5 Day - Snæfellsnes & South Coast

by Arctic Adventures · Glacier hiking · Multi-day packages · Snæfellsnes

4.60(5,129) · operator on Google
PaceBusy

Four or so stops a day. Early starts, and you will be glad of the coach seat.

18 stops across 5 days in the operator's own itinerary — 3.6 a day.

5 Day - Snæfellsnes & South Coast — Arctic Adventures

Would this be cheaper direct? No — we sell at Arctic Adventures's own price and take our commission from them, not from you. What you get here is one checkout across operators, one confirmation, and one place to change or cancel it. If you ever find it cheaper on their own site, tell us and we will match it or explain why we cannot.

More photos of 5 Day - Snæfellsnes & South Coast

Northern Lights during South Iceland itineraryWater stream during Snaefellsnes Iceland adventureHraunfossar Waterfalls during South coast and northern lights tour5 Day - Snæfellsnes & South Coast, photo 9Iceland landscape from South coast and northern lights tourA cliff in Iceland visited during South coast and northern lights tourLone house in Iceland landscape. South coast and northern lights tourDjúpalónssandur black beach during Iceland itinerary for 5 daysIceland landscape during itinerary for 5 daysIceland landscape during South iceland itineraryIceland landscape during South iceland itineraryIceland landscape during South iceland itineraryIceland landscape during South iceland itineraryKirkjufell Mountain during South coast and northern lights tourIceland waterfall and landscape during South Iceland itineraryIce Cave during Iceland itinerary for 5 daysIce Cave during Iceland itinerary for 5 daysIce Cave during Iceland itinerary for 5 daysA van that takes travels around during South coast and northern lights tourPonies in Iceland during South coast and northern lights tourPonies in Iceland during South coast and northern lights tourA group of people exploring glacier during South coast and northern lights tourIceland landscape during South coast and northern lights tourNorthern Lights during South Iceland itinerary

29 photos from Arctic Adventures. Tap any one for the full-size original.

  • Duration

    5 days

  • Difficulty

    Very easy

  • Season

    Sep – Apr

  • Starts in

    Reykjavík

  • Meeting

    Hotel pickup available

  • Languages

    EN, DE, IS, FR, DA, ZH, ES

  • Departs

    09:00

  • Minimum age

    8

  • Cancellation

    Free until 24h before

About this experience

5 day - Snaefellsnes, South Coast and Northern Lights

This tour will take you to the Snaefellsnes peninsula, Golden Circle, and the magnificent South Coast of Iceland. 4 nights of accommodation with breakfast included as well as an Ice Cave tour.


Day 1: Deildartunguhver Hot Spring Iceland

This tour will start from your hotel or other pick-up location you chose. We'll drive through the beautiful West Coast scenery until we reach Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in Europe. This hot spring is used to provide heating and hot water to the neighboring areas. Another exciting stop - Sturlureykir horse farm where you can see the famous Icelandic Horses and learn a little more about farming in Iceland. 

Our next stop will be at Hraunfossar and Burnafoss Waterfalls that flow from Langjokull Glacier. We'll end our first day at Gerðuberg, a cluster of basalt columns.

Day 2: Snaefellsnes Peninsula Iceland

After we've had our breakfast, the tour will continue to the western part of Snaefellsnes. We'll stop by at the charming village of Arnarstapi. Then you'll get a chance to wander through Vatnhellir Cave that lies beneath Snaefellsnes National Park.

We'll have our lunch at the Hellnar village before we reach impressive Djúpalónssandur Beach.

Day 3: The Golden Circle

Golden Circle is at the center of our agenda this day. We'll visit Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a complex geological environment. We'll also have a look at the largest lake in Iceland, Thingvallavatn.

Our next stop will be at the incredible Gullfoss, the Golden Waterfall. Then we'll continue down the Rind Road to Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls.

Day 4: Ice Caving and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

We continue our journey towards Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach. In Skaftafell National park you will meet our certified glacier guides and embark on a glacier hiking and ice caving tour on Falljökull. Ice Caves are only found during the wintertime when the glacial rivers retract and the water freezes and they can look completely different every year. 

Day 5: The South Coast Iceland

We will start early today. On the way back to Reykjavik, really close to Vík we will find Reynisfjara, the famous black sand beach, which is also famous for its basalt columns, called Reynisdrangar. If the conditions are right you can expect a visit to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon. There are a lot of amazing places on the south coast so we will make some additional stops today before making our way back to the city.

At each step of our journey, we'll have many chances to witness the mesmerizing northern lights.

Description from the operator, Arctic Adventures. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Where you go

  1. Reykjavík
  2. Deildartunguhver
  3. Hraunfossar
  4. Reykholt
  5. Arnarstapi
  6. Hellnar
  7. Vatnshellir
  8. Djúpalónssandur
  9. Kirkjufell
  10. Þingvellir
  11. Geysir
  12. Gullfoss Waterfall
  13. Seljalandsfoss
  14. Skógafoss
  15. Reynisfjara
  16. Vík - Coastal Village
  17. Skaftafell
  18. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Included

Pick-up from your hotel in Reykjavík, a guided tour in a minibus, visit to Hraunfossar, Deildartunguhver, Reykholt, Arnarstapi, Djúpalónssandur, Vatnshellir lava cave, Mt. Kirkjufell, Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Reynisfjara, Skaftafell, Jokulsarlon Ice Glacier Lagoon, Crystal Ice Cave, a certified glacier guide and northern lights walks in the evenings. 4 nights at a hotel with a private bathroom, and breakfast.


Please note that food is NOT included on this tour, except breakfast on days 2-5

Good to know

Warm outdoor clothing, a waterproof jacket and pants, headwear and gloves. Good hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that the tour does not include meals.

