Things to do in

Southern Region, Iceland

See the best of southwest Iceland on an 8-hour Golden Circle tour by bus from Reykjavik. Visit the spectacular Geysir area, and go to the cascades of Gullfoss Waterfall. Discover where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet in Þingvellir National Park. Travel to the geothermal area of Geysir. Marvel as the active hot spring of Strokkur spouts steaming water 30 meters into the air every 8 minutes. Continue to one of Iceland’s most iconic features at the Gullfoss Waterfall (“Golden Falls“). Feel the spray of the waters of the glacial River Hvítá as it plummets down into a 32-meter deep crevice. Next, enter Þingvellir National Park, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart at a rate of a few centimeters per year. Þingvellir was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural value in 2004, and is the site of a stunning rift valley and the Rock of Law, the first Viking parliament. Marvel at the volcanic crater at Lake Kerið, and pass through the Icelandic farms of the south on your drive around the Golden Circle, before returning to your original starting point in Reykjavik.

Explore breathtaking ice formations and glacier mills. Marvel at a naturally-formed, blue ice cave and learn how glaciers are formed. A professional hiking guide will take you to the base of Falljökull, an outlet glacier of the Vatnajökull ice cap and lead you up to the cave. This glacier is the highest peak of Iceland’s tallest mountain range. On a clear day, be sure to look out - you’ll see Hvannadalshnúkur in the distance.

Explore the dramatic landscapes of the south of Iceland on a full-day sightseeing tour by bus. Go to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon outlet of the largest glacier in Europe, leaning about its history and formation from your local guide. Following a pickup from your hotel in Reykjavik, transfer to the southern coast and the dramatic Glacier Lagoon. Enjoy plenty of time to see the floating icebergs and enjoy the stunning scenery. During the season, make sure to reserve your ticket to the boat cruise on the Jökulsárlón and experience the unique Glacier Lagoon spectacle up close. When you prebook, your place is guaranteed. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is Iceland’s largest and deepest glacier lagoon. It branches from Breidamerkurjokull, an outlet glacier of Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest glacier. Return to Reykjavik, stopping at the gorgeous waterfall Seljalandsfoss. You will visit the Diamond beach with black sand, and there will be an additional stop in Iceland's southernmost village at Vík for dinner.

Spend the day exploring the dramatic landscapes of the south of Iceland along with its coastline on a full-day sightseeing tour from Reykjavik. Along the way, discover a variety of rivers, waterfalls, mountains, and glaciers. Following a pickup from listed hotels or guesthouses by bus in central Reykjavík, travel to the gorgeous waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. At the waterfall at Seljalandsfoss, walk behind the cascades and feel the spray on your face. Continue to Skógafoss to marvel at the 60-meter drop. Pass the black sand beaches of the southern coast and enjoy the power of the sea. Visit the glacier snout of Sólheimajökull to see an outlet glacier of Mýrdalsjökull. Admire the ever-changing feat of nature up-close. Then, look at the basalt sea stacks in the town of Vik, Iceland’s southernmost village just south of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, before returning to Reykjavik.

Experience Iceland’s 2 most visited natural attractions, the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon, in one day on a comfortable and convenient minibus tour. Depart Reykjavik and head for the Thingvellir National park, where the Eurasian and American tectonic plates converge. Amble through the stunning, lake-filled area, hopping back and forth between continental boundaries, and view the site where the Icelandic parliament was held from 930-1798. Next, head to the Geysir Hot Spring with geothermal pools reaching temperatures of 200 degrees. Witness the Strokkur geyser erupting a plume of boiling water and steam 100 feet in the air. Grab a bite to eat, before heading to the breathtaking waterfall at Gullfoss. Next, visit the Kerid volcanic crater with its deep blue waters, surrounded by vibrant red rock. Finish your tour at the iconic Blue Lagoon. Luxuriate in the warm, geothermal waters, making use of an included silica mud mask, before heading back to Reykjavik.

Take part in a once-in-a-lifetime experience and snorkel at a site that National Geographic called one of the top dive sites in the world. Gear up in all the necessary snorkeling equipment provided, including neoprene hoods and gloves, a thermal undersuit, dry suit, and your own mask, snorkel, and fins. Then, swim through the pure, filtered glacial meltwater for the ultimate bucket list experience. Only a few spots are available each day, so secure your place now. Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Þingvellir National Park, the Silfra Fissure lies in a valley where the tectonic plates of North America and Europe drift further apart every year. 

Depart Reykjavík early to catch the morning sun, traveling by new bus equipped with computer tablets in each seat. Use the GPS-sensitive, in-bus audio guide (available in 10 languages) to learn more about the sights you will see, and stay connected with the on-board USB chargers and free Wi-Fi. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Þingvellir National Park, birthplace of the longest-running parliament in the world. Discover where the great continental plates of America and Eurasia have dramatically pulled apart to create a rift valley, clearly visible on the shores of Iceland´s biggest lake. Continue to Geysir Hot Springs to discover the home of the original geyser. Experience the trembling ground and see the super-heated water erupt skywards from the spouting Strokkur geyser every few minutes. Then, take a leisurely walk down to Gullfoss Waterfall. Hear the thundering roar of the glacial Hvítá River as it cascades down 32 meters on 2 levels into a narrow canyon. Marvel at the pristine nature of the central highlands aboard a custom-made super truck. They can drive across the rough, snowy terrain thanks to their enormous tires. Drive to the snowmobile base camp at the foot of Langjökull Glacier. Then, ride across the eternally-frozen snow and ice fields of one of the biggest glaciers in the world on a guided snowmobile tour. Experience one of the last true wilderness areas in Europe, and indeed the world! 

Embark on a tour of Iceland’s legendary Golden Circle and soak in the thermal waters of the Secret Lagoon. Explore the southwest, including the spectacular Geysir area, Gullfoss Waterfall, and Þingvellir National Park. After pickup in central Reykjavik, head to the Secret Lagoon and have 1.5 hours to unwind in the thermal waters and admire the peaceful surroundings. Continue to the active hot spring of Strokkur and watch it spout steaming water 30 meters every 8 minutes. Arrive at Gullfoss Waterfall and feel the spray of the glacial Hvítá River as it plummets down into a 32-meter-deep crevice. Next, visit Þingvellir National Park, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart at a rate of a few centimeters every year. Þingvellir was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.

Discover one of Iceland's best attractions just 2 hours drive from Reykjavík on a small group hike of the Sólheimajökull Glacier. Get a meet and greet from your specialist guide, and then head to the roots of the glacier on arrival. Put on the provided equipment needed to walk across the ice, including helmets, crampons and ice axes. Spend about 1 hour walking on the stunning outlet glacier of the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier to see a lot of different natural formations, including ice cave tunnels and a glacier lagoon. Get detailed explanations about this miracle of nature before the 40-minute hike back to the parking lot.

Undergo a unique underwater experience by snorkeling in the Silfra fissure on a half-day tour from Reykjavik. Frequently rated as one of the world's top 10 dive sites, Silfra offers up to 100 m (300 ft) of underwater visibility. Admire views of Iceland's stunning landscape as you ride from Reykjavik to the heart of Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site. Snorkel in this location for 1 hour with your guide, before returning to the warmth of the tour van and heading back to Reykjavik. The cold waters melt off a glacier 50 km (30 miles) away, and make their way through lava fields to beautiful Thingvellir Lake. Although the chilly waters are too cold to support much in the way of marine life, Iceland's Silfra crack runs down between the American and European continental plates and offers amazing underwater views.