Reykjavik: South Coast Glacier Hike & Jokulsarlon Boat Tour

Walk on blue ice, then float among icebergs: Iceland's South Coast in two days

You hike on blue ice with crampons and an ice axe, float among icebergs in a boat at Jokulsarlon, and see Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, and Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach without arranging any of it yourself. The tour picks you up from your Reykjavik hotel, includes breakfast, overnight accommodation on the South Coast, and returns you to the city on the evening of day two. Luggage storage in central Reykjavik is free if you book it in advance.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — South Coast, Waterfalls and Glacier Hike

• Visit Reykjadalur hot river valley
• Stop at Selfoss town
• See Seljalandsfoss waterfall
• Discover hidden waterfall
• Learn about Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption
• Visit Skógafoss waterfall
• Glacier hike on Sólheimajökull
• View Dyrholaey sea arches
• Explore Reynisfjara black sand beach

Day 2 — Glacier Lagoon and Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

• Stop at Vík village viewpoint
• See moss-covered lava formations
• Visit Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon
• Tour Hofskirkja turf church
• Take amphibious boat tour at Jökulsárlón
• Walk on Diamond Beach

The Experience

The roar hits you first. Skógafoss doesn't announce itself—it just appears, a 60-meter wall of water throwing spray so hard you feel it on your face before you see the rainbow cutting through the mist. This is where day one starts, after you've driven past Seljalandsfoss (the one you can walk behind) and the hidden waterfall most visitors miss, and after your guide has pointed out the slopes of Eyjafjallajökull, the volcano that shut down European airspace in 2010. The South Coast tour moves fast but doesn't rush—you stop, you look, you listen to the water.

Then comes the glacier hike on Sólheimajökull. Your guide hands you crampons, an ice axe, and a helmet, shows you how to use them, and you walk onto blue ice that's part of Myrdalsjökull, one of Iceland's largest glaciers. The crevasses are deep and real. The ice sculptures catch the light. You're not on a viewing platform; you're on the glacier itself, and the difference is everything. After that, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach feels almost gentle—basalt columns, Atlantic waves, the sea stacks of Reynisdrangar rising offshore like they've been there since the world was new. You sleep somewhere on the South Coast that night.

Day two moves toward the glacier lagoon. You pass through Vík, then across a moss-covered lava field that looks like another planet, then down to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon—a gorge so steep and green it's hard to believe it's real. The 45-minute boat tour at Jokulsarlon is the centerpiece. You're in an amphibious vessel floating among icebergs the size of houses, some of them calved from Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier. Seals surface nearby. The icebergs drift and turn with the tide. Just across the black sand at Diamond Beach, fragments of ice catch the sun like scattered jewels. Then the drive back to Reykjavik, arriving around 9:30pm.

You don't arrange transport between stops, book the boat separately, or figure out timing—the tour handles all of it. Breakfast is included. The guide speaks English. Safety gear for the glacier hike comes with the price. What you bring is warm, waterproof clothes and good hiking shoes (or rent them there). Luggage stays in Reykjavik at a locker or the NiceTravel office; only a backpack fits on the bus.

What’s included

Your two days include hotel pickup and drop-off in Reykjavik, an English-speaking guide, breakfast both mornings, a guided glacier hike on Sólheimajökull with all safety equipment (crampons, ice axe, helmet) provided, a 45-minute boat tour among the icebergs at Jokulsarlon, one night of accommodation in a double or twin room on the South Coast, and free Wi-Fi and USB chargers on the bus. Stops at Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, and Diamond Beach are included.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcome

Operated by Nicetravel ehf

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the South Coast's main sights and both a glacier hike and a boat tour without arranging transport, timing, or accommodation yourself—the fixed two-day schedule is what fits all of it in and gets you back to Reykjavik by evening.

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Top questions

Is the boat tour at Jokulsarlon included in the price?

Yes, the 45-minute amphibious boat tour among the icebergs at Jokulsarlon is included if you select that option when booking.

What time does the tour return to Reykjavik?

The tour typically returns to Reykjavik around 9:30pm on day two.

Do I need to bring my own hiking boots?

Good hiking shoes are necessary for the glacier hike. If you don't have appropriate footwear, the tour operator offers boots for rent.

Where do I store my luggage during the tour?

You can use luggage lockers in central Reykjavik, or store your luggage free of charge at the NiceTravel office (Fiskislóð 45, Space M). Luggage must be in storage before pickup time.

Is breakfast included?

Yes, breakfast is included on both days of the tour.

What is the accommodation like?

You stay one night in a double or twin room on the South Coast. The standard of accommodation can be selected when you book.

Can I bring a large suitcase on the bus?

No, only small carry-on luggage such as backpacks are possible on the bus.

Is this tour suitable for people with low fitness levels?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though the glacier hike does involve walking on ice with crampons and an ice axe under professional guidance.