3 Day South Coast, Golden Circle, Glacier Hike with Optional Ice Cave
Join us for a 3-day excursion to see the famous Golden Circle and the South Coast. Experience the beauty of our glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón, hike on Europe's largest glacier and feast your eyes on powerful waterfalls and stunning nature.
Duration
3 Days
Highlights
✓ Thingvellir ✓ Gullfoss ✓ Geysir ✓ Diary Farm ✓ Skógafoss ✓ Seljalandsfoss ✓ Glacier Hike on Skaftafell ✓ Vatnajokull ✓ Jökulsárlón ✓ Diamond Beach ✓ Reynisfjara ✓ Optional Ice Cave ✓ Optional Boat Tour
Included
✓ Wi-Fi and Icelandic music on board, ✓ Accommodation with breakfast, ✓ Small Group Experience, ✓ Glacier Equipment And more…
Overview
Hop on a comfortable minibus with a friendly, experienced guide and a small group for a 3-day excursion with us to explore the most famous locations in the Golden Circle and the South Coast.
During this tour, you’ll get the chance to see the famous Geysir and surrounding geothermal area, Gullfoss the powerful waterfall and Thingvellir National Park in the Golden Circle.
On the second and third day you’ll travel the renowned South Coast. Along the shore, you’ll get to see the famous black sand beach, Reynisfjara, our stunning glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón in Vatnajökull National Park, where you’ll also get the change to explore Europe’s largest glacier. You also have the opportunity to add an optional tour to explore the mighty Dragon Glass Katla Ice Cave.
Daily itinerary
Day 1 – The Golden Circle
You will be picked up from Reykjavík, and from there, set out to see Iceland’s most famous route: The Golden Circle. You’ll get the chance to experience everything that the area has to offer, including geothermal areas, waterfalls, and our favorite locals.
Geysir Geothermal Area
The Geysir geothermal area hosts hundreds of colorful hot springs and two geysers, erupting hot springs. One is called “Geysir”, lending its name to all the geysers in the world. Today, however, it seldom erupts. The other geyser is called “Strokkur” and erupts every 5 minutes up to a height of 40 meters.
Gullfoss Waterfall
The melting water from Iceland´s second biggest glacier, Langjökull, falls into a deep canyon forming the majestic “Golden Falls”. On a sunny day, you can see the glacier Langjökull in the distance and enjoy a rainbow in the mist of the waterfall, an Instagram blockbuster waiting to happen!
Traditional Dairy Farm and Free Ice Cream
We visit Efstidalur farm owned by the same family since 1850. This Icelandic family-run business sticks to traditional Icelandic farming culture and focuses on cows and cattle breeding. You will be able to enjoy their tasty farm-to-table dairy products, see the stunning mountain view and see the friendly animals. Tröll Expeditions will invite you to taste the ice cream yourself and meanwhile watch the animals relaxing in the stable.
Thingvellir National Park
We visit the place where the two tectonic plates, the North American and the Eurasian plate, are moving away from each other. Few places in the world offer a better and clearer view of this massive geographic activity. The biggest natural lake in Iceland is also located at Thingvellir National Park and hosts a great variety of fish and bird life. Thingvellir is also an important place for Icelandic national history. At Thingvellir Icelanders founded their parliament in 930 a.d. where the chieftains had their annual meeting every summer. The name “Thingvellir” translates to “Parliament Plains”.
After you had seen all these magical places, you’ll get back on the bus and we’ll take you to the hotel to rest and get ready for the second day of your tour.
Day 2 – South Coast, Glaciers & Waterfalls
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
The adventure begins when with the powerful theatrics of Seljalandsfoss. Bring a raincoat and you’ll be able to make the short hike behind the falls. The scene behind the fall and the trembling ground from the power of the falling water makes for an automatic Instagram blockbuster!
Skógafoss waterfall
Further east along the coast is Skógafoss waterfall. Skógafoss is an incredibly picturesque sight. Tucked in a little gorge, the river Skógá tumbles down a 60 meter cliff before continuing down the landscape towards the Atlantic Ocean. Alongside the gorge a staircase can take you to the shelf above the waterfall for stunning views. See if you can count your steps on your way up.
Glacier Hike in Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park
We will hike an outlet glacier spawning from the one of the largest glaciers in the country, Vatnajökull. After meeting our highly trained glacier guides and strapping on our safety and glacier equipment, including helmets, harnesses, crampons and ice axes we hike on the ice for an hour and a half. A spectacular experience and opportunity to learn more about this breathtaking and increasingly rare natural phenomena. Skaftafell area has been used as a filming location for many famous TV shows and films, such as Game of Thrones, Interstellar, James Bond, and others… Follow the steps of your favorite characters into the glacier!
Day 3 – Jokulsarlon, Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach
Jökulsárlón, the Glacier Lagoon
Heading off day 3, you’ll see Jökulsárlón. The glacier lagoon is a 200m deep glacial lagoon fed by Breiðamerkurjökull, an outlet glacier of Europe’s largest glacier. Enormous icebergs come from Breiðamerkurjökull all year round so the lagoon is usually filled with ice that floats south. Try walking alongside the glacier lagoon enjoying the magnificent views and dead silence of Icelandic nature.
The Diamond Beach
On the other side of the road the icebergs from Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon float into the Atlantic Ocean where they are quickly thrown back to shore by the tide and winds. This black sand beach is full of smaller ice rocks in all shapes and sizes, sparkling like diamonds in the daylight. The ice itself comes in all shades of white and blue forming beautiful contrasts, guaranteed to make your Instagram account pop!
