While group tours are ideal for meeting like-minded travellers and sharing the joy of activities with others, people prefer private tours for their added flexibility, personalized pace, and exclusive experience. Such custom tours in Iceland can be personalised to individual needs, allowing for a more intimate experience. On a private trip, you can opt for a bespoke itinerary, choosing to spend time at the cultural sites and within the natural landscapes that most appeal.
In this article, we’ll consider the advantages of taking a tailor-made approach, take a look at some of the top destinations for Iceland private tours and offer practical advice to those considering travelling in this way. Here’s what you need to know about private travel in Iceland.
The benefits of opting for a private tour in Iceland
Flexibility
One of the biggest benefits of taking a private tour is the flexibility to set your own agenda and, in many cases, adjust plans on the fly. This is especially valuable in Iceland, where unpredictable weather, rapidly changing road conditions, and the sheer variety of landscapes can make rigid schedules challenging.
With no other tourists to accommodate, you can linger longer at a breathtaking waterfall, skip a stop if heavy rain rolls in, or take an impromptu break to soak in a moment of unexpected beauty—like pulling over at the first safe spot to admire a rainbow stretching across the sky. A private tour gives you the freedom to embrace the journey on your own terms, making spontaneous choices that enhance your experience rather than sticking to a strict itinerary.
Space
Iceland’s top visitor destinations are world-class, but that can sometimes mean that they feel crowded at peak times. One advantage of opting for a private tour is that you can schedule your visit to miss the busiest times, perhaps heading to the most popular spots earlier or later in the day.
Revisit regions without overlap
Many travelers are so enchanted by Iceland that they return—sometimes again and again. With each visit, the urge to venture further off the beaten path often takes precedence over revisiting the well-known highlights. While group tours tend to follow the same well-trodden routes, opting for a private tour allows you to explore familiar regions from a fresh perspective, discovering hidden gems that most visitors never see.
Take the area around Skógafoss, for example—while this mighty waterfall is a must-see for first-time visitors, there are countless lesser-known waterfalls within just a 30-minute circuit, each with its own unique charm. Yet, because group tours focus on the most iconic sights, scheduled day tours rarely include these hidden cascades.
Travelers experiencing the South Coast for the first time often prioritize the major highlights, leaving little room to venture off-course for the so-called “smaller” wonders. With a private tour, you’re free to break away from the crowds, step off the usual path, and immerse yourself in the quieter, equally breathtaking corners of Iceland that most travelers miss.
Personalised experiences and deeper connection
Going bespoke doesn’t just mean curating the places you visit—it also allows you to incorporate personalized experiences that align with your passions. Whether you want to stalk a rare bird, wait for the perfect light to capture a striking photograph, or linger at a location that resonates with you, a private tour ensures your interests shape the journey.
Having your own personal guide takes the experience to another level. Instead of being just another face in a group, you become a guest with the opportunity to form a real connection. With time for meaningful conversations, you can gain deeper insights into Icelandic nature, culture, and everyday life—far beyond what’s covered in standard tour commentary. Your guide can share personal stories, local legends, and off-the-beaten-path recommendations, enriching your experience in a way that goes beyond sightseeing.
Incorporate luxury elements
Though private tours and luxury tours don’t have to be the same thing, in practice there is often some overlap, such as in terms of the vehicle that’s used or the overnight accommodation. In Iceland, luxury tours enable you to create the trip of a lifetime against a backdrop of some of the world’s most incredible scenery.
Family friendly
Families travelling with young children will appreciate how unpredictable that can be. Seemingly insignificant things such as being out in the cold for a while, minor interruptions to sleep patterns or simply being bored or hungry can impact on plans. While self-drive itineraries can appear to be the answer, you’ll want to spend quality time with each other and concentrating on the road can make that difficult. Opting for a private tour means you can all enjoy the fun together.
Top Iceland destinations for private tours
On a private tour you can literally go anywhere, but there are many extraordinary parts of Iceland that you’ll want to include in your itinerary. Here’s a sample of the most popular:
The Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is one of the world’s greatest sightseeing routes. Within a stone’s throw of Reykjavik, you can watch a geyser shoot a jet of boiling water and steam high into the air and witness the power of water as the Hvitá River plunges into a steep sided gorge creating a glorious waterfall in the process.
