In Iceland you can witness some of the world’s most unique geological forms and processes on one of these top tours from capital city, Reykjavik.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
Iceland’s diminutive capital city holds a third of the country’s entire population, with roughly 130,000 people. As such, there is a good deal of empty wilderness beyond the suburbs of Reykjavik. While much of this makes the interior of Iceland sound inhospitable and inaccessible, a great way to unlock the region is on a guided tour. A whole host of tours and excursions are available, ranging from a day trip along the popular south coast to a week exploring the entire island. Here are some of the best tours and excursions from Reykjavik.
Golden Circle Full-Day Tour with Kerið Crater
Perhaps the most popular destination in Iceland from Reykjavik, as much for its natural beauty as for its ease of access, is the Golden Circle, a 300km (186-mile) route past some impressive tectonic landscapes. Stops include the volcanic crater at Lake Kerið, Gullfoss Waterfall, natural geysers at Geysir, and the rift valley with historic significance for Iceland, Thingvellir National Park. This tour receives near-perfect reviews from many thousands of past guests. Daily departures year-round. From $53 per person.
South of Iceland Full-Day Trip from Reykjavik
Exploring the south coast offers glimpses of a very different, but equally stunning wild side of Iceland. Here you’ll get glimpses of the island’s rural side (most people in Iceland live less than an hour from the sea), through small towns like Vik, where red-roofed churches gaze out over dramatic cliffs and black sand beaches. Other highlights include glaciers, hanging on despite global warming, and the impressive Seljalandsfoss waterfall, where you can walk round the back of the cascades. Daily departures. From $81 per person.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
Snæfellsnes Peninsula Full-Day Tour
Jutting out into the Atlantic to the north of Reykjavik, like a finger pointing towards Greenland and North America, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is home to some of Iceland’s most spectacular natural wonders. Among them is Kirkjufell, the unusually shaped mountain, with its nearby cascades and barren landscape. You’ll spend six hours exploring this remarkable space, from fishing villages to volcanoes and chiseled sea cliffs. Daily departures. Pickup from certain hotels can also be added for a small additional fee. From $122 per person.
From Reykjavik 2-Day South Coast Tour with Blue Ice Cave
Heading further east along the southern coast of the island, you start to reach natural formations that are both remarkable and free from the day-trippers. This tour includes a trip to Gljufrabui, a hidden waterfall coming down from the slopes of a volcano, and the icy wonderland of Vatnajokull National Park, where icebergs break free from a glacier and into a lagoon. You will also explore the blue ice caves that only form during the winter months. Tour runs daily from Nov to Mar. From $443 per person.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
3-Day Golden Circle, South Coast, & Glacier Tour
If all of the above sounds exhilarating, then why not combine a little of everything into one longer excursion from Reykjavik? You can see so much more and go so much further in three days. Pack waterfalls, geysers, glaciers and volcanoes into an itinerary filled with remarkable natural beauty the likes of which you’ll never see anywhere else. Take a boat tour on the glacier lagoon, slaloming past icebergs, and take a guided hike onto a glacier. This tour includes accommodation and breakfasts, and runs on Sun, Tue and Fri. From $548 per person.