South Coast Adventure and Northern Lights Experience
South Coast Adventure and Northern Lights Experience
Embark on a breathtaking journey from Reykjavik through the mystical landscapes of Iceland, driving along the southwestern ring road. Witness the majesty of volcanoes, waterfalls, and glaciers before reaching the captivating black sand beach and the charming southernmost town of Vík. Begin your adventure through the Hellisheiði mountain pass, marvel at the Solheimajökull Glacier, be awed by the basalt columns at Reynisfjara beach, and visit Vík, with its folklore of trolls turned to stone. The journey doesn't stop there; behold the magnificent Skógafoss and walk behind the Seljalandsfoss Waterfall for an unforgettable view, possibly embellished by rainbows. Lastly, embrace the magical Northern Lights, with our expert team leading the hunt for this ethereal display under the clear winter skies, ensuring a high success rate for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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Embark on a mesmerizing journey along the southwestern corridor of the ring road, starting from the captivating city of Reykjavik and stretching down to the enchanting black sand beaches and the quaint town of Vík. This tour promises an escape into the heart of Iceland's natural wonders, showcasing an array of awe-inspiring landscapes from the majesty of volcanoes and glaciers to the astonishing beauty of waterfalls. The adventure begins with a scenic drive through the Hellisheiði mountain pass, offering views of moss-draped lava fields and bubbling geothermal springs, eventually leading you to the picturesque farmlands along the coast.
As your eyes feast on the stunning vistas, you might catch a glimpse of Hekla and the notorious Eyjafjallajökull volcanoes, as well as the distant Westman Islands, on clear days. Your journey will take a delightful turn at the Solheimajökull Glacier, a haven for photography enthusiasts, before whisking you away to the enigmatic black sand beach of Reynisfjara. Here, witness the Atlantic's mighty waves clash against the shore, complemented by the striking basalt columns that create a scene so surreal it seems plucked from a fairytale.
The exploration then continues to the serene village of Vík, where a small church perched on a hill offers panoramic views of three mystical volcanic stone columns, legend has it, are trolls turned to stone. The return trip to Reykjavik is equally thrilling, highlighted by a stop at the majestic Skógafoss waterfall, where a brief climb unveils one of Iceland's most scenic vistas. The journey concludes with the awe-inspiring Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, celebrated for its hidden pathway that offers a unique perspective of this natural wonder, potentially framed by rainbows in sunny weather.
The tour also presents the possibility of witnessing the magical Northern Lights, a spectacular natural phenomenon resulting from solar storms, visible under clear winter skies. With an experienced team closely monitoring weather patterns and Northern Lights forecasts, there's a high chance of experiencing this unforgettable spectacle, truly epitomizing the wonder of an Icelandic winter. Join us on this journey to discover the unparalleled beauty of Iceland, where every stop is a new adventure and every view a lasting memory.
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Itinerary
Itinerary Highlights
Waterfalls, Glacier & the Black sand beach
Drive along the southwestern stretch of the ring road leading from Reykjavik along volcanoes, waterfalls, and glaciers to the black sand beach and Iceland´s southernmost town, Vík. The journey commences through the Hellisheiði mountain pass, unveiling moss-covered lava fields and past geothermal springs down to the farmland along the coastline.
On clear days, witness the infamous Eyjafjalljökull volcano and Hekla, along with the Westman Islands. The first stop is at Solheimajökull Glacier, a paradise for photographers, followed by the visit to the mesmerizing black beach of Reynisfjara. The journey continues to the village of Vík, showcasing trolls turned to stone. The trip back to Reykjavik includes the majestic Skógafoss waterfall and the stunning Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, with potential rainbows enhancing the experience. The night ends with a Northern Lights hunt, leveraging extensive experience and success in forecasting this magical phenomenon.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 begins at Reykjavik Terminal with departures from Skógarhlíð 10. The tour includes pickups for those who have arranged for it. The first major stop is at Sólheimajökull Glacier, showcasing the magnificent glacial landscapes. Following this, explore the unique Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, famous for its volcanic sands and basalt formations. Visit Vík í Mýrdal, Iceland's southernmost town, before heading back and stopping at the iconic Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls. The itinerary rounds off with an exciting Northern Lights hunt, making for an unforgettable Icelandic adventure.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Inclusions
- In bus audio guide with a choice of 10 languages (English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Finnish)
- Knowledgeable local guide
- Admission to the sights
- Free Wi-Fi and USB charger in every seat
- Instructions about how to set up your camera to capture Northern Lights and the night sky
Exclusions
- Pick-up and Drop-off at hotel can be booked as an extra service with our SmartBus™ service. Otherwise, you are advised to be at our Reykjavik Terminal 15 minutes before the tour departure time.
Important Notes
Waterfalls, Glacier & the Black sand beachDrive along the southwestern stretch of the ring road leading from Reykjavik along volcanoes, waterfalls, and glaciers to the black sand beach and Icelands southernmost town, Vík. The tour starts with a drive through the Hellisheiði mountain pass bringing you through moss-covered lava fields and past geothermal springs down to farmland along the coastline.On clear days, Hekla, the infamous Eyjafjalljökull volcanoes along with the Westman Islands can be seen rising in the distance as you approach the Solheimajökull Glacier, a photographers delight and the first stop on the tour. The next destination is the otherworldly black beach known as Reynisfjara where the waves of the Atlantic Ocean crash upon the black sands from which the seemingly man-made hexagonal basalt columns rise to cliffs filled with nesting sea birds. After taking in your fill of the amazing geological formations, the tour will continue onto the small village of Vík with a church upon a hill overlooking three volcanic stone columns, said to be trolls turned to stone along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.After Vík, the trip back towards Reykjavik will take you to the powerful Skógafoss waterfall where a short walk up a flight of stairs will reveal one of Icelands most scenic views. From here we will head to the final stop, the 60-meter-high Seljalandsfoss Waterfall famous for the hidden pathway leading behind and around this stunning sight. With some luck and sunny weather conditions, rainbows may add to the spectacular experience at each waterfall.The Aurora is both wonderfully mysterious and magical, and once seen never forgotten. Simply put, nothing says Icelandic Winter like the idea of hunting for the Northern Lights. A result of powerful solar storms, the Northern Lights need clear winter skies to be visible. Rest assured, our expert operational team has decades of experience analyzing weather patterns. We carefully review on a daily basis the cloud forecast and the Northern Lights forecast. We never set off unless we think we have a good chance of spotting them, meaning we have a high success rate.We are working with Icelands most talented Northern lights hunters to find the best places every night.It is never a guaranteed that we will see northern lights, however, we do our best to maximize our chances by picking the best locations.Since it is never guaranteed to see aurora, we will make sure you get the chance to see them. In the event of a unsuccessful hunt, we offer you the chance to re-book as many times as needed until you partake in a successful northern lights hunt. You can continue to do this within a 2 year period of going on the first hunt.If the Northern Lights portion of this tour is canceled due to weather and you dont have an opportunity to participate in a subsequent tour, the northern lights portion of the tour will be refunded.