Looking for a fun winter activity? | Check out these tours!

About Tour

Travel the country from the west to the east, discover raw rural landscapes of Iceland with lava deserts and leftover moraine, hike on a glacier, and marvel at the biggest hot spring in Europe on this 4-day unforgettable adventure.

4.8

6 reviews

Highlights

  • Natural Ice Cave
  • Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
  • Reynisfjara black sand beach
  • Hraunfossar Waterfall
  • Barnafoss Waterfall
  • Mt. Kirkjufell
  • Snæfellsnes Peninsula
  • Northern Lights
  • Vatnshellir Lava Cave (optional)
  • Krauma Geothermal Baths (optional)

During the first half of this exuberant trip, you’ll indulge in the biggest hot spring in Europe, challenge your strength against the Vikings of old, and explore captivating Snæfellsnes peninsula. On the second part of the trip, we’ll discover the very south of Iceland. There, waterfalls Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss roar with unimaginable power, remnants of trolls at the iconic black sand beach of Reynisfjara hide behind basalt sea stacks, and the world-famous luminescent icebergs in Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon cast an otherworldly scene.

West Iceland in the Winter destination of 2019

Availability Oct - April
Duration 4 days
Departs From Reykjavik
Level Easy Suitable for most people in fair condition.
Minimum age 6 years
Ratio 1:18 Guide to client ratio
Accommodation Included
Pick Up Yes
Meet on Location No

From

1 149
Per
Adult
  • West Iceland - Winter Destination of the Year 2019
  • Expert Guides
  • Free Wifi
  • Small Group Experience
  • No Booking Fees

What's included

Included

  • Pick-up & drop off from Reykjavík
  • Guided Minibus Tour
  • English Speaking Tour Guide
  • Accommodation with Private Bathroom - 3 Nights
  • Breakfast Each Morning at Your Hotel
  • Free WiFi on Board Your Bus

What to bring

  • Warm outdoor clothing
  • A waterproof jacket and pants
  • Headwear
  • Gloves

Not Included

  • Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary

Information

West Coast of Iceland

Our 4-day trip will begin in Reykjavik, where we’ll pick you up from your hotel or at a nearby pickup point. Then, we’ll head towards the West, where enchanting landscapes of rural Iceland will take your breath away. Have your camera ready at all times as exquisite and unique scenery might sneak up on you at any time. Our first stop of the day will be at a small town called Borgarfjörður, where hot spring Deildartunguhver sprays groundwater at everyone who comes close. Then, we’ll drop by the waterfalls Hraunfossar and Barnafoss, and you’ll learn the stories behind their names. Both waterfalls are attractive and whimsical in their own way. We’ll cap the day off by seeking out the supernatural Northern Lights phenomenon in the dark sky.

On the second day of our trip, we’ll continue to explore the west of Iceland, in radiant Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and we’ll start by traversing the ravishing Djúpalónssandur beach. Once home to a thriving fishing village, the cape is now known for its gorgeous black sand and a few ruins from the mid-20th century. Try to spy the antique British trawler Epine that lies lifeless on the shore or the few colossal lifting stones that were once used to test the strength of daring locals. After we’ve explored most of what the Snaefellsnes Peninsula has to offer, we’ll head back to Reykjavik for the night.

South Coast of Iceland

The third day of the trip begins with us paying a visit to the Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls. We’ll explore these wonders of nature from the inside, where remarkable photo opportunities of the waterfalls and surrounding areas await. Remember to bring waterproof clothing for this adventure. Next, we’ll head to Reynisfjara, a world-famous black sand beach with majestic basalt column formations just off the shore, the Reynisdrangar peaks, which, according to the legend were once trolls, petrified one fateful morning when the sunlight touched their skin. We’ll finish the day off with a Northern Lights hunt!

East Coast of Iceland

Ready for some adrenaline? Our fourth and final day will begin with an enthralling hike in a Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. Before the hike, you’ll be provided with the necessary equipment and safety guidelines, to make sure the hike is a delightful experience all around. To make this hike even more sensational, our tour guide will tell you about the lagoon, when and how it was formed, point out the most astonishing icebergs. From here, we’ll have a short walk toward the Diamond Beach. This beach is covered in icebergs, some massive and others minuscule, and the chiaroscuro of crystal on black creates a sort of an apocalyptic scene. Plenty of photo opportunities are to be had here!

Pick up will be at 9 am from the Reykjavík meeting point you have chosen. Please note that even though the pickup procedure up can take up to 30 minutes, you do have to be ready and waiting at 9 am.

