Iceland South Coast: Reykjavik Waterfalls & Black Sand Beach

Four waterfalls, a glacier, and black sand in one day from Reykjavik

You get picked up from your Reykjavik hotel and spend 10 hours on Iceland's South Coast hitting four major waterfalls and a glacier, with a lunch break at black sand Reynisfjara Beach. The minibus stays small, your guide speaks English, and all entry fees are covered. You just pay for food when you stop. Return to Reykjavik around 6 PM.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Skógafoss40m
2. Sólheimajökull Glacier45m
3. Reynisfjara Beach1h 15m
4. Seljalandsfoss45m

Explore Iceland's South Coast highlights

• Pickup from downtown Reykjavík
• Visit Seljalandsfoss waterfall
• Stop at Skógafoss waterfall
• Walk near Sólheimajökull glacier
• Lunch and sightseeing at Reynisfjara Beach
• Photo stop at Vík village and church
• Return to Reykjavík

The experience

Picture this: you're standing at the base of Skógafoss, a 60-meter wall of water crashing down in front of you, and you can feel the spray on your face even from thirty meters back. That's how the Iceland South Coast tour starts, not with a gentle introduction, but with the real thing. The minibus leaves Reykjavik early, heading east along Route 1, and within a couple of hours you're at the first stop. There's a staircase that climbs to a platform above the falls, and from up there you can see across the south coast toward Eyjafjallajökull, the volcano that shut down European airspace back in 2010. Most people do both (stand below and climb up), because the view changes completely depending on where you are.

After Skógafoss, the tour moves to Seljalandsfoss, which is famous for one specific thing: you can walk behind it. The waterfall drops 65 meters from the Seljalandsá River, which comes straight from the Eyjafjallajökull glacier, and there's a path that lets you step into the curtain of water itself. You will get wet. The tour gives you time to do it or skip it, and there's a food stall and gift shop on-site if you need to dry off or grab something. Then it's on to Sólheimajökull, a glacier tongue that's striped with layers of ash. You walk through the valley it carved, past the glacier river at its base, and the whole landscape is this chaotic scatter of rocks and gravel that the ice ground down as it moved. It's not a climbing tour. It's a walk toward the glacier, but the terrain is uneven and the scale of it hits you when you're standing there.

Reynisfjara is where lunch happens. It's the black sand beach everyone photographs, with basalt columns, troll-like sea stacks, and if you're there in summer, thousands of puffins nesting in the cliffs. You have time to eat (there's a café and restaurant on-site), walk the beach, and take the photos. On the way back to Reykjavik, the minibus stops briefly at Vík, a small village with a church that sits above basalt stacks, another photo moment. The guide tells stories about trolls and elves in the rocks during the drive back, and you're dropped off around 6 PM. The whole day is 10 hours, and you're in a small group, which means the minibus doesn't feel crowded and the guide can actually answer questions instead of shouting over thirty people.

One thing to know: food and drinks aren't included, so you buy lunch at Reynisfjara or pack something. Bathrooms are at most stops. If you're a cruise passenger, you'll need to give the tour operator your ship name, docking time, and re-boarding time when you book. They plan the return around your departure. The tour runs in an air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi on board, and hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you don't have to figure out how to get to the starting point or back to your accommodation.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Reykjavik, guided visits to Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Sólheimajökull glacier, and Reynisfjara black sand beach with a photo stop in Vík village, all entry fees and taxes, an air-conditioned minibus with WiFi, and an English-speaking guide. Lunch and drinks are your own expense, available at restaurants and cafés at the stops.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 19

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 24 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Your Day Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the South Coast's main attractions in one day without renting a car or figuring out timing and parking yourself: the fixed 10-hour schedule and small-group format handle the logistics, which is what makes four stops fit into a single afternoon.

Traveler reviews

4.81★★★★★★★★★★

6,688 verified traveler reviews

5 ★5,908

4 ★493

3 ★152

2 ★59

1 ★76

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the Iceland South Coast tour from Reykjavik?

The full tour is 10 hours, including hotel pickup and drop-off.

What waterfalls are included?

Skógafoss (60-meter drop) and Seljalandsfoss (65-meter drop, walkable behind the water). Both have viewing platforms and on-site facilities.

Is food included?

No. Lunch is on your own at Reynisfjara, where there's a café and restaurant. There's also a food stall at Seljalandsfoss.

Can I walk on the Sólheimajökull glacier?

The tour includes a walk toward the glacier through the valley it carved, but it's not a climbing or ice-walking tour. The walk is suitable for all fitness levels.

Are there puffins on this tour?

Puffins nest at Reynisfjara during summer months. They're not guaranteed, but thousands are present in season.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the starting point?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Reykjavik are included.

What if I'm arriving by cruise ship?

The tour operates for cruise passengers. You'll need to provide your ship name, docking time, and re-boarding time when you book so the operator can plan your return.

Can I bring luggage on the tour?

No. The tour cannot transport or store suitcases or travel luggage.

What language is the guide?

English-speaking guide.