South Coast day tour: Seljalandsfoss, Reynisfjara & glacier

Walk behind a 65-meter waterfall, trek across a glacier striped with volcanic ash, and lunch on black sand where puffins nest

A small-group day tour from Reykjavík along Iceland's South Coast, with a local driver-guide, visiting four major waterfalls and a glacier in 10–11 hours. The tour caps at 19 guests to keep the pace flexible and the stops unhurried. Admission to all sites is included. You arrange your own lunch, though the black sand beach has a café on-site.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

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

Explore Iceland's South Coast highlights

• Pickup in downtown Reykjavík
• Visit Seljalandsfoss waterfall
• See Skógafoss waterfall
• Walk to Sólheimajökull Glacier
• Lunch and sightseeing at Reynisfjara Beach
• Photo stop at Vík village

The experience

The day starts with pickup in downtown Reykjavík and heads east toward the South Coast. Skógafoss comes first: a 60-meter drop across 25 meters of width, with a staircase that climbs to a viewing platform above the falls, where you can see the Eyjafjallajökull glacier and the south coast spread out behind the water. From there, the route turns inland to Sólheimajökull, a glacier tongue carved from Mýrdalsjökull. You walk through the valley it has carved, crossing the gravel and rock debris the ice ground down as it moved, then approach the glacier itself: striped with layers of ash pressed between seasonal ice and ringed by active volcanic stations.

Reynisfjara black sand beach anchors the afternoon. The basalt columns, sea stacks and natural rock arc draw most visitors, but in summer thousands of puffins nest on the cliffs. You have time for both sightseeing and lunch here. Restrooms and a café are on-site. A short photo stop follows at Vík village, where the church sits framed by troll-like basalt stacks. The final stop is Seljalandsfoss, a 65-meter waterfall fed by meltwater from Eyjafjallajökull. A pathway lets you walk behind the cascading water. Bring a rain jacket or be ready to get wet.

The small-group format (maximum 19 guests) means the driver-guide can linger at each stop instead of moving on a fixed clock. The tour runs 10–11 hours total. Admission to all sites is included in the price. You pay separately for lunch, though the beach café makes it easy to eat on-site without planning ahead.

What’s included

• Pickup from downtown Reykjavík.
• a local driver-guide for the full 10–11 hours.
• admission to Skógafoss, Sólheimajökull, Reynisfjara and Seljalandsfoss.
• and stops at Vík village and a viewing platform above Skógafoss.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to10h before

GroupUp to 19 · max 8 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Hungarian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 11 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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Explore Iceland

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to pause at each waterfall and glacier without keeping 40 others waiting: small groups mean your guide adjusts the route to what interests you.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

1 verified traveler review

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Hungarian.

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.

Can I walk behind Seljalandsfoss without getting soaked?

Seljalandsfoss has a pathway that lets you walk behind the cascading water, but the operator notes you should be prepared to get wet. Wearing a rain jacket or waterproof layer is the standard way to manage it. Many visitors accept getting damp as part of the experience.

Is lunch included, or do I need to bring my own food?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. The group stops at Reynisfjara black sand beach for a lunch break, and a café and restaurant are on-site, so you can buy food there. You're welcome to bring your own as well.

What are the puffins like at Reynisfjara, and when do they arrive?

Reynisfjara's cliffs host thousands of puffins during the summer season. They nest in burrows on the cliffs above the beach, and you can see them from the shore and the basalt columns. The exact timing of their arrival and departure depends on the year, but summer (roughly May through August) is peak season for puffin viewing.