6-Day Summer South Coast, Golden Circle, and Westfjords Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik

After breakfast at the hotel, your 6-day small-group tour in Iceland heads east into Vatnajokull National Park. The drive takes around 2 hours and passes through wide black glacial plains with ice caps visible in the distance.

Your first destination is Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. Icebergs of all shapes and sizes drift across the water after breaking from the Breidamerkurjokull Glacier. Seals often swim between the ice or rest on the surface, and spotting one is a highlight for many visitors.

Just across the road is Diamond Beach, where bright blue and crystal-clear chunks of glacier ice wash onto volcanic black sand. There is no formal path, and the beach is easy to access, allowing you to walk along the shoreline for closer views of the sparkling ice.

From there, the South Coast tour continues to Skaftafell Nature Reserve, part of the vast Vatnajokull National Park. Here, the scenery shifts from icy shoreline to green valleys and mountain trails.

An easy walk leads through birch woodland to Svartifoss Waterfall, which tumbles about 66 feet (20 meters) between striking hexagonal basalt columns. The trail is well-maintained, suitable for most fitness levels, and takes around 40 minutes each way.

The day's final experience is a guided visit to the Katla Ice Cave beneath Myrdalsjokull Glacier. Step inside to explore the brilliant blue ice streaked with black volcanic ash from past eruptions. Unlike many other ice caves in Iceland, the Katla Ice Cave is safe to visit year-round.

You spend approximately two hours inside the cave on flat, walkable terrain. There is no rush, and the guide explains the geology of the glacier as you go. All safety gear is included and fitted before you enter. 

After the ice cave tour, you’ll end your day with an overnight stay at a hotel on the South Coast.

Your 6-day tour in Iceland heads west along the South Coast for the final day of exploring Iceland’s South Coast before returning to Reykjavik.

The morning begins with a visit to Eldhraun, one of the largest lava fields in the world. It covers 218 square miles (565 square kilometers) and is blanketed in thick green moss that has grown undisturbed over centuries.

When the weather allows, the tour makes a short detour to Fjadrargljufur Canyon, a serpentine gorge that stretches for about 1.2 miles (2 kilometers). This location gained international attention as a Game of Thrones filming location in Iceland.

Continue to Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, one of the most dramatic coastlines in Iceland. Basalt columns line the cliffs, and the Reynisdrangar Sea Stacks rise just offshore. Local legend says these towering rocks are trolls turned to stone at sunrise.

Skogafoss Waterfall is the final stop on the South Coast. The water drops 197 feet (60 meters) straight down, and the base is reachable via a flat, easy path. On sunny days, mist rising from the falls often creates bright rainbows near the base, making it one of Iceland’s most photogenic stops.

For those who want more, 527 steps lead to a viewing platform at the top. On clear days, Eyjafjallajokull Volcano is visible from the upper platform. Please remember that the area close to the waterfall can be wet and slippery, so a waterproof outer layer and shoes are recommended.

After Skogafoss, your guide will take you back to Reykjavik for an overnight stay. This night in the capital gives you time to rest, explore the city, or prepare for the Westfjords section of the tour.

The Westfjords leg of this Iceland small-group tour begins with a hotel pickup in Reykjavik. The drive north takes you away from the main tourist routes and into one of Iceland's most remote regions.

The first stop is Eiriksstadir, a reconstructed Viking longhouse about 2.5 hours from Reykjavik. Built near what is believed to have been the childhood home of Leifur Eiriksson, the site is closely tied to the Norse explorer credited with reaching North America around 1000 AD.

Inside the timber longhouse, guides bring the Viking Age to life through storytelling and demonstrations of traditional clothing, tools, and everyday Viking life. Entrance to the museum is included in the tour.

From there, the route continues into Vatnsfjordur Nature Reserve. The coastline here is wild and quiet, with very few other travelers on the road. The drive is scenic, with the fjord visible from the road and steep hills rising on the other side.

The next stop is the Gardar Shipwreck, resting on a black-sand beach near Patreksfjordur. Built in Norway in 1912, it is Iceland’s oldest steel ship. Retired in 1981, its rusted remains on a black-sand shore have become one of the Westfjords’ most photographed landmarks.

