Iceland 9 Days Late March - Review Itinerary!
 

Hello everyone,

8 of us are planning a road trip to Iceland. We land on 27th March and leave on 4th April. We are experienced drivers (with atleast a couple with ample cold weather driving experience), and are all late twenties, very active and love and the outdoors. The only thing we are risk averse about is missing our outgoing flight, and hence need help planning as adventurous a trip as possible while keeping at least a 1-day contingency in case of any issues.

Based on different websites, this is the itinerary we are thinking of.

27th March: Land at 1:30 pm, pick up rental cars (2) and explore city.
28th March: Drive towards Vik for the night, and check out Skogafoss, Selfoss and the black sand beaches
29th March: Drive towards Hofn for the night, and check out Skaftafell National Park and the Glacier Lagoon
30th March: Drive towards Egilsstaðir for the night, and check out the East Fjords on the way
31st March: Drive towards Akureyri for the night, and explore Myvatn lake and Goðafoss waterfall on the way
1st April: Drive towards Saeberg for the night, Explore Akureyri during the day
2nd April: Drive towards Þingvellir National Park for the night, explore Deildartunguhver Hot Spring, Hraunfossar Waterfalls and Þingvellir National Park during the day
3rd April: Drive back towards Reykjavik after exploring the remaining golden circle highlights
4th April: Explore Reykjavik and the blue lagoon. Flight at 6:30 pm

Key questions:
- Does this make sense in late march considering weather? Both for driving conditions but also to maximize sights that are prettiest at that time
- What kind of cars are recommended? AWD with studded tires?
- Any sights we are missing that we shouldn't?
- Any pit-stops we should switch around?
- If you want to include some glacier hiking or ice cave exploring, when should we do that?

Thanks!

Just to clarify, this itinerary was recommended by a few tour operators, but I am fairly unsure of its viability. Another option I am exploring is:

Day 1: Arrive

Day 2-5: Drive out till Jökulsárlón and back: seeing Skogafoss, Selfoss, black sand beaches, Skaftafell National Park and the Glacier Lagoon. Perhaps glacier hiking on one day?

Day 6-7: Drive out till Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Day 8: Golden circle

Day 9: Reykjavik/ Blue Lagoon

Not quite your question but take a look at this. The area above the falls is amazing:

https://www.theoutbound.com/iceland/...bove-skogafoss

Thanks!

Alright, here is the close to final itinerary. Please provide inputs, especially if you see any days as being too full or too empty.

Day 1: reach and blue lagoon. Night in Reykjavik
Day 2: Golden circle. Night near Seljalandfloss
Day 3: Super jeep in Thorsmork (pick up in Seljalandfloss). Night near Seljalandfloss [seems to be a full day activity: https://www.extremeiceland.is/en/act...urs/thorsmork]
Day 4: Seljalandfloss, Skogafoss, Seljavallalug, Gljufrabui before heading to Skaftafell. Afternoon in Skaftafell. Night near Skafatell
Day 5: Ice caving or glacier hiking. [https://www.adventures.is/iceland/da...stal-ice-cave/ OR https://www.adventures.is/iceland/da...-the-glacier/]. Drive back to Reykjavik, and see the black sand beaches on the way. Night in Reykjavik
Day 6: Borgarnes, Deildartunguhver Hot Sprig and Hraunfossar Waterfalls. Night in Borgarnes.
Day 7: Self drive tour of Snaefellnes. [http://www.iheartreykjavik.net/2015/...es-peninsula/]. Night in Snaefellnes
Day 8: Reykjanes Peninsula. Night in Reykjavik
Day 9:Reykjavik and depart.

Questions:
- Is any one day too bare or too heavy?
- Any preferences on the activities I have chosen? How about glacier hiking here instead: https://www.adventures.is/iceland/da...ours/blue-ice/ instead of the ones I havehighlighted.
- Does it make sense to do a more guided tour in Snaefellnes
- Any key activities you recommend in the southern peninsula

Thanks

Wish I could help but we focussed on a hike in your day 3/4 areas. I only hope that you get high enough to view some of the spectacular vistas.

Looks like a fabulous trip.