Golden Circle Iceland by Tour vs. Self-Drive: Pros and Cons

If you’re planning to visit Iceland, particularly if it’s your first ever trip, then there’s a good chance you’ve been thinking about doing the Golden Circle. This sightseeing route is a must, with incredible landscapes and cultural activities that sum up the essence of the country. Most travellers allocate a day to the stops on this scenic loop, but should you take a tour or is it better to self-drive? As public transport is very limited, let’s take a look at what you need to know about tours versus travelling independently. We’ll walk you through the main pros and cons to help you come to a decision that’s right for you.

Research and planning

Researching a self-drive itinerary for the Golden Circle can be time-consuming. There’s plenty of information on the internet about this route – as you’d expect from somewhere that’s firmly on the beaten tourist trail. However in some respects, that’s part of the problem. You might find that there is so much advice about what to see, how to get the best out of your trip and must-discover hidden gems along the way that you’ll find it hard to figure out what to leave out. That’s not so much of an issue if you’re prepared to spend a few days in the region, but if you only have a single day, you might find it easier to leave the route planning to the experts.

Hidden gems

Tours of the Golden Circle typically focus on its three main attractions: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area and Gullfoss. These aren’t stops you’ll want to pass up, no matter how keen you are to see some of the area’s hidden gems as well. One of the key advantages of a self-drive itinerary is that it gives you unlimited choice. You set your own parameters – how much driving you’re up for, which side roads you’re keen to explore and how long you’d like to stay at each place. And you can figure it out as you go along – if you like somewhere, you can stop for longer, while if you’re not so keen – or the weather’s not playing ball – you can cut and run.

Flexibility

The flexibility on a self-drive itinerary to set your own pace extends to the time you depart and return, too. For instance, you might like to start your day in a leisurely fashion with a long brunch, before heading out later in the day for some sightseeing. Timing your arrival at the trio of major Golden Circle attractions to avoid peak hours means that you’ll find it less busy. In summer, the long hours of daylight give you the chance of seeing these places late in the evening – or very early in the morning before those booking tours have even left their hotel. Parking is restricted at some sights, so arriving at a less common time is essential in the peak season unless you want a lengthy wait for a space.

Customising your experience

You might imagine that as tours work to set itineraries, the opportunities to customise your experience are relatively limited compared to if you opt to travel around the Golden Circle independently. Before you rule out a tour, know that in fact, it’s possible to add on a range of other experiences. That’s particularly the case if you’re keen to soak in one of Iceland’s famous geothermal lagoons, as Gray Line’s combo tours allow you to pair the sightseeing route with Laugarvatn Fontana and Secret Lagoon as well as more distant spas such as the Blue Lagoon. You might also consider a more active add-on, such as a glacier snowmobile tour.    

Door to door convenience

Renting a car means that you’ll often enjoy door to door convenience – so long as you’re able to park close to your hotel or guesthouse. That will be of particular interest if you’re travelling with small children or those with reduced mobility. But don’t assume that taking a guided tour will automatically be the opposite. In fact, Gray Line’s Golden Circle Classic Tour offers pick-ups from major hotels in the Greater Reykjavik area, from bus stops in downtown areas of the capital where immediate access isn’t possible (such as in pedestrian areas) and also from points convenient for cruise ship passengers.

Navigating your way around

One of the advantages of taking an organised tour is that you don’t have the responsibility of finding your way around. Though Iceland’s roads are well signed, it’s easy to get distracted, especially as the landscapes really have the wow factor. Booking a Gray Line Golden Circle tour means that you know what your route will be up front, but you won’t need to worry about getting lost or taking a wrong turning as it won’t be your responsibility. Instead, you can simply sit back and enjoy the scenery while our driver takes care of the rest – much less stressful.

Weather

The Icelandic weather is notoriously changeable and it’s not uncommon to experience various different conditions within the same day. Even during the summer, you might have to deal with heavy rain or strong winds. In winter, snowfalls occasionally close the roads within the Golden Circle and ice can make driving challenging, particularly if you come from somewhere warmer and aren’t used to driving in wintry weather. If you opt for a guided tour of the Golden Circle, the weather won’t concern you – so long as you dress appropriately for when you get out of the bus.

Cost

This one is a lot more variable, as the cost of visiting the Golden Circle depends very much on how many people there are in your party. For solo travellers or couples, by the time you’ve factored in the cost of a day’s car hire plus the fuel to put in the tank, there’s a good chance that the price of two tours could work out to be less. If you’re on a tight budget, you would be able to rent the smallest, cheapest compact car as the roads of the Golden Circle are well maintained and suitable for two-wheel drive vehicles. But in winter, you’ll appreciate the extra grip of a 4x4, which comes at an additional cost, as does automatic transmission if you’re not used to driving a manual car.

Considerations about the environment and sustainability

Taking a group tour means that you are sharing your chosen form of transport with others and therefore the carbon footprint might look considerably better, especially if your bus is full. Make sure when you are researching guided tours of the Golden Circle you do your homework; tour providers will be proud to advertise the fact that they are carbon neutral. Of course, you can also take a more sustainable path if you’re planning a self-drive itinerary; you can look into an electric car as many rental agencies offer the facility to book one. However, by opting for a shared experience, you’re also doing your bit to ease congestion on the roads.  

As you can see, there are a lot of factors to consider as you weigh up the pros and cons between a guided tour of the Golden Circle with Gray Line and a self-drive Iceland itinerary. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, so take a moment to think about what matters most to you and your party before coming to a decision that you’re all happy with.