My Experience Doing the Iceland South Coast & Jökulsárlón Day Tour: A Complete Review

After spending most of my time around Reykjavík and the Golden Circle on my first trip to Iceland, I wanted to explore more of the country upon my return. The South Coast seemed like a logical next step, but there was one big problem: I didn’t have a driving license. 

We also didn’t have much time in Iceland. At the time, I was still working a full-time job and therefore had to work within my annual leave constraints. In these circumstances, a tour seemed like the most logical option. 

While looking at different options online, I decided to go with the South Coast & Jökulsárlón day tour. Long story short: My mom and I agree that it’s the best tour we’ve ever done. But that’s for us; your needs may differ. I put together this guide so you can determine whether you should also book it. 

What Is the Iceland South Coast & Jökulsárlón Day Tour?

The tour we took is one of the most popular in Iceland, and it will take you across the whole of Iceland’s South Coast—and back to Reykjavík—in a single day. You’ll also visit iconic Jökulsárlón, also known as the Glacier Lagoon. 

The tour is a very long one; ours lasted around 15 hours. You’ll cover a lot, too. I actually went back to the South Coast on a future trip with my girlfriend, and we spent the best part of a week exploring this part of Iceland. It was only at that point that I realized just how much was included in the day tour. 😅

As to whether the tour runs year-round, the answer is yes and no. You can take the tour without the Jökulsárlón boat tour included throughout the year, including winter. There will be fewer daylight hours than if you go in the summer, but a) Iceland is beautiful in the winter, and b) you’ll still get everything done. 

However, you can only take the Jökulsárlón lagoon boat tour during the summer. Even then, the boat tour part of your trip could still be canceled if the weather is bad. We were lucky to have a sunny day with little wind, but… It’s Iceland. The weather often doesn’t play fair. So, this is not guaranteed.

For what it’s worth, I went to Iceland during the summer for this tour and therefore decided to do the boat part as well.

Why I Chose This Tour in the First Place

To be honest, part of it was because I was a total normie and just chose the most popular option. 🤣

But beyond that, I also wanted a tour that took me to at least most of the places that were on my bucket list. Since I didn’t have the freedom of a car to drive around the entire Ring Road, starting with the South Coast made the most sense. This particular tour met my convenience criteria.

To be honest, the boat tour was an afterthought. For me, the main thing was seeing Jökulsárlón and also the likes of Seljalandsfoss. However, since we were in Iceland during the summer, we also decided “yeah, why not”. 

At the time, I have to say that I didn’t care so much about the tour group size. You will be on a large tour bus for this, but for me, that wasn’t a major issue. 

My Experience Doing the Tour: Here’s What the Day Was Like

We were staying in the Laugardalur neighborhood in Reykjavík, and our tour guide picked us up from a bus stop near our accommodation early in the morning. After that, we went to a few more pick-up spots to get other people who had joined the tour. 

Eyjafjälläjökull, Skógafoss, and Vík

After everyone was gathered, our guide then drove us down the South Coast. We first stopped briefly at Eyjafjälläjökull, the volcano that famously shut down air traffic in Europe after erupting in 2010. As a Preston football (or soccer if you’re American) fan, I had to thank it for stopping Blackburn from signing Robert Lewandowski. 🤠

Anyway… we then got back on the tour bus and stopped next at Skógafoss, which I can confirm is even cooler in real life. Then, we continued on to the beautiful village of Vík, where we had lunch. 

Jökulsárlón and an Interesting Afternoon

In the afternoon, we drove to the Jökulsárlón lagoon and took our boat tour. This was a super cool experience, and I’d say that Jökulsárlón was the highlight of the excursion, to be honest. 

We then started to make our way back to Reykjavík, stopping at the Skeiðará Bridge Monument. These are the remains of a bridge destroyed by a glacier run in 1996, and it was pretty interesting, I thought. I actually had no idea that it existed beforehand. 

