We are mostly DIY travel bugs, who research a lot about the destination, best things to do, hotels, restaurants and activities. We did a ring road trip driving around Iceland in summer. And yet, there are several activities in Iceland that required a guided tour. So I have put together a list of the best tours to take in Iceland. This post covers the best tours from Reykjavik as well as tours for activities, if you are in self-drive mode.
We visited Iceland for 12 full days so it made perfect sense to rent a car and self -drive around the ring road. But if you are in Iceland for few days, you may prefer to take day tours to see the best attractions. Or, if you are visiting outside the summer months when the road conditions are not the best and you may not be confident of driving, you could opt for a tour.
If you are visiting in the busy months of June, July and August and planning on some of these Iceland day tours, my recommendation would be to book early. Some of the popular tours get sold out quicky.
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My Top 3 for sightseeing and best attractions in Iceland
If you don’t want to go through the entire post but want to know the top 3 day tours in Iceland, here they are. Note that the natural landscape in Iceland is such that it takes a lot of walking on uneven terrain. Plus even with no hiking, even going to chase waterfalls requires waterproof shoes and a rain jacket. My handy Iceland packing list is a must-read.
| Tour Name | Best For | Duration | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South coast of Iceland | Exploring the scenic south coast, its famous waterfalls, black sand beach, glacier and Vik village | 10 hours | $ | Book Now |
| Golden Circle | Exploring the 4 stops on the famous Golden Circle route | 8.5 hours | $ | Book Now |
| Snaefellsnes Peninsula | Exploring the western region of Iceland, lava beaches, jagged cliffs, Mt. Kirkjufell. | 12 hours | $ | Book Now |
My Top 3 Iceland Day Tours for adventure or wildlife activities
Like I mentioned, even if you are in self-drive mode, you need to book a tour for some of the adventure activities in Iceland. You cannot go for glacier hiking or whale watching or a natural ice cave without a certified guide.
And if you don’t want to tackle driving a 4WD on F-roads yourself, then a day tour to central highlands is your best option. You will need to check the age restrictions for many of these adventure activities like glacier hiking, ice climbing, hiking in challenging terrain. But a lot of these activities are appropriate and great fun with older kids.
| Tour Name | Best For | Duration | Price | Age | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Ice Cave | Step onto the mighty Myrdalsjokull glacier, explore the Katla Ice Cave | 3 hours | $$ | None | Book Now |
| Landmannalaugar | Hiking in the stunning highlands, see the Rainbow mountains, relax inn a natural hot spring. | 5 hours (14 hours if you opt for pick-up from Reykjavik) | $$ | 10 years and above | Book Now |
| Whale Watching & Puffin | Speedboat tour to see big whales and puffins | 2 hours | $$ | 8 years and above | Book Now |
15 of the Best Day Tours in Iceland
If you are looking for good options for day tours in Iceland, dive in.
Golden Circle Day Tour from Reykjavik
One of the most popular day tours from Reykjavik, Iceland is the famous Golden Circle route. This is a all year round activity that can be booked for anyone in any season.
Golden Circle route include 3 famous stops. The first is Thingvellir national park, which has both geological and political importance. There is no other place on the planet where you can see the rift between the North American and the Eurasian continental plates clearly above land. Geysir geothermal area is another popular attraction on the Golden Circle route. This area has geysers, hot springs and colourful earth to view.
The last stop on Golden Circle Day tour is Gullfoss or the ‘Golden falls’. These are perhaps the most popular waterfall in Iceland due to its proximity to Reykjavik. Many of these day tours from Reykjavik also include a stop at Kerid crater. You’re able to walk all the way around the rim as well as down in the crater to the water.
From Reykjavik: Golden Circle Day Tour from Reykjavik for 6.5 hours
From Reykjavik: Golden Circle Full-Day Tour with Kerid Crater (8.5 hours)
Blue Lagoon Tour from Reykjavik
Blue Lagoon remains the most popular geothermal spring in Iceland, and also one of the best day tours from Reykjavik. Despite being touristy and crowded, I found it worthwhile to visit the Blue Lagoon. You should visit early morning or late evening to get less crowds. This, again is a year round activity.
Do note that Iceland has faced a lot of volcanic activity since middle of 2023 in Reykjanes peninsula, and that forced Blue Lagoon to be temporarily shut down several times. So be prepared for Plan B in case that happens during your visit. You, of course will get your tour / ticket refunded in full. Sky Lagoon is a great alternative to Blue Lagoon.
Many day tours combine Blue Lagoon with the Golden Circle day tour. This makes it a long day, but very doable. There is nothing like soaking tired legs in the hot mineral-rich water after a lot of walking. But if you want to spend more time at the Lagoon, have a meal and not rush about, then I suggest you book a separate day tour to Blue Lagoon.
