3 Day Summer Iceland Tour to Golden Circle, South Coast with Glacier Lagoon & Glacier Hike

by David The Guide · Glacier hiking · Hiking & trekking · Lagoons & spas · Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón

5.0· 10 TripAdvisor reviews of this tour4.70· 127 Google reviews of the operator
  • Fine on your own

from €895.58 per person

Next departure: Sat 1 May

Book Sat 1 May · €895.58Other dates
3 Day Summer Iceland Tour to Golden Circle, South Coast with Glacier Lagoon & Glacier Hike — David The Guide
3 Day Summer Iceland Tour to Golden Circle, South Coast with Glacier Lagoon & Glacier Hike, photo 2
3 Day Summer Iceland Tour to Golden Circle, South Coast with Glacier Lagoon & Glacier Hike, photo 3
3 Day Summer Iceland Tour to Golden Circle, South Coast with Glacier Lagoon & Glacier Hike, photo 4
3 Day Summer Iceland Tour to Golden Circle, South Coast with Glacier Lagoon & Glacier Hike, photo 5
3 Day Summer Iceland Tour to Golden Circle, South Coast with Glacier Lagoon & Glacier Hike, photo 6
3 Day Summer Iceland Tour to Golden Circle, South Coast with Glacier Lagoon & Glacier Hike, photo 7
3 Day Summer Iceland Tour to Golden Circle, South Coast with Glacier Lagoon & Glacier Hike, photo 8

1 / 8

  • Duration

    3 days

  • Difficulty

    Moderate

  • Season

    All year

  • Starts in

    Reykjavík

  • Pickup

    Hotel pickup included

  • Guide

    Guided in English

  • Departs

    09:00

  • Minimum age

    8

  • Cancellation

    Free until 3 days before

About this experience

Three Days in Iceland: Glacier Hiking, Iceberg Boat Tour & the Golden Circle

Walk behind a waterfall, hike across a glacier, and cruise among icebergs on a three-day journey through Iceland. Explore the South Coast, visit the famous DC-3 plane wreck, and discover the Golden Circle, with overnight hotel stays and a knowledgeable guide along the way.


Day 1: South Coast Waterfalls & a Glacier Hike

Your adventure begins with pickup from a designated tour bus stop near your downtown Reykjavik accommodation or at a major hotel. Head towards the South Coast as the city gives way to open farmland, mountains, and towering cliffs.

Visit Seljalandsfoss, where you can walk behind the falling water when conditions allow. Discover nearby Gljúfrabúi, tucked between rock walls, before continuing to Skógafoss to experience one of the coast’s most impressive waterfalls.

At Reynisfjara black sand beach, take in the volcanic shoreline, basalt columns, and powerful Atlantic waves.

Then it’s time for your guided hike on Sólheimajökull Glacier. With a professional glacier guide and all necessary equipment provided, step onto the ice and explore the ridges, textures, and formations of this remarkable landscape.

After a full day of exploring, settle into your hotel between Vík and Höfn, depending on availability, and rest up for another day of adventure.


Day 2: Icebergs, Diamond Beach & the DC-3 Plane Wreck

Head to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where icebergs drift through the water on their journey towards the sea. Join a boat tour on the lagoon for a closer look at the floating ice and views you simply can’t get from the shore.

Nearby, stroll along Diamond Beach, where pieces of glacial ice lie scattered across black sand. Catch them in the sunlight and you’ll see exactly how this beach earned its name.

Planned stops along the route include the Eldhraun Lava Fields, the Bridge of the Volcanoes, and Fjaðrárgljúfur River Canyon. These stops may vary according to weather and your hotel location.

As you travel west along the South Coast, visit the famous DC-3 plane wreck. Board the shuttle across the black sand to reach the weathered aircraft, whose pale fuselage stands out against the vast volcanic landscape. It’s a striking place to explore and a memorable addition to your South Coast adventure.

If time allows, enjoy a stop in Vík before continuing to Hveragerði for the night. Settle into your hotel and recharge, with breakfast included the following morning.


Day 3: The Golden Circle

After breakfast, set out for the Golden Circle, home to some of Iceland’s best-loved sights.

Explore Thingvellir National Park, watch the geothermal activity in the Geysir area, and feel the force of Gullfoss as its waters plunge into the canyon below.

Visit Kerid Crater, where colourful volcanic slopes frame a crater lake, before returning to Reykjavik.


Three Days Filled with Places Worth Travelling For

Waterfalls, black sand beaches, a glacier hike, a boat ride among icebergs, and the DC-3 plane wreck—followed by a day exploring the Golden Circle. Make your time in Iceland an adventure to remember.


Book early for summer departures, when accommodation fills quickly, and secure your place on this three-day escape.

The itinerary order and individual stops may vary depending on weather and accommodation arrangements. The Golden Circle is usually visited on day three.

This is a very popular tour, especially in Summer and lodging fills fast. Please be sure to reserve in advance if traveling during those months.

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. Day 1 - Golden Circle
  2. Day 2: Day 2 - South Coast
  3. Day 3: Day 3- Jokulsarlon

Included

Included: 

  • Private Guide and Transport
  • Wifi in Vehicle
  • 3 Star Hotel with Breakfast
  • Glacier Hike with all safety gear included (Harness, helmet, crampons, ice axe) 
  • Ticket of Jökulsárlón Boat Tour
  • DC-3 Plane Wreck shuttle

Not included

  • Lunch and Dinner not included

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- hat, gloves, hiking boots, jacket 

Please pack as small of a bag if possible, or share with your group. Hotels in Reykjavik can hold remaining luggage.

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 7 or 8pm (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.

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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  • If it falls short, we fix it

Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €33 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.

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€895.58 per person

Book Sat 1 May · €895.58