South Coast. Private Day Tour

South Coast. Private Day Tour

Waterfalls and glaciers of the South Coast are some of the main attractions in Iceland.

This full-day adventure tour along one of the most popular routes in Iceland takes you to the South Coast region. The landscapes here take various forms, from farmland to pristine glaciers and insane waterfalls, from impressive cliffs to black sand beaches on the Atlantic coast. Traveling along the South Coast, we explore some of the country’s most scenic areas. You will be inspired by Iceland’s harsh natural beauty and impressed by its ancient history.

Highlights

  • A perfect introduction for the first-time visitors
  • Explore Iceland on a privately guided tour
  • Explore breathtaking waterfalls and black sand beaches on the South Coast

Visited Places

  • Seljalandsfoss and Gljufrabui Waterfalls
  • Skogafoss Waterfall
  • Dyrholaey South Cape of Iceland
  • Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
  • Solheimajokull Glacier (no glacier hike)

The tour can be tailored according to your wishes. Please let us know if you would like to visit other places or change activities on your trip.

Travel Style Private Day Tour
Availability All Seasons, Daily
Group Size Up to 5 people
Tour Duration 10 hours. Travel distance 400km / 250miles
Pickup Time
8:30 AM (or 9:00 AM)
Transportation
SUV or Minivan
Price Included      
  • Pickup and drop off in Reykjavik
  • Driver/guide service during the trip
  • Private transportation for your group
Not Included        
  • Food and drinks

Additional pickup details

We will pick you up from your Reykjavik accommodation or the cruise ship terminal. Pickup and drop-off outside the capital are possible for an additional fee.

  • Most travelers can participate.
  • Infant seats are available.
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the tour starts.
  • If the operator cancels the tour due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Tour Pricing

Tour availability and price depend on your group size, as the booking form below indicates.

We start the tour from Reykjavik and drive through the Hellisheidi Pass, passing through rugged lava fields with steam jets from a geothermal power plant at the base of Hengill Volcano. After crossing the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, we shall drive through the lowlands and stop at a gas station in Hvolsvollur.

We then continue to the stunningly beautiful Seljalandsfoss, one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls, at 63 m/210 ft. Here, we can follow the trail behind the waterfall. Not far from Seljalandsfoss, there is another waterfall called Glufrabui. It is a 40 m/130 ft high waterfall cascading into a gorge with breathtaking scenery.

We then drive east along farms at the foot of the cliffs of Mount Eyjafjol. Our next stop is the mighty 60 m/200 ft Skogafoss waterfall, fed by water flowing from the Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull glaciers. This majestic waterfall is one of the most visited places in Iceland. After visiting the waterfall, we stop for lunch at a bistro bar in Skogar.

Afterward, we will visit Dyrholaey, a rocky headland jutting out into the ocean in the southernmost part of the country. The Atlantic Ocean and its foamy waves wash the black sand at the foot of Dyrholaey. From here, we can enjoy the varied landscapes of the Myrdalur valley, its green fields, and pastures.

We continue our trip and stop for a walk along the coastline of Reynisfjara Beach, considered the most impressive black sand beach in Iceland, with unique vertical basalt columns reminiscent of a pyramid with stone steps. In the water opposite the beach, you will see Reynisdrangar, stunningly shaped basalt rocks. However, watch for solid waves and don’t get too close to the water.

From the black sand beach, we drive towards Reykjavik and stop at the Sólheimajökull glacier, the tongue of Myrdalsjökull, the fourth largest glacier in Iceland. Here, we can follow the trail to enjoy the view of the glacier from a short distance. After visiting the Solheimajokull glacier, we will return to Reykjavik.

Please note: the route is subject to change depending on weather and road conditions.

We assume that you may have questions while preparing for your trip. We want to answer some of them in advance to provide you with complete information about our tours and make them as comfortable as possible. Below, you can find the most frequently asked questions.

How do we pay for the tour?

Payments for day tours are collected online while booking. We accept major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. If you have any problems with using American Express, please contact us. If another way of payment is preferable, please get in touch with us through email at info@topicelandtours.com.

Where do you pick pickup

Pickup is included in the tour price and arranged from your lodging places or designated bus stops in Reykjavik. Please be ready outside or in the lobby; the tour description mentions the pickup time. Please get in touch with us if you want to change the place of pick up.

Suppose your group is bigger than five people and a minibus is used for tour transportation. In that case, we have limited possibility for pickups in downtown Reykjavík due to driving/parking restrictions in the area. Then, we shall pick you up from designated bus stops or ask to meet a driver-guide nearby, where we can pick you up. Please email us at info@topicelandtours.com, and we’ll determine the best pickup location.