Be prepared to embark upon a tour that will leave you inspired long after you’ve left Iceland. We’ll first head towards a town called Borgarfjörður, home to Europe’s biggest hot spring, Deildartunguhver. The hot spring pumps out around 33 ounces (180 liters) of hot water per second. The temperature of the hot spring is about 100°C and it is used to provide heating and hot water to the neighboring areas. 

You will have the option of visiting the Krauma geothermal baths on this day. For those that choose not to visit Krauma, we will go and visit a nearby horse farm and pet some Icelandic horses!

Afterward, we’ll be on our way to Reykholt, a small, yet culturally important town in Iceland where famed medieval poet and politician Snorri Sturluson lived. There’s also a hot spring pool where he’s said to have bathed. Close to Reykholt, you’ll visit two waterfalls unlike any other in the world: Hraunfossar and Barnafoss. Afterward, if the forecast is favorable, we’ll try to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. As the day draws to an end, we’ll head to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, where the next day’s adventures await.

The accommodation for the night will be in Hotel Borgarnes.

Day Highlights
  • Deildartunguhver hot spring
  • Hraunfossar and Barnafoss Waterfalls
  • Snæfellsnes Peninsula
  • Northern Lights Hunt (in the right conditions)
Included
  • Pick up from Reykjavik
  • Guided minibus tour to all highlights
  • One night at a hotel
Accommodation
Hotel Borgarnes
or similar

Once awake and spoiled with a generous breakfast, we’ll head towards Djúpalónssandur Beach. On the way there, you’ll be able to soak in the beautiful alpine and coastal scenery of western Snæfellsnes. Djúpalónssandur used to be a flourishing fishing village with around 60 fishing boats. You might notice a handful of huge stones on the shoreline. Back in the day, fishermen would challenge each other to lift the stones in order to prove their strength. Here we’ll enjoy a short hike along the coast, as the shimmering silver-tipped Atlantic waves roll over the glossy black pebbles of this beach. An old British trawler, shipwrecked in 1948 is still visible from the shore. 

At the top of the beach, we’ll come across a picturesque view of Iceland’s most photogenic mountain, Kirkjufell. Snæfellsnes is known for its diverse and artistic landscapes, and is often referred to as “Iceland in a nutshell.” We’ll cap the day off with spectacular views of Snæfellsjökull, the monumental glacier, made famous by Jules Verne’s book “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” After a full day of adventures, we’ll drive you back to the Reykjavík for the overnight.

Day Highlights
  • Arnarstapi Fishing Village
  • Snæefellsnes National Park
  • Vatnshellir Cave (optional extra)
  • Djúpalónssandur Beach
  • Mount Kirkjufell
Included
  • Hotel breakfast
  • Guided minibus tour to all highlights
  • All necessary caving equipment
  • Qualified Caving Guide (optional activity)
  • One night at a hotel in the Reykjavík area
Accommodation
Reykjavik Lights Hotel
or similar

The second half of your trip will take place in the southern and eastern parts of Iceland. Throughout out the entire day, expect to see breathtaking landscapes, consisting of immense, moss-smothered lava fields, waterfalls, volcanic black sands, and glacier tongues.

After a hearty breakfast in Reykjavik, we’ll head along the South Coast, passing through farmlands, towns, and villages, towards the Seljandsfoss waterfall. This remarkable waterfall is definitely worth getting damp for as you hike up behind the waterfall, soaking in the pleasant peek through the water curtain cascading down. Our next highlight is the neighboring Skógafoss, located on the base of a volcano called Eyjafjallajökull. Hike up this waterfall’s crest for panoramic views of the lowland below, and, on a clear day, Mýrdalsjökull is also visible.

Our next stop is Reynisfjara, a black sand beach with wind-sculptured basalt cliffs and sea stacks. On the way to our accommodation in Hof, we’ll drive through the charming small town of Vík. Once at the hotel, we’ll enjoy a peaceful evening and, if the conditions are right, we’ll hunt for the Northern Lights once more.  

Day Highlights
  • Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss Waterfalls
  • Coastal village of Vik
  • Reynisfjara Black Beach
  • Northern Lights Hunt (if conditions are right)
Included
  • Hotel breakfast
  • Pick up from your hotel
  • Guided minibus tour to all highlights
  • One night at a hotel
Accommodation
Adventure Hotel Hof

Once well rested, we’ll start our last day of the trip by visiting world-famous Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon nearby Diamond Beach. We encourage you to explore the glittering, out-of-this-world ice lagoon and go on an ultimate hike in the Vatnajokull ice cave.

