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Top Things to Do in South Iceland

We compared all 32 experiences in South Iceland so you can choose in minutes — real prices, verified reviews and our editorial picks.

4.7 32 experiences from US$ 27 Free cancellation on most experiences
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Vik: Live Lava Show Ticket & Molten Lava Experience
Vik: Live Lava Show Ticket & Molten Lava Experience★★★★★★★★★★ 4.90 (1,275)55mYou’ll sit just meters from real flowing lava at the Lava Show in Vik, feeling its heat and hearing its sizzle as local hosts share dramatic stories from Iceland’s volcanic past. Includes safety glasses, an educational video on volcanism, a live demonstration with Q&A, and a personal account of the 1918 Katla eruption — all packed into one unforgettable hour.Free cancellationTravelers' pickMost bookedfromUS$ 55View ›
Vik: Katla Ice Cave & Super Jeep Tour with Glacier Guide
Vik: Katla Ice Cave & Super Jeep Tour with Glacier Guide★★★★★★★★★★ 4.70 (1,193)3hYou’ll ride out from Vik in a Super Jeep with your glacier guide, crossing wild moss fields before gearing up for Katla Ice Cave. Feel the chill air as you step inside blue-black tunnels carved by volcanic power. Expect laughter over crampons and honest moments of awe beneath ancient ice.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 280View ›
Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike: Crampons & Ice Formations
Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike: Crampons & Ice Formations★★★★★★★★★★ 4.95 (895)3h 30mYou gear up at basecamp with crampons, helmet, and ice axe, then spend an hour walking across Sólheimajökull's ice formations with a certified guide. You'll see crevasses, sinkholes, and moulins up close, learn how glaciers move and change, and take photos without the crowd. Coffee and tea are included when you return to basecamp.Is it for me?Book this if you want to actually walk on a glacier rather than view it from a distance, and you'd rather not figure out the logistics, gear, and safety protocols yourself—the small group and certified guide handle all of that.Free cancellationTravelers' pickLikely to sell outfromUS$ 104View ›
Ice Cave Tour from Vik: 45-60 minutes inside glacier
Ice Cave Tour from Vik: 45-60 minutes inside glacier★★★★★★★★★★ 4.80 (833)3hYou walk to a glacier near Vik, strap on crampons and a headlamp, and spend 45 to 60 minutes exploring ice caves with a guide. Helmet and gear are included, kids 6+ can join, and the whole thing takes a few hours — no experience or special fitness level required. Book it if your Iceland time is tight and you don't want to skip the ice.Is it for me?Right for travelers with limited time in Iceland who don't want to skip ice caves — the tour runs just a few hours from Vik, which is what makes it fit into a packed itinerary. Plan for cold and steady footing on ice, but no climbing or technical skill required.Free cancellationTravelers' pickKids −22%fromUS$ 220View ›
ATV Riding on Black Lava Sands: South Iceland
ATV Riding on Black Lava Sands: South Iceland★★★★★★★★★★ 4.95 (709)2hRide a quad bike across the black lava sands of South Iceland near Mýrdalsjökull glacier for approximately 2 hours, with one person driving and one as passenger per ATV. The route crosses small rivers, reaches the black beach with views back to the glacier and along the coast to Dyrhólaey, passes the famous aircraft wreck, and follows the mountain base on the return. An English-speaking guide leads the ride; no prior ATV experience is required, and all safety gear—helmet, balaclava, insulated cover-all—is provided. Children from age 8 are welcome, and groups with odd numbers require an additional local fee for single riders.Is it for me?Book this ride if you want to operate the ATV yourself—the two-hour route is designed for riders with no experience, and the guide handles the navigation while you focus on the terrain. If you prefer to ride as a passenger only, you can sit behind a driver and photograph the glacier, wreck and black sand without needing a license.Free cancellationTravelers' pickKids −29%fromUS$ 217View ›
Iceland: Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike Small Group & Gear
Iceland: Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike Small Group & Gear★★★★★★★★★★ 4.80 (565)4hYou’ll walk across Sólheimajökull Glacier with a small group and certified guide, learning about ancient ice and Icelandic geology as you go. Hear local stories, see moulins up close, and feel the strange quiet of this frozen world under your boots. All safety gear is included—just bring sturdy boots and curiosity.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 109View ›
Black Sand Beach Horse Riding Tour from Vik: 1-hour ride
Black Sand Beach Horse Riding Tour from Vik: 1-hour ride★★★★★★★★★★ 4.76 (558)1hYou ride for an hour across black sand beaches on calm Icelandic horses, mostly at walking speed, with a helmet included and the option to try tölt if you're comfortable. Arrive 15 minutes early, expect to be weighed for the horses' welfare, and plan for weather that changes — which is part of what makes the landscape so striking. Public transport reaches the stable.Is it for me?Right for riders of any level who want an easy, grounded hour on horseback without the pressure of speed or skill — the walking pace and steady horses are what make it accessible, and the black sand landscape is what makes it worth the trip. Plan for weather that shifts, and know you'll be weighed before riding so the horses stay healthy.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 129View ›
