On this spectacular three-day tour, you will see the best that Iceland has to offer on her magnificent South Coast. We’ll start by taking you on a full circuit of the Golden Circle, including visits to the Thingvellir National Park, the golden waterfall of Gullfoss and the hot-water spout at Geysir, as well as a look at the colorful Kerid crater. The journey continues with long looks at four gorgeous waterfalls and a thrilling walk along the dramatic black sand beach at Reynisfjara. Your South Coast expedition concludes with a day of wonder at the glittering Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach, crowned with an unforgettable underworld experience in a blue ice glacier cave.  

Day 1 | Golden Circle & Kerid Volcanic Crater

Your three-day tour will begin with a convenient collection from your accommodation in Reykjavik and a delightful drive out of the capital city through striking scenery, passing Mount Esja on our way to the Thingvellir National Park, the first stop on the Golden Circle.

Thingvellir National Park

Thingvellir is Iceland’s most important historical site, a place where Viking chieftains declared laws and made alliances for nearly a thousand years. Home to the Althingi, thought to be the world’s first democratic parliament, Thingvellir is now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It’s a superb natural setting too, as immense fissures in the Earth’s crust have been splitting the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge here for millions of years. That means that you can stand with one foot on each continent at the same time!  

Geysir & Haukadalur Geothermal Area

Our next stop is the Haukadalur Geothermal area, where you’ll find Geysir, the original hot-water spout after which all other geysers around the world are named. Strokkur sits nearby, a reliable “old faithful” spout which sends cascades of super-heated water up to 30 meters into the sky every six or seven minutes in a dazzling display. Just remember to stand upwind to avoid a shower! There are lots of hissing hotpots and bubbling streams to see here too.

Gullfoss - The Golden Waterfall

The Golden Circle is also the home of Iceland’s most famous waterfall, Gullfoss. “The Golden Waterfall” is a roaring double-drop waterfall, with millions of glacial gallons continuously cascading into a deep ravine. Sheets of spray hang in the air and on sunlit days, sparkling rainbows make Gullfoss an unforgettable sight. Powered by meltwater from the nearby Langjokull glacier, it’s possible to see Gullfoss from several viewing platforms at varying heights.

Kerid Volcanic Crater

As an added extra to the standard Golden Circle tour, you’ll next see the colorful Kerid crater. Kerid is an unusual Icelandic volcano because it’s streaked with red earth and green mosses too. Combined with the blue-water caldera lake, the stunning mix of colors makes it a magnificent sight to see. It’s even possible to walk down to the crater’s bottom for a closer look.  

Optional Activity (no pre-booking required):

After exploring four incredible attractions located on the Golden Circle Route you will arrive in Hveragerði, a town renowned for its vibrant geothermal activity. Not only will you have the chance to witness a smaller version of Geyser, but you can also indulge in a relaxing dip in the warm, naturally heated waters.

Be sure to pack your swimwear and end your day in the famous Icelandic geothermal pools! There is no better way to enhance your evening! Hot Tubs are located at or by your hotel and entrance is included.

Overnight Stay in Hveragerði

Day 2 | South Coast Waterfalls & Black Beach

The second day of our tour will take us on a glorious drive along the famous Ring Road through the farm country of the South Coast. We’ll pass through the little towns of Selfoss and Hvolsvollur, where we’ll take a short break. On the way, you’ll be able to see the Atlantic Ocean, and on bright days the Westman Islands will be visible too. Inland, there will be impressive views of mountains and glaciers to catch the eye, as well as the brooding presence of Hekla, Iceland’s most active volcano.

Seljalandsfoss & Gljufrabui Waterfalls

Our first stop on the South Coast section of the tour brings us to Seljalandsfoss, which will have been coming into view as we head eastwards. We’ll take you first to the “hidden” waterfall of Gljufrabui, which cascades into a concealed cave that many other visitors miss altogether. It’s an extraordinary feeling to be so close to a waterfall like this. The waterfalls here are all fuelled by Eyjafjallajokull, the volcano whose last great eruption put a stop to air traffic for weeks in 2010, making Iceland famous all over the world. A few minutes away lies Seljalandsfoss itself, a much larger waterfall that gracefully plunges from a 60-meter high cliff-face into a deep pool. Seljalandsfoss has featured in many films and music videos, including one for Justin Bieber.

