In shortFrom Reykjavík, Route 1 runs past Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, the black beach at Reynisfjara and Vík, then crosses the lava fields to Fjaðrárgljúfur, Skaftafell and finally Jökulsárlón. The tours stop at most of these. At Reynisfjara, follow the warning light: on red the beach is closed, because waves there run far up the sand without warning.
370–380 kmReykjavík to the lagoon
14 hday tour covering the coast
red lightReynisfjara beach closed
½ priceparking at a 2nd park area the same day
The stops, west to east
- Seljalandsfoss
The waterfall you can walk behind; you get wet in the spray. Gljúfrabúi, partly hidden in a gorge, is next to it. - Skógafoss
A broad waterfall right by the road. - Sólheimajökull
The glacier where the 2- and 3-day tours do their glacier hike. - Reynisfjara
Black sand beach with basalt columns; follow the warning light. - Vík
The village where the tours stop for food; the Reynisdrangar sea stacks are offshore. - Eldhraun
A moss-covered lava field the road crosses. - Fjaðrárgljúfur
A deep river canyon; the tour operator notes it may not be accessible in winter conditions. - Stjórnarfoss
A waterfall near Kirkjubæjarklaustur, a short walk from the road. - Hof
A turf church on the way to the lagoon. - Skaftafell
A fee area of Vatnajökull National Park: pay there in full and parking at Jökulsárlón the same day is half price. - Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach
The end of the line for day trips.
Reynisfjara: the rules that matter
Waves at Reynisfjara surge far up the steep beach with little warning, and visitors have died there. A light by the car park shows the danger level, based on a wave forecast from the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration: flashing yellow means take care, red means danger, and on red a gate closes the beach. After a death in August 2025, the cave and the basalt columns are closed on red as well.
- Never turn your back on the sea, and stay well above the wet sand.
- Keep children by the hand.
- On red, watch from the viewing area above the beach.
2-day South Coast tour with a glacier hike
The coast at a slower pace: waterfalls and Sólheimajökull on day one, the lagoon on day two.
2 days · from $639 · ★ 5.0 (203 reviews)
One day or two?
Done as a day trip, the coast is a string of short stops on the way to a long drive back. Two days let you stop longer, stay near the lagoon and see it early or late. The tours split it the same way: a 14-hour day, or 2–3 days with nights in between.
Day trip or multi-day tour →
Stops from the operators' Viator listings (16698P9, 7205P3, 42839P12/13). Reynisfjara warning system as reported by Iceland Review. Parking rule: Vatnajökull National Park. 4 October 2026.
Plan the drive
