south coast full day tour by minibus from reykjavik

Small Group 10 Hour South Coast Tour with Waterfalls & Reynisfjara with Transfer from Reykjavik

Description

Join this small group minibus day tour of Iceland’s South Coast. Witness glaciers, volcanoes, waterfalls and the famous Reynisfjara black sand beach on this trip. This tour is perfect for those wanting the best value tour focused on exploring the best spots along Iceland’s magnificent South Coast.

On this tour, you'll see the stunning waterfalls of Seljlandsfoss and Skogafoss, the towering white glacier ice caps, mighty volcanoes, charming Icelandic farms on rolling hillsides, and even some cute puffin colonies if visiting in the summer. The tour covers plenty of stunning sites and will take approximately 10 hours to complete. Keep your camera poised for all the fantastic photo opportunities along your journey.

If you are staying in a guesthouse or a hotel in Reykjavík, you'll be picked up in the morning before starting your journey to explore the amazing South Coast. To ensure you enjoy all of the sites along the way in cosy comfort, this tour is for small groups only – there will never be more than 19 people per group. Make sure to ask any and all questions you have about Icelandic culture, nature and history to your knowledgable guide.

First, you’ll stop at two of South Iceland's most impressive waterfalls, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, the former being one of Iceland's most powerful waterfalls, sought out by locals and travellers alike.  

Seljalandsfoss is a picturesque cascade, famed for its walking path which allows you to walk behind it in the summer months. Standing behind the thunderous waterfall makes for a surreal and exciting experience. There, you'll encounter an unmatched perspective, as you look out through the pouring water to the surrounding landscapes of green fields and towering lava cliffs.

After visiting South Iceland's two water giants, you’ll make your way to the stunning Reynisfjara black sand beach near the small town of Vík. This beach is famed for its vibrant birdlife and beautiful landscape. There, you are likely to see puffins swarming in search of food around the pyramid-shaped basalt columns that make up Reynisfjara's cliffs during the summer months.

Look out to sea near the shore for a view of the spectacularly shaped sea stacks called Reynisdrangar. Folklore has it that these sea stacks were trolls turned to stone by light having failed to find refuge quick enough.

During the drive to these attractions, you'll see both the mighty Sólheimajökull glacier and the notorious Eyjafjallajökull glacier volcano whose 2010 eruption brought European air traffic to a standstill for days.

For your convenience, this tour is operated in brand new minibus with free Wi-Fi onboard. Your experienced guide will tell you stories about the locations and answer all your questions. You'll taste traditional Icelandic snacks, and there will be a stop for lunch so that you won't get hungry. 

Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to see Iceland's magical South Coast.

Check availability by choosing a date and book your Iceland South Coast adventure today.

Attractions

Good to know

If you are not staying in Reykjavik, pick-up is not available. Contact your tour operator to find out where you should meet your tour bus.

Verified reviews

Similar tours.

Download Iceland’s biggest travel marketplace to your phone to manage your entire trip in one place

Scan this QR code with your phone camera and press the link that appears to add Iceland’s biggest travel marketplace into your pocket. Enter your phone number or email address to receive an SMS or email with the download link.

Top things to do in Iceland

Book your complete trip with the best companies only

Explore an Ice Cave

Visit a Live Volcano

Find the Northern Lights

Visit the Blue Lagoon

Go on a Road Trip

Do the Golden Circle

See the Glacier Lagoon

South Coast Tours

Expedia Rewards is now One Key™

Earn onekeycash when you sign in and book an activity.

Check availability

• About this activity

Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik

• Free cancellation available
• Mobile voucher
• Instant confirmation
• Selective hotel pickup

Visit the natural wonders of Iceland on this 10-hour tour from Reykjavik. Travel in a minibus to the black sand beaches of Reynisfjara, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, Sólheimajökul glacier and the Eyjafjallajökull volcano. Enjoy convenient hotel pickup and drop-off.

Activity location

• Hella, Iceland, Iceland

Meeting/Redemption Point

• Hella, Iceland
• Sun, Apr 14 -
• Mon, Apr 15 $130
• Tue, Apr 16 $130
• Wed, Apr 17 $130
• Thu, Apr 18 $130
• Fri, Apr 19 $130
• Sat, Apr 20 $130
• Sun, Apr 21 $130
• Mon, Apr 22 $130
• Tue, Apr 23 $130
• Wed, Apr 24 $130
• Thu, Apr 25 $130
• Fri, Apr 26 $130
• Sat, Apr 27 $130
• Sun, Apr 28 $130
• Activity duration is 10 hours 10h 10h

What's included, what's not

• What's included What's included Pick up from selected hotels, bus stops and ports.
• What's included What's included WiFi on board
• What's included What's included Air-conditioned vehicle
• What's included What's included All Fees and Taxes
• What's included What's included A small Icelandic treat.
• What's excluded What's excluded We break for lunch but customers have to pay for the food themselves.

