South Coast & Glacier Hike Tour | Tröll Expeditions
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South Coast & Glacier Hike Minibus Tour from Reykjavík

Tour Description

This 12-hour day trip from Reykjavík provides a focused itinerary covering geological and natural landmarks along the South Coast. Key attractions include a walk-behind experience at Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, the majestic Skógafoss Waterfall (where you can climb to the top), a hike on the Sólheimajökull Glacier (with all necessary safety equipment provided), and a visit to the volcanic Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, home to basalt columns and Atlantic waves.

Join this full-day excursion from Reykjavík to the famous South Coast of Iceland. The tour starts with pickup at your chosen location in the capital area. The first geological stops are two of Iceland's most recognized waterfalls: Seljalandsfoss, which allows visitors to walk safely behind the cascade, and Skógafoss, known for its powerful 60-meter drop and surrounding stairs that offer a top-down view. Both are approximately 1.5 to 2 hours of driving from the city.

The main adventure is the Glacier Hike on Sólheimajökull, an outlet of the larger Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Once at the glacier base, professional guides will provide essential equipment, including crampons and ice axes. Participants should be prepared for an easy to moderate physical activity level. The hike offers a direct experience with the ice, where you can observe crevasses and the unique textures of the glacier ice.

The tour concludes with a visit to Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, famous for its black sand and unique hexagonal basalt columns. The beach is exposed to strong waves, which should be respected at all times.

The entire trip is led by an English-speaking guide and includes round-trip transportation by minibus with Wi-Fi. The total duration is approximately 12 hours.

Start from

From Reykjavík

Open season

All Year

Duration

12 hours

Pick-up

Minibus tour: Pick up & Drop off included

Difficulty

Easy to moderate



Map and Itinerary

Day Tour: South Coast Glacier Hike

Today we explore Iceland’s spectacular South Coast, home to iconic waterfalls, black sand beaches, and mighty glaciers. You’ll strap on crampons and hike across ancient ice with a professional glacier guide. A true highlight of the trip.

Please note: The daily itinerary is subject to change due to weather, road conditions, and availability of activities. Activates may be moved between days. Your guide will always ensure the best and safest experience possible.

1

Pickup in Reykjavik

Your adventure starts 8:00 AM in Reykjavík; after meeting your group, you will begin a comfortable minibus journey through the South Coast complete with local stories and photo tips from your guide.

Please note: We advise our participants to be ready at their designated pickup location at 8:00 am and wait for the bus to arrive around 8:05am till 8:45am depending on road and weather conditions.

2

Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss is one of the South Coast's most famous and frequently visited waterfalls, conveniently located close to Reykjavík.

What makes this beautiful waterfall unique is its special structure: the cliffs behind the dramatic 60-meter drop contain a wide cavern. This allows visitors the unforgettable experience of walking completely behind the curtain of water, encircling the falls for a truly immersive view!

Just be sure to bring rainwear—you're highly likely to get drenched by the spray and drizzle!

3

Skógafoss Waterfall

Just 30 minutes past Seljalandsfoss, your journey continues to the majestic Skógafoss, one of Iceland's largest and most beautiful waterfalls.

Meaning "forest waterfall" in Icelandic, Skógafoss shares the same dramatic 60-meter (197-foot) drop as its neighbor. What makes it truly unique is that its powerful waters flow directly from two major glaciers: Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull, before eventually reaching the North Atlantic Ocean. The flat land right at its base makes it easy for everyone to walk up close to the misty cascade.

Unlike most falls, you can view Skógafoss from above! A challenging but rewarding climb of about 500 stairs on the side of the mountain leads you to the summit. From the top, you get a unique perspective on how the waterfall forms and can access a beautiful walking path that follows the Skógá River into a magical canyon.

After you've taken in the mystical sights of the waterfalls, you'll head off for lunch!

4

Included Tour: Glacier Hike on Sólheimajökull Glacier

Following lunch, prepare for the day's most thrilling activity: a Glacier Hike on Sólheimajökull, a spectacular outlet glacier of Mýrdalsjökull, Iceland's fourth-largest glacier! This is your chance to explore one of the world's last remaining ice caps.

Upon arriving at the Sólheimajökull parking lot, you will meet your professional glacier guide, who will equip you with all necessary safety gear, including crampons, harnesses, and ice axes.

