3-day Golden Circle, Ice Cave And Glacier Lagoon Small-group Tour

Couldn't have been happier with Arctic Adventures and this specific tour. A lot is packed into three days and there is a lot of driving involved. We were lucky to have Frey as a driver and guide, and he goes above and beyond by sending up two drones at every stop and posting photos and videos to the group chat on the bus, as well as passing along valuable information about each stop. We were a group of 17 total and a good mix of different nationalities. Caught one minimally rainy day at the beginning, a gorgeous sunny day in the middle, and a mostly sunny day at the end. There was not one thing my wife and I didn't enjoy about this tour. Hotel was acceptable given the remote location, food is expensive everywhere, yes, and choices were limited, yes, but all relative in my opinion. Breakfast was passable and lunch was optional but limited, but a plus if you like lamb soup, which is fantastic. Bus was comfortable, WiFi worked well most of the time and the music a bonus. Arctic Adventures went above and beyond in locating my wife's lost phone on the glacier hike and returned it 100+ KM back to our hotel in Reykjavik that day without question. Couldn't be happier with the level of professionalism and service. Wouldn't want to do this tour self-guided. Just so much context you miss that you get on this tour. All in all, would definitely recommend.

The experience was amazing everything went amazing the guides where amazing and the staff doing the tours

Just a brief note to say your service was exceptional. It’s hard to imagine better value. My sincerest thanks for having such a brilliant guide in Tom. It’s impossible to think of a better guide, he was knowledgable, amiable and a complete professional. Thanks so much

An amazing experience, even with a bump in the weather. Ronan is an excellent guide, pivots quickly, has an amazing amount of interesting information, and knows some places less well traveled. Iceland itself is simply beautiful. We managed to experience multiple types of it's natural beauty and learn about how it was formed, the culture, nature, and relax as well. The group size was good, small enough that we never felt crowded but big enough to always have good conversation. The van was comfortable and had WiFi, for those who want to stay connected. Enough hiking to stretch and feel good but nothing difficult. I'd definitely recommend.

This is a fantastic tour that gets you to the highlights of Iceland's southern loop, in only three days. Our guide with Arctic Adventures, Elisa, was fantastically knowledgeable, funny and prepared. We learned a lot, saw a lot of amazing sights, and really treasure our Icelandic experience. Would recommend tacking days on before or after, as there is so much to see and do in Iceland, and this tour will whet your appetite for more!

Wonderful trip. Excellent food at Adventure Hotel. Enjoyed the location. The extended time in this area meant we saw more at a better pace. Beautiful scenery. The guide JB at the glacier walk was exceptionally helpful and kind when I experienced difficulty. I think the walk was more difficult than moderate. But the trip ran smoothly despite the rain at times and our guide Linas was friendly, helpful and flexible. My sister and I loved the trip.

Iceland 🇮🇸 is a wonderland of unpredictable weather and beauty. Lily was the best tour guide, very organized, flexible, and knowledgeable about Icelandic history and geography. Bonus points for the excellent stops at her favorite coffee shops for local goodies. Accommodations were very good. We packed a lot in 3 days of adventures. Rainbows, waterfalls, goats and Icelandic horses dotting the landscape. Totally recommend! Ask for Lily 😀

It's not just that Guna was knowledgeable, engaging, and caring. But she has a college degree in physical geography. So, when she discussed glaciology or vulcanology or plate tectonics, she was speaking from deep knowledge, not just a script she'd memorized. Plus her extensive knowledge of sagas and folk tales made the land, and thousands of years, come to life. We also loved the itinerary -- incredibly full days, diverse attractions, brief stops for photos or to visit the haunts of the "hidden people." By contrast, our van was in very poor shape. Two days in, the door flew open while we were driving and Guna had to take special precautions when closing it for the rest of the trip. The seats were very narrow, so the rigid seat-belt clasp dug into our legs -- and one seat belt clasp was broken. Many of the back-of-the-seat mesh gear-bags were shredded, which was unfortunate because the overhead baggage shelf was too small to stow much personal gear -- on a tour that required extra gear/clothing be easily available. Finally, the shock absorbers were in poor condition -- for a trip that contained some unpaved and poorly paved back roads. Overall, a 5+ for the tour, but a 2- for the transport.

One of the best travels in my life. The tour was packed with adventures but not exhausting. Our guide Alex was super friendly and helpful. He was informative and very accommodating such that he made the tour more about what you are exploring and your experience in it and less about time schedule.

Amazing tour! Would recommend this tour. Sindri was a great guide - very knowledgeable. A lot of beautiful sites

I have just returned from this tour. (19 Sept) Never done a multi day trip before, so was slightly apprehensive as what to expect. However, it was fabulous. The small numbers made it more enjoyable, it was well organised, and there were so many stops to see sights & the ice cave & hike were great fun. Don’t get put off by the word hike. It was a walk up a hillside for 45/60 mins to view a waterfall and then down the other side. I would highly recommend the trip. I thought the hotel was very good too. Beautiful location & view. Clean and had all you needed for a short stay (apart from shampoo & conditioner!). It was a great way to explore the Golden Circle and South Coast and I would definitely recommend Artic Adventures and this trip.

