This tour is for anyone who wants to see the landscapes that make Iceland one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.
Traveling along the South Coast to the Glacier Lagoon is an excellent choice for your short trip to Iceland! The South Coast and Glacial Lagoon Tour takes you through lush farmlands. It lets you see some of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls and gorgeous black sand beaches and get close to the majestic Vatnajokull Glacier at the stunning Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.
Highlights
- This tour is an excellent introduction to your first visit to Iceland.
- Visit the most famous sights on the South Coast up to the Glacier Lagoon
- Explore Iceland’s attractions at your own pace with a private guide
| Travel Style |
Private Tour |
| Availability | All Seasons, Daily |
| Group Size | Up to 5 people |
| Tour Duration |
2 Days |
| Brief Itinerary |
Day 1. South Coast and Fjadragljufur Canyon. Hotel at Glacier Lagoon Day 2. Glacier Lagoon and South Coast. Return to Reykjavik |
| Transportation |
SUV or Minivan |
- Pickup and drop off in Reykjavik
- Driver/guide services during the trip
- Private transportation for your group
- Hotel accommodation for a group
- One night accommodation for a driver-guide at the South Coast
- Food and drinks
Optional Extras (provided by local operators)
- Zodiac boat tour (May-Oct) at the Glacier Lagoon (1,5 hours; 100 USD for adults)
- Ice cave tour (Oct-April) from the Glacier Lagoon (3 hours; 170 USD for adults)
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.
Tour Pricing
The price in the description is per person based on four adults on tour. Accommodation for your group during the trip is to be reserved separately. We can book hotels for your group or book hotels yourself at the locations indicated in the tour program. Please send us a tour request to clarify the price for your group.
Reserve Now & Pay LaterOn this day, we will take a trip to the South Coast, driving from Reykjavik through the Hellisheidi mountain pass and further along the lowlands to our first stop, the beautiful Seljalandsfoss waterfall.
Seljalandsfoss is one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland. It is 63m/210ft high and is stunningly beautiful. Near Seljalandsfoss, we find another waterfall called Gljufrabui, 40m/130ft tall and falling into a gorge with beautiful scenery inside.
Next, we shall continue east along the farms at the foot of the cliffs, formerly the coastline in the Eyjafjoll region, and arrive at the mighty Skogafoss waterfall, which falls from a height of 60m/200feet and is fed by the Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull glaciers. This majestic waterfall is one of the most visited places in Iceland, and for a good reason.
Then we will head to Dyrholaey, a rocky promontory jutting out into the ocean in the southernmost part of the country. The roaring Atlantic Ocean and its frothy waves wash over the black sand at the foot of the cliff. From Dyrholaey, we enjoy the varied and fantastic scenery of the Myrdalur valley, green fields, and pastures.
We continue our way to Reynisfjara beach near the village of Vik and stop there to walk along the coast. We are considered the most impressive black sand beach in Iceland, with a fantastic rock of vertically displaced basalt columns reminiscent of a stone-stepped pyramid. Here you will also see the stunningly shaped basalt rocks of Reinisdrangar. However, watch for solid waves and don’t get too close to the water.
From the black sand beach, we drive to Vik to complete our exploration of the area around mount Rainisfjal and head to the Fjadrargljufur canyon near the village of Kirkjubaejarklaustur. Fjadrargljufur is a majestic and massive canyon, about 100 meters deep and two kilometers long. It has a narrow, winding shape and steep slopes. After a walk by the canyon, we go to Kirkjubaejarklaustur to spend the night there.
Duration: 9-10 hours. Driving distance 300 km/185 miles. Overnight stay in Kirkjubaejarklaustur.
Today we will explore Iceland’s glaciers and head towards the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. Shortly before Jokulsarlon, we will find another glacial lagoon, Fjalsarlon. Here we can be much closer to the glacier than in Jokulsarlon, and you will have a better view of all cracks and faults.
Then we shall visit the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, part of the Vatnajokull National Park. The lagoon’s surface is constantly changing since blue, white, turquoise, and black icebergs peel off from the Breidamerkurjokull glacier, slide down, fall into the water, and move in it, gradually melting and decreasing in size.
The lagoon is connected to the ocean and contains a mixture of salt and fresh water, giving it a unique blue-green color. From May to October, local operators offer boat trips around the lagoon. We recommend you take a “Zodiac” or “Amphibia” boat trip in the Jokulsarlon lagoon to get closer to the glacier and icebergs in the water. You will also have the opportunity to walk around the lagoon’s perimeter and visit Diamond Beach.
