Guided Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach Day Trip from Reykjavik
Description
A journey through Iceland’s glacial heart. Discover the stunning beauty of Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where ancient icebergs drift silently through Iceland’s deepest lake before washing ashore on the shimmering Diamond Beach. Travel along the dramatic South Coast, passing waterfalls, volcanoes, and black sand beaches, with expert guides bringing each stop to life. From cinematic landscapes to unforgettable photo ops, this day tour captures the magic of Iceland in one incredible adventure. You’ll also stop at the striking Seljalandsfoss waterfall and enjoy panoramic views of vast lava fields, distant glaciers, and towering sea cliffs as you journey east. With comfortable transport, storytelling guides, and Iceland’s most photogenic landscapes, this full-day tour is ideal for travelers who want to see the best of the South Coast in a single, unforgettable day — no hiking or glacier gear required.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We depart from Reykjavík and begin our scenic drive along the South Coast towards Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
Eyjafjallajökull is one of Iceland’s most famous volcanoes, best known for its 2010 eruption that disrupted air travel across Europe. This glacier-capped stratovolcano offers a striking view, with ice and fire coexisting in one dramatic landscape. Its name comes from the Icelandic words for “island mountain glacier,” perfectly describing its powerful presence.
Skógafoss is one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls, cascading 60 meters from the cliffs of the southern coastline along the Skógá River. Its powerful mist often creates vivid rainbows, making it a favorite among photographers and travelers alike. According to local legend, a Viking treasure is hidden behind the falls, adding a touch of mystery to its breathtaking beauty.
Take a relaxing lunch break in the quiet village of Freysnes, surrounded by stunning views of Iceland’s southern mountains and glaciers. It’s the perfect spot to recharge before continuing your adventure.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, located near Skaftafell in southeastern Iceland, is a breathtaking sight where shimmering blue waters are filled with drifting icebergs from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. Spanning 18 square kilometers and reaching depths over 248 meters, this glacial lake offers a serene, otherworldly experience that captures the raw beauty of Icelandic nature.
Diamond Beach is a striking black-sand shoreline where glistening icebergs from Jökulsárlón Lagoon wash ashore, creating a dramatic contrast of sparkling ice against dark volcanic sand. This natural spectacle offers one of Iceland’s most photogenic and unforgettable coastal views.
Vík is a picturesque coastal village on Iceland’s south coast, renowned for its black sand beaches and striking basalt sea stacks. Enjoy a relaxing dinner break here, where you can savor a meal while soaking in the dramatic natural scenery and small-town charm.
Seljalandsfoss is one of Iceland’s most unique waterfalls, famous for the path that allows visitors to walk behind its cascading curtain of water. Framed by a natural cave-like alcove, this enchanting waterfall is especially magical during Iceland’s long summer days when it's bathed in golden light.
Take a short break in the charming town of Hvolsvöllur to stretch your legs and refresh before the journey continues to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
After a long and memorable day exploring the South Coast and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, we return to Reykjavík. Hotel drop-off begins upon arrival, and your guide will provide further information during the drop-off process.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
• Please be at your designated pickup point at least 30 minutes prior to departure. Our pickup vehicles are well marked with the Reykjavik Excursions. • Each driver has a few stops, so it can take up to 30 minutes to finish picking everyone up, so there is no need to worry if the bus is not there right away.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Operates in cold weather conditions, please dress appropriately. We recommend warm layers including hat and gloves and rain gear
Reviews(623)
Excellent experience and Gudjon was knowledgeable and funny.
GREAT tour. Gudjan Jes was one of the best tour guides I ever had. Made everything easy. Smooth ride. Funny. Informative. All good.
The tour is an excellent tour. The tour guide was extremely professional, knowledgeable, & friendly. The driver was excellent. It is a very long day but so worth it. The waterfalls, landscape, lagoon with icebergs & Diamond Beach were spectacular. What a wonderful day!
An incredible trip. Sites we saw are unforgettable. The tour guide Eric was fantastic. Very knowledgeable and gave so many facts about Iceland on top of explaining about sites we visited. This trip is definitely a highlight of our visit to Iceland.
Our guide Eric was excellent. The best we have had in Iceland.
this is 15 hour tour in a bus the scenery is nice you see a lot of things it is well organized and runs well but is tiring
BG was the best guide for this long day trip. He was very knowledgeable about the sites we went to and gave us history of Iceland and personal history as well! We had plenty of time at each stop and even made multiple bathroom breaks along the way. The views were absolutely amazing! When booking make sure to do the boat ride at the glacier lagoon you will not regret it!
This was a long tour, however, every minute packed with seeing and learning something new. As a knowledge worm, loved all of it - our tour guide, a former teacher, made sure to explain everything in an entertaining way. Glaciers were breathtaking and Diamond Beach...what a memory! My only suggestion would be to leave more time for dinner on the way back, since we stop at this awesome outlet store. It becomes a real dilemma to decide how to spend your time - waiting in line for food or browsing for souvenirs? :-)
The description for this trip is not realistic enough: it is EXHAUSTING. If you have any kind of disability I strongly advise you to anticipate a VERY tiring day (#spoonies). If you like to take your time and contemplate nature then you might not like this tour. There are NO breaks, all the stops are very shorts (average 30 min) and meant to visit, eat, go to the bathroom or two or three of those things. It is IMPOSSIBLE to rest on the bus because the guide is constantly talking in a microphone and the speakers are very loud. The tiredness makes it really hard to appreciate all the visits, especially at the end of the day. We are more guarded than guided because we are constantly reminded that we have a tight schedule. It was the one day on my trip when I did not feel on holiday. I am glad I did it anyway, because I got to see beautiful places. But I wish I would have known the truth about how hard it was going to be BEFORE, so I could have prepared myself. Suggestions for Reykjavík excursions: - Do not mix the people that booked the boat tour at Jökulsárlón with people that have not. So that those who have not can take their time at the previous stops and don't have to run for someone esle's booking. - Make less stops, and take more time for lunch / diner / bathroom breaks. Tourists are people with needs, not machines. - Give the schedule before departure (number and durations of the stops), and not when we park. So that we can anticipate (buy food where we want, go to the bathroom etc). - Please tell the guide to not speak ALL THE TIME. It is difficult to focus constantly on their speach (especially if English is not your first language and/or the personne have a thick accent) and we need to rest (and nap). Also, we do not need the same speach on the way back as we have politely listen in the morning already... - Please remind the driver that the thight schedule does not give them the authorisation to drive over the speed limit and honk at every slow car. - Take a minute to explain where things are at every stops, not only the bathroom (picnic tables, food store, the actual visit, the guide, safety rules maybe?). And maybe an actual guided tour at the stops would be nice.
This tour is a lot packed into one but So Worth It! If you go in the summer, you’ll likely see all the toddler aged animal off-spring during the drive, too. It’s so cute. And just soak up the AMAZING landscape Iceland has to offer. The tour: First up, go to Braude in the AM for coffee & pastry (coz they’re open earlier than the bus stop pick up time - TY to the kind soul that recommended this tip). Or have coffee & breakfast before you take off for the pick up point. Bring some morning snacks with you. After that, the trip flows seamlessly with lots of snack, food and WC stops. All hail to our tour guide PG for the fascinating and educational facts about Iceland and its history; keeping us engaged throughout the trip. He has everything timed out like clockwork. With a few picturesque photo opp stops in between. And sign up for the glacier boat tour if offered. Okay I won’t tell ya all of the things we did. Just trust you’ll have a wonderful time. All my friends are telling me I look sincerely happy in my photos - ya coz of this tour. :)