Solheimajokull Glacier: Small-Group Hike with Gear & Guide
Solheimajokull Glacier: Small-Group Hike with Gear & Guide★★★★★★★★★★ 4.85 (515)4hYou’ll step onto Sólheimajökull Glacier with a small group and a certified guide who keeps things real (and safe). Feel the crunch of ancient ice under your boots, learn glacier secrets you won’t find online, and catch those wild blue-grey views that stick with you long after. All gear’s included—just bring your sense of adventure.Free cancellationfromUS$ 122View ›
Kayaking Sólheimajökull Glacier Lagoon Icebergs No Experience
Kayaking Sólheimajökull Glacier Lagoon Icebergs No Experience★★★★★★★★★★ 4.95 (457)2h 30mKayak on the Sólheimajökull Glacier Lagoon in Iceland with a professional guide, paddling stable sit-on-top kayaks among icebergs and blue ice formations. The tour lasts about two and a half hours, includes all gear and instruction in basic paddling technique, and suits any fitness level. Meet at the basecamp parking lot; bring warm clothing and extra socks, and arrive 30 minutes early. Children are welcome from age 14, with one child per adult.Is it for me?The basecamp parking lot is where you start, so you don't need a car or a ride beyond getting to that point—if you're staying elsewhere in South Iceland or renting without a vehicle, confirm the parking location when you book. The guide handles everything on the water, which means you show up, get fitted, and paddle; nothing else to arrange or time around.Free cancellationKids −30%fromUS$ 170View ›
Snowmobile ride on Langjökull glacier from Gullfoss
Snowmobile ride on Langjökull glacier from Gullfoss★★★★★★★★★★ 4.32 (427)4hA 4-hour snowmobile activity on Langjökull glacier departing from Gullfoss, in the Icelandic Highlands. You ride in a modified mountain truck to the basecamp, receive safety instruction and gear, then spend one hour on the snowmobile crossing the glacier with photo stops, before returning to the meeting point. Children from age 6 are welcome, and a professional guide leads in multiple languages.Is it for me?Book this if you want to ride your own snowmobile on Langjökull glacier rather than watch from a vehicle, and you're already in the Golden Circle area with a full afternoon free.Free cancellationTravelers' pickKids −100%fromUS$ 258View ›
Secret Lagoon Iceland: Geothermal Hot Spring Tickets
Secret Lagoon Iceland: Geothermal Hot Spring Tickets★★★★★★★★★★ 4.56 (423)1h 30mYou skip the entry queue and walk straight into a natural hot spring that's been warming since 1891. The water stays 38–40°C year-round, fed by geothermal springs, and you soak surrounded by steam and geysers. Facilities include changing rooms, showers, and a café. In winter, Northern Lights often appear above the lagoon. Admission is included; just bring a swimsuit and towel.Is it for me?Right for travelers in the Golden Circle who want a natural hot spring without the crowds or the premium price of larger thermal pools. Expect to spend a few hours soaking and relaxing—there's no guided tour or itinerary, just you and the warm water.Free cancellationTravelers' pickBest valuefromUS$ 27View ›
Volcano ATV Tour Heimaey Island: Ride Eldfell & Coast
Volcano ATV Tour Heimaey Island: Ride Eldfell & Coast★★★★★★★★★★ 4.90 (360)1hA one-hour ATV tour on Heimaey Island in Vestmannaeyjar takes you around Eldfell volcano, through lava fields, and along the coast to Prestvik beach. The ATVs are automatic and require no riding experience; a driver's license is needed for the rider, and passengers must be at least 6 years old. A live guide in English leads the route through historical sites tied to the island's volcanic past and maritime rescues.Is it for me?Book this if you have a free afternoon on Heimaey Island and want to cover the volcano and coast without renting a car or waiting for a group tour to fill. The automatic ATVs mean no riding skill is required, and the guide handles the route and the history, so you just ride and listen.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 138View ›
Þórsmörk Super Jeep Tour: Glaciers & Volcanic Rivers
Þórsmörk Super Jeep Tour: Glaciers & Volcanic Rivers★★★★★★★★★★ 4.93 (319)7hA 7-hour guided super jeep tour from Vik explores Þórsmörk, a valley ringed by three glaciers—Mýrdalsjökull, Tindfjallajökull and Eyjafjallajökull—with stops at Gígjökull glacier and volcanic canyons. Your English-speaking local guide shares knowledge of the 2010 eruption and the landscape that shaped it. The tour operates in all weather and suits all fitness levels; children from age 6 are welcome, and a minimum of four participants is required.Is it for me?The tour is in English, so you'll follow the guide's commentary without translation. If you speak English and want the geology and the local stories behind the 2010 eruption explained as you stand in front of the glacier, this guide delivers both.Free cancellationKids −25%fromUS$ 328View ›
Vik: Katla Ice Cave Super Jeep Tour & Glacier Hike
