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Iceland's South Coast lines up its headline sights along the Ring Road, and this full-day tour connects them from Reykjavík with no driving required. You'll get close enough to feel the force of Skógafoss, experience the southernmost village in Iceland, walk the black volcanic sand at Reynisfjara beneath its basalt cliffs, and in summer, step behind the water at Seljalandsfoss.
What sets this tour apart is the finish. Rather than the long drive straight back, you end at Reykjaböð, a geothermal spa at the entrance to the Reykjadalur valley near Hveragerði. Sink into the lagoon, sweat it out in the sauna, and brace for the cold plunge, then head back to Reykjavík relaxed instead of road-weary.
Availability
All Year
Duration
10 hours
Departs From
Reykjavík
Level
Easy
Suitable for most people in fair condition.
Expert Guides
• Deep local knowledgeThe day starts with pickup in Reykjavík. Once everyone's aboard, your guide introduces themselves and heads east toward the South Coast, a scenic stretch of the Ring Road past farmland, moss, and the mountains of the south. On the way to the first waterfall, there's a short comfort break in Hvolsvöllur, time to grab a coffee, breakfast, or snack, and use the restrooms before the sightseeing starts.
Skógafoss drops 60 meters (197 ft) over a 25-meter (82 ft) width, one of the largest waterfalls in the country and among the most photographed. You can walk right up to the base, but the spray will reach you well before you get there, so keep a waterproof layer on and your camera covered. On clear days, that mist catches the light as a rainbow, sometimes a double. For a panoramic angle, climb the steps on the right-hand side to a viewpoint over the top.
Vík is the southernmost village in Iceland, and the only seaside settlement in the country with no harbor, because the surf here is too rough to build one. The hilltop church, Víkurkirkja, is the classic stop: from beside it, you look out over the red roofs, the black beach below, and the open sea. Vik is also the main service point for this part of the coast, with places to eat and freshen up.
Reynisfjara is the black sand beach most people picture when they think of Iceland's South Coast, with columns of basalt stacked like organ pipes against the cliff and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks rising offshore. On a clear day, you can pick out the Dyrhólaey headland in the distance. This is your lunch stop, and there's a small restaurant on-site if you'd like to buy something.
The waves here give good reason to pay attention. Sudden surges that the guides call sneaker waves reach far higher up the beach than the swell in between, and they have swept people in, so stay well back from the water. Your guide will brief you before you head down.
Seljalandsfoss drops 60 meters (197 ft) from what was once the coastline, and it's the rare waterfall you can walk around. In summer, a walkway leads behind the curtain of water for a view back through the falls that most photos miss. Expect to get misted, and watch your footing on the wet, uneven ground. The path closes in winter once ice sets in, though the view from the front is worth the stop in any season. There's a coffee shop and restrooms on site.
Your last stop is Reykjaböð, a geothermal spa at the entrance to the Reykjadalur valley near Hveragerði. The heart of it is a 900-square-meter (roughly 9,700 sq ft) lagoon of warm, mineral-rich water, with a sauna and a cold plunge alongside for the full hot-and-cold ritual. There's an in-water bar if you'd like a drink while you warm up, and a bistro for a bite. It's an easy, relaxing finish before the drive back to Reykjavík. Bring swimwear, or rent it on-site. You can book one of two admissions, Classic or Signature, with the difference set out just below.
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This tour may be operated by our sister company. Look out for vehicles branded either Arctic Adventures or Your Day Tours.
You're responsible for updating your pickup location at least 48 hours before your tour. To make changes, log in to My Adventures using your email address and booking number, which is listed at the top of your ticket. You can also reach us at info@adventures.is or info@yourdaytours.is with your booking number for reference.
We'll collect you from your selected location in Reykjavík starting at your tour's departure time, so please be ready at your spot by then. Depending on traffic and your location, it can take up to 30 minutes for your guide to reach you, and we appreciate your patience. You can find the full list of pickup locations on our pickup locations page.
This is a great question. We ask all participants to be ready from the start of the pickup time indicated. This is because you may well be the first pick up of the day. Please be at your assigned location at the start time that you chose when booking the tour.
Here you should wait for your guide.
Have your email and phone number listed with us so we can contact you if we run into any trouble finding you.
View our pick-up locations in Reykjavík.
Before and during activities on the multi-day tours consumption of alcohol is prohibited. If we suspect that a participant is intoxicated, we will prohibit them from joining the activity.
After the activities of the day are finished, you are welcome to have a drink and relax.
Yes, we do. Langjökull Ice Cave is a magical experience, the tour has no minimum age and is a wonderful option for the whole family. Whale Watching with our partner company Elding has been a favourite with families traveling with young children, these guys have a great success rate in seeing whales (upwards of 98% in the summertime).
Another option would be the Landmannalaugar Safari on this tour you get to explore parts of the Icelandic highlands and bathe in natural hot springs. Most of our jeep tours are also suitable for children over the age of 6 years old. If you would like a nice and relaxing experience we would also recommend the Golden Circle & Secret Lagoon tour.
Your safety is our number one priority! Keeping this in mind, Arctic Adventures reserves the right to adjust the itinerary and/or take different routes depending on conditions. Please read more information in our cancellation policy.
Yes, there is a specially trained and certified guide on each of our tours. The only exception to this is for our self-drive tours.
All of our tours are guided in English.
No, our guides are not able to provide information on these matters, but our team will be happy to assist you. We kindly ask that you reach out to our customer ccontact u sare team regarding any questions or concerns.
The standard in Iceland is 230V and 50Hz and we use F-type power sockets and plugs, so you might have to bring an adaptor if you are visiting from UK, USA, Canada or other countries using a different voltage, Hz or plugs.
Our tours are split into four different categories that help participants to understand what to expect from the tour. The categories are Easy, Moderate, Challenging and Demanding. Each tour is rated making it easier to find tours that suit you.
For further information about the difficulty ratings and descriptions.
We’ve partnered with the Kolviður Fund in a new carbon offsetting program, which passengers can select to participate in at the time of booking.
The Kolviður Fund is the oldest, most respected carbon offsetting program in Iceland. With your support, one tree will be planted in special Kolviður forests in Iceland to carbon offset your tour with us.
Kolviður forests are strategically planted to absorb the maximum amount of CO2 and the forests are protected for a minimum of 60 years. During their lifetime the trees absorb carbon and store it in their root system, trunk, and branches. Trees also prevent soil erosion and maintain storage of carbon in the soil.
If you're visiting during winter, typically from mid-October to mid-April, we highly recommend using lightweight crampons (also called ice spikes) for added safety on icy paths while sightseeing. You can purchase them during the booking process to ensure a more secure and comfortable experience.
Find more details about crampons and ice spikes in this guide.
