One Week Northern Lights Winter Package with Ice Caving & National Parks

Explore the sights of the South Coast by taking an overnight trip out of Reykjavik, visiting waterfalls, black-sand beaches, and the "crown jewel of Iceland," the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.

Iceland's South Coast is a popular sightseeing location thanks to its variety of natural features. You'll start your journey by heading out of Reykjavik and traveling along the coast with an experienced local guide. You'll pass lava fields and black cliffs, enjoying dramatic views of the Atlantic Ocean and mighty glaciers.

You'll start with stops at two spectacular waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. They're both around the same height — about 200 feet (roughly 60 meters) — but dramatically different in appearance. Seljalandsfoss is narrow and gentle, while Skogafoss is broad and thunderously powerful.

After enjoying the views of these two mighty cascades, you'll continue your journey along the coast until you reach the Reynisfjara black sand beach. Watch the ocean waves hammering the volcanic sands and admire the contrast between jet-black sands and white snow.

You can walk along the coast and admire the view of the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. Ensure you don't get too close to the water's edge, as dangerous sneaker waves can appear from nowhere.

From here, your group will continue eastward into the Skaftafell Nature Reserve in the Vatnajokull National Park. Skaftafell was formerly a national park in its own right but was absorbed into Vatnajokull in 2008. You can explore the beautiful woodland areas and view the mighty Vatnajokull glacier.

Within Skaftafell is the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, one of the most stunning sights in the whole country. Massive chunks of ice break off from the edges of the Breidamerkurjokull glacier, floating down into the lagoon and out to sea. You'll see the icebergs floating in the glacial lake before drifting ashore at the Diamond Beach.

The ice is stunning, not only because of its enormous size, but you'll be able to see the pure blue ice from the heart of the glacier, untouched by the UV rays, which turn the rest of the ice white. Seals and gulls often play here, too, so keep your camera ready!

If the sky is clear and conditions are right in the evening, you might be lucky and see the northern lights dancing above the icy lagoon. 

You'll spend the night in a countryside hotel in Southeast Iceland.

Today, you'll have the unique opportunity to visit a natural ice cave within an Icelandic glacier.

After breakfast at your accommodation, you'll rejoin the group and take a Super Jeep onto the Vatnajokull glacier. A Super Jeep is a vehicle that's been specially modified to allow for off-roading in Iceland's challenging terrain — you'll enjoy a fun ride toward the ice cap before you start your ice-caving experience.

There's a short hike from the parking area to the ice cave, so be prepared to walk across the ice — you'll need sturdy hiking boots. Boots that come up over the ankle are best, as these help your feet stay dry during the experience.

Each year, ice cave specialists scour the ice caps in Iceland to look for caves that are safe to enter. The glaciers melt and refreeze a little each day and can rapidly change the caves' layouts. This also means that no two ice caves are the same, and you can enjoy a totally unique experience.

Step inside the ice cave and enjoy the magnificent view of the crystal-blue ice and lace-like frosts. You'll see ice sculptures shaped by the whims of nature and spiky icicles hanging down from the cave's top. It's a truly magical experience, and you'll have about 45 minutes in the cave to enjoy the view and take photos.

After this breathtaking experience, you'll return to the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon to admire the lake in a different light. From here, you'll journey back along the South Coast to Reykjavik. 

If the northern lights appear in the sky as you travel, your driver will stop to let your group enjoy the view and take some photos. Watching the aurora borealis twinkling over the Icelandic countryside is something you'll never forget.

You'll arrive in Reykjavik in the evening and can have a quick dinner in the city center before returning to your accommodation.

Take a trip to "Iceland in miniature" with a two-day excursion to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and West Iceland, discovering waterfalls, glaciers, black-sand beaches, mountains, and hot springs.

After meeting your guide for this two-day trip, you'll journey out of Reykjavik with the rest of your group. This is a small-group excursion, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to ask your guide questions and enjoy a personal experience.

You'll start by driving north toward the town of Borgarnes, then heading west along the Snaefellsnes Peninsulas's southern coast. You'll stop at the Ytri-Tunga beach, a golden-sand beach where seals can often be seen sunning themselves on the rocks. 

Next, you'll continue along the coast until you reach the fishing villages of Arnarstapi and Hellnar. A gorgeous coastal hiking route here will take you along the clifftops to admire the ocean views below. You'll have time to explore the trail before continuing your journey.

Your next stop is the Snaefellsjokull National Park, home to the twin-peaked Snaefellsjokull stratovolcano. The glacier-capped volcano is visible from Reykjavik on a clear day. It also served as the entrance to the underworld in the Jules Verne novel Journey to the Center of the Earth.

You can explore the national park and, if you elected to do so when booking, take an optional trip into the Vatnshellir lava cave. You'll descend into the lava cave and see the dramatic effects of a 7,000-year-old eruption.

From here, you'll visit the black-sand beach of Djupalonssandur, home to a shipwrecked fishing vessel. You'll walk through bizarre volcanic rock formations to reach the beach and see smooth volcanic pebbles and gorgeous coastal views.

Depending on your choice of accommodation when booking, you'll stay in a coastal village on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula or a cozy hotel in Borgarnes, both in West Iceland. 

If you're heading to Borgarnes, you'll have a final stop at the Kirkjufell mountain on the way. Its unique conical shape makes it highly distinctive, and it's now one of the most photographed mountains in the country. If you're staying on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, you can visit the mountain tomorrow morning instead.