South Coast, Glacier Hike and Northern Lights Winter Tour

The glacier hike is the heart of this long Iceland day. You walk on Sólheimajökull, hear old ice crack as the glacier shifts, and learn how crevasses form before heading to the black beach and waterfalls. It is a lot more active than a standard sightseeing bus trip.

I like the smart pairing of South Coast highlights with a second Northern Lights outing, and I like that glacier equipment and a certified guide are included. The main drawback is the length: at about 16 hours, with an evening break in Reykjavík, this is a demanding day.

• Sólheimajökull glacier walk: Crampons, glacier equipment, and a certified glacier guide are included.
• Seljalandsfoss from behind: A pathway lets you view the waterfall from an unusual angle, conditions permitting.
• Reynisfjara’s black sand and basalt: See the beach, cave, columns, cliffs, and Reynisdrangar rock stacks.
• Two famous waterfalls: Visit Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, with 527 steps beside Skógafoss for a higher view.
• A separate Northern Lights hunt: Return to Reykjavík around 7:00 PM, eat dinner, then head into the countryside again.
• Frank on the evening outing: The Northern Lights guide named in the supplied information is Frank, whose warm, energetic approach helped make one outing especially memorable.

A Full Day Built Around Ice, Water, and Fire

Iceland’s South Coast works well as a first big outing because it packs several sides of the country into one route. You get waterfalls, volcanic peaks, a glacier, black sand, basalt formations, and open views toward the Atlantic.

This tour adds a glacier hike to the usual South Coast circuit. That changes the feel of the day. Instead of only looking at Sólheimajökull from a roadside stop, you put on glacier equipment and walk across the ice with a trained guide.

The evening Northern Lights hunt makes the schedule unusually long, but it also gives you two very different Iceland experiences in one booking. Daylight is for the South Coast. Darkness is for the sky.

The cost is $255 per person. That is not a bargain-basement bus ride, but the price covers the South Coast transport, a glacier walk, glacier equipment, a certified glacier guide, the evening Northern Lights tour, and WiFi on board. If you already plan to pay separately for a glacier outing and an aurora trip, combining them can make financial sense.

Morning Pickup From Reykjavík

Pickup takes place in the morning from authorized locations in Reykjavík. You should confirm your exact pickup point when booking, since the service is not described as door-to-door pickup from every hotel.

Bring food and drinks. Meals are not included, and the day is long enough that relying only on a quick stop or snacks from your accommodation could leave you short on energy.

You will spend much of the day in transport between major sights, so the included WiFi may be useful. Still, pack a small backpack with your water bottle, snacks, rain gear, and extra layers. Icelandic weather can change quickly, and you will be getting on and off the vehicle in exposed places.

Seljalandsfoss and the Path Behind the Water

The first major stop is Seljalandsfoss, one of Iceland’s most distinctive waterfalls. A path leads behind the falling water, giving you a view that is quite different from the standard front-facing photo stop.

This part of the visit depends on the path and weather conditions. If you walk behind the falls, expect spray and wet ground. A waterproof jacket is important, and waterproof pants are a wise addition. Keep your camera protected, too.

I like this stop because it asks you to do more than point a camera at a waterfall. You move around it and see the water from another side. The tradeoff is simple: the spray can make the path slippery and uncomfortable if you arrive in ordinary city clothes.

Walking on Sólheimajökull

At Sólheimajökull, the tour changes from sightseeing to a guided outdoor activity. Your certified glacier guide provides the required glacier equipment and explains how the ice formed, how it moves, and where crevasses develop.

The guide also points out the sounds and changes of a living glacier. You may hear ancient ice cracking as it shifts. That detail matters because it turns the glacier from a frozen backdrop into something active and moving.

You need sturdy hiking shoes with good ankle support. The tour does not include hiking shoes, and crampons must attach securely to your footwear. The minimum shoe size is EU 35 and the maximum is EU 50.

