Unforgettable 4-Day Snaefellsnes Peninsula & South Coast Guided Tour from Reykjavik
Description
Summary
Description
Find the best locations to explore in Iceland with this immersive four-day guided tour from Reykjavik. From viewing the famous Golden Circle and South Coast attractions to discovering the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon in Vatnajokull, this small-group excursion will fulfill all your Nordic travel dreams.
The incredible journey begins in Reykjavik, where you'll be picked up by a modern minibus with free Wi-Fi at a designated bus stop close to your hotel. From there, you will set out on a multi-day tour package that combines Iceland's best tourist locations and activities.
In four days, you will explore some of the most beautiful attractions in the world, including the Snaefellsnes peninsula in West Iceland, Thingvellir National Park in the Golden Circle, and the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. During this journey, you'll spend the nights relaxing in cozy accommodations with breakfast and a private bathroom.
The first day of the small-group tour will take you around the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, an area famous for its diverse natural attractions. This region in West Iceland is home to the windswept Budakirkja church, the Londrangar basalt cliffs, the seal colonies at Ytri Tunga, and the beautiful Mount Kirkjufell.
Most famously, Snaefellsnes also boasts the breathtaking Snaefellsjokull National Park, where the majestic glacier-capped volcano of the same name towers at 4744 feet (1446 meters).
The second day of the guided trip will take you around the Golden Circle's most magnificent geological sites, including the Geysir geothermal area, Gullfoss waterfall, and Thingvellir National Park. Your tour guide will tell stories about each site's rich history as you traverse parts of its 186-mile (300-kilometer) route.
Over your third and fourth days, you'll tour the magnificent landscapes of Iceland's South Coast. You'll marvel at the Reynisfjara black sand beach, the floating icebergs of the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, and the Skofagoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls.
In addition, you'll enjoy a glacier hiking adventure atop the Skaftafell glacier. Glacier hiking is one of the most thrilling activities travelers can do in Iceland. The guide will provide all the necessary glacier equipment to ensure your safety and enjoyment.
As you go along this immersive four-day tour exploring the best attractions in Iceland, don't forget to take some photos. It's the perfect way to celebrate this incredible experience.
Soon after, you'll make the trip back to Reykjavik. With you are fantastic memories and images of an incredible holiday exploring Iceland's best features.
Marvel over Iceland's most beautiful landscapes, hike atop a glacier, and learn more about the land of fire and ice on this four-day guided tour from Reykjavik. Check availability now by choosing a date.
Included
Activities
Daily itinerary
Day 1 - Snaefellsnes Peninsula
On the first day of your small-group immersive journey, you'll be picked up by a minibus at a bus stop near your hotel in Reykjavik.
Soon after, the guided tour will take you to the enormous Snaefellsnes peninsula, 84 miles (135 kilometers) from the capital city. The site is famous for its diverse landscapes, rich history and culture, and thriving wildlife.
The first stops include back-to-back sightseeing explorations of the peninsula's sandy and volcanic beaches. At Ytri Tunga beach, you will see a seal colony resting on the sands or rocks. Seals are curious little fellows, so you can easily snap some photos of them.
Near the Ytri Tunga beach is the arched-shaped bay of Djupalonssandur beach, famous for its black sands and lifting stones. The lifting stones' history can be traced back to medieval times when the village was a thriving fishing village. You may try your strength and luck by lifting the four stones.
Other iconic landmarks you'll see in the area include the black church of Budir, the Arnarstapi fishing village, the Londrangar basalt cliffs, and the Saxholl volcanic crater.
Budakirkja, the black church of Budir, is a historic church built in 1703. The position of the tiny church is juxtaposed against the bizarrely massive lava formations surrounding it, making your visit here an extraordinary experience. It makes the perfect subject and backdrop for photos.
The final stops on the first day of your four-day excursion include the picturesque Kirkjufell mountain and Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall. The dramatic formation and the peak of this 'Church Mountain' made it one of the most famous mountains in the world. Additionally, you may recall it as the 'Arrowhead Mountain' in the TV show Game of Thrones.
As you conclude the day touring the Snaefellsnes peninsula, you'll retreat to a cozy hotel as you prepare for another day of an exciting trip around the land of fire and ice.
Day 2 - The Golden Circle
The second day of your Icelandic holiday begins as you enjoy a complimentary breakfast at the hotel. This will prepare you for a long yet exciting day ahead of visiting more Icelandic tourist attractions.
On this day, you will finally tick off some destinations on your bucket list as you traverse the breathtaking tourist route of the Golden Circle.
Arguably one of the most famous travel loops in the world, the Golden Circle is where you can find three of Iceland’s most recognizable natural attractions. These include the Geysir geothermal area, Gullfoss waterfall, and Thingvellir National Park.
Geysir geothermal area is where you’ll see an active display of nature’s force. It is home to some small and huge geysers that spout boiling water as high as 131 feet (40 meters), every five to ten minutes. Although the Great Geysir is currently inactive, other equally fascinating geysers, such as the Strokkur geyser, exist in the area.