On the way back from the glacial lagoon, we will visit Skaftafell park, where we can take a short walk (1.5 hours) along the trail that leads to Svartifoss, the thin waterfall surrounded by vertical basalt columns. After Skaftafell park, we head to Reykjavik to spend the night there.
Additionally, on the day, you can join the ice cave (November-March) or a glacier hike tour (3-4 hours) from the glacier lagoon or Skaftafell park.
Duration: 10-12 hours. Range 505 km/345 miles. Overnight in Reykjavik.
Please note: the itinerary is subject to change depending on weather and road conditions.
Accommodation is not included in the tour package. The cost of housing and the tour price depends on the chosen category (comfort or quality) and the time of year you visit Iceland (low/shoulder/high tourist season). The price per person specified in the tour description is calculated when four adults are accommodated in two double comfort rooms during the low tourist season or shoulder season if a tour is not provided during the low season. Please note that accommodation can be changed at your request to higher category rooms. If you plan to stay in Iceland longer than the duration of the tour, for example, to add a day before or after the tour, please note that in the application form.
Reykjavik is convenient for the trip, as it is the capital and a lively and hospitable city. The city center has many small hotels 3*-4* and guesthouses, conveniently located for evening walks and visiting local restaurants. For multi-day tours, we recommend staying at hotels fitted to the route. That allows for minimizing road overlapping and extending traveling areas outside of Reykjavik. There are fewer choices of lodging places in the countryside, and most hotels are three-star. It is better to book accommodation in advance, especially for the summertime. Otherwise, finding conveniently located hotels at affordable prices won’t be easy.
High season: June 1 – August 31; December 30 – January 2
Shoulder season: May 1 – May 31; September 1 – October 31
Low season: November 1 – December 29; January 3 – April 30
The high tourist season in Iceland is relatively short, from June to the end of August. Most tourists visit the country in the summer months, and the maximum load for hotels, rental companies, and tour operators reaches in July and August. Lodging and rental prices are almost doubling compared to the low season, and availability may be limited. Therefore, we recommend booking a summer tour a few months before the trip.
Comfort: Standard rooms with separate bathrooms and showers (or baths) in a three-star hotel or comfortable guesthouse. Breakfast is included.
Quality: High-quality room with separate bathroom and shower (or bath). A superior room in a three-star hotel or a standard room in a four-star hotel. Breakfast is included
In all tour packages with a level of comfort or higher, you will have a separate bathroom in the booked rooms. Breakfast is always on.
Double rooms in most Icelandic hotels are rooms with two single beds. In most cases, two single beds can be put into a double bed. However, this can vary between hotels/guesthouses. Triple rooms are double rooms with an extra bed, so space can be limited when you install an extra bed
. You can choose a combination of rooms when booking.
Children under two years old get free accommodation if they live in the same room as their parents. Families with one child are advised to book three persons in a double room. This room can accommodate an extra bed or mattress if the available room is too small to accommodate an extra bed. Two adults and two children book two double rooms. When one adult travels with one child, the total cost of a double room is charged. Children living in a separate room pay the full fee.
Check-in time for accommodation in Iceland is usually from 14:00 to 16:00. Some hotels offer early check-in for a minimum fee. However, it depends on the hotel and room availability. The only way to ensure an early check-in is to book the night before. However, if the room is ready, you can check in sooner.
If you want to change the hotel, we will do everything possible to change your stay. Please note that we cannot guarantee some hotels due to low availability and high demand in summer. If you want to book a particular hotel, we will do our best to provide it, but keep in mind that there may be an additional charge.
Most hotels and guest houses in Iceland provide free access to wi-fi internet. Some hotels and guesthouses may charge a small fee for internet access.
Assuming that before ordering a tour or when you prepare for the trip, you may have questions that we want to answer in advance to provide you with complete information about the tour and make it comfortable as possible. If you have any other questions, please contact us.
In general – the sooner the better, considering the fact that most of our tours are privately guided, availability on certain dates might be limited.
We require a 15% deposit at the time of booking. Full payment is due 4 weeks before arrival.
Payments are collected online while booking. We accept major credit cards. If you have any problems with using a credit card, please contact us. If another way of payment is preferable, please contact us through e-mail at info@topicelandtours.com
Once you are confident about your trip selection proceed to press the Tour Request tab. Here you will fill in the required information and proceed through the tour request.