Vik: Katla Ice Cave Super Jeep Tour & Glacier Hike★★★★★★★★★★ 4.47 (302)3hYou’ll ride a Super Jeep from Vik across surreal volcanic landscapes to reach Katla’s ever-changing ice cave with a local guide leading the way. Feel glacier air on your face, hear stories about volcanoes and shifting ice, and walk inside shimmering blue-and-black tunnels — it’s not what you expect, in all the best ways.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 194View ›
Caves of Hella tour from Vik: Ancient crosses and carvings
Caves of Hella tour from Vik: Ancient crosses and carvings★★★★★★★★★★ 4.64 (253)1h–1h 15mThe Caves of Hella guided tour near Vik takes you through five of twelve ancient man-made caves on the South coast, with a local English-speaking guide leading the way. The site holds Iceland's oldest surviving archaeological remains, with carved crosses, wall carvings and carved seats still visible inside. The caves sit just off Route 1, about an hour from Reykjavik, and the tour runs roughly an hour.Is it for me?Most cave sites in Iceland are either self-guided or require a long specialized hike. This one has a guide who knows the history carved into the walls and sits an hour from Reykjavik on the main road, so you see the oldest archaeological remains in Iceland without detour or scrambling.Free cancellationTravelers' pickKids −58%fromUS$ 54View ›
Landmannalaugar Hike & Hot Springs from Reykjavik
Landmannalaugar Hike & Hot Springs from Reykjavik★★★★★★★★★★ 4.71 (225)14hYou hike 6.5 kilometers through Iceland's most colorful highland landscape — black lava, sulfur-yellow peaks, obsidian gorges — with a small group and an English-speaking guide. After three hours on the trail, you soak in a natural hot spring surrounded by the same dramatic scenery. The 4x4 pickup from Reykjavik is included, which means no F-road navigation or rental logistics; you just show up and hike. Bring your own lunch and waterproof gear, or rent locally with advance notice.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Iceland's most colorful highland landscape without arranging your own 4x4 transport or navigating F-roads — the pickup and small-group format mean you focus on the hike and the scenery, not logistics.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 212View ›
Iceland Lava Centre: Interactive Volcano & Earthquake Experience
Iceland Lava Centre: Interactive Volcano & Earthquake Experience★★★★★★★★★★ 4.56 (222)1h–1h 30mYou’ll step right into Iceland’s volcanic story at the Lava Centre—feel earthquakes shake beneath your feet, explore glowing magma displays, and hear local guides share what it means to live on shifting ground. Watch real eruption footage in their cinema or just stand on the deck taking in those wild South Coast views—it stays with you.Free cancellationKids −50%fromUS$ 42View ›
Langjokull Glacier Monster Truck Tour from Gullfoss
Langjokull Glacier Monster Truck Tour from Gullfoss★★★★★★★★★★ 4.87 (202)4hThis 4-hour glacier tour departs from Gullfoss Waterfall and boards you onto a massive Monster Sleipnir Truck that climbs onto Langjokull Glacier, Iceland's second-largest. A local guide leads the journey, sharing stories about glaciers and Nordic mythology as the truck navigates the highland terrain. On the glacier, you choose to sled down snowy slopes or play golf on the ice, then warm up at a pop-up cafe with hot cocoa, coffee, tea, Icelandic pastries and pure glacier water. The tour ends back at Gullfoss.Is it for me?Book this if you're comfortable in a shared group setting; choose the Golden Circle version instead if you prefer departing directly from Reykjavik rather than meeting elsewhere.Free cancellation-15%Kids −100%fromUS$ 162View ›
Reykjavik: Silfra Fissure Snorkeling & Lava Tunnel Combo
Reykjavik: Silfra Fissure Snorkeling & Lava Tunnel Combo★★★★★★★★★★ 4.65 (183)10hYou’ll step into Iceland’s raw heart: first wandering Raufarhólshellir’s ancient lava tunnels with a local guide, then floating between continents in Silfra Fissure’s crystal water. Expect cold cheeks, laughter over hot chocolate after snorkeling, and a few moments of pure quiet beneath the surface that might stick with you long after.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 205View ›
Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike & Ice Climbing from Reykjavík
Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike & Ice Climbing from Reykjavík★★★★★★★★★★ 4.76 (183)5h 30mHike and ice climb on Sólheimajökull Glacier in a small group of up to 8 with a certified English-speaking guide, all safety gear provided, and optional introductory climbing for beginners. Departing from Reykjavík, the tour includes pickup, sightseeing stops at Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, and a moderate 5.5-hour day on the South Coast. No prior climbing or glacier experience required, though moderate fitness and hiking boots with ankle support are necessary.Is it for me?Book from Reykjavík if you want the full South Coast experience without renting a car—the waterfalls and glacier fit into one morning, and the guide handles all the driving. Meet at the glacier if you're already exploring the area and want to skip the waterfall stops and longer travel time.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 213View ›
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