Drop-offs are provided at the same pickup as pickup unless otherwise arranged with the driver/guides.

What about food on tours?

We arrange refreshment stops at cafés or restaurants on daily tours, where you can purchase your lunch and snacks. Therefore, you are not required to bring your food for the tour; however, if you prefer to bring some snacks or drinks, that is acceptable. Please note that food and beverages are not included in the tour price.

Can I get vegetarian meals on tours?

Nearly all restaurants in Iceland offer vegetarian food. There is no problem with purchasing vegetarian meals on tours.

How many bathroom stops are on the tours?

The bathrooms are available at visitor centers at many stops on popular routes such as Golden Circle and South Coast. Some bathroom stops are available on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula tour. Your driver-guide will inform you about available places for bathroom stops on the route.

Can we cancel or change reservation? What is the Cancellation Policy?

Flexible Policy for Cancellations and Refunds

All Top Iceland day tours are fully refundable until the day of tour delivery. You will receive a full refund of the tour price:

  • If you cancel a booking 24 hours before the start of the tour for any reason. Please note you will not receive any refund if you do not cancel the tour and do not show up. Also, timing is calculated following the time zone of the tour
  • If Top Iceland cancels the tour
  • If You cannot take the tour because of an unforeseeable event that is out of your control (“Unforeseeable Events”).

Refunds will be sent back to the original payment method used in making the booking. Depending on the bank’s processing time, the repayments can take seven business days to reflect in your account or card balance.

All cancellations must be initiated by contacting Top-Iceland:

  • Emailing info@topicelandtours.com
  • Sending a Message through the website topicelandtours.com
  • Telephone: +354 626 9000

Top-Iceland is not responsible for any incidental expenses you and any other participant may have directly or indirectly incurred due to a tour booking. These expenses include, but are not limited to, the cost of visas, accommodation, vehicle rental, vaccinations, flights, and loss of enjoyment.

In any cancellation event, you may reschedule the tour or take a credit towards a future booking instead of receiving a refund. You can find more details for cancellation policies on the Terms & Conditions page.

Please contact us if you have any questions about our cancellation policy.

What to bring for tours? Which clothes are recommended?

Solid, warm & waterproof shoes and warm rain & windproof outdoor clothing are recommended for all the tours. (Please see the question below about weather and temperature).

What is the weather like in Iceland? How cold is it?

Here below is a table with average temperatures, precipitation, and daylights by month in Iceland:

Month Avg. High Avg. Low Avg. Rainfall Avg. Sunlight
January 36°F (2°C) 28°F (-2°C) 4 inches 5 hours
February 36°F (2°C) 28°F (-2°C) 4.3 inches 8 hours
March 38°F (3°C) 30°F (-1°C) 3.7 inches 12 hours
April 43°F (6°C) 34°F (1°C) 2.9 inches 16 hours
May 48°F (9°C) 40°F (4°C) 2.3 inches 18 hours
June 54°F (12°C) 46°F (8°C) 2.1 inches 21 hours
July 57°F (14°C) 49°F (9°C) 2.7 inches 19 hours
August 55°F (13°C) 47°F (8°C) 3.5 inches 16 hours
September 50°F (10°C) 42°F (6°C) 4.6 inches 13 hours
October 44°F (7°C) 36°F (2°C) 4.5 inches 9 hours
November 39°F (4°C) 30°F (-1°C) 4.2 inches 6 hours
December 36°F (2°C) 29°F (-2°C) 4.1 inches 4 hours

Please remember that the weather in Iceland changes rapidly, and you cannot count on long-term forecasts. The two most reliable sources of the weather forecast are https://www.vedur.is/ and https://www.yr.no/

How about the daylight? Is it completely dark in winter?

Fortunately not, even on the shortest days of the year, there are several hours of daylight every day – between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm. If you wish to check a specific time of the year, we recommend using https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/iceland/reykjavik

How long in advance should we book tours?

In general – the earlier, the better. Consider that most of our tours are privately guided, so availability on certain dates might be limited.

How about tipping in Iceland?

Tipping in Iceland is not required but is always appreciated.

Is it obligatory to have child seats/boosters?

Yes, it is requested by Icelandic law to have child seats/boosters. Some families are already traveling with one, but if you want us to provide child seats and boosters on tour, please email an email.

Skogafoss waterfall. South Coast Tour
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Rainbow at Skogafoss
Lupin flowers at Skogar
Lighhouse at Dyrholaey
Solheimajokull glacier
Dyrholaey South Cape
Reinisdrangar at Reynisfjara
View on Vik
Behind Seljalandsfos swaterfall
Skogafoss waterfall at South Coast
Gljufrabui watrfall
Lighthouse at South Coast
Reynisfjara in wintertime
Skogafoss in summer