After agreeing on the details of the tour and price, we require a 15% deposit at the time of booking. Full payment is due 4 weeks before arrival date.
Once a booking is made an automatic e-mail is sent informing you that the order has been placed and is currently being processed by the Top Iceland team. You will then be contacted by one of our trusted travel agents with further details.
Several factors determine the tour price:
- Time of the year you plan on visiting (high, low, and shoulder seasons)
- Accommodation type (we offer comfort and quality grades, you can choose one or a mixture of both)
- Number of people traveling together (up to 15 people in a group)
- Type of vehicle for transportation (SUV, Minivan, or Minibus)
- Optional Activities (Various optional activities are available with each trip)
Pick-ups are included in the tour price and provided from Keflavik airport upon your flight arrival, your driver-guide will await you at the arrival hall holding a tag with the lead traveler name. Pick-up and drop off on other days will be from hotels reserved according to the tour itinerary.
Check-in time for accommodation in Iceland is usually between 14:00-16:00. The only way to secure an early check-in is to book the night before as well. However, if a room is ready you should be able to check-in early.
Most hotels and guesthouses in Iceland provide free access to Wi-Fi Internet. Some hotels and guesthouses might charge a small fee for access to the internet.
Solid, warm & waterproof shoes, as well as warm rain & windproof outdoor clothing, is recommended for all the tours. (Please see the question below about weather and temperature).
Here below, a table with average temperatures, precipitation, and daylights by months 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 weather in Iceland changes rapidly and you cannot count on long-term forecasts. Two most reliable sources of the weather forecast: https://www.vedur.is/ and https://www.yr.no/
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 a year we recommend to use https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/iceland/reykjavik
Yes, it is requested by Icelandic law to have child seats/boosters. Some families are already traveling on their own, but if you would like us to provide child seats and/or boosters on the tour, please send us an e-mail at info@topicelandtours.com
We arrange refreshment stops at cafés or restaurants on every day tour, where you can purchase your lunch and snacks. Therefore, you do not need to bring your food for the tours, however, if you prefer to bring some snacks or drinks, that is accepted. Please note that food is not included in the price of the tour.
Nearly all restaurants in Iceland offer some vegetarian food. There is no problem with purchasing vegetarian meals on 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 Snæfellsnes Peninsula tour. Your driver-guide will inform you about available places for bathroom stops on the route.
Tipping in Iceland is not required but always appreciated.
Cancellation policy for multiday tours and accommodations:
All cancellations should be made in writing and be notified as soon as possible.
- For changes made 15 days or more before arrival date: 20% cancellation fee
- For changes made 14-8 days before arrival date: 50% cancellation fee
- For changes made 7-4 days before arrival date: 75% cancellation fee
- For changes made 3 days or less before arrival date: 100% cancellation fee
Please note: Activities (Optional Extras) are individual products provided by other local operators that can have different cancellation policies. For full information about cancellation policies please check the page Terms & Conditions.
Refunds of tours canceled before departure by Top Iceland Tours:
When the tour is prepaid, a full refund will be issued in case a customer does not wish an alternative date of the tour or an alternative tour. When a tour is purchased through a third party (tourist office/booking agency or a hotel), please take your voucher back to the third party and they will issue the full refund after reconfirming with Top Iceland Tours that the tour was canceled.
Refunds of delayed, altered, or shortened tours after the departure:
When a tour is delayed due to weather, unsafe travel conditions, or unforeseen circumstances, no refunds are provided if the tour still operates. When the tour is altered or shortened after the departure due to weather, any unsafe travel conditions, or unforeseen circumstances, a partial refund is provided. The percentage of the refund is calculated according to how much of the initial itinerary has been completed.
Cancellations or change of multiday tours and accommodations by customers:
All cancellations should be made in writing and be notified as soon as possible.
- For changes made 15 days or more before arrival date: 20% cancellation fee
- For changes made 14-8 days before arrival date: 50% cancellation fee
- For changes made 7-4 days before arrival date: 75% cancellation fee
- For changes made 3 days or less before arrival date: 100% cancellation fee
This cancellation policy may apply also when booked through a third party.
No Show
When passengers are not present at the pickup place at the appointed time, we try to contact the lead traveler through the hotel staff or by phone. If we can’t contact the lead traveler, and there are no passengers are shown during an hour, this is considered as “No Show” and no refund will be made.