Do not arrive in sandals, flip flops, or jeans. Jeans are specifically not allowed, and they are a poor match for wet, cold conditions in any case. Wear warm layers, a waterproof jacket and pants, a hat, gloves, and a scarf.

The glacier hike is likely to be the most physically demanding part of the day. The minimum age is eight, but the tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or pregnant women. The supplied information does not give the exact walking distance or time spent on the ice, so you should be comfortable following your guide over uneven frozen ground before booking.

Reynisfjara, Black Sand and Basalt Columns

Reynisfjara is Iceland’s famous black sand beach, where volcanic material meets the Atlantic. The stop includes the basalt columns and cave, the Reynisdrangar cliffs, and the tall basalt rock stacks rising offshore.

The appeal here is the contrast. Dark sand, geometric rock, steep cliffs, and rough ocean give the beach a stark character unlike the waterfalls earlier in the day. You get a clear sense of Iceland as a place shaped by both volcanic activity and the sea.

Pay close attention to your guide and stay sensible near the water. The supplied details do not specify beach safety rules, but Reynisfjara is an exposed Atlantic shore, not a swimming beach. Keep your focus on the cliffs and formations rather than wandering too close to the waves.

This is one of the better stops for photographs, but the weather may be harsh. Bring your rain gear even if Reykjavík looked dry that morning.

Skógafoss and Its 527 Steps

Skógafoss is the other major waterfall on the route. A path with 527 steps runs up beside it, giving you a higher view of the falls and, on clear days, the rainbows created by the spray.

You do not need to treat the steps as a race. The lower viewpoint gives you the classic close view, while the upper path adds a different angle if your legs and the schedule allow it.

This is also a good place to remember that the tour has already included a glacier walk. By the time you reach Skógafoss, you may prefer to enjoy the waterfall at ground level rather than climb every step.

The stop connects the day’s main themes nicely. Waterfalls come from Iceland’s ice and rain, while the surrounding volcanic country provides the hard rock beneath them. On a clear day, you may also see Eyjafjallajökull, Hekla, and volcanoes around the Westman Islands offshore.

Volcano Views Along the South Coast

The route offers views toward several important Icelandic volcanoes when visibility is good. Eyjafjallajökull is especially familiar because of its famous eruption, while Hekla and the volcanoes near the Westman Islands add to the sense of a country shaped by fire.

These views are weather-dependent. Iceland can give you sharp mountain outlines one hour and low cloud the next. The tour promises the chance to see them, not a clear view on every departure.

I like that the volcanoes are part of the day rather than an abstract fact from a guidebook. After learning how a glacier moves and seeing basalt shaped by volcanic forces, you have a better frame for understanding the scenery around you.

Back to Reykjavík, Then Out for the Aurora

The South Coast portion brings you back to your original Reykjavík pickup point at about 7:00 PM. You then have time to eat dinner before being picked up again from the same point for the Northern Lights tour.

This break is useful. Sixteen hours without a proper meal would be rough, and the chance to sit down in Reykjavík gives you a reset before the evening search. It also means you should plan your dinner around the second pickup rather than assuming you can eat whenever you like.

The Northern Lights outing heads into the countryside, away from the city lights, to search for green, yellow, white, and sometimes purple colors in the sky. Your guide will choose the search area based on the conditions, but no one can promise an aurora sighting.

That uncertainty is part of the deal. Cloud cover and solar activity decide what you see. You should book this portion for the chance, not as a guaranteed finale.

Frank is the named Northern Lights guide connected with the supplied experience. His upbeat approach helped turn the evening into a strong part of the outing, even though the lights themselves remain outside anyone’s control.

If the aurora does not appear, the South Coast and glacier portion still make this a substantial day. Several of the supplied comments specifically singled out the glacier hike as the highlight, while also noting that missing the Northern Lights was disappointing. That is a useful way to set your expectations.

What the Long Schedule Means for You

A 16-hour tour is not just a number on a booking page. It means an early start, a full day of stops, a glacier activity, a return to Reykjavík, dinner, and a second departure into the night.