Our tour took us to the famous Reynisfjara black sand beach, which I must say is—in my opinion—overrated. Before returning to Reykjavík, we also stopped at Seljalandsfoss. You can walk behind the waterfall in the summer, and doing so was super cool (and wet). 

Eventually, we returned to Reykjavík late in the evening.

The Pros and Cons of Joining the South Coast & Jökulsárlón Day Tour

Now that you’ve got a taste of what to expect, I’ll go over what I liked and disliked about this day tour. 

Pros

1. You’ll See Most of the South Coast’s Main Highlights 

Since my mom and I based ourselves in Reykjavík for this trip, taking a day tour was the best way to see the South Coast’s main highlights. We went to most of the big-hitters, such as Seljalandsfoss. Regardless of how many times you’ve seen them on your Instagram feed, seeing them in real life hits different. 

If your main objective is to see the key sights, this tour is a pretty solid option, in my opinion. 

2. The Tour Took Us to Some Extra Spots I Would Otherwise Have Missed

As mentioned earlier, I had no idea about the Skeiðará Bridge Monument (or its story) beforehand. So, getting to see something extra was really nice. 

Our guides were, in general, also very informative and entertaining. I felt like I knew a lot more about Iceland’s South Coast after the trip. I also had a bigger appreciation for the country, which is partly why I have come back so many times since as well. 

3. Everything Is Very Well-Run

Iceland has a well-developed tourist infrastructure, and the South Coast is one of the most popular spots in the country. While this does have some drawbacks, one major benefit is that everything is incredibly well-run.

The entire tour was seamless from start to finish. Our guide picked us up on time, and transfers to the boat tour were also effective. For the most part, our bus also left each place without delays.

4. The Tour Itself Was *a Lot* of Fun

I’ve traveled to 30 countries and taken a lot of tours during those experiences. This one was one of my fondest travel memories. My mom and I really enjoyed ourselves, and the breaks were frequent enough so that the journey didn’t feel monotonous.

Then again, I question how “monotonous” traveling through Iceland could truly be. The landscapes kept changing, and while the bus had free Wi-Fi, the best entertainment was outside. 

Even as someone who’s been to Iceland 5+ times, I still wouldn’t mind doing this tour again. That’s how enjoyable I found it.

5. You Can Get Picked Up From Your Hotel in Reykjavík

When booking this tour, you can choose where you want to get picked up from. You have the option to get picked up from many of the major hotels in Reykjavík, which makes everything super easy. (As a side note, I have a guide on where to stay in Reykjavík if you’re still trying to find accommodation). 

If the place you’re staying isn’t on the list, you can still pick something nearby. Otherwise, the tour can also pick you up from the BSÍ Bus Terminal. This bus terminal is close to Downtown Reykjavík and easy to find. So, joining the tour shouldn’t be too difficult, either way. 

In addition to Reykjavík, you can also get picked up if you’re staying in some nearby towns in the capital region, such as Kópavogur. 

Cons

Despite the benefits of joining this tour, I will also point out some drawbacks. That way, you can make a more informed decision. 

1. Food Is Not Included in the Tour Price

When you book the tour, you’ll only pay for the tour itself. Food and drink are not included in the price, and you’ll need to buy these yourself. 

We did stop for food in a couple of places, including for lunch in Vík. To be fair, the place we went to in Vík was actually pretty good. However, you’ll need to factor this into your budget. Plus, eating out in Iceland is expensive, so… yeah. 

You can also bring packed lunches with you, which is a good option if you don’t want to wait for a food stop. 

2. You Won’t Get to Spend a Lot of Time in Each Location

This, I guess, is a general drawback of most tours. The South Coast & Jökulsárlón day tour is designed to be efficient, which means that you’ll be on the tour company’s timetable rather than your own. 

Naturally, you will have some places that you want to spend more time at. For example, I really enjoyed staying at Skógafoss for an hour or two when I returned. Plus, there’s a nice hiking trail up the stairs. So, you’ll need to decide if the trade-off is worth it. 

