Day trip reviews · ICELAND DAY TRIPS
Good day trips in Iceland fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Spend 10 hours touring Iceland’s South Coast by bus with an English-speaking guide. Visit Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Sólheimajökull glacier, Reynisfjara Beach, and Vík. Expect changing weather, wet waterfall walks, dramatic scenery, and guides such as Sara, Eva, Barbara, or Andrea bringing local stories to the ride.
“So worth it, would recommend time and time again !!!”
Travel from Reykjavik around Iceland’s Golden Circle with guides such as Petra, Barbara, Tomas, or Anna. See Strokkur erupt, Gullfoss thunder, Thingvellir’s tectonic divide, and Kerid Crater. The $85 tour includes transport and a guide, with lunch and drinks extra.
“Great tour. The best part- I never felt rushed.. We were given plenty of time to truly appreciate each stop.”
Travel from Isafjordur’s cruise dock to Dynjandi with an English-speaking guide such as Camilla, Sally, or Annalise. You’ll cross coastal roads, tunnels, and rugged Westfjords scenery, then have 90 minutes to view Dynjandi and its five lower falls. The upper path is uneven and steep in places.
“This was a great tour. We got picked up directly in the cruise port which was perfect for us. My only complaint was that it didn’t feel like we had enough time to hike all the way up to the top like we saw some people doing. The tour guide was super knowledgable about Iceland and Isafjordur specifically which was nice. Note unrelated to the bus part: if you plan on hiking up the waterfall, it’s not for faint of heart. It was pretty tough for some people and we saw a lot of people turn around at the halfway point. It’s not accessible after a certain point so keep…”
Spend about 10 hours touring Iceland’s Golden Circle with a guide, then ride a snowmobile across Langjökull Glacier. Expect a safety briefing, warm protective gear, two people per snowmobile, and commentary on Icelandic culture, geography, and history from guides such as Jón, Ritchie, and Edgar.
“Amazing experience with qualified professionals. The entire process was seamless from pickup to drop off. Tour offered amazing views and memories for a lifetime.”
Travel by climate-controlled coach from Reykjavik to Strokkur, Gullfoss, Thingvellir National Park, and Friðheimar greenhouse. Your English-speaking guide explains Icelandic geology, history, and geothermal farming. Expect an eight-hour day, a large group of up to 99 people, and time to buy tomato soup and other greenhouse treats.
“This was a fantastic tour. The guide, Kris was brilliant, so knowledgeable. The stops amazing though it would have been good to have 10 more minutes at Friðheimar.”
Meet Adventure Vikings at Silfra in Thingvellir National Park for a three-hour guided snorkel between the American and Eurasian plates. You’ll wear a drysuit or wetsuit, float through water with remarkable clarity, receive underwater photos, and warm up with hot chocolate afterward.
“The waters were amazingly clear! Our guide, Fernando, made sure that we felt safe and prepared the entire time. The photos he took for us came out amazing too!”
Travel from Reykjavik around Snæfellsnes Peninsula in a small group, with an English-speaking guide, cave admission, WiFi, and hotel pickup. See Kirkjufell, Svöðufoss, Arnarstapi, Búðakirkja, Lóndrangar, and an 8,000-year-old lava cave in one long but rewarding day.
“The landscapes are just unbelievable, totally worth it, and our guide, Smari, it's simply the best, you can tell he really likes his job. He even played a song for us at the end of our tour. I completely recommend this tour.”
Travel from Reykjavik in a group of up to 15 with an English-speaking guide such as Michal, Svenni, or Roberto. Visit Skógafoss, Reynisfjara, Seljalandsfoss, and Gljúfrabúi, then spend about 1.5 hours on Sólheimajökull with crampons, helmet, and ice axe provided. Bring hiking boots, warm layers, food, and water.
“This was an incredible experience!! The tour guide Sveini (I know I am spelling this wrong, my sincerest apologies!) was incredible. We were originally told that due to weather we weren’t going to be able to do the glacier hike, but because of our guide’s plan he was able to make it happen for us when the weather turned out to be more mild than forecasted! I was a solo female traveler and this was a great choice as I felt safe the whole time and had a once in a lifetime experience”
You’ll visit Þingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss with an English-speaking guide, then spend about two hours at the Secret Lagoon. Guides such as Leifur, Karin, Rosa, and Birkir have been praised for clear stories and humor. Choose central Reykjavik departure or optional hotel pickup.
