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Fantastic 2 Day Self Drive Trip to the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon with Ice Caving
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Description
Details
Tour starts
Reykjavík
Starting time
Flexible
Duration
2 days
Ending place
Reykjavík, Iceland
Difficulty
Easy
Available
Sep. - Mar.
Ending time
Flexible
Minimum age
8 years old
Description
Delve into the mysteries of Iceland on this fast, 2-day self-drive adventure along Iceland's gorgeous south coast, from Reykjavik all the way to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. You'll be able to see the beauty of Iceland wearing its winter dress for you, all swaths of white snow and lacy icicles hanging from windowsills.
You'll make the journey in a 4x4 car that can handle the tough winter conditions and get you to your destination in comfort so that you can enjoy the fresh air and take in the natural environment. This tour offers a chance to view two of the loveliest waterfalls in Iceland, Skógafoss, and Seljalandsfoss, along with the black beach of Reynisfjara. You'll also visit an ice cave under Vatnajökull glacier, close tothe famous Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.
Ice caves are quite rare in Iceland. Each year, specialists investigate the area around Vatnajökull glacier for caves that form naturally after meltwater has run under the ice cap. Each cave is chosen for its safe passage and unique beauty, so each tour is a one-of-a-kind experience possible for only a few months each year, where you'll get to see and touch the wonderful, crystal-blue ice in the glacier's depth.
You also have an opportunity to search the night skies for the Northern Lights - if you're lucky, you'll get to see them dancing over the glacier lagoon, reflected on the water and ice.
Because your tour is short, we want you to see the most popular sites while still leaving time to take care of yourself. We've included the best of Iceland and some of its best-kept secrets in this itinerary to give you time away from the crowds so that you can enjoy the beauty all around you without interruption.
Our custom itinerary provides a balance of places you've seen on postcards, and those only locals know so you can revel in the natural world for as long as you like.
Don't miss this exclusive chance to see some of the most beautiful landscapes in Iceland! Check availability by choosing a date.
Included
Accommodation for one night by Jökulsárlón, with breakfast
Dacia Duster 4x4 or similar rental car for two days (upgrades available, more details below)
Ice cave tour from Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
CDW and SCDW insurance along gravel protection for car rental
GPS system
Detailed itinerary
Personal travel agent
Taxes
Travelers who book with Guide to Iceland may have a PCR or rapid antigen COVID-19 test prearranged prior to their departure from Iceland, if needed.
Activities
Sightseeing
Northern lights hunting
Ice Caving
Self drive
Daily itinerary
Day 1
Day 1 - South Coast to Jokulsarlon
Pick up your 4x4 car in Reykjavík and start your exciting winter journey on the south coast. After a couple of hours' drive through some cute towns and past the lowland fields of the south, you'll come to Seljalandsfoss waterfall. You're able to walk around this waterfall, and there's no way you'll miss it as you can spot it from the Ring Road easily.
Read moreA little while later, you'll come to another stunning waterfall, Skógafoss, the last waterfall in a series of dozens of smaller ones coming down from the glacier of Mýrdalsjökull, that's right next to Eyjafjallajökull volcano.
Further along the south coast, you can visit Dyrhólaey, where you can take in breathtaking views of the glacier, the black sands, and the Atlantic Ocean from its picturesque lighthouse. You'll also be able to go to the black sands of Reynisfjara beach.
Make sure that you have enough time to reach Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon at the end of the day, where you will spend the night. This is possibly the best location in the country to see the Northern Lights, as they can be reflected in the still water if they are strong enough!
Day 2
Day 2 - The Blue Ice Cave
Your ice caving tour starts in the morning from Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. You'll meet up with your guide at the glacier lagoon parking lot and then be driven on a specially modified car towards the ice cave.
Read moreYou need to go with a guide because the ice caves can be dangerous, and it's up to your guide to decide if it's safe to enter the cave, depending on weather and conditions. We put safety first.
If the conditions are right, you'll be able to enter a winter world as you've never seen it before, admiring stunning blue ice from inside the glacier, 1,000 years old!