While you’ll see most of the places that are popular along Iceland’s South Coast, you won’t see all of them. For example, you won’t get to see the Svartifoss waterfall or Dyrhólaey nature reserve. Both of these are awesome places to visit, IMO; ditto for the Westman Islands. 

This will come down to your own preferences and what you want to see. I got to see both of the above-mentioned attractions on a future trip (images below). At the same time, I know that Iceland is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for many. 

If you would like to see *everything* on the South Coast, and you can drive, I’ll again recommend renting a car instead. I’d also suggest spending a few nights on the South Coast.

4. It’s a Very Long Day

Yes, this tour is a lot of fun. But being out and about for 14-15 hours is a very long day, and you will feel it the morning after. 

I’d recommend taking things lightly and spending some time in Reykjavík for the following day. I did not take my own advice; we went for a day trip to Greenland the day after, and then I figured that wasn’t enough and did a night out in Reykjavík. Needless to say, my central nervous system was COOKED afterward. 🤣

While it is a long day, you will at least stop for toilet breaks and won’t be on the bus for the whole time. So, it’s not going to feel like it in the moment. 

5. It Won’t be a Small Tour Group

This will be another one that depends on your preferences, but taking tours in smaller groups is pretty nice for several reasons. This is particularly true if you want to be more social, and the guide also has the capacity to be more attentive to each individual rather than the overall group.

Is the Jökulsárlón Boat Tour Add-On Worth It?

Even though I wasn’t so bothered about the Jökulsárlón boat tour beforehand, I actually enjoyed it a lot. The landscapes are beautiful, and I’ve grown to appreciate just being on the water in general. The boat excursion is 30 minutes long, and the scenery is stunning. 

If you’re visiting Iceland during the summer, I’d definitely recommend booking the tour with the boat excursion included. 

Who Should Do the Iceland South Coast & Jökulsárlón Day Tour?

I would mainly recommend taking the Iceland South Coast & Jökulsárlón day tour if you’re visiting Iceland without a car. While long-distance buses do exist in Iceland, I personally think they’re a major hassle. Plus, I personally don’t trust rural buses to actually show up; clearly I have some unresolved issues to deal with there, but anyway. 😄

If you’re going to visit Iceland and not rent a car, I’d recommend basing yourself in Reykjavík for the entire trip. You can then take day tours. In addition to the South Coast, I can also suggest taking day tours to the Golden Circle and Snæfellsnes Peninsula. 

The tour is also worth joining if you don’t have a lot of time in Iceland and want to see the South Coast more efficiently. 

Moreover, I’d recommend joining the tour if you’d like someone else to do the driving for you. 

I Would Not Recommend the Tour If…

You don’t need to take this tour if you’re already renting a car for your Iceland trip. While I enjoyed taking this tour, I have to say it was much more fun to see the South Coast at my own pace. I also really enjoyed staying for a few nights outside of Reykjavík.

If you want an idea of how much space you’ll cover on the tour, it takes almost five hours to drive from Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón. On the slower South Coast trip I did with my girlfriend, we actually didn’t drive to Jökulsárlón because even from Vík, it would’ve been a four-and-a-half-hour round trip. I didn’t drive at the time, so while that’s doable for two people, it is a lot for one person. 

If you’re planning to rent a car for your Iceland trip, I recommend comparing prices on DiscoverCars. You can pick up your car from Keflavík Airport when you arrive in Iceland and return it there when you leave. 

You also should reconsider the tour if you want to spend as long as you want in places you’ll be visiting. Again, though, you’ll need a car to do this. 

Overall, Do I Think the Iceland South Coast & Jökulsárlón Day Tour Is Worth It?

Yes. In my opinion, the South Coast & Jökulsárlón day tour is very much worth it if you’re not going to rent a car. Several years later, I still recommend it to people visiting Iceland who are short on time. 

I think that the tour is excellent value for money, regardless of whether you book the boat tour add-on or not. The landscapes are stunning, the tour guides are informative, and the tour itself is a lot of fun. 

You don’t need to take the tour if you’re already renting a car, but if you don’t have a driving license (or simply don’t want to drive), this tour is well worth the money.