2-Day South Coast w/Glacier Hike & Jokulsarlon – Small Group Tour

Jökulsárlón’s icebergs are only part of the draw here. This two-day trip pairs Iceland’s famous South Coast sights with a guided hike on Sólheimajökull, then takes you east to the glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach. You cover a lot of ground without having to arrange the transport, overnight stay, or glacier safety gear yourself.

I like the mix of active and easy stops: you can walk close to the spray at Seljalandsfoss, hike on glacier ice, and take a boat among the floating bergs. I also like that the small-group format, with a maximum of 19 people, gives the guide room to adjust stops to conditions and help keep the day moving.

The trade-off is a full schedule and long stretches on the road. Day one can feel packed, and weather can change the plan. The glacier hike also calls for proper footwear and a willingness to follow the guide’s safety instructions.

The best reasons to choose this two-day trip

• A guided hike on Sólheimajökull: Safety equipment is supplied, and the hike puts you on the ice rather than viewing it only from the roadside.
• A boat among Jökulsárlón’s icebergs: The 45-minute amphibious boat tour is included, with a chance of seeing seals.
• Waterfalls you can approach closely: Seljalandsfoss has a path behind the fall when conditions allow, while nearby Gljúfrabúi is tucked into a narrow opening.
• An overnight stop that saves planning: One night in a double or twin room and breakfast are included, so you do not need to book a separate stay along the route.
• A group capped at 19: The van or bus is small enough to feel more personal than a large coach, though the group still needs to keep to a schedule.
• A full route from Reykjavik to the lagoon: You see much more than a short South Coast outing, including Reynisfjara, Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, and Diamond Beach.

Day one brings waterfalls, volcanic coast, and glacier ice

The trip leaves Reykjavik in the morning, with pickup between 8:30 and 9:00. The first part of the drive passes a greenhouse town known for the Reykjadalur hot river, then Selfoss, the largest town in South Iceland. These early stops help break up the drive, but the main sightseeing begins farther east.

At Seljalandsfoss, the water drops about 60 metres from the slopes of Eyjafjallajökull. The path behind the cascade is the memorable feature: if it is open and conditions permit, you can see the waterfall from inside its spray-filled hollow. Expect wet ground and windblown mist, so keep waterproof layers handy and protect your camera. The stop is about 30 minutes, which is enough for a look and photographs, but not a leisurely wander.

Nearby Gljúfrabúi is smaller and easier to miss. It sits partly concealed in a cleft, making it a useful contrast to Seljalandsfoss’s broad, open drop. The stop is also about 30 minutes. Take care on wet or uneven ground, and follow your guide’s directions to the entrance rather than assuming the main waterfall is the only place to look.

The route then passes through the area shaped by the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption. It is worth asking your guide about the eruption and its effects; this is one of the trip’s opportunities to connect the dramatic scenery with recent Icelandic events. A guide’s commentary is especially useful on a long drive, and the tour’s past guides have included David, Christina, Monika, Dominika, and Þorri.

Skógafoss is another 60-metre waterfall, this time with a broad curtain of water and a heavy plume of spray. Its south-facing position can produce rainbows when the light and weather cooperate. You have about 30 minutes here, enough to admire the falls from below and, if time and energy allow, begin the climb toward the upper viewpoint. That climb is optional in practice: the stop is brief, and the base of the waterfall is already impressive.

The glacier hike at Sólheimajökull is the day’s main physical activity. The glacier is an outlet of the larger Mýrdalsjökull ice cap, and the guided outing lasts around 90 minutes. Necessary safety equipment is provided, but you need good hiking shoes. The operator can rent suitable footwear if you arrive without it. This is not simply a photo stop: you’ll be walking on ice under the supervision of a glacier guide, so listen closely and be ready to move at the group’s pace. One family account describes a child taking part, but the trip’s own guidance recommends being in relatively good shape.

Reynisfjara ends the first day with black volcanic sand, basalt columns, Atlantic surf, and the sea stacks known as Reynisdrangar. Dyrhólaey’s stone arches can be seen in the distance. The setting is striking, but the waves are powerful, so keep well back from the water and obey any safety instructions. The stop lasts about 30 minutes, a short window for a beach that can easily hold your attention.

The overnight stay makes the long route possible

After a busy first day, the tour includes one night in a double or twin room, with the accommodation standard selected at booking. Breakfast is included the next morning. The overnight stay is practical as much as comfortable: it lets the group reach Jökulsárlón without attempting the whole return journey to Reykjavik in one day.

Expect simple accommodation rather than a guaranteed luxury hotel. Descriptions of stays range from clean and convenient to basic, while others praise a pleasant guesthouse in a beautiful rural setting. The exact room standard can vary, so it is wise to choose the option that suits your budget and expectations rather than assuming every room will be alike.

Lunch and dinner are not included. The tour makes scheduled stops where you can buy food, but bring spending money and be prepared to eat when the schedule allows. You’ll also want to travel light: only small carry-on luggage, such as a backpack, is permitted on the tour. If you are returning to the same Reykjavik hotel, ask whether it can store your larger bag. The operator also offers free storage at its Fiskislóð office, and central Reykjavik has luggage lockers.

Day two reaches the canyon, lagoon, and Diamond Beach

The morning begins with a short stop in Vík, where you can look over the village, nearby hills, and black-sand coast. It is a quick orientation rather than a long visit, but the view helps put the previous day’s beach scenery into context.

Next comes Eldhraun, a vast lava field covered in moss. The stop is only about 10 minutes, so treat it as a chance to take in the unusual surface and stretch your legs. The moss-covered formations are fragile; stay on marked or permitted ground rather than stepping across them for a photograph.

