7 Days West Coast, South Coast and Glacier Lagoon Tour

Welcome to Iceland! Upon arrival, you will find a representative from Iceland Highlights, who holds a sign with your name on it. He will greet you at the arrival hall. After you are locating him, you will be taken to the Blue Lagoon. Once you get there, our driver will help you with the direction and proceed with the check-in at the Blue Lagoon spa, it’s about a 3-minute walk from the parking lot to the entrance of the Blue Lagoon. Please make sure to keep the swim attire somewhere easy to reach, you will need it. You can keep the rest of the luggage in the car and the driver will help to keep them safe.

You will have about 2 hours to enjoy the beauty of the Blue Lagoon, after that, the driver will take you to the accommodation in Reykjavik. You will have the rest of the evening for yourself.

Overnight stay in Reykjavik: 4 stars hotel in Reykjavik

After enjoying breakfast in the morning, let’s start with your adventure to the West. It takes about 2 hours to get to the first stop, sit back and enjoy the scenic ride there.

Bjarnarfoss Waterfall

The first stop of the day will be Bjarnafoss, a small waterfall that stands out from the main highway. It is a nice stop to step outside and do a little bit of walking to enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of it.

Búðir church

Just a few miles/kilometers away, on the coastal side, there is Búðir church. The church was first built in 1703 but later demolished due to a lack of parishioners. In 1847 new church was built and then rebuilt once again in 1987 in the original design of the previous one. It is distinct from other churches by its’ black color. Because of its’ uniqueness, it is a popular spot for wedding photography.

Now we will enter the Snæfellsnes National Park area, the most western part of the peninsula. It embraces many beautiful sights of nature. Such as the mystical glacier of Snæfellsjökull, Djúpalónssandur Black Sand Beach, Þufubjarg cliff, and more.

Arnarstapi

We will start with a stop at Arnarstapi fishing village, where we get to see the sculpture of the mythological creature Bardur Snaefellsas who was half-human and half-troll. Arnarstapi is also known for its cliffs and unusual basalt arches that you can explore from close range. Just make sure to do not get too close to the edge of them or else you’ll fall into the cold Atlantic Ocean.

Arnarstapi will also be our lunch stop.

Vatnshellir lava cave

The next stop is the Vatnshellir lava cave. We will join an hour activity to explore the area underneath the surface. Inside the lava tube, there are two main sections. The upper section has great features and unique formations of lava statues curved on the sides of the lava tube. The lower part of the lava cave which can be reached by a long and narrow staircase takes us deep down underground to a place that was hidden from the outside world for thousands of years. Vatnshellir was created in a volcanic eruption approximately 7,000 years ago. Fun fact: It is the place where the journey to the center of the earth the science fiction by Jules Verne took place in 1864.

Djúpalónssandur

Our next stop is Djúpalónssandur black sand beach, where you can see and witness the beauty of lava rock formations that were once hot lava that flowed from Snæfellsnes volcano situated 6 miles (10km) away. A beautiful black sand beach where the air is filled with the sounds of birds and the Atlantic waves pounding the sands. You’ll be able to walk through the lava fields on rock steps to the ocean. You will see the rusty remains of an old shipwreck offering a stark contrast to the black sand beach. These ruins are a memorial to men lost at sea here and should be left as they are.

The last stop of the day is the iconic mountain Kirkjufell. For those who have watched the show Game of Thrones, you might recognize this mountain. In the series, it is known as Arrowhead mountain which appeared in S06E05 and S07E06.

By now we have seen all the highlights of the western peninsula, and now it’s time to go back to the city. Sit back and relax while our driver guide will take you back to your accommodation in the area. If you are doing this package in the winter, the night in the countryside would increase the chance of seeing the northern lights.

Overnight: Borgarfjörður or simiar

Highlights

• Búðir church
• Arnarstapi village and cliffs
• Rauðfeldsgjá gorge
• Djúpalónssandur beach
• Kirkjufell mountain
• Vatnshellir – Lava Cave

Today you are going towards the Borgarfjörður area, we often refer to this day tour as the Silver Circle Tour. Borgarfjörður area is known as the heartland of the Icelandic Sagas, where the untamed landscapes and striking scenery of West Iceland help to bring Viking history to life.

