We’ve rounded up the Best Tours in Iceland & Top Iceland Day Trips to help you explore this incredible country AND every tour has a best-price guarantee!!
If you’re travelling to Iceland and want to know how best to maximize your time there then this post is exactly what you need.
Iceland is big, vast and rugged, and the best way to really get to the heart of some of its incredible natural wonders is to join a tour with expert guides.
And so we’ve rounded up the Best Tours in Iceland & The Best Iceland Day Trips (worth paying for!) to help you do just that!
We’ve got day trips from Reykjavik, Vik, and Akureyri which includes:
- snowmobile tours
- glacier hike tours
- secret lagoon access
- whalewatching tours
- scuba diving
- Iceland’s golden circle and so much more
So what are you waiting for? Scroll down and find the perfect Iceland day trips to help you explore Iceland.
Disclaimer: This very helpful post contains affiliate links. This means that if you decide to book any Iceland day trips through any of these links I get a small commission at absolutely no cost to you. And even better – the tour operators and Iceland day tour companies offer a best-price guarantee so you know that you’re getting the best tours in Iceland for a great price in what can be an expensive destination. Read my full Disclosure here.
In This Post
- 1 The Best Tours in Iceland – Reykjavik – Iceland’s Capital
- 1.1 Golden Circle Tour
- 1.2 Go in Search of the Northern Lights
- 1.3 Take a Whale Watching Cruise
- 1.4 Snorkel or Scuba Dive between 2 of the Earth’s Tectonic Plates
- 1.5 Take the Plunge at the Blue Lagoon
- 1.6 Horseback Riding Tour across Lava Fields
- 1.7 Visit in the Impressive Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
- 1.8 Game of Thrones Tour from Reykjavik
- 1.9 Tour the Snæfellsnes Peninsula
- 2 The Best Iceland Tours – Vik on Iceland’s South Coast
- 3 The Best Tours of Iceland – Akureyri on Iceland’s North Coast
The Best Tours in Iceland – Reykjavik – Iceland’s Capital
All the tours in this section depart and return to Reykjavik City.
Golden Circle Tour
RATED: ★★★★★ (4.8/5)
One of the most famous fullday tours from Reykjavic, the Grand Circle Tour gives visitors an incredible overview of the southwest part of Iceland by driving Icelands ring road.
Visiting the Strokkur geyser, Gullfoss waterfall and Þingvellir National Park, you’ll even have the opportunity to see where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet on this Golden Circle Day Trip (and if you want to get really close to them, see our Snorkeling trips below!)
The Golden Circle is the ultimate Iceland sightseeing tour and one not to be missed and is one of the best tours in Reykjavik Iceland and will help you see the best of Iceland in a few short days.
EXTRA: add on a visit to the Secret Lagoon or a Snowmobile Ride on a Glacier to make a for an incredible day out! (This tour in Iceland is run by the best tour company in Iceland ranked by reviewers).
AND 3 Days in Iceland: Itineraries, Tips & More!
.
Go in Search of the Northern Lights
RATED: ★★★★ (4.3/5)
A natural wonder that is at the top of most people’s bucket lists, this small group Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik will help you get to see this incredible natural wonder for yourself and is the ultimate Icelandic tour.
Your guide will take your group outside the city in a luxury minibus to where ther Eurasian tectonic plates meet to give you the best chance of seeing the sky light up – and even serve you hot chocolate and ginger biscuits as you go!
This is a top night tour in Reykjavík and one you must do if the conditions are right and there is no bad weather. It is one of the best-guided tours of Iceland to hopefully help you see the famous Iceland Northern Lights and as such it is one of the top excursions in Iceland – for obvious reasons!
.
Take a Whale Watching Cruise
RATED: ★★★★ (4.2/5)
Seeing Whales in their natural habitat is one of the most incredible things you’ll ever see and on this tour, you have the chance to see minke whales, dolphins, porpoises and more.
And the Crew of this Icelandic tour is so confident that you’ll catch a glimpse of a whale of this Whale Watching Tour from Reykjavik that you’ll get a free ticket for another cruise if you don’t!
It’s a great option for an Iceland one day tour and one of the top day trips in Iceland and Iceland excursions on this list!
.
.
Snorkel or Scuba Dive between 2 of the Earth’s Tectonic Plates
RATED: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Jump in the water and admire the landscape of the rift in the Earth’s crust (known as the Silfra fissure) where North America and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
On this 5-hour Silfra snorkeling tour, you’ll dive into the crystal clear waters of UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park and will learn all about how the plates are gradually separated by the movement of the earth from your PADI qualified divemaster.