Reynisfjara, the Black Sand Beach
Later, we visit the black sand beach of Reynisfjara where the Atlantic coastline presents massive waves hitting the unique basalt columns in the cliffs above the sand. Rock pillars in the water and the cliffs of Dýrhólaey are seen in the distance. This area of the south is also a paradise for bird lovers, as puffins and dozens of other unique species nest on top of these cliffs in the summertime from June to August.
Optional Dragon Glass Katla Ice Cave
You also have the option to add Dragon Glass Katla Ice Cave as an extra for this tour. If you chose to do so, you’ll hop on our Super Jeep, put on your crampons and explore the mighty South Coast and Myrdalsjokull glacier. In this off-the-beaten-path tour to a natural ice cave underneath Katla volcano, you’ll admire the lunar surroundings, moss covered mountains and glaciers the South Coast of Iceland is so well known for.
After the tour we return to Reykjavik, arrival in the capital is expected around 20:00 (8:00 p.m.), but this is flexible and can change due to weather or traffic conditions, but fear not, it’s all part of your Icelandic travel experience!
Don´t delay, book your tour now by selecting a date!
General Information
✓ Pickup time: 09:00
✓ Pickup might take 30 minutes. Please be ready at your selected location. Read carefully if you will be picked up at your hotel or at the nearest designated area (Bus Stop). For walking distance to bus stops, please check busstop.is
✓ Easy to Moderate
✓ Thingvellir National Park
✓ Gullfoss waterfall
✓ Geysir geothermal area
✓ Efstidalur farm also known as the “Ice cream farm”
✓ Seljalandsfoss waterfall
✓ Skógafoss waterfall
✓ Reynisfjara, “the Black Sand Beach”
✓ Jökulsárlón, “the Glacier Lagoon”
✓ Diamond Beach
✓ Skaftafell National Park
✓ English speaking guide
✓ Certified Glacier Guide
✓ Small Group (21 persons max)
✓ Wi-Fi and Icelandic music on board
✓ Glacier equipment: helmet, harness, crampons, and ice axe
✓ Accommodation for 2 nights in a comfortable hotel with breakfast included and private bathroom
• Warm clothes (first layer)
• Waterproof clothing (second layer)
• Hiking boots (available for rent when booking)
• Joy and happiness!
• Order or availability of attractions may change due to road or weather conditions.
• The limit is one 24″ suitcase per person. You can store your luggage in our office for 1,000 ISK. It can be added as an extra at the time of booking. If there is room on the bus, then we will bring the piece of luggage with us on the tour. The luggage fee however is non-refundable upon payment in all cases.
• We have to adjust timings to try to avoid big crowds.
• Pick up is from designated locations in Reykjavík. Pick up from Keflavík airport or outside of the greater capital area is not available.
• You will see the designated pick up locations in Reykjavík on a drop-down menu at the time of booking.
• You can bring some favorite snacks and beverages if you like.
• We recommend you bring hiking boots with slip-resistant soles. Hiking boots are available at the time of booking.
Photos
Map
Reserve your spot for this 3 Day Excursion along the Golden Circle and the South Coast of Iceland. Check the availability by choosing a date.
FAQ
How does pick up work?
For tours that state that they pick up from Reykjavík, 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, we won’t be responsible if you miss your tour. We offer free pick-up from Reykjavik city center. Pick up starts at the scheduled departure time for the tour can take up to 30 minutes. We ask our passenger to be ready in their listed location so they can be easily found.
What are designated pick up locations?
Due to regulations of Reykjavik City, tour companies are allowed to stop at certain designated bus stop locations in the city centre to pick up passengers. It is stated on your voucher whether we will pick you up directly from your accommodation or from the bus stop.
How can I find the nearest designated pick up location?
Find the closest designated pick up location using the map below:
What should I wear for glacier tours?
Weather in Iceland is very unpredictable. For tours during winter: warm clothing as first layer, waterproof jacket with a hoodie, hiking boots with ankle protection and hard sole, a hat and gloves are ideal. For tours during summer, bringing a light rain jacket or a soft shell with a hoodie 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 our trips as they become very heavy, cold and uncomfortable to wear when they get wet.
Do I need hiking boots?
We encourage bringing hiking boots for glacier tours. They have to hard on the sole and tight around the ankle. If you don’t have them, we have them for rent in all sizes in Skaftafell or Sólheimajökull. You can add them to your reservation at the time of booking or rent them on location pay with cash or card. The price is ISK 1,500 per pair. For ice climbing tours, boots are included in the price.
How difficult are glacier hikes?
We offer glacier hiking tours in Skaftafell and one in Sólheimajökull. Both locations either easy or moderate in difficulty. Our tours are considered to be safe for anyone in good physical condition. If you are fit to walk for about an hour on an uneven surface a glacier hike is for you. Longer tours will be more challenging in endurance and some areas of the glacier. We also recommend you remember that we offer all the safety equipment necessary and you will be hiking with a professional and certified glacier guide. If you have specific questions regarding one of our glacier tours, feel free to email us.
If I am pregnant, can I join a glacier hike?
This is a personal choice. We have had pregnant women on our glacier hikes and we always recommend you read the description of the activity to get a better idea. In any case, feel free to contact our Service Team for further questions and concerns.
What if it’s raining?
It rains a lot in Iceland, but we do not let rain stop us from going out and enjoy nature. All we need to do is choose our clothing wisely, which is why we recommend wearing waterproof clothing as the second layer. Of course, safety is our #1 priority. In case of extreme weather conditions, we will cancel our tours and do our best to reschedule. In these cases, you’ll receive a full refund.
How much luggage can I bring?
The limit is one 24″ suitcase per person. You can store your luggage in our office for 1,000 ISK. It can be added as an extra at the time of booking. If there is room on the bus, then we will bring the piece of luggage with us on the tour. The luggage fee however is non-refundable upon payment in all cases.
Reykjavik
4 Days
21
Apr-Oct