The Latrabjarg Cliffs are the day's final destination at the westernmost point of Iceland. These are the largest seabird cliffs in Europe, stretching 9 miles (14 kilometers) and rising over 1,300 feet (400 meters) above the ocean.

In summer (May to August), thousands of puffins and millions of other seabirds nest here and often sit very close to the path. Some sections of the cliff top are unfenced, so staying aware of your footing is important.

You stay overnight near Breidavik, a wide stretch of golden sand that is calm and quiet in the evenings. After the dramatic cliffs, it is a natural place to slow down and unwind before another full day in the Westfjords.

After breakfast, continue your 6-day tour in Iceland at Raudisandur, one of the most unusual beaches in Iceland. The sand here appears red and gold instead of Iceland’s more familiar black beaches. The color comes from crushed scallop shells mixed into the shoreline over thousands of years.

From Raudisandur, the route heads north through the Fossfjordur Valley to Dynjandi Waterfall. This is widely regarded as the most impressive waterfall in the Westfjords.

From afar, its wide, tiered shape resembles a wedding veil draped across the mountainside. As the water descends, it spreads from about 100 feet (30 meters) at the top to nearly 200 feet (60 meters) at the base. A short uphill trail leads to the falls, passing several smaller cascades along the way.

Later, stop at the Onundarfjordur Pier, a quieter viewpoint that many travelers end up loving. A wooden walkway stretches into the fjord, framed by turquoise water and golden sand. This pier is not crowded and is perfect for enjoying the peaceful nature.

Next, visit the Bolafjall Viewing Platform, which sits 2,086 feet (636 meters) above sea level. The road to the top is one of the highest driveable mountain roads in Iceland, and the views from the platform stretch far out over the ocean-facing fjords.

The day ends in Isafjordur, the largest town in the Westfjords, with around 1,600 residents. The old harbor district features well-preserved 18th-century timber warehouses, among the oldest remaining wooden structures in Iceland. 

A short evening walk along the waterfront lets you unwind after a full day of driving and sightseeing. You’ll spend the night in Isafjordur, a perfect base for the final day of exploring the Westfjords.

The final day of this guided 6-day Iceland tour begins at Osvor Maritime Museum, a restored 19th-century fishing station on the edge of the fjord. Turf huts, preserved rowboats, and original tools show how fishermen lived and worked here before modern equipment arrived.

The nearby Osholar Lighthouse is a short walk from the museum. Its red-orange tower sits at the point where the land meets the open sea.

From there, the Seven Fjords Route begins. This winding coastal road passes through a continuous stretch of fjords, with each one framing a slightly different view of water, cliff, and sky. There are no formal stops along this stretch, but the scenery is continuous and worth watching from the window.

Continue your Westfjords tour with a stop at the Arctic Fox Center in Sudavik, a small research facility dedicated to Iceland’s only native land mammal. Inside, well-presented exhibits explore the Arctic fox’s biology, behavior, and conservation history.

In summer, you may also see live foxes in the outdoor enclosures, providing a closer look at the species in its natural environment. Entrance is included in your tour, so you don’t have to worry about additional tickets or entry fees.

Next, the Hvitanes seal colony offers a reliable wildlife stop, where harbor seals rest on coastal rocks between two fjords. A brief pause at Gervidalsa Valley marks the last point in the Westfjords before you head south toward Reykjavik.

The final highlight of the trip is Grabrok Crater in West Iceland. A circular boardwalk trail runs along the rim of this 3,400-year-old volcanic crater, offering clear views over the surrounding lava fields. The walk takes around 20 minutes and is accessible for most fitness levels.

The scenic return to Reykjavik follows the Hvalfjordur route, passing alongside a long, calm fjord flanked by steep hills. You arrive back in the capital between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM, depending on road and weather conditions.

Your 6-day Iceland tour concludes in Reykjavik, where your journey first began, leaving you with a full loop of Iceland’s most dramatic landscapes.