Is the Guide to Iceland 5-Day Summer Package Worth It? My Honest Review

In August 2023 I spent five summer days in Iceland with my friends David and Gabby on Guide to Iceland’s Amazing 5-Day Summer Vacation Package with Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. People keep asking me whether a package like this is worth it, or whether they should just rent a car and do it themselves. Here’s my honest take, based on how our trip actually went.

Some links in this post are affiliate links, including Guide to Iceland. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only link to things I’d book myself.

The short answer

For a first trip to Iceland with about five days, yes. We got the Blue Lagoon, the south coast waterfalls, Reynisfjara, Jökulsárlón, a glacier hike and the Golden Circle, and nobody in our group had to plan routes or drive the long south coast stretch. I’d do it the same way again.

What the package includes

According to Guide to Iceland’s listing today (check the page for your dates, since packages change):

• Round-trip airport transfers from Keflavík (KEF)
• 4 nights of hotels: 3 in Reykjavík and 1 near Vatnajökull National Park
• A 2-day south coast minibus tour, including Jökulsárlón
• A glacier hiking tour and a Golden Circle sightseeing tour
• A personal travel agent, a detailed itinerary and a 24/7 helpline

Extras like the Blue Lagoon, the Jökulsárlón boat ride, snowmobiling or horse riding are optional add-ons, and the itinerary can be customized after booking. Breakfast is included at most of the hotels.

Book it: See the 5-day summer package on Guide to Iceland

How our trip went

Our version looked like this. You can read the full day-by-day in my 5-day Iceland itinerary.

• Day 1: We landed in the morning and took the bus to our hotel in Laugardalur. In the afternoon we went to the Blue Lagoon, then had dinner at Kopar by the old harbor. (More in is the Blue Lagoon worth it?)
• Day 2: The 2-day south coast tour started: Seljalandsfoss (we walked behind it), Skógafoss (we climbed the stairs to the top) and Reynisfjara black sand beach, just outside Vík. Then the tour continued east for the night.
• Day 3: A boat ride among the icebergs at Jökulsárlón, then the long drive back to Reykjavík.
• Day 4: Sunrise from Hallgrímskirkja, then a three-hour guided glacier hike on Sólheimajökull with crampons, helmets and harnesses. My favourite thing we did.
• Day 5: We rented a car and drove the Golden Circle ourselves (Þingvellir, Geysir and Strokkur), then hiked to a viewpoint over the Fagradalsfjall lava fields.

The next morning we took the bus to the airport. Your days may be ordered differently. The listing today, for example, puts the Golden Circle tour on Day 2.

How it felt

Easy, in the best way. Transfers and the south coast tour were sorted, so we spent our energy on the sights, not on logistics. The 2-day tour was the real win: a night out east instead of a huge round trip in one day. It was a long drive back to Reykjavík on Day 3, but those two days gave us some of the most breathtaking views of our lives. We came back tired but happy.

Who it suits

• First-timers who want the big hitters in about five days.
• Groups of friends or couples where nobody wants to drive on gravel roads and single-lane bridges after an overnight flight.
• Planners who hate planning: hotels, transfers and the main tours come together in one booking.

It suits you less if you want total freedom over every stop, you’re staying longer, or you want to go beyond the south and southwest.

Package vs self-drive

Most Iceland guides assume you’ll rent a car and drive the Ring Road. We didn’t, and I don’t regret it. The package handled the long south coast stretch, including the night out east. We only rented a car on our last day for the Golden Circle and the lava fields, which are close to Reykjavík and easy to drive.

• Go package if it’s your first trip, you have five days or less, or nobody wants to drive.
• Go self-drive if you want full control of timing and stops, or you’re heading further than the south coast.
• The middle ground we ended up with (tours plus a car for one day) worked really well.

What it costs (approximate)

These are rough per-person estimates in USD, not what we paid. Prices change with season, hotel choice and group size, so always check current prices on the booking page.

• The 5-day package (4 hotel nights, transfers, main tours): roughly $1,400–$2,500. Flights not included.
• Food: about $60–$120 a day. A sit-down dinner in Reykjavík easily runs $50+.
• Optional extras: Blue Lagoon about $85–$150 depending on the ticket, and a Jökulsárlón boat ride about $50–$90.
• A one-day rental car if you do the Golden Circle yourself like we did: about $80–$150 per car, plus fuel.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Hotels, airport transfers and the main tours are handled in one booking.
• The 2-day south coast tour with a night out east avoids a brutal one-day round trip to Jökulsárlón.
• You have guides for the parts where a guide really matters, like the glacier hike.
• It’s flexible: you can add extras or change parts after booking.

Cons

• It costs more than a bare-bones self-drive trip.
• You follow tour timings, so there’s less freedom to linger at a stop you love.
• Days 2–3 involve a lot of time in the minibus.
• Popular extras, like the Blue Lagoon, still need booking ahead.

Extras worth adding

• Blue Lagoon: perfect on arrival day. See Blue Lagoon tickets
• Jökulsárlón boat ride: the closest you’ll get to the icebergs. See the amphibian boat tour
• Sólheimajökull glacier hike: if it isn’t already in your version of the package. See glacier hikes
• Volcano hikes on the Reykjanes Peninsula: eruptions come and go, so check the current status. See volcano tours

Free time in Reykjavík

The package leaves time in Reykjavík, and the listing suggests whale watching from the Old Harbour. We didn’t do it ourselves, but here are some options if you want to:

Final thoughts: is the Guide to Iceland 5-day package worth it?

Yes, for a first trip of about five days. You get the classic south and southwest highlights, with hotels, transfers and the long drives handled, so you can actually enjoy them. If you want total freedom or a longer Ring Road trip, self-drive instead. If you go package, add the Blue Lagoon on arrival day and consider renting a car for one day for the Golden Circle, like we did. For David, Gabby and me, it was exactly the right way to see Iceland for the first time.

Book it: See the 5-day summer package

FAQ

Is 5 days enough for Iceland?

For a first trip to the south and southwest, yes. You won’t see the whole country. For the full Ring Road, plan a week or more.

Do I need to rent a car with the package?

No. Transfers and the main tours are included. We chose to rent a car for one day to drive the Golden Circle and visit the lava fields at our own pace.

Is the Blue Lagoon included?

It’s an optional add-on, usually scheduled around your arrival or departure. Book it ahead, as it sells out.

When does the package run?

The listing shows availability from March to October. We went in August, with long days and all the tours running.

Can I change the itinerary?

Yes. Guide to Iceland says it’s customizable after booking, and you get a personal travel agent. Check current cancellation terms when you book.