Pro Tip: We highly recommend dressing in layers and wearing a waterproof shell rather than bulky clothing for comfort and safety.

Your hike begins with a brief climb to a higher elevation, after which the trek becomes relatively easy. Once on the ice, be ready to witness the spectacular forces of nature:

  • Gigantic Crevasses slicing through the ice.
  • The rare sight of icebergs floating in the nearby lagoon, formed when large pieces of ice detach from the glacier.

While the overall adventure is manageable, participants should be in good physical shape due to the initial ascent. Get ready for an unforgettable experience on this rare natural phenomenon!

5

Reynisfjara: the Black Sand Beach

Following your glacier adventure, your final breathtaking stop is the famous Reynisfjara, Iceland’s iconic Black Sand Beach on the South Coast.

Reynisfjara's unique landscape was formed over millions of years as volcanic eruptions deposited lava that slowly eroded into the fine, black sand you see today. You'll be greeted by incredible geological features, including the massive, hexagonal basalt columns. These rare, geometrically perfect formations are created when lava cools slowly, and such long, solid structures are rarely found anywhere else in the world.

The dramatic Dýrhólaey cliffs are clearly visible from the beach, completing the stunning panorama. In the summertime, this area is a paradise for bird lovers, offering nesting spots for puffins, razorbills, and dozens of other seabird species.

6

Back to Reykjavík

We will then start heading back to Reykjavik and are expected to arrive around 8 pm, though this may be subject to change depending on weather and road conditions.



Available Add-ons

Support Shoes

Rent shoes for keeping your ankles safe to prevent injuries

$12
Waterproof Jacket

Rent a jacket to keep you dry

$12
Waterproof Pants

Rent pants to keep you dry

$12
Beanie and Gloves

Buy our Troll Beanie and Gloves to feel part of our winter Trolls and keep you warm in the Icelandic cold

$22
Neck-warmer

Buy our Troll Neck-warmer to feel part of our winter Trolls and and protect your face from cold wind

$4
Summer Cap

Buy our Troll Summer-Cap to feel part of our summer Trolls and protect yourself from the sun

$10
Price from
$179
/ traveler
Choose a date to start

Frequently Asked Questions

• Warm clothes (first layer) • Waterproof outdoor clothing (second layer) • Hiking boots above the ankle (available for rent when booking) • Joy and happiness!

The weather in Iceland is very unpredictable. For tours during winter, warm clothing as the first layer, a waterproof outdoor jacket and pants, hiking boots with high ankle protection, a hat and gloves are ideal. For tours during summer, bringing a light rain jacket and pants is in most cases enough protection. Icelanders often say, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait 5 minutes”. Jeans are not recommended for outdoor trips as they become very heavy and cold when they get wet.

This tour is easy to moderate.

The minimum age is 8 years old for the glacier hikes. If children under those ages are on the tour, then an adult needs to stay with them while others do these activities.

  • Up to 6 months pregnant: You may join at your own discretion. You should assess your physical condition and comfort with walking on crampons for extended periods. Our guides will explain the expected duration and terrain to help you decide if you're fit to participate.
  • After 7 months pregnant: Glacier hikes are not recommended or permitted for safety reasons.

We offer pick-up only from Reykjavik city greater area from designated locations found on a drop-down menu at the time of booking. We ask all our customers to send their pick up location at least 24 hours prior to the departure of their tour. We cannot be responsible if you do not provide your pick up location or miss the departure of your tour. Pick up starts at the scheduled departure time of your voucher and can take up to 30 minutes. We ask our passenger to be ready at their listed location so they can be easily found.

Pick ups are in downtown Reykjavík from 8:00 am to 8:30 am depending on where you are staying.

  • Order or availability of attractions may change due to road or weather conditions, and we may have to adjust timings to the short daylight of winter days.
  • Pick-up is from designated locations in Reykjavík on a drop-down menu when booking. Pick-up is unavailable from Keflavik airport or outside the greater capital area.

• All-day tours can be cancelled up to 24 hours from the departure time by sending a written email to info@troll.is. You will receive a full refund except the 3% card fee. All cancellations requested less than 24 hours from the departure time are non refundable. • In the case of cancellation of the tour by the operator because of extreme weather, road conditions, or other factors, we will assist you with rescheduling to another date, booking other activity (price difference might apply), or providing a full refund.

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