3 Day - Iceland’s Highlands and Volcano Adventure

by Arctic Adventures · Volcanoes & lava · Multi-day packages · Highlands

4.60· 5,195 Google reviews of the operator

Fine on your own
Couples
Good with teenagers
Eco-certified

PaceSteady

Two or three stops a day. A full holiday without being a route march.

8 stops across 3 days in the operator's own itinerary — 2.7 a day.

from €1,026 per person

Next departure: Sat 12 Jun

Book Sat 12 Jun · €1,026 Other dates

3 Day - Iceland’s Highlands and Volcano Adventure — Arctic Adventures

Duration
3 days
Difficulty
Easy
Season
May – Sep
Starts in
Reykjavík
Pickup
Hotel pickup included
Guide
Guided in English
Departs
07:00
Minimum age
8
Cancellation
Free until 24 hours before

About this experience

A 3 day tour, which includes stops at at Vestmannaeyjar Island and puffin watching, Laki & Lakagígar volcano, Eldgjá Volcanic Canyon, Landmannalaugar, Icelandic Highlands. It includes 2 nights at Adventure Hótel Geirland and breakfast.

Day 1 - In the morning of the first day of your tour, you'll get picked up from your accommodation in Reykjavík. The tour will then head to the southern part of Iceland. The first stop of the day is at Landeyjarhöfn harbour where you will embark on a ferry to Vestmannaeyjar Islands. After about a 30 min ferry ride to Vestmannaeyjar Island, we will go straight to the southernmost part of the main island, Stórhöfði Cape. It's an ideal location to get up close to the oldest inhabitants of the island, the Atlantic Puffins. Next up is Eldheimar Museum, a volcano museum of remembrance of the volcanic eruption of 1973, when the entire population had to be evacuated from the island to the mainland in the middle of the night. After the museum, you will have the opportunity to do a short hike up the volcano Mt. Eldfell or spend some time in the town, before heading back to the mainland in the afternoon. Once back to the mainland, you'll travel along the south coast of Iceland, getting some views of waterfalls, such as Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, and the infamous volcano Mt. Eyjafjallajökull which erupted back in 2010, causing massive interruption of air traffic across Europe and North-America. We'll then make a stop at the scenic coastal village of Vík, where you will have some time to wander around the village or go down to the Black Sand Beach. From Vík, there's about an hour drive through the Eldhraun lava fields to the hotel where you'll stay for the night.

Hotel: Adventure Hótel Geirland.

Day 2 - After breakfast, you´ll start the adventure of the day at the majestic Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon. Hiking alongside the canyon is like being in a fairy tale painting. After exploring the canyon, you'll venture further into less travel area of Iceland, to Laki and Lakagígar, which are part of the UNESCO National Park of Vatnajökull. Once we are at Mt. Laki, we'll hike to the top of the volcano where you can get a great view of the site. You will see Lakagígar craters that were formed in a eruption 1783-1784, one of the biggest volcanic eruption in historic times. The eruption and the ash coming from it caused a famine in Europe, which eventually altered history as it´s said that the famine was the beginning of the French Revolution. We'll continue to drive around the highlands making couple of shorter stops before coming back to the main road. There we´ll make a stop at the small village Kirkjubæjarklaustur, where you have free time to walk around. You could check out Systrafoss Waterfall, Systrastapi Rock or Kirkjugólf (Church Floor), which are basalt columns stone slabs. From there, it's just a short drive back to the hotel.

Hotel: Adventure Hótel Geirland.

Day 3 - In the morning, you'll have breakfast and then check-out of the hotel before getting back on the road. We'll start heading back towards Reykjavík, but we'll be taking off the beaten track by driving a scenic F road, known as Fjallabaksleið nyrðri. Our first stop of the day is at Eldgjá canyon, which is part of the same volcanic system as Katla volcano, it is the largest volcanic canyon in the world, about 40 km long, 600 meters wide and 270 meters deep. We´ll do hike in the canyon and explore Ófærufoss Waterfall. From Eldgjá, we´ll continue further to Landmannalaugar, a pearl of the highlands. At Landmannalaugar, you'll have the opportunity to explore the lava field Laugahraun, hike to colourful Mt. Brennisteinsalda and/or soak in the natural geothermal pool. After about couple of hours at Landmannalaugar, we continue making our way back to Reykjavík before nightfall, but before reaching Reykjavík we will make a short stop at Hjálparfoss Waterfall situated in Þjórsárdalur valley. Once back in Reykjavík in the evening, you will be dropped to your preferred location.

