Duration
3 Days
Availability
April - September
Difficulty
Easy to Moderate
Minimum Age
8 Years
3-Day Guided Tour: Golden Circle & South Coast w/Glacier Hike
Overview
With beautiful scenery and fantastic guides, this 3-Day Minibus Tour is perfect if you are looking to mix sightseeing with adventure.
Included in this tour is a fun-filled trip across Iceland in a small group. Your guide will pick you up from Reykjavík city in a comfortable minibus, equipped with free WiFi. That means you will be able to upload all your photos to your social media account right away.
You’ll stop at some of the country’s most impressive sites such as Geysir Geothermal Valley, Reynisfjara black sand beach, and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, and you will spend two nights on the road in comfortable country hotels which come with a private bathroom and breakfast in the morning.
On the second day, you will strap on crampons and take a pick axe into your hand for a hike on Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier. If you are looking for more adventure, you’ll have the option of adding a snorkelling tour and a visit to an authentic ice cave to this trip.
Don’t let this fantastic opportunity pass you by. Book now to reserve your spot on this exciting 3-day minibus tour.
Included
- Guided 3-day sightseeing tour of Golden Circle & South Coast with a certified, English-speaking guide
- Pick up and drop off in Reykjavík
- 2 nights accommodation in comfortable country hotels with a private bathroom and breakfast
- Glacier hiking tour
- Use of all safety equipment for glacier hiking tour
- Free WiFi onboard minibus
- Small-group experience with no more than 21 people
Not included
- Pick up from Keflavík Airport
- Meals other than breakfast on day 2 and 3
- Accommodation in Reykjavík
Good to know
- Pick up may take up to 30 minutes but please be ready at your pick-up point on time.
- Order of attractions and availability of activities may change due to weather conditions.
- There is limited space on the minibus for luggage. Each person gets allotted space for one 24” suitcase. You can store your luggage at the tour company’s offices for a non-refundable extra fee.
- Although there is no age limit for this tour's sightseeing part, there is one for the activities. The age limit for the glacier hike is 8 years old and 12 for the snorkelling. If children under this age are on this tour, then an adult needs to stay with them while others do the activities.
- Participants for the snorkelling tour need to be over 12 years of age and under 69 years. They must be physically fit and not pregnant, be able to swim and be comfortable in water and restrictive clothing. They need to be minimum of 150 cm and no more than 200 cm in height, and weigh between 45 and 120 kilos. More information can be found in the medical statement below.
- Participants for the snorkelling tour must read and sign the Snorkelling Medical Statement — click here. It is recommended that you bring the form already printed out and signed, but you can sign the form at the meeting location if not.
What to bring
- Warm and waterproof clothes
- Hiking boots with slip resistant soles and ankle support (can be rented)
- Thermal layer and a warm pair of socks for snorkelling
Itinerary
The day starts in the morning when your friendly, local guide will pick you up in a minibus. After a brief introduction, you will be whisked away to the first adventure of the day; exploring the Golden Circle. This sightseeing route comprises three main sites: Þingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall.
Iceland sits on two tectonic plates, and Þingvellir National Park is located on the boundary between these two plates. As the plates move, they create cracks and fissures in the national park’s landscapes. One of the fissures, Silfra, is filled with crystal-clear meltwater from a nearby glacier, making it ideal for snorkelling.
From Þingvellir you’ll travel to the beautiful Gullfoss Waterfall. Langjökull, the same glacier that provides Silfra with its clear water, is also responsible for this beautiful cascade. Fed by the glacier, the river Hvítá rushes south before plunging into an ancient canyon in two’ steps’, creating this powerful waterfall in the process.
The last stop before you head to your country hotel is at Geysir Geothermal Area. Here, you’ll see bubbling mud pools, hissing steam vents, and erupting geysers. Strokkur is the most active geyser in the area. It erupts every 5-10 minutes, reaching a height of 15–20 metres (49–66 ft).
Highlights:
- Þingvellir National Park – Geographical wonder as well as where Viking Settlers would gather to lay the laws of the land
- Geysir Geothermal Area – Where you’ll find the erupting geyser, Strokkur
- Gullfoss Waterfall – A stunning cascading waterfall in the river Hvítá
After a complimentary breakfast at the hotel, you’ll board the minibus again to explore Iceland’s southern coastline. On your journey today, you’ll see towering glaciers in the North and the Atlantic Ocean’s roaring waves in the South.
Your first stop is at Seljalandsfoss, a high and narrow waterfall which falls over a cave in the cliff face. For a spectacular view of the cascading water and the surrounding landscape, you can follow a path which leads into the cave. But be warned, you will get wet, so make sure you wear waterproof clothes and shoes.
Next up is another waterfall, Skógafoss. This one is much more powerful than its neighbour Seljalandsfoss but equally as beautiful. It falls from a 60-metre high cliff onto the flat land underneath, that means you can walk very close to the cascading spring water for some unique photographs. But again, doing so will get you wet!
You’ll then continue East, through verdant farmlands which will turn into black sand deserts before the mighty Vatnajökull Glacier will appear on the horizon. Here, at Skaftafell Nature Reserve, you’ll stop for an exhilarating glacier hike.
After strapping on crampons, you’ll follow your trained glacier guide up the ice cap. They will point out to you interesting sights, from blue crevasses to strangely shaped ice sculptures, and you’ll have a fantastic view of the surrounding mountain peaks.
Once back down, you’ll return to the minibus and be driven to a hotel in the area where you will spend the night.
Highlights:
- Seljalandsfoss Waterfall – A tall and narrow waterfall where you can walk behind the stream
- Skógafoss Waterfall – Wide and powerful cascade
- Glacier Hiking in Skaftafell – A fantastic way to explore glaciers
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
This is your last day on the road, but before you head back to Reykjavík, you will have a few adventures first.
Your first stop today will be at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Here, massive icebergs which have broken off a nearby glacier, float on beautiful blue water. If you wish, you can take a boat ride on the lagoon for some spectacular scenery and even more amazing photos. Simply choose the option during the booking process, and we’ll reserve you a spot on the boat.
A short walk away from Jökulsárlón is a black sand beach known as the Diamond Beach. This shoreline stretch got its name from the countless smaller icebergs that have washed up on shore where they glisten like gemstones in the sunlight.
You will then travel in the minibus to another black sand beach, Reynisfjara. Here, you’ll see the mighty waves of the North Atlantic Ocean crash upon the shore and against the 66-metre (216 ft) high sea stacks, Reynisdrangar.
You will then be dropped off in Reykjavík City in the late afternoon or early evening.
Highlights:
- Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon – Where icebergs float on blue lake
- Diamond Beach – A black sand beach where small icebergs have washed upon land
- Reynisfjara Beach – Large and dramatic black sand beach
Optional Activities:
- Boat Ride on Jökulsárlón – Get a closer look at the icebergs
