3 Day Winter Iceland Tour to Golden Circle, South Coast, Ice Cave and Glacier Hike at Jökulsárlón

by David The Guide · Glacier hiking · Ice caves · Hiking & trekking · Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón

4.70· 127 Google reviews of the operator
  • Fine on your own

from €916.87 per person

Next departure: Fri 23 Oct

Book Fri 23 Oct · €916.87Other dates
3 Day Winter Iceland Tour to Golden Circle, South Coast, Ice Cave and Glacier Hike at Jökulsárlón — David The Guide
3 Day Winter Iceland Tour to Golden Circle, South Coast, Ice Cave and Glacier Hike at Jökulsárlón , photo 2
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  • Duration

    3 days

  • Difficulty

    Moderate

  • Season

    Sep – Apr

  • Starts in

    Reykjavík

  • Pickup

    Hotel pickup included

  • Guide

    Guided in English

  • Departs

    08:00, 09:00

  • Minimum age

    8

  • Cancellation

    Free until 3 days before

About this experience

Three Days of Iceland’s Greatest Sights: South Coast, Glacier Adventure & Golden Circle

Chase waterfalls, explore an ice cave, and discover the landscapes that make Iceland unforgettable. This three-day adventure brings together the South Coast and Golden Circle, with a visit to the famous DC-3 plane wreck and a combined four-hour glacier hike and ice cave tour.

Enjoy two nights in three-star accommodation with breakfast included, giving you time to experience more along the way.


Day 1: South Coast Waterfalls & the DC-3 Plane Wreck

Your adventure begins with pickup from a designated tour bus stop near your downtown Reykjavik accommodation or at a major hotel. Then head towards the South Coast, where mountains rise above open farmland and waterfalls tumble from towering cliffs.

Visit Seljalandsfoss, discover the tucked-away Gljúfrabúi, and feel the power of Skógafoss. Continue to the famous Black Sand Beach, where volcanic sands and Atlantic waves create a dramatic coastal scene.

Later, board a shuttle to the DC-3 plane wreck. Surrounded by an expanse of black sand, this weathered aircraft is a striking sight—and a memorable place to capture a few photographs.

After dinner, your guide will share the northern lights forecast. When darkness, weather, and aurora activity allow, you may be able to watch the lights from your hotel.

Rest at your three-star South Coast hotel, with breakfast included the next morning.


Day 2: Four Hours on the Ice, Jökulsárlón & Diamond Beach

Today’s highlight is a combined four-hour glacier hike and ice cave tour in the Jökulsárlón area. Step onto glacial ice and explore an ice cave on an adventure that brings you close to Iceland’s frozen wilderness.

Visit Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where icebergs drift across the water, then explore nearby Diamond Beach. Here, pieces of glacial ice wash onto black sand, sparkling in the changing light.

The journey also includes stops at the Eldhraun Lava Fields and the Bridge of the Volcanoes. If time permits, stop in Vík for a little more time in the South Coast’s best-known village.

Finish the day in Hveragerði, where your accommodation awaits. Settle in for the night and enjoy breakfast before your final day of exploring.


Day 3: The Golden Circle

Your final day usually follows the Golden Circle, a route filled with some of Iceland’s most celebrated natural sights.

Explore Thingvellir National Park, discover the steaming landscapes of the Geysir geothermal area, and watch the powerful waters of Gullfoss plunge into the canyon below. Visit Kerid Crater, where colourful volcanic slopes frame a crater lake—a memorable final stop before returning to Reykjavik.

Three Days. So Much to Discover.

From black sand shores and roaring waterfalls to glacial ice and geothermal wonders, this journey brings together an extraordinary variety of Icelandic scenery.

Book your three-day adventure and make room for the moments you’ll remember long after you’re home.


Please note:

Some of these stops may adjust based on lodging location, and weather. Winter weather can be unpredictable, we ask all participants to remain flexible and trust our guide to give you a fun and safe tour. 

Make sure your camera is ready for all the memories that will be made and pictures of the sites we will visit. 

This is a very popular tour, especially around the winter holidays- we encourage booking in advance. 

David the Guide started out as one guide wanting to share and give more. With growing demand, the David the Guide team has grown and our team of adventure loving guides will be with you on your tour with us. This is not a single man operation, but a family of guides who believe in the vision David has for the industry. If you have any questions about this tour, please email info@davidtheguide.com.

