Eight days of winter road tripping across Iceland in a small group: a glacier and an ice cave, waterfalls, black beaches, the volcanic north and nights spent searching for the Northern Lights.
We have been travelling here for five years, in different seasons, in all kinds of weather and across different parts of the country. Over that time Iceland has become one of the destinations most associated with VABO Trips, and definitely one of our personal favourites.
We have driven these roads in sun, rain, snow and strong wind, and in conditions where Iceland very quickly reminded us who really sets the rules here. In winter, that experience matters even more.
Knowing Iceland is not just knowing where Gullfoss or Skógafoss are. Google Maps can tell you that too.
It means knowing which places are worth visiting at a particular time of day, which roads can become difficult in winter, where to stop if the weather suddenly changes, which popular spots are truly worth your time, and which less obvious places can unexpectedly become the highlight of the whole day.
And it means knowing when not to stick to the original plan.
Over five years of travelling in Iceland we have collected our own list of favourite roads, viewpoints, houses, small stops and places that rarely make it into a standard first-time itinerary. We will, of course, visit the iconic locations — they are famous for a reason — but we combine them with the Iceland we discovered ourselves over the years of coming back.
There is one more important difference: we travel in a small group and in our own cars.
No big tourist bus, no guide telling twenty-five people they have exactly seventeen minutes at the waterfall, and no rigid schedule forcing us to leave right when something incredible is happening.
If the weather gives us beautiful light, we stay longer. If we see something interesting, we stop. If the Northern Lights appear, sleep can wait. And if the conditions force us to change direction completely, we know Iceland well enough to turn a change of plan into a new adventure rather than a spoiled day.
After five years, we still keep coming back.
That probably explains our attitude towards Iceland better than anything else.
Glaciers, waterfalls, black beaches, geothermal water and nights under the sky.
A glacier hike and a natural ice cave, explored with professional glacier guides.
Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss among snow, ice and December light.
Basalt columns and huge North Atlantic waves.
Whenever the weather and aurora activity line up, we head out to search for them.
From the Golden Circle through the East Fjords to volcanic North Iceland.
Outdoor hot springs and a geothermal spa before heading home.
Winter Iceland is not just the summer version of the country covered in snow. It feels like a completely different place.
Days become shorter, the mountains turn white, waterfalls freeze around the edges, black beaches look even more dramatic, and roads disappear into endless winter landscapes. The sun stays low over the horizon, creating the soft Arctic light that photographers can usually wait hours for. And when darkness falls, one question keeps spinning in the back of your mind: will we see the Northern Lights tonight?
That is why winter is one of my favourite times to travel in Iceland.
Over eight days we will cross a huge part of the country by car: from Reykjavík and the Golden Circle along the wild South Coast to Vatnajökull and the glacier lagoons, then on through the remote east and all the way to North Iceland.
This is not a trip where we see three famous waterfalls and return to Reykjavík every evening. It is a true winter road trip across Iceland.
As we move through the country we change accommodation, which lets us go much deeper into Iceland and wake up among completely new landscapes almost every morning. One day it might be black beaches and waterfalls, the next a glacier, then frozen fjords, volcanic landscapes or snowy mountains somewhere in the north.
And because this is Iceland in December, the weather will always be part of our adventure. Snow can start unexpectedly, the wind can completely change conditions within an hour, and a road that looked perfectly fine in the morning can be something else entirely by the afternoon. That is why our programme is carefully planned, but never tied to the plan so tightly that we ignore real conditions.
We travel with Iceland, not against it.
If conditions change, we change the plan. If the sky suddenly clears and the aurora forecast looks promising, we may get back in the cars in the evening and go looking for it. If we find an incredible place along the way, we stop. And if Iceland decides we are definitely not driving a certain road today, we always have another idea.
That flexibility is not a compromise. It is part of a proper winter trip to Iceland.
