Nicetravel
TripAdvisor Traveler´s Choice 2021
Optional Boat Tour

2-Day South Coast Adventure | Icebergs, Glaciers & Waterfalls

Discover the sensational waterfalls of Iceland’s thrilling South Coast and enjoy watching puffins and seals in their natural environment

From: kr.65.900,0

SMALL GROUP

maximum 19 guests

FREE PICK UP

within Reykjavík

WIFI & USB

chargers next to every seat

FULLY GUIDED

English commentary

Tour Highlights

Make memories that you and your family will remember forever! Travel with us to explore Iceland’s stunning South Coast, searching for glittering glaciers, fabulous black sand beaches, ghostly icebergs and thundering waterfalls.

The South Coast offers you a non-stop parade of picturesque panoramas, easily reached in just a few hours of travel from Reykjavík.

This fun-packed family friendly adventure tour will whisk you from the capital across a high mountain pass to the coastal plain, with towering mountains on one side of the road and the roaring North Atlantic on the other.

Wherever you look from our comfortable minibus, you’ll be treated to one unforgettable view after another, including brooding volcanoes and Iceland’s world-famous black sand beaches.

Day 1 | South Coast Waterfalls & Black Beach of Reynisfjara

Route
Gallery
Previous
Next

We’ll pick you up from your accommodation or a designated meeting spot in the capital. Then you can sit back, relax and enjoy a thrilling journey over the Blue Mountains to Iceland’s sensational South Coast.

Along the way, you’ll see the little towns and villages that line the route through fertile farmland, and maybe you’ll spot the famous Icelandic horses too!

Look inland for views of the famous volcanoes such as Hekla, Katla, and Eyjafjallajökull.

Hekla has been asleep for 20 years, so keep a close eye on the volcano they call the “The Hooded One”! Out to sea, you might be able to spot the Westman Islands, where another volcano erupted in the middle of town one night in 1973!

Seljalandsfoss & Gljufrabui Waterfalls

Our first stop is at the waterfalls at Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi. You can easily explore both of these cascades by taking a short walk from the car park.

At Seljalandsfoss, the waters crash down more than 60 meters, and there’s an exciting option to walk behind the falls too. The path can be slippery, so check with your guide first! Did you know that Justin Bieber filmed one of his famous music videos here?

Gljúfrabúi hides behind a rock face just a few minutes walk away, and many visitors don’t know that it’s there! We’ll show you the way, so you don’t miss this secret spot!

Skogafoss Waterfalls

A short drive brings you to another incredible sight – the astonishing 60-meter waterfall that we call Skógafoss. The name translates as “Forest Falls”, but there aren’t many trees left here now, as the early Vikings chopped most of them down to build their ships and huts!

You may have seen this waterfall in “Game of Thrones” or films like “Thor”, but now it’s your turn to capture it on camera! There are 370 steps to the viewing platform, where you might be lucky enough to see rainbows wrapping around the waters. Perhaps you can race each other to the top!

Sólheimajökull Glacier

Did you know that glaciers cover more than a tenth of Iceland? These mighty rivers of ice and snow reach down from the frozen Highlands to the coast near our route, which means you’ll get the chance to see one up close.

Sólheimajökull translates as the “Sun’s Home Glacier”, and it’s a stunning spectacle. We’ll stop here for a short while so you can take pictures of this natural wonder.

Dyrhólaey

Our next stop is Dyrhólaey, which means “Door Hill Island”. It’s actually an impressive peninsula that stretches across several towering stacks and stone arches, overlooking the black sand beach at Reynisfjara. The views from here are marvelous in every direction.

But the best thing about visiting Dyrhólaey in the summer are the puffins! These cute, clownish seabirds make their nests here from May until August, and you’ll be able to see them from just a few feet away!

Reynisfjara - The Black Beach

The final stop on the first day of your South Coast adventure is the fantastic black sand beach at Reynisfjara.

Chosen as one of the best beaches in the world by National Geographic, you’ll see stunning stone sea stacks and darkly brooding rock arches whichever way you look.

You’ll also discover beautiful hexagonal basalt columns clinging to the cliffs, and you might want to try to climb up them! Powerful Atlantic waves crash onto the shore here, so it’s essential to listen to your guide so you stay safely out of reach of the waters.

We’ll then take you to your overnight accommodation further along the coast, where you’ll enjoy a good night’s rest in a private room with ensuite facilities.

OVERNIGHT STAY ON THE COUNTRYSIDE

You will stay in a cozy country hotel located just few kilometres away from the Glacier Lagoon

Day 2 | Glacier Lagoon & Fjaðrárgljúfur River Canyon

Route
Gallery
Previous
Next

The second day of your South Iceland adventure will take you further east towards the Vatnajökull National Park, where you’ll see the largest glacier in Europe!

