3 Day Iceland Summer Tour: Golden Circle, Glacier Hike & Ice Cave
3 days, 2 nightsGroup: Small group, up to 18 peopleEasy to moderateSmall-group minibusAge 8+June–September
A 3 day Iceland summer tour by small-group minibus from Reykjavík. You see the Golden Circle, hike on Sólheimajökull glacier, reach Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach, and walk into the Katla ice cave, with two nights in countryside hotels.
Þingvellir National ParkGeysir and GullfossSólheimajökull glacier hikeJökulsárlón and Diamond BeachKatla ice caveReynisfjara black sand beach
A guided glacier hike on Sólheimajökull, with crampons, ice axe and helmet provided
A guided visit to the Katla ice cave under Mýrdalsjökull glacier
Icebergs at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and ice on the black sand of Diamond Beach
The Golden Circle: Þingvellir, Brúarfoss, Geysir and Gullfoss
Two nights in countryside hotels with private bathrooms and breakfast
Small group of up to 18, with pick-up in Reykjavík
Your day, stop by stop
Click a stop for photos and practical tips.
1Pick-up in ReykjavíkPick-up between 8:00 and 8:30 from your chosen pick-up point in Reykjavík.
2Day 1: Golden Circle and glacier hikeÞingvellir, Brúarfoss, Geysir and Gullfoss, then a 3-hour guided hike on Sólheimajökull and a night in the Hvolsvöllur area.
You walk through the rift valley at Þingvellir, see the bright blue water of Brúarfoss, watch Strokkur erupt at Geysir and stand above Gullfoss. In the afternoon you put on crampons and hike on Sólheimajökull, an outlet glacier of Mýrdalsjökull, with a certified glacier guide.
Glacier hike · about 3 hours, all equipment providedHike age limit · 8+, minimum shoe size EU 34Overnight · countryside hotel in the Hvolsvöllur area
3Day 2: South Coast and JökulsárlónSkógafoss, then east to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon (boat tour optional, extra cost) and Diamond Beach, with a night in the Vík area.
After breakfast you stop at Skógafoss, a 60 m waterfall with steps up the side, before the long drive east along the coast. At Jökulsárlón, icebergs from Breiðamerkurjökull float in the lagoon, and across the road chunks of ice wash up on the black sand of Diamond Beach.
Boat on the lagoon · optional extra, not includedOvernight · countryside hotel in the Vík areaTip · Diamond Beach is cold and windy even in summer, so bring layers
4Day 3: Katla ice cave, Reynisfjara and SeljalandsfossInto the Katla ice cave, then the black beach and a walk behind Seljalandsfoss.
You visit the Katla ice cave, a natural tunnel under Mýrdalsjökull glacier where black ash layers run through the blue ice. Then you walk on Reynisfjara black sand beach with its basalt columns, and finish at Seljalandsfoss, where a path leads behind the waterfall.
Ice cave age limit · 6+Walking · easy to moderate; the path behind Seljalandsfoss is wet and slipperyTip · keep well back from the waves at Reynisfjara
5Back to ReykjavíkDrop-off in Reykjavík in the evening, around 20:00.
About the 3 day Iceland summer tour
This 3 day Iceland summer tour packs the Golden Circle and the South Coast into one trip, with two real activities built in: a glacier hike and an ice cave. You travel by minibus with an English-speaking guide, so you can relax and look out of the window while someone else handles the driving and the weather.
Day one covers the Golden Circle and ends on the ice at Sólheimajökull. Day two is the long drive east to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach, with waterfalls on the way. On day three you visit the Katla ice cave near Vík, walk on Reynisfjara black sand beach and stop at Seljalandsfoss before heading back to Reykjavík in the evening.
The days are long, with a fair amount of time in the minibus, but in summer you have daylight until late in the evening. The glacier hike takes about three hours on uneven ice, so you need to be comfortable walking for an hour or so on slopes. The rest of the walking is easy.
Summer weather on the South Coast still changes fast. Bring a waterproof jacket and trousers, and proper hiking boots for the glacier (you can rent them when you book). Popular stops like Seljalandsfoss and Reynisfjara are busy in summer, and at Reynisfjara you should always keep well back from the waves.
Make it your own
Optional extras, at extra cost
Amphibian boat tour on Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon (summer only)
Single room
Luggage storage
Hiking boot rental
Waterproof jacket and trousers rental
Hat and gloves to buy
Neck warmer to buy
Cap to buy
Included
Small-group minibus with English-speaking guide
Pick-up and drop-off in the Reykjavík capital area
2 nights in countryside hotels with private bathroom
Breakfast on days 2 and 3
Guided glacier hike with all glacier equipment
Guided Katla ice cave visit
Wi-Fi on the minibus
Not included
Lunches and dinners
Boat tour on Jökulsárlón
Hiking boots and waterproof clothing (available to rent)
Single room supplement for solo travellers
Pick-up from Keflavík airport or outside the capital area
Travel insurance
What to bring
Hiking boots (needed for the glacier hike; available to rent)
Waterproof jacket and trousers
Warm base layers
Hat and gloves
Money for lunches and dinners
Good to know
Duration is 3 days and 2 nights, starting and ending in Reykjavík
Pick-up is between 8:00 and 8:30 in the Reykjavík capital area; not from Keflavík airport
Minimum age 8 for the whole tour; the glacier hike needs shoe size EU 34 or bigger
Difficulty is easy to moderate; the glacier hike needs about an hour of walking on uneven slopes
Groups are up to 18 people
Solo travellers pay a single room supplement
Luggage limit is one suitcase (about 24 inches) per person
The order of stops can change because of weather and road conditions
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start (a 3% fee is kept); no refund if you cancel less than 24 hours before
Runs from June to September
Questions people ask
Do I need glacier experience?
No. Your glacier guide gives a safety briefing and fits your crampons. You just need to be comfortable walking on uneven ground for a few hours.
Can you visit an ice cave in summer?
Yes. The Katla ice cave under Mýrdalsjökull can be visited all year, unlike the Vatnajökull ice caves, which are winter only.
Are meals included?
Breakfast at the hotels is included. Lunch and dinner are not, but your guide stops at places where you can buy food.
Can I travel solo?
Yes. Solo travellers pay a single room supplement for their own room.
Will we see the Northern Lights?
Probably not. In summer the nights are too bright. The Northern Lights season is roughly September to April.
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