It’s no surprise that Geysir and Gullfoss are two of Iceland’s most popular visitor destinations, and their proximity to the Golden Circle’s third major attraction, Þingvellir National Park, only makes them more enticing. Yet this popularity can bring challenges, not least the number of people with whom you might have to share these stellar sights.
On our Private Golden Circle Tour , you set the pace and choose the timings to optimise your experience. There’s also the option to further customise the tour by adding a snowmobile ride or super jeep tour as a fun extension to the day’s sightseeing.
Snæfellsnes Peninsula
West Iceland’s Snæfellsnes Peninsula is close enough to the capital for it to be achievable in a day trip, yet sufficiently different to give you an insight into how dramatic and beautiful the Icelandic countryside can be. The rocky shore has been sculpted into cliffs, stacks and arches by the powerful waves that batter this coastline.
Black sand beaches have a stark beauty; meanwhile, at Ytri-Tunga, look out for seals that haul out on the kelp-strewn rocks that litter the golden sands. Inland, the glacier-clad peak of Snaefellsjökull rises within the national park, wild and mysterious.
Here and there, cute churches stand sentinel in bucolic settings, while bustling fishing ports like Ólafsvík offer a glimpse into everyday life on the peninsula. Kirkjufell (Church Mountain) is the biggest prize of all, an iconic peak framed by a pair of photogenic waterfalls. Sign up for our Private Snæfellsnes Tour and let us tailor a marvellous day out just for you.
The Silver Circle
The Silver Circle route is overshadowed by its showier neighbour, the Golden Circle, and overlooked by those dazzled by the charms of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. But this hidden gem, barely more than an hour from the capital, is fast becoming a poorly kept secret as travellers discover its charms. Among them are the twin waterfalls of Hraunfossar, which spills over the edge of an ancient lava field, and Barnafoss, whose turbulent waters provide the setting for a tragic folklore tale of loss and suffering.
Ascending into the Highlands, Iceland’s youthful geology is apparent as you reach Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring. On our Private Silver Circle and Glacier Super Jeep Tour, combine this captivating area with a visit to Langjökull, the country’s second largest glacier and home to a jaw-dropping manmade ice cave that’s accessible all year long.
The South Coast
Our Private South Coast Tour opens up one of Iceland’s most amazing regions. Here, mountainous plateaux dripping with waterfalls give way to vast glacial outwash plains where braided rivers meander towards the ocean. Step behind Seljalandsfoss and climb up beside Skógafoss to get a different perspective on the lie of the land. Beyond, black sand beaches line the coast, most famously Reynisfjara, whose notorious sneaker waves add a frisson of danger to a stroll along the shore.
At nearby Dyrhólaey, in summer, watch comical puffins come and go with food for their chicks. This is the season when there’s more daylight to play with, so you might choose to venture further east, the icebergs that are washed up by Atlantic breakers onto Diamond Beach glitter like gems in the sunshine. Follow them inland to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where they bob around beside frolicking seals. Alternatively, add on an activity: snowmobiling, an ATV buggy ride, a guided glacier hike, kayaking on a glacial lagoon, horse riding or a lava cave tour.
Landmannalaugar
Summer visitors should consider our Private Landmannalaugar Tour. This colorful geothermal wonderland, nestled deep in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve, is accessible only in summer when the F-roads open to 4x4s.
Traveling by super jeep, you’ll journey through rugged terrain, cross glacial rivers, and visit hidden gems unreachable by standard tours. Along the way, stop at the basalt-framed Hjálparfoss, the waterfall-filled Sigöldugljúfur canyon, and, if conditions allow, take in views of Hekla volcano.
Once in Landmannalaugar, tailor the experience to your preference—soak in the geothermal hot springs or embark on a guided hike through the vibrant rhyolite mountains and Laugahraun lava field. A private tour lets you set your own pace, explore off-the-beaten-path wonders, and fully immerse yourself in Iceland’s untamed beauty.