Skogafoss Waterfall

Skogafoss rivals Gullfoss as the most famous waterfall in the country now. Probably one of the most recognized waterfalls in the world, Skogafoss is a sensational sight at any time of year. It has been seen in “Game of Thrones”, several Hollywood films and many music videos too. Skogafoss faces directly south, which means that there’s a great chance to see rainbows arching over the 60-meter-high cascade. It’s possible to climb some stairs right up to the top to see the Skoga river fall into the plunge pool and then make its way out to the sea.

Black Beach of Reynisfjara

The last stop on this second day of our tour is the fabulous black sand beach at Reynisfjara. Here dark volcanic sands stretch for miles, with powerful Atlantic waves crashing into the Reynisdrangar, a collection of brooding rock formations that lie just out to sea. There’s also an astonishing cliffside stack of basalt columns resembling a church organ that has to be seen to be believed. The stone arches of Dyrholaey can also be seen far out to sea. Watch your step as you explore and take pictures – the waves are often faster and stronger than you think!

Overnight Stay in the Countryside

If we are lucky with the weather and if the aurora is active, we will make the best use of the low light pollution in this area to try to see them. Remember though – the Northern Lights are not “switched on” every day!

Day 3 | Glacier Lagoon & the Blue Crystal Ice Cave

The third day of our South Coast adventure takes us deep into the Vatnajokull National Park.

Diamond Beach

First stop is the astonishing Diamond Beach, where the gleaming remnants of icebergs are slowly being carved into wild and fantastic shapes by the fierce winds and Atlantic waves. Lying on the black sand beach like diamonds on satin sheets, the ice formations here are incredible to see. We will bring you here first, to make sure that you get the best photos, before taking you to the place the icebergs come from in the first place – the Glacier Lagoon at Jokulsarlon.

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Just few minutes away lies the magnificent glacier lagoon of Jokulsarlon, a place featured in Batman and James Bond films. Here, gigantic multi-colored icebergs tear apart from the Breidamerkurjokull glacier and then float around for as long as five years as they make their way slowly out to sea, moving back and forth and always changing in shape and size. Some of the icebergs are even striped with volcanic ash from earlier eruptions, so this means that you see geological time on display here. Seals and seabirds make their home here too.

Blue Crystal Ice Cave exploration

The highlight of our two-day South Coast adventure is a three-hour expedition to descend into a unique natural blue crystal ice cave. Climb on board a Super Jeep with us to discover this rare phenomenon, buried deep in a glacier in the Vatnajokull National Park. The Blue Ice Cave really shows the tremendous forces of Icelandic nature, as they are formed naturally in glaciers when fresh water freezes in the plunging winter temperatures. New caves are created every year as the glaciers freeze and melt and refreeze into different shapes. It’s a memorable sight to see, with fabulously different ice formations in a range of striking colors. Our local guides will take you to the most beautiful blue ice caves to be found here. Once you’ve been there, that single blue ice cave might never exist again, so this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

After we have made our way from the Blue Crystal Ice Cave back to Jokulsarlon, we’ll start heading back to the capital.

Hofskirkja Church & Lava Fields

On the way back to Reykjavik we will make three extra stops. The turf church at Hofskirkja is thought to be amongst the last to be built in Iceland, dating back to the 19th century. Layers of green turf lie on the roof of this fairytale church, surrounded by moss-covered burial mounds, which makes it seem as if it’s melting into the scenery. Rebuilt in the 1950s, the locals still worship at the church, so this will just be a quick stop for a photograph.

As we head back west, the landscape becomes bleaker as we pass through the Eldhraun lava field, a coastal area filled with jagged lava formations. 

Vik Village

Vik is the most southerly village in the country and a busy spot for resting Ring Road travelers. There is a beautiful hilltop church which has fantastic views of the coast, including the Reynisdrangar. We’ll stop here so that you can take some great pictures from this vantage point.