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A 12-night road trip through Southern and Highland Iceland in September, starting with arrival in Keflavik, driving through Reykjanes, the South Coast, and accessing the Highlands (Landmannalaugar, Thorsmork, Kerlingarfjöll) with 4x4. The trip ends in Reykjavik.
An Iceland trip expert planned this 12-day route for a real client's September trip: South Coast and the Highlands. It passed our checks for daily driving, highland roads and season, which is why it is one of the 177 expert-built plans in our Iceland itineraries.
The day-by-day plan below has every stop, with photos and what to see. Duplicate it to set your own dates, change the pace or swap stops; the original stays as the expert wrote it.
Open any day for the full plan — stops, drives, and where to stay.
Arrival in the evening.
Pick up car, drive to Reykjanes highlights, soak in lagoon, stay in Hella.
Must use F208 north to avoid river crossings. Requires booking parking for Landmannalaugar.
Self-drive to Thorsmork, check river depth before crossing.
Exploring South Coast near Vatnajökull.
DAY 6Drive to Thakgil, stay in Vik.
Drive towards Golden Circle.
Requires 4x4 for F-roads.
Relaxing day in the Highlands.
Activities near Langjokull.
National park tour and glacier views.
End of trip, flight in the evening.
Each stop below has a full guide on iceland-trip.com, our sister site written by the same team: how to get there, parking, seasons and what to expect.
Gunnuhver Hot SpringsVisit Gunnuhver Hot Springs on the Reykjanes Peninsula with practical advice on road access, walking time, geothermal safety, and nearby stops for road trips.Reykjanes Peninsula · Read the guide
Laugarás LagoonTake a break from the Golden Circle drive and just soak for a while. Laugarás Lagoon keeps it simple with $39^circtext{C}$ water, a view of the Hvítá River, and a layout that actually works for everyone.Golden Circle · Read the guide
Selfoss: What to Do & How Long to Stay?Plan a visit to Selfoss in South Iceland: what to do, how long to stay, whether it works as a Golden Circle base, practical transport tips, and hotels.South Iceland · Read the guide
Hella & HvolsvöllurHella and Hvolsvöllur guide: South Iceland towns, the LAVA centre, Njáls saga links and Katla UNESCO Global Geopark.South Iceland · Read the guide
LandmannalaugarDiscover Landmannalaugar with this practical guide: how to get there, top hikes, hot spring tips, safety advice, and where to stay—everything you need for a smart highlands adventure.Highlands · Read the guide
SigöldugljúfurSigöldugljúfur is a highland canyon with waterfalls above turquoise water. Learn about the F-road access, fords and rim viewpoint before a summer visit.Highlands · Read the guide
Merkurker canyonPlan Merkurker Ravine near Þórsmörk in South Iceland, with practical advice on F249 access, river crossings, hiking difficulty, timing, safety and stays.Highlands · Read the guide
Stakkholtsgjá Canyon: Hiking, Access and Safety.Plan Stakkholtsgjá Canyon in Þórsmörk: F249 access, river-crossing risks, hiking difficulty, seasonal conditions, timing, and transport choices for hikers.Highlands · Read the guideAlso on iceland-trip.com: Seljalandsfoss Waterfall · Gljúfrabúi · Múlagljúfur Canyon · Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon · Fjallsárlón · Svínafellsjökull · Þakgil (Thakgil) Canyon · Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach · Skógafoss · Kerið Crater: The Golden Circle Volcanic Lake · Geysir Geothermal Area · Kerlingarfjöll: Hveradalir Hikes, Roads & Where to Stay · Gullfoss Waterfall · Brúarfoss Waterfall · Þingvellir National Park: Parking, Walks & Visiting Tips · Snowmobile on Langjokull · Hraunfossar and Barnafoss: Visitor guide · Hvammsvik Hot Spring · Laugavegur Trail · Reykjanes Lighthouse
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