Iceland South Shore Private Tour with Northern Lights

3 days / 2 nights
The Northern Lights above Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
Skógafoss in winter
Þingvellir National Park covered in snow
Village of Vik in South Iceland.jpg
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in Iceland
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in Iceland
The Northern Lights above Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
Skógafoss in winter
Þingvellir National Park covered in snow

Have a magical winter getaway chasing the aurora with a private guide

Experience Iceland’s natural wonders in winter while you benefit from the insider knowledge of your private guide. They’ll also use their local expertise to give you the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights.

On this short break in Iceland, you’ll check out the must-see sights on the renowned Golden Circle route. Your guide will also show you Iceland’s south coast. Here black sand beaches, dramatic cliffs, and tumbling waterfalls are waiting for you. Not to mention the dazzling icebergs at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. 

Travel stylePrivately guided
Trip length3 days / 2 nights
VibeIntimate
SeasonWinter
(1 Oct–15 Apr)
TransportRental car with driver
Starts fromReykjavík
Tour codePT16

On this tour you will...

  • Hunt for the Northern Lights above Iceland’s wintry landscapes

  • Tour the Golden Circle’s sights: Gullfoss waterfall, Þingvellir National Park, and Geysir

  • Walk along Reynisfjara black sand beach and visit the charming village of Vík 

  • Marvel at Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, impressive waterfalls on the breathtaking south coast

  • Watch icebergs drift out to sea from the shore of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon

  • Head to Fontana Spa, where you can soak in the warm geothermal water 

Top attractions

The Tjörnin pond in Reykjavík in summer

Downtown Reykjavík

A rainbow over the Skógafoss waterfall on a sunny day

Skógafoss

The Seljalandsfoss waterfall covered in icicles

Seljalandsfoss

Vik Church with Reynisdrangar sea stacks in the distance

Vík í Mýrdal

The Gullfoss waterfall in summertime

Gullfoss

Þingvellir National Park, Iceland, in autumn colors

Þingvellir National Park

The Strokkur geyser erupting in winter against a sunset

Geysir and Strokkur

Skaftafellsjökull glacier in Vatnajökull National Park

Skaftafell

The edge of the Vatnajökull glacier

Vatnajökull Glacier & National Park

Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon at sunrise with a pink sky

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Why book a privately guided trip with Iceland Tours?

  • Let your own driver take you around Iceland

  • Expert local guidance in English

  • Start your tour on the date that suits you

  • 24/7 emergency helpline in Iceland

  • Secure your booking with just a 5% deposit

  • Handpicked local accommodation options

Your 3-day privately guided itinerary

Your 3-day privately guided itinerary
Staying inKirkjubæjarklaustur area
Driving distance260 km (162 mi)

Your memorable Icelandic adventure begins today. Your guide will meet you at your hotel and you will head off to enjoy the stunning snow-covered scenery of the south coast of Iceland. The first two stops will be the spectacular waterfalls the Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. Take your chance to walk behind a waterfall at Seljalandsfoss. In Skógar, you will pop in for a visit at the Folk Museum, where your guide will tell you more about how people in Iceland used to live centuries ago.

Your journey continues along the coast lined with black sand beaches. Later, you will go for a stroll and visit the little villages of Vík and Reynishverfi.

Highlights

The Seljalandsfoss waterfall covered in icicles

Seljalandsfoss

A rainbow over the Skógafoss waterfall on a sunny day

Skógafoss

Vik Church with Reynisdrangar sea stacks in the distance

Vík í Mýrdal

Extra activities

Inside the Raufarholshellir lava tunnelExtra

Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel

Staying inKirkjubæjarklaustur area
Driving distance250 km (155 mi)

Today your guide will take you east to explore one of the most popular and beautiful sights of Iceland. Look out for the breathtaking views of Skaftafell, an oasis surrounded by glaciers and black sand plains.

Finally, you will arrive at the spectacular Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, where enormous icebergs drift onto the water like shining diamonds. Capture some fantastic photos and marvel at the sight with a walk along the banks of the lagoon. Later, your guide will drive you back to Kirkjubæjarklaustur for a second night.

Driving distance390 km (242 mi)

Today, you visit some of the most interesting and popular areas in Iceland, which are part of the famous Golden Circle. At the geothermal area of Geysir, the hot spring Strokkur ejects its water column high into the air every 5 to 10 minutes. There are also numerous smaller springs boiling and bubbling nearby.
You will then continue with a short drive to Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls.

Then you will journey to Lake Laugarvatn where you can have a nice thermal bath at Laugarvatn Fontana spa. It is composed of a series of interconnected baths and steam rooms that complement each other to create a healthy, natural, and unique spa experience.

Next your driver will take you to the incredible site of Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park. This national park is considered one of the geological wonders of the world where you can see the effects of the tectonic plate movements which have opened various cracks and fissures in the earth’s crust. It was here that the Icelandic parliament was founded in the 10th century.

After exploring the Golden Circle area, it is now time to head back to the capital where your privately guided Iceland adventure ends. If you are staying extra nights in the capital, we can help you plan some optional activities. Please contact your travel consultant for more information.

What’s included?

Comfort or Quality accommodation every night

Continental breakfast every day

Rental car of your choice for 3 days

Private driver-guide

Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi

24/7 emergency helpline when you’re in Iceland

VAT, taxes & service fees

Flights to Iceland

Airport transfer

Accommodation in Reykjavík

Food & drink, unless otherwise stated

Attraction entrance fees, unless otherwise stated

Personal travel insurance

Don’t take our word for it

See what hundreds of fellow travelers have to say about their trips with Iceland Tours.