Frozen waterfalls, geothermal landscapes, black volcanic beaches, enormous glaciers and ice caves are waiting for us. We will walk by the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, drive through the fjords of East Iceland, see the volcanic landscapes of the north and spend our evenings looking at the sky whenever conditions give us a chance to see the aurora.
But as on every VABO Trips journey, some of the best moments will most likely happen somewhere between the points written in the programme. A random road freshly covered in snow. A small hot spring in the middle of nowhere. Icelandic horses beside the road. Coffee while a snowstorm passes outside. A completely unexpected sunset. Or the whole team running out of the house in the middle of the night because someone shouted that the Northern Lights have appeared.
Iceland leaves you very little control.
And that is probably exactly why travelling here is so addictive.
We change accommodation as the journey unfolds. Open each day to see the plan.
The route and programme may change depending on weather and road conditions, road closures and the safety of individual activities.
We meet at Keflavík International Airport, collect our cars and officially begin our winter road trip.
The first stop is practical but important: groceries. During the trip we will often prepare breakfasts and dinners together in our houses, so before leaving the airport area we stock the cars with everything we need.
Depending on arrival times and weather, we use the rest of the day to ease into the Icelandic rhythm. We drive to our first accommodation, explore something interesting along the way if possible, and gather in the evening for our first dinner together.
We deliberately keep the first day fairly calm. Everyone has flown in from different places, collected their luggage and spent part of the day travelling, so there is no point turning it into a race straight away.
Unless Iceland itself decides otherwise.
Because from the very first evening we start following the aurora forecast. And if the sky is clear and conditions look promising, our adventure may begin a little earlier than planned.
Highlights Keflavík • First roads of Iceland • Our cars • Dinner together • First chance to see the Northern Lights
Today our journey really begins.
The route takes us around the Golden Circle, but we do it the VABO Trips way — not just ticking off three famous stops, but using the whole day to explore the landscapes around them.
We start in the Þingvellir National Park area, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are slowly moving apart. It is one of those places where you can literally see Iceland's geology rather than just read about it.
From here we continue through geothermal landscapes to the Geysir area, where the ground constantly reminds you that enormous geological forces are at work right beneath your feet. Strokkur regularly sends hot water high into the cold winter air, and among snowy landscapes it looks even more spectacular.
Next is Gullfoss. In winter, one of Iceland's most famous waterfalls changes completely: ice covers part of the canyon, snow lies all around, and a huge mass of water keeps thundering down through this frozen landscape.
But these are only the main points of the day. In between there will be our own stops, roads and places we have found over the years of travelling in this region.
And when darkness falls, the day doesn't necessarily end. If the forecast is good, we head out to hunt for the Northern Lights.
Highlights Þingvellir • Tectonic plates • Geysir & Strokkur • Gullfoss • Geothermal landscapes • Winter Iceland • Hunting for the Northern Lights
Today we leave our first house behind and head east along Iceland's legendary South Coast.
This is one of those days when the landscape barely gives you time to take in one place before something completely different appears.
We visit Seljalandsfoss, which falls from the high former sea cliffs onto the plain, and then continue to the mighty Skógafoss. In winter both waterfalls can be surrounded by snow and ice, turning familiar Icelandic scenes into something far more dramatic.
Later the landscape grows darker. We reach the black volcanic beaches around Vík and Reynisfjara, where basalt columns rise above the sand and huge North Atlantic waves crash onto the shore.
It is an incredible place, but it demands respect. Sneaker waves at Reynisfjara are genuinely dangerous, so we always keep a safe distance from the ocean.
Depending on the weather and the amount of daylight, we add a few of our favourite stops along the coast and then continue to our next accommodation farther east.
This is where the feeling of the trip starts to change. Reykjavík is far behind us, there are fewer tourists, the landscapes get bigger, and the real road trip begins.
After sunset we look at the sky again. Because in Iceland in December, every clear night is another chance.
Highlights Seljalandsfoss • Skógafoss • Vík • Reynisfjara • Black sand • The Atlantic Ocean • South Coast • Northern Lights*
Today we come face to face with one of Iceland's most powerful landscapes — Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier by volume.
