5 Day Iceland Tour | Golden Circle, South Coast & Snæfellsnes

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.

1Pick-up in ReykjavíkMinibus pick-up from 8:00 in the Reykjavík capital area.

Day 1: Borgarfjörður and West IcelandEsja, Hvalfjörður, Deildartunguhver, Reykholt, Hraunfossar and Barnafoss.

You leave Reykjavík along the foot of Esja, the mountain that looks over the city, and drive through the fjord Hvalfjörður into Borgarfjörður. The first stop is Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot spring, where boiling water pours out of the ground and you can feel the heat of the steam. Next is Reykholt, the home of the medieval writer and politician Snorri Sturluson. After that come two waterfalls side by side: Hraunfossar, a series of small streams running through a dark lava field, and Barnafoss, a pale blue fall rushing through a narrow gorge. The Víðgelmir lava cave visit is part of the tour. You spend the night in the Borgarfjörður area, and in winter the guide will tell you when the forecast gives a chance of northern lights.

Overnight · Borgarfjörður areaIncludes · Breakfast at the hotel

Day 2: Snæfellsnes peninsulaGerðuberg, Ytri-Tunga, Arnarstapi, Djúpalónssandur and Kirkjufell.

A day on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, with the Snæfellsjökull glacier in view most of the way. You start at the Gerðuberg basalt cliffs and go on to Ytri-Tunga, a white sand beach, which is unusual in Iceland. Arnarstapi has a coastline of basalt ravines and caves where the Atlantic breaks against the cliffs. At Djúpalónssandur you walk through a maze of free-standing lava pillars to reach a black pebble beach. Snæfellsjökull is the glacier Jules Verne used as the entrance to the centre of the earth in his novel. The last stop of the day is Kirkjufell, the most photographed mountain in Iceland.

Day 3: Golden CircleÞingvellir, Geysir, Kerið and Gullfoss.

Iceland's best-known route. At Þingvellir National Park you see the rift where the North American and Eurasian plates are moving apart, the site where Icelanders founded their parliament in 930 and Iceland's largest natural lake. The Geysir geothermal area has hot springs in many colours and the geyser Strokkur, which erupts every five minutes or so, up to about 40 metres. Kerið is a volcanic crater with a lake in the middle that formed around 3,000 years ago. Gullfoss is where meltwater from the glacier Langjökull falls into a deep canyon; on a sunny day you can see the glacier in the distance and a rainbow in the spray.

Day 4: South CoastSeljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, a glacier hike and an ice cave.

The day starts at Seljalandsfoss, where a short path takes you behind the falling water (bring a waterproof jacket). Skógafoss, further east, drops 60 metres from a cliff into a small gorge, and a staircase beside it leads to a viewpoint above the fall. In the Skaftafell area you hike on an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull with a certified glacier guide, wearing the helmet, harness, crampons and ice axe provided. After the hike a super-jeep takes you on to an ice cave, where the guide explains how the caves form. Waterproof hiking boots that cover the ankle and have a hard sole are recommended. In the evening you reach a hotel in the south-east and meet your guide for information about the northern lights; if the sky is clear and the forecast is good, the guide walks out with you to a dark spot near the hotel. Minimum age 8, and the glacier hike needs a minimum EU shoe size of 34.

Overnight · South-east IcelandAge · Minimum age 8, EU shoe size 34+ for the glacier hike

Day 5: Jökulsárlón & Diamond BeachJökulsárlón, Diamond Beach and Reynisfjara, then back to Reykjavík.

The first stop is Jökulsárlón, a glacier lagoon about 200 metres deep, fed by Breiðamerkurjökull, an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull. Icebergs break off all year and float slowly through the lagoon, and you can walk along the shore. Across the road is Diamond Beach, where the icebergs drift out into the Atlantic and the tide throws pieces back onto the black sand in all shades of white and blue. Later you stop at Reynisfjara, a black sand beach with basalt columns in the cliffs and rock pillars in the sea; Dyrhólaey can be seen in the distance, and puffins nest on the cliffs from June to August. A boat tour on the lagoon is an optional extra in summer. The group then drives back to Reykjavík.

Read our Jökulsárlón guide →

About the 5 day Iceland tour

This five day route covers more ground than the shorter versions of this trip: West Iceland and Borgarfjörður on day one, the Snæfellsnes peninsula on day two, the Golden Circle on day three, then the South Coast and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon on days four and five.

The operator now runs this tour all year. A guided glacier hike, an ice cave tour and a visit to the Víðgelmir lava cave are all included, with the safety gear provided and a certified guide leading the glacier activities.

You spend four nights in countryside hotels with private bathrooms and breakfast, chosen for a mix of location and, in the darker months, a chance of the northern lights. Expect around 4–5 hours of driving most days, broken up by plenty of stops, and be ready for the guide to reorder the route around weather or road conditions.

Questions people ask

Does this run in summer too?

Yes. It used to be a winter-only tour but now runs all year.

What's the difference between this and the 4 day tour?

This one adds a full day in Borgarfjörður, with Hraunfossar and Deildartunguhver, before Snæfellsnes.

Is the ice cave included or extra?

Yes. The ice cave tour, the glacier hike and the Víðgelmir lava cave are all included. A Jökulsárlón boat tour in summer is an optional extra.

How many nights are included?

Four nights in countryside hotels with breakfast and a private bathroom.

Best value

Five days sounds long but this one never dragged. We saw major sites and off-beat gems. Guide took care of logistics, which let us relax and enjoy. Ice caves breathtaking. Northern Lights nights unforgettable. Highly recommend to anyone wanting a deep dive into Iceland without rushing.

Rachel K.

Made me fall in love with nature

Iceland’s landscapes are powerful, but this tour showed me their soul. Volcanoes, ice caves, ocean coast, aurora borealis. Loved that our guide explained the environmental changes, glacier retreat — added depth to what we saw. Best of both adventure and insight.

Samuel W.

Fotografía inigualable

Para quienes aman la fotografía, este tour es un sue ño. Cueva azul, hielo, reflejos, paisajes salvajes. Las auroras por la noche fueron un regalo extra. Guías expertos que saben dónde pararse para la luz perfecta.

Valentina M.

Perfect

Blue cave + Northern Lights = bucket list stuff. Tour exceeded expectations.

Omar P.

Adventure & comfort

Loved this tour because each long drive had great stops: scenic vistas, nice meals, hot springs, viewpoints. The accommodation was much better than I expected for remote areas. Nights under the Northern Lights were a highlight. Guides were safety-aware and fun.

Anja L.

Worth Every Moment

Hard to pick a favorite — glacier caves, icebergs, waterfalls, volcanoes… all stunning. The long days are tiring, but the itinerary is planned so well that you’re never bored. Guides made sure everyone understood what we were seeing and why. One of the best trips I’ve ever done.

Michael T.

5 Day Iceland Tour | Golden Circle, South Coast & Snæfellsnes

Your day, stop by stop

About the 5 day Iceland tour

Make it your own

Included

Not included

What to bring

Good to know

Questions people ask

Reviews

Other multi-day trips