Self-drive tours to the South Coast of Iceland

Aug. 12, 2015 - PRLog -- Iceland’s south coast is majestic, strewn as it is with volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, towns and history, plus it also happens to be one of the most accessible parts of the country. The best way to explore is by self-driving with the likes of Blue Car Rental, since you can see all the amazing sights at your own pace.

Despite it sounding remote and foreboding, the south coast of Iceland is nice and close to Reykjavik and the international airport; the latter residing somewhat in the southwest. It is very well served by road, with the main Route 1 running straight down to the south coast from Reykjavik and taking in many major landmarks on the way.

In fact, it splits right through the south, taking in all the towns and villages in the west and then coming down to the coast and back up towards Eyjafjallajökull glacier and Vatnajökull National Park. Before you get there, though, your self drive tour to the south coast of Iceland could easily incorporate a relatively short detour to the Golden Circle area.

This is the tourist hotspot that contains high profile geysers and waterfalls, namely Gullfoss. Þingvellir National Park is a major destination in itself on this loop.

Another stop-off point around Route 1 is the village of Vík. Black beaches and puffins are hot topics here. Kirkjubæjarklaustur is farther east again and somewhat of a gateway to Skaftafell, a stunning area loaded with massive glaciers. Vatnajökull National Park occupies this region, which is just outside the scope of the south coast but is a top detour nonetheless. The Jökulsárlón lagoon is farther around and boasts breathtaking icescapes fit for the movies.

The main safety concerns with driving in the south coast are when touring in the winter. There are mountain passes, narrow stretches and blind bends even on Route 1, so booking a vehicle with studded tires is a must. Blue Car Rental offers them on all cars from mid-October. Inland four-wheel touring on F roads in summer is also demanding, while caution should be observed while visiting beaches.

See www.bluecarrental.is for discounted cars on a south coast tour.