“The tour run smoothly and on spot…the only problem is, it was raining that day but somehow we were able to enjoy it. We were fully geared for the rain and yet it still amazing to see the wonders of natures. A must visit place… I enjoyed a lot on the secret lagoon , it cures me with my cough….”
Spend nine hours exploring Reykjanes with a guide such as Beggi, Hler, Roman, or Sara. See Kleifarvatn, Seltún, cooled lava, and recent eruption sites, then enjoy two and a half hours at the Blue Lagoon with a towel, silica mask, and drink included.
“This was an amazing hike upto the crater of one of the volcanoes near Grindavík. Our tour guide was both funny, had a lot of knowledge and was willing to ask questions and let us (to an extent) wander about and explore the areas whilst ensuring our safety at all times. The weather was lovely, the views stunning and the topography of the landscape amazing. It is a decent hike too 😊”
Hike 45 to 50 minutes across the lava fields of Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, then ride a secured lift 120 meters into dormant Thrihnukagigur Volcano. Small groups, English-speaking guides, safety gear, hot drinks, and Icelandic soup are included. Pickup from Reykjavik is optional.
“I absolutely loved the experience — it’s been my dream for a long time to go inside a volcano, and it truly lived up to my expectations. However, considering the price, I was a bit disappointed that no snacks were offered when we stopped at the hut. We only got something to eat at the very end of the tour, and during the break, there were only hot drinks like coffee and hot chocolate, but nothing to accompany them. It would make a big difference if a few snacks were included — I doubt it would significantly affect profits, and it would make the experience feel more complete.”
Travel from Reykjavík to Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Gljúfrabúi, Irafoss, Reynisfjara, and the glaciers of southern Iceland. Guides such as Christina, Mika, Filip, and Siggi are known for lively stories and careful driving. Add a guided Solheimajökull glacier hike on selected dates from April to October.
“Christina was truly an exceptional guide, the kind of person you rarely encounter. She stands out as one of the very best guides I’ve ever had—not just in Iceland, but anywhere in the world. Her explanations were clear, engaging, and full of fascinating insights. She was incredibly kind, always available to help with anything, and went out of her way to make everyone feel comfortable. Most importantly, Christina brought so much joy to the experience with her wonderful sense of humor and warm personality. We had an amazing time laughing and learning throughout the tour. It was my last day in Iceland, and she made it absolutely unforgettable—an extraordinary experience…”
Join Viking Rafting near Akureyri for a six-hour trip on the East Glacial River. Guides including Hunter and Mark lead you through basalt canyon scenery and Class IV rapids in full cold-water gear, with transport options, riverside refreshments, and lamb lunch included.
“The guides (Amun, Tarzan, Ryan, and Suman) were fantastic, kept us laughing the whole time, river was a great time to raft, we had a family of 9, only a few had rafted before. Extra shoutout for another guide, he brought a jacket we had left there clear to Akureyri for us, saved a brother some pretty cold adventuring in the future. Thank you all so much, we had the best time!!”
Set out from Hafgrímsstaðir near Varmahlíð for a 10 km family rafting trip through a volcanic canyon. Warm drysuits, patient guides such as Adam, Lucas, Amy, and Roshan, hot cocoa from a geothermal spring, swimming, and optional cliff jumping make this a lively first rafting experience.
“Incredibly fun. Our guide Roshan, was amazing. This guy is off the charts fun, knowledgeable and skilled. So glad we did this family trip. Meal afterwards at base camp was fantastic as well.”
Spend 11 hours with a small group of up to 19 people visiting Thingvellir, Strokkur, Gullfoss, and Kerid before a Blue Lagoon stop. English-speaking guides such as Gulli, Holgar, Philip, and Nicola have made this scenic day especially engaging, but Blue Lagoon admission costs extra.
“One of the best trips I've been on. Made by our "singing" guide Nicola who gave us an impromptu performance of 3 songs at one of our stops! As well as an extra bit of time at the end to see the Northern Lights. Saw so many wonderful views and natural features. Our guide made us all feel so welcome, especially our 6yo. Would definitely recommend.”
A coast, a castle, a cellar or a cave.
