3 Day South Coast, Golden Circle and Ice Cave Tour

We’ll start on the Golden Circle route at Thingvellir National Park. Thingvellir was the first place in Iceland to be made a UNESCO World Heritage Site, due to its historical and geological importance. The valley was once home to the Althingi, the oldest parliament in the world, first founded in 930 c.e.

Thingvellir is also the only place in the world where you can walk between two continental plates, from Europe to North America. Its location, on a seismic hotspot, has dramatically enhanced its beauty and we’ll see fascinating rock formations, vast lava fields, sapphire blue waterfalls and much, much more.

Our journey will continue to the Geysir Geothermal area – known for its many erupting geysers and bubbling fumaroles. The most famous, Strokkur, erupts every 5-7 minutes, propelling clouds of steam up to 30 meters into the air. The geysers here helped to launch Icelandic tourism and have been synonymous with the country ever since.

Our final stop on the Golden Circle is Gullfoss – a magnificent two-step waterfall that originates at the Langjökull glacier. Its name comes from the golden spray from the falls as it cascades over the brown lava rock. Be sure to bring a camera because you’ll definitely want to immortalize the scene!

We’ll then head to the South Coast on the Ring Road, the final stop of the day is Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. This white waterfall tumbles down 60 meters into a gorge below. In good weather, you can walk behind it, leading to some fantastic shots of every angle. We'll also pass the notorious Hekla volcano on our way to a charming country hotel. Hopefully, the skies will be clear and the ethereal colors of the Northern Lights during the September - April months will illuminate the heavens – a bucket-list experience that will inspire awe and wonder in equal measure.

Day Highlights

• Þingvellir National Park (Thingvellir)
• Geysir hot spring area
• Gullfoss Waterfall
• Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
• Hekla - Volcano Views (weather permitting)

Included

• Guided Minibus Tour
• The Golden Circle (Geysir, Gullfoss and Þingvellir)
• Northern Lights (Sept-April, weather permitting)
• One night at a hotel

Day two will start off with a visit to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Jökulsárlón is famous for its blue icebergs, which break away from the Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier and float out to the Atlantic Ocean in a spellbinding display of remarkable beauty. The lagoon also hosts a playful seal population that swims in between the icebergs.

Some of the icebergs wash up on the aptly named Diamond Beach, where they sit like glittering jewels on its dark volcanic sands. Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach are truly magical places and we thoroughly recommend bringing a camera – because we guarantee that you’ll take amazing photos.

After spending time alongside beautiful icebergs, our tour will head south to Iceland's famous Skaftafell Nature Reserve for a new adventure. From October to April, we join for a glacier hike to a natural ice cave on Vatnajokull Glacier. Going on a glacier hike is an incredible experience – a vast expanse of pristine snow, dotted with interesting rock and ice formations. During our hike, we'll enter a natural ice cave and enjoy mind-blowing ice formations while learning more about how glaciers form. From April to September, we go to the only natural ice cave you can visit all year - the Katla Ice Cave near Vik.

Each ice cave only exists for a year and is totally unique, meaning that we can’t tell you exactly what we will be seeing. However, they are usually incredibly beautiful, thanks to the gorgeous patterns that the meltwaters have carved into the ice.

We’ll spend the evening in a traditional countryside hotel – keeping an eye out for the Northern Lights again (availability between September - April).

Day Highlights

• Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
• The Diamond Beach
• Glacier Hike & Natural Ice Cave (winter only)
• Vatnajokull Glacier
• Skaftafell Nature Reserve
• Svartifoss Waterfall (summer only)

Included

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Guided Minibus Tour
• Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
• Glacier hike & Ice cave tour (winter only)
• Hike to Svartifoss waterfall (summer only)
• Northern Lights (Sept-April, weather permitting)
• One night in a hotel

Day three is filled with iconic South Coast highlights. As we head back to Reykjavik, our first stop is Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, whose vivid blue glacial river offers a stark contrast to mossy lava rock. Fjaðrárgljúfur is incredibly photogenic and we guarantee that you’ll capture some unforgettable moments. Be aware that on some days, we may not be able to stop at Fjaðrárgljúfur, as the ecosystem is very fragile and subject to occasional closure.  

After Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, we'll head towards the moss-carpeted Eldhraun lava field, an ominous monument to the largest lava flow in recorded history. Our friendly guide will tell us fascinating facts about this dramatic event and point out the icy glacial rivers and vast sand plains that were carved out by massive glacial floods.

Next, we'll drive to Reynisfjara, a black sand beach that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. To one side towers a cluster of basalt columns, like tubes of a gigantic stone organ buried within the hills. Just offshore, the dramatic Reynisdrangar basalt pillars rise like mighty turrets out of the sea.

Following Reynisfjara, our next stop will be at Skógafoss Waterfall – a place of myth and legend that plays a vital role in the Icelandic sagas. Once upon a time, a passing troll was so enchanted by the beauty of the waterfall that he forgot about the approaching dawn. As the sun rose, it transformed him into stone. To this day, you can still see the troll’s faces in the rock formations that overlook the falls.

We’ll climb the winding steps that lead to its summit and enjoy a spectacular view of the Eyjafjallajökull Glacier, rising on the horizon behind the falls. Locals also believe that one of the first Viking settlers buried the treasure somewhere in the area – perhaps, we’ll get lucky and find it!

We’ll then drive back to Reykjavik, arriving between 17-19:00 (5-7 p.m.) after a magical three days in the land of fire and ice.

Day Highlights

• Eldhraun Lava Field
• Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon (weather permitting)
• Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss Waterfalls
• Reynisfjara Black Beach
• Eyjafjallajökull Volcano/Glacier Views (weather permitting)

Included

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Guided Minibus Tour/Return to Reykjavík

• Pick-up begins at 9:00 from your hotel or another meeting point in Reykjavik
• Picking everyone up can take up to 30 minutes – we thank you for your patience in advance.
• Check out our list of available pick-up points here.

• Sturdy hiking boots are essential for glacier hikes, as crampons won't work with regular shoes. If you don't have the right gear, you can rent hiking boots, a waterproof jacket, and waterproof pants when booking your tour. For the glacier hike only, these items can also be rented on-site at the Glacier Guides Booking Center. To rent gear for the full duration of your tour, make sure to add it to your booking at least 48 hours in advance.

Please Note  

• We reserve the right to cancel or alter the tour at short notice – Iceland’s weather is unpredictable, and your safety is of the utmost importance to us, we will never put you in danger.
• We may visit a different ice cave, depending on the time of year and prevailing weather conditions.
• We may have to choose a different glacier for our glacier hike, depending on the weather conditions.
• Iceland is cold during the winter, please dress accordingly.
• We cannot guarantee that you will see the Northern Lights, as they are a natural phenomenon that cannot be predicted. However, the tour will take place during the late autumn, winter or early spring, which are the peak times for Northern Lights watching, giving you an excellent chance.

The ice cave’s look cannot be guaranteed to match the photos, as these natural formations change with the seasons, time of day, lighting, and other environmental factors. Thank you for your understanding.