iceland south west children on basalt cliff reynisdrangar istk

Family Explorer the Icelandic Way

from £511 excluding flights

  • 7 nights
  • Year round
Home Destinations Nordic Europe Iceland Family Explorer the Icelandic Way
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Highlights

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Explore Snaefellsnes Peninsula’s stunning coast and volcanoes

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See the natural treasures of Iceland’s iconic Golden Circle route

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See the black-sand beaches and waterfalls on the South Coast

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Try exciting optional excursions, from horse riding to snowmobiling

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Take a dip in the naturally-heated waters of the Blue Lagoon

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Enjoy Reykjavik with quirky museums or head our whale watching

Why this trip...

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Tailor made

This itinerary can be tailor made to suit you and is intended to give you a guideline of what is possible in a given timeframe

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Explore at leisure

With the route, transport and accommodation sorted, each day offers the freedom to explore

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Nordic Heritage

With over 38 years of experience in creating trips to Nordics we know this region inside out

Overview

Anyone for whale watching, horse riding, snowmobiling or a superjeep safari…? Iceland is Europe’s ultimate adventure playground. It not only blows children away, but they also get a geography lesson the fun way. This two-centre self-drive is ideal for a family or group of friends. Self-catering in cosy cottages, it’s how Icelanders like to go on holiday themselves.

Two beautiful locations

With the freedom of self-drive and the flexibility of self-catering, this nine-night holiday is great value for families. About 75km north of Reykjavik, your first base is Glacier Lodge, a modern self catering cottage offering magnificent views of Snaefellsjokull to the north and a panorama across Faxafloi bay to the south.  About the same distance southeast of Reykjavik, base number two brings the terrific trio of the Golden Circle within reach – as well as the black-sand beaches, waterfalls and glaciers of the South Coast.

What shall we do today?

That’s not a particularly vexing question on this holiday! Optional excursions include horse riding along the empty beaches of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, a superjeep safari to the legendary Thorsmork valley, ice cave exploration on Langjokull and whale watching in Faxafloi Bay.

Itinerary & Accommodation

Fly to Keflavik, collect your rental vehicle and drive to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula for a 4 night stay. We suggest you stop in the town of Borgarnes to pick up a few supplies before arriving at your accommodation for four nights.

Glacier Lodge, Snaefellsnes

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iceland view over glacier lodge to snaefellsjokull rth

Located in a spectacular rural location near to Hellnar, Glacier Lodge offers magnificent views of Snaefellsjokull to the north and a panorama across Faxafloi bay to the south.

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Spend your time at leisure exploring the beautiful Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Perhaps hike to the nearby fishing village of Arnastapi with its striking rock formations, join a snowmobile tour on the glacier, go horse riding or take a bird watching tour from Stykkisholmur.

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Drive to the south of Iceland perhaps via the iconic Golden Circle route visiting Thingvellir, Gullfoss and Geysir. Arrive at your accommodation near the south coast for the next three nights.

Grund Cabin

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grund cottage bedroom

This cosy self catering cabin in Hvolsvollur, South West Iceland has it's own hot tub perfect for relaxing after a day exploring.

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See the sights of the south at your own pace taking in the south shore with its dramatic rock formations and black sand beaches as well as the two of Iceland’s most impressive waterfalls, Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss. Perhaps head west to the volcanic Reykjanes Peninsula, home to Iceland’s most famous attraction, the Blue Lagoon.

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Make the one hour journey west to Iceland’s capital city Reykjavik for a day visit. Here there are plenty of optional excursions to choose from, including whale watching, or simply take some time to walk the streets and soak up the atmosphere of this lively city.

Drive to Keflavik, drop off your rental vehicle and fly back to your destination.

Prices and Departures

Price from £511 excluding flights

Airfares vary widely and are quoted separately to the holiday price, starting from around £250pp return with Icelandair and British Airways, though may be lower with Play or EasyJet. We'll provide the best fare available at the time of enquiry, which tend to be cheaper the earlier you book.

UK Airports with flights direct to Iceland are Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. We can also arrange flights from non-UK destinations. Discover more »

What's Included

  • Accommodation in self catering properties
  • Car rental throughout with unlimited mileage
  • No charge for additional driver
  • 24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
  • No surcharge guarantee
  • Full financial protection

From prices per adult

Based on 2 adults. Up to 2 children aged 11 years or under travel free of charge. Price includes cottage accommodation and car hire. Prices for other combinations of passengers and rooms available on request. Prices may vary depending on departure date. Please contact us for a detailed quote based on your preferred travel dates, vehicle category and style of accommodation, or to tailor this itinerary.

Departure Duration Car category* Price
May 7 nights D - Skoda Octavia (4WD) £599
Jun - Aug 7 nights D - Skoda Octavia (4WD) £751
Sep 7 nights D - Skoda Octavia (4WD) £599
Oct - Apr 7 nights D - Skoda Octavia (4WD) £511

 

* Choice of Vehicles

We would always recommend a 4WD for winter travel, but many clients also prefer the greater security and comfort that a larger vehicle provides year round – upgrade your vehicle from as little as £10 per person per day.

  • We can offer a wide range of rental vehicles for this holiday – our team will be happy to talk you through the options and provide a quote for the most suitable category based on your individual requirements.
  • Our long-standing relationship with the local Europcar franchise means that our clients enjoy many exclusive benefits, including priority on the newest and best appointed vehicles available.
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Tailor made trips

As independent destination specialists, we are able to tailor make holidays to suit you, be that customising the itineraries shown on this website or creating something bespoke.

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Travelling sustainably

We believe travel is about finding the right balance between minimising our impact on the environment and broadening minds through new experiences and cultural interaction.