Glanni Waterfall

A place that you might have heard about when reading stories about Norse Mythology. Here, aside from the mythical border between human and god’s world, you will find a tiny, but charming waterfall called Glanni. Located on the Nordura River multiple tiers fall down across old lava fields called the Grabrokarhraun. In fact, you can also enjoy the view over 3 volcanic craters called Grabrok, that rise above these fields.

Grábrók 

Grábrók is a crater formed by a fissure eruption approximately three thousand years ago. The fissure that initially opened during that eruption wasn’t very long but left behind Grábrók and her two crater sisters that can be seen when on top. Also, from the top the massive lava of about seven square kilometers that surfaced in that eruption is visible.  It is a sight of geological interest comparable to Lakagígar, the Laki craters in the Icelandic Highland accessible from the Southern Region. The view from the top is not only interesting because of the lava. It is an impressive view over the most beautiful part of the Western Region Borgarfjörður and the tiny but beautiful lake Hreðarvatn, which was formed during that eruption.

Deildartunguhver – the most powerful hot spring in Europe

Our next stop is a visit to Deildartunguhver, famed as the most powerful hot springs in Europe. It produces more than 180 liters of boiling hot water per second! You can feel the fierce power of Mother Nature as you walk safely on boardwalks through billowing clouds of steam around the bubbling hot springs, or just see them from the viewing platform.

Reykholt Historic Site

Snorralaug (Snorri’s Pool) is a smaller hot spring found just a few minutes away in Reykholt, where local people have bathed since the 12th century. This pool was first mentioned in the medieval writings of Snorri Sturluson, a famous Icelandic poet, and chieftain, who used to live and bathe here too. Snorralaug is now a protected archaeological site.

There will be time to take pictures of the beautiful old timber church here, which dates back to the 19th century. You can take a look inside, where a viewing glass to a medieval smithy cistern can be seen.

Hraunfossar – famous Lava Falls

we will see the great Hraunfossar, a stunning series of waterfalls formed by several rivers running a distance of about 900m across the Hallmundarhraun lava field, created a thousand years ago by a volcano erupting under the nearby Langjokull glacier.

Hraunfossar translates as the “Lava Waterfalls”, but nowadays it’s clear glacial meltwater that tumbles down into the Hvita (White) river below to provide one of the most breathtaking views in the country.

Barnafoss waterfalls

A short walk through the many viewing points and platforms here brings us to another beautiful waterfall, but this is one with a tragic tale to tell. This is Barnafoss, or “the waterfall of the children”. The sad story here is that there used to be a natural stone bridge over these ferociously powerful falls, and one day two children from a nearby farm fell to their deaths when they were trying to cross the river. The grief-stricken mother had the bridge destroyed so that no others would ever suffer the same fate.

Húsafell

Highlights:

• Glanni Waterfall
• Grábrók creater
• Deildartunguhver hotspring
• Barnafoss Waterfall
• Húsafell
• Reykholt
• The Canyon bath

After having breakfast in the morning, now you are set for the next adventure. The first stop of the day is Þingvellir National Park, where you will have a chance to walk on a tectonic plate rift that splits Iceland into two parts and see Öxaráfoss Waterfall which flows into the rift. Also, you will have a chance to see the site of the first parliament in the world. That’s actually where the name Þingvellir (e. Fields of the parliament) comes from.

Laugarvatn, experience the geothermal energy first hand and try our geothermal baked bread in the ground, yes, we meant it. It’s baked in the geothermally heated ground.

The next stop is Efstidalur farm where we will see cattle and locally made yummy ice cream. This farm has been run by the same family since 1750.

From there we will head to a very active place Haukadalur (Geysir) geothermal area, where you will find Strokkur hot spring. It is the most active geyser in Iceland that shoots hot water as high as 20-30 meters (65-98ft), approx. every 5-10 minutes. There are over 20 other sleeping geysers and the small cute Litli Geysir that looks like a boiling pot.

We continue the drive to Gullfoss waterfall, the second-largest waterfall in Iceland. In the summer, if you stand close enough to the falls, you will feel fresh mist touching your face.

We will continue this journey towards the south to visit Faxi Waterfall and then Fridheimar tomato cultivation farm, where you get a chance to taste various meals and desserts, with tomato as their main ingredient. Some people say that this place offers the best Bloody Mary cocktail in the world.