Know before you book

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• Minimum age is 4 years
• At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time

Activity itinerary

Seljalandsfoss, solheimajokull glacier, reynisfjara beach, best deals on things to do, top experiences in hella.

The Best Tours in Iceland

• Back to main menu

South Coast Small Group Tour: Waterfalls, Glacier & Black Sand Beach

In Iceland, the landscape can change drastically within a few short kilometers. Its reputation as the “land of fire and ice” is well earned. Nowhere is this contrast more visible than on the south coast of the country. Landscape’s geological features and colors change from one moment to the next along this famously scenic route. The Ring Road we follow features idyllic waterfalls, looming mountains, dramatic cliffs, ancient glaciers, and haunting black sand beaches. As part of this small-group tour, you will see Seljalandsfoss  and  Skógafoss  waterfalls,  Reynisfjara black sand beach,  and the  Reynisdrangar  sea stacks as well  Sólheimajökull glacier .

Our small group tours are operated on modern and comfortable minibusses. The nature of the small group affords our passionate guides more one-on-one time with our guests, which we hope offers a more intimate and personal experience. Join us for this classic day tour and experience the most varied and dramatic route Iceland has to offer. This is one of the quintessential day trips on offer from Reykjavík.

Highlights:

• Skógafoss Waterfall
• Vík Village
• Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
• Sólheimajökull Glacier
• Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
• Small Group Experience

Tour highlights & itinerary

• Professional guide
• Free WiFi on board
• Free pickup and drop off at selected locations in central Reykjavik
• Food and drinks
• Warm, water- and windproof clothing are always useful in Iceland
• Good sturdy shoes
• All tickets are e-tickets so there is no need to print them out
• The duration of the tour is approx. 10 hours
• Timings and locations may change subject to weather and conditions
• There is no food included on this tour but there will be stops where you are able to purchase food
• Sólheimajökull glacier is a 20 min walk from the parking. Good shoes are very important
• Reynisfjara is dangerous! It may not look like it but it is. Please study the signs carefully, don’t go too close to the water and follow the instructions from your guide!
• Cancellation policy: Cancellation fee of 100% charged if cancelled with less than 24 hours notice.

Travelers reviews

Write a review.

Share your experience with others.

You might like these tours

Or discover Iceland

Our day tour begins with our prompt pick-up service which covers a range of designated collection points throughout the capital area, including many hotels, guesthouses, and bus stops. Once we have everyone on board, we head east from the city and begin our exploration of the highlights of the south coast. This route largely consists of mountains to one side of the bus with the often blustery North Atlantic seacoast to the other. Over thousands of years, glacial and sea erosion has been key in sculpting this eclectic and dramatic landscape featuring glaciers, volcanoes, black sand beaches, and acres of moss-flecked lava fields. This contrast leads to an extremely varied day tour that gives you bits and pieces of the best that Icelandic nature offers.

The first stop of the day is the Skógafoss waterfall. This waterfall is 60m in height and drops from old sea cliffs with views of Eyjafjallajökull volcano in the background. This enormous drop makes the power of the Skógafoss something else to behold. Visitors can experience the falls from two levels. From the ground, one can approach the water as close as you feel like and really feel its power. If you are feeling adventurous as well as energetic, there is a moderately challenging climb of 527 steps to a viewing platform at the top of the falls. This platform offers a bird´s eye view of those below as well as a peak to the northern highlands of Fimmvörduhals and Thorsmork.

The picture-postcard village of Vík lies to the east of Skógafoss. This tiny enclave is famous for its church and vistas of Reynisdrangar sea rock formations. It´s a tiny community but offers a place for weary travelers to refuel and recharge. It´s also a great chance to pick up some locally-made mementos of your time in Iceland. Just a few minutes walk away from the village along a nice path is the Vík black sand beach which gives you the closest views of Reynisdrangar Sea-Stacks, believed by the more mystically minded locals to the remains of petrified trolls.

Reynisfjara black sand beach is one of Iceland´s most iconic natural attractions. Named by National Geographic as one of the top 10 non-tropical beaches in the world, this shoreline features black sands, formed from sea-worn black volcanic rocks. Also at the stop, one can see the bizarre and otherworldly basalt column wall and it is a classic Icelandic holiday moment to climb the columns and pose for a snap. The cave on the beach is wondrous and a popular wedding photograph location for a good reason. From here, you can also get another perspective of Reynisfjara as well as Dyrhólaey. Beware the creeper waves in the area and be sure to heed the safety advice of your guide while in the area. The area is often very wild and windswept so warm clothes are essential.

