5 Day - Snæfellsnes & South Coast
by Arctic Adventures · Glacier hiking · Multi-day packages · Snæfellsnes
- Beginners welcome
- Fine on your own
- Couples
- Eco-certified
Four or so stops a day. Early starts, and you will be glad of the coach seat.
18 stops across 5 days in the operator's own itinerary — 3.6 a day.
from €1,437 per person
Next departure: Wed 28 Oct
1 / 29
Duration
5 days
Difficulty
Very easy
Season
Sep – Apr
Starts in
Reykjavík
Pickup
Hotel pickup included
Guide
Guided in English, Icelandic
Departs
09:00
Minimum age
8
Cancellation
Free until 24 hours before
About this experience
This tour will take you to the Snaefellsnes peninsula, Golden Circle, and the magnificent South Coast of Iceland. 4 nights of accommodation with breakfast included as well as an Ice Cave tour.
Day 1: Deildartunguhver Hot Spring Iceland
This tour will start from your hotel or other pick-up location you chose. We'll drive through the beautiful West Coast scenery until we reach Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in Europe. This hot spring is used to provide heating and hot water to the neighboring areas. Another exciting stop - Sturlureykir horse farm where you can see the famous Icelandic Horses and learn a little more about farming in Iceland.
Our next stop will be at Hraunfossar and Burnafoss Waterfalls that flow from Langjokull Glacier. We'll end our first day at Gerðuberg, a cluster of basalt columns.
Day 2: Snaefellsnes Peninsula Iceland
After we've had our breakfast, the tour will continue to the western part of Snaefellsnes. We'll stop by at the charming village of Arnarstapi. Then you'll get a chance to wander through Vatnhellir Cave that lies beneath Snaefellsnes National Park.
We'll have our lunch at the Hellnar village before we reach impressive Djúpalónssandur Beach.
Day 3: The Golden Circle
Golden Circle is at the center of our agenda this day. We'll visit Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a complex geological environment. We'll also have a look at the largest lake in Iceland, Thingvallavatn.
Our next stop will be at the incredible Gullfoss, the Golden Waterfall. Then we'll continue down the Rind Road to Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls.
Day 4: Ice Caving and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
We continue our journey towards Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach. In Skaftafell National park you will meet our certified glacier guides and embark on a glacier hiking and ice caving tour on Falljökull. Ice Caves are only found during the wintertime when the glacial rivers retract and the water freezes and they can look completely different every year.
Day 5: The South Coast Iceland
We will start early today. On the way back to Reykjavik, really close to Vík we will find Reynisfjara, the famous black sand beach, which is also famous for its basalt columns, called Reynisdrangar. If the conditions are right you can expect a visit to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon. There are a lot of amazing places on the south coast so we will make some additional stops today before making our way back to the city.
At each step of our journey, we'll have many chances to witness the mesmerizing northern lights.
Description from the operator, Arctic Adventures. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Where you go
- Reykjavík
- Deildartunguhver
- Hraunfossar
- Reykholt
- Arnarstapi
- Hellnar
- Vatnshellir
- Djúpalónssandur
- Kirkjufell
- Þingvellir
- Geysir
- Gullfoss Waterfall
- Seljalandsfoss
- Skógafoss
- Reynisfjara
- Vík - Coastal Village
- Skaftafell
- Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Included
Pick-up from your hotel in Reykjavík, a guided tour in a minibus, visit to Hraunfossar, Deildartunguhver, Reykholt, Arnarstapi, Djúpalónssandur, Vatnshellir lava cave, Mt. Kirkjufell, Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Reynisfjara, Skaftafell, Jokulsarlon Ice Glacier Lagoon, Crystal Ice Cave, a certified glacier guide and northern lights walks in the evenings. 4 nights at a hotel with a private bathroom, and breakfast.
Please note that food is NOT included on this tour, except breakfast on days 2-5
Good to know
Warm outdoor clothing, a waterproof jacket and pants, headwear and gloves. Good hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that the tour does not include meals.
Cancellation for this tour
Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.
If the weather cancels this tour
Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is high wind or rain on the ice — the guide decides at the meeting point, sometimes after you have set off. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.
- 1Arctic Adventures decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
- 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
- 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.
What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until 1 day before departure, the operator's policy after that.
Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →
Sold out on your date?
Seats come back — a cancellation, or the operator adding a vehicle. Tell us the date and we will check once a day and email you if one opens. One email, then we delete the address; nothing else is ever sent to it.
Who this is not for
- Children under 8 cannot join this one.
- Not available in summer; the operator runs it roughly September to April.
Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.
Why we list it
Arctic Adventures is one of 207 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →
What travellers say about Arctic Adventures
Read all 5,195 reviews on Google →Operator rating 4.6/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
This was a phenomenal trip with AMAZING sights. Our tour guide was informative, friendly, and easy to listen to. You will learn a lot and see nature at its greatest. We absolutely loved this tour and would recommend it to anyone. The car ride is comfortable and there is wifi as well! Shout out to our tour guide, Magnus (I hope I’m spelling his name correctly), who told us some hilarious stories.
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
I spent six days on a bus tour around Iceland with a professional guide. It was an excellent opportunity to gain a comprehensive overview of Iceland's breathtaking nature while also learning about the country's history and the everyday lives of its people. Iceland's landscape and animals are truly unique, featuring magnificent waterfalls, geysers, whales, seals, puffins, volcanoes, glaciers, and mountains. Every day brought new and unforgettable experiences. Of course, none of this would have been possible without our guide, Viko. He not only drove the bus safely but also shared fascinating stories about Icelandic history, culture, and way of life. He was willing to tailor the itinerary to our group's interests and wishes, making the experience even more enjoyable. I am very grateful for his professionalism, knowledge, and enthusiasm in interpreting Iceland's natural and cultural heritage. He played a key role in making this tour such a memorable experience.
