The South Coast: Fire & Ice tour is an action packed day that allows you to experience the best parts of the stunning south coast of Iceland. The south coast has some of Iceland’s quintessential sights. Vivid blue glaciers, numerous powerful waterfalls, volcanic black sand beaches and infamously destructive volcanoes. The South Coast of Iceland really has it all, and you can experience it all in one unforgettable day.
This trip starts with pickups in Reykjavik from 8:00am. We will then head out of town, driving through the beautiful Icelandic landscape to the town of Hvolsvollur. Here we visit the newly opened, award winning, interactive LAVA centre, where we can learn all about the volcanoes we will see throughout the day. We also make time for a quick coffee break and a chance to buy some snacks to keep us going for the day. From there, it is not long until we arrive at one of the highlights of the trip, the stunning Solheimajokull glacier*, flowing down from the enormous Myrdalsjökull icecap. The glacier hike* on the tour is around 2.5 hours in total with around 1-1.5 hours spent on the glacier ice, hiking around 3-4 km (approx. 2 miles). The hike requires a moderate fitness level where you will hike up and over uneven terrain. There we will be able to hike and explore the unique ice features. After our hike we head to Reynisfjara to see the amazing rock formations at this spectacular black sand beach as well as eat lunch at the Black Beach Restaurant.
We will then make our way back to Reykjavik, but not before stopping at some of the most breathtaking natural sights in Iceland. The Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls will impress in their own way. On clear days you will be in awe of the infamous Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull volcanoes, as well as the towering Westman Islands, rising straight out of the North Atlantic Ocean. We aim to be back in the city just in time for late dinner.
*Please note. The Glacier hike is around 2,5 hours in total. If you choose to opt out of the glacier hike you are able to do so but that part is not refundable. This means that you will be on your own for that time and might be able to have access to the vehicle in the meantime. However, you are able to walk with the group where they get ready for the glacier hike and where they go on the glacier and take pictures before you head back to the vehicle if you are fit to do so.
Highlights
- Lava Centre
- Solheimajokull Glacier
- Reynisfjara
- Black Sand Beach
- Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
- Skógafoss Waterfall
Included
- Pickup and drop-off in Reykjavik
- Small group and English speaking guide
- Entrance fee at the Lava Centre Exhibition in Hvolsvollur
- Glacier hike* with all the glacier safety gear you need (crampons, helmet, harness and axe)
Not Included
- Lunch is not included in the price of this tour
- However, we will make a quick stop in the morning in the town of Hvolsvollur to load up on any necessary snacks and beverages. We also allow time to have lunch at Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach Restaurant, which is one of our favorites in the area.
Important
Operates: All year
Duration: 11-12 hours
Pick-Up Time: 8:00 am
Group size: Minimum 1 / Maximum 12
Minimum age: 10 years old
Level of difficulty: Moderate (glacier hike)
PLEASE NOTE: The glacier hike on our scheduled trips are aimed for people who have never been on a glacier or worn crampons before. With that said the ice can be steep and uneven in sections, so if you struggle with walking for one to two hours or walking on uneven and sloped ground, the glacier hike may not be for you. Each guide on the trip will make the final decision at the time of the hike. If they refuse to let you on the ice please know it is purely for the safety of not just you, but also for the rest of the group.The glacier hike on this tour is around 2.5 hours in total with around 1-1.5 hours spent on the glacier ice, hiking around 3-4 km (approx. 2 miles). The hike requires a moderate fitness level where you will hike up and over uneven terrain. There we will be able to hike and explore the unique ice features.
*The glacier can sometimes be unsafe or inaccessible due to weather or conditions at the glacier. This can often be as a result of high levels of rainfall which can cause flooding of the river/lagoon or then windy conditions. We always take yours and our safety as the number one consideration. If we will not be able to do the glacier hike then when possible we will walk up the glacier valley to the glacier as far as we can safely go to get a view of the icy giant. We will then continue our tour along the south coast, adding in a couple of our favourite hidden sights as we go to make up for not doing the glacier hike. These are stops that we otherwise would not have time to visit in the day. We look forward to exploring with you and showing you our favorite south coast sights.
