4-DAY SOUTH COAST & GOLDEN CIRCLE TOUR – ICE CAVE & NORTHERN LIGHTS
A GUIDED ARCTIC ADVENTURE ALONG THE SOUTH COAST OF ICELAND WITH VILHOLDT REJSER APS AND BLUE ICELANDDiscover some of Iceland’s most beautiful scenery up close, led by experienced local guides.You will visit all the main attractions along the south coast of Iceland, including waterfalls, volcanoes, and glaciers, travelling on a comfortable bus in a small group.Evenings are likely to present opportunities to see the breath-taking Northern Lights (aurora borealis) right from the doorstep of your accommodations.What to bring:Warm clothing - it’s winter, and we’ll be out in natureWindproof jackets and pantsRain gear (be prepared for sudden changes in weather)Thermal underwear (top and bottom)HeadwearScarvesGlovesGood hiking boots are invaluableCamera - you are guaranteed to get amazing photo opportunitiesBathing suit - Icelanders love to relax in warm waterProgramDay 1 - The Golden CircleWe will pick you up from one of our four pick-up locations or by appointment at your accommodation in Reykjavik between 08:30 - 09:00.After that, we continue to Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss, and Geysir: these three sites make up Iceland’s Golden Circle.Þingvellir National Park is almost regarded as a holy place in Iceland. This is where the Icelandic parliament was established in 930. Þingvellir, however, is not only of great historical and cultural significance; part of why the Viking settlers chose this place for their sacred assemblies was because of the unparalleled natural beauty of this remarkable area. In addition, the geological importance of Þingvellir cannot be overemphasized; here, you can clearly see how the Eurasian and North American plates are drifting apart - you are literally standing on the border between Europe and America. Þingvellir is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Gullfoss is considered by many to be the most beautiful waterfall in Iceland. The iconic waterfall is fed by the second biggest glacier in Iceland, Langjökull, and falls 32 meters into a canyon surrounded by walls up to 70 metres high.Geysir is one of the greatest natural attractions of Iceland and gave its name to all the geysers in the world. The original geyser is almost inactive today, but its neighbour Strokkur erupts approximately every 5-10 minutes with a 20-40-meter-high water fountain.At the end of the day, we stop at a Secret Lagoon, known locally as Gamla Laugin, often referred to as the oldest swimming pool in Iceland, made ready for use in 1891.Accommodation: Hotel Selfoss with breakfast and private bathroom.Highlights: Þingvellir National Park (Thingvellir), Gullfoss - one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland and the famous geothermal area with the one and only Geysir.Day 2 - The South Coast and the famous waterfallsYou will get the chance to walk behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall, a rare and pleasant experience as the water falls from the cliff with immense power, forming a deep pool at the bottom.Continuing east along the south coast, the next stop is the picturesque waterfall Skogafoss. There, we offer an opportunity to hike along the side of the waterfall and to the top, providing you with an incredible view.After Skogafoss, we drive to the dramatic black sand beach of Reynisfjara. Here, the waves have shaped the shoreline and the basalt cliffs over time, forming many of the famous natural gems in the area, including unique and picturesque rock formations: the Reynisdrangar sea stacks are just off the shore, flanked by the 120m (400ft) high Dyrholaey promontory, which is the southernmost tip of Iceland. Dyrholaey is the home of many different types of sea birds, including puffins.From Reynisfjara, we continue our journey east through enchanting lava fields and desertlike glacier sands, featuring remarkable contrasts in the scenery. While crossing the mighty lava field Eldhraun, you will learn about the 1789 volcanic eruption at Laki, a volcanic fissure, that nearly wiped out the entire population of Iceland, resulting in the King of Denmark contemplating whether the whole island should be evacuated.Further east, we arrive at the Glacier Lagoon, an extraordinary attraction where you can see floating icebergs drifting into the ocean. Sometimes, seals can be spotted in the lagoon. We will also visit the beautiful Diamond Beach, named after the sparkling diamond-like glacier ice fragments lying on the black sandy beach.Accommodation: Gerdi Guesthouse with breakfast and private bathroomHighlights: The waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss, Dyrholaey, Black Sand Beach Reynisfjara, Vik in Myrdal, Eldhraun (lava field), Glacier Lagoon Jökulsárlón.Day 3 - Glacier hike and ice caveWe start the day with a glacier hike and visit a beautiful crystal blue ice cave. This is an experience you will never forget. The drive to the glacier in a super jeep and the walk across the glacial terrain is a part of this experience, a fantastic adventure for all who love nature at its best. This is the perfect opportunity for photography in winter.In the evening, we invite you to a candlelight dinner featuring a traditional Icelandic three-course meal of local recipes made from local ingredients, accompanied by Icelandic music.Later in the night, we keep an eye out for the northern lights.Accommodation: Gerdi Guesthouse with breakfast, dinner, and private bathroomHighlights: Glacier Lagoon - Jökulsárlón, Glacier hike, Blue Ice cave, Candlelight dinner at Gerdi, Northern lights*Day 4 - Skaftafell – ReykjavikAfter breakfast, we will drive to the National park Skaftafell and hike up to the breath-taking Svartifoss waterfall, surrounded by beautiful black basalt columns.After that, we drive back to Reykjavik, stopping at a few places such as Fjardargljufur canyon, whose stunning cliffs are well known today from the video for Justin Bieber's shot, “I ‘will show you.”Then, we stop in the charming town of Vik for a short break before returning to Reykjavik to drop you off back at your door.Highlights: Skaftafell, Svartifoss, Sjonarholl, Fjardargljufur, Vik