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
I did the Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik. Such an amazing tour and one of the highlights of my trip to Iceland! Our guide, Erik, was incredibly knowledgeable and shared so much interesting information about Iceland throughout the day. We visited some of the country’s most beautiful sights, including stunning waterfalls, Vik, black sand beaches, and other breathtaking stops along the South Coast. The pickup process was simple and organized, making the day completely stress-free. The scenery was incredible from start to finish, and Erik helped make the experience even better with his knowledge, friendliness, and enthusiasm. If you’re visiting Iceland, the South Coast is a must-do, and I highly recommend taking this tour with Erik as your guide!
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
What a wonderful adventure! The 3 Day South Coast/Golden Circle tour included all of the sites we wanted to see and it did not disappoint. We were picked up at a bus stop in downtown Reykjavik and our journey began with about 16 other guests, a good group size. Our tour guide "Good" John did an excellent job teaching us about the history of Iceland and the sites we saw. The tour is well organized with just enough time at each site. He also made adjustments to the itinerary based on the weather as well as including sites not on the tour to give us more to see, which we loved! There were plenty of bathroom/food breaks as needed and we loved that we could just sit back, relax, and enjoy the views outside the window rather than worrying about driving and parking. Our multi-day tour included a 2 night stay at Adventure Hotel Geirland, which Arctic Adventures owns. Such a quiet hotel, convenient location with beautiful views. Our only complaints were that the shower leaked and made the floor wet, and that dinner at the restaurant was expensive with limited options. However the food was good and breakfast was included. The Katla Ice Cave was our favorite part, which was partnered with Southcoast Adventure, and our guide Inga was very friendly and knowledgeable. We did pay for a hiking boot rental for my husband but never received the boots. We did not ask our tour guide so we are not sure what happened with that. Overall we absolutely loved this tour and would highly recommend Arctic Adventures to anyone visiting Iceland for the first time!
Reviews from Google · updated 23 Oct 2026
Read before you book
- Best Glacier Hike in Iceland (2026): 5 PicksThe glacier hikes we would book ourselves in Iceland, on Sólheimajökull and in Skaftafell, with real adult prices, departure points and who each one is not for.
- Glacier hike in Iceland: which glacier to bookThree glaciers sell almost the same walk at different prices and distances. Which one fits your route, what 'easy' means, and what blue ice really requires.
- Glacier hike or ice cave: which to bookBetween October and April, book the Skaftafell hike-and-cave combo and get both. The rest of the year, a glacier hike on Sólheimajökull is the better day.
Reviews from our travellers
Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.
Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.
Glacier hiking — questions people ask
Which glacier is best for a first glacier hike?
Sólheimajökull on the South Coast, about two and a half hours from Reykjavík. It is the most accessible glacier tongue, the walk from the car park is short and the three-to-four-hour tours (/experience/6853/ or /experience/914990/) suit beginners. Skaftafell in the southeast has bigger ice and fewer people, with tours like Glacier Wonders (/experience/17340/), but it is a five-hour drive each way, so it only works if you are staying out there.
Can you hike on a glacier in Iceland in summer?
Yes. Glacier hiking runs all year. In June to August the ice is grey and gritty on the surface with blue crevasses and meltwater channels, and the weather is milder. In November to March the ice is whiter and you may see ice formations, but daylight is short and the wind bites. Neither is better; summer is easier, winter is prettier. The one thing you cannot do in summer is visit a natural blue ice cave.
How fit do I need to be for a glacier hike?
Moderately. You walk two to three hours on uneven ice in crampons, with some short steep sections. Anyone who can manage a hilly day walk will be fine; the pace is slow because the guide is checking the route. It is not for anyone with knee or balance problems, and most operators set a minimum age of eight to ten. Check the tour page. Longer tours like Glacier Explorer (/experience/17338/) push further onto the ice and need more stamina.
What do I need to bring on a glacier hike?
Sturdy boots with ankle support, waterproof jacket and trousers, warm layers, gloves and a hat, plus water and a snack. The operator provides crampons, a harness, a helmet and an ice axe. Jeans and trainers are not allowed on the ice, and guides do turn people away. Most meeting points rent boots and rain gear for a small fee; check the tour page and book them in advance in summer.
One checkout, any number of operators
Rankings are not for sale
206 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted
If it falls short, we fix it
Pairs well with
Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €47 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.
Snaeland Travel
Private Mythical Snæfellsnes Tour
pickup included
11 h · from Reykjavík
- Family friendly
- Free cancellation 24 h
- Private
Your Friend in Reykjavik
Private Bespoke Snæfellsnes Peninsula Tour
pickup included · works in rain
12 h · from Reykjavík
- Family friendly
- Free cancellation 24 h
- Private
Kalman Tours
Reykjavík: Small Group Snaefellsnes Peninsula Tour from Reykjavik
about the usual price for sightseeing day tours
pickup included
12 h · from Reykjavík
Kalman Tours
Snaefellsnes Peninsula Private Tour from Reykjavik
pickup included
12 h · from Reykjavík
- Private
Arctic Yeti Ehf
Transfer Airport -> Hotel in Reykjavík and Hotel in Reykjavík -> Airport
meet at the start point
45 min · from Reykjavík
- Family friendly
- Free cancellation 2 days ahead
- Private
Cool Holidays Travel ehf
Snæfellsnes Peninsula - Private Tour (1–6 passengers)
pickup included
10 h · from Reykjavík
- Wi-fi on board
- Family friendly
- Free cancellation 2 days ahead