4 Day - Volcano Hike, Golden Circle, South Coast, Jökulsárlón & Ice Cave
by Arctic Adventures · Ice caves · Hiking & trekking · Volcanoes & lava · Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón
- Beginners welcome
- Fine on your own
- Suits older travellers
- Good with teenagers
- Eco-certified
Two or three stops a day. A full holiday without being a route march.
10 stops across 4 days in the operator's own itinerary — 2.5 a day.
from €1,246 per person
Next departure: Sun 25 Oct
1 / 19
Duration
4 days
Difficulty
Easy
Season
Sep – Apr
Starts in
Reykjavík
Pickup
Hotel pickup included
Guide
Guided in English
Departs
09:00
Minimum age
12
Cancellation
Free until 24 hours before
About this experience
Trip difficulty: 2/5, easy.
Tour Highlights: Ice Cave- Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Hot Springs- Gullfoss Waterfall, Seljandsfoss Waterfall, Skogafoss Waterfall, Skaftafell, Vatnajokull National Park, Jokulsarlon Ice Lagoon & Icebergs- Vik- The Coastal Village, Reynisfjara, Basalt Columns & Black Sand Beaches, Eyjafjallajokull Glacier / Volcano view*, Hekla Volcano / Volcano view*, Active Volcano Hike
* Views of Eyjafjallajökull glacier, Hekla Volcano, and entrance to Ice cave are subject to weather conditions.
You will be picked up from your selected pick-up location at the time stated on your voucher, please note that it can take up to 30 minutes to be picked up.
Day 1: On the first day of this 3-day Golden Circle and South Coast tour you'll explore the famous Golden Circle. Thingvellir National Park will be our first stop, followed by the hot spring area of Geysir, where you can expect to see Strokkur geyser erupt every 10 minutes. The last part of the Golden Circle is the magnificent Gullfoss waterfall.
Next, experience the drive down route 1 that will lead us to the famous Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls. On a clear day, you will have the opportunity to see the two surrounding glaciers. Next is the coastal village of Vik before we head to our countryside hotel.
Day 2: 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 3: 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.
Day 4: After a great breakfast at your hotel, you will check out of the hotel. In the morning you will be picked up for your Active Volcano Hiking tour at Geldingadalir, where you will experience the true power of nature. After the hiking tour, you will be dropped off back at the hotel where you stayed, now you will have some free time to explore Reykjavík. In the evening you will be picked up for your Northern Lights tour. Around midnight you will be dropped off back in Reykjavík, where you complete your tour.
If you want to see more information about the itinerary or accommodation please click here.
Please note.
Arctic Adventures reserves the right to alter itineraries and/or timetables should it be necessary, due to adverse weather and or other related conditions.
Description from the operator, Arctic Adventures. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Where you go
- Reykjavík
- Thingvellir National Park
- Geysir
- Gullfoss Waterfall
- Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
- Skógafoss
- Day 2: Reynisfjara
- Day 2: Vík
- Day 2: Skaftafell
- Day 3: Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
Included
Pick-up from your hotel in Reykjavík, a guided tour in a minibus, visit to Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Reynisfjara, Skaftafell, Jokulsarlon Ice Glacier Lagoon, Ice Cave, a certified glacier guide. Blue L:Lagoon Transfers and Admission. Northern Lights Tour. Hotel room with bathroom for 3 nights and breakfast.
Not included
Food and beverages are not included except breakfast on days 2, 3 and 4.
Good to know
Warm outdoor clothing, a waterproof jacket and pants, headwear and gloves. Good hiking shoes are recommended.
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 melt-water or unstable ice after a warm spell — the guide decides on the morning, and a cave can close for days. 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
- Not for families with children under 12 — the operator will not take them, even with a parent.
- 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.
- Best Horse Riding Tour in Iceland (2026): 4 PicksThe horse riding tours we would book ourselves: an easy lava-field ride near Reykjavík, the hot-spring valley, and longer rides for confident riders.
- Best Ice Cave Tour in Iceland (2026): 5 PicksThe ice cave tours we would book ourselves, from the Vatnajökull caves near Jökulsárlón to Katla near Vík, with real prices and meeting points.
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.
Ice caves — questions people ask
When can you visit an ice cave in Iceland?
Natural blue ice caves open from around November to March, when the glacier is cold enough for the meltwater tunnels to be safe. They form under Vatnajökull near Jökulsárlón, and the caves change every year. Two exceptions run all year: the Katla ice cave near Vík, which is dark ice striped with ash, and Into the Glacier at Langjökull, a man-made tunnel. If you want the glowing blue photos, come between November and March.
Can I do an ice cave tour as a day trip from Reykjavík?
Only the Katla cave. The South Coast and Katla ice cave tour (/experience/22559/) is about twelve hours from Reykjavík and back. The blue caves at Vatnajökull are five hours' drive each way, too far for a day, so operators sell them as two- or three-day tours (/experience/6131/, /experience/7358/) with a night near Jökulsárlón. If you are self-driving, stay in the Höfn or Skaftafell area and book the Crystal Ice Cave tour (/experience/17337/) from there.
Is the Katla ice cave as good as the blue ice caves?
Different, not worse. Katla's cave under Mýrdalsjökull is black and white, layered with volcanic ash, and open all year. It will not give you the glowing blue tunnel photos from Instagram; those are the Vatnajökull caves, November to March only. What Katla gives you is a shorter super-jeep drive from Vík (/experience/22558/) and availability in summer. If you are here between November and March and can reach Jökulsárlón, choose blue. Otherwise choose Katla.
Are ice caves safe?
With a guide, yes. Operators inspect the caves daily and cancel when meltwater, warm weather or ice movement makes them unsafe, which happens most often in November and March at the edges of the season. You wear a helmet and crampons and stay with the group. Never enter a glacier cave on your own. If your tour is cancelled for safety, you get a full refund or another date, and most operators try to substitute another cave first.
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