Description from the operator, Arctic Adventures. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Where you go

Reykjavík
Vestmannaeyjar
Adventure Hótel Geirland
Day 2: Fjaðrárgljúfur
Day 2: Laki
Day 3: Eldgjá
Day 3: Landmannalaugar
Day 3: Hjálparfoss

Included

2 Night Hotel Accommodation with Breakfast

Guided Small Group Experience

Eldheimar Museum Admission

Vestmannaeyjar Ferry

Landmannalaugar Facility Fees

Not included

This tour doesn't include Lunch, Dinner, Drinks and Snacks.

Good to know

Warm outdoor clothing, a waterproof jacket and pants, headwear and gloves, and swimsuits. Good hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that the tour does not include meals (except breakfast).

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 wind on the ridge or a change in eruption activity — civil protection decides, not the operator. 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 →

Who this is not for

Children under 8 cannot join this one.
Not for late risers on your first morning — the earliest departure is 07:00, and Reykjavík pickups start before that.

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.

Kai Gilchrist
★★★★★ · 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.
Tatjana Kultaniemi
★★★★★ · 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.
Chloe Lamm
★★★★★ · 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!
Nicole Y.
★★★★★ · 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

Hekla volcano tour: what you actually doMostly you drive: a super jeep up Hekla's lower slopes and lava fields, often with Landmannalaugar. Nobody we list guides you to the summit.
Iceland packages: what 'hotels included' meansMulti-day tours bundle the bed, the bus and the guide. What's usually in, what's usually extra, and which BusTravel and Arctic Adventures packages we'd pick.

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.

Multi-day packages — questions people ask

Are multi-day tours in Iceland worth it compared to day trips?

For the southeast, yes. Jökulsárlón and the ice caves are five hours from Reykjavík, so a day trip is fourteen hours of mostly bus. A two- or three-day tour (/experience/6131/, /experience/923386/) sleeps out there, sees the lagoon at a sane hour and adds an ice cave in winter. For the Golden Circle and South Coast alone, day trips are fine. Multi-day tours cost more per day but include the hotel.

What is included in a multi-day tour?

Transport in a minibus with a driver-guide, accommodation with breakfast, all the listed activities such as glacier hikes and ice caves, and the entrance fees on the route. Lunches and dinners are usually not included; you stop at guesthouses and cafes and pay your own way. Single travellers pay a supplement for their own room. Check the tour page for exact inclusions, the hotel standard and luggage limits, which are tight on small buses.

How many days do you need for the Ring Road on a tour?

Six to eight. Six-day tours (/experience/785082/, /experience/876949/) get round with one night in most regions and long driving days. Seven and eight days (/experience/20483/, /experience/33665/) add the highlands or Snæfellsnes and give more time out of the bus. Anything shorter than six is not a Ring Road tour. Summer versions have the highland detours; winter versions swap them for ice caves and shorter daylight.

Should I arrive in Iceland the day before a multi-day tour starts?

Yes. Multi-day tours leave Reykjavík between 08:00 and 09:00 and do not wait for delayed flights. Land the day before, sleep in the city, and start fresh. On the other end, tours arrive back in Reykjavík in the evening, so do not book a flight home the same night. In the planner, put arrival on day one, the tour from day two, and leave the last day for the flight.

One checkout, any number of operators
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If it falls short, we fix it

from

€1,026 per person

Arctic Adventures's own price. 3% off the whole trip when you book two or more tours together, in one checkout.

Your date

The next departure we can see — change it if this tour is for another day.

Pick a date to check departures.

Departs07:00

Reykjavík: light 03:02–23:53, 20 h 51 min of daylight.

✓ Free cancellation until 24 hours before
✓ Instant confirmation by email
✓ If Arctic Adventures cancels for weather or safety: a full refund, or another date
✓ Card — Apple Pay or Google Pay where your device offers it — through Stripe; the charge is made in Icelandic krónur
✓ Price promise: Arctic Adventures's own price, or we refund the difference
✓ One checkout, even with tours from several operators
✓ Vetted operator — the six checks every operator passes

Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €36 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.