Iceland is open for travel. Check volcano updates here
4.9
Join us on a four-day adventure, exploring Iceland's most stunning locations, including the Golden Circle, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, the newly erupted volcano site, and Diamond Beach, just to name a few.
From
This magical four-day tour will take you to some of the most famous places in the land of fire and ice. We’ll go on the iconic Golden Circle route, see Iceland’s famous South Coast, explore mesmerizing ice caves, walk on vast glaciers and see the recently erupted volcano site. You'll join a small group of like-minded adventurers and a friendly guide. If you're looking to spend four wonderful days traveling around Iceland, then this is the perfect tour for you.
Your adventure starts with a pickup in Reykjavik. Your guide will pick you up in a comfortable minibus at a convenient location. For your first activity, we'll embark on a tour of the Golden Circle and visit its famous attractions - Thingvellir National Park, Geysir, and Gullfoss. We will then make our way to the South Coast, making a stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall. We will spend the night in a small country hotel and, weather permitting, go searching for the Northern Lights in the evening.
After breakfast, we head farther along the South Coast where our next attraction awaits - the breathtaking Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. The lagoon is spectacular during the winter season and offers plenty of photographic opportunities. We'll also visit nearby Diamond Beach, where you'll get a closer look at the icebergs that have washed ashore. For the final stop, we'll indulge in a glacier hike and explore a natural ice cave accompanied by a certified glacier guide. We'll stay overnight near Skaftafell and, if we're lucky, you will have the opportunity to spot the Northern Lights.
On the third day, we’ll go sightseeing on the South Coast of Iceland. We'll visit many awe-inspiring attractions, such as Eldhraun Lava Field, Skógafoss Waterfall, and Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. After the South Coast tour, we’ll come back to Reykjavik.
On the final day, you'll have a chance to experience the once-in-a-lifetime experience of hiking to watch the newly created lava fields. After that, you will be able to chase the Northern Lights.
Please note: Volcanoes are a natural phenomenon, and the level of volcanic activity at the site varies daily. Even if the volcano is not erupting during your visit, visiting the area is still fascinating.
The first day of our adventure will take us on the world-renowned Golden Circle route – a trio of legendary attractions that are widely considered to be the best in Iceland.
We’ll begin at Thingvellir National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its geological and historical importance. It’s the original location of Althingi – a dramatic glacial plain where a group of Viking nobles founded the first Icelandic Parliament in 930 AD. The modern parliament in Reykjavik retains its name – making it one of the oldest democratic institutions in the world. Thingvellir also hosts a seismic rift valley that marks the ever-expanding gap between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. A unique place that is the only land visible land border between two continents.
Our next stop will be the Geysir Geothermal area – famed for the bubbling geysers that have become synonymous with Iceland. We’ll see the now dormant Great Geysir – which was the first geyser to appear in the English language and gives them all their name. Alongside Strokkur – the most active geyser in the area – firing boiling torrents of water up to 30 meters into the air every few minutes or so. The powerful geothermal forces beneath Iceland’s surface have made it the country it is today, and the Geysir Geothermal area is the best way to see its incredible power in the flesh.
The final stop on the Golden Circle route is Gullfoss (or “the Golden Falls”) – a stunningly beautiful two-stage waterfall that gets its name from the golden color its water takes as it cascades over the dark brown rock. Beneath it is an emerald valley, and rainbows regularly form above it – making for an awe-inspiring scene.
After visiting the Golden Circle, we’ll drive southwards and head for one of the most impressive waterfalls in the world, Seljalandsfoss. On a clear day, we can even get a view of Hekla Volcano on the way!
After all this adventure, we will head to our countryside hotel, which is a great place to see the flickering colors of the Northern Lights.
Our day begins with a hearty Icelandic breakfast before we head on the road towards the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and the nearby Diamond Beach – passing moss-carpeted lava fields, volcanically scarred deserts, and some spectacular rock formations that stand as vivid reminders of volcanic eruptions over the years. By then, you'll be able to catch sight of the majestic Breidamerkurjokull Glacier, which unfurls like a tongue from Vatnajokull, the largest glacier in the whole of Europe.
The Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon lies in its shadow, famed for the glittering icebergs that float across its icy-blue surface. Many of them wash up on the nearby Diamond Beach, where they shine like beautiful diamonds against the black sands. Both places are breathtakingly beautiful and will leave you with memories you'll treasure forever.
