Spend three days exploring the Golden Circle and South Iceland coast in fall, spring, or winter on this short Iceland adventure. First visit the Golden Circle Route including Thingvellir National Park, Geysir, and Gullfoss. Continue south where you stop to visit Jökulsárlón Lagoon with its many icebergs and Vatnajökull Glacier, the largest ice cap in Iceland. Wander the many black beaches and spend the night in a country hotel as you spend time hunting for the Northern Lights. In winter months, hike inside the Crystal Caves, or glacier caves for a look at the inside of a glacier. This three-day Iceland tour is a perfect addition to any Arctic cruise or Iceland hiking tour for those wanting to see the main sites of the South Coast.
Highlights
Visit Thingvellir National Park and the fissure between two tectonic plates
Tour Geysir, Gulfoss Waterfall, and main attractions of the Golden Circle
Hunt for the Northern Lights if here in shoulder seasons or winter months
Admire the stunning Jökulsárlón Lagoon and Vatnajökull ice cap
Moderately active but not overly strenuous. This level includes activities like casual cycling, yoga, or excursions/activities that typically last 3-5 hours total each day.
Be ready in the lobby of your Reykjavik hotel this morning. You are picked up and start out on the Golden Circle Route, stopping first at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Thingvellir National Park. This location sits atop the rifting between two tectonic plates. Walk along the fissures in the crust and learn about the historic significance of the site. Continue on to nearby Geysir geothermal area and watch the spouting Strokkur geyser which erupts almost every 8 minutes. Visit the majestic Gullfoss waterfall which lies in the canyon of the Hvita River. This afternoon drive your way further south towards the coast to your country hotel for the next two nights. Spend some time tonight hunting for the Northern Lights!
Drive further east along the coast today towards Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier. Stop first at Jökulsárlón lagoon, which sits in between the Breiðamerkurjökull outlet glacier and the sea and is filled with large floating icebergs that have calved off its feeder glacier. Explore the area before continuing on to your afternoon adventure, touring the crystal ice caves! Explore these fascinating man-made caves inside the glacier for an insider's look at glaciology*. Return to your hotel for dinner and spend time looking for the northern lights tonight if weather permits.
*This excursion can be substituted with another excursion in the area for tours in the summer months.
Day 3: South Coast & Waterfalls
1 Breakfast
Start the journey back towards Reykjavik today, traveling west along the South Coast of Iceland. Take time to stop and admire highlights along the way, including the black beaches of Vik and Reynsfjara Beach, and the Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls. Stop as well for a chance to walk on the Sólheimajökull glacier before returning by late afternoon. Continue on with the rest of your Iceland travels, or return home.
This itinerary is no longer available. For other trip ideas, please visit Iceland Cruises & Tours.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Notes
Select a Date
Rates based on small group departure with maximum 16 people.
Private Departures available, starting at $2095 based on a Group of 4.
Rates are based on the current exchange rate with the Iceland Krona and may fluctuate.
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check, or credit card. Final payments by credit card may be subject to surcharge and a maximum $20,000 charge
Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
Friendly people who ask good questions to make sure your trip is what you want
K.Godinez
4 months ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.
