3 Day South Coast

Overview

Come on a three-day excursion to explore the most famous locations in the Golden Circle and the South Coast. See our stunning glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón, Europe's largest glacier within an ice cave, and, if nature allows, even the magnificent Northern Lights.

Tour Description

In this tour, you’ll get the chance to see the famous geothermal erupting Geysir, the powerful waterfall Gullfoss and Thingvellir National Park in the Golden Circle.

You’ll also be taken to the famous South Coast. Along the shore, you’ll get to see the two waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, and the famous Black Sand Beach. You’ll also visit the stunning Glacier Lagoon Jökulsárlón in Vatnajökull National Park, where you’ll also get the chance to explore Europe’s largest glacier and enter a blue ice cave. And if nature allows, you’ll get a view of the magnificent Northern Lights at night.

Geysir Geothermal Area

The Geysir geothermal area hosts many colorful hot springs. One called Strokkur is a geyser, which erupts every 5 minutes up to 35 meters. It was named after “Geysir” the original erupting hot spring, that gave all the geysers in the world their name, however extinct today.

Gullfoss Waterfall

The melting water from Iceland's second biggest glacier, Langjökull, falls into a deep canyon forming the majestic “Golden Falls”. On a sunny day, you can see the glacier Langjökull in the distance and enjoy a rainbow in the mist of the waterfall, a photo blockbuster waiting to happen!

Thingvellir National Park

We visit the place where the two tectonic plates, the North American and the Eurasian plate, are moving away from each other. Few places in the world offer a better and clearer view of this massive geographic activity. The biggest natural lake in Iceland is also located at Thingvellir National Park and hosts a great variety of fish and bird life. Thingvellir is also an important place for Icelandic national history. as Icelanders founded here their parliament in 930 AD where the chieftains had their annual meeting every summer. The name “Thingvellir” translates to “Parliament Plains”.

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

Upon arrival you will enjoy the powerful theatrics of Seljalandsfoss. Bring a raincoat and you’ll be able to make the short hike behind the falls. The scene behind the fall and the trembling ground from the power of the falling water makes for an automatic photo blockbuster!

Skógafoss Waterfall

Further east along the coast is Skógafoss waterfall. Skógafoss is an incredibly picturesque sight: tucked in a little gorge, the river Skógá tumbles down a 60 meters cliff before continuing down the landscape towards the Atlantic Ocean. Alongside the gorge, a staircase can take you to the shelf above the waterfall for stunning views.

Glacier Hike in Skaftafell or Sólheimajökull

We will then continue our journey towards one of Iceland’s largest glaciers. 9% of Iceland is currently covered by ice. Once we get to the area, we will put crampons on, helmets, ice axes, and start hiking towards the glacier.

While on the glacier, we will visit crevasses, moulins, and many other great formations of the magnificent ice. It might also be possible to visit an ice cave during winter time, however it can never be guaranteed, as it depends on weather conditions and and a glacier itself.

Northern Lights Discovery

Arriving at our hotel in the Southeast, your guide will let you know what are the chances of seeing Northern Lights tonight. If the sky is clear and the forecast is good, we can hope for the magic to begin.

Jökulsárlón, the Glacier Lagoon

Jökulsárlón is a 200m deep glacier water lagoon fed by the melting of Breiðamerkurjökull, an outlet glacier of Europe’s largest glacier Vatnajökull. Enormous icebergs also fall from Breiðamerkurjökull all year round so the lagoon is usually filled with ice blocks that floats South.

Diamond Beach

On the other side of the road, the icebergs from Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon float into the Atlantic Ocean where they are quickly thrown back to shore by the tide and winds. This black sand beach is full of smaller ice blocks in all shapes and sizes, sparkling like diamonds in the daylight. The ice itself comes in all shades of white and blue forming beautiful contrasts.

Blue Ice Cave

The journey continues with a Super Jeep ride to explore the ice cave. Your guide will share with you his expertise about the ice caves, allowing you to truly appreciate this amazing natural phenomenon – spoiler alert… it will be blue.

Reynisfjara, the Black Sand Beach

Further West, we visit the Black Sand Beach of Reynisfjara where the Atlantic coastline presents massive waves hitting the unique basalt pillars in the cliffs above the sand. The cliffs of Dýrhólaey are seen in the distance. This area of the south is also a paradise for bird lovers, as puffins, razorbills and dozens of other species nest on top of these cliffs in the summertime.

Back to Reykjavík

We will then start heading back to Reykjavik and are expected to arrive around 8pm, though this may be subject to change depending on weather and road conditions.