We meet professional glacier guides, receive the necessary safety equipment and instructions, and head out onto the glacier. Depending on current conditions, the exact route and cave may change, because ice caves are natural formations that are constantly transformed by the movement, melting and freezing of the glacier.
And that is exactly what makes this experience so special.
We are not entering a permanent tourist attraction built inside the ice. We are entering something temporary, created by nature and never exactly the same two winters in a row.
Inside, layers of compressed ice create shades of blue and white, and sometimes seem almost transparent. Above us is a vast mass of glacier that has been forming for centuries.
After that we continue to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where icebergs break off the glacier and slowly drift across the lagoon towards the Atlantic. Across the road is Diamond Beach, where the ocean washes pieces of glacial ice back onto the black volcanic sand.
Black sand. Blue ice. Winter light.
Few places can explain better what Iceland is.
Later we continue east, leaving the most touristy part of the South Coast behind and entering a much quieter Iceland.
Highlights Vatnajökull • Glacier hike • Natural ice cave • Jökulsárlón • Diamond Beach • Icebergs • East Iceland
Today the main adventure is the road itself.
East Iceland is one of the quietest parts of the country, and in winter it can sometimes feel as if we are very far from the Iceland most tourists know.
Our route runs along fjords surrounded by steep mountains, small fishing villages and long stretches of road where there may be practically nobody around. Depending on conditions, this is one of the parts of Iceland where wild reindeer can sometimes be seen in winter, although, as always with wildlife, nothing can be guaranteed.
This is a deliberately flexible road-trip day.
We have a significant distance to cover towards North Iceland, but we also leave ourselves the freedom to stop whenever the landscape gives us a reason. A frozen waterfall, horses by the road, a completely empty fjord, or simply a view worth stepping out of the car for ten minutes.
By evening we reach the north and settle in the Akureyri area.
We have already crossed a huge part of Iceland.
And tomorrow the country changes again.
Highlights East Fjords • Remote Iceland • Fishing villages • Mountain roads • Possible reindeer sightings • The road north • Akureyri
North Iceland feels completely different.
Beneath the snowy landscapes lies one of the most geologically active regions of the country, creating an incredible contrast between winter on the surface and volcanic forces below.
The exact programme will depend heavily on road and weather conditions, but we dedicate this day to exploring the Lake Mývatn area and some of our favourite places in the north.
We may see snow-covered lava formations, steaming geothermal areas, volcanic craters and landscapes where hot steam rises straight through the snow. This is where Iceland's famous contrast between fire and ice shows itself, perhaps, in its purest form.
We also leave room in the programme for something Iceland does especially well — geothermal water.
After several days of winter roads, it is hard to imagine anything nicer than sitting outdoors in naturally heated water while the air temperature around you is below zero.
And when darkness falls, another opportunity appears. There is very little artificial light outside the towns of the north, so if the clouds clear and solar activity is on our side, perhaps today we will once again watch the aurora dance above the snowy mountains.
Highlights North Iceland • Lake Mývatn • Volcanic landscapes • Geothermal areas • Snow • Hot springs • Northern Lights*
Today we begin heading back towards West Iceland, but our adventure is far from over. Instead of turning this day into an ordinary transfer, we keep exploring the country along the way. Depending on winter road conditions, daylight and weather, we choose the best route and the most interesting stops available to us.
It is on days like this that our five years of travelling in Iceland help most. December couldn't care less about the route we planned a few months ago, so instead of promising one specific road at any cost, we always keep several possible options.
Our goal is to reach West Iceland in a way that keeps the day itself part of the adventure. It could be waterfalls, mountains, coastline, geothermal places or one of the small locations we discovered on previous trips.
By this point everyone is starting to understand Iceland a little better. You stop asking whether the weather will change and start asking when. You stop expecting every day to go exactly according to the original plan. And you realise that sometimes the unexpected route becomes the best one.
