South Iceland, Glacier and Black Sand Beach Small Group Tour
Recommended by 92% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Reykjavik, Iceland
- 10 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
See some of southern Iceland’s most famous natural monuments on this guided tour from Reykjavik. Gain an overview of the region as you travel alongside an expert guide to must-see sites like the Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Sólheimajökull glacier, and the black-sand Reynisfjara Beach in the charming village of Vik.
- Full-day tour of southern Iceland from Reykjavik
- Explore natural attractions such as waterfalls, a glacier, and a black-sand beach alongside a guide
- Ideal overview of southern Iceland for first-time visitors
- Pickup and drop-off from select Reykjavik hotels
What's Included
- Professional guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels and official bus stops in central Reykjavik only)
- WiFi on board
- Food and drinks
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Our pickup can take up to 30 minutes so please wait at your pickup location from the time written on your ticket. More locations we do offer pickup service from: - Subway at the former Oddsson Ho(s)tel, Hringbraut 119 - Burgerjoint (Hamborgarabullan), Geirsgata 1 - Gamli Gardur, Hringbraut 29 - BSI Bus Terminal, Vatnsmyrarvegur 10 (front / taxi side) Many accommodations in central Reykjavik are redirected to official "Tour Bus Stops" from which we also offer pickup: - Tour Bus Stop 1, Ráðhúsið - City Hall, Vonarstraeti (64.146316,-21.941491) - Tour Bus Stop 2, Tjörnin - The Pond, Maedragardur on Laekjargata (64.145763,-21.938547) - Tour Bus Stop 3, Lækjargata, Laekjargata 4 (64.14678,-21.937296) - Tour Bus Stop 5, Harpa, Austurbakki 2 (64.14678,-21.937296) - Tour Bus Stop 6, Safnahúsið - The Culture House, Hverfisgata 15 by Arnarholl (64.147454,-21.932894) - Tour Bus Stop 7, Traðarkot, Hverfisgata 20 (64.146706,-21.930425) - Tour Bus Stop 8, Hallgrímskirkja, by Eiriksgata (64.141548,-21.927973) - Tour Bus Stop 9, Snorrabraut, Snorrabraut 24 (64.143497,-21.916289) - Tour Bus Stop 10, Hlemmur, Laugavegur 105 (64.143155,-21.915414) - Tour Bus Stop 11, Austurbær, Snorrabraut 37 (64.142364,-21.917228) - Tour Bus Stop 12, Höfðatorg, Þórunnartún 6 (64.144389,-21.910327) - Tour Bus Stop 13, Rauðarárstígur, Laugavegur 120 (64.142658,-21.913866)
Itinerary
Your tour begins with hotel pickup from your lodging in Reykjavik. Meet your guide and your small group of 15 people or fewer, and begin your drive through the grasslands dividing the glacial peaks of Eyjafjallajökull volcano and the Atlantic Ocean.
Arrive at Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, a nearly 200-foot (60-meter) cascade that allows visitors behind the falls, followed by a trip to one of the largest falls in Iceland at Skógafoss Waterfall. Spend time taking views of the dramatic highland landscape before heading to the well-known Sólheimajökull Glacier.
Then, continue to the basalt stacks at Reyinsfjara and enjoy free time on the black-sand beaches. Finally, conclude your tour in the quaint village of Vik before returning to your hotel in Reykjavik.
Arrive at Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, a nearly 200-foot (60-meter) cascade that allows visitors behind the falls, followed by a trip to one of the largest falls in Iceland at Skógafoss Waterfall. Spend time taking views of the dramatic highland landscape before heading to the well-known Sólheimajökull Glacier.
Then, continue to the basalt stacks at Reyinsfjara and enjoy free time on the black-sand beaches. Finally, conclude your tour in the quaint village of Vik before returning to your hotel in Reykjavik.
1
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Skogafoss
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Solheimajokull Glacier
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Reynisfjara Beach
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Vik
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Please wear appropriate clothing against wind and rain as well as good shoes
- This is a small group tour with a maximum of 18 people
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 18 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Damian_L
What more could I say, Sammi is a legend. The man is everything you could ask for in a guide and more. . His passion for Iceland shows throughout, he is extremely knowledgeable, funny and entertaining.
The weather took a turn for the worst, he adapted and showed us sights we would never have seen otherwise.
He also is an excellent driver, safety was his first concern always.
We had the best day of our stay in Iceland, if you get him as a guide you are very lucky indeed.
