5 day south coast, snaefellsnes & northern lights | IS-AA0123

We’ll collect you from your Reykjavik accommodation at 9:00 am and make the picturesque drive to Iceland’s scenic West Coast.

Our first stop of the day will be Deildartunguhver – the most powerful hot spring in Europe. It pumps a remarkable 47.5 gallons of superheated water every second – creating vast plumes of steam and an impressive thundering roar.

This spring provides hot water to several towns in the surrounding area, along with the Krauma Geothermal Baths, which can be added as an optional extra to the tour. If you don’t fancy a relaxing dip in one of the hot springs, then we will head to nearby stables and pet some traditional Icelandic horses.

From there we’ll head to the historic Reykholt – once home to Snorri Sturluson, a renowned poet and politician who played a massive role in the writing of the Icelandic sagas. Snorri’s importance to the preservation of Norse culture cannot be underestimated and he is without doubt the ‘Icelandic Homer’. We’ll also see his famous bathing pool - Snorralaug, where he went to relax and be inspired amidst stunning natural scenery.

Hraunfossar and Barnafoss Waterfalls

From there we proceed on to Hraunfossar and Barnafoss Waterfalls. Hraunfossar (“the Lava Waterfalls”) is made up of a myriad of smaller cascades pouring through the cracks of a vast lava field. Whereas Barnafoss (the Children’s waterfall) is associated with a tragic urban legend, where two children unfortunately perished in its waters.

Both are set in a spectacular landscape, carrying waters that flow all the way from Langjokull Glacier. We’ll finish the day with a visit to Gerðuberg, a collection of basalt columns that were created by lava that was instantly cooled by seawater.

We’ll stay in a comfortable countryside hotel and venture out in search of the Northern Lights if the conditions are right.

Please note that the itinerary is subject to change – we may sometimes begin with a South Coast Iceland Tour and then the West Coast Tour etc.

We’ll eat a delicious Icelandic breakfast and then continue on towards the western part of Snæfellsnes. Along the way alpine scenery will unfold before your eyes and mountains, glaciers and volcanoes will dominate the horizon. The fishing village of Arnarstapi is nestled amongst this magnificent landscape – an ideal spot to hop out of the tour bus and explore the surrounding area.

Our journey will continue on to the Vatnshellir Cave – a majestic subterranean wonder that is made of lava that is around eight-millennia old. Your expert guide will tell you all about how this amazing cave was formed and show you the incredible minerals that color its walls.

Hellnar + Djúpalónssandur

We’ll stop at the charming village of Hellnar for a bite to eat and then visit the beautiful black pebble beach. The beach is framed by tall, craggy cliffs that gaze across the Atlantic Ocean. Be sure to take a photo of the white-tipped waves as they thunder against the coal black pebbles on the shore!

Keep an eye out for the wreck of the British trawler Epine that ran aground there in 1948. At the end of the beach, you’ll find the famous lifting stones, which were used to test the strength of potential fisherman in days gone by. Do you think you would be strong enough to lift them?

Kirkjufell

We’ll top the day off by seeing one of the most photogenic mountains in the world – Kirkjufell rises like an emerald pyramid over the surrounding area, a truly majestic scene that you will never forget. Your friendly guide will show you the best spot to snap a photo of it and if we’re really lucky, the Northern Lights might flicker above it!

We’ll spend the evening in a cozy countryside hotel and head out on a Northern Lights tour if the conditions are good.

We’ll spend day three on the world-famous Golden Circle Route – the most popular tourist trail in Iceland.

Thingvellir National Park: We’ll begin at Thingvellir National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site that combines geology, history and nature into the perfect package. You’ll see Althingi – the founding site of the world’s first parliament in 930 c.e. The seismic rift valley, which marks the ever-expanding gap between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Be sure to check out Thingvallavatn – the largest natural lake in Iceland.

Geysir: We’ll continue on towards Haukadalur Valley – a geothermal wonderland filled with a host of hot springs and erupting geysers. We’ll see the famous Great Geysir that gives all geysers their names, along with Strokkur, which throws boiling water up to 25 meters into the air every few minutes. All of Geysir is truly incredible and the perfect place to see one of nature’s greatest shows.

