Highlight Tour of Iceland: 8-Day Self Drive Vacation

My wife and I are back from seven days of road-tripping along Iceland's south coast from Reykjavik to Kirkjubæjarklaustur and back to Borgarnes along the west coast on a trip planned by our Zicasso travel specialist.

The Land of Fire and Ice truly lives up to its name and the hype. Our itinerary was packed with what felt like two weeks of experiences in a single week. We’re exhausted, but we feel deeply connected to nature and are thrilled to have seen so much of Iceland. The vast volcanic landscapes, moss-covered mountains, and pearl-white glaciers were simply breathtaking.

We visited waterfalls, explored an ice cave, walked black-sand beaches, boated through a glacial lagoon, spotted a rainbow over Vatnajökull glacier, wallowed in hot springs, and enjoyed some much-needed retail therapy in Reykjavík. To top it off, celebrating our decade together alongside a serendipitous waterfall-side wedding was very special. We were also lucky enough to catch the Northern Lights on both clear nights of our trip.

Working with our Zicasso specialist was fantastic. Since we drove ourselves, everything was mapped out in a nifty travel app containing all our tickets, timing recommendations, live Google Maps links, and ongoing support. We never felt rushed, stressed, or confused. Aside from adjusting to driving on the right side of the road (we drive on the left in SA), we didn't have to think about a thing. All activity and hotel bookings were taken care of. We just showed up and had an incredible time.

We will definitely return. Next time to tackle the full Ring Road loop.

Oh, and some top tips from the locals:

Never call an Icelandic horse a pony (and don't feed them).

Hold onto your car door in high winds. Gusts can literally rip them off their hinges.

Respect the Huldufólk (Hidden People). Leave stones where they are so you don't bring home a curse!

Protect the ecosystem and do not walk on the moss.

Skip bottled water. Iceland's tap water is among the cleanest in the world.

We selected Zicasso's tour company to assist us with arranging a 12-day self-driving tour around the entire island of Iceland starting in mid-May. In addition to visiting and hiking the many wondrous geological sites on our own, we wanted to schedule some tours to reach areas we couldn't by ourselves, along with a few stops at the local hot springs.

The trip planner carefully listened to our wants and needs during an initial video call, and then curated a custom travel plan with all event, rental car, and hotel bookings pre-arranged and pre-paid. We just needed to show up, drive around the country, and enjoy, and that's just what we did.

His planned itinerary matched our interests very well, leaving just enough time between regions and sites to cover 95% of his recommendations. I was able to fully indulge in my photography, while the wife and I got to enjoy some spectacular tours (whale and puffin boat ride, a glacier climb, ice lagoon boat ride, ATV tour, super Jeep tour, yet another whale boat ride, and a delicious lunch at a tomato farm). All of the tour operators were friendly, entertaining, and capable, so they were well selected for us.

We stayed at eight different hotels, ranging from the typical chain in Reykjavík to mostly boutique hotels in stunning locations along the Ring Road. Our favorite (for the food) was a cabin operated by a local farmer whose farm-fresh meals were simply extraordinary. All of the hotels were clean and comfortable, and not too distant from the previous accommodation or the activities and sightseeing stops.

Several times, I texted the trip planner for help arranging dinner reservations, finding unique stores, or alerting the hotel of our late arrival or early departure. He came through every time without delay. Having a local Zicasso agent like him, with expert knowledge and 24/7 assistance, is invaluable for the peace of mind essential for a successful trip in a foreign land.

If we had any regrets, it was in not allowing ourselves a more relaxed pace and extended stay in Iceland. The typical tourist to Iceland spends less than 10 days there, so we thought an additional two days was a luxury. However, covering 2,100 miles in 12 days, with numerous and frequent stops, is no easy feat. Sleep was often a luxury, as we often stayed out late for the 10:30 sunset, only to start out early the next morning for a 7:30 breakfast and departure to the next destination. This was certainly no fault of the trip agent, as he made sure our travel was as trouble-free as it was. We will surely use this travel company’s services for a return trip.

Easy to work with. Fantastic holiday! Two weeks driving the Ring Road in Iceland, four days in Stockholm, then four more in Copenhagen. Ten hotels, tours, a car, mineral baths. All flawlessly planned. Zicasso's travel specialists were so helpful and communicated throughout the trip.

Iceland is beautiful and makes for the most unique and amazing vacation! Zicasso’s travel company arranged a breathtaking and comprehensive itinerary for our vacation. It included all the big, important stops like the Blue Lagoon, Northern Lights boat tour, and Hallgrimskirkja church. But our trip also took us all the way to the east side of the country to see Diamond Beach, a blue ice-cave tour, and a glacier hike. Our itinerary included all of the beautiful stops in between, so we saw waterfalls, volcanic formations, and museums.

We stayed in our lodge in Iceland to see the Northern Lights. Every hotel selected was cozy, comfortable, and welcoming. And the food was delicious everywhere. A surprising highlight was a tomato farm—a delicious meal in a beautiful restaurant inside the greenhouse! Their wine bar was even more beautiful!

This was our second trip through Zicasso and we are already starting to dream up the next destination...

Zicasso's travel specialist and her team helped us plan a fantastic family vacation in Iceland. They arranged the rental car, hotels, itinerary, and activities based on our input and desires. It's a beautiful country, with so much to see and experience! Don't miss the Sky Lagoon, glacier boat tour at Diamond Beach, ziplining near Vík, and whale watching in Húsavík. So many stunning waterfalls, canyons, and hikes!

Zicasso’s travel specialist was outstanding! He had an app with all our travel plans well organized and easily accessible, which was so helpful! He chose great hotels, recommended delicious restaurants, helped us with reservations, and checked in on us several times during our trip to see if we needed anything.

The highlight of the trip was the Super-Jeep tour he suggested when we first chatted about what we wanted to see. He really listened to our ideas and came up with an amazing trip at the pace we wanted.

I would highly recommend using his services to anyone visiting Iceland.