3-day Golden Circle & Glacier Hike Excursion, from Reykjavik
Duration: 3 days Easy 3 full days full of exploring
Why we love this tour
Hit every natural highlight on the Golden Circle route to experience the best of southern Iceland. Hike across a glacier, visit waterfalls and hot springs tour an ice cave, and simply enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors.
- Spend 3 full days exploring the south of Iceland
- Follow the famous Golden Circle route
- Walk along a fissure in the earth at Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Hike along the Solheimajokull glacier
- Experience a cave of solid ice
- Marvel at the ice at Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach
- Visit the 60 m (200 ft) high Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls
Over three days of exploration, visit the natural wonders that make Iceland unique. The Golden Circle is a 300 km (186 mi) route from Reykjavik through the southern uplands and back. Along the way, you'll glacier hike, wander through ice caves, and walk along black sand beaches for a sightseeing trip with an active twist. Read on to find out about the itinerary.
Day 1: Geology - History - Geysers - Waterfalls
Your journey begins when your guide picks you up at your accommodation. Leaving Reykjavik, you head towards Thingvellir National Park where faults and fissures in the earth's crust are pushing the continents away from each other. Learn about the major historical events of this UNESCO World Heritage site as you learn about Iceland. You continue towards the Geysir geothermal area and witness the spouting spring Strokkur that erupts up to 30 m (99 ft) high. Next, witness the might force of the Gullfoss waterfall, Iceland's most powerful waterfall. From there, drive along the scenic south coast for your overnight stay at Fosshotel Nupar, located in one of Iceland's most glorious landscapes. Surrounded by lava fields, it offers a spectacular view of Vatnajokull, the world‘s largest glacier outside the Arctic. If the weather allows, set out to hunt for the Northern Lights in the evening and catch a glowing show.
Day 2: Glacier Lagoon - Diamond Beach - Ice Cave Exploration
You head further east along Europe’s largest glacier Vatnajokull until you hit the renowned Glacier Lagoon Jokularlon. Admire the water filled with huge floating icebergs, and then walk a short way to see the Diamond Beach where icebergs appear as diamonds on the black sand. The adventurous afternoon includes a tour through the majestic ice caves. This natural phenomenon of blue ice tunnels is truly breathtaking. Afterward, return to your hotel to rest for the night - or not! The hotel offers a wake-up call if the Northern Lights are spotted.
Day 3: Black Beaches - Waterfalls - Glacier Walking
On your journey back to Reykjavik, your guide takes time to stop and enjoy the picturesque landscape of the South Coast. Stroll along the black beaches of Vík and Reynisfjara, watching and listening to the big, powerful waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy a glacier walk on Solheimajokull glacier to experience the peaceful frozen surroundings. Lastly, you take a close look at the beautiful waterfalls Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss before returning to Reykjavik in the late afternoon.
Please note that the itinerary might change due to weather conditions.
Need to know before you go
This tour operates from November 1st to March 31st.
Groups are limited to 16 people per guide.
Minimum age is 10 years old.
Lunches and dinners are not included in the price.
Single travelers and groups with odd numbers must choose the single supplement option during the booking process.
What to bring? Light hiking boots, thermal underwear (wool or synthetic), wind and waterproof jacket and pants, hiking pants, gloves, warm socks, hat, extra-warm jacket/parka for cold days (winter).
Other gear: Small backpack for clothes and items used during the day, sunglasses and sun protection (summer & spring), water bottle, and casual clothes/change of clothes.
Will we see the Northern Lights? To see the Northern Lights you need solar activity, clear skies, and darkness. The first two we cannot control, but the darkest months are September to March and therefore your best chance to see them.
Can I get a triple room? It is no problem to check if a triple room is available for you during your tour. Please send us an email to support@outdoorvisit.com to check availability.
How much luggage can I bring on the tour? We recommend that you bring one piece of luggage per person. We recommend that you bring a soft duffel bag since they are easier to stack in the vehicle.
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 send us your hotel or hostel address in the booking form.
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Icelandic Mountain GuidesReviews for this provider
23 Sep 2023
It was a Really nice adventure. We thought that we will reach the glacier cave more but anyway it is worth to visit this amazing place! Also our guide Andrea was really good! He shared with us a lot of facts and was all the time helpful and we felt with him really comfortable.
15 Jun 2022
Just kept getting better as it went on…
15 Apr 2022
Great fun angriest scenery. A spectacular experience overall.
