South Coast Day Tour: Glacier Hike, Lava Cave & DC-3 Plane Wreck, from Reykjavik
Duration: 14 hours Medium Miracles of the South Coast
Why we love this tour
Get your full dose of adrenaline in a day-long adventure of hiking, biking, and caving. Visit Iceland's most stunning destinations and bike around an abandoned plane crash from the 1970s for an added touch of history to your nature exploration.
- Bike ride on the Solheimasandur black beach to a DC-3 plane wreck
- Scramble over rocks in a 5,000-year-old lava cave
- Feel the ground move from the tall Seljalandsfoss & Skogafoss waterfalls
- Glacier hike on the white and blue ice of Solheimajokull
- Ride through the stunning Icelandic landscape
You can accomplish a lot in one day. On this trip, you hike Solheimajokull glacier, descend into a lava cave and ride a fat bike to the famous DC-3 plane wreck on Solheimasandur. Along the way, you witness the spectacular waterfalls and the famous natural sights along the South Coast of Iceland. Read more about how to have all these adventures in one single day.
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Feel the powerful theatrics of the 60 m (197 ft) tall Seljalandsfoss waterfall, set in a high rocky gorge. With a raincoat, you’ll be able to make the short hike behind the falls. The scenery behind the fall and the trembling ground from the power of the falling water makes for a picture perfect moment.
Skogafoss waterfall
Further east along the coast is the mighty Skogafoss waterfall. Tucked in a ravine, the river Skoga tumbles down a 60 m (197 ft) cliff before continuing down the landscape towards the Atlantic Ocean. Alongside the gorge, a staircase leads up to the shelf above the waterfall for stunning views. See if you can count all your steps on your way up.
Glacier Hike on Solheimajokull glacier
Hike on a bright, white glacier in the Skaftafell National Park. After meeting our highly trained glacier guides and strapping on your safety and glacier equipment, you hike on the ice for an hour and a half of icy thrill. Take in the fresh air, isolated surroundings, and the spectacular firsthand experience on this breathtaking and increasingly rare natural phenomenon.
Fat bike ride to the DC-3 Plane Wreck on Solheimasandur
Head beyond a glacier to the sandy Solheimasandur desert where a US Nacy DC-3 crash landed in 1973 after running out of fuel in midair. The wreck has since then been immortalized in numerous music videos and viral photographs. As the plane itself is 4 km (2.5 mi) from the nearest road, you'll ride a fat bike all the way to the plane. Cycle over volcanic sand and ash towards the black sand beach. This crashed Navy airplane was deemed too far away to salvage. If hiking is more your speed, you may choose to walk to the plane.
Secret Lava Cave
The grand finale of the day is a rocky lava cave formed from a volcanic eruption 5,000 years ago. Equipped with helmets and flashlights, scramble over big lava rock formations and crawl into the darkness of the Icelandic underground. The illuminated walls
Need to know before you go
This tour is available from March 1st to October 31.
Start time is 8:00 a.m.
Minimum age to participate is 14 years.
Groups are limited to 12 people per guide.
Pick up is available from designated areas in Reykjavik. Please enter your address in Iceland in the booking form.
What to bring? Hiking boots (available when booking), warm clothing (first layer), waterproof clothing (second layer), swimwear (from late April to November), energy snacks, and water.
Please contact us about renting hiking boots if you need them.
Cancellation
Your booking will become valid after we receive your payment and send you a confirmation email.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance with 100% reimbursement.
There is no reimbursement for later cancellations. In case of cancellation from our side due to bad weather, we will return your payment in full.
Meeting point
Your accommodation in Reykjavik
Please enter your accommodation address in Iceland in the booking form
Reviews for this provider
14 Aug 2019
We didn’t know what to expect. This tour was worth it. We learned a good amount about the glaciers and, sadly, about how they are disappearing. The hiking was easy and the views were fabulous.
2 Jan 2019
It was the most fantastic time in Iceland. I would like to recommend this activites to others. Thank you very much.