Sólheimajökull is an outlet glacier of the much larger icecap of Mýrdalsjökull to the north. This so-called glacier tongue descends 8km from its parent and offers both beautiful views and stark evidence of the effects of climate change. The whole area is fascinating and otherworldly with ancient ice exposed anew with each year that passes. There is a parking lot for visitors nearby, but due to the melting and retreat of the glacier, what was once a short stroll to the glacier is now a 20-minute walk. The glacier retreated almost 1km between 2000 and 2015. This rapid melting has left behind interesting features such as moraines and steep mountains, big boulders of rock, and a small glacier lagoon. The beautiful color of the ice is ever-changing after rainfall one can see a distinctive blue hue to the ice. The vast grandeur of the area gives visitors a glimpse of the landscape-changing power these mighty glaciers have wielded over the years.

This Instagram favorite is most famous for the walking path leading around and behind the waterfall. Seljalandsfoss is fascinating and one of the most visited falls in Iceland. The water that feeds this 60m tall waterfall originates from the (in)famous Eyjafjallajökull glacier-capped volcano. Just a few hundred meters from Seljalandsfoss one comes across one of Iceland’s hidden gems, Gljúfrabúi  waterfall. As with the rest of this day, a raincoat and sturdy shows will prove essential. If you walk behind the waterfall you will get wet, so it’s best to be prepared.

This is the last stop of our day and we begin the meandering drive back to the city where you can continue your Icelandic escape.

• Highlights & itinerary
• Useful information

Book These 10 Best Iceland Tours To Uncover The Wonders Of The Land Of Fire And Ice

I celand is a magical destination that can be life-changing. From the incredible colors of the Northern Lights illuminating the night sky milky blue waters of the Blue Lagoon, there is no shortage of memorable experiences to enjoy here. The Land of Fire and Ice is full of natural wonders that can be discovered as part of a guided tour. Whether travelers are driving the Icelandic Ring Road or basing themselves in cozy hostels in Reykjavík for day trips, these are some of the top sights and tours to experience.

South Coast Full Day Tour

Go beyond the capital city of Iceland with this full-day tour of Iceland’s south coast from the capital, Reykjavík . Top attractions that the tour visits include the famous waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, Reynisfjara black sand beach, and Sólheimajökull glacier. Travelers can also spot puffins and glimpse Eyjafjallajökull Volcano during the excursion. Transportation is included, but travelers should bring cash for buying lunch and snacks throughout the day since meals are not part of the ticket price for this tour.

• Tour: South Coast Full Day Tour by Minibus from Reykjavik
• Cost: From $112.00
• Duration: 10 hours
• What’s Included: Wi-Fi on the bus, hotel pick up and drop off, and an Icelandic treat.

Book this tour

Golden Circle Day Trip From Reykjavík

The Golden Circle is a must-do day trip from Reykjavík when visiting Iceland. The tour encompasses three natural wonders of Iceland which are the Gullfoss Waterfall, Strokkur at Geysir, and Thingvellir National Park. The full-day tour includes bus transportation from a hotel in Reykjavík and allows travelers time at each stop to appreciate the incredible scenery, take photos, and ask the tour guide questions. Meals are not included in this full-day tour, so budget cash accordingly for lunch and snacks at stops along the way.

• Tour: Golden Circle Classic Day Trip from Reykjavik
• Cost: From $79.30
• Duration: 7 hours
• What’s Included: Professional tour guide, bus transfer, Wi-Fi on board

Related: Midnight Sun And Hot Springs: 10 Best Places To Relax In Iceland

Snorkeling Between Continents

Iceland offers the unique opportunity to swim between two continents at the Silfra Fissure. This waterway occurs where the North American and European tectonic plates meet and is located inside beautiful Thingvellir National Park. Travelers can show up ready for an adventure with no prep work on their part. All necessary gear is provided to stay warm and dry while swimming and snorkeling in this cold waterway. The views of the clear blue water from below are exceptional and are captured through GoPro photos during the tour. There is no additional fee to receive these photos.

• Tour: Snorkeling Between Continents in Silfra with Photos Included
• Cost: From $168.79
• Duration: 3 hours
• What’s Included: Professional English-speaking Guide, snorkeling tour in Silfra Fissure, GoPro photos from the tour, help from a Certified PADI dive / Dive-master, drysuit, snorkeling equipment, hot drinks, and cookies

Local Foodie Adventure

Enjoying the local cuisine is one of the best ways to learn about a destination, so why not take a food tour while in Reykjavík? This tour allows travelers to sample food from a variety of eateries and food trucks in the city, tasting an array of traditional Icelandic foods. Guests will try Icelandic street food, homemade ice cream, and the famous Icelandic hot dogs. The small group tour is limited to 12 people to ensure a personalized experience that allows travelers to ask questions.

