5 Days Self-Drive Tour with Pick Up – Northern Lights Adventure Camper´ Break

The best thing about this five-day Iceland trip is the mix of planned sightseeing and private road travel. You get a ready-made route covering hot springs, waterfalls, black beaches, glaciers, and Reykjavík, but you travel in your own camper rather than on a large coach.

I like the included airport shuttle and campsite fees, which remove two common hassles. I also like the practical support: CampEasy supplies Wi-Fi, a guide tablet, kitchen gear, bedding, and a camper built for cold conditions. The main catch is the pace. Five days is short for this much ground, and parking, fuel, food, and optional stops can add to the advertised price.

Key points at a glance

• A five-day private road trip: Only your group takes part, with no coach schedule or strangers sharing your vehicle.
• A serious south-coast route: You reach Reynisfjara, Skaftafell, Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach, and the Katla Ice Cave.
• Useful inclusions: Airport transfer, campsite fees, Wi-Fi, a guide tablet, booked activities, and zero-risk coverage are included.
• Strong camper equipment: Heating, kitchen supplies, bedding, and clean, well-maintained vehicles are central to the experience.
• Golden Circle with a local food stop: Fontana includes geothermal bathing and a rye-bread experience cooked by underground heat.
• Northern Lights flexibility: The camper gives you freedom to watch the sky, but no aurora sighting is guaranteed or listed as a separate guided hunt.

Starting near Keflavík with a practical camper pickup

Your trip begins at CampEasy’s office at Selvík 5 in Keflavík, about five minutes from the international airport. A free shuttle can collect you at Keflavík Airport or at one of 12 selected hotels in the Keflavík area, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

That transfer is more useful than it may sound. After a flight, you do not need to arrange a taxi or work out public transport with luggage. At the office, you collect the camper, receive the guide tablet, and get the information needed to handle the vehicle and campsite routine.

The driver must be at least 20 and must show a valid international driving license that is valid for the vehicle and has been held for at least 12 months at pickup. Check this carefully before paying. Some activities also have a minimum age of eight.

CampEasy’s camper setup is aimed at simple, independent touring. The included equipment covers kitchen supplies and bedding, while the heating system matters greatly in Iceland. Several customers specifically praised the warm, comfortable vans, strong batteries, tidy interiors, and smooth handover. Staff members named in the service responses include Lidia, Natalia, Florentina, Nicole, and Kamila.

The vehicle is not just transport. It is your sleeping space, kitchen, storage area, and base for the whole trip. You should be comfortable with close quarters and with keeping the van organized. In return, you avoid checking into a different hotel each night.

Day one: Reykjanes geology before the road turns east

The first day stays on the Reykjanes Peninsula, a sensible start after arriving in Iceland. The Bridge Between Continents gives you a quick, memorable lesson in plate movement. You can stand at the point where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are described as pulling apart.

Allow about 45 minutes here. It is a simple stop, not a full-day attraction, but it helps explain why Iceland has so much geothermal activity.

Next comes Gunnuhver, an active geothermal area with steam vents, hot mud pools, and mineral-colored ground. The air can smell strongly of sulfur, and the steam adds drama, but stay on marked paths. This is hot, unstable ground, not a place for casual wandering.

Kleifarvatn is the longer stop, with about 70 minutes allowed. Iceland’s largest lake on the Reykjanes Peninsula is also among its deepest, reaching almost 100 meters. Its dark water, old moss-covered lava, and bare surroundings make a sharp contrast with the steaming ground at Gunnuhver.

The first day is not overloaded with driving, which is helpful after a flight. Still, you need to collect the camper early enough to make the stops worthwhile. If your arrival is late, confirm how the pickup window affects the route.

Day two: the Golden Circle, hot rye bread, and two famous waterfalls

Day two packs in the Golden Circle and part of the south coast. Þingvellir National Park comes first, with about 80 minutes to walk around the historic and geological site. This is where the continental plates are visible in the ground, and where Iceland’s national assembly met in the past.

The park itself is free, but parking costs extra. That small charge is easy to miss, and it is one of several costs not included in the tour price.

Laugarvatn Fontana is the most distinctive stop of the day. The visit includes a rye-bread experience at 11:45 a.m., when the dough is cooked in geothermal ground, followed by time in the warm baths overlooking the lake. This combination gives you more than another hot pool. You get a taste of Icelandic food culture and a pause from driving.

Fontana takes about two and a half hours, so timing matters. The itinerary also suggests Friðheimar, a geothermal tomato farm and restaurant with horse breeding and horse shows. It is not included, and you must book it yourself by email or phone. Adding it may be worthwhile, but the day is already full.

