2 Day South Coast, Ice Cave & Glacier Lagoon Tour

2 Day South Coast, Ice Cave & Glacier Lagoon Tour
2 Day South Coast, Ice Cave & Glacier Lagoon Tour
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2080
  • Duration2 days
  • Group SizeSmall Group Experience
  • Meeting LocationPick up from hotel or designated bus stop

Tour description

Lace up your hiking boots and join us on this two-day trip for close encounters with the wonders of Icelandic nature. Explore the South Coast with its iconic waterfalls and black sand beaches, and be the first to step into a blue ice cave of Europe’s largest icecap. To top it all off, we’ll have ample moments to hunt the magical, ever-elusive Northern Lights!

SOUTH COAST HIGHLIGHTS

On this South Coast adventure, we set out to explore the most visited attractions in the land of fire and ice. We’ll drive through farmlands and a few cosy little towns to Seljalandsfoss, one of Iceland’s most well-known waterfalls. If the weather allows, you can walk behind the graceful cascade that drops 60 m (197 ft) and peek through the crystal wall of water. Next up is Skogafoss Waterfall, which can be marvelled both below and from the top of the falls after about 500 steps.

Carrying on with our journey, we’ll head to Reynisfjara, a world-famous black sand beach with dramatic Reynisdrangar basalt sea stacks—formed by Iceland’s fascinating volcanic activity—rising from the Atlantic Ocean. We’ll stop for lunch at the town of Vik, soaking in the view of its picturesque church perched high on a hill.

Back on our minibus, we’ll drive through moss-covered lava landscapes to Kirkjubæjarklaustur, a village wrapped in legends. Our accommodation for the night will be in the area around Skaftafell. If the forecast is favourable, your guide will show you where you can see the Northern Lights in all their glory. We can’t guarantee you’ll definitely see the Aurora, but hopefully, multicoloured swirls of light will ripple across the night sky.

VATNAJÖKULL GLACIER, JOKULSARLON & DIAMOND BEACH

The following part of the tour is centred on Vatnajökull National Park, the largest in Europe. After breakfast, we’ll head to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, one of the most surreal sights in the world, let alone Iceland. Floating icebergs dot the enormous lagoon, slowly moving towards the open sea. Some blue icebergs run ashore on the famous Diamond Beach, where they glitter like diamond jewels on the black volcanic sand.

The trip’s highlight is stepping into the blueish natural ice cave in Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice cap. Led by our expert glacier guide, you’ll be able to observe the wondrous ice formations safely. The guide will tell you some intriguing facts about ice cave formation to satisfy your curiosity.

Heading back to Reykjavik, we’ll stop at Skaftafell National Park, a preservation area with ample hiking trails, fabulous views of ragged-toothed mountains and imposing glaciers. On our way back, we’ll keep a close eye on the Northern Lights and make a short stop if conditions allow for it.

Arrival in Reykjavík is expected around 21:00 (9:00 p.m.). Fluctuating weather in winter can sometimes influence the schedule a little, but don’t worry; our expert travel planners always have a backup plan – it’s all part of the exciting Iceland experience.

DAY 1: THE GRAND SOUTH COAST & NORTHERN LIGHTS

Pick up is at 09:00 am from your hotel or the Reykjavík meeting point you have chosen. Please note: picking everyone up can take up to 30 minutes, but you have to be ready and waiting at 09:00 am.

This jewel of Iceland tour package will take you south before continuing to the east as we whisk you away for two days of fantastic adventure sightseeing. We drive towards the slowly rising sun on the way to our first stop, the very unusual Seljalandsfoss waterfall; you can actually walk behind the gracefully falling cascade. It is well worth getting a little damp for such an exciting experience!