DO NOT BOOK WITH ARCTIC ADVENTURES - I wish I had read more of the reviews about how arctic adventures cancels bookings with little notice and then does not provide good support. We had a glacier snowmobiling booking with them that was abruptly cancelled a few days before with no reasoning. They said it was due to "operational reasons" but would not elaborate and it did not make any sense as they had not cancelled their time slot an hour earlier for the same trip. They also refused to make space on the earlier trip for our group because it was booked up, which while I get, I feel like they could've added some space given the circumstances.

Amazing tour. The stops were fantastic, we were not rushed. There were plenty of breaks throughout. We loved the adventure hotel. It was clean, beds were comfortable. The food was great, the breakfast buffet had lots of choice. Would highly recommend

The landscapes we explored were stunning. And Lili from Artic Adventures was a wonderful guide.

Our guide, Hjalti Por Bjorneson was very knowledgeable and gave us a great tour of the Iceland south coast area filled with excellent activities all three days. First day pickup was one hour late though so that aspect only rated 2 out of 5.

Hjalti has been a good guide. I used GEMINI AI to check many of his facts, and most everything checked out. This tour is a lot to take in in only 3 days. Not a bad thing, there is just a lot to see.

What a wonderful time seeing a beautiful country and learning about the geology, history, and culture. Hjalti was an excellent guide. Loved getting to know him and the other people on our small group tour.

The experience is very rich and comprehensive for south coast. Hjalti is a very responsible and nice guide to have, very welcoming. The weather in Iceland is quite unpredictable and would bring different experience but the overall tour is nice. I like the ice cave and the ice lagoon the most.

Had a great experience on our trip with our guide Hjalti! So much to see and so much fun!

Great tour, beautiful scenery!! Our guide Hjalti was great!

The tour was phenomenal . Our guide gave us just the right amount of time at every stop, made a few extra stops, and was genuinely just amazing!! My friend and I missed our tour group as soon as we got off the bus.

This Iceland group tour was absolutely amazing, with breathtaking and stunning natural scenery everywhere. We would especially like to thank our guide, Hjald Þór Björnsson. He is a very patient and friendly gentleman. Throughout the trip, he gave us detailed introductions to every attraction, sharing local geography, history and interesting facts. He flexibly adjusted the itinerary according to real‑time weather, road conditions and timing. No matter what questions we raised, he always answered them thoughtfully and thoroughly. Thanks to his professional and thoughtful arrangements, we had a near‑perfect experience in Iceland. 100 out of 100 points, highly recommended!

Our guide Elisa was great. The tour is the highlight of our 20+day trip.

The trip was amazing. The views were spectacular but what made it was the guide. Hjalti Por Bjornsson was memorable. From an old Icelandic family, he knows Iceland. His experience as a teacher probably helped in his ability to explain the complex geology of the area into concepts we could instantly understand. He really brought the history to life. He was kind, helpful and so patient with some of our tour mates who needed special help. He was so fit that everything seemed easy for him but he understood the limitations of others and helped us all. He was also so experienced, he knew when to change things up based on weather. This allowed us to see everything planned and more with the least impact from rain and cold. It is obvious he loves his job. That is one reason he is so good at it. Trip of a lifetime.

Our guide Hjahi Iór Björnsson was terrific. He was very knowledgeable and was a pleasure to listen to. He helped us every step of the way. I could not have asked for more.

The nature is beyond beautiful! So many pretty waterfalls and the glacier lagoon with floating icebergs was so blue and pretty! Five stars for the nature!!! Tomas, our guide, would probably get 2 stars. He wouldn’t say where he’s originally from, but I would guess Russia or Ukraine and we understood only about 50% of what he said and he would get frustrated when we would ask clarifying questions on where to go at the various stops. Artic Adventure owns the hotel you stay in for 2 nights and there are no options of alternatives for food so they really get you on the prices - beyond the already high prices in Iceland (like a $40 burger). If I did it again, I would probably rent a car or go with a different company because it’s absolutely worth doing the trip due to the natural beauty of Iceland!

