Guided Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach Day Trip from Reykjavik
Description
A journey through Iceland’s glacial heart. Discover the stunning beauty of Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where ancient icebergs drift silently through Iceland’s deepest lake before washing ashore on the shimmering Diamond Beach. Travel along the dramatic South Coast, passing waterfalls, volcanoes, and black sand beaches, with expert guides bringing each stop to life. From cinematic landscapes to unforgettable photo ops, this day tour captures the magic of Iceland in one incredible adventure. You’ll also stop at the striking Seljalandsfoss waterfall and enjoy panoramic views of vast lava fields, distant glaciers, and towering sea cliffs as you journey east. With comfortable transport, storytelling guides, and Iceland’s most photogenic landscapes, this full-day tour is ideal for travelers who want to see the best of the South Coast in a single, unforgettable day — no hiking or glacier gear required.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We depart from Reykjavík and begin our scenic drive along the South Coast towards Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
Eyjafjallajökull is one of Iceland’s most famous volcanoes, best known for its 2010 eruption that disrupted air travel across Europe. This glacier-capped stratovolcano offers a striking view, with ice and fire coexisting in one dramatic landscape. Its name comes from the Icelandic words for “island mountain glacier,” perfectly describing its powerful presence.
Skógafoss is one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls, cascading 60 meters from the cliffs of the southern coastline along the Skógá River. Its powerful mist often creates vivid rainbows, making it a favorite among photographers and travelers alike. According to local legend, a Viking treasure is hidden behind the falls, adding a touch of mystery to its breathtaking beauty.
Take a relaxing lunch break in the quiet village of Freysnes, surrounded by stunning views of Iceland’s southern mountains and glaciers. It’s the perfect spot to recharge before continuing your adventure.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, located near Skaftafell in southeastern Iceland, is a breathtaking sight where shimmering blue waters are filled with drifting icebergs from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. Spanning 18 square kilometers and reaching depths over 248 meters, this glacial lake offers a serene, otherworldly experience that captures the raw beauty of Icelandic nature.
Diamond Beach is a striking black-sand shoreline where glistening icebergs from Jökulsárlón Lagoon wash ashore, creating a dramatic contrast of sparkling ice against dark volcanic sand. This natural spectacle offers one of Iceland’s most photogenic and unforgettable coastal views.
Vík is a picturesque coastal village on Iceland’s south coast, renowned for its black sand beaches and striking basalt sea stacks. Enjoy a relaxing dinner break here, where you can savor a meal while soaking in the dramatic natural scenery and small-town charm.
Seljalandsfoss is one of Iceland’s most unique waterfalls, famous for the path that allows visitors to walk behind its cascading curtain of water. Framed by a natural cave-like alcove, this enchanting waterfall is especially magical during Iceland’s long summer days when it's bathed in golden light.
Take a short break in the charming town of Hvolsvöllur to stretch your legs and refresh before the journey continues to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
After a long and memorable day exploring the South Coast and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, we return to Reykjavík. Hotel drop-off begins upon arrival, and your guide will provide further information during the drop-off process.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
• Please be at your designated pickup point at least 30 minutes prior to departure. Our pickup vehicles are well marked with the Reykjavik Excursions. • Each driver has a few stops, so it can take up to 30 minutes to finish picking everyone up, so there is no need to worry if the bus is not there right away.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Operates in cold weather conditions, please dress appropriately. We recommend warm layers including hat and gloves and rain gear
Reviews(576)
Great tour guide who kept the group informed of the history and geography of the place. Kept to the timing well.
The tour was totally worth the money! We stayed in Reykjavik and the drive to jokulsarlon was doable but would have been exhausting without the bus. Our tour guide Elly was very funny and told us a lot of history about the places we were seeing! Our bus driver alan was super friendly! The only issue we had was that the pick up spot was communicated badly by viator but the reykjavik excursions representatives were great in communicating.
This is the perfect tour to hit the highlights of the south coast! Seeing the crystal icebergs on the black sand and drifting through Jökulsárlón was a surreal experience. A massive shout out to our guide, Dori. His friendly demeanor made the long drive feel manageable, and his insights into Iceland’s history and folklore added to the day. Other highlights included standing next to the Skógafoss and actually walking behind the waterfall at Seljalandsfoss. It’s a long day, but worth every single minute!
Some of the most beautiful views I have ever seen! The long drives were absolutely worth it and our guide Dori made the day even better by sharing knowledge about our surroundings.
An amazing experience that I would love to do again
Our driver/guide was excellent. Loved all the stops.
I've never had a tour guide as good as Marianne C, she spent the majority of the trip (14 hours) providing information about the surroundings area and Iceland in general. She is a wealth of knowledge and also gives her personal approach by using story telling to give you this information. I felt very relaxed listening to her which made the time pass faster than I expected. There are several short stops along the journey to Glacier Lagoon to get snacks, stretch and use the toilet. The bus was comfortable, warm and has charging points if needed. The landscape is just breathtaking, a real feast for the eyes. I would definitely recommend this trip.
Dear Traveler, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that Marianne made such a positive impact on your journey with her knowledge and storytelling. It's great that you found the stops comfortable and enjoyed the breathtaking landscapes along the way. We truly appreciate your recommendation! Best Regards, Gabriele27-06-2026
Recommended excursion, a great way to see the glacial lagoon and the Icelandic landscapes. Mikki, the driver, is very kind and competent (and attentive to his group!). The places visited are so beautiful that sometimes the stops feel a bit short, but even so, the tour lasts almost 14 hours. Bring food with you to avoid wasting time in line to buy food :)
Hello, Thank you for your thoughtful feedback! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the excursion and the breathtaking views of the glacial lagoon and Icelandic landscapes. It’s wonderful to know that Mikki made such a positive impression with his kindness, knowledge, and attentiveness throughout the day. We also appreciate your comments about the stop durations. On such a full-day tour, we do our best to balance time at each location while ensuring the itinerary can be completed comfortably. Thank you as well for sharing your helpful tip about bringing food; it’s sure to benefit future travelers. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again in Iceland! Kind regards, Zuzanna
Sadly, this was our last day in Iceland. The landscape on this trip is STUNNING. Its a loooong drive but so worth it Climate control was a bit wonky & the audio wasn't always clear, but the trip was outstanding!
Hello, Thank you for your feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your final day in Iceland and found the scenery absolutely stunning. We’re glad the long journey was worth it, though we’re sorry to hear the climate control and audio were not always ideal. We appreciate you pointing this out, as it helps us continue improving our tours. Thank you for traveling with us, and we hope to welcome you back to Iceland again someday! Kind regards, Zuzanna
Mikki was an awesome guide with a great personality! Very knowledgeable and great story teller.
Hello, Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear you had such a great experience with Mikki. It’s fantastic to know his personality, knowledge, and storytelling made the tour so enjoyable. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to him. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again in Iceland! Kind regards, Zuzanna
