3 Day Winter Iceland Tour to Golden Circle, South Coast with Glacier Lagoon & Glacier Hike

The tour starts with your pickup from almost anywhere in Reykjavik City Center, or at the nearest Bus Stop if lodging downtown.

We’re taking you on a thrilling tour of South Iceland’s vast Golden Circle and the spectacular Kerid crater. Other highlights include Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss, and Geysir.

The first stop of the day is Þingvellir National Park, where you will have a chance to see Thingvellir Lake, the second biggest in Iceland, and walk in a rift where North American and Euro-Asian tectonic plates meet. We continue with our journey to Gullfoss waterfall, the second-largest waterfall in Iceland. Next, we visit the best-known Geysir of all that has been inactive for quite a long time, last erupting in 2009. And last but not least, we stop at the Kerid crater to see a beautiful view of this beautiful crater, which is approx. 5000 years old.

The Golden Circle allows you to see the best of Iceland’s stunning landscapes in a single-day excursion. You’ll get up close to geysers and waterfalls, and wander through continents and around a multi-colored crater.

A 3-star hotel with breakfast near the Golden Circle will be included in the price you pay.

After your breakfast, we gather and head to the South Coast, which is known for its waterfalls and Black Sand Beach. Today’s highlights include: Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Gljfrabi, Black Sand Beach, and Dyrholaey Bridge, with Glacier Hike, included. 

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. 

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.

The last stop on the 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!

Following dinner, the guide will brief you about the northern lights forecast, and you will be able to see the lights from your accommodation (if weather permits).

A 3-star hotel with breakfast near the South Coast will be included in the price you pay.

On our final day, we will explore Jokulsarlon and Diamond Beach, as well as the Fjadrargljufur canyon and Skaftafell natural reserve. We’ll take a journey to an ice cave, which is something special.

Jökulsárlón is a huge glacial lagoon (and Iceland’s deepest lake) at the foot of the Vatnajökull glacier. The glacier melts as it approaches the lowlands, forming a lagoon. The lagoon is loaded with enormous icebergs that float gently away from the glacier and towards the ocean. The icebergs vary greatly in size and shape. The largest ones can grow to be 20 to 30 meters long. The lagoon’s look varies all the time as the glacier “calves” and new icebergs enter it.

We next travel to Black Sand Beach, also known as Diamond Beach, where icebergs are swept ashore by the waves. These two attractions are among Iceland’s most photographed natural wonders. Jökulsarlon Glacier Lagoon has acquired the moniker “Iceland’s Crown Jewel.” The Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach have become internationally famous after appearing in Hollywood films such as James Bond, Batman Begins, and Tomb Raider.

We’ll also visit the canyon of Fjadrargljufur today. It is as gorgeous as it is difficult to pronounce. This spectacular canyon, located in the south, is one of Iceland’s most valuable treasures. Fjadrargljufur, which is 100 meters deep and 2 kilometers long, was formed 2 million years ago at the conclusion of the last Ice Age. Although the canyon is ancient, its fame is rather young.

Lastly, we visit Skaftafell, a natural reserve in Iceland’s Vatnajökull National Park in the southeast. It is an oasis of this country’s numerous landscapes and features, and it was formerly designated as a national park in its own right.

We then return to Reykjavik and say our goodbyes.

Important Note

Please pack as small of a bag if possible, or share it with your group. Hotels in Reykjavik can hold the remaining luggage.

We do stop for meals but you are welcome to bring any snacks and beverages you need for in-between meals. Sometimes dinner can be between 7-8 pm (depending on availability)

Requests for hotel upgrades/separate rooms might not be able to be honored. If you are a party of 2 or more, you will get a room together.

Please bring as small of luggage as possible, and snacks and beverages for in-between meals are welcome.

We will charge a cancellation fee of 100% if the booking is canceled 1 day or less before the event.