This 4-day tour will take you through the most fascinating attractions in Iceland. It will begin with Golden Circle, where we’ll visit Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss, and Geysir. The second day is reserved for visiting mesmerizing Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Skaftafell Nature Reserve, where we’ll hike to the unique Svartifoss waterfall. We’ll see South Coast highlights on the third day, like Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, Skógafoss Waterfall, and Eldhraun Lava Field. We’ll finalize our four-day tour with a fantastic hike through Landmannalaugar. The sights there are so fascinating that it almost feels surreal.
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During this 4-day tour, you’ll visit some of the most impressive sights in Iceland! Don’t miss out on anything with this Golden Circle, South Coast, and Landmannalaugar. About the sights:
The Golden Circle is probably the most known route by tourists. It includes three famous attractions in Iceland - Geysir Geothermal Area, Thingvellir National Park, and Gullfoss Waterfall.
We’ll visit Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, one of the most famous glacier lagoons in the world. It is full of floating icebergs from the Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier. Some of these icebergs are later washed into Diamond Beach and create a beautiful contrast between black sand and ice crystals.
Skaftafell Nature Reserve is a beautiful wilderness area within the Vatnajökull National Park. It features the most diverse landscapes, including glaciers, majestic waterfalls, and black sand deserts.
Katla Ice Cave is a unique ice formation that lives under a volcano. This isn’t something that you see every day!
South Coast offers a range of incredible highlights. Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, also known as “Bieber Canyon” among tourists, is a beautiful 2-kilometer long and 100-meter deep formation. This canyon became particularly popular after the famous singer, after whom the place is nicknamed, filmed his clip there.
Next on the list is the Elhraun lava field. This iconic field formed after one of the greatest volcanic eruptions ever recorded.
Reynisfjara black sand beach is a true South Coast marvel. It is also one of the most dangerous places in Iceland. The “sneaker waves” phenomenon is common and threatens unsuspecting tourists to pull them to sea.
South Coast is also home to some of the most iconic waterfalls in Iceland. Skogafoss and Seljalandfoss are some of the most renowned waterfalls in the area, and you’ll be able to visit them!
Landmannalaugar is a geothermal paradise of clear blue lakes, rambling lava flows, hot springs, and colored peaks. Its stunning hiking trails attract hikers from all over the world. Hiking through the diverse landscapes of Landmannalaugar is undoubtedly something you wouldn’t want to miss.
Our 4-day tour begins with the famous Golden Circle attractions: Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss and Geysir.
Thingvellir National Park is considered to be the birthplace of the Icelandic nation. It is where the first Icelandic parliament gathered in 930 CE. The whole area is a fantastic geological site between the splitting North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. It is worth seeing for anyone coming to Iceland who wants to understand this country better.
Next, we'll head to Gullfoss, the Golden Falls, probably Iceland's most known and visited waterfall. The water of the Hvita river thrusting down the two stages is an impressive sight to see.
Geysir is home to the most active hot spring in Iceland. Strokkur, which is Geysir's "little brother," erupts in boiling water every 5 to 10 minutes!
After a day full of adventures, we'll spend the night near the small town called Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
In the morning, we'll head towards the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and the nearby Diamond Beach. The lagoon is filled with icebergs of various sizes and shapes that drift towards the Atlantic. Some of them are washed on the Diamond Beach and glitter-like crystals on the black sand.
After Jokulsarlon, we head to the nearby Skaftafell Nature Reserve. Here, we will visit the info center and watch a short film about the National Park to learn more about the park and the glaciers.
Then, we will hike to the nearby Svartifoss waterfall, one of the most unique waterfalls in Iceland and one of the most popular sights in the park.
Our accommodation for the night will be at the Adventure Hotel Geirland.
After a delicious breakfast, we'll make our way through the magical South Coast of Iceland. If the road conditions allow it, we'll kick off our day with a small detour to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon.
Our next stop will be at the iconic Eldhraun lava field, where the powerful volcanic eruption once occurred.
After this short stop, we'll go to Katla Ice Cave, the only ice cave that can be visited all year round. So, even if you come in the summer, you'll be able to experience what a real ice cave looks like.
Since temperatures in the ice cave are below zero, we recommend you dress warmly.
Next, we'll head to Reynisfjara Black Sand beach, where you can see the waves of the Atlantic Ocean in their full power. The waves here can be very unpredictable, so you'll have to be extra cautious here.
After Reynisfjara, we'll visit the impressive 60-meter Skógafoss waterfall. There are 527 steps leading to the fantastic panoramic view from the top.
After enjoying the day visiting South Coast, we'll get to the Hotel Hella for the night's rest.
After starting our day with a delicious breakfast, we will drive towards Landmannalaugar, where we will have our hiking experience in Landmannalaugar. The hiking trail is approximately 8-10 km, which will take around 4 hours to finish. This trail goes through the Laugahraun lava field, continuing to Vondugil Canyon, reaching up to Mt. Brennisteinsalda, a multicolored peak that is highly characteristic of the area. On our way back, we'll pass through the Graenagil Gorge, called Green Gorge in Icelandic because of its dominant green color. If there's enough time, we will climb to Blahnukur Volcano before finally soaking in the hot springs and enjoying the surroundings of Landmannalaugar.
We will arrive back in Reykjavik at around 9:00 pm.
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 includes 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 hike to the ice cave can be rented in the booking process, we recommend renting in advance.
What if I don't own all of these clothing items?
Don't worry, you can always rent sturdy hiking shoes, a waterproof jacket, and pants in the booking process. However, if you wish to rent extras for the whole duration of the tour then this must be added to your booking at least 48 hours before your tour starts.