Due to the nature of the dive, groups are limited to 6 people – don’t miss out on this incredible experience. (This is my pick for the best Iceland day tours for Iceland and one my top adventures from Reykjavik!)
.
Take the Plunge at the Blue Lagoon
RATED: ★★★★★ (4.7/5)
Yes, it’s touristy (and slightly over-priced! IMO) but you can’t go to Iceland and not go for a swim in the Blue Lagoon Spa. It’s just something you have to do.
That blue water, the steam rising and all the goodness of natural thermal waters – pre-book your admission and return transfer from Reykjavik for the cheapest price on the market (guaranteed!). (Although – ladies and gents – be sure that you DON’T dunk your hair on your blue lagoon tours – the water is good for your body, but catastrophic for your hair!
There is a reason this is one of the top day tours in Iceland and an Icelandic adventure (read: relaxing lagoon day!) not to be missed!
.
.
Horseback Riding Tour across Lava Fields
RATED: ★★★★★ (4.6/5)
It sounds like something out of this world, right?! But you can, in fact, ride Icelandic horses over the Lava Fields and rolling green hills of the Icelandic highlands which make up Iceland’s unique landscape.
Icelandic horses are special in that their breed is one of a kind and they even have a special gait known as tölt.
One of the top outdoor activities, each visitor is provided with warm overalls, raingear, riding boots, and helmets in their sizes, with the stable staff from Íshestar Stables taking care of your every need on these horse riding tours.
It is easily one of the best Iceland day tours with one of the best Iceland tour companies. I mean, who doesn’t love horses – and especially this beautiful and unique breed.
.
Visit in the Impressive Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
RATED: ★★★★★ (4.7/5)
Waterfalls and Glacial Lagoons – what more could you want from a day tour?
This 14-hour extravaganza takes you on a minibus tour to gaze at the icebergs of the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, walk behind the cascades of Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, stand at the base of Skógafoss Waterfall and visit the southern city of Vik and catch a view of Eyjafjallajökull (a glacier-capped volcano!) on a clear day with an option boat tour thrown in for good measure.
This is the best Glacier tour Iceland and will help you see the best of Iceland on those tours.
.
Game of Thrones Tour from Reykjavik
RATED: ★★★★★ (4.8/5)
Game of Thrones fans rejoice as there is now a Games of Thrones tour covering loads of filming locations in Iceland – but jump in quick as it is fast becoming one of the most popular day tours from Reykjavik!
You’ll explore the White Walkers’ stomping ground at Thingvellir National Park, See Thjorsárdalur valley and head to the site where a village was massacred by the Wildlings. You own GOT-loving guide may also have a few stories to tell you based on their own experience and George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels. What are you waiting for?!
.
Tour the Snæfellsnes Peninsula
RATED: ★★★★★ (4.8/5)
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is a must-see on your trip to Iceland. From the insta-worthy black sand beaches to the heights of Kirkjufell mountain, and charming fishing villages to the jaw-dropping Snæfellsjökull glacier – and not forgetting the seal colony at Ytri Tunga.
It’s the perfect day trip from Reykjavik and one of the best tours to do in Iceland. It’s just so breathtaking!
.
The Best Iceland Tours – Vik on Iceland’s South Coast
South Coast Classic (departs Reykjavik)
RATED: ★★★★★ (4.8/5)
One of the best south coast tours, this 11 hour Vik day trip you’ll walk behind the thundering water of the Seljalandsfoss waterfall, stand at the top of the Skógafoss waterfall, check out the coastal village of Vik, marvel at the basalt columns at the Reynisfjara black sand beach and visit the amazing Sólheimajökull glacier.
This is the best tour in Vik and South Iceland.
.
Glacier Experience at Sólheimajökull Glacier
RATED: ★★★★★ (4.8/5)
Hike on a Glacier! Guided by an expert Glacier Guide, this family-friendly hike – with all safety gear (crampons, helmet, ice axe, etc) provided will teach you all about glacier formation, what makes them unique and how they evolve.
You’ll be shown different glacier formations, crevasses, ice caves tunnels and see the glacier lagoon that has been forming in front of the glacier the last few years.
Hiking Iceland glaciers is the epitome of the ‘land of fire and ice’ and a must-do for adventurous travelers. This is such an incredible Iceland tours one of the best-guided tours of Iceland.
.
Natural Ice Cave Tour Iceland (Vatnajökull Glacier)
Included for its uniqueness, this guided tours is one that requires a little more effort than most (and will be more suitable for those who self drive), but it does give you the opportunity to tour a natural ice cave in Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull in a luxury super jeep tours.