Þórsmörk
For those seeking an off-the-grid adventure, a Private Þórsmörk Tour is the ultimate way to experience Iceland’s remote highland wilderness. Nestled between three mighty glaciers—Eyjafjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull, and Tindfjallajökull—Þórsmörk (Thor’s Valley) is a lush, sheltered oasis known for its dramatic landscapes, braided glacial rivers, and striking contrasts between green valleys and rugged volcanic terrain.
Getting to Þórsmörk is an adventure in itself. Traveling by super jeep, you’ll navigate rough highland tracks and cross multiple glacial rivers, something only specially modified vehicles can handle. Along the way, you’ll stop at Gígjökull, a glacier outlet from Eyjafjallajökull, where you can witness the lasting effects of the 2010 eruption. You’ll also visit Stakkholtsgjá canyon, a mesmerizing gorge with towering cliffs and a hidden waterfall at its heart.
Once in Þórsmörk, you decide how to experience it. Choose a scenic hike along ridgelines with jaw-dropping panoramic views, wander through lush birch forests, or relax in this secluded valley, soaking in the tranquility. With a private tour, there’s no rush—just the freedom to explore one of Iceland’s most beautiful and untouched landscapes on your own terms.
Anywhere: The Northern Lights
Iceland’s a super place to catch sight of the ethereal Aurora Borealis and to maximise your odds of seeing this incredible natural phenomenon we’d recommend you book our Private Northern Lights Tour. On a clear dark night, head into the countryside as a passenger in one of our super jeeps, specially-adapted vehicles that are capable of handling even the bumpiest rural tracks.
Your guide will monitor the meteorological data carefully as the evening progresses, chasing starry, cloud-free skies in the hope of a sighting. There’s no predicting where you might end up – maybe the Golden Circle, Reykjanes or the South Coast – but if you’re lucky enough to witness these colourful ribbons and curtains as they dance overhead it will surely be a memory you’ll treasure for the rest of your life.
Tips and practical advice for creating a private tour itinerary
Customising a tour to suit your own needs means that you don’t spend a moment of your precious vacation waiting for a tardy guest to show up or doing something you don’t enjoy. Communication is crucial, and if you’re hoping to create the holiday that’s perfect for you then you need to consider a number of factors as you plan your Iceland private tour.
Tap into expert knowledge
Planning a holiday can be time-consuming and tricky; that can be hard to accommodate if you have a demanding job or lots going on at home. If you’re travelling to Iceland for the first time, planning a trip can be overwhelming as there is so much on the internet or social media that you’re encouraged to see and do. Figuring out what to add in and what to leave out can be hard, but experts will use their local knowledge to make suggestions and separate the places where quick pit stops will suffice from those that deserve a more in-depth look.
Discuss your interests
While a tour operator is putting together a bespoke itinerary, the more information you can supply, the easier it becomes to give you what you’ll most enjoy. For instance, you might be a keen hiker, get your kicks from adventurous thrills and spills on quad bikes or snowmobiles, have a passion for history, music and culture, enjoy a spot of birdwatching or have an enthusiastic interest in photography or geology. Regardless, it’s a good idea to share what makes you happy so you can spend your time in Iceland doing what you love.
Consider the season
Holidaying in Iceland in summer is very different to visiting in winter and so taking a “one size fits all” approach isn’t helpful. In general, if you come outside the peak summer season you should take into account fewer hours of daylight – don’t try to cram too much in – and a greater chance of bad weather. Yet there are advantages too, such as the opportunity to go on a Northern Lights hunt and the chance to see the country’s most iconic landmarks under a pretty blanket of snow.
Private tours versus custom packages?
Sometimes a pick and mix approach can feel right. You might have some of your itinerary clear in your mind or a favourite hotel that’s already been recommended, yet want to go bespoke when you travel to a particular region. Perhaps you’re meeting up with friends and family for part of your trip. While a custom package with a pre-planned itinerary can sometimes be a fit, other times you might prefer to head out on a more personalised private tour for a day or more. We’ve written a full article to help you decide what’s best for you: a private tour or a vacation package.
No matter which of our Iceland private tours you choose, the ability to set your own pace while seeing and doing the things that really interest you is a real treat. Spoil yourself and explore the Land of Fire and Ice your way.