Reviews
4.7
based on 243 reviews
Blendina_M, Mar 2026
Amazing tour! Saw so many beautiful sights. Monica was very knowledgable and professional and great fun! Thank you
Richard_R, Mar 2026
Excellent full day, made really pleasurable and informative by our guide/driver Helgi. 2 Waterfalls, walking up to the glacier and the black sand beach at Vik were all really impressive The former blacksand beach with massive waves was an eye-opener on how dangerous and powerful nature can be, particularly as we've seen old pictures of where the beach used to be, under the basalt columns. A short stop to get a view of the Eyjafjallajökull 2010 eruption site (after a lesson on how to say it!) was an extra treat. Expensive but well worth it to get so many experiences in a day.
Damian_L, Feb 2026
What more could I say, Sammi is a legend. The man is everything you could ask for in a guide and more. . His passion for Iceland shows throughout, he is extremely knowledgeable, funny and entertaining.
The weather took a turn for the worst, he adapted and showed us sights we would never have seen otherwise.
He also is an excellent driver, safety was his first concern always.
We had the best day of our stay in Iceland, if you get him as a guide you are very lucky indeed.
ian_a, Feb 2026
A wonderful if a long day at9.5 hrs. The sites are wonderful, 2 waterfalls , the black beach and a glacier. A bit too much time spent in vik eating lunch meant time elsewhere was more limited unfortunately.
Michael_F, Jan 2026
Tour is great! You see a whole different part of Iceland getting outside of Reykjavik. Our guide Tom with BusTravel Iceland was terrific - funny, knowledgeable, talented. Taught us about Icelandic culture while we saw waterfalls, a glacier, a black sand beach and small towns.
Joan_F, Oct 2025
We had a sunny day but be prepared for any weather. A rainjacket with hood is a must for walking behind Seljslansfoss.
Rory_M, Aug 2025
We went on a day when the weather was awful! But this is Iceland so it can happen and we expected it. Monika made sure we arrived to each stop in time. Lots still to see even if access limited in parts due to high winds. Worth the visit.
Deborah_S, Jul 2025
Our tour guide, Monika, was excellent. She gave us door to door service by dropping us off as close to the entrance as possible. She shared so much historical knowledge and introduced us to many Icelandic musical artists with relevant songs written for the places we viewed. She also shared many handouts both funny and educational.
beamup7, Jul 2025
During the drive to the attractions, our driver/tour guide, Tony, gave us a wealth of information about Iceland. He was very knowledgeable & informative. We visited two waterfalls, a glacier, a black sand beach, and a small church that overlooked a coastal village. Also, his food suggestions were tasty. I recommend this excursion.
Barbara_K, Jul 2025
The scenery was fascinating, the guides info very comprehensive. He did drive a little faster than it seemed prudent.
Aisha_A, May 2025
Harold was an amazing tour guide. The way he was explaining things was very interesting. He entertained us throughout the journey.
Anita_D, Apr 2025
A lot of hours to see very little. The worst of my 6 tours on this trip. The weather did not help as it was grey and rainy and our guide Pieter was very dour so did not add anything lifting. Despite the fact that we were a small group of only 8, he made no effort to engage with any of us or to lighten the mood. He spewed loads of history, dates and facts, but failed to bond with us.
Considering that I had experienced such fabulous guides all week, this was a serious let down to end the week.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Dear Anita,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations, especially after such a positive week of touring.
On tours of this length — around 10 hours — we aim to include as many attractions as possible to give our guests a rich experience of Iceland’s incredible landscapes. However, due to the country's vast and spread-out nature, some longer periods of driving are unfortunately necessary to connect the main highlights.
Regarding the guiding style, we truly appreciate your comments. Our guides do their best to engage with the group, but each has their own approach — some are more focused on sharing in-depth information and history, while others prefer a lighter, more interactive style. We understand that personal preferences vary, and we are sorry that on this occasion the style did not match what you were hoping for.
If you’d like to talk more about it, we’d be happy to continue the conversation — just drop us a line at info@bustravel.is. We’re always here to listen.
Kind regards,
Andreea
Bustravel Iceland
Mia_R, Apr 2025
Such a great tour, so worth it! Big thanks to Zack our tour guide who had lots of knowledge and took us to a few extra stops than what was listed! That really made our trip special. Great views and stops all day long. Definitely get wet at the waterfall.
