Reykjavik: South Coast Waterfalls, Black Sand & Glacier Tour

The full-day trip that gets you to the black sand at Reynisfjara without driving Route 1 yourself. Run by BusTravel Iceland, it rolls the South Coast's greatest hits into one day: two big waterfalls, a glacier viewpoint, the village of Vik, and a proper stop on the beach.

Reviewed against the live listing by Björn Einarsson, South Coast guide since 2022

Top rated · Certified by GetYourGuide Black pebbles and Atlantic surf at Reynisfjara black sand beach, a stop on the South Coast day tour from Reykjavik

Black pebbles and Atlantic surf at Reynisfjara black sand beach, a stop on the South Coast day tour from Reykjavik

Best for reaching Reynisfjara from Reykjavík without driving Route 1 yourself

Reykjavík: South Coast Waterfalls, Black Sand & Glacier Tour

4.8 across 12,188 GetYourGuide reviews

A guided stop at Reynisfjara black sand beach, plus Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, the Sólheimajökull glacier view and Vík
Full-day coach tour from Reykjavík with hotel pickup from listed points, so someone else drives the winter roads
Food and drink and a live guide included; free cancellation up to 24 hours before

Live price on the listing shown for your date and currency at booking

Check live availability & prices on GetYourGuide →

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Ratings are the operator's current GetYourGuide figures; check the listing for today's price.

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What the day includes

This is a large coach tour on a fixed route, and that is the honest trade: you give up the intimacy of a small minibus and get a lower price, frequent departures, and a guide who knows the coast. The beach is the highlight, but the day is a full South Coast loop. Booking early through the official listing locks in your date at no cost, since cancellation is free up to 24 hours before. Here is the route, in the order the operator runs it.

Reykjavik pickup and a break at Hvolsvollur
Hotel or bus-stop pickup from listed points, then east along Route 1 with a short break at Hvolsvollur.
Skogafoss (about 30 minutes)
A wide 60-metre waterfall you can walk right up to, often with a rainbow in the spray.
Solheimajokull glacier viewpoint (about 45 minutes)
A stop to see the glacier tongue flowing off Myrdalsjokull. This is a viewpoint; walking on the ice is a separate, certified-guide activity, not part of this tour.
Vik for lunch (about 50 minutes)
Iceland's southernmost village, with a lunch break under its green cliffs.
Reynisfjara black sand beach (about 30 minutes)
The jet-black sand, the basalt columns, the Reynisdrangar sea stacks and the Halsanefshellir cave. Your guide points out the safe line to stand behind.
Seljalandsfoss on the way back (about 30 minutes)
The waterfall with a path behind the curtain, then the drive back to Reykjavik.

The facts, from the listing

These come straight from the operator's GetYourGuide listing. Check the live page for your date's specifics, since operators adjust timing with weather and season.

Operator	BusTravel Iceland (we are an independent guide, not the operator).
Rating	4.8 across 12,188 GetYourGuide reviews. "Top rated" and "Certified by GetYourGuide".
Length	A full day. Early pickup in Reykjavik, back in the city in the evening.
Group type	A large coach tour, not a small-group minibus.
Stops	Skogafoss, Solheimajokull glacier viewpoint, Vik, Reynisfjara, Seljalandsfoss (with a break at Hvolsvollur).
Pickup	From 24 listed Reykjavik hotels and bus stops, or meet at Tour Bus Stop 12, Höfðatorg. Be ready within 30 minutes of departure.
Included	Guide, hotel pickup and drop-off if selected, and food and drink per the listing.
Price	Shown live on the GetYourGuide listing for your date and currency. We do not print prices that can go stale.
Cancellation	Free up to 24 hours before, through GetYourGuide.

Check Live Availability & Prices on GetYourGuide →

Who it suits, and who it doesn't

Great if you	Look elsewhere if you
Want the beach and the big South Coast sights in one day without driving	Want to linger at Reynisfjara for hours; the stop is about 30 minutes
Are visiting in winter and would rather not drive icy Route 1	Prefer a small-group minibus; this is a large coach
Like a set route, a guide, and a lower price	Want a custom itinerary or an ice-cave or glacier hike built in

If a small group is the priority, a minibus South Coast tour will suit you better, even at a higher price. If you want to walk on the glacier, that is a separate certified-guide activity. For the classic beach-plus-waterfalls day at a fair price, this is the one we send readers to.

Questions before you book

How long is the stop at the beach?

About 30 minutes at Reynisfjara, enough to walk the sand, see the basalt columns and sea stacks, and take photos. If you want longer, self-driving lets you stay as long as you like.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, from listed Reykjavik hotels and bus stops if you select that option. If you are not on a pickup point, you meet the coach at Tour Bus Stop 12, Höfðatorg. Be ready within 30 minutes of departure, as pickup order varies.

Do you walk on the glacier?

No. Solheimajokull is a viewpoint stop on this tour. Walking on the ice requires crampons and a certified guide and is booked as a separate activity.

What is included in the price?

A guide, hotel pickup and drop-off if selected, and food and drink per the listing. The live price for your date is shown on GetYourGuide; we do not reprint figures that can go stale.

Can I cancel if the weather turns?

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before, through GetYourGuide. Iceland's weather changes fast, so holding a date early and deciding later costs nothing.