As an area of active geological activity, the Geysir geothermal area of the Haukadalur valley also boasts an abundance of colorful hot springs and fascinating steam vents.
The majestic Gullfoss waterfall is approximately six miles (10 kilometers) from Geysir. The massively beautiful waterfall, sometimes called the ‘Golden Waterfall’, is powered by the melting waters of the Langjokull glacier.
With a height of 105 feet (32 meters), the two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall cascades spectacularly down the Gullfossgjufur canyon. Should you get a little closer to its cold waters, prepare to be drenched a bit. But that’s part of the great experience.
The last stop of the day is at the Thingvellir National Park. Magnificent with its dramatic geological terrain, Thingvellir National Park holds very significant importance to Iceland’s history as the seat of its first parliament. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site open for every traveler who visits Iceland.
Day 3 - Skogafoss Waterfall and Glacier Hike in Skaftafell
The third and fourth days of the excursion will take you to the scenic environment of Iceland’s South Coast, from Seljalandsfoss waterfall to the Reynisfjara black sand beach. But for the third day, you will not only see these attractions but also explore one of them through glacier hiking.
Your third day will begin with complete amazement as you see the beautiful waters of the Seljalandsfoss waterfall cascading from a drop of 200 feet (60 meters). With its proximity to Iceland’s Ring Road, the waterfall is one of the most visited attractions in the region.
The most unique feature of the Seljalandsfoss waterfall is the pathway around it. This feature gives you a 360-degree perspective of its magnificence, an immersive experience that you get to experience only here.
Seeing only one waterfall isn’t enough when you’re on the South Coast. On this four-day tour, you also have a chance to see one of Iceland’s biggest waterfalls, the Skogafoss waterfall.
Skogafoss waterfall of the Skoga river spans 82 feet (25 meters). With this massive body of water, seeing a rainbow above it on a sunny day is most likely. Likewise, the land underneath the Skogafoss waterfall is flat, just the perfect spot for you to take photos and videos.
The third day culminates when you hike on top of a gigantic glacier. Glacier hiking and ice caving atop Skaftafell glacier are some of the most exciting activities in Iceland, as they also give you a great view of contrasting sceneries from deserts to lagoons and powdery white snow.
While glacier hiking, you will see deep moulins, huge crevasses, and more. Skaftafell glacier is part of the Vatnajokull National Park, a protected nature reserve.
Alternatively, depending on the weather conditions and availability, your glacier hike may happen on the Solheimajokull glacier.
Your day ends as you retreat to a cozy hotel and recharge your energy for the excursion’s final day.
Day 4 - The South Coast Beaches and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
It’s the last day of your tour so prepare to see the best of what the South Coast can offer.
A small-group guided tour in Iceland wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. So on the last day of your guided tour, you will explore Iceland’s deepest and most famous lagoon through a boat ride.
Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon is famous for its unique features. The depth of its 814 feet (248 meters) waters is supplied by the meltwater of an outlet glacier called Breidamerkurjokull. This glacier is located right at the mouth of Iceland’s largest and mightiest ice cap, the Vatnajokull glacier.
Additionally, the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon has a distinct color because of its fresh and seawater composition. This is in part due to being connected to an ocean.
But the most stunning feature of this glacier lagoon is the chunks of icebergs swimming in its pool. Seeing icebergs of different sizes floating on water, from a few meters to the size of multi-story buildings, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you will never forget.
Completing your view of the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon is the adjacent Diamond Beach. This strip of black sand beach is where the glacier lagoon’s icebergs end up as waves hit them back and forth. The contrasting display of these sparkling chunks of ice on the volcanic sand gives an otherworldly image you wouldn’t see anywhere else.
To cap off your four-day guided tour in the Snaefellsnes peninsula, Golden Circle, and the South Coast, you will walk along one of the world’s most recognizable black sand beaches in Reynisfjara. Apart from its black sands, Reynisfjara black sand beach is most notable for its basalt stacks and noticeably massive waves.
Although there is no chance of swimming on this beach because of the strong waves, the beautiful panoramic view it provides makes up for this. Besides, the area is also a hotspot for different species of seabirds for birdwatching.
The tour ends as you return to Reykjavik by riding the mini-bus in the afternoon. You bring home with you not only great photos as souvenirs but also unforgettable memories of Iceland’s highlights.
What to bring
Good to know
-Pick-up is from a designated location or bus stop in Reykjavik that you will see on the drop-down menu upon booking. Pick-up is only available within the greater capital area.
-Tourists traveling alone will be allocated a single room while booking for two people will be given a double room. For reservations for three people and more, triple or group rooms will be provided. You may sort out this request upon booking.
-Each guest will be allocated with only one luggage of 24 inches. Storage of extra baggage may be possible but with an added fee.
-There will be plenty of opportunities to buy food and snacks during the trip, as well as bathroom breaks.
-Minimum age for glacier hiking and optional ice caving is eight years old.
-Itinerary and order of attractions are subject to changes due to weather and road conditions.
-In case the tour was canceled by the operator due to extreme weather, road conditions, and other issues, you will get assistance on the following: rebooking to another date or activities, or getting a full refund.
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