Jacqueline_S, Mar 2025
Our guide, Allen, was great! He gave us a lot of information on the drive to each stop and gave us plenty of time to take in the sights. The beach and glacier were both breathtaking! The waterfalls were incredible also.
Donna_H, Feb 2025
Great experience. Me and my son thoroughly enjoyed every part of the trip. Our tour guide Harold was fantastic. Definitely worth it.
Fionnuala_G, Jan 2025
Fantastic tour. Our guide Tony was excellent and really added to the trip with his commentary and insights. We even got to see the Northern Lights on our way back to Reykjavík. I would highly recommend this tour
Marjie_H, Dec 2024
Absolutely beautiful. Time and money well spent. Tour guide/driver was absolutely great. Nani’s HBO. I can’t say enough great things about him. He even stopped on the way back to the hotel because the Northern Lights were in the sky and gave us ten minutes to see and take pictures.
Jill_S, Nov 2024
The Icelandic scenery was beautiful. The waterfalls were powerful and the black sand beach was magnificent.
We booked a small group tour and were charged to a large group tour. Wish that didn’t have to happen.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Dear Jill,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed Iceland's stunning landscapes, including the majestic waterfalls and unique black sand beach.
Regarding the change in your tour, we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the small group option was unavailable for your tour date. In such cases, we always strive to offer alternative solutions, such as free rescheduling or an upgrade to our classic big-group tour, to ensure our guests don’t miss out on these incredible sites. We hope that the large-group experience allowed you to capture the beauty of Iceland in full.
Thank you once again, and please feel free to reach out with any further feedback or questions.
Warm regards,
Andrius
Debbie_G, Nov 2024
In addition to the beautiful scenery our local guide Dooley made the trip interesting and fun with stories about his family and life in Iceland. His love of this incredible place really shows. It was a joy shared.
Jacqueline_C, Oct 2024
There were so many beautiful and awesome things to see. Glaciers, waterfalls, and a black sand beach was breathtaking.
Judy_W, Aug 2024
The waterfalls were beautiful. The lava rock landscape was fascinating. Loved seeing the glacier. The birds and caves at the black sand beach were wonderful!
Kevin_M, Jul 2024
What a fantastic tour, mainly due to the informative and knowledgeable guide we had in Tony. He was excellent and provided great insights as a native Icelander! Would highly recommend this tour. Lots of variety with waterfalls, glaciers, black beach and more!! Ask for Tony as your guide. You won't be disappointed!
Molly_S, Jun 2024
This was a great tour! All 4 sights were equally exciting and stopping in Vik for lunch was very enjoyable.
Idamar, Jun 2024
Unfortunately the tour was cancelled the day before in the afternoon, with NO recommendation on what was possible to do. They want us to re-book the tour for Saturday 05/25 but we had another tour for that day and we leave the country on Sunday. As the response to our email was received after 6 pm and we don't want to lost a day, we made arrangement with our hotel staff. Very disappointed with the communication and still waiting for our reimbursement.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Dear Idamar,
Thank you for providing feedback regarding your experience.
Without a booking reference and a real name, it is challenging for us to address your concerns thoroughly. We kindly ask you to email us at info@bustravel.is with your booking reference, so we can assist you further.
Best regards,
Andrius
Joanne_N, May 2024
Scenery is 5/5 - beautiful coastline, glacier and waterfalls. Unfortunately the tour itself was really disappointing. We had booked the small group tour as we were travelling with a range of ages and wanted it to be a bit more personal however this was not the case. Firstly the amount of times at each stops was far too short. We had a coffee stop at a service station for 25 minutes which felt like a waste of time as there was nothing to see there. At Skogafoss we only had 25 minutes or so, we were told we didn't have time to go up and down the steps to get the view from the top which is what many people had wanted to do so were left disappointed. One man did do this and then got told off by the driver for doing so. The stop at the glacier was fine, with just enough time to walk to view the glacer (the information saying you can "even touch it" is misleading as we were behind a roped off area and not allowed to go down to the edge of the glacer, which my son was disappointed about). The stop in Vik was OK, maybe a bit too long as not really anything to see there other than to look in the souvenir shops and get lunch but was OK. The stop at Seljalandfoss was ridiculously short, we were told we would only have 20 minutes there (barely enough time to run up the path and round the back of the waterfall), because the driver wanted to make a stop for us to see some horses Nobody on the bus seemed to want to do the additional stop as we were all tired and had a long day but we stopped at a farm anyway but then didn't get off as there were no horses to be seen!?. The bus was also faulty - kept making strange noises, the door didn't shut properly and the driver said the suspension had gone so we would have to drive slowly back to the city until another bus could come and get us. Luckily another bus did come and retrieve us for the final hour of the journey but we still made it back at the scheduled time. It was an odd day! Worth seeing the sights but perhaps worth shopping around the different companies and choosing one which allows more time at the waterfalls .
