Enjoy an easy active guided South Iceland tour and get an introduction to this popular Iceland region. Tour the main highlights of the Golden Circle including Gulfoss and Thingvellir National Park. Hike in Skaftafell and along the black-sand beaches near Vik. Witness the massive Vatnajökull ice cap and its outlet glaciers, or opt to go on a glacier hike with crampons and ice axe! Visit the ancient craters from a fissure eruption on Laki Volcano. This introductory Iceland tour lets you experience the dramatic landscapes, volcanoes, glaciers, and waterfalls that have made South Iceland so popular. This Iceland trip is designed for those who are short on time, yet want to experience the main highlights of the country in an active way.
Highlights
Tour the popular Golden Circle route and see Gullfoss and Thingvellir
Enjoy short hikes in the dramatic South Iceland region and Skaftafell Park
See the stunning Vatnajökull ice cap and the icebergs of Jökulsárlón Lagoon
Visit the large craters from a fissure eruption on Laki Volcano
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.
You are picked up in Reykjavik this morning to set out along the Golden Circle route to visit the Geysir geothermal area. Stop to see Strokkur geyser which spouts every 5 -10 minutes. Next travel on to Gullfoss Waterfall, one of the most visited and popular in Iceland. Here the water plunges 32 meters into a deep gorge along the Hvita River. Continue east towards a large agricultural area, passing by two glaciers, a sand desert, and a lava field en route. Arrive to your new hotel which will be your base for the next four nights.
Drive Time: 6 hours
Walking Time: 2-3 hours
Day 3: Svartifoss | Skaftafell Hike | Vatnajökull Glacier
Spend your first day in South Iceland touring Vatnajökull National Park, the largest in Europe consisting of multiple parks combined and covering the area of the Vatnajökull Ice cap. Travel to the southeast part of the park known as Skaftafell. This portion of the park consists of natural forests growing in between various glaciers which creates a stunning landscape for day hikes. Walk through birch forest to the unique Svartifoss Waterfall, framed in by black basalt columns which have been the inspiration for architecture in various towns in Iceland. Enjoy views of both the Vatnajökull glacier and the high peak of Hvannadalshnúkur. If you are feeling up to it, set out on an optional Svínafellsjökull glacier walk for 2-3 hours, complete with crampons and ice axes*. Discover the world of blue ice as you explore ridges and crevasses with an adventure guide. Return to your hotel this evening.
In 1783 a long fissure opened up and spewed out lava from 130 craters in what was the greatest eruption in Iceland since its settlement. The eruption devasted huge pasture fields, and clouds of poisonous gases killed livestock all over Iceland and led to a great famine on the island. Visit these craters today on Laki Volcano. Mostly covered now in green moss, they create a striking contrast with the black and red lava lying underneath. With good weather, climb to the top of Laki Mountain for a breathtaking view over all the craters and of Vatnajökull in the distance.
Travel further east today towards the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, one of the many outlet glaciers atop Vatnajokull ice cap. Here the glacier meets the sea at Jökulsárlón lagoon where its calving chunks create a stunning backdrop of floating icebergs in the vast blue lake that has created the backdrop for many Hollywood films. Admire the stunning beauty of the area before returning in the afternoon. On the way, stop for a walk at the foot of the Öræfajökull glacier which offers views over the vast sand plains of the river Skeiðará and the site for a large flood created by an ice mass in 1996. Return to your hotel this evening.
Return to Reykjavik today, passing by various points of interest along the western route. Stop at the coastal village of Vík and take a walk on the black-sand beach. From here you can spot the pinnacles of Reynisdrangar just offshore, which are basalt sea stacks jutting out from the water. Stop next just north of Hveragerði to take a walk in the geothermal area of Reykjadalur. Take a relaxing bath in a natural warm stream before returning to Reykjavik.
Drive Time: 4 hours
Walking Time: 3-4 hours
Day 7: Return Home
1 Breakfast
Take a taxi back to the airport in time for your return flight home.
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 Group Departures of 6-16 people.
Private Group Rates available starting at $4945 for 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 payment by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum $20,000 charge
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
1 day ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
3 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
4 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.