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon gets more time, around 45 minutes. Its winding green gorge is close to two kilometres long and about 100 metres deep. From the viewpoints, you can appreciate the shape of the river-cut ravine without needing a long hike. The canyon became widely known after appearing in a Justin Bieber music video, but its appeal is much older than its pop-culture fame. Follow the guide’s instructions on where to walk, as the edges are steep.

Hofskirkja offers a quieter stop. This 19th-century turf-roofed church was the last of its type built in Iceland, and its thick grass-covered roof sits among mossy burial mounds. You have about 15 minutes, enough to take in the architecture and its setting. It is a brief pause between the canyon and the major destination ahead.

At Jökulsárlón, the tour includes a 45-minute amphibious boat ride among the icebergs. The lagoon changes constantly as wind and tide shift the ice, so the view is different from one moment to the next. The boat gives you a closer look at the bergs than the shore does, and seals may appear in the water. I consider this one of the strongest parts of the package because the boat is included rather than an extra to arrange after arrival.

The nearby beach, Fellsfjara, is commonly called Diamond Beach for the chunks of ice scattered over its black sand. Wind and waves shape the fragments into changing forms, so the shoreline looks different from the lagoon itself. The stop is around 20 minutes. Keep an eye on the time: the beach is close to the lagoon, but it is easy to linger over the contrast between dark sand and bright ice.

The return to Reykjavik is long, and the tour typically gets back around 9:30 pm on day two. One account describes a long drive from the Vík area toward the overnight stop, and another notes a wait caused by the timing of a glacier-hike group. These are useful reminders that the route is ambitious and can be affected by transport logistics. Avoid planning a tight connection or an early start the next morning.

What the $639 price includes, and what it does not

At $639 per person, this is a substantial purchase, but the price covers several costly and complicated pieces: round-trip transport from Reykjavik, a night’s accommodation, breakfast, a guided glacier hike with safety equipment, and the Jökulsárlón boat tour. You also get an English-speaking guide, bus Wi-Fi, and USB charging ports. If you booked the transport, room, glacier activity, and lagoon boat separately, you would need to coordinate timing and availability across a long route.

The value is strongest for someone with limited time who wants both an active glacier experience and the major eastern South Coast sights. It is less compelling if you prefer to travel slowly, spend hours at each stop, or choose your own lodging and meal breaks. Lunch and dinner are extra, and the standard of accommodation depends on the option selected.

The group size tops out at 19, which is a useful balance: small enough for a more direct relationship with the guide, but not a private tour. Past guides such as David, Christina, Monika, and Dominika have been praised for managing weather, pacing, and group needs. The experience still depends on the guide and conditions on your dates, so treat flexibility as part of the deal.

How to prepare for two days outdoors

Pack warm, windproof, waterproof clothing, even if Reykjavik looks calm when you leave. Conditions at waterfalls, the beach, and glacier can differ from the capital, and spray or wind can make a short stop uncomfortable if you are underdressed. Bring a camera, but protect it around waterfalls and blowing sand.

Good hiking shoes are essential for the glacier outing. If you do not own appropriate footwear, rentals are available. Keep your overnight bag small, and arrange storage for larger luggage before pickup so loading does not delay the group.

Pickup is offered at Reykjavik hotels, though buses cannot enter some central streets. You may be directed to a nearby bus stop, and the operator will confirm the exact location. Be ready from 8:30 and look for a bus with red NICE Travel logos. If you choose to meet at the company office instead, notify the operator and arrive before 8:20.

Is this the right South Coast tour for you?

Book this trip if you want to see the South Coast’s headline sights in two days and value having the glacier hike, lagoon boat, accommodation, and transport arranged together. The strongest reasons to go are the time on Sólheimajökull and the included boat among Jökulsárlón’s icebergs. For a short Iceland visit, that combination makes the price easier to justify.

Think twice if you dislike long drives, need a loose schedule, or want a polished hotel stay as a central part of the trip. Day one is busy, the return is late, and weather can alter plans. If those trade-offs suit you, this is an efficient and rewarding way to reach Iceland’s glaciers, waterfalls, canyon, and black-sand coast without organizing the route yourself.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

It lasts approximately two days. The tour typically returns to Reykjavik around 9:30 pm on the second day.

What is the group size?

The tour has a maximum of 19 participants.

Is pickup from my Reykjavik hotel included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are offered at Reykjavik hotels. Because buses cannot enter some central streets, your pickup may be at a nearby bus stop.

What time should I be ready for pickup?

Pickup takes place between 8:30 and 9:00 am. Be ready at your confirmed location from 8:30 and look for a bus with red NICE Travel logos.

Can I meet the tour at the operator’s office?

Yes. Notify the operator if you plan to meet at Fiskislóð 45M, 101 Reykjavik, and arrive before 8:20 am.

Is the glacier hike included?

Yes. A guided blue-ice hike on Sólheimajökull is included, along with the necessary glacier safety equipment.

Do I need special shoes for the glacier hike?

Good hiking shoes are necessary. Suitable footwear is available to rent if you do not have your own.

Is the Jökulsárlón boat tour included?

Yes. The package includes a 45-minute amphibious boat tour among the icebergs.

Are meals included?

Breakfast is included. Lunch and dinner are not, but the tour makes scheduled stops where you can buy food.

How much luggage can I bring?

Only small carry-on luggage, such as a backpack, is allowed on the tour. The operator offers free luggage storage at its Fiskislóð office, and luggage lockers are also available in central Reykjavik.