Arctic Adventures · Reykjavík, select pickup points
Arctic Adventures packs the Golden Circle, the south coast and a guided ice cave into three days, with two nights in the same hotel near Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Pick it if you want a glacier and an ice cave without driving, and the lagoon as a bonus.
Arctic Adventures is one of Iceland's larger tour operators, and this is its three-day loop for people who don't want to drive. A minibus of 16 at most picks you up at 9:00 am and does the Golden Circle on day one: Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss. Then you drive south-east to Adventure Hotel Geirland near Kirkjubæjarklaustur (or similar), where you sleep both nights in a room with a private bathroom.
Day two is the glacier day. You start at Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach, then spend about five hours in the Skaftafell area on a glacier hike and a natural ice cave with a certified guide. The listing says the usual cave is the Crystal Cave at Breiðamerkurjökull; when it's out of reach they go to Katla, and if no cave is safe you get a glacier hike instead. Day three is the south coast at an easy pace: Fjaðrárgjúfur if the road allows, Eldhraun, an hour at Reynisfjara, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, back in Reykjavík between 4 and 7 pm.
Be clear on one thing: the lagoon is a short stop here. The itinerary gives 30 minutes at Jökulsárlón and 20 at Diamond Beach, less than any day trip. The boat is not part of the tour, and in winter it doesn't run anyway. Lunch and dinner are extra, solo travellers share a twin room with someone of the same gender unless they pay the single supplement, and you can bring one bag of up to 20 kg plus a daypack.
Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, then the drive to your hotel near Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
Thirty minutes at the lagoon and 20 on the beach.
Crampons and helmet on, a walk to a natural ice cave, usually the Crystal Cave at Breiðamerkurjökull.
The canyon if the road is open, then the mossy lava field.
An hour on the black beach, then two waterfalls.
Drop-off at the select pickup points.
★★★★★We had enough time at each stop to hike to the location and enjoy the beauty. The days were full with many stops to savor the area. Lodging and food stops were all well above average.
★★★★★This was a fantastic experience for our family (2 adults + 2 teenagers). [...] The lodging accommodations were nice, not fancy, but very suitable and comfortable.
★★★★★I highly suggest the three day tour rather than taking day trips from Reykjavik as a lot of the sites are pretty far from the city, and it works much better to stay outside the city and closer to the attractions [...]
★★★★★Be prepared to do a moderate hike with some incline during the summer months. The glacier hike was mostly a quick walk to the ice cave, but the cave made this stop worth it - otherworldly and magical!
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Usually the Crystal Cave at Breiðamerkurjökull, near Jökulsárlón. When it's not accessible, the guides most likely go to the Katla ice cave, and if no cave is safe you get a glacier hike instead. Read our winter guide for ice cave seasons.
Thirty minutes at the lagoon and 20 at Diamond Beach, on day two. If the lagoon is your priority, the 2-day tour gives 90 minutes.
No. The tour includes the ice cave and glacier walk instead. The amphibian boat runs from May to about 15 November and costs ISK 7,100 per adult if you buy it direct.
At Adventure Hotel Geirland near Kirkjubæjarklaustur, or a similar hotel, both nights, with a private bathroom and breakfast.
Ready to book
The Golden Circle, Jökulsárlón and a guided ice cave, with two nights and breakfast included.
2-Day South Coast, Glacier Hike & JökulsárlónTwo days, one night: a Sólheimajökull glacier hike, Fjaðrárgjúfur and 90 minutes at the lagoon. Small group of 19.★ 5.0 · 2 days · from $639
Ice Cave Tour in Vatnajökull National ParkThree hours from the lagoon car park: a super jeep, then a natural ice cave in Vatnajökull. You get there yourself.★ 4.6 · 3 hours · from $157
Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier HikeAbout 2 hours on Breiðamerkurjökull in crampons, 12 people at most, lunch included. Starts at the lagoon café.★ 4.9 · 4.5 hours · from $149