At Geysir, Strokkur regularly sends a column of hot water up to about 15 meters. You may wait only a few minutes for an eruption, though the exact timing is never promised. Give yourself 45 minutes to walk around the geothermal field and see more than the main viewing point.

Gullfoss follows, with another 45 minutes. The waterfall drops in two stages into a narrow gorge, and wind-driven spray can make the paths wet. Good footwear and a waterproof layer will help.

The day then shifts south to Seljalandsfoss, where you can walk behind the 60-meter waterfall when conditions allow. The route behind the fall is a memorable feature, but spray makes the path slippery. The two hours and 15 minutes allowed here may also include nearby sightseeing and the parking process. Parking is not included.

Skógafoss closes the day’s main sightseeing. Meltwater from Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers feeds this broad, powerful fall. You get one hour to hear the roar, feel the spray, and look for rainbows in the mist.

This is a rewarding day, but it is also the first point where the schedule can feel tight. Fontana, Geysir, Gullfoss, two waterfalls, and driving between them leave little room for long meals or slow walks.

Day three: black beaches and a Katla ice cave

Vík is the base for the most adventurous booked activity. The village sits on Iceland’s south coast near black sand and glacier country. The Katla Ice Cave trip begins at 9:30 a.m. and lasts four hours, using a super jeep to reach the volcanic area.

The cave experience is built around the meeting of lava and ice at Katla Volcano. Conditions inside an ice cave can change, and the exact appearance of the ice is part of the experience. You should arrive at the meeting point 20 minutes early, as advised for paid activities.

This is one of the strongest reasons to choose the package instead of planning every piece yourself. The cave excursion is already booked, and the camper gives you a private base before and after it. You still need to respect the activity’s age rules and any instructions given on the day.

Reynisfjara comes next. Basalt columns rise along the cliff wall, and offshore rock formations sit in the Atlantic. The beach is beautiful, but the ocean is powerful. Keep well back from the water and do not turn your attention away from incoming waves simply because the beach looks calm.

Dyrhólaey adds a high coastal viewpoint, with a 120-meter rock formation and a large opening cut through it. It is also a bird area. The stop is short, so use the time for the view rather than trying to force a long walk.

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon takes about one hour and 45 minutes. Its winding form, river, and steep sides make it one of the south coast’s most memorable walks. The site also became widely known after appearing in a Justin Bieber music video, but its natural shape is the real reason to go.

At Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Systrafoss offers a quieter stop. A short hike toward the top can open broad views over the area. Stjórnarfoss is only about five minutes farther by car, so you can add it if energy and daylight allow.

Skaftafell National Park takes two hours. Paths lead toward Svartifoss, a waterfall framed by dark basalt columns. There is no admission charge for the park, but parking costs extra. Do not underestimate the time needed for the walk, especially in poor weather.

Day three is active and visually varied, but it asks a lot from you. The ice cave begins early, and the later stops involve walking, wind, and wet ground. It suits people who would rather collect strong experiences than spend a relaxed afternoon in one village.

Day four: ice on black sand at Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón

Diamond Beach is one of the trip’s most unusual sights. Ice blocks from the nearby glacier lagoon wash onto black sand, where they can look like pieces of glass or stone. They vary in size and shape, and the appearance changes with weather, tides, and the amount of ice reaching the shore.

You get about 90 minutes here. Stay clear of the surf and do not climb onto ice pieces. They may look solid, but the sea moves them.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is a short drive away. Icebergs break away from the Vatnajökull glacier, float in the lagoon, and then move toward the ocean. The lagoon is geologically young, having formed as the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier tongue began to retreat.

Only 40 minutes is listed for the lagoon, so expect a focused visit rather than a long outing. The water, floating ice, and glacier backdrop make this a place where even a brief stop feels worthwhile.

The route then turns toward Selfoss, where you spend the night. About four and a half hours is allowed for this part of the day, including the return drive and rest time. Selfoss is about 50 kilometers from Reykjavík and gives you a practical final base before the city portion of the trip.

This day is less crowded with separate attractions, but it involves a long return. You should plan food and fuel before leaving the glacier region. Food is not included, and fuel is listed as excluded in the cost details, although another inclusion line refers to gas as an extra. Ask CampEasy to explain exactly what is covered before booking.

Day five: Reykjavík icons and the return to Keflavík

The final morning begins at the Sun Voyager, Jón Gunnar Árnason’s steel sculpture by the sea. Its design expresses hope and freedom, and the mountain view behind it gives the short stop a strong sense of place.

