5-Day Privately Guided Winter Tour: Golden Circle & South Coast

Duration

5 Days

Availability

Sep - Apr

Difficulty

Easy

Minimum Age

None

Overview

Experience Iceland your own way with a privately guided tour of the Golden Circle and South Iceland. Travel in comfort and style around Iceland’s most beautiful attractions, including Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, while the Northern Lights dance in the sky above.

Book now for a trip of a lifetime.

Included

  • 4 nights of accommodation (different levels available; breakfast included for Comfort and Quality levels; more detailed info in accommodation tab)
  • Private Driver-Guide on a 4×4 Luxury Super-Jeep (days 2 to 4)
  • Private Airport Transfers (Arrival and departure)
  • Meet and greet with your guide on day 1
  • Detailed Itinerary with fun and practical information on the nature, history, and culture of Iceland
  • Hands-on travel agent to oversee your itinerary
  • Taxes

Not included

  • Flights to/from Iceland
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Meals & drinks (unless otherwise stated)
  • Any services not listed as “Included”

Itinerary

Solfar, Sun Voyager sculpture in Reykjavik on a cloudy day.

Day 1 – Welcome to Iceland

You’ll arrive at Keflavík International Airport, located on the Reykjanes Peninsula. After you’ve collected your bags, you will meet a private driver in the arrival halls who will take you to the city. Once in Reykjavík, you’ll check into your hotel. There, your local private guide will meet you to go over the itinerary with you and answer any questions you might have. You will then have free time to spend in the city.

Highlights:

  • Reykjanes Peninsula
  • Reykjavík
  • Meet and greet with your guide 
  • Blue Lagoon Comfort Entrance: Includes entrance to the Blue Lagoon, silica mud mask, use of towel, and 1st drink of your choice.
  • Blue Lagoon Premium Entrance: Includes entrance to the Blue Lagoon, silica mud mask, use of towel, 1st drink of your choice, second mask of choice, slippers, use of bathrobe, table reservation at Lava Restaurant, and sparkling wine if dining.
Northern Lights above snow-covered Gullfoss Waterfall on Iceland's Golden Circle.

Day 2 – The Golden Circle

Your guide will pick you up after breakfast in a powerful but comfortable truck specially equipped to handle Iceland’s snowy roads. You’ll be taken out of the city and into the wintry countryside to explore the Golden Circle. You will end the day at a countryside hotel in the area. Your guide will let you know if conditions are favorable for Northern Lights spotting in the evening.

Highlights:

  • Þingvellir National Park
  • Geysir Geothermal Area
  • Gullfoss Waterfall
  • Snorkeling in Silfra: Swim between continents in crystal-clear water. Includes a tour with a certified PADI divemaster, all necessary snorkeling gear, Silfra admission fee, and hot chocolate to warm up afterward. The minimum age is 12 years, but participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or an adult guardian booked on the same tour.
  • Snowmobiling on Langjökull Glacier: An exhilarating tour on top of a glacier, no previous riding experience needed. Included is a one-hour snowmobile ride with a guide and use of overalls. Two people share a snowmobile, and the driver needs to bring their driving license. The age limit for passengers is 8 years. 
  • Horseback Riding: Get to know the Icelandic horse on a riding tour through the countryside just outside of Reykjavík. Icelandic horses are small, friendly, and very intelligent creatures, making this excursion perfect for both new and experienced riders. Riding helmets, boots, and rainwear are provided.  Minimum age is 8.
Snow and frost surrounding Seljalandsfoss waterfall in South Iceland.

Day 3 – The South Coast

Today, you’ll explore the diverse attractions on Iceland’s South Coast. You’ll travel under two glaciers while your guide takes you to see waterfalls, black sand beaches, and charming villages. You’ll then spend the night under a third glacier, the mighty Vatnajökull.

Highlights:

  • Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
  • Skógafoss Waterfall
  • Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
  • Katla Ice Cave: Visit an authentic ice cave in a glacier that covers an active volcano! Don’t worry; all volcanoes in Iceland are monitored, so this is perfectly safe. Includes a tour with a certified glacier guide and use of all necessary glacier gear, such as crampons and helmets. Minimum age is 6 years.
  • Snowmobiling: Race across a glacier on a snowmobile. No prior experience is needed, and all you have to bring are warm clothes and good shoes. Use of overalls, helmets, and balaclavas are included. Two people share a snowmobile, and the driver needs to bring their driving license. The age limit for passengers is 5 years. 
  • Glacier Hiking on Sólheimajökull Glacier: A fun and easy glacier hike. No previous experience is needed. The tour includes an English-speaking glacier guide, the use of a helmet, crampons, an ice axe, and other necessary safety equipment. Minimum age is 8 years.