Read customer reviews

FAQs about our private guided trips

All of our private guided tours start in Reykjavík. Here your driver-guide will pick you up from your accommodation and you’ll hit the road.

With your enthusiastic guide leading the way, you will head out into the Icelandic countryside. As you’re immersed in the country’s incredible nature, you’ll learn from your guide about the places you’re visiting.

Once you’ve arrived at your accommodation for the night, you and your guide will say goodbye until the morning. You’ll have time to yourself to enjoy dinner and recharge before the next day’s adventure.

At the end of your tour, you’ll be dropped off back at your hotel in the capital.

Good to know: Our private tour packages do not include hotel stays in Reykjavík at the start or end of the tour, or a transfer from the airport as standard. If you’d like us to arrange this for you, please let us know in the ‘Special requests’ box at checkout.

You’ll get to meet your guide for the first time when they collect you from your hotel in Reykjavík. Over the course of your trip, you’ll have the chance to get to know them and swap stories and jokes!

Guidance is in English as standard, although if you would like a guide that speaks a different language, please let us know in the ‘Special requests’ box at checkout.

We can’t guarantee that a guide that speaks a language other than English will be available for your selected tour dates, but we’ll do our best to honor your request.

It’s normally possible to book a guide that speaks Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch, or a Scandinavian language. Note that there may be an additional charge for a non-English-speaking guide.

In Iceland, tipping is not commonplace in restaurants, hotels, taxis, and the like.

That said, if your guide goes above and beyond to make your tour extra special, they would graciously receive a tip. Just know that it’s not expected, so it’s totally up to you.

You can customize your trip to Iceland with extra days in Reykjavík at the start or end of your trip. This is your chance to pack in day tours and activities like snowmobiling and ice caving.

If you want to customize the itinerary of your actual guided tour, contact us and we’ll be happy to help. Just so you know, there’s an extra fee for this service. See our terms and conditions for all the details.

Packages from Iceland Tours don’t include flights. We do this so that you can get a wider choice and a better price overall. When you’ve figured out roughly what your travel dates will be, you can start to look for flights online.

There are direct flights to Iceland from many cities across Europe and North America, with connections further afield also available. Major airlines such as British Airways, easyJet, Delta, and Icelandair all fly to Iceland.

On a privately-guided package with Iceland Tours, you can choose from 2 levels of accommodation:

  • Comfort – Hotels or guesthouses of around 3 stars, with private bathrooms
  • Quality – Hotels or guesthouses of around 4 stars, with private bathrooms

Each accommodation level offers different types of rooms. We’ve described them below to help you choose the best one for you. Just keep in mind that not every hotel has all these room types available.

  • Single room: one single bed in a room, perfect for solo travelers.
  • Double room: a full-sized double bed for 2 people.
  • Twin room: a room with 2 single beds that fit 1 person each.
  • Triple room: these vary in size and layout, but are designed to fit 3 adults. Triple rooms feature a combination of double, single or sofa beds, depending on the hotel.

No matter which accommodation level you pick, breakfast is included. Read more about the differences between the levels on this accommodation page.

Our drivers are experienced guides that know Iceland inside-out. They’ve built up years of local knowledge. This means they’ll be able to add those special moments and surprises to your itinerary that you can only get by going private.

Most of our guides have had formal training and qualifications. In any case, they’ll use their know-how to add that element of delight to your private trip.

Start by browsing the vacation packages above. You can choose from both summer and winter trips.

Once you’ve picked out your perfect package, simply follow the steps on the tour page to complete your booking. At checkout, you can add more days and extra activities so you can get even more out of your trip.

You’ll then receive a confirmation by email. Closer to your time of travel, we’ll send you all the documents you need for your upcoming Iceland vacation.

All of the privately guided vacation packages featured on this page include:

  • Comfort or Quality accommodation each night
  • Continental breakfast every morning
  • Rental vehicle of your choice (4x4 or van)
  • Expert guidance in English
  • 24/7 helpline while you’re in Iceland

For info about the difference between Comfort and Quality options, see our accommodation page.

Good to know: These private trips do not include transfers to and from Keflavík airport or accommodation in Reykjavík. If you’d like us to arrange this for you, please let us know at checkout.

The different seasons offer completely different experiences in Iceland, so there’s no one best time to go.

In winter in Iceland, you can chase the Northern Lights and visit ice caves. There’s a good chance the country will be blanketed in fresh snow.

On the other hand, Icelandic summer gives you longer hours of light, so you can fit more into each day of your trip. You’ll also get warmer weather and see greener landscapes.

If you still can’t make up your mind between summer and winter, check out this blog about the best times to go to Iceland.

No matter what time of year you choose to visit, it pays to pack well so you stay warm and comfortable throughout your stay.

Here’s a suggested Iceland packing list:

  • Warm, waterproof jacket
  • Sturdy hiking boots
  • Thermal layers
  • Light raincoat
  • Gloves, scarf, and hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Swimming gear (for hot springs and pools)
  • Moisturizer and lip balm

For all the info on what conditions you can expect, check out this guide to weather in Iceland.

Iceland is stuffed to the brim with jaw-dropping natural attractions and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Take a private tour and you could:

You can also enhance your trip with exciting optional activities like:

  • Relaxing in hot springs like the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon
  • Gliding on top of a glacier on a snowmobile
  • Horseback riding through moss-blanketed lava fields
  • Touring natural ice caves with a guide in wintertime
  • Snorkeling between the tectonic plates at Silfra

To see the available upgrade options, check out the detailed itineraries for one of the tour packages above.

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Ages 12+

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