Today is also one of our last chances to see the Northern Lights. So if Iceland gives us a clear sky, we will take advantage of it.
Highlights Winter road trip • West Iceland • Secret stops • Changing landscapes • Flexible adventure • Northern Lights
Our final day is deliberately a little calmer. After a week of glaciers, waterfalls, black beaches, winter roads, snowstorms, geothermal landscapes and, we hope, more than one night under the Northern Lights, we head back towards Reykjavík and civilisation. Depending on departure times, we spend some time in the capital, stroll through the centre, have coffee and simply enjoy our last hours together. And before the drive to the airport, one more truly Icelandic experience awaits — relaxing in a geothermal spa. After thousands of kilometres on the road, early starts and days in the freezing Icelandic air, it is hard to imagine a better ending than sitting in warm geothermal water on a cold December day. But in the end, we do set off for Keflavík airport.
Eight days ago we arrived here as a group of people setting off on a winter trip. Now we are heading home with cars full of memories, phones full of photos and, most likely, at least one story about Icelandic weather that nobody at home will quite believe. And if our past experience is any guide, some of you will be back here again. We certainly were.
Highlights Reykjavík • Last morning • Geothermal spa • The last roads of Iceland • Keflavík • The way home
A chance to see the country in one of its most amazing, atmospheric and unpredictable seasons.
Winter Iceland is much more than famous landscapes covered in snow. It is a chance to see the country in one of its most amazing, most atmospheric and at the same time most unpredictable seasons.
After five years of travelling with VABO Trips, Iceland has long stopped being just another destination in our calendar.
It has become a little like a second home.
This trip does not require exceptional physical fitness. We have no multi-day hikes or technically difficult mountain routes, but winter Iceland asks for something else — flexibility and readiness for changing conditions.
In December, snow, strong wind, icy surfaces, rain and very quick changes in road conditions are all possible. Daylight is short, the wind can make the temperature feel much lower, and some activities involve walking on snow or slippery ground.
That is why the right clothing and footwear really matter here.
For the glacier hike and the ice-cave visit, professional guides provide the necessary technical equipment, and before the trip every participant receives a detailed list of personal items.
The biggest challenge is not the physical load but the intensity of the trip itself. In eight days we will see a large part of Iceland, which means long drives on some days, early starts and evenings that can unexpectedly turn into a Northern Lights hunt.
At the same time, every evening we return to comfortable accommodation. No tents or nights outdoors — after a day in the Icelandic winter, a warm house, a proper bed, a shower and the chance to recover before the next day are waiting for us.
There is one thing it is important to understand before the trip: the route through winter Iceland can change.
Road closures, wind, a snowstorm or icy conditions can affect the original plan. Visiting the glacier and the ice cave depends on current safe conditions. The Northern Lights depend on cloud cover and solar activity.
We cannot control any of these things.
But we can control how we react to them.
After five years of travelling in Iceland we are used to adapting the route to what the island gives us. Sometimes Plan B turns out to be far more interesting than Plan A.
This trip is for people who want to see much more of Iceland than Reykjavík and the Golden Circle in one weekend, and who understand that a winter adventure always comes with a certain unpredictability.
You should enjoy the road-trip format, be fine with a few hours in the car on some days, and be ready to step outside even when the weather doesn't look perfect for Instagram.
You should be able to laugh when Iceland changes our plans yet again, and be ready to leave a warm house late at night just because someone looked out of the window and shouted:
You don't need serious hiking experience, previous winter or Arctic travel, or exceptional fitness.
All you need is warm clothes, curiosity and a willingness to let Iceland surprise you.
Because after five years of travelling here, there is one thing I can say for sure:
it still keeps surprising even us.
The places and moments we come back for every year.
1–8 December 2026 · 8 days / 7 nights · 2 people per room
Ask about availabilityMessage Vabo directly on Instagram. Ask about availability, flights and how to join.
