7-Day Iceland Tour: Golden Circle & South Coast Highlights

Seven days, one ring road: waterfalls, glaciers, geysir, and black sand beaches

This 7-day guided tour from Reykjavik covers Iceland's major attractions in sequence: the Golden Circle, South Coast waterfalls, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon with a certified glacier hike, the East Fjords, Lake Mývatn, whale watching from Dalvik, and Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Six nights of accommodation with breakfast, a small group, and an English-speaking guide are included. Food and drinks outside breakfast are not.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Golden Circle & South Coast

• Morning Reykjavik pick up
• Travel Golden Circle route
• Visit Thingvellir National Park
• See Strokkur geyser at Geysir
• Visit Gullfoss waterfall
• See Seljalandsfoss waterfall
• Visit Skogafoss waterfall
• Explore Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Day 2: Vík to Höfn via Glacier Lagoon

• Glacier hike at Skaftafell National Park
• Visit Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
• See Diamond Beach
• Overnight in Höfn area

Day 3: East Fjords to Egilsstaðir

• Drive East Fjords coast
• Stop at Djúpivogur fishing village
• Visit Wilderness Center near Egilsstaðir
• Overnight in Egilsstaðir area

Day 4: Lake Mývatn and Akureyri

• Visit Namaskard hot springs
• Explore Dimmuborgir lava formations
• See Hverfjall Volcano Crater
• Visit Studlagil canyon
• Relax at Mývatn Nature Baths
• Overnight in Akureyri area

Day 5: Whale Watching and Siglufjörður

• Drive through Akureyri
• Whale watching tour from Dalvik
• Explore Siglufjörður town
• Drive to Borgarnes area
• Overnight in Borgarnes area

Day 6: Borgarfjörður and Reykholt

• Visit Borgarfjörður area
• Hike Grábrók volcano crater
• See Hraunfossar waterfall
• Visit Reykholt and Snorralaug hot spring
• Overnight in Borgarnes area

Day 7: Snaefellsnes Peninsula and Reykjavik

• Explore Borgarnes and Snaefellsnes
• Visit Arnarstapi village
• See Mount Kirkjufell
• Visit Deildartunguhver Thermal Spring
• Return to Reykjavik

The experience

Your tour begins with a morning pickup in Reykjavik and heads straight to the Golden Circle. You'll stand at Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO site where the tectonic plates are visible, then watch Strokkur geyser shoot water from the ground at Geysir, and finish the route at Gullfoss waterfall. The same day continues south to Seljalandsfoss, which you can walk behind, and Skógafoss, before ending at Reynisfjara's black sand beach where Reynisdrangar peaks rise from the Atlantic.

Day two is the glacier day. You join a certified guide for a short hike on one of Vatnajökull's outlet glaciers at Skaftafell, then move on to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon to watch icebergs drift in the water. Diamond Beach, where the bergs wash back onto black sand, closes the afternoon. The next two days take you through the East Fjords (twisting coastal roads, the fishing village of Djúpivogur, and the town of Egilsstaðir) before you head inland to Lake Mývatn. There you can soak in the geothermal waters of Mývatn Nature Baths (bookable as an add-on), explore the lava formations at Dimmuborgir, and relax before moving north to Akureyri.

Day five swaps landscape for wildlife. You drive through Akureyri, then board a whale-watching boat from Dalvik to see the gentle giants of the sea. The route then passes through the charming town of Siglufjörður and farmland before reaching Borgarnes. Your final two days explore the west: Borgarfjörður (named a top travel destination by Lonely Planet in 2016), a short hike up Grábrók volcano crater, the Hraunfossar waterfall where ice-cold water pours from lava, and Reykholt, an important medieval site with Snorralaug, a historic hot spring pool. The last morning takes you to Snaefellsnes Peninsula to see Kirkjufell mountain and the village of Arnarstapi before returning to Reykjavik.

What’s included

• Six nights of accommodation with breakfast each morning.
• transport by vehicle throughout the 7 days with a small group.
• an English-speaking guide.
• a certified glacier guide for the short hike at Skaftafell on day two.
• free wi-fi on board.
• pickup from Reykjavik on day one and return to Reykjavik on day seven.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (16 to 85 years) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 22 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 107

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Arctic Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this if you're flying into Reykjavik and want a structured week covering Iceland's main sights with accommodation and meals included, rather than piecing together separate bookings.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What's included in the 7-day tour price?

Six nights of accommodation with breakfast at the hotels, transport throughout the 7 days, a small group experience with an English-speaking guide, and free wi-fi are included. Food and drinks outside breakfast, and admission to Mývatn Nature Baths, are not included but can be added as extras after booking.

Do I need to be an experienced hiker for the glacier walk on day two?

The glacier hike at Skaftafell is short and suitable for all fitness levels. A certified guide leads it, and the operator provides ice crampons for your boots: strong hiking boots are essential, and the crampons cannot be fitted to other footwear.

Can I book a single room instead of sharing?

The tour includes a shared hotel room with another guest of the same gender. Solo travelers can upgrade to a single room for a small fee by contacting the operator directly after booking.

What is Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon like when we arrive?

Jokulsarlon is a natural lagoon where icebergs calve from Vatnajökull glacier and float in the water. You'll see the lagoon itself on day two, then walk Diamond Beach, where the same bergs wash back onto black sand: a stark and striking landscape.

What happens on the whale-watching day in Dalvik?

On day five, you drive through Akureyri and board a whale-watching boat from the town of Dalvik to see marine life in Eyjafjörður Fjord. After the tour, you continue through Siglufjörður and farmland to your accommodation in Borgarnes.