The brilliant blue-white “Water Glacier” stretches over 150km, with tongues of ice reaching in all directions, including Breiðamerkurjökull.

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

We’ll take you to Jökulsárlón, a magical place where gigantic icebergs break away from Breiðamerkurjökull into a dreamlike lagoon, making floating homes for basking seals and swooping seabirds.

Hollywood chose this bucket-list location to film scenes for “Die Another Day”, “A View to a Kill”, “Tomb Raider”, “Batman Begins”, and “Interstellar”. Justin Bieber loved it here – and so will you!

You’ll also have an opportunity to get even closer to the magnificent icebergs by taking a 45-minute amphibious boat trip into the lagoon. Some icebergs are striped with different colors, caused by volcanic ash from ancient eruptions. Nothing compares to the experience of touching an iceberg that’s taken thousands of years to arrive here!

Diamond Beach

A short distance away lies Diamond Beach, where you can walk across deep black sands amongst glittering fragments of icebergs that have escaped the Glacier Lagoon.

As soon as they reach the shore, the wind and sea start to sculpt the icebergs into weird and wonderful shapes. These eye-catching slivers of ice will amaze you and your camera, offering fantastic photo opportunities!

From here, it’s time to begin our return to the capital, but not before a few more Icelandic treats for you to enjoy!

Hofskirkja Church & Lava Fields

Not far from the Glacier Lagoon, we’ll show you Hofskirkja, a turf-roofed chapel, the last church of its type to be built in Iceland.

You’ll be astonished by the sight of a pretty little place of worship covered with layers of grassy turf that seems to disappear into the moss-covered burial mounds around it! Unfortunately, the church isn’t open to the public, so this will be a quick stop for photos.

Fjaðrárgljúfur River Canyon

Our next stop takes us inland to the Fjaðrárgljúfur river canyon, a winding green gorge that stretches for more than two kilometers.

Formed during a glacial period a few thousand years ago, Fjaðrárgljúfur is a stunning natural wonder, carpeted with fragile mosses overlooking a snaking river. 

Eldhraun Lava Fields

Look inland at the almost alien landscape as we make our way back along the South Coast – this is what Icelanders call Eldhraun, which means Fire Lava.

The Lakagígar Fires created this vast lava field in the 18th century, one of the most significant volcanic eruptions in history. It may look pretty now, covered in green mosses, but some say the famines triggered by the eruptions were a cause for the French Revolution!

Vik Village

Vík is the southernmost point in Iceland, and it’s the final stop on your South Coast adventure. It’s a pretty little village with a fairytale feel, and we’ll take you to its lovely hilltop church, the perfect spot for panoramic pictures of the Reynisdrangar and Dyrhólaey.

From Vík, it’s a straight drive back to the capital, where we will drop you back to your accommodation or meeting spot.

Then you can spend the evening remembering your fun-filled family adventure on Iceland’s sensational South Coast!

Optional Activity

AMPHIBIOUS
BOAT TOUR
AMPHIBIOUS
BOAT TOUR
AMPHIBIOUS
BOAT TOUR

Take a thrilling 45-minute amphibious boat tour among the floating icebergs. It’s your chance to get up close to these glittering giants as the bergs sway around the lagoon.

You’ll jump on an open-top 4WD vehicle and slide into the glacial waters for a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with these magical mountains of ice. Wrap up warm and look out for seals!

TOUR DETAILS

DURATION
2 DAYS

MINIMUM AGE
5 YEARS OLD

AVAILABILITY:
MAY-OCT

FREE CANCELLATION:
24 HOURS PRIOR TRAVEL

DIFFICULTY:
RELAXED/MODERATE

Included

Excluded

Know Before You Go

Proper footwear when walking on uneven and slippery surfaces increases your safety and comfort. If you do not own proper footwear (solid shoes reaching above your ankle) you can rent them during booking process

Hiking boots
For your convenience and safety reasons, it is recommended that you pack lightly for this tour, in a small suitcase or backpack. If you have large luggage with you, please check with your accommodation if they offer luggage storage for your time on this tour. If that is not a possibility, you can pay a small fee per luggage and we will make sure we have space for it on the tour bus or in a special luggage trailer
luggage

Reviews

Submit Your Review

Your opinion matters a lot!

Any questions? We will be happy to assist you!

Select your pickup option

Select Extras

  • Options Price: kr.0,0

Confirm and Submit Your Booking

Pay a deposit of 20%

Free Pick Up Service From Reykjavík

We offer pick up and drop off within the city of Reykjavik. We can pick-up directly from many hotels and guest houses in Reykjavik as well as from the Reykjavik cruise ship terminals.

Parts of Reykjavík City Center are closed for the commercial traffic. Please note, that your pick up might be from one of the dedicated meeting points