Cancellation for this tour

Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.

If the weather cancels this tour

Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is high wind or rain on the ice — the guide decides at the meeting point, sometimes after you have set off. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.

  1. 1Arctic Adventures decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
  2. 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
  3. 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.

What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until 1 day before departure, the operator's policy after that.

Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →

Sold out on your date?

Seats come back — a cancellation, or the operator adding a vehicle. Tell us the date and we will check once a day and email you if one opens. One email, then we delete the address; nothing else is ever sent to it.

Who this is not for

  • Children under 8 cannot join this one.
  • Not available in summer; the operator runs it roughly September to April.

Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.

Why we list it

Arctic Adventures is one of 154 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →

What travellers say about Arctic Adventures

Read all 5,129 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.6/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

  • Kai Gilchrist

    ★★★★★ · 2 months ago

    This was a phenomenal trip with AMAZING sights. Our tour guide was informative, friendly, and easy to listen to. You will learn a lot and see nature at its greatest. We absolutely loved this tour and would recommend it to anyone. The car ride is comfortable and there is wifi as well! Shout out to our tour guide, Magnus (I hope I’m spelling his name correctly), who told us some hilarious stories.

  • Tatjana Kultaniemi

    ★★★★★ · a month ago

    I spent six days on a bus tour around Iceland with a professional guide. It was an excellent opportunity to gain a comprehensive overview of Iceland's breathtaking nature while also learning about the country's history and the everyday lives of its people. Iceland's landscape and animals are truly unique, featuring magnificent waterfalls, geysers, whales, seals, puffins, volcanoes, glaciers, and mountains. Every day brought new and unforgettable experiences. Of course, none of this would have been possible without our guide, Viko. He not only drove the bus safely but also shared fascinating stories about Icelandic history, culture, and way of life. He was willing to tailor the itinerary to our group's interests and wishes, making the experience even more enjoyable. I am very grateful for his professionalism, knowledge, and enthusiasm in interpreting Iceland's natural and cultural heritage. He played a key role in making this tour such a memorable experience.

  • Chloe Lamm

    ★★★★★ · 2 months ago

    I did the Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik. Such an amazing tour and one of the highlights of my trip to Iceland! Our guide, Erik, was incredibly knowledgeable and shared so much interesting information about Iceland throughout the day. We visited some of the country’s most beautiful sights, including stunning waterfalls, Vik, black sand beaches, and other breathtaking stops along the South Coast. The pickup process was simple and organized, making the day completely stress-free. The scenery was incredible from start to finish, and Erik helped make the experience even better with his knowledge, friendliness, and enthusiasm. If you’re visiting Iceland, the South Coast is a must-do, and I highly recommend taking this tour with Erik as your guide!

  • maya sterett

    ★★★★★ · 3 months ago

    A Fantastic Trip: Review of 3-Day Golden Circle, Ice Cave and Glacier Lagoon Absolutely incredible experience with Arctic Adventures and the guide Hjalti Bjornsson. The pick up from the bus stop was easy and the instructions were super clear. Be aware that they are extremely punctual at every stop. Do not be late by even a minute. We saw so many sites and the weather was perfect for most of the days. Our guide even took us on some stops that were not in the itinerary, but ones he thought were interesting and on the way, like the power plants and some other glaciers. The bus ride was very smooth with plenty of room and the seats were comfortable. The itinerary was well thought out with a great mix of light walking about 3 - 6 miles per day depending on how much you wanted to walk to each site. Some sites like the glacier Skaftafellsjokull (optional) were further away (4 ish miles), while others were much closer (1000ft). The hotel was situated in a beautiful location with sheep everywhere and interesting rock formations. The hotel was very comfortable with hot water and plenty of space to spread out. Our guide was extremely friendly and knowledgable. I would highly recommend this trip for anyone between the ages 10 - 70. However, this might not be the best experience for those with mobility issues as there is walking to some of the best sites.

Reviews from Google · updated 13 Sept 2026

Read before you book

Reviews from our travellers

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No reviews yet from our travellers on this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.

Glacier hiking — questions people ask

Which glacier is best for a first glacier hike?

Sólheimajökull on the South Coast, about two and a half hours from Reykjavík. It is the most accessible glacier tongue, the walk from the car park is short and the three-to-four-hour tours (/experience/6853/ or /experience/914990/) suit beginners. Skaftafell in the southeast has bigger ice and fewer people, with tours like Glacier Wonders (/experience/17340/), but it is a five-hour drive each way, so it only works if you are staying out there.

Can you hike on a glacier in Iceland in summer?

Yes. Glacier hiking runs all year. In June to August the ice is grey and gritty on the surface with blue crevasses and meltwater channels, and the weather is milder. In November to March the ice is whiter and you may see ice formations, but daylight is short and the wind bites. Neither is better; summer is easier, winter is prettier. The one thing you cannot do in summer is visit a natural blue ice cave.

How fit do I need to be for a glacier hike?

Moderately. You walk two to three hours on uneven ice in crampons, with some short steep sections. Anyone who can manage a hilly day walk will be fine; the pace is slow because the guide is checking the route. It is not for anyone with knee or balance problems, and most operators set a minimum age of eight to ten. Check the tour page. Longer tours like Glacier Explorer (/experience/17338/) push further onto the ice and need more stamina.

What do I need to bring on a glacier hike?

Sturdy boots with ankle support, waterproof jacket and trousers, warm layers, gloves and a hat, plus water and a snack. The operator provides crampons, a harness, a helmet and an ice axe. Jeans and trainers are not allowed on the ice, and guides do turn people away. Most meeting points rent boots and rain gear for a small fee; check the tour page and book them in advance in summer.

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