After Jokulsarlon, we head to Skaftafell Nature Reserve for yet another adventure. Your certified glacier guide will meet you there and take you to mesmerizing Vatnajokull Glacier. After taking a breathtaking glacier hike, we'll go into the icy depths of the glacier by entering a natural ice cave.
Iceland's ice caves usually form over the winter months. When the meltwaters from summer freeze, they create huge pockets and beautiful patterns within the sapphire-blue ice. During the glacier hike, your guide will explain exactly how these incredible ice formations came to be.
These kinds of tours are very weather-dependent, so the ice cave we'll visit will be chosen considering the day's conditions. Since ice cave temperatures are below freezing, don't forget to dress warmly.
Our accommodation for the night will be at Adventure Hotel Geirland.
After a nutritious breakfast, we’ll start our tour along the South Coast. If the road conditions allow us, we’ll make a small detour to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, also known as the “Bieber Canyon”, after the famous singer shot his music video here.
Next, we’ll visit the Eldhraun lava field before heading to the iconic Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. There we’ll take in the stark contrast of the white-crested waves of the Atlantic Ocean as they wash against its jet-black sands. From the cliffside rises a cluster of basalt sea stacks, reminiscent of the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland. We’ll also see the Reynisdrangar basalt pillars, which rise like jagged peaks from the sea. Folktales say they were once a trio of trolls turned to stone by the sun as they tried to drag a boat back to land.
We’ll also stop at the equally impressive Skogafoss Waterfall – whose wider cascade tumbles down 60 meters into a pool below. We’ll climb up the meandering path next to the falls – for a spectacular vista over the entire area. Skogafoss also plays a prominent role in Icelandic myth, and our guide will point out the two strange rock formations that are believed to be trolls who were petrified by the dawn. Some locals also believe that a Viking settler hid a treasure chest somewhere beneath the falls – offering fabulous wealth to the person who finds it.
The famous Eyjafjallajökull stands above the Skogafoss waterfall, and with good visibility, you can catch a glimpse of this magnificent mountain.
In the evening, we’ll return to Reykjavik for the night’s rest.
On this final day, you will join us on a once-in-a-lifetime experience to hike and see the newly erupted volcano site! This truly is an experience that you will never forget!
Eruptions are rare events, and they are very hostile in nature. This element of rarity, the sheer power, and the potentially destructive forces behind eruptions make them hypnotically fascinating. Not all eruptions are created the same, some spew ashes far up into the sky while others pump out molten magma.
For our final stop, if you are traveling during the winter months (September - March) we'll drive out to hunt the magical Northern Lights. Our tour of the Northern Lights starts off with the thrill of the pursuit. Once your guide picks you up, be prepared for the hunt. You’ll drive out into the unparalleled beauty of a starry night.
As the forecast changes daily, unfortunately, we can’t tell you in advance exactly where our quest for the aurora borealis will take us. But one thing is guaranteed–we will take you far away from the city lights! We could go to Hvalfjörður, Þingvellir, Reykjanes, or to some other rural area in South Iceland to escape light pollution. Traveling by minibus means we can get to offbeat locations that the big buses just can’t reach.
Please note: Nothern Lights chase is available only during the winter season from September to April. Since the spectacle of the Northern Lights is very much weather-dependent, if no aurora is seen, you’ll have unlimited re-tries valid for up to 3 years. That’s right, you’ll be able to re-join the chase of Northern Lights until it’s a successful one! What to do in this case? Our Customer Care is ready to help you and book your next re-try. Please keep in mind that refunds are not issued when a tour takes place but no Northern Lights are seen. During a re-try, the tour is operated on a minibus
Please keep in mind that volcanic eruption is a natural phenomenon and therefore is hard to predict. We cannot guarantee the sight of boiling lava, but while the main crater is dormant, you will still be able to see the fresh lava surrounding the area.
Return time: We will return to Reykjavík between 00:00 – 01:00 am (12-1:00 a.m.)
Pick-up Information: Pick-up is at 09:00 am from your hotel or a nearby meeting point in Reykjavík. Picking everyone up can take up to 30 minutes, your patience is much appreciated.
Available pick-up points: Arctic Adventures’s pick-up list.