Combo Tour from Reykjavik with Blue Lagoon: Golden Circle, Kerid Crater, & Blue Lagoon Tour (11 hours)
Combo Tour from Reykjavik with Sky Lagoon: Golden Circle, Kerid Crater and Sky Lagoon Tour (11 hours)
Admission ticket to Blue Lagoon and transfers from Reykjavik: Blue Lagoon Admission with Transfers (for 3 hours)
Adventure: Silfra Fissure
Silfra is a rift formed in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge – the tectonic boundary between the North American and Eurasian plates. It is located in Thingvellir national park. There is no other place on the planet where you can snorkel or dive between the 2 continental plates. The fresh water in Silfra Fissure is filtered naturally through lava rocks and has visibility of up to 100 m.
For scuba diving, you need to certified for dry suit. Booking a tour for this is a must. It will be an adventure of a lifetime! There are of course age restrictions for both snorkelling and diving to be followed. You can book a combined Golden Circle sightseeing tour with this water activity.
Snorkel Tour from Thingvellir national park: Snorkeling Tour with Underwater Photos (3 hours) Age Limit: 12 years and above
Snorkel Tour from Reykjavik: Silfra Fissure Snorkeling Half-Day Trip (5.5 hours) Age Limit: 12 years and above
Diving Tour from Thingvellir national park: Diving in Silfra Fissure (4-6 hours) Age Limit: 18 years and above
Explore south coast of Iceland
This is the most popular region of Iceland. And, if you are short on time, say visiting Iceland only for 3-5 days, then I suggest you put sightseeing in the south coast first. The South coast of Iceland has many attractions: access to the largest glacier in Iceland, black sand beaches including Reynisfjara, ice lagoons and more. The road distance between Reykjavik and Vik (a charming town on the south coast) is about 180 km, so this is a full-day tour.
This popular area also has some incredible waterfalls amongst all its highlights. Skogafoss is a beautiful waterfall on the ring road towards Vik in south Iceland. Seljalandsfoss, is also on the ring road in south Iceland en route to Vik. The unique thing about this waterfall that you can get behind it.
South Coast Classic: Full-Day Tour from Reykjavik (10 hours)
Adventure: Glacier hiking on the south coast
Vatnajökull National Park is the largest of national parks in Iceland and a Unesco World Heritage site. This national park now includes Skaftafell Reserve and Jökulsárgljúfur Park within its region. One of the best tours to take from Skaftafell is to hike a part of Vatnajökull glacier. You are taken by a bus or a super jeep closer to the glacier. You can take a day tour that combines some attractions on the south coast along with a glacier hike.
We drove and stayed in Vik for our time on the south coast and took a glacier hiking tour to Vatnajokull. Our guide gave us some information about Vatnajokull, and explained how to use equipment like crampons and an ice pick. And then we were off! We were on this adventure activity with kids age 8+.
For the more fit and adventurous, you can combine the glacier hike with an ice climbing tour. This would take you much deeper into the glacier. Another glacier on the south coast is Sólheimajökull and you can opt for a guided tour here.
Meeting point is Skaftafell (at the south coast of Iceland) and you want to experience both glacier hiking and an ice cave – Ice Cave Tour and Glacier Hike (From Skaftafell for 4 hours) Age Limit: 8 years and above
Already on the south coast of Iceland and want to experience only glacier hiking – Guided Glacier Hike at Sólheimajökull (3 hours) Age Limit: 8 years and above
Full-day tour from Reykjavik that combines sightseeing + adventure: South Coast Day Trip with Glacier Hike (11 hours)
Adventure: Ice cave on the south coast
Iceland has several glacier ice caves that are accessible in winter (October end until March). Most of these are on the south coast. You need to book a guide / tour to visit an ice cave. There is only 1 ice cave in Vatnajokull that is accessible all through the year. We visited Iceland in June and one of our memorable experiences was the Katla Ice Cave Tour.
Before admiring the crystalline blue ice of any Ice Cave, you are taken to the challenging ascent onto the glacier via a super-jeep.
Full-day tour from Reykjavik that combines sightseeing + adventure: Katla Ice Cave and South Coast Tour (11 hours)
From Vik: Myrdalsjokull glacier and Katla Ice Cave Tour (3 hours)
[Book this tour if you are in Vik in South Iceland and looking for a ice cave tour. Do note that the guided tour takes you from Vik to the entrance of the ice cave on a super jeep. ]
Jokulsarlon Ice Lagoon on the south coast
Jokulsarlon is a lake that is filled with water from Vatnajokull glacier. It also has icebergs that break away from the glacier and float in the lake. One of the beautiful experiences in Iceland south coast is to take a boat tour to Jokulsarlon ice lagoon. The fit and adventurous can opt for a kayaking tour in this lagoon during summer months.
Most day tours to Jokulsarlon include a stop at the Diamond Beach, so named due to large ice chunks that shine against the black sand here.
From Reykjavik: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach (14 hours). This includes the 2 famous waterfalls on the south coast as well.
Snaefellsnes Peninsula (western region of Iceland)
Shoot and click at any point in Snaefellsnes Peninsula and it is postcard worthy! No wonder it is called as Iceland in miniature. You get stunning coastal rides, lava fields, views of the Snaefellsjokull glacier, and several other natural attractions here.
