4-Day Iceland Highlights: West to South Coast Adventure

Your journey begins bright and early with pick-up in Reykjavík at 9:00 a.m.—be ready, adventure awaits! We’ll head west through sweeping countryside landscapes, making our first stop at Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring. This steaming giant pumps out 180 liters (47.5 gallons) of water per second at a near-boiling 100°C (212°F), heating homes and pools across the region. 

Next, you’ll have the chance to relax at Krauma Geothermal Baths (optional) or visit a nearby horse farm for some quality time with Iceland’s famously fluffy horses. 

We’ll then continue to the historic village of Reykholt, once home to 12th-century saga legend Snorri Sturluson, and still known for Snorralaug, the hot spring pool where he likely soaked centuries ago. 

Afterward, we’ll chase waterfalls! At Barnafoss, your guide will share the dramatic local tale that gave these rapids their name. Nearby, the elegant Hraunfossar pours in thousands of threads from beneath a lava field, flowing with glacier water from Langjökull, Iceland’s second-largest glacier. 

We’ll wrap the day by driving into the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, stopping to admire the striking Gerðuberg basalt columns, before settling into your countryside hotel.  

As night falls, your guide will check the aurora forecast—if skies are clear, we’ll keep our eyes on the stars. The Northern Lights are possible from October through April, depending on weather and solar activity. 

You’ll also have the option to take a guided tour of Vatnshellir Lava Cave (at an extra cost). Equipped with helmets and flashlights, you’ll descend into an 8,000-year-old lava tube and learn about the volcanic forces that shaped it. This is the same region Jules Verne imagined as the entry to Earth’s core in Journey to the Center of the Earth. 

We usually stop for lunch in the scenic village of Hellnar before continuing to explore more coastal gems, like Arnarstapi’s dramatic sea cliffs and stone archways. 

In the evening, we return to the Reykjavík area. If you're traveling between October and April and skies are clear, your guide will keep an eye out for Northern Lights activity before the day ends. 

After breakfast, we set off to explore the wild and dramatic Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Known for its striking scenery, this region is often called "Iceland in Miniature" for packing many of the country’s diverse natural features into one area. 

Our first stop is Djúpalónssandur Beach, a former fishing outpost with a black pebble shoreline and wild Atlantic waves. On the beach, you’ll spot the rusted remains of a British trawler wrecked in 1948 and see the historic "lifting stones" once used by fishermen to test their strength. We'll take a short coastal hike here, soaking in the incredible views. 

Next, we visit Mount Kirkjufell, one of Iceland’s most photographed mountains, rising with symmetry and beauty near the sea. Its nearby waterfall, Kirkjufellsfoss, is a favorite spot for photos. 

After breakfast, we leave Reykjavík and head southeast along the scenic South Coast, passing farmlands, volcanoes, and glacier views. Our first stop is the stunning Seljalandsfoss waterfall. Dropping 60 meters (197 feet), it’s one of the few waterfalls in the world you can walk behind—just be ready for the spray! 

A short drive brings us to Skógafoss, another of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls. On clear days, you may see both Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull volcano glaciers looming in the background. You can also climb the stairs beside the falls for sweeping views of the lowlands below. 

Next, we visit Reynisfjara, a striking black sand beach framed by basalt cliffs, sea stacks, and crashing Atlantic waves. Stay back from the shoreline here—powerful sneaker waves are common. Along the way, we’ll also pass the coastal village of Vík before reaching our countryside hotel for the night. 

We pass through the village of Vík before settling in for the night in the countryside. From October to April, your guide will check conditions for possible Northern Lights sightings—fingers crossed for clear skies!

Your final day starts with a visit to Iceland’s crown jewel: the iceberg-filled Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Watch enormous blocks of glacial ice float their way toward the Atlantic, drifting through bright blue waters that didn’t even exist a century ago. Just across the road, Diamond Beach lives up to its name—glittering ice chunks scattered across jet-black sand. It’s otherworldly, and easily one of the most photogenic spots in the country.

Next up is an unforgettable glacier experience. With a certified glacier guide, you’ll step into the depths of one of Iceland’s natural ice caves—shaped by winter melt and freeze cycles and always changing. When conditions allow, we explore the renowned Crystal Ice Cave in Vatnajökull Glacier. If it’s not accessible, we head to Katla Ice Cave in Mýrdalsjökull, known for its striking formations and dramatic contrasts. Whichever cave we visit, expect ancient blue ice, smooth-walled corridors, and surreal light—nature’s own cathedral beneath the glacier.

After the ice cave, we’ll make a scenic stop at Skaftafell Nature Reserve, a lush green corner of Vatnajökull National Park embraced by jagged peaks and snowy slopes. 

As we travel back to Reykjavík along the South Coast, your guide will keep watch for Northern Lights—visible from October to April if skies are clear. Arrival back in the city is expected between 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., depending on weather and road conditions. 

• If you do not choose the single supplement, you will be paired in a twin room with another participant of the same gender.  

• The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and sightings are never guaranteed. Depending on weather and aurora activity, they are visible from October to April.   

• Ice caves are shaped by nature and constantly changing. The specific cave visited will depend on conditions at the time, so your guide will select the best one available for your tour day.