Skip the crowds of the Golden Circle and head west instead. On this private tour, your guide and SUV pick you up in Reykjavík for a full day exploring the quieter, equally spectacular Silver Circle, just you and your group, moving at whatever pace suits you.

The route begins along Hvalfjörður, the "whale fjord," a long, calm inlet most travelers miss entirely by taking the tunnel underneath it. From there you'll reach Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot spring, where roughly 180 liters of 97°C water erupt from the ground every second, enough to heat two nearby towns. Right next door is Krauma, a geothermal spa fed directly by the spring, with the option to stop and soak in its mineral baths along the way.

Next comes Reykholt, once home to the 13th-century chieftain and saga author Snorri Sturluson, and a cornerstone of Iceland's literary history. A short drive on brings you to Hraunfossar, a wide curtain of clear rivulets seeping out of a lava field for nearly a kilometer into the glacial river below, and Barnafoss just upstream, where the same river is forced through a narrow, churning gorge.

The day's westernmost stop is Húsafell, a green, sheltered retreat on the edge of the highlands and gateway to Langjökull glacier, a good spot to stop for food before the drive back to Reykjavík. Optional add-ons such as snowmobiling, ATV rides, horseback riding, or a lava cave visit can be arranged in advance for an extra fee.

Note: the itinerary is subject to weather and road conditions, and winter daylight hours may shift some stops into low light.