Cave, Krauma, Laugarvatn Fontana, the Vatnajökull ice-cave tour, and the Lava Show in Vík.

Are campsite fees included?

Yes, campsite overnight fees are included. Electricity and other services at campsites are not.

What is the minimum age to drive?

The minimum age for the driver participant is 20.

Are there age or height limits for activities?

Some activities have a minimum age of 8 years, and some have a minimum height requirement of 102 cm, or 40 inches. Check which rules apply to the activities you plan to attend.

Are parking fees included?

No. Parking fees are excluded. This includes charges at some stops where general entry is free.

Is the Blue Lagoon part of the tour?

No. It is an optional suggestion, and admission is not included. You need to book it yourself.

Are Northern Lights sightings guaranteed?

No. The tour title refers to a Northern Lights adventure, but no sighting is guaranteed and no scheduled aurora activity is specified.