Itinerary
Day 1: The Famous Golden Circle Route
Stop At: Thingvellir, Thingvellir, South Region
In Thingvellir National Park, step between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates below a dramatic cliff face. Iceland’s historic parliament was founded in 930 CE, making it the oldest still existing parliament in the world. Þingvellir is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Geysir, Geysir, South Region
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.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Gullfoss Waterfall, Blaskogabyggd Iceland
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.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Kirkjubaejarklaustur, Kirkjubaejarklaustur, South Region
After the Golden Circle, we drive southward. Your hotel for the night will be close to the small town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, a fantastic base to catch the mesmerizing Northern Lights if conditions are right. A little luck is very useful when it comes to auroras!
Duration: 50 minutes
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: One night at a hotel near Vík.
Day 2: Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Ice Caving
Stop At: Glacier Lagoon, Skaftafell National Park Route 1, Jokulsarlon 781 Iceland
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.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Fellsfjara, Diamond Head Drive Glacier Lagoon Jokulsarlon, Jokulsarlon Iceland
Many of the icebergs 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.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Skaftafell National Park, Vatnajokull National Park 785 Iceland
From Jokulsarlon, we head to Skaftafell Nature Reserve for a new adventure. Join our certified glacier guide and step into the mesmerizing world of Vatnajokull Glacier.
After taking a 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. During your adventure, an expert guide will explain the process of how these glacial ice formations came to be.
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.
Duration: 5 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Your accommodation for the night will be at the same hotel – Adventure Hotel Geirland.
Day 3: South Coast Sightseeing
Stop At: Fjadrargljufur Canyon, Route 206 3.5KM off The Ring Road, Kirkjubaejarklaustur Iceland
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.
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At: Eldhraun Lava Field, 9cm3mvg5+qm Prvh+35 Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Island, Kirkjubaejarklaustur Iceland
Next, we’ll have the chance to visit the iconic Eldhraun lava field before heading to Reynisfjara black beach.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Reynisfjara Beach, Route 215, Vik Iceland
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.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Skogafoss, Skogar Iceland
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.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Volcano Hekla, Iceland
On a clear day, we’ll get great views of Mount Hekla on the way to Seljalandsfoss.
Stop At: Seljalandsfoss, Porsmerkurvegur, Hella 861 Iceland
One of the most unusual waterfalls in the world. You can walk behind these graceful falls to enjoy the view from both sides.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Reykjavik, Reykjavik, Capital Region
After enjoying our final stop at Seljalandsfoss, 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 conditions.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
See Availability.
Traveler pickup is offered
Please note that we only serve the pick-up locations specified in our pick-up list below. Due to traffic restrictions, we are not allowed to pick up from hotels in the city center nor from private Air BnBs. If your pick-up location is not on our pick-up list then we kindly ask you to find the closest pick-up point to your accommodation from our list:
22 Hill Hótel – Brautarholt 22-24.
Arctic Comfort Hótel – Síðumúli 19.
BSÍ Bus Terminal – Vatnsmýrarvegi 10.
Bus Hostel Reykjavík – Skógarhlíð 10.
Bus pick up/drop off nr.1 – City Hall, Vonarstræti
Bus pick up/drop off nr.4 – Miðbakki
Bus pick up/drop off nr.6 – Safnahúsið (The Culture House)
Bus pick up/drop off nr.8 – Hallgrímskirkja Church
Bus pick up/drop off nr.9 – Snorrabraut
Bus pick up/drop off nr.12 – Höfðatorg
Bus pick up/drop off nr.15 – Vesturbugt
Cabin Hótel – Borgartún 32.
Eyja Guldsmen Hotel – Brautarholt 10.
Grand Hótel Reykjavík – Sigtún 38.
Grayline – Main bus terminal - Klettagarðar 4.
Hilton Reykjavík Nordica – Suðurlandsbraut 2.
Hótel Ísland – Ármúla 9.
Hotel Ørkin – Brautarholti 29.
Icelandair Hotel Reykjavík Natura – við Hlíðarfót, Nauthólsvegur 52.
Klettur Hótel – Mjölnisholt 12-14.
N1 Gas Station – Ártúnshöfði
Radisson Blu Hótel Saga – við Hagatorg.
Reykjavík City Hostel – Sundlaugavegur 34.
Reykjavík Lights Hotel – Suðurlandsbraut 12.
Skarfabakki – Cruise Ship, Reykjavik Harbor, 105 Reykjavik
Ports
09:00 AM
3 days(approx.)
Not wheelchair accessible
What to bring: Warm outdoor clothing, a waterproof jacket and pants, head wear, and gloves. Good hiking shoes are recommended.
The order of the itinerary might change due to weather conditions. Your guide will have full power to make amendments to the itinerary when necessary.