Many of these natural ice sculptures are washed onto the beach and broken into a million pieces that then decorate the black sand like sparkling diamonds. This is how the site earned the name of “Diamond Beach”. Don’t forget to look out for the floating icebergs, cut off from the glacier tongue, on the shore of Diamond beach. You might even see a seal or two.

Next, we will literally enter the body of a glacier and visit a spectacular ice cave, accompanied by a qualified guide, of course. Ice caves are fascinating natural wonders that are always changing, winter after winter. Due to the melt and freeze cycle of the glaciers, new caves are born each year and will later refill with ice and disappear.

Inside a glacier, you will find ice of a surprisingly deep jewel blue. This color is caused by both the compression of the ice under its own weight and the way that our eyes perceive light and color. For any photographer, the journey into an ice cave will give them the superb opportunity to capture the shimmering blue light that filters through the glacial ice into the ice cave.

On our way back to Reykjavik, we’ll stop by the Vatnajökull National Park for a quick visit. Skaftafell Nature Reserve is a green area in the middle of jagged mountains and snow-capped peaks. The splendid scenery of Skaftafell is definitely going to be the highlight of the day. As night falls, we’ll go on a hunt for Northern Lights.

happy woman at night under Northern Lights

Due to traffic, weather, and the possibility of Northern Lights, we can expect to return to Reykjavík from around 9 pm to 11 pm.

Please note that as the ice caves are an ever-changing natural phenomenon, it is, therefore, not possible to say that we will visit any specific cave. The choice of ice cave will always be based on the conditions and safety considerations at the time of the trip.

Day Highlights
  • Vatnajokull Glacier
  • Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
  • The Crystal Beach (Diamond Beach)
  • Natural Ice Cave
  • Skaftafell Nature Reserve
Included
  • Hotel breakfast
  • Guided Ice cave tour
  • Certified Glacier Guide
  • All glacier and ice cave equipment
  • Guided minibus tour to all highlights
  • Drop off in Reykavík

If you do not choose the single supplement you will be paired in a twin room with another participant of the same gender.

Contact us for more Information about this tour

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Reviews

4.8
Based on 6 reviews

4 Day Northern Lights, Snaefellsnes & Glacier Lagoon

1- of 6 reviews

Reviewed on January 24, 2022 by Kathy Rosenast Review from Google Reviews

This was by far one of our best holiday vacations. We took a four day tour that was broken into two 2 days. Our guides Nick and Maria were phenomenal. They each had unique perspectives and marvelous stories to tell I could’ve spent a lot more time with both of them. Since we didn’t see the northern lights on our first couple nights out Nick made sure to help us get one more night at the end of our trip and we were very fortunate to see an amazing show. The ice caves, waterfalls, and beaches were spectacular. Not only did they take us on the tour but gave us important information about the city and other things we could do.

On another note The entire time while we were setting up this trip the communication was clear helpful and I always felt that they answered my questions. I guess I would say from the planning to the execution to the end this was an exceptional trip. It was marvelous and I would certainly recommend this trip

4 Day South Coast, Snæfellsnes, Golden Circle & Secret Lagoon tour

Reviewed on November 27, 2019 by Paulchak Review from Tripadvisor

The 4 day tour is a combination of 2 Day South Coast, Ice Cave and Jökulsárlón tour + Golden Circle & Secret Lagoon + Snaefellsnes Peninsula small group tour with 2 nights in Reykjavik in between.

As a solo traveler I value having a small group experience and knowledgable, friendly guides. All four days of my tours with Arctic Adventures were fantastic! Very special thank you to the Icelanders that made this trip memorable; Ricky, Tate, Svavar, and Alex - thank you so so much for making this an extraordinary experience!

This trip covers all of the major stuff to see in Iceland, if you wanna see the Northern Lights you can do so from the city of Reykjavik by going to the waterfront (dress warm, bring a tripod, and if possible bring a camera with a lens that has an f-stop below 4).

