5-Day West Iceland, Ice Cave and South Iceland Small-Group Tour, Reykjavik

About this activity

Take this 5 Day South Coast and West Iceland Adventure with an experienced guide. Your guide will take you to all of the major highlights of the south and west coast of the island including the popular Golden Circle, stunning Snaefellsnes area, fascinating waterfalls, Fjadrargljufur Canyon and the magnificent Glacier Lagoon as well as a visit to a natural ice cave. Hotel pick-up and drop-off is included, as well as a 4 night accommodation. If the conditions are right you might also be able to spot the dancing Northern Lights!

Nature and Wildlife Tours Multi-day Tours Bus Tours Private and Luxury Excellent Quality Adventure Tours Short term availability Weather Dependent - Weather-Proof

At a glance

Duration: 5 days
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 18 people
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: Arctic Adventures

Ages: Children (8–15 years) · Adults (16–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Small group experience
Included: Reykjavik pickup and drop-off
Included: A guided glacier hiking and ice cave adventure
Included: Breakfast
Included: The popular Golden Circle sightseeing
Included: Accommodation for 4 nights
Included: Free wi-fi on board

Not included

Not included: Food and drinks, other than breakfast
Not included: Gratuities

Itinerary

Day 1 · West Iceland Day 1

Deildartunguhver Thermal Spring

1 h 30 min Admission included

During this first day you will be exploring Deildartunguhver hot spring, the most powerful hot spring in all Europe. Here you can relax at Krauma Geothermal Baths (optional extra) or stop by a nearby farm where you can have the chance to pet Icelandic horses! Whilst the surroundings are very picturesque, make sure to always stay on the pathways.
Snorralaug

20 min Admission included

Historical hot spring pool Snorralaug, treasured as the bathing spot of Iceland’s most famous poet and politician, Snorri Sturluson.
Hraunfossar

40 min Admission included

"The Lava Waterfalls" is a collection of smaller waterfalls cascading through the cracks of lava formations.
Barnafoss

40 min Admission included

On the river Hvítá in Borgarfjörður. Hraunfossar flows out of a lava field into Hvítá near Barnafoss, creating a stunning scenery from the waters that flow from Langjokull Glacier.
Gerduberg basalt columns

1 h 15 min Admission included

The day ends with Gerðuberg, a cliff of dolerite, a coarse-grained basalt rock, located on the western peninsula of Snæfellsnes. This amazing wonder was created from ancient flowing lava being cooled against the sea water.

Accommodation provided

Day 2 · West Iceland Day 2

Hellnar Church

30 min Admission included

After a filling breakfast at our hotel, we continue westwards. Making our way through alpine scenary we will arrive at our first stop Arnarstapi. It is a quaint fishing village at the foot of Mt. Stapafell and you will get the chance to check out it's surrounding area.
Vatnshellir Lava Cave

50 min Admission not included

Within Snaefellsnes National Park is Vatnshellir Cave, an 8,000 year old lava cave. You will have the chance to be guided by an expert explaining all the features relating to its formation and history.
Djupalonssandur Beach

one hour Admission included

Charming village where we will stop for lunch. Then we'll continue to the beautiful black pebble beach at Djúpalónssandur. This beach is isolated from the rest of the coast surrounded by tall, rugged cliffs facing the Atlantic Ocean.
Kirkjufell Mountain

1 h 40 min Admission included

To cap off the day we will head to the photogenic Kirkjufell Mountain with stunning views.

Accommodation provided

Day 3 · The Golden Circle

Thingvellir National Park

40 min Admission included

First on our list of stops of the Golden circle, we will arrive at one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Thingvellir. Given this status for its magnificent historical and geological importance. Explore this wonder that is the site of the meeting point of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Thingvellir is also home to the longest-running parliament in the worlds, the Althingi. Don't forget to look our for the largest natural lake in the country, Thingvallavatn.
Stop 2

40 min Admission included

Continuing deeper inland we will arrive in the geothermally active area of Haukadalur. Home to Geyser of which all others are named after. Although it erupts infrequently it's neighbour Strokkur, 50 metres next to it, erupts every 5 minutes as reliable as clockwork. Water erupts from 20 metres to as high as 40!
Gullfoss Falls

45 min Admission included

Gullfoss is located a 5 minute drive from Geysir. The waterfall is located in the canyon of the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland. breathtaking Gullfoss Waterfall. There you traverse a narrow path that provides close-up views of the massive, two-tiered waterfall below.
Volcano Hekla

Passing by

A view to the infamous volcano Hekla opens up as we drive to our next stop, Seljalandsfoss Waterfall.
Seljalandsfoss waterfall

30 min Admission included

Seljalandsfoss is situated along the Seljalandsá river where the waterway plummets 40 metres over a cliff face. Seljalandsfoss is unique among waterfalls, as the shape of the cliff over which it falls allows visitors to walk behind the chute via a footpath at the base of the falls.
Skogafoss

30 min Admission included

Skógafoss is one of Iceland’s biggest and most beautiful waterfalls with an astounding width of 25 meters and a drop of 60 meters.

Due to the amount of spray the cascade produces, at least one rainbow is present any time the sun emerges from behind the clouds.
Reynisfjara Beach

45 min Admission included

Reynisfjara is a world-famous black-sand beach found on the South Coast of Iceland, just beside the small fishing village of Vík.