Minimum age is 8 years old
This tour has the flexibility to make the most of the seasonal changes such as changes in weather and conditions. During the summer Iceland is characterized by energizing bright nights and midnight sun. Between August and May, if the forecast is suitable, you might even be able to spot the magical show put on by the Northern Lights. It is important to note that a guided Northern Lights hunt is however not included in the tour. Other wonderful and interesting possibilities can also come up during your south coast tour with us as Iceland is full of surprises.
We use a couple of different ice caves for our 3 Day Golden Circle & South Coast tour. Ice caves are ever-changing and unpredictable natural phenomena. We usually visit the Crystal Cave at Breiðmerkurjökull during this tour but when the Crystal Cave is inaccessible we will most likely visit Katla Ice Cave. Which ice cave is chosen will however always depend upon the conditions and safety considerations on the day, sometimes a different ice cave will be visited. If conditions do not allow us to visit an ice cave a glacier hike will be offered as an alternative.
Most travelers can participate
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Posted By : LoveTravel607117
Flexible and knowledgeable guide + Great small group - meant we saw an amazing amount and learnt a lot. Great variety of walks and experiences in an awe-some country.
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Posted On : 2024-05-08
Posted By : 622alecs
An amazing itinerary with and equally amazing guide! Hjalti took us to all the best spots and was fun to talk with! He had a lot of great stories and facts and I could tell he really loved his job! If you aren’t adverse to a few moderate difficulty hikes you will get to see some of the best views on the island. As a solo traveler it was also great not having to worry about transportation and hotels. It all came included with the tour! I will remember this trip forever!
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Posted On : 2024-05-08
Posted By : J2561RSmariad
This was simply one of the most incredible experiences I’ve had. Vjeran was a knowledgeable, friendly, and adventurous tour guide that truly made sure we had the best experience possible, enthusiastically answering questions, sharing anecdotes, and making extra stops along the way when we had time. We got to see SO much of the country in such a short time - and so many places we wouldn’t have known to look for if we were on our own! I’d recommend this tour to anyone looking to have an adventure, see the country in a shorter amount of time, and learn about the landscape from a knowledgeable guide.
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Posted On : 2024-05-07
Posted By : 87alanad
We were able to see and experience so much in just the 3 days. Our guide Freysteinn had a wealth of knowledge he was enthusiastic to share and we left with a tremendous appreciation for Iceland and its people.
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Posted On : 2024-05-06
Posted By : oliversS6545QS
We were blessed with passionate guides who were wells of information and sprinkled flares of humour between locations which brightened up the tour perfectly. I highly recommend this tour and out two guides Gunnar and Diddi.
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Posted On : 2024-04-26
Posted By : arthurkL911SA
The guide, Vjeran was terrific; very knowledgeable about volcanism and Icelandic history. The trip itself was the pits! Driving for hours at a time over the most barren and bleak landscape that I have ever seen in my travels about the world. Quick stops: here's a little waterfall, grab a photo and back on the bus. I would only suggest this trip to my enemies if I had any.
Art K. ( 3 day tour, April 9-11, 2024
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Posted On : 2024-04-24
Posted By : G1831CJruthr
I can't say enough about this trip! It was our first time to Iceland and Vjeran made our visit memorable. He was an amazing guide with loads of tips, information and incredible stories. The ice caves were INCREDIBLE - it was worth every minute in the rain and sloppy snow/slush. Even though we got wet to the core, we would do it again in a heartbeat. The glaciers and waterfalls were mezmerizing - Vjeran knew which ones to stop at, how long to stay and even included some "extra" sights because he knew they were worth it, even if they might have been a little off the beaten path.
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Posted On : 2024-04-22
Posted By : bpearls214
This tour was amazing! Our tour was led by Vjeran, and he was absolutely a core part of the experience. He kept us on track with all of the listed activities, but whenever we passed a cool spot (and had the time) he went out of his way to stop and provide information about how the spot was formed or why it was so cool/unique!
This was supposed to be a once in a lifetime trip for us, but we fell in love with Iceland so much that we will absolutely be back again in the future! We would be thrilled to book again through Arctic adventures and we would follow Vjeran anywhere!
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Posted On : 2024-04-20
Posted By : 765jaredf
Amazing trip. Vjeran was our guide and was passionate about his home country, Iceland. His stories about the landscapes he took us too brought them to life.
Would recommend this three day tour to anyone who wants to visit as much of Iceland as they can.
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Posted On : 2024-04-16
Posted By : alexiax2024
My partner and I opted in for the 3 day golden circle south coast tour with Bjorn as our guide. If I could give more than 5 stars I most certainly would and this is primarily due to the added pleasant experience adapted by our tour guide. We experienced some unprecedented weather conditions (with Bjorns experienced driving we always felt safe!) which unfortunately didn’t allow us to see some of the items on the itinerary but Bjorn quickly adapted and added some great alternatives! We also didn’t get to see the northern lights but we never felt short of our experience. arctic adventures have a well thought itinerary and we wanted to personally thank Björn for making it even better.
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Posted On : 2024-04-15
