A Step-By-Step Guide to Iceland Travel Self-Drive Trips
Updated 17 May 2023
Have you decided to let your dream of visiting Iceland come true? Fancy a flexible tour where you can be in the driver’s seat, literally? Great! We’re here to help you pick the perfect Iceland Travel road trip with our handy step-by-step guide. Just follow these easy steps and you’ll soon find yourself on the wide open roads of Iceland.
Step 1
Choose Your Adventure
With so many great options to choose from, you might feel a bit overwhelmed when it comes to picking the perfect tour for you. Iceland Travel has 29 different self-drive packages of various lengths, covering different areas of the country, so everyone should be able to find something to suit his or her taste.
Our favorites include the Spectacular West road trip, which takes you to the magical West Fjords, a less-travelled part of Iceland that retains a traditional feel with breathtaking landscape and stops at quaint fishing towns with friendly locals. If you are traveling with a family or like to take it easy with the driving, the Leisurely South Iceland trip lets you discover this part of Iceland at a relaxed pace. You’ll stay more than one night in each area. For those who want to take the time to see as much as they can, the Iceland Odyssey is a fantastic choice. This 12 day circle route takes you all around the island so you can experience the unique qualities and geological diversity of each area. It offers the flexibility to spend a little more time in your favorite place and lets you discover wonders you’d never know about otherwise.
Step 2
Book It!
Once you’ve found the ideal tour for you there’s nothing left but to book it! Send a booking request to us through the agent website or send us an email to bookings@icelandtravel.is and we’ll get started on your client’s trip! We’ll send you electronic travel documents that you can give your clients. You will also receive a QR code with our Iceland Travel App so you can access your travel map and start planning before your trip! team is here to take care of you and make sure you’ll get the Iceland trip of your dreams.
Step 3
Arrive in Iceland
The day is finally here and you’ve arrived in Iceland. Welcome! All our road trips come with a rental car as part of the package so all you have to do once you’ve collected your luggage is find the car rental desk in the arrivals lounge and pick up your car. Your car rental company and booking number will be on the travel documents you received after confirming your booking.
Once you’ve got your car you’ll head to your first hotel, also part of the package, and freshen up after your flight. We recommend a stop at the world famous Blue Lagoon for a refreshing soak in bright blue geothermal waters.
Step 4
Start your adventure
Get ready to start your Iceland Adventure! Your travel documents include your itinerary and the names of the hotels we’ve booked for your stay, so you’ll always know where you’re staying each night and can adjust your travel plans and route accordingly. You can also find your hotels and check-in/check-out dates in your Iceland Travel app.
To get started using your app, you’ll use the QR code sent with the travel documents. You’ll find your basic itinerary in the app, a road book in several different languages, thousands of points of interest around the country, plus other features which we will discuss in detail below.
Your rental includes free, unlimited in-car Wi-Fi that you can use to help you navigate with your mobile device. The app is a perfect complement, as it lets you know of interesting places to stop and have a look around. Driving in Iceland can be different from what you’re used to so make sure you check out our Do’s and Don’ts of driving in Iceland, the local weather forecast and road conditions before you set off. Armed with all this information, you’re ready to head off into the vast, open spaces of Iceland.
Step 5
Enjoy your freedom
Our road trips are designed to be flexible to afford you the freedom to explore and get to know the country on your own. I should add, all of our car rentals include unlimited mileage, so you don’t have to worry about paying extra even if you are driving a lot. Worried about safety? All of our road trips include CDW insurance. As long as you make it back to your hotel every night, you are free to visit all the sites in the area that interest you. Again, this is where the app can prove invaluable.
Our dedicated team works hard to add to the over thousand points of interest, with even more sites and detailed information on the history, folklore and geographical information on each. It’s like having your very own tour guide in the car with you! By allowing you to control your own time, the Iceland Travel road trips gives you a bespoke experience tailored to your needs. You can stop for lunch wherever and whenever you want and large families won’t have to wait for approved bathroom breaks. You’re the boss!
We’ve recently added a Book a Day Tour feature to the app so if you’re in an area where you fancy a bit of extra fun, you can now book it through the app. Just make sure you have a strong internet connection while booking a day tour so you can get an immediate confirmation. Easy peasy!
Step 6
Time to Say Goodbye
Like all good things, your Iceland stay must come to an end. Enjoy your last night at your hotel before driving back to the airport for your flight back home. Once at the airport you drop your car and tablet off at the desk and wave goodbye to Iceland. We hope you have a safe trip home and that you’ll come back soon to do some more exploring!