 

 

Iceland Glacier Lagoon Jokulsarlon on Vatnajokull. Foggy weather with a lot of flying birds.

Day 4 – Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

You’ll start today with a visit to the beautiful Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and the adjacent Diamond Beach. You’ll then travel the south coast towards Reykjavík. If you wish to explore again some of the places you saw in the previous days, just let your private guide know. Alternatively, you can ask them for recommendations for something new. Once in Reykjavík, you’ll be dropped off by your hotel, where you can bid farewell to your guide.

Highlights:

  • Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
  • Diamond Beach
  • Skaftafell Nature Reserve
  • Glacier Hiking in Skaftafell Nature Reserve: Easy glacier hike, suitable for most people. No previous experience is needed. The tour includes an English-speaking glacier guide, the use of a helmet, crampons, an ice axe, and other necessary safety equipment. Minimum age is 8 years. 
  • Ice Caving in Vatnajökull Glacier: Explore a cave in Europe’s largest glacier. Includes a tour with a certified glacier guide and all necessary glacier gear, such as crampons and helmets. Minimum age is 8 years.
Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral in Reykjavik, Iceland, on a sunny winter day with a blue sky.

Day 5 – Departure

Now, it is time to pack your bags and say ‘goodbye’ to Iceland. If your flight leaves in the afternoon or evening, you can store your bags at the hotel and explore downtown Reykjavík. When it is time to head to the airport, a personal driver will pick you up and take you across the lava fields of the Reykjanes Peninsula to the airport.

Highlights:

  • Hallgrímskirkja Church
  • Harpa Concert Hall
  • Tjörnin Lake
  • Blue Lagoon Comfort Entrance: Includes entrance to the Blue Lagoon, silica mud mask, use of towel, and 1st drink of your choice.
  • Blue Lagoon Premium Entrance: Includes entrance to the Blue Lagoon, silica mud mask, use of towel, 1st drink of your choice, second mask of choice, slippers, use of bathrobe, table reservation at Lava Restaurant, and sparkling wine if dining.

Accommodation

You’ll have a choice of three accommodation levels. See details about each one in the boxes below. All accommodations for this tour have been hand-picked by our local travel experts.

Please keep in mind that hotel quality in Iceland varies between regions and that not all locations offer quality-level accommodations

Budget

Nice and comfortable rooms with shared bathroom facilities and shower located in farmhouses, guesthouses or hostels, in good locations with breakfast included. An example of this in Reykjavík would be Kex Hostel. 

Comfort

Comfortable rooms in three-star hotels or quality guesthouses, centrally located, very close to popular attractions. Private bathroom and breakfast included. An example of this in Reykjavík would be Fosshotel Rauðará. 

Quality

Rooms in four-star hotels or superior rooms in quality three-star hotels at fantastic locations near popular attractions. Private bathroom and breakfast is included. An example of this in Reykjavík would be Icelandair Hotel Marina. 

Transportation

Personalize your Icelandic adventure by selecting from our three transportation options: a minivan, a large SUV, or a rugged super jeep. See details for each option in the boxes below. These choices represent the most common vehicles used on privately guided tours. If you have special requests or specific needs, we’re here to cater to them, ensuring your journey is uniquely tailored to you.

Mini Van

For around 7-9 passengers, ideal for small groups and families. The comfortable minivans provide a smooth and intimate ride as you discover Iceland's wonders together.

Large 4WD

For 4-5 passengers seeking a spacious and versatile option. The large SUVs are equipped to handle diverse terrains while ensuring ample room for both passengers and gear.

Super-Jeep

For up to 19 passengers. Take your adventure to the next level with a rugged super jeep. Designed to conquer Iceland's challenging landscapes, these powerful vehicles provide an exhilarating ride for the more adventurous traveler.

Map

Good to know

  • Please note that the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, so sightings cannot be guaranteed. However, outside of Reykjavík, you will be staying at rural hotels, which increases your chances of seeing them when the weather allows.
  • Note that the itinerary may have to be rearranged to fit your arrival date and time better.
  • The itinerary depends on road and weather conditions, so it may be altered if conditions are not favorable. This includes optional activities as well. If extreme weather affects your travel plans, you will be notified, and we will do our best to assist you with rearranging or booking other activities when applicable.
  • Some optional activities may need a valid driving license, or you may need to send additional information to your travel agent. For snorkeling, you will need to know how to swim and fill out an online medical document.

What to bring

  • Warm and waterproof clothes
  • Good winter shoes that have soles with a good grip or crampons
  • Swimsuit and towel
  • Camera
  • More information on what to pack HERE
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