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Our 3-day tour along the South Coast has it all! Stunning landscapes, the Golden Circle, ice caves, the Jökulsárlón Iceberg Lagoon and Northern Lights watching.
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On the way we see waterfalls, volcanoes, floating icebergs, cliffs, black sand beaches, geysers, hot springs and so much more. There are even options for a glacier hike or a visit to the Secret Lagoon, and during the summer months you can add a boat tour on Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.
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 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 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.
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.
Our multi-day tours will give you a small group experience as they are operated in a mini-bus and you get a better connection with the guide.
By booking a multi-day tour with us, you don’t need to have to worry about finding accommodation during the time of the tour as our multi-day tour includes accommodation which is often booked far in advance. You will get more opportunities to explore Iceland further and experience places that you would normally not be able to see on a one-day tour.
All of our tours are English guided so you will have English speaking licensed guide throughout the tour that will tell you everything about what you see along the way and knows where the best locations to stop by at to get the absolute best experience.
When booking your tour you are guaranteed accommodations at a friendly country hotel and/or guesthouse. All of the hotels we work with are of the same standard and offer nice rooms with beds and linen. The standard room is a twin room but it is possible to request a double room or a triple room, with no extra charge. The rooms come with private or shared bathrooms, depending on your booking.
Free Wi-Fi, towels, a hairdryer, and a kettle are accessible at all of the hotels.
If you want to have your own room, then a single supplement is payable in order to secure a single room. If you do not wish to book a single room then you will be roomed with another traveler of the same gender.
A typical breakfast buffet is included at all the hotels/guesthouses we stay at during the tour, allowing you to fuel up for the day on various slices of bread, toppings, cereal, fruits, and yogurt. Tea and coffee are also included, alongside a variety of additional tasty options.
Your guide will also find a good place for the group to eat lunch, where you can find a wide selection of dishes on the menu, so there will be options available for everyone. The dinner is usually at the hotels/guesthouses we stay at for the night. We will make stops at restaurants and convenience stores where you will be able to purchase all necessities.
The average amount spent on food each day per person is 8,000 ISK (80$). Cash is not necessary, as credit cards are accepted at all restaurants and stores. A small amount of cash won't hurt, though.
Breakfast is included at the hotel/guesthouse restaurant during the tour. Meals and beverages are not included on your tour. However, we will make stops at restaurants and conveniences stores where you are able to purchase all necessities.
The average amount spent on food each day per person is 8,000 ISK (80$). Cash is not necessary, as credit cards are accepted at all restaurants and stores. A small amount of cash won't hurt though.
For multi-day tours, each participant is allowed to bring a small backpack and one piece of luggage weighing a maximum of 20 kg (44 lbs). If you are traveling with extra bags or heavier luggage, you will need to book suitable storage before you arrive; this will incur a small fee. There is the option to add luggage storage in Reykjavík during the booking process of your order in the extras section.
* The combined dimensions of each bag must not exceed 158 cm (62 in).
We welcome all participants of all ages older than the listed minimum age for each tour. Our average group usually consists of participants between the ages of 22 to 55 years. However, we have people of all ages, ranging from 8 to 99 years, joining our multi-day tours. We get a lot of solo travelers joining us, as well as families and friends.
If you find yourself having difficulties participating in any of the activities included in the tour, for example, a glacier activity, then you are more than welcome to skip it. Iceland is surrounded by beautiful scenery so you can explore your surroundings in the meantime r wait elsewhere while others do the activity. Our guide should be able to drop you off at a nearby place where there are some services available if requested.
The average is around 300 km (186 miles) per day on our multi-day tours. You’ll spend approximately 4-5 hours in the car each day. Stops are of course, made at multiple locations throughout the tour for sightseeing, activities, bathroom breaks, lunch stops, etc.
We do offer some necessary items for rent. For most of our multi-day tours, we rent out waterproof jackets and pants as well as hiking shoes. These items are available to book under the selection “Extras’’ in the booking widget when booking your tour on our website.
If you have already booked the tour and wish to add some rental gear to your booking, you can do that at least 24 hours before your tour starts, via our Customer Portal.
The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and therefore we can unfortunately never promise that they will be seen on your tour. Their appearance depends upon atmospheric and weather conditions. The best time to see the lights is between September - March when it’s a dark and clear sky. The sky needs to be as dark as possible, so the best places to see them are well away from the city lights.
Most of the hotels on our tours are remotely located and, therefore, ideal for spotting the northern lights. If the forecast is in our favor, then it is very likely that you will be able to see the northern lights. Most of the hotels offer a Northern Lights wake-up call upon request if lights are spotted, so it is more likely that you will see the lights on a multi-day tour!
We always highly recommend booking a multi-day tour starting at least one day after arriving in Iceland. If you’re flying in from the US or will be landing early (4-6:30) you should be able to join the tour, but be aware that some risks could follow such as flight gets delayed and could, therefore, miss out on the tour.