Description from the operator, David The Guide . Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Where you go

  1. Golden Circle
  2. Day 2: South Coast
  3. Day 3: Jökulsárlón

Included

Included: 

  • Private Guide &Transport
  • Wifi in Vehicle
  • Glacier Hike with Gear, Ice Cave Tour
  • Hotel with Breakfast
  • Shuttle to the DC-3 Plane Wreck

Not included

  • Lunch and Dinner not included
  • Entrance fee to Kerid Crater not included (aprox 450isk)

Good to know

Please bring as small of luggage as possible, and snacks and beverages for in between meals are welcomed.

Please bring weather appropriate clothing- jacket, hiking boots, hat, gloves. 

Please pack as small of a bag if possible, or share with your group. 

We do stop for meals but you are welcome to bring any snacks and beverages you need for in-between meals. Sometimes dinner can be 19:00 or 20:00 (depending on availability).

Also, requests for hotel upgrades/separate rooms might not be able to be honored. If you are a party of 2 or more, you will room together. 

This tour is MODERATE in difficulty, glacier portion is not advised for those with: limited mobility, pregnancy or other impairments. Please reach out if you are not sure if participation is advised. If you have any difficulty walking, pregnancy, or other health issues, you may still join but you might not be able to partake in the glacier activities if it is deemed unsafe to proceed. 

The color blue of the ice cave may vary based on the time of day and other natural factors 

Cancellation for this tour

Free cancellation until 3 days 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. 1David The Guide 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 3 days before departure, the operator's policy after that.

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

Who this is not for

  • Children under 8 cannot join this one.
  • Not for last-minute planners — free cancellation ends 3 days before, longer than most tours here.

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

Why we list it

David The Guide is one of 204 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 David The Guide

Read all 127 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.7/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

  • Michael Donegan

    ★★★★★ · 6 months ago

    We had an amazing time seeing the Northern lights with David The Guide during our first trip to Iceland! Ania was our guide and she was very informative about the science behind how the lights appear, and how they are able to take measurements to predict the intensity for the night. Ania also took pictures of everyone in the group who wanted one, and they turned out fantastic! In our case, the forecast was not looking great when we started the tour. But they ended up becoming very bright around midnight! Hot chocolate was provided and everyone could warm up in the bus when it got too cold. We will absolutely purchase a tour again during our next visit to Iceland!

  • Jubel

    ★★★★★ · 9 months ago

    As a solo traveller, I did the 2-day Winter Tour to South Coast and Diamond Beach and was able to see many of the sites that I wanted to see on my first trip to Iceland! The bus is comfortable and I had a great stay at the Hotel Hofn (comes with delicious breakfast). A few of the sites included Ice Cave, Waterfalls (Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss etc.), Diamond Beach and more. We were a small group of 9 and everyone was respectful and on time when coming back to the bus at each stop. Yes, this is a fast-paced tour, but you will cover MANY spots! Thank you to my guide, Sebastien, for a wonderful trip to the South Coast, he is friendly, knowledgeable and communicates clearly.

  • K S

    ★★★★★ · 6 months ago

    I went on the Northern Lights tour, and they let me reschedule it twice with no additional fee because conditions weren't good and the northern lights were not visible. I was able to see the northern lights on my third try, and it was an amazing experience. Chasing the northern lights with this tour company was fantastic since they take professional photos of both you and the aurora by itself, so you don’t have to worry about figuring out camera settings yourself. They also give you a hot drink, cookies, and they also lend you blankets! Be sure to layer up and bring hand warmers for your hands and feet as you will be outside for several hours

  • Zorali De Feria

    ★★★★★ · 3 months ago

    ★★★★★ I highly recommend this South Coast tour with David the Guide. Everything was exactly as promised—and even better. Our guide, Jagoda, was outstanding. She was extremely professional, knowledgeable, organized, and clearly passionate about Iceland. Throughout the two days, she shared fascinating information about the country’s history, geology, culture, and landmarks, making every stop more meaningful and enjoyable. What impressed me most was how efficiently she managed the itinerary. We maximized our time at every location without ever feeling rushed, and she even included a few extra experiences along the way. Her planning and time management were exceptional. The small-group format made a huge difference. If you’re considering a South Coast tour, I would not hesitate to book with David the Guide. And if you’re lucky enough to have Jagoda as your guide, you’re in excellent hands. Her professionalism, expertise, and dedication truly made this one of the highlights of our trip to Iceland.

Reviews from Google · updated 21 Oct 2026

Read before you book

Reviews from our travellers

Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.

Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for 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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Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €32 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.

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€916.87 per person

Book Fri 23 Oct · €916.87