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South Coast and Northern Lights Tour

Name: South Coast and Northern Lights Tour
Brand: Iceland Travel Guide
SKU: 69496
Price: 21990 ISK
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5.0 (1 reviews)

About 14 hours (10-hour South Coast tour + 4-hour Northern Lights tour)Group: Larger group, by coachEasyCoach from Bus Stop 12, hotel pick-up optionalAge 8+Northern Lights season (Sep–Apr)

5.0(1 review)

Northern Lights above Skógafoss waterfall

The basalt cave at Reynisfjara black sand beach

A South Coast and Northern Lights tour that combines a full day out to the waterfalls and black sand beaches of the South Coast with an evening Northern Lights hunt, all in one long day from Reykjavík.

SeljalandsfossSkógafossReynisfjaraVíkNorthern Lights hunt

Two tours combined for the price of a bundle: South Coast by day, aurora hunt by night
Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls
Reynisfjara black sand beach and views of Sólheimajökull glacier
The village of Vík
An evening Northern Lights hunt away from Reykjavík's lights

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.

1Start in ReykjavíkMeet at Bus Stop 12 or get picked up, then the tour leaves from Kringlan.

HvolsvöllurA short stop for breakfast and toilets.

A short stop in Hvolsvöllur, the main town of the area, for breakfast and the toilets before the longer stretch east. Lunch is not included, so this is also the place to pick up food for the day.

SkógafossA 60-metre high, 25-metre wide waterfall.

Skógafoss falls in one broad curtain about 60 metres high and 25 metres wide, right beside the village of Skógar. On sunny days the spray usually throws a rainbow, sometimes a double one, across the pool at its base. A staircase of 527 steps leads to a viewpoint at the top, where you can see the river before it drops.

Tip · look out for rainbows in the spray

Read our Skógafoss guide →

Vík í MýrdalLunch in the village or a short walk to see the Reynisdrangar sea stacks.

Vík í Mýrdal is the southernmost village in Iceland, with about 750 residents, and the natural stopping point on the South Coast. It sits under the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap, which covers the Katla volcano, and has a black sand beach with sea stacks, a hilltop church, a supermarket and a filling station. It is a good place for a meal or a break before the next stretch of road.

Read our Vík í Mýrdal guide →

ReynisfjaraBlack sand beach and basalt column cliffs.

Reynisfjara is a black sand beach with the sea stacks of Reynisdrangar rising out of the water offshore. At the western end, a cliff of hexagonal basalt columns, stacked like organ pipes, stands beside the cave Hálsanefshellir. It is also one of the most dangerous beaches in Iceland, because of sudden, powerful waves that run far up the sand. Keep well back from the water and follow the warning signs.

Safety · stay well back from the water and never turn your back on the waves

Read our Reynisfjara guide →

SólheimajökullA short walk up to the glacier snout.

Sólheimajökull is an outlet glacier of Mýrdalsjökull, the ice cap that sits on top of the Katla volcano. It is about 8 kilometres long and retreating. From the car park a short, mostly flat gravel path leads to a black meltwater lagoon at the edge of the ice, 15 to 20 minutes each way. Glacier hikes onto the ice itself need a guide and equipment, and you should not walk onto it without one.

Walking · about 20 minutes from the car park

Read our Sólheimajökull guide →

SeljalandsfossA 66-metre waterfall you can walk around.

Seljalandsfoss drops 60 metres from what was once the edge of the coastline, before sea levels fell after the last ice age. The Seljalandsá river is fed by meltwater from Eyjafjallajökull, the volcano that erupted in 2010 and grounded flights across Europe. It is one of the few waterfalls in Iceland with a path behind the falling water, so expect to get wet and bring a waterproof jacket.

Tip · bring a rain jacket, you may get soaked

Read our Seljalandsfoss guide →

8Return to ReykjavíkBack in the city with a break before the Northern Lights tour.

Northern Lights huntA separate evening tour of about 4 hours to look for the aurora.

A separate evening tour of about 4 hours, starting once you are back in Reykjavík. Your guide picks the route and viewing spot from that night's forecast and cloud cover and drives away from the city lights. The lights are never guaranteed, so dress warmly and be patient.

About the South Coast Northern Lights tour

This combines two separate tours into one long day: a South Coast sightseeing trip that runs through the afternoon, followed by an evening Northern Lights tour once you are back in Reykjavík. It suits visitors on a short trip who want to cover both without booking separately.

The South Coast portion visits Seljalandsfoss, where you can walk behind the falling water, Skógafoss, one of Iceland's biggest waterfalls, Reynisfjara's black sand beach, and the village of Vík, with views of Sólheimajökull glacier along the way. An audio guide is available on board in several languages. After returning to Reykjavík in the early evening, a separate coach departs later for the Northern Lights hunt, with the exact route depending on the forecast that night.

Because it is two tours back to back, it is a long day, roughly 13 hours combined, with a gap in Reykjavík between them. As with any Northern Lights tour, seeing the aurora is never guaranteed and depends on solar activity and clear skies.

Make it your own

Optional extras, at extra cost

Entry to the Aurora Reykjavík Northern Lights centre

Included

Professional guide
Free Wi-Fi

Not included

Hotel pick-up and drop-off (an extra fee may apply)
Food and drinks

What to bring

Warm, waterproof clothing
Comfortable shoes
Hat and gloves for the evening portion

Good to know

Two tours in one: a 10-hour South Coast day tour and a 4-hour Northern Lights tour
Minimum age is 8
Meet at Bus Stop 12 (opposite Storm Hotel, Þórunnartún 6) or add hotel pick-up; pick-up is within 30 minutes of the start time
The Northern Lights portion only runs during aurora season
Seeing the Northern Lights is never guaranteed
No food included, but there are stops where you can buy food
Sólheimajökull is a 20-minute walk from the car park, so wear good shoes

Questions people ask

Are these two separate tours or one continuous trip?

Two tours sold together: a 10-hour South Coast day tour, then a 4-hour Northern Lights tour, with a break in Reykjavík between them.

Is the Northern Lights part guaranteed to show the aurora?

No, it depends on solar activity and clear skies, like any Northern Lights tour.

Is this a long day?

Yes, expect to be out for most of the day and into the evening.

What should I wear?

Warm, waterproof layers for the coast in the day, plus a hat and gloves for the cold evening viewing stops.

Is pick-up included?

The meeting point is Bus Stop 12 (opposite Storm Hotel). Pick-up from your accommodation can be added, and an extra fee may apply.

Reviews

Reviews from travellers who took this tour. A local reads every review before it is shown.

5.0Based on 1 review

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1 star0

Good tour

Good tour with some beautiful locations. The tour was in a bus but it was not crowded. I think I would go with the small tour next time, but we went to the locations we wanted and saw the northern lights in the evening, so it was a very good day.

Hillary · December 2024

From21,990 ISKPer person