Response from Host, May 2024
Dear Joanne_N,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about the South Iceland Small Group Tour. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the beautiful scenery, including the stunning coastline, glacier, and waterfalls.
We understand your concerns regarding the duration of the stops. We strive to balance the schedule to ensure our guests can fully enjoy each location. Your comments will help us improve this balance in the future. We acknowledge your desire for more time at Skogafoss, including climbing the steps for a better view, and will review our timing to better accommodate such interests.
Regarding the glacier stop, we appreciate your feedback and will ensure our descriptions clearly communicate what to expect.
We also note your concern about the stop at Vik and the coffee break. We'll consider adjusting the timing to maximize your experience at the more significant sights.
The issues with the bus are concerning. Ensuring a comfortable and safe journey is our top priority, and we appreciate your patience during the transfer to the replacement bus. We are addressing this with our maintenance team to prevent such issues in the future.
Lastly, we regret any confusion regarding the additional stop to see the horses. We will make sure our guides communicate better with guests to align with their interests and preferences.
Thank you again for your valuable feedback. If you have any further comments or would like to discuss your experience in more detail, please feel free to contact us at info@bustravel.is.
Warm regards,
Andrius
Dusica_S, May 2024
The tour was ok but could be better if:
- if you plan to visit Snæfellsnes, you will see one black Djupalonssandur Beach, so you don't need to see Reinisfjara Beach (the first one is better)
- traveling to Vik was a waste of time...just to eat or spend time shopping (we visited the church, but only after asking the guide).
- we only had 30 minutes to visit Seljalandsfoss. So, we didn't have time for a walk (until Seljalandsfoss there are other waterfalls that are nice to see). At least 45 minutes would be enough here.
So, I would recommend using a tour that will only give you the opportunity to see:
- Seljalandsfoss
- Skogafoss
-Solheimajökull glacier
and maybe spend more time here…
As for the agency, everything was ok. They are very professional.
Response from Host, May 2024
Dear Dusica,
Thank you for sharing your insights about your recent tour experience with us. Your feedback is invaluable as it helps us continuously refine our offerings to ensure the best possible experience for our guests.
We're sorry to hear that certain aspects of the tour didn't meet your expectations. Your points about optimizing the itinerary to focus on specific highlights are duly noted. We always strive to strike the right balance between exploration, leisure, and cultural immersion, and your suggestions will certainly help us fine-tune this balance.
Regarding the time allocation at Seljalandsfoss, we understand your perspective. Our aim is to provide ample time for exploration and appreciation at each stop, and we'll review our schedules to see where adjustments can be made to enhance the experience.
It's great to hear that you found our agency to be professional, and we truly appreciate your recommendation. If there's anything else you'd like to share or if you have any further suggestions, please don't hesitate to reach out at info@bustravel.is
Thank you once again for your constructive feedback, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back on another adventure in the future.
Kind regards,
Andrius
Lizeth_F, Apr 2024
The guide (Ragnar) explained the tour to us with interesting details, he was very well informed about the entire experience. He gave us adequate time to enjoy each stop. Great trip!!
Jennifer_D, Apr 2024
Lots of stops! Got to see everything. The stops were very busy with lots of tourists and there was only a little time at each but it was enough given the cold and wind. Our tour guide went above and beyond to walk us to a hidden waterfall. It was an amazing trip and definitely a must. Also, definitely use BusTravel Iceland whenever you can. It was comfortable and so much easier to figure out than some of the other buses/travel companies.
Amanda_M, Mar 2024
We had a great time with our guide Roman touring the South Coast. We visited Skogafoss, Black Sand Beach, ate lunch at Vik, Glacier, and Seljalandsfoss. We had more than enough time at each stop, and the van had super fast wifi! My favorite stop was probably the Black sand beach. It was so fun to watch the big waves crashing onto the black sand. Pick-up and drop-off were well-organized and super easy.
ALDA_R, Mar 2024
It’s worth to join a small group… highly recommended this tour!
Thanks BusTravel Iceland… sorry forgot our tour guide but she was so wonderful
From $137.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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