Gullfoss: Our final stop will be the magnificent Gullfoss Waterfall (the Golden Falls), whose golden hued cascade originates at Langjokull Glacier and flows down the Hvita River all the way down to Gullfoss. It’s constantly rated as one of the best waterfalls in the world and a fabulous photo opportunity that you won’t want to miss!

Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss: We’ll continue along the Ring Road and pass the notorious Hekla Volcano on our way to Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. Famed for its breathtaking cylindrical cascade and the hidden cave that allows you to see it from a totally different angle. On a sunny day you might be able to snap a photo of one of the many magnificent rainbows that appear above it.

Another waterfall, Skogafoss, lies around thirty minutes up the road. It’s larger than Seljalandsfoss – dropping more than 60 meters down into a valley below. We’ll walk up the winding path that runs alongside it to see some fabulous views over the surrounding area. Keep an eye out for the hidden treasure that, Thrasi, one of the first Viking settlers is supposed to have been buried there.

Our final stop will be Reynisfjara – a magnificent black sand beach that is home to some of the most beautiful rock structures in Iceland. We’ll stroll along it and see the beauty of the deep blue waves of the Atlantic Ocean thunder on the coal-black sands; appreciate the series of basalt columns that rise up the cliff near the beach; and see the Reynisdrangar basalt peaks, which are supposedly trolls who were petrified by the sun.

We’ll spend the evening at the charming coastal town of Vik and go on a Northern Lights hunt if the conditions are right.

We’ll kick things off with a hearty breakfast and then drive eastwards through a series of beautiful lava fields. Our destination will be the Vatnajökull National Park – which sits in the shadow of Europe’s largest glacier and is home to a plethora of glacially formed natural wonders.

Ice Cave: You’ll meet up with your friendly glacier guide, who’ll make sure that you are aware of any relevant safety information. Then we’ll head straight in to the ice cave for a memorable experience in the heart of an icy natural wonder. We’ll wander through the ice cave and see the incredible shades of blue and wonderful ice patterns. Your expert guide will tell you all about how these ever-changing beauties are formed and take you to the best places to snap some photos.

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon: Our final stop of the day will be the world-famous Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and nearby Diamond Beach. They sit in the shadow of Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier, which crafts their mesmeric landscape. Icebergs snap away from the main body of the glacier and glide across Jökulsárlón on their way to the open ocean.

The magnificent colours of the icebergs and the friendly seals bobbing in and out of them make for a truly stunning photo opportunity. Many of the icebergs wash ashore on the Diamond Beach – resting like glistening jewels amidst the coal-black sand. If we’re really lucky then the Northern Lights might dance above our heads – capping off an incredible day.

We’ll eat a hearty breakfast and head back to Jökulsárlón to meet our certified glacier guide. The mighty Vatnajökull will be towering above us the whole time and our hike will take place on one of its many incredible outlet glaciers.

We can’t tell you exactly which one we will visit, because it depends on the time and the season, but we guarantee that it will be an incredible experience. Your guide will provide all the equipment that you need and ensure your safety throughout. Hiking on a glacier is truly incredible and we guarantee that you’ll be impressed by its size and many wonderful features. Don’t miss out on the chance to enjoy this one-of-a-kind experience!

After our glacier hiking adventure, we’ll head back to Reykjavik and stop off at some more incredible attractions along the way. We’ll arrive back at Reykjavik between 20:00 and 23:00, depending on the weather conditions and mood of the group. We hope you enjoy your adventure in Iceland and can’t wait to be a part of the next one!

• The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and we cannot guarantee that you will see them during the tour. However, the tour takes place during the winter months, giving you an excellent chance of seeing them.
• We cannot tell you which glacier we will hike on and which ice cave you will visit, your expert guide will make a determination on the day, taking season and weather conditions into account.
• We reserve the right to cancel or alter parts of the tour for safety reasons.
• We may switch the itinerary of the tour – doing day 1 on day 4 and day 4 on day 1 etc.