I would choose this tour if you have limited time in Iceland and want to combine several major experiences without arranging separate transport. It is particularly useful during a winter visit, when daylight is limited and a dedicated Northern Lights outing is already on your list.

I would not choose it for a slow, relaxed day. The route covers a lot, and the glacier walk requires proper clothing and footwear. You should also be comfortable with a late finish, since the Northern Lights portion follows the South Coast return.

The English-language guide support is a plus. The glacier guide handles the safety and ice instruction, while the broader tour guide provides information during the route. Glacier equipment is supplied, but your personal clothing and shoes remain your responsibility.

Who Should Book This South Coast Tour?

This experience suits active adults, families with children aged eight and older, and first-time Iceland visitors who want a high-value day outside Reykjavík. It also suits you if you want an introduction to glacier walking without committing to a separate, longer glacier expedition.

The age limit does not mean every child will enjoy the day. A young participant must handle cold weather, a long vehicle day, uneven ground, and the glacier activity. Parents should bring warm layers, snacks, and water.

You should skip it if you need a flexible schedule, have mobility limitations, are pregnant, or do not have suitable hiking shoes. The tour is also a poor fit if you want to spend deep time at one site. Its strength is variety, not lingering.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance and the option to reserve now and pay later make planning easier, especially when Iceland weather can affect your plans. Those policies do not change the need to check the forecast and pack seriously.

Is This $255 Experience Worth It?

For $255, you are buying two outings in one day, not just a bus ride to the South Coast. The package includes transport from Reykjavík, two waterfalls, Reynisfjara, glacier instruction and equipment, a glacier walk, and a second trip to search for the Northern Lights.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise book a glacier hike and aurora hunt separately. It is less compelling if you dislike long days or already have a flexible itinerary with plenty of time for independent South Coast stops.

The most highly praised part is the glacier hike. The guides received strong marks for professionalism and care, and the glacier walk was singled out as the day’s highlight. The evening guide Frank also made a strong impression.

My practical advice is to book this when your priority is maximum variety in limited time. Pack for rain, cold, and a long day, then treat the Northern Lights as a lucky possibility rather than a promise.

Should You Book It?

Book this tour if you want waterfalls, black sand, volcano views, a real glacier walk, and a Northern Lights search without arranging several separate trips.

Skip it if you want a short sightseeing day, cannot manage uneven surfaces, or lack EU 35 to EU 50 hiking shoes that can take crampons. For an active visitor with one open winter day in Reykjavík, the combination offers strong value, with the glacier hike providing the most dependable highlight and the aurora hunt supplying the thrilling uncertainty.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The full experience lasts approximately 16 hours. The South Coast portion returns you to Reykjavík around 7:00 PM, followed by time for dinner and a separate Northern Lights pickup.

What is included in the price?

The price includes Reykjavík pickup, transport, a glacier hike on Sólheimajökull, a certified glacier guide, glacier hiking equipment, a guide, the South Coast highlights, the Northern Lights tour, and WiFi on board.

Are food and drinks included?

No. You need to bring your own food and drinks. You have time to get dinner in Reykjavík between the South Coast tour and the Northern Lights outing.

Do I need to bring hiking shoes?

Yes. Hiking shoes are not included. Bring sturdy shoes with good ankle support that can accept crampons.

What shoe sizes are accepted?

The minimum shoe size is EU 35, and the maximum is EU 50. The shoes must allow crampons to be attached for the glacier walk.

Can children join the tour?

Children aged eight and older can join, provided they meet the activity requirements. The tour is not suitable for children under eight.

Is the Northern Lights sighting guaranteed?

No. Northern Lights can never be promised. Your guide will make the best effort to find suitable countryside viewing conditions.

What should I wear and bring?

Bring warm layers, a waterproof jacket and pants, rain gear, headwear, gloves, a scarf, sturdy hiking shoes, a water bottle, snacks, and a small backpack. Jeans, sandals, and flip flops are not allowed.