Reykjavik: Glacier Hike & Ice Cave with Jokulsarlon & South Coast

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/10

Duration2d

GroupUp to 18

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Two days on ice, between waterfalls and the Atlantic

You get two full days covering the South Coast's main draws — two major waterfalls, a glacier hike with an ice cave, Jokulsarlon's floating icebergs, and two black sand beaches — without arranging transport, equipment rental or timing yourself. Hotel pickup and breakfast are included, and you sleep one night in a central hotel positioned for northern lights viewing if conditions allow.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore South Coast and Glacier Hike

Pick up from Reykjavík
Visit Seljalandsfoss waterfall
See Skógafoss waterfall and climb stairs
Hike on glacier with guide
Explore blue ice cave in Skaftafell

Day 2 — Glacier Lagoon and Black Sand Beaches

Visit Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
Walk along icebergs on black sand beach
Explore Reynisfjara black sand beach

The Experience

You want to see the ice caves everyone talks about, but you're not sure if two days is enough to fit them in alongside everything else Iceland is famous for. It turns out it is — and the reason is that this tour strings it all together without you having to piece it together yourself. Day one starts with pickup from your Reykjavik hotel or bus stop, then heads straight south to Seljalandsfoss, where you can walk behind the waterfall if you bring a raincoat. From there it's on to Skógafoss, a 60-meter drop that sits in its own gorge with a staircase leading up to views from above. Then comes the part that stays with you: the glacier hike. You meet the trained guides at Skaftafell, strap on safety equipment, and spend at least two hours walking on the ice itself — on an outlet glacier that feeds from Vatnajökull, Europe's largest. The blue ice cave is part of that same hike, and your guide explains what you're looking at as you move through it, which makes the whole thing feel less like a photo op and more like you actually understand what you're seeing.

Day two is the lagoon and the coast. Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is 200 meters deep and fed by icebergs that calve off year-round, so the water is always dotted with floating ice in different shapes and sizes. You walk alongside it and take in the scale of it — the way the light hits the ice, the sound of it shifting. Across the road is Diamond Beach, where those same icebergs wash ashore on black sand and catch the light like actual gems. The final stop is Reynisfjara, the black sand beach with basalt columns rising from the water and cliffs in the distance. In summer, puffins nest on those cliffs; in winter, the waves are enormous and the light is low and strange. The tour doesn't promise northern lights — they're a natural phenomenon and can't be guaranteed — but the hotels are positioned to give you a real chance if they show up.

What's included takes the logistics off your plate: hotel pickup, all the safety gear for the glacier, breakfast both mornings, one night in a 2-3 star hotel with a private bathroom, the guide, the ice cave tour itself. You'll need hiking boots with slip-resistant soles, especially in winter, and they're available at booking if you don't have them. Luggage is limited to one 24-inch suitcase per person — if space is tight in the vehicle, the company stores the rest free of charge. The order of attractions can shift depending on weather and road conditions, which is just how it works in Iceland.

What’s included

Your two days include hotel pickup from Reykjavik, entry and guided hikes at Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, a full glacier hike with trained guides and all safety equipment at Skaftafell, access to the blue ice cave, walks at Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach, time at Reynisfjara black sand beach, breakfast both mornings, one night's accommodation at a 2-3 star hotel with a private bathroom, your driver/guide, WiFi on board, and all taxes and fees. Hiking boots with slip-resistant soles are available to rent if needed.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Troll Expeditions

Is this one for you?Right for travelers with two days in Reykjavik who want the South Coast's main attractions — waterfalls, glacier, ice cave, lagoon and black sand beaches — without arranging transport or equipment. Expect a full schedule both days with early starts and several hours of hiking, which is what fits all five major stops into the timeframe.