South Coast Day Tours
Explore mighty glaciers, stretches of black sand beaches, silvery waterfalls, and glittering glacier lagoons on a tour of Iceland’s South Coast. Those seeking spectacular natural features with the possibility of heart-pumping adventure need to look no further. Check out our selection of South Coast Tours below.
About South Coast Tours
Travelling Iceland’s southern coastline means encountering countless beautiful natural attractions. You’ll have majestic glaciers looming over you in the North and the waves of the Atlantic Ocean to the South throughout your journey.
Key Attractions You’ll Visit On A South Coast Tour
Our hand-picked South Coast Tours all start in Reykjavík and will take you through the countryside to the coast. The first stop is usually at Seljalandsfoss, a narrow but beautiful waterfall which falls over a 60-metre (200 ft) tall cliff. Inside the cliff is a cave which you can enter in the summer. There you’ll get a view of the beautiful cascade from behind the curtain of water.
From there, the next stop is another waterfall, equally beautiful but vastly different. Skógafoss is a wide and powerful waterfall which falls onto very flat land. This means that you can walk right up to the wall of water to feel the cascade’s awesome power.
The waterfalls lie under two majestic glaciers, Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull, and you’ll be able to see them clearly on your way to the next stop, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach.
At Reynisfjara, waves from the North Atlantic Ocean crash ferociously onto the jet-black sands of the beach. You’ll be able to see strange rock formations in the ocean, such as the unique Dyrhólaey rock arch and the 66-metre tall Reynisdrangar sea stacks.
Depending on which tour you take, you might continue further East into the beautiful Vatnajökull National Park. There you might stop at Skaftafell Nature Reserve for a glacier hike or continue further to the stunning Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
What's Included in a South Coast Tour
Included in your South Coast Tour is pick-up and drop-off from Reykjavík. You’ll travel in a small group in a comfortable vehicle such as a minibus or a super-jeep. The latter is a specialised jeep designed to handle Iceland’s rough terrain.
Along the way, your English-speaking guide will tell you about the area’s interesting history and folklore, and point out any interesting things you might see on the way, be it Icelandic horses or Northern Lights.
An additional activity might be included in your tour, such as glacier hiking or snowmobiling. If that is the case, then all equipment needed for the adventure is also included. Please read the “Included” section of each tour to find more information.
Frequently asked questions
All of the South Coast Tours on Traveo are small-group, which means that there will be no more than 18 other people on your excursion. Most tours will have only 12 participants.
All guides are English-speaking. If you are looking for a tour in another language, please contact us, and we’ll see what we can do.
Meals and refreshments are not included on the South Coast Tours unless otherwise stated in the “Included” section. You can bring your own food and drinks if you wish, but all tours will stop at or near shops so you will be able to grab something to eat along the way.
When travelling in Iceland, you should wear layers of clothing. That way, you will not be cold when looking at the natural attractions, and then you can easily remove a layer when entering the warm vehicle. Make sure you wear waterproof clothing, especially if you plan to go near Seljalandsfoss or Skógafoss waterfalls. You should also wear good, comfortable shoes.
South Coast Tours which include an activity such as glacier hiking can take up to 12 hours.
Yes, there are a few active volcanoes on the South Coast. But don’t worry. All of them are monitored very closely by scientists. Most eruptions are usually preceded by earthquakes and unrest that are detected by these scientists. Furthermore, the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management has an evacuation plan in case of emergencies.