Our next highlight is another waterfall, Skógafoss, located at the foot of a very famous volcano, Eyjafjallajökull.  On a clear day, you will also get a great view of another volcano mountain glacier, Mýrdalsjokull. As we continue, we come to Reynisfjara, a black beach where some fantastic sights, such as the picturesque basalt column formations and the famous Reynisdrangar peaks, will greet us. We will drive through the charming small town of Vík on our way to our accommodation. You can expect to see breathtaking landscapes throughout the day consisting of vast lava fields, waterfalls, black sands, and glacier tongues. We will enjoy a relaxing evening; we will hunt for those northern lights if the conditions are right! The countryside close to Vatnajökull glacier, away from the city lights, is perfect for spotting this natural phenomenon. Your hotel will be in Hof.

DAY 2: LAND OF ICE

Today, you will get to know the glacier, venturing into an ice cave’s sparkling, blue/white world with a qualified guide, and visiting the extraordinary glacier lagoon, Jökulsárlón. Getting up close and personal with the vast glacial tongue of the great Vatnajökull glacier does not get any better than this!

The renowned Jökulsárlón Ice Lagoon, made famous by several blockbuster movies including Batman Begins and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, to name just a couple, is a mind-blowing place. Majestic icebergs of unique shapes, some incredibly large, have calved off the receding Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. They jostle one another in the massive lagoon before gliding on their surreal and stately journeys to the Atlantic ocean. Many of these natural ice sculptures are washed onto the nearby Diamond Beach; you will see them glittering like diamonds as they rest on the dramatic coal blackness of the beach.

Next, you go into the glacier with a qualified guide! Ice caves are fascinating. New caves are formed each winter by the melt/freeze cycle of the glacier. They are constantly changing, both from year to year and within each winter. The journey into an ice cave will give photographers the incredible opportunity to capture the shimmering blue light which passes through the glacial ice. Surprisingly deep shades of jewel blue will surround you; these tones are caused by ice compression, the way we perceive light and colour, and algae can sometimes intensify the blueness.

After visiting the ice cave, we head towards Reykjavík. We stop at Skaftafell Nature Reserve in Vatnajokull National Park, a green area amid amazingly jagged mountains and glacier-topped peaks, the splendid scenery of Skaftafell is sure to be a highlight of your tour. We will keep an eye out for the Northern Lights on our way back to the city and make a short stop if conditions allow it.

We return to Reykjavík around 21:00.

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, so your patience is much appreciated. 

PLEASE NOTE

This tour is offered year-round, but note that the itinerary may change slightly due to the weather conditions. We may have to shorten our time at some stops in the winter due to the shorter daylight hours. Also, the Northern Lights are usually only visible during the winter months.

If you’re travelling solo or with an odd number in your group and don’t choose the single supplement, you will be paired in a twin room with another participant of the same gender.

Your safety is our priority, and sometimes weather or road conditions mean that access to certain ice caves is unavailable and/or unsafe. Our main ice cave in the winter is the Crystal Ice Cave. However, when it’s inaccessible, we’ll visit an alternative ice cave. We’ll visit the Ice Cave Under the Volcano during the summer months (from April to October). If it’s inaccessible, we’ll do a glacier hike instead.

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

Cancelation policy
We will charge a cancellation fee of 100% if the booking is canceled 2 days or less before the event. We will charge a cancellation fee of 50% if the booking is canceled 14 days or less before the event. We will charge a cancellation fee of 0% if the booking is canceled 365 days or less before the event.

What's Included

  • Pick-up & drop off from Reykjavík
  • Hotel Accommodation with a Private or a Shared Bathroom
  • Breakfast at the Hotel
  • Guided Group Tour in a Minibus
  • Visit to all main highlights of the South Coast
  • Guided Ice Cave Tour (during the winter)
  • English Speaking Tour Guide
  • All Necessary Safety Equipment
  • Free WiFi on Board Your Bus

What to bring

  • Warm outdoor layers (wool, fleece or synthetic are best, not cotton)
  • Waterprof jacket and pants
  • Headwear
  • Gloves
  • Good hiking shoes are highly recommended
  • Please note Lunch and Dinner are NOT included
  • Crampons in Winter
  • Sunscreen and Sunglasses
  • Camera

Why Your Friend in Reykjavik Recommends This Tour

The south coast of Iceland has some of Iceland’s most spectacular sights and deserves two days of exploring!

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