Small-Group South Coast & Glacier Hike Tour from Reykjavik
Description
Discover Iceland’s breathtaking south coast on this full-day adventure from Reykjavík! Marvel at the thundering waterfalls of Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, take a guided glacier walk on Sólheimajökull, and explore the dramatic black sand beach of Reynisfjara, home to towering basalt sea stacks. Start your journey with a scenic drive along Iceland’s rugged coastline. We stop at Skógafoss, a stunning 60-meter waterfall, and visit Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, where powerful waves crash against volcanic black sands - home to iconic basalt sea stacks. You will gear up for an easy glacier hike on Sólheimajökull, where you’ll explore blue ice, deep crevasses, and dramatic formations. We also stop at Seljalandsfoss, where you can walk behind the cascading water for a unique view. On the way back to Reykjavík, relax and enjoy stunning views of Iceland's iconic South Coast.
Tour Options
Itinerary
No car required! Start your memorable journey to the iconic south coast with convenient pickup from select stops in Reykjavik.
Feel the power of one of Iceland’s most iconic falls as Skógafoss crashes 60 meters into a wide misty basin. Walk right up to the spray for photos, or climb the staircase beside the waterfall for sweeping views over the valley and the South Coast
Step onto Iceland’s most famous black-sand beach, where basalt columns rise like a natural cathedral and the Atlantic surf roars in. You’ll see the Reynisdrangar sea stacks offshore and the striking geology that makes this coastline so dramatic - plus important safety guidance for the powerful “sneaker waves.” Leisurely stroll along the black sand beach known for its famous basalt columns and caverns. Witness the Reynisdrangar cliffs and basalt rock stacks that rise from the sea.
Next, enjoy a truly unforgettable walk on ice with a beginner-friendly guided hike on Sólheimajökull Glacier, a stunning outlet of Mýrdalsjökull on Iceland’s South Coast. In a small group, you’ll meet your certified glacier guide at the parking lot, gear up with crampons, an ice axe, and helmet, and walk across a dramatic landscape to the glacier, passing a beautiful lagoon dotted with floating icebergs. Then you’ll step onto real glacier ice for about 1.5 hours of easy hiking, weaving between ice ridges, crevasses and shimmering blue formations. Along the way, your guide will share stories about climate, history, and the area, with plenty of time for photos and taking in the views. It’s a fun, safe and unforgettable way to experience Iceland’s ice world - no previous glacier experience required.
A picture-perfect waterfall with a pathway that can let you view the cascade from behind for an unforgettable perspective. In winter the trail can be icy or closed, but the stop is still spectacular from the front, with dramatic cliffs, mossy rock, and constant shifting light.
We will make our way back to the capital where you will be dropped off at your selected pick-up point.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please select the closest pick-up point to your accommodation from our list. The pickup process begins at your selected tour time and can last up to 30 minutes, depending on traffic and your location along the pickup route. Thank you in advance for your patience. If you've booked the tour with a pickup outside of Reykjavik the following pickup times apply: Hveragerði: 8:30 - 09:00 Hella: 9:30 - 10:00 Hvolsvöllur: 9:40 - 10:10
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 8 years old and minimum shoe size is 35 EU
- Please bring warm outdoor clothing, waterproof jacket and pants, packed lunch, gloves, hat and good hiking shoes
- Please note that the order of the itinerary can be altered if weather conditions change
- For the glacier hike: In order to safely fit our specialized glacier crampons, guests must have a shoe size between 35-50 EU
- Hiking boots with ankle support are mandatory for the glacier hike portion of the adventure (available to rent for a fee)
- This tour is rated as easy, but guests should be prepared to walk ~3-4km over uneven terrain
Reviews(351)
Fantastic experience! Our guide Sergio was very considering and had a lot of knowlegde about the area.
Hi Laila, thanks for this. Glad the South Coast and glacier hike came together well. A knowledgeable guide on that route really rounds out the day. Appreciate you sharing. Arctic Adventures Team
Amazing Trip!!! Would highly recommend for summer Iceland vacation. It’s worth money spent. Our guide Bruno was very helpful and friendly that made trip more enjoyable. Our first time Glacier hiking but with the help of tour guide it was so easy and full of fun activity day!!!