What is not included? Flights, food, personal expenses.
Important: the route and programme may change during the trip depending on weather and road conditions, road closures, the safety of individual activities and other circumstances beyond our control. In winter Iceland this flexibility is not a flaw of the programme but a necessary part of a safe and high-quality trip.
Stories from our adventures, told by the people who travel with us.
Vasyl is a fantastic travel companion and guide! His extensive experience of trips around Iceland really shows — he knows the country inside out. Thanks to his expertise and friendly approach I had truly unforgettable experiences. I wholeheartedly recommend Vasyl to anyone planning a trip to Iceland!
The trip with Vasyl was exactly what I was looking for in Iceland. I wanted a trip to more remote places — and I was not disappointed. We had 2 RAV4s that could reach remote spots. I would not have found these places on my own, and I would never have dared to drive across the many river crossings and F-roads without his support. The trip was well balanced between an active, packed itinerary during the day and very decent places to sleep.
Vasyl organised everything really well. We had a great time discovering Iceland. Definitely recommend travelling with him, and maybe we will go together again soon 😁 Thank you so much, my friend!
And so my Icelandic road trip adventure has come to an end! What an incredible experience: the geyser, the ice cave, watching whales and seals, black beaches, hot springs, plunging into the ocean, breathtaking glaciers and waterfalls, the magical Northern Lights and endless scenic views.
Thank you, @vabo_trips, for creating such an unforgettable trip!
for almost half my life I dreamed about Norway, and every year I think I will finally make that dream come true next yeaaaar. but this time I set the goal of making Iceland happen. let's be honest, Norway sounds a lot more realistic and easier than Iceland 😅 but big dreams deserve to come true too!
literally a couple of days after that spontaneous thought I wrote to @vabo_trips, booked my spot and started the countdown to the trip, keeping it a secret from everyone for half a year! 🤫 I chose Vasyl by following my heart 🥹. I didn't even look at or search for other organisers, I just saw his ad on Instagram, felt deep down that this was it, wrote to him — and that was it!
it was the most expensive and the best gift I have ever given myself for my 21st birthday, expensive above all in priceless experience and incredible memories rather than in the money spent, which I will never regret. but I will remember forever my first flight, my first Northern Lights, my first ocean, my first glaciers and their caves, my first waterfalls, my first geysers, my first fjords, my first whales, my first seals, my first steps on this untouched, unreal, fantastic, unique land. it was so incredible that I don't even know the words to describe it, but one thing is certain — everyone has to experience this feeling.
thank you for showing me this beauty, @vabo_trips 🥹 🙌
The overall difficulty is moderate. Exceptional fitness is not required: there are no multi-day hikes or technically difficult mountain routes. The main challenge is the intensity of the trip: long drives on some days, early starts and evenings that can turn into a Northern Lights hunt.
Yes, you can join as a solo traveller. Message us to discuss the group, room-sharing and current availability.
No, they can't be guaranteed: they depend on cloud cover and solar activity. We follow the forecast throughout the trip and head out to search whenever the weather and aurora activity line up.
Road closures, wind, a snowstorm or icy conditions can affect the original plan. Visiting the glacier and the ice cave depends on current safe conditions. We adapt the route to what the island gives us — sometimes Plan B turns out to be more interesting than Plan A.
Warm clothes and proper winter footwear. Before the trip every participant receives a detailed list of personal items, and for the glacier hike and ice-cave visit professional guides provide the necessary technical equipment.
In comfortable hotels, houses and cottages, 2 people per room. Every evening we return to comfortable accommodation: no tents or nights outdoors — a warm house, a proper bed and a shower.
Message Vabo on Instagram. A €300 deposit reserves your place, the second payment of €1,400 is due 45 days before the trip starts, and the remaining €600 is paid in cash when we meet before the trip.
Want to know more or have questions? Message Vabo on Instagram and we'll talk through your winter adventure.
Message us on Instagram@vabo_trips · Direct contact with the organiser