These offroad tours only run in winter when the glacier is not retreating and pick up is from Jökulsárlón (2 hrs from Vik) – so you will definitely need a hire car if you are planning to get there under your own steam.
If you want to take a tour which goes off the beaten path and shows you something a limited number of people have seen – this Ice Cave Tour is for you.
.
The Best Tours of Iceland – Akureyri on Iceland’s North Coast
Take a Dip in the Myvatn Nature Baths
RATED: ★★★★★ (4.7/5)
The less touristy option than the Blue Lagoon, the Myvatn Nature Baths are the perfect relaxing day trip from Akureyri.
A very popular tour, this day trip allows you to bathe in the natural hot springs geothermal pool/swimming pools with water sourced from 2500m into the earth’s crust as the steam rises magically around you on the North Coast of Iceland (in north Iceland!)
.
Tour Lake Myvatn
RATED: ★★★★★ (5/5)
If you’re planning a trip to the Myvatn Nature Baths (above) consider combining this with a visit with a tour of the lake where you’ll see lava fields, mud pools, and the Grjótagjá rift as well as seeing the Goðafoss Waterfall – an iconic site located on the Skjálfandafljót River. All before relaxing in the Nature Baths as the cost of admission is included in the Lake Myvatn tour price.
It’s a great day tour of Iceland in this very special part of the country.
.
Lofthellir Ice Cave Exploration
RATED: ★★★★★ (5/5)
One of the top-rated tours in Iceland is a visit to the Lofthellir Cave – a natural lava cave that boasts the greatest natural ice sculptures in the whole of the country.
After a 20 minute walk across the Hverfell volcano lava field, you’ll spend an hour in the cave taking it all in before returning to Akureyri via the small village of Reykjahlíð on Lake Myvatn.
It’s one of the best Iceland Tours and one of the best tours to do in Iceland for adventure enthusiasts.
.
Langjökull Glacier Snowmobile Tour (From Gulfoss)
RATED: ★★★★ (4/5)
From the waterfall, at Gulfoss you’ll take a 1-hour snowmobile ride across Europe’s second-largest ice cap on the Langjökull Glacier where you’ll see the rolling ice fields from a different perspective.
It’s one of the great snowmobile tours in Iceland which is easily 1 of the best tours in Iceland for adventure lovers.
All ‘warmth’ equipment (hat, gloves, overshoes, overalls and a helmet) are provided and this tour is the perfect way for those with their own transport to finish off a tour of the Golden Circle. AND is the best place to snowmobile in Iceland.
So there you have it – hopefully, you have picked up some great travel tips and have decided which of the best tours in Iceland to take to see the best of Iceland and make the most of visiting Iceland. Don’t forget to let me know how you spent your time in Iceland once you’re back! I really do hope you have the best trip to Iceland!
Oh, and if you enjoyed this article, please, tweet pin or share on Facebook – I’d really appreciate it! (click the P in the left-hand share bar to see the hidden pin!)
And if you have already been on your dream Iceland Trips and found some of the best of Iceland – or epic Iceland day trips that we have included, be sure to let us know in the comments below!
READY MORE TRAVEL INSPIRATION? YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THESE TRAVEL TIPS, TRAVEL ARTICLES, DESTINATION GUIDES AND RELATED POSTS:
- Travel Quotes: Take your pick from the most Inspirational Travel Quotes of all time!
- Awesome Winter Sports Destinations: The Best Places to Ski in the Northern Hemisphere
- Explore Africa: Explore this incredible continent with The Best Places to Visit in Africa
- Festivals: Festival Fan? You’ll love these Incredible Festivals From Around the World
Hi There! Thanks for reading my ultimate guide to The Best Tours in Iceland, The Best Iceland Day Trips & The Best Tours Iceland (which are TOTALLY worth the $$). I just wanted to let you know that this travel guide to Iceland’s best tours contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something after clicking a link, I may get a small commission – which is at absolutely no cost to you. If you enjoyed this article and are going to be searching for some of the things I mention anyway, I would love it if you could click through from the links above & thank you in advance! Read my full Disclosure here.
And thank you for reading the MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld Travel Blog.
Jill Troughton
Monday 4th of June 2018
Thank you so much! This is a really great selection of the best tours in Iceland! You would certainly get to see a lot on any of these.
Steven Newman
Monday 4th of June 2018
Thanks for this amazing and useful blog. It's so informative. I really like it. I was also planning to go Iceland but only for a few days. I really want to visit most of the above beautiful tours in few days.