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South Coast Tour from Reykjavík

Name: South Coast Tour from Reykjavík
Brand: Iceland Travel Guide
SKU: 91441
Price: 23300 ISK
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5.0 (1 reviews)

About 10 hoursGroup: Small group, up to 19 peopleEasySmall-group minibus, pick-up in ReykjavíkAll agesAll year

5.0(1 review)

The basalt cave at Reynisfjara black sand beach

The black sand coast seen from Dyrhólaey

A South Coast tour from Reykjavík with pick-up included and a small group vehicle. In one day you see two of Iceland's best-known waterfalls, a black sand beach, dramatic cliffs and a glacier tongue.

SeljalandsfossSkógafossSólheimajökull glacier tongueReynisfjara black sand beachDyrhólaeyVík village

Two of Iceland's most photographed waterfalls in one day
Reynisfjara's black sand and basalt columns
Views of Sólheimajökull glacier tongue from the road
Dyrhólaey's cliffs, with puffins in summer
Small-group minibus with pick-up in Reykjavík

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.

1Pick-up in ReykjavíkPick-up from your hotel or a nearby stop, around 08:30–09:00.

SeljalandsfossA waterfall you can walk behind on a path around the back.

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.

Walking · short path, can be slippery and wetTip · waterproofs help if you walk behind the falls

Read our Seljalandsfoss guide →

SkógafossA wide, powerful waterfall with a viewing platform above.

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.

Walking · steps to the upper platform, optional

Read our Skógafoss guide →

Sólheimajökull glacier tongueViews of a glacier tongue reaching down from Mýrdalsjökull.

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.

Read our Sólheimajökull guide →

Vík villageA stop in Iceland's southernmost village, with time for lunch.

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. Vík is the usual lunch stop on the route; food is not included in the tour price.

Read our Vík í Mýrdal guide →

Reynisfjara black sand beachBlack sand, basalt columns and sea stacks just outside Vík.

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 waterline

Read our Reynisfjara guide →

DyrhólaeyCliffs and a rock arch with wide coastal views.

Dyrhólaey, 'door hole island', is a headland rising 120 metres above the coast, named for the large arch the sea has cut through the rock, big enough for a boat to pass through in calm weather. The views take in the black sand beaches on either side, the glacier Mýrdalsjökull inland and the sea stacks of Reynisdrangar to the east. This is puffin country from late April to mid-August, and the upper area is often closed for a few weeks around May to protect nesting birds.

Season · puffins usually seen mid-summer only

Read our Dyrhólaey guide →

8Return to ReykjavíkDrop-off back in the city about 10 hours after pick-up, in the early evening.

About the South Coast tour from Reykjavík

This is the classic South Coast day trip, covering the stretch of coastline between Reykjavík and Vík in a single long day. Pick-up is from your hotel or a nearby stop early in the morning, and the drop-off back in the city is usually early evening.

The stops follow the coast road roughly east to west on the way out: Seljalandsfoss, where a path lets you walk behind the falling water, Skógafoss with its wide curtain of spray, views of the Sólheimajökull glacier tongue, then Reynisfjara's black sand beach and basalt columns near Vík, with Dyrhólaey's cliffs (puffins nest here in summer) nearby. Vík itself is the usual lunch stop, though food isn't included in the tour price.

It's an easy day physically, mostly short walks from the vehicle to each viewpoint, so it suits most fitness levels and ages. Distances are long, so expect a fair bit of driving between stops, and the weather can change through the day, so dress for wind and rain even if it looks calm in Reykjavík.

Included

Pick-up and drop-off in Reykjavík
Professional local guide
Small-group minibus (max 19 passengers)

Not included

Food and drinks
Personal gear

What to bring

Sturdy, waterproof shoes
Warm, waterproof clothing
Money for lunch

Good to know

Duration is about 10 hours door to door
Suitable for all ages; walks at each stop are short
Small group, maximum 19 passengers on a minibus
Puffins at Dyrhólaey are only around in summer
Weather changes fast on the coast, so dress in layers
Pick-up 8:30-9:00 from hotels and designated bus stops; back in Reykjavík about 10 hours later
Needs a minimum of 4 adults to run
Child and booster seats are available on request, free of charge.

Questions people ask

Do we walk behind Seljalandsfoss?

Yes, there's a path around the back of the falls, though it can be wet and slippery.

Is lunch included?

No. There's a stop in Vík with time to buy lunch, but food isn't part of the tour price.

Will we see puffins?

Only in summer, when they nest on the cliffs at Dyrhólaey.

How much walking is involved?

Not much. It's short walks from the vehicle to each stop, so it suits most fitness levels.

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

Great trip for our family

Such a memorable tour for our family! The waterfalls and black sand beaches were breathtaking, and our guide made everything fun and accessible. Perfect pace for families with kids—can’t recommend it enough!

Nora · October 2024

From23,300 ISKPer person