Kirkjufell is the highlight of Snaefellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland. This landmark has the distinction of being the most photographed mountain in Iceland. The tour to west Iceland also includes attractions like famed black Budir Church, Djúpalónssandur (lava fields), Lóndrangar Cliffs, Arnarstapi, and Ytri Tunga beach.
Full-day tour from Reykjavik: Snaefellsnes & Mt. Kirkjufell Guided Minibus Tour (12 hours)
Lake Myvatn and Dettifoss (North Iceland)
North Iceland makes for a unique experience. Akureyri, also referred to as the Capital of the North, is the gateway to North Iceland’s main attractions. There is the beautiful town of Husavik, extremely popular for whale watching. Another must-do highlight in North Iceland is Dettifoss, Europe’s largest waterfall. Dettifoss is 100 meters wide and drops 45 meters deep into Jokulsargljufur canyon. Lake Myvatn area has many attractions – geothermal springs, volcano craters, a serene lake, lava fields and more.
From Akureyri town: Hverir and Lake Myvatn Geothermal Baths Tour (7 hours)
From Akureyri Port: Lake Mývatn Guided Tour with Lunch (6 hours)
Wildlife: Whale watching tour
The best time for whale watching in Iceland is during the summer months (from April until September). Spotting these gentle giants in the ocean is a fun activity for the entire family. You can book a whale watching tour in Reykjavik, but the best place to do this is Husavik in North Iceland. Husavik is the whale-watching capital of Iceland. There are age restrictions to follow on a RIB tour (rigid inflatable boat).
During summer months, abundant daylight along with unique ocean currents make Icelandic waters home to a large variety of krill and fish. This makes them attractive for several species of whales who come to the different bays to feed.
Already in Husavik: Whale Watching Tour with Guide (3 hours)
From Akureyri: Whale Watching Express by RIB Speedboat (2 hours)
From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Cruise on the Amelia Rose Yacht (3 hours)
Wildlife: Puffin tour
Iceland is one of the best places to see puffins as over half of the world’s population nest here each year. Spring and summer months are the best time to see puffins in Iceland. Puffins typically begin to arrive in Iceland in April and leave by September.
You can combine a whale watching and puffin tour if you visit Iceland in summer. Do note that RIB tours (rigid inflatable boat) are not appropriate for children below 8 years. You can take a sail boat / yacht tour if you are travelling with young kids.
Already in Husavik: Big Whales and Puffin Island Speedboat Tour (2 hours) Age Limit: 8 years and above
From Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Tour on RIB (1 hour) Age Limit: 10 years and above
Horseback riding
My daughter and I, both enjoyed our horse riding tour in Iceland. Icelandic horses are a different breed, smaller but hardy. They are gentle so make for great companions for older kids’ riding activity.
Iceland offers a plethora of opportunities to ride these horses. The horse riding tours available cater to various skill levels and provide an immersive way to experience Iceland’s diverse landscapes.
From Reykjavík: Icelandic Horse Riding Tour in Lava Fields (2-4 hours) Age Limit: 7 years and above
Adventure: Landmannalaugar
Icelandic highlands in central part of the country are difficult to reach to, it requires planning, but well worth the trip. There is a short season between June and September when the F-roads (or unpaved dirt tracks) open in Iceland. You essentially must navigate F-roads either yourself or book a day tour to reach Landmannalaugar.
Even a short hike is good to see the natural beauty of the multi-hued Rainbow mountains and the stark landscape here. There are lava fields, geothermal activity and hot spring to enjoy as well. There are age restrictions for the hiking tours which are moderate to challenging.
Already in Landmannalaugar and want a guided hiking tour: Landmannalaugar Guided Hiking Experience (5 hours) Age Limit: 10 years and above
From Reykjavík: Landmannalaugar & Háifoss Waterfall Tour (13 hours) Age Limit: 8 years and above
Iceland in winter: Northern Lights Tour
If you are visiting Iceland in winter, then a Northern Lights Tour may be your priority. It’s best to book a Northern Lights tour for one of your first nights in Iceland, as most tour companies will take you back out again if you fail to see the Northern Lights on your tour.
From Reykjavík: Northern Lights Tour with Hot Cocoa & Photos (4 hours)
Iceland in winter: Snowmobiling Tour
Iceland in winter provides the perfect conditions for snowmobiling. Only an adult can operate a snow mobile machine, while some tours allow a child to be seated behind an adult.
From Reykjavik: Secret Lagoon and Snowmobile Tour (10 hours) Age Limit: 18 years and above
From Vik: Mýrdalsjökull Snowmobile Adventure (2.5 hours) A maximum of one child can be booked per adult rider
I can go on even beyond these 15 Iceland day tours. Iceland is non-stop adventure and beautiful landscapes so you can look up even more activities to do. You will break the bank for sure, but come home with a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
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Have you visited the Land of Fire & Ice? What has been your favorite destination or experience there?
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