Landmannalaugar, Glacier Ice and the Lava Show
Waterfalls on arrival, a Highlands hike at Landmannalaugar, then a glacier walk and the Lava Show, all in three July days.

The South Coast is the stretch of Route 1 from Reykjavík east to the Glacier Lagoon: Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, the black sand at Reynisfjara, Vík, the Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, Skaftafell under Vatnajökull, and finally Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach, about five hours from the capital. It has the highest density of famous sights in Iceland and it is open year-round.
These plans stay in the south and west rather than circling the island, which is what makes them work in three to seven days and in any season. Our editors picked them from real trips for sensible overnights (Hella or Hvolsvöllur, Vík, Kirkjubæjarklaustur or the Skaftafell area) and for visiting the crowded stops at the right time of day. Duplicate one and make it yours.
Picked and reviewed by Nimrod Ron · Iceland Lead & Content Curator· Updated
Waterfalls on arrival, a Highlands hike at Landmannalaugar, then a glacier walk and the Lava Show, all in three July days.
Skip the South Coast crowds for lava-field churches, coastal cliff walks, Kirkjufell and a hot spring on Hvalfjörður.
Waterfalls and the Katla Ice Cave, then the Golden Circle, whale watching and a final soak by the fjord.
Two big glacier adventures, short drives and an easy finish with a fjord-side soak before the flight home.
Geysers, waterfalls, a real lava show, whale watching and a Blue Lagoon soak, all in a standard rental car.
South Coast falls and a live lava show, the Golden Circle, a museum morning and a last soak in Hvalfjörður.
Short drives, a ferry to Heimaey for puffins and a volcano climb, horses near Vík and a hot river hike to finish.
Two very different soaks, a greenhouse lunch, a horse ride near Vík and the Skógafoss trail, all in easy camper van hops.
A November family road trip with a glacier hike, the Katla ice cave, the Glacier Lagoon and a slow Reykjavik finish.
An October loop with an ice cave, horses and the Lava Show in Vík, then a glacier snowmobile ride and a city finish.
A summer 4x4 route pairing a Highlands day at Landmannalaugar with South Coast glaciers, puffins and icebergs.
A no-4x4 September loop with waterfalls, an ice cave, the Glacier Lagoon, Skaftafell and a Langjökull snowmobile ride.
A June 4x4 adventure with Landmannalaugar hikes, a glacier walk, a summer ice cave, Jökulsárlón and whales to finish.
A tour-based September trip with a big South Coast ice day, a Þórsmörk super jeep run, horses and an easy city finale.
Whales, a glacier hike, the Katla ice cave and a northern lights hunt, all on guided tours over one autumn week.
Two slow days around Reykjavik, a 4x4 day among Landmannalaugar's rhyolite hills, a glacier hike and icebergs at Jökulsárlón.
Ride a snowmobile on one glacier, hike another, walk into an ice cave and cruise Jökulsárlón in one September week.
Two-night bases, one packed adventure day in Vík and two glacier lagoons, paced for a group of friends in August.
Unpack once in Selfoss and take day trips: an ice cave, a glacier hike, puffins on Heimaey and a warm river soak.
A teen-friendly May loop that adds the Snæfellsnes Peninsula to the Golden Circle and South Coast classics.
Short drives, two nights in Vík and a day of ice caves, horses and lava, ending at Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach.
A focused autumn road trip for friends: waterfalls, black sand, Katla's ice cave and a day on Sólheimajökull.
Rhyolite ridges in Landmannalaugar, ice underfoot on Sólheimajökull and icebergs by boat, all in one 4x4 week.
A shoulder-season loop by car: the South Coast to Jökulsárlón and back, the Golden Circle, a Snæfellsnes day and a city finale.
A school-age family adventure with a glacier hike, an ice cave, an iceberg boat tour and a day in the highlands.
Skip the full Ring Road: hike Glymur, explore a lava tube, climb Eldfell on Heimaey and walk on a glacier.
Two days reaches Vík and back with the main waterfalls and Reynisfjara. Three to four days lets you continue to Skaftafell and the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon with a night near Vík and one near the glacier. Five to seven days adds the Golden Circle, a glacier hike or ice cave, and time in Reykjavík.
Vík is the natural first base, about 2.5 hours from Reykjavík and central to the waterfalls and beaches. For the Glacier Lagoon, stay around Skaftafell, Hof or Höfn so you can visit Jökulsárlón in the evening and early morning. Hella and Hvolsvöllur are good first-night options close to the airport side.
Yes. The South Coast is the most reliable winter route in Iceland: Route 1 to Vík and on to Jökulsárlón is kept open and ploughed, and it is where the winter ice-cave tours leave from. Drive in daylight, use winter tyres, and give yourself a spare day for weather.
Our sister site covers every place in depth: access, parking, seasons, what to expect. Written by the same team.
SkógafossPlan your Skógafoss visit right — parking tips, staircase info, rainbow spotting, and what to wear. Your complete South Coast waterfall guideiceland-trip.com · South Iceland
Reynisfjara Black Sand BeachReynisfjara black sand beach guide: basalt columns, Reynisdrangar sea stacks, how to get there, safety tips, and what to bring. Plan your South Coast Iceland visit.iceland-trip.com · South Iceland
Jökulsárlón Glacier LagoonPlan your visit to Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon — boat tours, Diamond Beach, parking, best time to go & tips for the perfect Iceland road trip stop.iceland-trip.com · East IcelandDuplicate any plan above and edit it, or let us build one from scratch around your dates and party.
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