South Coast Iceland tour: Glaciers, waterfalls, black sand beaches

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/12

Duration10h

GroupUp to 17

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Five stops on Iceland's south coast, one minibus, one driver who knows it

A 10-hour small-group tour from Reykjavik along Iceland's south coast, traveling by minibus with a local driver-guide to Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara Beach, Vik village, and Solheimajokull glacier. The minibus holds a maximum of 17 passengers, and pickup from your hotel or a nearby bus stop is included; the guide provides live commentary throughout the day.

10h

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Iceland's South Coast

Depart from Reykjavik
Visit Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Visit Skogafoss waterfall
See Dyrhólaey rock arch and views
Explore Reynisfjara black sand beach
Stop for meal in Vik village
Walk to viewpoint at Sólheimajökull glacier
Return to Reykjavik

The Experience

The tour leaves Reykjavik heading east along the southern coast, and the first two stops are the waterfalls. Seljalandsfoss drops over 60 metres from a cliff that curves inward, which means you can walk behind it when there's no ice on the ground—the kind of detail a local guide points out. Skógafoss comes next, a waterfall so tall and forceful that spray rises in clouds as the water hits the rocks below; you can walk as close as you dare. Both are stops where the camera matters and the scale hits different in person than in photos.

From there the route turns toward the coast and Reynisfjara Beach, where hexagonal basalt columns rise from black sand and the dramatic geology is what makes the place photogenic and eerie at once. In summer, puffins nest on the cliffs above. The tour also includes Dyrhólaey, a viewpoint framed by an iconic rock arch that opens onto panoramic views of the coastline. Vik, Iceland's southernmost village, is the lunch stop—the itinerary notes the famous black dough pizza and lamb soup are available there, though food is not included in the price. The village sits among basalt sea stacks, and local legend says they're frozen trolls turned to stone while playing in the sea.

The final stop is Solheimajokull glacier, a tongue of ice stretching from the larger Myrdalsjokull ice cap that covers the volcano Katla. It's about a 15-minute walk from the parking lot to a viewpoint where you can stand in front of it. After that, the minibus returns to Reykjavik and drops you at your original departure point. The whole day runs 10 hours, and the driver provides live commentary on board—the kind of context that turns a route into a story.

What’s included

Tour on a minibus with a maximum of 17 passengers.
pickup and drop-off from your hotel or a designated bus stop in Reykjavik.
live commentary from a professional local driver-guide throughout the day.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Gateway to Iceland

Is this one for you?At 10 hours, the tour fills most of a day but leaves the morning or evening free for Reykjavik itself—useful if you're splitting your time between the city and the south coast, or if you want to rest after a long drive. The fixed schedule and included transport mean the five stops stay coordinated without you building the route yourself.