3 day South Coast – Golden Circle, Jökulsárlón, and Ice Cave | IS-AA0130

We’ll collect you from Reykjavik at 9:00 and head for the famous Golden Circle Route, which encompasses Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area and the Gullfoss Waterfall.

Our first stop is Thingvellir National Park – Iceland’s first and most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once the location of Alþingi, the world’s oldest parliament established in 930 CE, now it draws tourists from all over the world. Look out for the Law Rock, where the Lawspeaker recited the laws of the land--and pose for a historic photo.

From its summit, you’ll also be able to see the seismic rift valley that divides Europe and North America – an ever-expanding gap between two tectonic plates in one of the most unique geological places in the world.

Next up, we’ll drive out to Geysir, a geothermally active area that hosts a few erupting geysers. The Great Geysir may be dormant now but its neighbor Strokkur never fails to disappoint. Every 3-4 minutes, Strokkur erupts in a tower of boiling water, reaching up to 40 meters in the air in what is one of nature’s most dramatic shows.

Our final stop is Gullfoss (the Golden Falls) – the most beautiful and most popular waterfall in Iceland. Enjoy the legendary golden color of its cascade as it tumbles down into a luscious canyon below. On sunny days, the waterfall catches some stunning rainbows – a truly magnificent photo opportunity!

The waterfalls of the South Coast

Once we’ve finished the Golden Circle we’ll drive towards the South Coast, passing the notorious Hekla Volcano along the way to Seljalandsfoss – a truly unique waterfall, with a hidden cave behind its elegant cascade that allows you to see it from both sides.

From there we’ll head to Skógafoss – a 60-meter waterfall that cascades down into a calm pool. There is a meandering set of steps that leads its way up the hill, offering stunning vistas of the Eyjafjallajökull Glacier. Keep an eye out for the fascinating rock formations perched around halfway up, which local legend believes are trolls who were turned to stone by the rising sun.

You’ll stay at a charming country hotel, near the coastal town of Vík – an ideal spot to look out for the ethereal Northern Lights, dancing above the ocean waves.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

We’ll enjoy a hearty Icelandic breakfast and then head toward the iconic Reynisfjara beach. There you’ll see the white-crested waves of the Atlantic Ocean, thunder against the jet-black sands. Make sure that you are careful and listen to your guides, because the waves can be surprisingly vicious. You’ll see an incredible series of basalt columns rising up the cliff face next to the beach, while the famous Reynisdrangar sea-stacks lie just off the coast. Once you see these incredible rock formations, you’ll understand where the stories about the giants and trolls came from!

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

We’ll drive past sprawling lava fields and remarkable sand deserts as we drive towards the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Soon Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe, will come into view and we’ll see Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, which unfurls like an icy carpet from the main body of the glacier.

When we arrive at Jökulsárlón you’re in for a treat – the lagoon is filled with a host of different icebergs, of all manner of shapes and sizes, which drift away from Breiðamerkurjökull and float into the Atlantic Ocean. You’ll be mesmerized by the incredible colors of the icebergs, which range from sapphire blue to brilliant white. There is also a host of different animals living in the area – seabirds abound, and you may see a playful seal bobbing amongst the icebergs. We’ll also see aptly named black-sand Diamond Beach, where many of the icebergs sit like diamonds in the rough amongst the dark volcanic sands.

Glacier Ice Cave Iceland

Our next adventure will take us deep into the heart of a glacier! Accompanied by one of our expert glacier guides, you’ll be visiting the enchanting world inside an ice cave. We normally visit the Crystal Ice Cave in Breiðamerkurjökull, however, this may be changed according to the glacier conditions. Ice caves are ever-evolving natural wonders that change every winter – your friendly guide will explain how all the majestic ice formation occur and tell you more about the mighty glaciers that they hide within. Light often creeps into the caves to illuminate the ice – making for rare photo opportunities.

We’ll spend the night in a cozy countryside hotel in the surrounding area – another wonderful opportunity to cross the Northern Lights off of your bucket list.

Prepare yourself, strap-on some ice crampons and get ready to explore one of the world’s coldest natural wonders. We usually visit the Svínafellsjökull glacier – although this might be changed if the weather conditions dictate. Glaciers are fascinating places – existing in a state of constant motion, they are an ever-changing, ever-evolving landscape. We’ll see things like sinkholes, crevasses, ice falls and rugged ridges – the perfect way to understand the majesty of these vast bodies of ice. Your guide will tell you about them all and explain how human actions are impacting these natural wonders. So, prepare yourself for a sensual experience unlike any other and get ready to hike on a glacier!

We’ll then begin our return journey – stopping at some interesting places along the way. We cannot tell you exactly when we will get back to Reykjavik, as the weather is unpredictable, but we expect to return between 20:00 and 23:00.

Added Bonus

If the conditions allow, then we will visit the majestic Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon – the perfect end to an already incredible tour!

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.