You can experience the best of Iceland if you can take a seven-day window with you and if you do it with a car. With a weeklong plan, you can explore the west coast, the south coast, the capital city and the famous Golden Circle with ease. Your eyes will gaze upon the lovely waterfalls, glaciers, lava fields, fishing villages, national parks, black sand beaches, Icelandic horses and everything else that this travel destination has to offer. Not only will you see the most iconic locations but also some of the lesser known, secret and unique spots. This travel itinerary will serve you best if you are traveling in the winter, but will also help you if you are visiting at your suitable time. The climate is a bit unruly at Iceland and you will experience rain, snow and heavy winds from time to time.
- The Lagoon: Kick off the trip with a visit to the Blue Lagoon straight from the airport. An efficient and luxurious travel agency has connections with the best hotels and accommodation facilities, so you’ll not have to worry about that. With Iceland Tours from discover.is, you can enjoy the blue warm waters of the lagoon with a cold drink, and a face full of silica and algae mask.
- Western Iceland: Hop in an elegant and monstrously beautiful four-by-four and head towards the west. Iceland Private Tours will take you through an undersea tunnel to explore fishing towns, the Deildartunguhver hot springs, and Reykholt, which has been the home of some of the most famous authors of the land. Head further out to Húsafell where Langökull Glacier tours start during the winter months.
- The Snæfellsnes Peninsula: You should spend the entire day here at this peninsula beginning with a visit to Stykkishólmur which is also the largest town in the area. This town has certain attractions which you cannot miss like the Library of Water, The Norwegian House, and The Volcano Museum. At the next junction called Grundarfjordur, you’ll see the Mt. Kirkjufell and the waterfall Kirkjufellsfoss. There are also some fishing villages along the coast where you can stop for a boat ride or whale watching.
- The Golden Circle: Explore the Golden Circle on the fourth day which is also one of the most renowned locations in all of Iceland. The main stop will be at the Thingvellir national park which is a notable spot for its geological, religious and historical importance. Then you will visit the Geysir where the most popular hot water spring is the Strokkur, erupting a gush of water every ten minutes. Following that, you will visit the Gullfoss waterfall and is best known for its two-tiered nature.
- The Black sands: The black sand beaches are not the only sight you will spectate on this day. Start the trip with a visit to the waterfall Gljúfrabúi and then another called Skógafoss. Let your guide and driver take you to Dyrhólaey, which is the southernmost tip of Iceland, to see a huge stone archway. Finally, you will see the iconic black sand beach at Reynishverfi.
- National Parks: Start the day with a visit to Skaftafell, at the Vatnajökull National Park. This park is an excellent place to follow hiking trails to see the edge of the Skaftafellsjökull glacier tongue. If glaciers aren’t tiresome to you, then you can head towards the Svínafellsjökull glacier and finally towards Jökulsárlón which is a famous glacier lagoon where you will see floating icebergs, seals and another black sand beach.
- Leftovers: It is time to head back home but also see a couple of more places along the way. There are more glaciers and volcanoes to look at Selfoss and Mýrdalsjökull. Also be sure to check out the sites you missed out like the Stokkseyri which is yet another fishing village. The completeness of the trip will not allow you to leave for home willingly and you will crave for more.
The perfect trip
Know that you are visiting Iceland in winter and you will need everything that is required at a snow-clad location. It would be best if you pack thermal base layers, warm mid-layers like sweaters and fleeces and waterproof windbreakers for your outer layer. You will also need good hiking boots, head gear and gloves for your hands. You may have pre-prepared plans of scaling Iceland on your own, but it is always best to go for a travel agency. You are not going to travel with just any travel arrangers but the best in the business who can satisfy your desire of a road trip in the best vehicles and friendly guides who know the place by the inch. Along with that, you get to travel in small groups which will facilitate a more thorough trip. The specialty of this organization is its guides who know some secret landmarks which you will definitely miss out if you are traveling on your own.