2 Day South Coast tour with Ice Cave

On your first day of our package tour, it will take us on a glorious drive along the famous Route 1, or as we call it Hringvegur (e. Ring Road) through the farm country of the South Coast. We’ll pass through the towns of Selfoss and Hvolsvollur, where we’ll take a short break. On the way, you’ll be able to see the Atlantic Ocean. On bright days the Westman Islands are 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 section of the South Coast tour brings us to Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. We’ll take you first to the “hidden” waterfall of Gljufrabui, which cascades into a concealed cave that many 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 been featured in many films and music videos, including one for Justin Bieber.

Skogafoss & Irafoss Waterfalls

A little further around the other side of Eyjafjallajokull, we come to another set of “secret waterfalls”, where Irafoss and Arjanurfoss tumble their way down the rocky cliffs. If missed by most, we’ll make sure that you see them. Beyond lies Skogafoss, which 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.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Close to Skogafoss lies Solheimajokull, the “Sun’s Home Glacier”. This is one of the most accessible glaciers in the country, part of the mighty Myrdalsjokull ice cap and the Katla Global Geopark. We’ll take you up close to one of the glacier tongues for a good look from a viewing platform.

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 in the countryside hotel

In the second stage of our South Coast adventure, we will visit a traditional turf church. We will be heading into Vatnajokull National Park for some amazing sights!

Diamond Beach

The 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 a 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 Ice Cave exploration

The highlight of our two-day South Coast adventure is a three-hour expedition to descend into a unique natural blue 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 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 one of the last turf churches 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 that 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.

Yes, you can.
After purchasing this service, please email us your flight details, and we can book you for the first night and the last night of the trip. Contact us via booking@ih.is

If you are a single traveler then a Single Room Supplement is mandatory
Hiking boots are mandatory
Proper footwear when walking on uneven and slippery surfaces increases your safety and comfort. Please note, that you can be banned from participating in glacier activities when not wearing the required shoes. If you do not own proper footwear (solid shoes reaching above your ankle) you can rent them during the booking process one small carry-on luggage is included per person
For your convenience, it is recommended that you pack lightly for this tour, in a small suitcase or backpack. If you have large luggage with you, please check with your accommodation if they offer luggage storage for your time on this tour. If that is not a possibility, you can pay a small fee per luggage and we will make sure we have space for it on the tour bus or in a special luggage trailer