After your ice cave tour, you can spend some time admiring the beauty of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon in the daylight before your drive back to Reykjavik.
If you leave around 14:00, you should be back in Reykjavik by 20:00, though it depends on how long you will want to enjoy the Lagoon and the driving conditions on the way back to the capital.
What to bring
Warm clothing and outerwear suited for rainy and chilly weather (Waterproof recommended)
Winter hiking shoes
Good to know
Self-drive tours begin either in Reykjavík City or at Keflavik International Airport. A valid driver's license is required, along with a one-year-long on-road experience. Please be aware that your itinerary may be rearranged to better fit with your arrival date and time.
The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and therefore cannot be guaranteed, but this itinerary is designed to maximize your chances to see them if the weather allows. Please be aware that your itinerary may have to be rearranged to better fit your arrival date and time.
It can happen, in the case of extreme weather, that an activity is canceled. If your chosen activity is canceled, we will assist you with rearranging or booking other activities when possible, and any potential price difference will be refunded to you.
Note that Icelandic roads and pavements can be slippery in the wintertime. We recommend you bring shoes with slip-resistant soles or ice-grip shoe covers. The covers can be purchased in most supermarkets and gas stations around the country.
Accommodation
See our accommodation levels below and our preferred accommodation partners under each day in the daily itinerary. Bookings for one person will be arranged in single rooms, and bookings for two or more people will share a twin/double or triple room(s). Teenagers and children will be arranged in the same room with parents. If additional room(s) is needed, additional costs will incur. Guide to Iceland will provide you with the best available accommodation at the time of your booking from our preferred partners. Please keep in mind that hotel quality in Iceland varies among locations and availability is highly limited. If our preferred partners are fully booked at the time of your booking, we will find another suitable accommodation for you of similar level. Please note that not all locations offer quality level accommodation. Comfort level accommodation will be arranged at those particular locations, which is reflected in the quality level upgrade price. We always do our best to accommodate special requests, which may incur additional costs. Press choose a date to find availability.
Comfort
Rooms with a private bathroom in three star hotels or quality guesthouses. Very close to the best attractions at each location. Breakfast is included.
Quality
Rooms with a private bathroom in a four star hotel or superior rooms in a quality three star hotel at the best locations in Iceland. Breakfast is included.
Car
Below you can see the car rental options available for this self-drive tour. All our vehicles are new or current models, maximum 2 years of age, and include standard Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), Gravel Protection (GP), and Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW) insurances. Please note that off-road driving is illegal for all types of cars. All levels come equipped with a GPS and free Wi-fi. You can enjoy unlimited data with the Wi-Fi device, which can be connected to up to 10 devices at once. The car rental will provide 24-hour roadside emergency services. Age requirement for each level can be found below. For all levels, the driver must possess a valid driving license for at least one year before the date of the rental. We recommend Budget 4X4 level for summer driving and Comfort 4X4 for winter driving. In wintertime, all cars have winter tyres.
Budget 4x4
A basic 4WD (4X4) jeep or SUV such as a Dacia Duster or similar. Comfortably fit up to 3 travellers with 2 large pieces of luggage. Fit for most travel and decent for snow and off-asphalt driving. Has basic highland capabilities. The driver must be of 20 years of age or above.
Comfort 4X4
A medium-sized 4WD (4x4) jeep or SUV such as a Toyota Rav4 (automatic) and Suzuki Vitara (manual), or similar. Comfortably fit up to 4 travelers with 3 large pieces of luggage. Fit for most travel and good for snow and off-asphalt driving. Has basic highland capabilities. The driver must be of 21 years of age or above.
Luxury 4x4
A large 4WD jeep such as a Toyota Land Cruiser or similar. Comfortable for up to 4 travellers with 4 large pieces of luggage. Fit for nearly all travelling. Has full highland capabilities to drive on accessible mountain roads. The driver must be of 21 years of age or above.
Van
A large 9-seater van such as a Mercedes Benz Vito (4WD manual, has highland capabilities and better suited for winter driving), or similar. Comfortable for 5 to 7 travelers. If seated full, luggage space is limited. The driver must be of 23 years of age or above.