This was an amazing tour and an incredible value for the money. I honestly would have spent about the same amount just on accommodations in Reykjavik, especially since this was during solar eclipse week, but I was really impressed that the tour operators didn’t jack up their prices or try to take advantage of the increased demand. There was a lot of exploring and stops on this trip! The itinerary included an incredible variety of sights and activities: geysers, countless waterfalls, black sand beaches with glaciers, glacier hiking and caving, and seeing a bunch of wildlife including puffins, sheep, and Icelandic horses. Despite how much we saw and did, the itinerary felt very well balanced. The days genuinely flew by because there was always something new and exciting to experience. A huge part of what made the tour special was our guide, Gunn. She was incredibly knowledgeable about Iceland and shared so much about the country's history, folklore, culture, and unique landscape. She was also happy to answer all of our questions and went above and beyond, including leading us on a hike around a beautiful black waterfall. She even recommended additional hikes we could do on our own after returning to the accommodations, including a nearby waterfall that was well worth visiting. The small group size was another major plus. There were only 14 of us, and everyone got along really well. We ended up having breakfasts and dinners together, which made the experience feel more like traveling with a fun group of people rather than being on a large tour bus. The smaller group also made getting on and off the bus quicker and gave us more flexibility at stops. I was a little nervous about the accommodations when I first booked (I was preparing myself mentally to be sleeping in a tent), but I was pleasantly surprised. The rooms were very clean and had everything we needed. Even in the cold Icelandic weather, the rooms stayed warm and the showers had plenty of hot water. The free breakfasts also went a long way since food can get expensive! I will caveat one thing, we were very fortunate with the weather in Iceland for the duration of the tour, which definitely contributed to the amazing experience as well. If you’re looking for an incredible, hassle-free way to explore the Golden Circle and South Iceland without worrying about driving, accommodations, or planning every detail yourself, I highly recommend this tour. It was an amazing experience and great value for the money. And if you’re lucky enough to get Gunn as your guide, I think that will make an already great tour even better!

The three day trip was made more fun by the people we joined the tour with - Gunn, our guide, the family of Danes and the Alaskan couple gave different insights and perspective all throughout and were pretty hilarious! (i.e., set expectations low, be patient and enjoy the experience!) The drive around was a bit long but the Arctic Adventures bus and the off-road super jeep were pretty comfortable rides. Overall, we were lucky the weather cooperated - plenty of sunlight and no harsh winds! There were sufficient breaks slotted in to enjoy the scenery too (e.g., black sand beaches, various water falls, nature trails etc). The geysers and glaciers were great to see also but the actual ice cave tour might have been cooler to see during winter.

Elisa our tour guide was fantastic. She was a wealth of information and made sure we managed to see all of the attractions plus few bonus ones. Would highly recommend this tour

It was an outstanding experience. Highlight was our Tour Guide Ronnen.

Guodjon Olafur Kristbergsson was our wonderful guide. Knowledgeable and humorous. There is no substitute for experience.

Great tour experience especially with Siggi H! He is very knowledgeable and helpful. Would recommend to friends!

Overall, this was a memorable trip with breathtaking scenery, but there are a couple of areas where the experience could be improved. Pros * Our tour guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and well-organized. He gave a helpful overview of each destination before we arrived and clearly explained where to walk or hike, as well as where and when to meet the group afterward. * The itinerary covered some of Iceland’s most spectacular natural attractions, making the tour well worth taking. Areas for Improvement 1. Mini Bus Comfort The mini bus was quite small and felt cramped, especially on a three-day tour with long hours on the road. More legroom or a larger vehicle would have made the journey much more comfortable. 2. Guided Experience at Each Stop While our guide provided a brief introduction before each stop, I had expected a more guided experience. It would have been nice if he had accompanied the group to key viewpoints or significant landmarks, sharing interesting facts, history, geology, and local stories along the way. Instead, most stops were self-guided after the initial briefing. Although the directions were clear and easy to follow, having the guide walk with us at least part of the time would have made the experience more engaging and educational. Despite these points, we thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Iceland’s landscapes are truly extraordinary, and our guide did an excellent job keeping the tour organized and running smoothly.

Excellent tour with a fantastic guide—knowledgeable, engaging, and great fun throughout the trip. The hotel was very good as well as the food. Iceland is a truly magnificent country, with breathtaking landscapes and unforgettable experiences. However, some of the excursions can be physically demanding and may not be suitable for everyone. A good level of physical fitness is recommended (avoid if you have asthma, knee problems, or other mobility or respiratory issues).

Seeing Thinkvellir National Park, where two tectonic plates meet, was thrilling. It's beautiful--and where the inside of the earth becomes the outside. Our guide accommodated different interests in the group. Some of us went on a longer hike, from a waterfall to a glacier. Stunning beauty, a well-marked trail, and a good group. The ice cave walk was not like anything I've seen. The guides take good care of us. They give us ice spikes. The walk up to the ice cave has rope handles. As guides noted, glaciers are changing all the time (they are melting!) and guides need to ensure the caves are there and safe to walk in. I felt safe the whole time, but it might not be for people with mobility issues, or for anyone unnerved by walking on a massive glacier. Arctic Adventures guides show up within the timeframe they say they will show up. Communication is clear. Our guide was happy to answer questions.

