3-Day Guided Minibus Tour | Golden Circle & South Coast with Snorkelling & Glacier Hiking

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; snorkelling between continents at Silfra Fissure. 

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. 

At the parking lot by Silfra, you’ll put on a dry suit over your thermal base layer before following your snorkelling guide into the water. The crystalline water provides fantastic visibility of up to 100-metres and your guide will take underwater photos which you’ll receive after the tour.  

Once you’ve gotten out of the water, you’ll explore the rest of Þingvellir National Park. Aside from being a geographical wonder, it is also historically interesting. It was here where the Viking settlers of Iceland would gather to settle disputes and lay the groundwork for what is now Iceland’s parliament, Alþingi.

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).

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.

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. 

Before you head back to Reykjavík, you’ll have the opportunity to explore an authentic ice cave in Mýrdalsjökull Glacier. If you wish, you can add the excursion to this 2-day tour during the booking process. The Katla Ice Caves are the only one of their kind open during the summer, making this a truly unique experience. 

You will then be dropped off in Reykjavík City in the late afternoon or early evening.