3 Day - Iceland’s Highlands and Volcano Adventure

by Arctic Adventures · Volcanoes & lava · Multi-day packages · Highlands

4.60(5,129) · operator on Google
PaceSteady

Two or three stops a day. A full holiday without being a route march.

8 stops across 3 days in the operator's own itinerary — 2.7 a day.

3 Day - Iceland’s Highlands and Volcano Adventure — 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.

  • Duration

    3 days

  • Difficulty

    Easy

  • Season

    May – Sep

  • Starts in

    Reykjavík

  • Meeting

    Hotel pickup available

  • Languages

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

  • Departs

    07:30

  • Minimum age

    8

  • Cancellation

    Free until 24h before

About this experience

A 3 day tour, which includes stops at at Vestmannaeyjar Island and puffin watching, Laki & Lakagígar volcano, Eldgjá Volcanic Canyon, Landmannalaugar, Icelandic Highlands. It includes 2 nights at Adventure Hótel Geirland and breakfast.

Day 1 - In the morning of the first day of your tour, you'll get picked up from your accommodation in Reykjavík. The tour will then head to the southern part of Iceland. The first stop of the day is at Landeyjarhöfn harbour where you will embark on a ferry to Vestmannaeyjar Islands. After about a 30 min ferry ride to Vestmannaeyjar Island, we will go straight to the southernmost part of the main island, Stórhöfði Cape. It's an ideal location to get up close to the oldest inhabitants of the island, the Atlantic Puffins. Next up is Eldheimar Museum, a volcano museum of remembrance of the volcanic eruption of 1973, when the entire population had to be evacuated from the island to the mainland in the middle of the night. After the museum, you will have the opportunity to do a short hike up the volcano Mt. Eldfell or spend some time in the town, before heading back to the mainland in the afternoon. Once back to the mainland, you'll travel along the south coast of Iceland, getting some views of waterfalls, such as Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, and the infamous volcano Mt. Eyjafjallajökull which erupted back in 2010, causing massive interruption of air traffic across Europe and North-America. We'll then make a stop at the scenic coastal village of Vík, where you will have some time to wander around the village or go down to the Black Sand Beach. From Vík, there's about an hour drive through the Eldhraun lava fields to the hotel where you'll stay for the night.

Hotel: Adventure Hótel Geirland.

Day 2 - After breakfast, you´ll start the adventure of the day at the majestic Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon. Hiking alongside the canyon is like being in a fairy tale painting. After exploring the canyon, you'll venture further into less travel area of Iceland, to Laki and Lakagígar, which are part of the UNESCO National Park of Vatnajökull. Once we are at Mt. Laki, we'll hike to the top of the volcano where you can get a great view of the site. You will see Lakagígar craters that were formed in a eruption 1783-1784, one of the biggest volcanic eruption in historic times. The eruption and the ash coming from it caused a famine in Europe, which eventually altered history as it´s said that the famine was the beginning of the French Revolution. We'll continue to drive around the highlands making couple of shorter stops before coming back to the main road. There we´ll make a stop at the small village Kirkjubæjarklaustur, where you have free time to walk around. You could check out Systrafoss Waterfall, Systrastapi Rock or Kirkjugólf (Church Floor), which are basalt columns stone slabs. From there, it's just a short drive back to the hotel.

Hotel: Adventure Hótel Geirland.

Day 3 - In the morning, you'll have breakfast and then check-out of the hotel before getting back on the road. We'll start heading back towards Reykjavík, but we'll be taking off the beaten track by driving a scenic F road, known as Fjallabaksleið nyrðri. Our first stop of the day is at Eldgjá canyon, which is part of the same volcanic system as Katla volcano, it is the largest volcanic canyon in the world, about 40 km long, 600 meters wide and 270 meters deep. We´ll do hike in the canyon and explore Ófærufoss Waterfall. From Eldgjá, we´ll continue further to Landmannalaugar, a pearl of the highlands. At Landmannalaugar, you'll have the opportunity to explore the lava field Laugahraun, hike to colourful Mt. Brennisteinsalda and/or soak in the natural geothermal pool. After about couple of hours at Landmannalaugar, we continue making our way back to Reykjavík before nightfall, but before reaching Reykjavík we will make a short stop at Hjálparfoss Waterfall situated in Þjórsárdalur valley. Once back in Reykjavík in the evening, you will be dropped to your preferred location.

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

Where you go

  1. Reykjavík
  2. Vestmannaeyjar
  3. Adventure Hótel Geirland
  4. Day 2: Fjaðrárgljúfur
  5. Day 2: Laki
  6. Day 3: Eldgjá
  7. Day 3: Landmannalaugar
  8. Day 3: Hjálparfoss

Included

2 Night Hotel Accommodation with Breakfast

Guided Small Group Experience

Eldheimar Museum Admission

Vestmannaeyjar Ferry

Landmannalaugar Facility Fees

Not included

This tour doesn't include Lunch, Dinner, Drinks and Snacks.

Good to know

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

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 wind on the ridge or a change in eruption activity — civil protection decides, not the operator. 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 for late risers on your first morning — the earliest departure is 07:30, and Reykjavík pickups start before that.

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

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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.

Multi-day packages — questions people ask

Are multi-day tours in Iceland worth it compared to day trips?

For the southeast, yes. Jökulsárlón and the ice caves are five hours from Reykjavík, so a day trip is fourteen hours of mostly bus. A two- or three-day tour (/experience/6131/, /experience/923386/) sleeps out there, sees the lagoon at a sane hour and adds an ice cave in winter. For the Golden Circle and South Coast alone, day trips are fine. Multi-day tours cost more per day but include the hotel.

What is included in a multi-day tour?

Transport in a minibus with a driver-guide, accommodation with breakfast, all the listed activities such as glacier hikes and ice caves, and the entrance fees on the route. Lunches and dinners are usually not included; you stop at guesthouses and cafes and pay your own way. Single travellers pay a supplement for their own room. Check the tour page for exact inclusions, the hotel standard and luggage limits, which are tight on small buses.

How many days do you need for the Ring Road on a tour?

Six to eight. Six-day tours (/experience/785082/, /experience/876949/) get round with one night in most regions and long driving days. Seven and eight days (/experience/20483/, /experience/33665/) add the highlands or Snæfellsnes and give more time out of the bus. Anything shorter than six is not a Ring Road tour. Summer versions have the highland detours; winter versions swap them for ice caves and shorter daylight.

Should I arrive in Iceland the day before a multi-day tour starts?

Yes. Multi-day tours leave Reykjavík between 08:00 and 09:00 and do not wait for delayed flights. Land the day before, sleep in the city, and start fresh. On the other end, tours arrive back in Reykjavík in the evening, so do not book a flight home the same night. In the planner, put arrival on day one, the tour from day two, and leave the last day for the flight.

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Pairs well with

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from

€967 per person

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