Hi Ayshah, thanks so much for taking the time to share this. First-time glacier hiking takes some nerve, and it sounds like the guide made it feel manageable and fun. Glad the summer trip was worth every penny. Hope Iceland pulls you back! Arctic Adventures Team
This is our second tour with this company. Both were great experiences, Mils was an exceptional guide. We really enjoyed the tour and he was very knowledgeable, and made the whole day a lot of fun. Would recommend a tour with him.
Hi there, thanks for coming back and for sharing this. Knowledgeable and genuinely fun on a full South Coast and glacier day is the benchmark. Really glad it came together well. Arctic Adventures Team
What an amazing tour!! Bruno was so informative and kind. Very in tune to the group's wants and needs. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone considering!
Hi there, thanks so much for the kind words. A guide who reads the group and adjusts to what people actually want is what makes a long day on the South Coast really work. Hope you're back in Iceland! Arctic Adventures Team
This was a great trip and experience. Our guide was very knowledgeable and provided a lot of history and information.
Lili was very professional and passionate about her job. She showed us a great time and was accommodating to our individual needs. It was a lot of fun! She also took us to each destination safely and had good driving skills and made it a smooth ride along the way.
Hi there, thank you for such a generous write-up. There's a particular skill in guiding a small group through a long day! Reading what people need, keeping the driving smooth, holding the energy of the group. Sounds like all of that quietly came together for you. Glad it was a good one. Arctic Adventures Team
Alex was an excellent guide. He was very knowledgeable & told interesting stories. He also managed the tour to work best with the weather to make sure we all had a good experience.
Hi Marlene, thanks for this. A guide who shapes the day around the weather makes a real difference on the South Coast tour, and it sounds like yours did exactly that. We'll pass your feedback to the team. Arctic Adventures Team
You have the opportunity to get wet so bring waterproof clothing and/or a change of clothes. Lunch was available at the Black Sand Beach Restaurant but it is a long day so bring snacks and water. You can leave your belongings in the van at each stop so you don’t have to worry about lugging around a large bag everywhere. For the glacier hike bring ankle supported hiking boots, otherwise you will have to pay about $15 to rent some when you get to the glacier. Our tour guide Sergei was so amazing and helped us so much during the trip! Overall it was an amazing experience and I would definitely recommend it!
We had an amazing experience with Arctic Adventures, and I cannot recommend them enough! A special thank you to Sergio, our bus driver, who was incredibly professional, respectful, and friendly throughout the entire trip. What really stood out was that while driving, he continuously shared fascinating history, culture, and facts about Iceland, which made the journey just as enjoyable as the destination. His knowledge and passion for Iceland added so much value to the experience. I also want to recognize Daniel, our glacier guide, who was absolutely outstanding. He made safety his top priority and provided clear, thorough instructions before and during the hike. He constantly checked on everyone in the group, making sure no one was left behind and that everyone felt comfortable and confident. My husband became a little tired during the hike, and Daniel was incredibly caring, compassionate, and attentive. He checked on him several times and made sure we took short breaks when needed so everyone could keep up comfortably. He was patient, encouraging, and genuinely concerned about the well-being of every person in the group. What impressed me most was how engaged Daniel was with everyone. He took the time to speak with all members of the group, answered questions, and made sure nobody felt overlooked or unattended. His professionalism, kindness, and leadership made the glacier experience unforgettable. Thank you, Sergio and Daniel, for helping make our Iceland adventure so memorable. We would absolutely book with Arctic Adventures again! Andrea and David.
Hi Andrea and David, thank you for the kind review. Lovely to hear the day went well, and that the team made sure everyone was looked after. We'd be glad to host you again sometime. Arctic Adventures Team
This tour was amazing!! Our guide Asdis Greta, was fantastic! She was extremely knowledgeable about Iceland and super fun and energetic. This tour is perfect if you have a short amount of time. It’s a long day but you will be happy you did it! I highly recommend this tour, especially with Greta!
Hi Sarah, thank you for the kind review. It's a long day combining the South Coast with a glacier hike, and we're glad the guide made it worthwhile. Arctic Adventures Team