Witness the enormous Renisdrangur basalt stacks and roaring waves coming from the Atlantic.

The day will be finished with a hunt for the Northern Lights and continuing on to our hotel close to Vík.

Accommodation provided

Day 4 · Ice Caving and Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon

Vatnajokull Glacier

3 hours

Today we’ll commence upon our glacier adventure portion of the trip, exploring a natural ice cave in Vatnajokull Glacier. The magical stroll in the ice cave will take about 45 minutes. Your guide will point out some awe-inspiring features, you’ll learn how the cave was formed and the story behind its brilliant blue color. Make sure you have your camera with you’re sure to catch some truly inspiring photo opportunities throughout your hike.
Glacier Lagoon

one hour

Jökulsárlón is a glacial lagoon, bordering Vatnajökull National Park in southeastern Iceland. Its still, blue waters are dotted with icebergs from the surrounding Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier, part of larger Vatnajökull Glacier. The Glacier Lagoon flows through a short waterway into the Atlantic Ocean, leaving chunks of ice on a black sand beach.
Fellsfjara

40 min Admission included

The Diamond Beach is a strip of black sand belonging to the greater Breiðamerkursandur glacial plain, located by Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon on the South Coast of Iceland.

Here, the icebergs which fill Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon wash up on shore, standing dazzling and defiant in stark contrast to the black sand beach. It is, therefore, a favourite amongst photographers, nature-lovers, and wildlife-enthusiasts. Many seals call this beach home, and it is one of the best places in the country to see orcas from the shore.

If the forecast is favorable, we’ll keep our eyes out for the Aurora Borealis before we head to our accommodation in Skaftafell.

Accommodation provided

Day 5 · The South Shore and Glacier Walk

Vatnajokull

5 h 30 min Admission included

After breakfast, our specialist guide will select the best route for your hike on the glacier. Before you make your way you will be provided with all the necessary glacier equipment, some of which you will have used in the ice cave.

Our guide will provide expert insights about the glacial expanse beneath your feet.

We will get a chance to visit some more highlights of the south coast (daylight / time permitting) before we get back to Reykjavik.

Meeting point and pickup

The operator picks every participant up from their accommodation or the points below.

Pickup points

Alva Hotel - Brautarholt
Arctic Comfort Hotel
Bus Hostel Reykjavik
Hotel Eyja
Hotel Reykjavik Grand
Hilton Reykjavik

and 9 more pickup points

Please note that we only serve the pick-up locations specified in our pick-up list below. Due to traffic restrictions, we are not allowed to pick up from hotels in the city center nor from private Air BnBs. If your pick-up location is not on our pick-up list then we kindly ask you to find the closest pick-up point to your accommodation from our list:

22 Hill Hótel – Brautarholt 22-24.

Arctic Comfort Hótel – Síðumúli 19.

BSÍ Bus Terminal – Vatnsmýrarvegi 10.

Bus Hostel Reykjavík – Skógarhlíð 10.

Bus pick up/drop off nr.1 – City Hall, Vonarstræti

Bus pick up/drop off nr.4 – Miðbakki

Bus pick up/drop off nr.6 – Safnahúsið (The Culture House)

Bus pick up/drop off nr.8 – Hallgrímskirkja Church

Bus pick up/drop off nr.9 – Snorrabraut

Bus pick up/drop off nr.12 – Höfðatorg

Bus pick up/drop off nr.15 – Vesturbugt

Cabin Hótel – Borgartún 32.

Eyja Guldsmen Hotel – Brautarholt 10.

Grand Hótel Reykjavík – Sigtún 38.

Grayline – Main bus terminal - Klettagarðar 4.

Hilton Reykjavík Nordica – Suðurlandsbraut 2.

Hótel Ísland – Ármúla 9.

Hotel Ørkin – Brautarholti 29.

Icelandair Hotel Reykjavík Natura – við Hlíðarfót, Nauthólsvegur 52.

Klettur Hótel – Mjölnisholt 12-14.

N1 Gas Station – Ártúnshöfði

Radisson Blu Hótel Saga – við Hagatorg.

Reykjavík City Hostel – Sundlaugavegur 34.

Reykjavík Lights Hotel – Suðurlandsbraut 12.

Skarfabakki – Cruise Ship, Reykjavik Harbor, 105 Reykjavik

Using your ticket

Please be ready at your pickup point by 8:00am in order not to miss the pickup. Please note that the pickup may take up to 45-minutes.
What to bring: Warm outdoor clothing, a waterproof jacket and pants, headgear and gloves
Good hiking shoes are recommended
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Please note that the order of the itinerary might change due to conditions in the areas
Not wheelchair accessible
Dress accordingly to the weather

Hotel pickups commence approximately 30 - 60 minutes prior to this time

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Minimum age is 10 years
Please note that the order of the itinerary might change due to conditions in the areas
The success of the Northern Lights is very weather dependent
Ice caves are an ever-changing natural phenomena, the choice of which ice cave visited is made with your safety in mind
What to bring: Warm outdoor clothing, a waterproof jacket and pants, headgear and gloves
Good hiking shoes are recommended
This is a small group tour ensuring a more personal experience
Please note that if you are a solo traveler and would like to have your own room then please contact the operator directly after the booking is confirmed. Otherwise you will be paired up in a shared twin room with another person of the same gender.