What a wonderful adventure! This tour included all of the sites we wanted to see and it did not disappoint. We were picked up at a bus stop in downtown Reykjavik and our journey began with about 16 other guests, a good group size. Our tour guide "Good" John did an excellent job teaching us about the history of Iceland and the sites we saw. The tour is well organized with just enough time at each site. He also made adjustments to the itinerary based on the weather as well as including sites not on the tour to give us more to see, which we loved! There were plenty of bathroom/food breaks as needed and we loved that we could just sit back, relax, and enjoy the views outside the window rather than worrying about driving and parking. Our multi-day tour included a 2 night stay at Adventure Hotel Geirland, which Arctic Adventures owns. Such a quiet hotel, convenient location with beautiful views. Our only complaints were that the shower leaked and made the floor wet, and that dinner at the restaurant was expensive with limited options. However the food was good and breakfast was included. The Katla Ice Cave was our favorite part, which was partnered with Southcoast Adventure, and our guide Inga was very friendly and knowledgeable. We did pay for a hiking boot rental for my husband but never received the boots. We did not ask our tour guide so we are not sure what happened with that. Overall we absolutely loved this tour and would highly recommend Arctic Adventures to anyone visiting Iceland for the first time!

What a beautiful country! Waterfalls, geyser, glaciers, canyons and this small organized tour was a great way to fit it all in stress free Tour guide Hjalti was full of interesting facts and stories. Also very funny. That”nks!

Amazing experience. Our guide Hjalti was friendly and very informative. He knew so much about everything we were doing and took us to extra places as time allowed to show us things like lava fields He taught us about Iceland history and the way of life in Iceland. Loved it all.

As a solo traveler I wasn’t sure what to expect but it was perfect! Our guide Hjalti went above and beyond to show us so many amazing sights and share so many insights into Iceland. The glacier lagoon was amazing. Would recommend this tour to anyone! Saw way more than I expected to in 3 days. Group was easy going and we had a great time together.

The guide was very knowledgeable and fun. The locations were breathtaking and there were no hiccups on the road. The hotel rooms were a bit disappointing, but we were able to sleep well enough.

Hjalti Bjornsson was our guide for the last three days and provided an informative, kind, and cheerful tour of the Golden Circle. We would easily come back to another tour with Arctic Adventures if we could travel with Hjalti as our guide again. His impactful storytelling gave us vibrant insight into the history, economy, volcanic activity, and other components of Icelandic heritage.

Sunny was an amazing guide! She was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, respectful, fun, and always punctual. She made every stop more enjoyable with her insights and positive energy. Everyone in our group loved her, and we all agreed that if we return to Iceland, we would absolutely want Sunny as our guide again. Highly recommended!

I think the 3-Days golden circle tour is worth for paid. Our guide, Dingsichao, was excellentand. I would’ like to recommend to my friends. There were many surprises over these three days.

Great itinerary and very knowledgeable guide. The only downside was the guides driving was terrifying.

Will never recommend anyone to pick Arctic Adventures as the partner of Trip. First of all, their services are terrible. No replies by email if they don't wanna reply you, if you call them, most of the time you have to wait for a longtime until someone pick you up. The guide delays 50 min during the day of pick up with neither updates from anyone nor explanations. The Guide has every strong English accent therefore difficult to follow. The tour was terrible, you spend almost all day in the bus with less than 2 hours a day in real spots. You have to stay in the hotel they provide with expensive price, and the restaurant they provide operates poorly, people facing chaos during breakfast time. Never ever wanna try again.

The experience is excellent but you must carry waterproof jacket, trouser and shoes as rain and wind can happen on very short notice. If the sun goes behind clouds you can get a temperature drop 5-10 degrees. Layers of warm outerwear is also essential so you can take them off in the vehicle and put them on quickly before venturing outside.

We had an excellent experience with our tour guide Viaggo. He incredibly knowledgeable and shared fascinating information about every aspect of Iceland, from its geology and history to its culture and landscapes, making the tour both enjoyable and educational. He went above and beyond to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort. patiently helped each person put on their crampons correctly and never hesitated to offer a hand on the more difficult or slippery sections of the trail. Even walked the whole trail with us at the glacier His kindness, professionalism, and genuine care made everyone feel confident and included. Thank you for making our Iceland adventure so memorable. We would highly recommend this tour and guide to anyone visiting Iceland!

This trip exceeded our expectations! We are already thinking about our next tour with Arctic Adventures.

Absolutely brilliant trip. Highly recommend to someone who doesn't want to drive but still enjoy the Iceland highlights with comfort. Our guide Sindri was very knowledgeable and gave many information regarding Iceland. He spoke on varied topics during the course of trip Like history of iceland , Icelandic horse and why it's special , Geography of iceland , Agriculture in Iceland , And many more. All in all, a great trip.