3 DAY South Iceland - PRIVATE TOUR (Golden Circle, South Coast)

DAY 1

REYKJAVÍK
Pick up at your accommodation at 9.00 AM, or meet us at bus stop number 8, next to Hallgrímskirkja church, downtown.

THINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK AND ÖXARÁRFOSS WATERFALL
Thingvellir is characterized by tectonic rift valley and marks the rifting of the Eurasian and North American plates from each other. In 930 the Icelandic Parliament, the first democracy in the world, was established at Thingvellir. Thingvellir became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. Enjoy a short walk to Öxarárfoss waterfall.

STROKKUR AND THE GEYSER AREA
Did you know that the english name “geyser”, derives from the one and only in the Haukadalur area in Iceland? The geyser Geysir itself erupts boiling water up to 70 meters, but is almost inactive now. Strokkur, only few meters apart from Geyser, erupts on average every 5 minutes.

GULLFOSS, GOLDEN WATERFALL
Near Geysir is the Gullfoss Waterfall, which probably tops the list of being the most beautiful waterfall in Iceland. Enjoy the view from above and walk down the path to get close to the powerful waterfall.

FRIÐHEIMAR AND HORSE VISIT
At Friðheimar greenhouse, tomatoes are cultivated, using geothermal heat and geothermallly generated electricity. With a tropical climate inside, they have opened a restaurant, right there in the tomato field. The main ingredients in their menu is of course, tomatoes grown there. This is a very rare and unique lunch experience. On the way we visit some friendly Icelandic horses. Overnight near Hvolsvöllur.
SECRET LAGOONUnwind and relax in the Old local swimming pool in Flúðir, also called the Secret Lagoon.

DAY 2

Breakfast at hotel.

SELJALANDSFOSS AND GLJÚFRABÚI WATERFALLS Seljalandsfoss is a 60 m high waterfall, beautifully located and exceptional because you can enjoy it from behind. A path takes you around the waterfall and standing behind it is a rare and unique experience. However, on very cold days the path can be closed because of ice, but then you have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful icy landscape. Gljúfrabúi is a nearby waterfall. Gljúfrabúi translates to "the one who lives in the canyon" and is a small hidden waterfall partially obscured by the cliff rock. You need to follow a trail along the small river to enter the narrow canyon where the waterfall tumbles down.   SKÓGAFOSS WATERFALL Skógafoss is one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland. It is also 60 m high and about 25 m wide. Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss are both in glacier rivers, meltwater from Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers. Alongside the waterfall a staircase can take you to the shelf above the waterfall for stunning views.

SÓLHEIMAJÖKULL GLACIER Learn about warming climate and the effect on glaciers in Iceland by visiting the Sólheimajökull glacier. Sólheimajökull is an outlet glacier, flowing out of the ice cap Mýrdalsjökull. Underneath Mýrdalsjökull is the famous volcano Katla. Glaciers are retreating and disappearing around us on an unprecedented rate. It is predicted that in a few decades the glaciers in Iceland will all be gone.

DYRHÓLAEY   At Dyrhólaey there is an amazing view of the south coast landscape and black beaches. Dyrhólaey is a 120-metre high promontory that the sea has eroded from the headland. In summer Dyrhólaey is rich in bird life, the most common, the puffin. Note, in spring during nesting Dyrhólaey is closed.

REYNISDRANGAR AND REYNISFJARA BLACK BEACH Iceland is a volcanic island, made up mainly of basaltic material that is black in colour. Hence, the “Black Beaches”. The black beach was, in 1991, ranked as one of the ten most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world. On the beach, there are remarkable basalt columns. Reynisdrangar is a sea stack, a geological formation made by wave erosion of surrounding material.

EYJAFJALLAJÖKULL VOLCANO Hopefully the weather allows a view of Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which is famous for it´s eruption in 2010, that disrupted air traffic in Europe.

VÍK VILLAGE Vík village is a small village south of Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Stop there before heading to the accommodation. Overnight near Skaftafell National Park.

DAY 3

Breakfast at hotel.

SKAFTAFELL NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast drive to Skaftafell. Skaftafell National Park belongs now to a larger, Vatnajökull National Park, which covers Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe, and the surrounding wilderness.

JÖKULSÁRLÓN GLACIER LAGOON AND DIAMOND BEACH
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is a beautiful lagoon in front of a calving glacier. We will enjoy the amazing view of floating icebergs in a lagoon and walk between them at the black beach, which is sometimes referred to The Diamond Beach. A boat trip in the lagoon is optional and can be booked on location or in advance with us. The sailing tour between icebergs and close to the glacier makes the visit even more memorable.

FJALLSÁRLÓN GLACIER LAGOON
Fjallsárlón is another beautiful glacier lagoon, in front of a calving glacier. The glacier is an outlet glacier from Vatnajökull that flows down a steep valley until it reaches the lagoon. Ice breaks off the glacier and floats around in the water, creating beautiful scenery.

FJARÐÁRGLJÚFUR CANYON
Fjarðargljúfur canyon is a beautiful canyon carved and formed by glacial river during the termination of the last ice age, about 9.000 years ago. The canyon is about 100 m deep and 2 km long. Fjarðárgljúfur became world famous after appearing in one of Justin Bieber´s music video. Drive along the South Coast to Reykjavík.  
NATURAL ICE CAVES (WINTER) OR GLACIER HIKE AND SKAFTAFELL (SUMMER)
In winter we visit natural ice caves but in summer when they are closed we enjoy an amazing glacier hike and in Skaftafell we hike to the beautiful Svartifoss, in English, the Black Waterfall. Svartifoss tumbles down 20 metres (65 ft) from a cliff that is made of beautifully hanging hexagonal basalt columns. The hexagonal columns form inside a lava flow that cools extremely slowly, giving rise to crystallization.  
Winter: Natural ice caves in winter (November - April) (min age 10).

Summer: Glacier hike (min age 10)  and hike to Svartifoss waterfall (May - October).   
We drive along the South Coast back to Reykjavík.