Excellent tour- 4 day Northern lights, Snaefellsnes and Glacier lagoon

Reviewed on April 13, 2019 by lazigirl Review from Tripadvisor

Overall an excellent tour with one downside!
The tour is split into 2 parts. The western tour and southern tour. The tours are separate and the driver/bus and other visitors will likely change.
The first 2 days were in the west. The weather played a big role in the planning as a severe storm was expected.
Our guide , Siggi, was excellent. He was intelligent, knowledgeable, and importantly a very safe driver in what became extremely difficult driving conditions.I loved his saga stories.
We could not see all the stops planned as we had to return around and back track as the road ahead had become too dangerous .
Having reached our excellent hotel safely, we enjoyed a fantastic meal and went off to bed listening to a howling gale.
That night there were amazing aurora but we couldn't see due to blowing snow!
We woke to a mountain of snow outside and a reception full of stranded drivers.
But after a great breakfast and some snow clearance, the winds dropped and we went on our way. Day 2 was excellent- waterfalls, horses and hot springs.
The only poor experience was the Cabin hotel in Reykjavik- it really is very poor, tiny rooms, poor food, lots of noise, drinking!
Days 3 and 4 were in a different bus, full this time with a new driver. She was also excellent, her stories were more days to day stories, no less interesting!
We saw waterfalls first day and spent an enjoyable night at a lovely hotel in Hof.
Next day we went to the Glacier lagoon, Diamond beach and had an amazing trip to an ice cave.
Then a long drive back to the city in some difficult conditions but again our driver was excellent.
A word re the buses. They are 18 seaters.
Day 1 and 2 we had 14 people, lots of room on the back seats for everybody's hand luggage and coats. Very comfortable.
Days 3 & 4 were 18 people. It felt very cramped and difficult to manage our luggage. I got used to it but even 2 less would have been nice.
Overall though, excellent. I would recommend over self drive in winter.

Great tour

Reviewed on February 21, 2019 by Wess Gould From our post-trip system

I had a great time on the tour and Kata/ Biggi were informative and polite. I felt comfortable riding with them, the one exception was the seat being a little small.

Fantastic trip! Wonderful tour guides!

Reviewed on February 08, 2019 by Marissa Klein From our post-trip system

We had a fantastic time on this excursion. The sights were more than just beautiful. They were incomparable to anything I've ever seen before! The first 2 days in the Snaesfellsnes peninsula felt like a good pace with plenty of time at each site (roughly 30-60 minutes) to enjoy them. Never felt rushed. For the second 2 days on the south coast, I did wish we had a little bit more time at each site, but we still generally had around 30-40 minutes at each, so it was still good. Our tour guides, Teitur and Arnithor were so wonderful. We completely trusted them with the driving and taking care of everything for us (and we had some scary drives in the wind/snow!). They were very knowledgeable about where we were going and had good stories to share. They were friendly and always professional, and really fun to talk to and hang out with. We miss them! There were only 2 things that I did not like: 1. The tour arranged accommodation for us for 3 nights. Two of the 3 hotels were great, but the 1 night in Reykjavik at Hotel Cabin was not ideal. Although the room was clean and serviceable, it was SOOO TINY. It was difficult to get in there and also squeeze in our suitcases! Good thing I was traveling with my sister and we didn't mind the intimate setting! 2. My second complaint is that for the second part of the tour to the south coast, it was a much bigger group (maybe 15 people?), and we could not fit everyone + everyone's luggage in the van. We had to go back to the company headquarters to pick up a trailer. Fortunately, our tour guide managed to arrange everything at lightening speed so we weren't too delayed by this. But it still added maybe 45 minutes overall to getting a start to the day. It was disappointing that they booked so many people into the van without considering the luggage that would go along with it. But once we got hooked up & arranged the luggage, it was never a problem. Arni was super at managing everything and was quick to help with our luggage, always. Overall I highly highly recommend this tour. We seriously had the time of our lives. I would not hesitate to travel with Arctic Adventures again! Thank you!!!

Reviewed on January 18, 2019 by Jackie From our post-trip system

This is a beautiful tour through Iceland, both of our tour guides, Olaf and Hjalti, were incredible. Hjalti really showed us his love for and pride in Iceland. The highlight was definitely the ice caves and glacier walk.

FAQ

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 for spotting 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; therefore, we can unfortunately never promise 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 look at our blog about Northern Lights.

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 starting by using our customer portal - My Adventures, or contacting our customer care.

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). If you have more or heavier luggage with you, you will need to book storage for the surplus luggage before you arrive, there is a small fee for using this facility. Luggage storage in Reykjavík can be added during the booking process of your order in the extras section.

* The combined dimensions of each bag must not exceed 158 cm (62 in).

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!

Hi! Can I help you?