If you’re traveling with a party of 2 or more, be sure to book everyone under a single reservation. Otherwise, we can’t guarantee you will all be on the same tour activity.
We always recommend booking a multi-day tour starting at least one day after arriving in Iceland. If you’re flying in from the US or will be landing early (4-6:30 am) you should be able to join the tour, but some risks would follow (i.e if the flight gets delayed) and could, therefore, miss out on the tour.
Most of the hotels we use during our tours are remotely located and therefore ideal to spot the northern lights. If the forecast is in your favor, then it is more than likely that you will be able to see the magical show put on by the dancing northern lights during your tour with us. Most of the hotels offer a Northern Lights wake up call up on request if the lights are spotted.
The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and therefore we can unfortunately never promise that they will be seen. Their appearance depends upon atmospheric and weather conditions. The best time to see them is between September and March when it’s dark and clear. The sky needs to be as dark as possible, so the best places to see them are well away from city lights (that’s where we are going!).
For more information on the Northern Lights, please have a look at our Northern Lights information.
If you are not sure that you have suitable gear for your tour, we offer some necessary items for rent. For most of our multi-day tours, we rent out waterproof jackets and pants as well as hiking boots. You can book these items and more under the selection “Extras” in the booking widget when booking your tour on our website.
If you have already booked the tour and wish to add some rental gear to your booking, you can do so at least 24 hours prior to your tour starts.
For further information about rental gear:
2 Day Tours – Rental Equipment & Upgrades
3 Day Tours – Rental Equipment & Upgrades
4 Day Tours – Rental Equipment & Upgrades
We drive on average around 300 km (186 miles) per day on our multi-day tours. You will be spending approximately 4-5 hours in the car each day. We do of course stop on multiple locations throughout the tour for sightseeing, activities, bathroom breaks and lunch stops.
We do welcome participants of all ages older than the listed minimum age for each tour. We have people of ages ranging from 8-99 years joining our multi-day tours. Our average group usually consists of participants between the age 20-55 years. We do get a lot of solo travellers joining our tours, as well as families and friends.
If you have difficulties participating in any of the activities included in the tour, for example, a glacier activity, you are more than welcome to skip it. You can explore your surroundings in the meantime or wait elsewhere. Our guide should be able to drop you off at a nearby place where there are some services available.
For multi-day tours, each participant is allowed to bring a small backpack and 1 piece of luggage weighing a maximum of 20 kg (44 lbs).
* The combined dimensions of each bag must not exceed 158 cm (62 in).
* It’s possible to store your luggage with us in Reykjavík while you are on your tour, for a small fee. We highly recommend storing the luggage in Reykjavík to help us reduce our carbon footprint.
* Please note that luggage storage is not refundable.
Breakfast is included at all the hotels we stay in during the tour. The breakfast will be a typical breakfast buffet, offering bread, toppings, cereal, yogurt, fruits, coffee, and tea etc.
Your guide will also find a good place for the group to eat lunch. We always try to choose places that have a wide selection of dishes on the menu, so there will be options available for everyone. The dinner is usually at the hotels we stay at for the night.
If your tour includes accommodation, breakfast is always included during the tour at the hotel/guesthouse restaurant.
Meals and beverages are otherwise not included on your tour. (Unless it’s specifically stated in the description of the tour)
On our multiday tours, we will be making stops at restaurants and convenience stores where you will be able to purchase all necessities.
You should count on spending around 8,000 ISK (80$) on food each day per person. Cash is not necessary, as credit cards are almost always accepted. Having a small amount of cash doesn’t hurt though.
A single supplement is available if you want to have your own room, but you are not required to pay a single supplement. If you are a single traveler and do not wish to book a single room, you’ll be roomed with another traveler of the same gender.
When booking with Arctic Adventures, you are guaranteed an accommodation at a nice country hotel and/or a guesthouse. The hotels we have partnered up with are all of the same standard and offer nice rooms with made-up beds. The rooms come with private or shared bathrooms, depending on your booking. The standard room is a twin room but it’s possible to request a double room or a triple room, with no extra charge.
If you are traveling solo, you will have to add the single room fee if you wish to have a single room.
All hotels have free Wi-Fi. Towels, a hairdryer and a kettle are accessible at all of the hotels. Hotel breakfast is included!
