2 day Summer South Coast with Glacier Walk, Canyon and Glacier Lagoon

On your first day, 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 stopped 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 & Sólheimajokull Glacier

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.

Hike on top of the Sólheimajökull Glacier

After our time at Skogafoss waterfall, we will drive a little further east to Solheimajokull, which translates as “Sun’s Home Glacier”. Solheimajokull glacier is part of a much larger glacier, Myrdalsjokull, the ice sheet in the Katla UNESCO Global Geopark, and you will have a chance to walk across this ancient blue-ice glacier. Our glacier guide will provide you with all the safety equipment as well as instructions.

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 a countryside hotel

The second day of your South Coast summer tour sees us traveling into the Vatnajokull National Park, the largest in Iceland. There are stops at the picturesque seaside village of Vik and the enchanting Fjadrargljufur canyon. the traditional turf church at Hofskirkja, and crowned by the glittering Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach at Jokulsarlon.

Diamond Beach Iceland

Now we come to the highlight of your South Coast adventure – the Diamond Beach, and the Glacier Lagoon at Jokulsarlon. This beach is constantly being shaped by the wind and icebergs; all of the colorful little pieces of ice slowly melting away into black sand, creating mesmerizing shapes. The Diamond Beach gets its name from the diamonds-like glittering glints on this black sand Atlantic beach. The eye-catching slivers and chunks of ice of all shapes and sizes will astound you and offer fantastic photo opportunities. This is the perfect location to pop up the question.

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Just a short walk from Diamond Beach is Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, one of Iceland’s crown jewels. Huge bright-blue and ghostly-white icebergs tumble away from the receding Breidamerkurjokull glacier and crash into a growing meltwater lagoon. Jokulsarlon is one of the most sensational glaciers and a great place to take a quiet stroll. It feels peaceful yet majestic at the same time, as it has been featured in several films! The scenery is incredible and always changing, due to the tides and wind tugging at the icebergs. Now we have checked our farthest stop of this tour, get back to the bus, and move on to the next stop.

Hofskirkja Church & Lava Fields

There are many historic churches in Iceland but Hófskirkja is the last to have been built. This church was constructed at the end of the 1800s. The church you see here is made of deep layers of turf, with moss-covered burial mounds surrounding it. Rebuilt in the 1950s, it is still a practicing church, even though it seems to be merging into the landscape around it. There aren’t many turf churches left in Iceland these days, so we came to see this one. It’s not open to the public so it was just a quick photo stop.

Fjaðrárgljúfur River Canyon

Fjadrargljufur is an incredible canyon to visit. It’s about 100 meters deep and 2 kilometers long, with winding green slopes. The canyon was included in the music video for a Justin Bieber song and as a result, it became now very popular with visitors from all over the world. It’s an extraordinary natural environment, deeply carpeted with fragile mosses. The canyon was formed a few thousand years ago during a glacial period, leaving a snaking river behind when the ice sheet retreated. We will Stay at this marvelous place for an hour.

Vik Village

Vik is the southernmost point in Iceland. It’s got a sense of fairytale to it and there’s a fantastic view of the mountains from the top of the church. We’ll show you this vantage point so you can see Reynisdrangar, Dyrholaey, from a new perspective. Vik is also unusual for being an Icelandic seaside village without a harbor. In the summer, countless seabirds nest here, including Arctic terns.

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

Yes, you can.
On the booking form, please check the box, where you like to add the boat activity.

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