3-Day Golden Circle & South Coast Iceland Tour

Your 3-Day Golden Circle and South Coast tour begins with the famous Golden Circle:  Þingvellir (Thingvellir), Geysir and Gullfoss. Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the historic location of the Icelandic Parliament, the Alþingi. Established in 930 c.e., this is the oldest continuously operated Parliament in the world, situated in one of the most geologically fascinating places on the planet.

Thingvellir is home to a rift valley between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. Stand atop the Law Rock where the Law Speaker, the Parliament’s orator, would make speeches. The cliffs look out over Þingvallavatn, a very beautiful lake set within this incredible landscape.

Next, you’ll visit the geothermal wonder Geysir Geothermal Area. Geysir was once a magnificent geyser that lent its name to the English word geyser. Though now dormant, its neighbor Strokkur always delights. You won’t have to wait more than a few minutes to see Strokkur burst forth scalding water skywards, jumping up to 25 meters high.

Finally, we stop at Gullfoss (the Golden Falls), the most-visited waterfall in Iceland. Witness the powerful Hvita (“White”) River roar down the two-tiered cliffs into the rugged canyon below. The force of the falls and the beauty of the surrounding golden mist are a sight to behold.

After the Golden Circle, we drive southward. On a clear day, we’ll get great views of Mount Hekla on the way to Seljalandsfoss, one of the most unusual waterfalls in the world. You can walk behind these graceful falls to enjoy the view from both sides.

Your hotel for the night will be in the South Iceland region, a fantastic base to catch the mesmerizing Northern Lights during the winter months (September to April) if conditions are right. A little luck is very useful when it comes to auroras!

In the morning, we head east towards the magnificent Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and nearby Diamond Beach. The lagoon is filled with icebergs of all shapes and sizes, as they glide in a dreamlike procession towards the salty waves of the Atlantic. The multifaceted colors are caused by a combination of factors, including ice compression.

Many of them are washed ashore at the Diamond Beach, where they glitter like diamonds on the black sand. There’s nothing quite like walking on the beach as sunlight illuminates the beach with bright blue tones of the icebergs. Ocean birds are abundant and, if you’re lucky, you might spot a playful seal. Your hotel for the night will be in the Skaftafell area, another great base to test your Northern Lights luck if you are traveling during September - April months!

From Jokulsarlon, we head to Skaftafell Nature Reserve for a new adventure. From October to April, we join our certified glacier guide and step into the mesmerizing world of the Vatnajokull Glacier. 

During our beautiful glacier hike, we’ll enter a natural ice cave where you’ll have some time to explore and take photos. Photographers will get the rare chance to capture mysterious blue light passing through glacial ice. On your walk, an expert guide will explain how these glacial ice formations came to be. In summer, we go to the only natural ice cave you can visit all year - the Katla Ice Cave tour near Vik.

The ice cave we visit will be chosen based on current conditions. Including both ice cave and glacier hike exploration, we’ll spend roughly 2 hours on the ice. This tour is suitable for people who are able to comfortably walk around 2 hours across easy outdoor terrain.

Ice cave temperatures hover well below freezing, so don’t forget to dress warmly.

Your accommodation for the night will be at the same hotel – Adventure Hotel Geirland.

After a nourishing breakfast, we’ll start our day slowly driving towards Reykjavik and making plenty of stops along the way.  If the roads are clear, we’ll start the day off with a quick detour to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon.

Next, we’ll have the chance to visit the iconic Eldhraun lava field before heading to Reynisfjara black beach. The powerful waves of the Atlantic Ocean really show their force here. Watch as these roaring, white-tipped beauties crash onto the black beach. A word of warning – the waves here can be unpredictable! Always follow the advice of your tour guide.

You should pop into the black basalt cave before you leave the beach. Reynisfjara is famous for its basalt columns just off the shore, called the Reynisdrangar. Gazing up at these dramatic black pillars, you’ll get a good idea of where the legends of Icelandic troll folklore sprang from!

After Reynisfjara, our next stop will be a visit to Skógafoss, an impressive waterfall that drops 60 m into a tranquil pool below. There are 527 steps leading to the top, yet the steep climb is worth it for the panorama alone. The famous volcano, Eyjafjallajökull, lurks high above the waterfall, so if visibility is good you’ll get a glimpse of this magnificent mountain glacier.

After enjoying our final stop at Skógafoss, your 3-Day Iceland’s South Coast tour comes to an end. We’ll return to Reykjavík between 16:00 and 19:00, depending on the weather conditions.

Return time: We will return to Reykjavík between 16:00 – 19:00 (4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.), depending on the conditions.

Pick-up Information: Pick up is at 9:00 a.m. 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.

Remember to bring: Warm outdoor clothing including layers, thermal underwear (top and bottom), a waterproof jacket and pants, headwear, scarves, and gloves. Sturdy hiking boots are essential for glacier hiking since they are the only kind of footwear that fit ice crampons. Hiking boots for the glacier hike can be rented in the booking process or at the Glacier Guides Booking Center in Skaftafell. We recommend renting in advance.

What if I don’t own all of these clothing items? Proper hiking boots are essential for glacier hiking, as crampons won’t fit on other footwear. If you don’t have the necessary gear, you can rent hiking boots, a waterproof jacket, and waterproof pants during the booking process. These items can also be rented on location at the Glacier Guides Booking Center for the glacier hike. If you wish to rent gear for the entire duration of the tour, make sure to add it to your booking at least 48 hours before your tour starts.

We cannot guarantee that the actual view during your visit will match the photographs since ice caves are a natural phenomenon that undergoes constant change. How they look may vary depending on the season, time of day, lighting, and other factors.