Gray Line 14.5-Hour South Coast
14 hours 30 minutes · Gray Line Iceland
from $234 per person Check availability →
BusTravel Diamond Beach Day Trip
Reykjavik: Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach Tour
from $211 per person
Check availability →Opens the live booking page with current dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation.
- Duration
- 14 hours
- Meeting point
- Reykjavik, depends on the option selected
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Pickup
- Pickup option available
- Run by
- BusTravel Iceland
Overview
This is a full-day bus tour from Reykjavik run by BusTravel Iceland, and it is long: roughly 14 hours door to door, most of it spent riding the south coast to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and back. You travel with a local guide who talks through the history and formation of the landscape, and you stop at Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Diamond Beach, and the village of Vík along the way.
The shape of the day is simple. The coach leaves Reykjavik, breaks at Hvolsvöllur, and continues to Kirkjubæjarklaustur for lunch before reaching the lagoon, where you get about an hour and a half among the floating icebergs. An optional boat cruise on the lagoon, running April to October when conditions allow, can be added when booking, and prebooking guarantees the place. From there the route turns back west: Diamond Beach with its black sand, dinner in Vík, and a photo stop at Seljalandsfoss, where you can walk behind the cascade if conditions permit. On a clear day you may also catch sight of Eyjafjallajökull from the road.
It suits travellers who want to reach the lagoon and Diamond Beach in a single day without renting a car or driving themselves. Reviewers consistently describe the day as long but worthwhile, with praise for the guides and the careful drivers.
From$211 per person
Duration14 hours
Rating4.7 from 4,069 reviews
What's Included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option selected)
- Guided walking tour
- Guide
- Transportation by bus
- Wifi onboard
- Jökulsárlón Lagoon boat tour (if option selected)
Not Included
- Food and drinks
Itinerary
- Reykjavik departureStarting and pickup location depends on the option selected, so check the live booking page for the exact point.
- Coach to HvolsvöllurRoughly 105 minutes on the bus, then a 15-minute break.
- Coach to KirkjubæjarklausturAbout 110 minutes of driving, followed by a 45-minute lunch stop.
- Jökulsárlón Glacier LagoonAn hour and a half at the lagoon to see the icebergs. An optional boat cruise on the lagoon can be taken here if selected, weather and season permitting.
- Vík dinner stopA 45-minute stop for dinner in Iceland's southernmost village. Food and drinks are not included in the tour price.
- Seljalandsfoss photo stopA 30-minute stop at the waterfall, where you can walk behind the water if conditions allow.
- Return to ReykjavikAbout 110 minutes back on the coach, with drop-off at one of many locations depending on the option selected.
What To Expect From The Tour
A few practical points will make a 14-hour day like this go more smoothly.
- BusTravel Diamond Beach Day Trip (this tour)$211
- 14 to 15 Hour Day Trip$225
- Small-Group Minibus, Hotel Pickup$229
- Gray Line 14.5-Hour South Coast$234
- Reykjavik Excursions Guided Day Trip$234
- Boat Ride Included, 14 Hours$292
- Reykjavik Excursions Boat Tour$328
- Long hours. Plan for a full day of roughly 14 hours, and the operator warns it can run longer in bad weather or delays. Several reviewers said the scenery made the travel time feel worthwhile, but nobody should book this expecting a short outing.
- Food is extra. Food and drinks are not included. Lunch and dinner stops are built into the itinerary, so budget for both meals on the road.
- The boat option. The lagoon boat cruise is optional and only runs from April to October when conditions allow. One reviewer who took it called it a highlight of the day. Prebooking it with the tour guarantees the place.
- Daylight matters. One reviewer travelling in November noted that the final stops can happen in full darkness, so the season you travel in shapes what you will see at the end of the day.
- Guides and comfort. Reviewers repeatedly praise the guides as funny, knowledgeable, and good at pacing the information, and the drivers for careful handling of a long route. The bus has wifi onboard.
- Pickup varies. Hotel pickup and drop-off depend on the option selected, and the meeting point varies the same way. Check the booking page before assuming a specific pickup arrangement.
Common issues. The honest downside is time: some reviewers wanted longer at the lagoon, the beach, and especially the final waterfall, and one reported that a planned black sand beach or dinner stop did not happen as described on their day. The tour can also run past the stated duration in bad weather. Nothing to eat or drink is included, so the day carries extra food costs. The boat cruise only operates from April to October and depends on conditions.
Common Questions
How Long Is The Tour?
Approximately 14 hours. The operator notes the day can run longer if weather or other delays hit, so plan accordingly.
Is Hotel Pickup Included?
It depends on the option selected. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included if you choose that option, and the meeting point likewise varies by option, so check the booking page for your exact arrangements.
Is Food Included?
No. Food and drinks are excluded, though the itinerary includes a 45-minute lunch stop and a 45-minute dinner stop in Vík.
Can I Take A Boat Ride On The Lagoon?
Yes, as an optional add-on when booking. The cruise runs from April to October when conditions allow, and prebooking guarantees your place. One reviewer called the boat ride a highlight.
What Is The Cancellation Policy?
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The booking page carries the full terms.
What Should I Bring?
A specific packing list is not mentioned on the booking page, so bring money or a card for meals, snacks, and any drinks, since nothing edible is included. One reviewer also suggested picking up drinks and snacks at a store stop before the main sightseeing begins.
Other Tours Worth Comparing
Small-Group Minibus, Hotel Pickup
14 hours · Gateway to Iceland (GTIce)
from $229 per person Check availability →