• Tour: Reykjavik Food Walk - Local Foodie Adventure in Iceland
• Cost: $119.00
• What’s Included: Tour guide, 4–5 stops, 8+ dishes to try

Related: Discovering The Unusual: Top 10 Weird Foods To Eat In Iceland

Blue Lagoon Ticket And Transport

The Blue Lagoon is a staple for travelers visiting Iceland. The hot, inviting mineral water is an otherworldly shade of blue, and the in-water bar is a fun feature of the experience. Relaxing here for a full day is worthwhile, especially for the tour price. Book in advance to avoid disappointment since this attraction is so popular among tourists. The package allows travelers to book the Comfort or Premium ticket for the Blue Lagoon and add a bus transfer if necessary. The Comfort ticket includes a towel, one beverage, and a silica face mask, while the Premium ticket also includes a bathrobe and algae face mask.

• Tour: Blue Lagoon Ticket with Optional Transportation
• Cost: From $169.43
• What’s Included: Bus transfer, Premium or Comfort Entrance Ticket

Lake Myvatn, Hot-Springs & Godafoss Waterfall Tour

Travelers who find themselves in northern Iceland in Akureyri have a whole new set of attractions to explore in this part of the country. The half-day tour includes a chance to soak in the Myvatn hot springs and view the incredible cascades of Godafoss waterfall. The tour also stops at the craters of Skútustaðir and the lave fields of Dimmuborgir. The tour ticket price also includes a packed lunch. This is a great opportunity to explore the northern highlights of Iceland in a single day.

• Tour: Lake Myvatn, Hot-Springs & Godafoss Waterfall Tour from Akureyri
• Cost: From $154.00
• Duration: 6 hours
• What’s Included: Transportation and Wi-Fi on the bus

Whale Watching Tour From Reykjavík

Whale watching is a top thing to do in Iceland, so travelers can embark on this exciting adventure to look for majestic creatures off the coast of Reykjavík. The peak season for whale watching is from June to August. While companies can never guarantee that travelers will spot whales while on the tour, the success rates for this tour is extremely high, with 95% success during the summer months and 80% success in the winter. Guests are provided with the necessary gear to remain warm and comfortable on board the ship in every season.

• Tour: The Original Classic Whale Watching from Reykjavik
• Cost: From $87.00
• What’s Included: Live guide, overalls, raincoats, blankets, admission to Wildlife Exhibition, free Wi-Fi on board

Related: 10 Best Iceland Hotels That Showcase The Charms Of The Land Of Fire And Ice

Icelandic Horse Back Riding Tour

The Icelandic Horse is a unique creature that is the only horse breed in Iceland. Among their many interesting and unique traits is the ability to perform one or two additional gaits: Tolt and, sometimes, pace. Riding through the Icelandic countryside on horseback is a magical experience that will stay with travelers for a lifetime. Before getting on the horse, guests of the tour are fitted with helmets for safety and briefed on how to ride. The tour is suitable for all levels of experience.

• Tour : Icelandic Horseback Riding Tour from Reykjavik
• Cost: From $118.94
• Duration: 2 hours
• What’s Included: Helmet, boots, rain gear, tea or coffee

Hike Inside A Volcano

See the inside of Iceland’s dormant Thrihnukagigur volcano on this small group tour that is limited to a maximum of 18 guests. The tour is led by an expert travel guide and takes guests to the Blue Mountains of Iceland where they will journey inside the volcano to see the geological remnants of an eruption that took place 4,000 years ago. Hotel pick-up and drop-off is included as part of the package price.

• Tour: Inside the Volcano: Small Group Thrihnukagigur Hike and Tour from Reykjavik
• Cost: From $367.02
• Duration: 5 to 6 hours
• What’s Included: Hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional guide, helmet, harness, and safety equipment, light refreshments

Northern Lights Sightseeing Tour

Seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland is a bucket-list activity and travelers can do their best to have this experience by booking a guided tour. There is never a guarantee of seeing the lights, but they are best seen from November to March when skies are dark and days are short. The tour takes travelers outside the city, away from light pollution, to improve the chances of spotting the phenomena. Guests also enjoy delicious homemade hot chocolate made from real Icelandic chocolate to help keep warm.

• Tour: #1 Northern Lights tour in Iceland from Reykjavik with PRO photos
• Cost: From $141.60
• Duration: 4 hours
• What’s Included: Professional local driver and guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, Wi-Fi on board, cinnamon buns, wool blanket, professional photos