South Coast Iceland: 2-Day Blue Ice Cave & Jokulsarlon Tour

GYG

South Coast Iceland: 2-Day Blue Ice Cave & Jokulsarlon Tour

★ 4.6(94 reviews)

• Guide works in English
• Duration per the operator: 2 days

from $703

See dates, price and what is included at the operator

Two days down the south coast to the glacier lagoon

This tour leaves Reykjavik and spends two days working its way along the south coast to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, then returns. It is a longer version of the standard one-day south coast circuit, with the extra time built around reaching the ice cave and the lagoon rather than rushing back to the capital the same evening. The operator is Troll .is, and the tour runs in English with a guide who stays with the group for both days. At from 703 USD, it sits in the middle of the price range for south coast tours, which makes sense given that it covers two days, includes food, and reaches the far eastern end of the route that day trips turn around at.

The itinerary takes in the waterfalls and black sand beaches that define the south coast, but the destination is Jökulsárlón, where the glacier meets the sea and icebergs drift in the lagoon. The second day is built around the blue ice cave, which is the reason most people book a two-day tour rather than a long day trip. The pace suits travellers who want to see the lagoon without a 14-hour day, and who prefer to break the driving into two shorter stretches. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, so it is not an option for anyone who needs step-free access throughout.

Photographs from the operator Troll .is. They show the listing, not your day.

What the 703 USD buys and what costs extra on site

The entry price of from 703 USD covers the guiding, the transport, and food, which the operator states is included. That puts this tour in a small group within the south coast category: only 14 other listings out of 80 say the same, so meals are not something you need to budget separately for on the road. The price also covers the ice cave visit, which is the main draw of the second day.

What you will pay on top is limited to optional activities and parking. At Jökulsárlón, the lagoon itself and Diamond Beach are free to view, so there is no gate fee for the main attraction. If you want to get out onto the water, the amphibian boat tour costs 7,100 ISK per adult and the zodiac tour costs 16,600 ISK per adult. These are sold as extras by the operator, not part of the base price. Parking at the lagoon is 1,110 ISK per car, but on a guided trip you are not driving yourself, so that charge does not apply to you. The operator offers free cancellation, though no deadline is given for when you can exercise it.

A solid score from a small sample

The tour holds a 4.6 rating, which is respectable, but the number behind it matters more than the score itself. That rating comes from 94 reviews, a small sample compared with the one-day south coast tours in the same category. The 10-hour waterfall and black sand tour has 4.8 from over 12,000 reviews, and the 14.5-hour Diamond Beach tour has 4.5 from nearly 1,500. With only 94 votes, this tour's rating could shift more noticeably with a handful of new reviews, so treat the 4.6 as a good sign rather than a settled verdict.

In the category of 81 south coast tours, this one ranks 20th overall, which places it in the upper quarter of the group. By number of reviews it sits 22nd, meaning it has a moderate track record of bookings. The price ranks 42nd of 81, squarely in the middle of the range that stretches from 116 to over 4,000 USD. You are paying a mid-range price for a two-day tour that includes food, which is where the value sits.

Winter months for the ice cave, shoulder seasons for the coast

The ice cave is a winter attraction, and this tour is built around it, so the season runs through the colder months when the cave is accessible. January and February are the coldest months in Reykjavik, with highs around 3 degrees and lows at minus 2, and that is when the ice cave is at its most reliable. The tour runs in daylight hours, which are short in midwinter, so the two-day format matters: you need the full second day to reach the cave and still get back to Reykjavik.

March warms slightly to a high of 4 degrees, and by April you are at 7 degrees with daylight stretching out. The shoulder months of March and April offer a balance of colder conditions that keep the ice cave open and longer days that make the driving more comfortable. May brings highs of 10 degrees, and by then the ice cave season is typically winding down, so the tour shifts its focus toward the lagoon and the coast itself. The summer months of June through August, with highs of 13 to 15 degrees, are not the season for this particular itinerary, since the ice cave is the reason for the two-day format.

What to expect at the stops along the way

The south coast sights are open-air stops, and the tour moves through them at a steady pace. At the waterfalls and the black sand beach, you get out at the car park, walk the path to the viewpoint, and rejoin the group. The paths at these stops are exposed to the weather, and the wind and rain that sweep up the coast are part of the experience. The guide sets the timing at each stop, and the group stays together.

At Jökulsárlón, the lagoon and Diamond Beach are free to walk along, and the icebergs on the black sand are the main draw. The optional boat tours launch from the lagoon itself, and if you have booked one, the guide coordinates the timing. The ice cave visit on the second day involves a walk to the cave entrance and time inside, where the blue ice is the payoff. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, so the walking at these stops is on uneven ground and sometimes on ice in winter. The guide is responsible for the schedule, and the group follows their lead at each location.

Who this tour suits, and who should look elsewhere

This tour suits travellers who want the full south coast to Jökulsárlón without the marathon single-day version. The two-day format means you see the lagoon without the 14.5-hour round trip that the one-day Diamond Beach tour requires, and you get the ice cave, which the shorter tours do not reach. It also suits anyone who wants meals handled, since food is included, and who prefers a small group with an English-speaking guide.

It does not suit travellers on a tight budget or a tight schedule. At 703 USD, it costs more than three times the 10-hour south coast tour at 132 USD, and it takes two days rather than one. If you only want the waterfalls and the black sand beach, the one-day tours cover that ground for a fraction of the price. It also does not suit anyone who needs wheelchair access, since the operator states the tour is not wheelchair accessible. For a faster look at the lagoon without the ice cave, the 14.5-hour Diamond Beach tour at 230 USD covers the same eastern destination in a single day, though with a much longer day and no meals included in the price.

GYG

South Coast Iceland: 2-Day Blue Ice Cave & Jokulsarlon Tour

Dates, remaining places and the current version of what is included are at the operator. This page reflects the state of the catalogue, not the state of this morning.

from $703

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