Harpa Concert Hall is next. Its glass exterior draws on Icelandic natural forms, and you can enter the building without paying simply to look around. Parking is extra.

Hallgrímskirkja is close to central Reykjavík and the Rainbow Street area. Entry to the church is free, but the tower viewpoint costs extra. If the tower is open and you want a city panorama, this is the optional add-on worth considering.

The Blue Lagoon is suggested as a final soak before your flight. It is not included, and you must book it directly. The visit takes about two hours including driving from Hallgrímskirkja, so only add it if your flight time leaves a comfortable margin.

Finally, you return the camper at CampEasy. A free shuttle takes you to Keflavík Airport or to your selected Keflavík hotel. Allow enough time for the handover, especially if you have a flight to catch.

What the $1,125.85 price really covers

At $1,125.85 per person, this is not a cheap car rental. But it includes more than a vehicle. You receive a quality camper, zero-risk coverage, Wi-Fi, a guide tablet, campsite fees, an expert-planned route, booked activities, and airport transfers.

The included campsite fees matter because overnight costs can add up quickly in Iceland. Wi-Fi is also practical when you need directions, weather updates, or changes to your plans. One particularly useful feature is the support around changing conditions. CampEasy staff have supplied weather information and warnings about remote sites closing during holiday periods.

The strongest value comes if you use most of the included structure. A camper, ice cave trip, Fontana experience, campsites, and transfers would be expensive and time-consuming to arrange separately.

Budget extra for parking at Þingvellir, Seljalandsfoss, Skaftafell, Harpa, and possibly elsewhere. Fuel, meals, drinks, personal accident insurance, electricity and other campsite services, optional activities, traffic fines, flights, and the Blue Lagoon are also outside the main price. Confirm the fuel wording before you commit.

Who this camper break suits best

I would choose this for an independent pair, family, or small private group that wants Iceland’s major south-coast sights without joining a coach. It is especially useful if you like having a kitchen, sleeping in one vehicle, and making photo stops when the weather changes.

It also suits first-time camper users better than a bare-bones rental. The supplied bedding, kitchen equipment, heating, Wi-Fi, guide tablet, and support team reduce the learning curve. Recent customers have praised the clean vans, reliable heating, strong batteries, safe driving in snow and ice, and easy check-in and check-out.

I would hesitate if you want slow mornings, long hikes, or hotel comfort. The schedule covers a lot of ground, and a camper requires daily practical work. I would also hesitate if you are counting on seeing the Northern Lights. The vehicle gives you freedom to watch for them, but this itinerary does not promise a sighting or include a dedicated aurora guide.

Cancellation is flexible if you act at least 24 hours before the local start time. Canceling or changing later is not accepted for a refund.

Should you book this Iceland road trip?

Book it if you want a private, activity-filled south-coast route and value having the camper, campsites, airport shuttle, Wi-Fi, and key bookings arranged together. The Katla Ice Cave, Fontana rye bread, Diamond Beach, and Jökulsárlón give the five days real variety.

Skip it if you want an easy hotel holiday or a relaxed Iceland itinerary. The route is ambitious, optional costs are easy to overlook, and you must be ready to drive, cook, manage a small space, and adapt to weather. Before booking, confirm the exact camper model, fuel coverage, parking budget, activity age rules, and pickup timing. If those details fit your style, this is a practical way to see a great deal of Iceland in a short break.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at CampEasy, Selvík 5, 230 Keflavík, Iceland. Free pickup is available from Keflavík International Airport or a selected hotel in the Keflavík area.

Is airport pickup included?

Yes. CampEasy offers free pickup from Keflavík International Airport or one of 12 selectable Keflavík-area hotels between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

What is the minimum driver age?

The driver must be at least 20 years old. At pickup, the driver must show a valid international driving license suitable for the vehicle and valid for at least 12 months at that time.

Are campsites included?

Yes. Campsite fees are included, but electricity and other campsite services are not included.

Is the Katla Ice Cave tour included?

Yes. The four-hour Katla Ice Cave experience is included and starts in Vík at 9:30 a.m. You should arrive at paid activity meeting points 20 minutes early.

Are parking fees included?

No. Parking fees at places such as Þingvellir, Seljalandsfoss, and Skaftafell are not included. Parking at Harpa is also extra.

Is the Blue Lagoon included?

No. The Blue Lagoon is only a suggested extra. You must book and pay for admission yourself.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.