After the lunch break, we keep moving with our tour and we have a special stop at the Secret Lagoon, where you have a chance to have a soak in the beautiful natural hot spring. We are going to stay here for about an hour so you can experience it.

Our last stop of the day is the Kerid crater which was created by an explosive eruption, four thousand years ago. In the mid of the crater, you will find a beautiful lagoon.

We will now be heading to the accommodation in the south, you will have the experience of staying in the cozy countryside. It might be a big bonus, if you do this trip in the winter, you will have a great chance to see the northern lights from the hotel.

Highlights: 

• Þingvellir National Park
• Geysir
• Gullfoss waterfalls
• Kerid crater
• Friðheimar farm
• Efstidalur farm
• Secret lagoon admission

Duration: 10-11 hours

Overnight: In Hvolsvöllur or simiar

After having breakfast in the morning, you are set for the next adventure. Today you will explore the extended south coast tour all the way to the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon. Please prepare well for a long day, it will be packed full of activities.

The South Coast tour of Iceland will reveal many secret spaces and show both the green and the icy side of Iceland. On this tour, you get to see the magical Seljalandsfoss waterfall, where you will be able to literally walk behind it without getting completely wet. In the same area, we will also visit a beautiful waterfall, which is secretly hidden inside the mountain.

After enjoying these two amazing waterfalls, we will be heading to see another beauty. The Skogafoss waterfall is 60m (197 ft) high. Even from the distance, we will still feel its power of it. If you like to see it from above, you can take a little hike on the wooden stairs all the way to the top, where you can enjoy the view from above. According to the legend, the Vikings hid treasures behind the fall. Nobody dares yet to check it out?

The next stop is the hidden waterfall Kvernusfoss is a beautiful 30-meters high (98 ft) waterfall that is half-hidden away in a gorge in South Iceland, yet very close to the ring road. It is located on the east side of the popular Skógafoss waterfall and is often overlooked by travelers. We will show you this beauty on this tour.

The next stop is the Sólheimajökull glacier. Where we will do a two-hour glacier hike on the glacier that is partly covered with ash from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010. You will be equipped with all the necessary gear to do the activity, such as a helmet, harness, crampons, and axe.  

After this activity, you will continue to explore further east to the Reynisfjara black sand beach famous for its basalt column caves and mystical beach.

Our last stop of this tour is the famous Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, Fjadrargljufur is a stunning and magical canyon close to Kirkjubæjarklaustur in the South East of Iceland. Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is best known as the location of Justin Bieber’s video “I’ll show you.” Enjoy stupendous views and tumbling waterfalls with a visit to Fjadrargljufur! After this stop, you will be taken back to your accommodation.

Overnight stay in the south of Iceland

Highlights: 

• Seljalandsfoss waterfall
• Skógafoss waterfall
• Kvernufoss waterfall
• Sólheimajökull glacier
• Vík
• Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

Duration: 10 hours

After enjoying the local breakfast in the morning, we will start the day by visiting the magnificent Jökulsárlón – Glacier Lagoon, where you will have a close look at the melting icebergs moving toward the Atlantic ocean. Just within a few minutes from the lagoon, we will take a walk on Diamond Beach, where polished icebergs get washed back to the coastline by enormous ocean waves.

Next on our agenda is the Ice Cave activity, it might be your highlight of the day, it takes 2-3 hours. It is a naturally occurring blue ice cave located on Vatnajökull – the biggest glacier in Iceland. This part will be operated by a specialized glacier guide on a super jeep. Please note, that this activity is offered from November to March.

If you are traveling in the summer, we will replace this activity with Kayak or Zodiac boat activity in the glacier lagoon.

After you finish this activity, you will be taken back to your hotel in Reykjavik.

Overnight stay in Reykjavík

Driving distance: 480km 

Highlights: 

• Glacier Lagoon
• Diamond Beach
• Natural Ice Cave or boat activity
• Vík town

Time flies, today is your departure day, if you leave in the afternoon, you will have your leisure time in the morning to do shopping, and our private driver will meet you in the afternoon to take you back to the airport.

If your flight is in the morning, a private driver will meet you at the hotel and take you to the airport in the morning.

Yes, the price per person will change, and often is cheaper as you have more people on the tour. Please contact us to get a precise quote for that.

Yes, the activities are extra add-on, it’s not compulsory, so you can skip them all or some of it, and we can deduct the fee for the activities.