The Best Guided Tours of Iceland For All Seasons

In this post, we wanted to share what we think are some of the best guided tours of Iceland. This is for those of you who want to travel in Iceland without a car, saving yourself the effort of driving yourself. It also means someone else does all the work so you can focus on enjoying the experience, which is always nice.

One option we’ve suggested in a previous post is to base yourself in the capital city of Reykjavik, and do day trips to some of Iceland’s highlights.

However, that isn’t the only option. You can also take a multi-day guided tour of Iceland. Multiple companies offer these types of tour, and they range in group size, cost and duration. We’ve gone through loads of the options, and have come up with some of our favourite Iceland tours to help you pick the right option for you.

These cover some of the best tours in Iceland, and cover a wide range of interests. Whether you’re into hiking, wildlife, photography, white water rafting, snowshoeing… or just experiencing the natural wilderness of Iceland, we’ve found a tour for you!

We’ve also tried to cover all budgets, with tours that range from camping and staying in mountain huts, through to higher end more luxury experiences. Some of the tours we’ve chosen cover a lot of ground, others focus on exploring a smaller region in depth. Many include activities like boat rides, horseback riding, ice cave explorations, and tours to see the Northern Lights.

We’re confident that from our suggestions, you’re going to find a guided tour of Iceland that you love, whether you’re in Iceland for a 2 day stopover or a 2 week adventure!

Contents:

The Best Tours of Iceland

There are a lot of group tour options to choose from in Iceland, so we’ve decided to split these up based on duration. These range from 2 days to 12 days.

The vast majority of escorted tours in Iceland start in Reykjavik (Iceland’s capital) although a few start in Akureyri (the main city in the north). Almost all international flights come into Keflavik International Airport near Reykjavik, which is the main airport in Iceland. From here you can either take a tour that starts in Reykjavik, or take a connecting flight to Akureyri in the north as a start point.

For each guided tour, we’ve specified the months that the tour runs in, as the majority of these group tours do not operate year round. This is because there are different attractions available at different times of year, and accessibility to the different regions of Iceland varies hugely depending on the time of year. For instance, many attractions are closed or not accessible in the winter months.

Don’t forget, if you are in Iceland for a longer period, you can also combine tours, or do part of your trip on a guided tour, and then plan your own itinerary for the rest of your time in Iceland.

Tours of Iceland for 3 Days or Less

These Iceland tour packages are all for 3 full days or less. If you only have one day in Iceland, perhaps on a short stopover, we’d suggest taking a look at our guide to day tours from Reykjavik for ideas of what is possible.

1. Ice Caving and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon (2 days)

This two day tour covers many of the highlights of southern Iceland, starting with the spectacular waterfalls along the south coast, continuing to the famous black sand beach Reynisfjara and finishing at the incredible Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. Here, you can watch icebergs floating around the lagoon before heading out to sea.

It also covers some of the most popular winter activities in Iceland, namely, visiting an ice cave, and watching the northern lights. We think that for a short stop over, this is an excellent option for seeing a lot with minimal effort. Click here for more information.

When: November – March
Duration: 2 days/1 night

2. South Shore and Glacier Lagoon (2 days)

Another two day tour that focuses on the absolute highlights of the south coast, which features a glacier hike and a slightly more affordable price point.

This tour will have you leaving Reykjavik and exploring highlights like Reynisdrangar Cliffs, Dyrafjordur Fjord, the black sand beaches of Vík, the Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon and of course the famous waterfalls of the south coast including Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. Click here for more information.

When: September – March
Duration: 2 days / 1 night

3. 2 Day Snæfellsnes Tour (2 days)

If you’d like to explore some of the west of Iceland rather than the south coast, then this is the tour for you. Covering two days of exploration, this tour will take you to the beautiful sideways waterfall Hraunfossar, one of Iceland’s longest lava tunnels, a thermal spa and the attractions of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.

This is a great way to experience some of Iceland’s western attractions, and as the tour runs through winter, you might even be lucky enough to see the northern lights!

When: Year round
Duration: 2 days / 1 night

4. Golden Circle, Glacier Hike & Glacier Lagoon (3 days)

If you have a bit more time, then this tour is similar to the above, but with the addition of the Golden Circle. This is one of the most popular day excursions from Reykjavik, and includes the waterfall Gullfoss, the UNESCO listed Þingvellir National Park, and the Geysir Geothermal area, where you can see actual geysers going off.

For more information, see our full guide to the Golden Circle.

After the Golden Circle, the tour continues along the south coast, covering the glacier lagoon including a boat ride on the lagoon itself, black sand beaches and an glacier hike.

A similar 3 day tour is also available in winter here. This doesn’t have the boat ride on the lagoon as these don’t operate in winter, however it does have ice caving and the Northern Lights!

When: Mar – Oct, winter version here.
Duration: 3 days/2 nights

5. East Glacial River Rafting Expedition (3 days)

The first tours cover the more popular (and therefore busier!) attractions in Iceland, but if you are interested in something a bit different, Iceland can definitely accommodate you.

This 3 day tour takes you to some of Iceland’s most remote and beautiful wilderness areas in the far east of the country, where you spend three incredible days exploring the vast highland areas, and rafting along glacial rivers. It also includes time at a natural hot spring bath. Definitely one for the adventure enthusiasts amongst you.

Note that this is a popular tour that often sells out due to limited availability, so be sure to book this well in advance if it interests you.

When: July – Aug
Duration: 3 days/2 nights

3 – 5 Day Guided Tours of Iceland

With 3 – 5 days to play with, you can get a bit further from the capital and pack more in to your adventure. You’re also a bit less rushed, and can look at longer adventures, including one of Iceland’s most famous and popular multi-day hikes. Here are some of our recommended 3-5 day tours in Iceland.

1. Snaefellsnes, Golden Circle & South Iceland (4 days)

This four day tour takes in the highlights of south and west Iceland. You start with a trip around the Golden Circle, taking in Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall and the geysers at Geysir, before continuing along the south coast to the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.

Then you’ll head to west Iceland, including the Deildartunguhver hot spring and sideways Hraunfossar waterfall. It then heads out to the beautiful Snaefellsnes Peninsula, with the option to explore a Lava Cave.

At the start or end of the trip, depending on your flight time, you might also want to add on a trip to the Blue Lagoon.

When: Oct – April
Duration: 5 days/4 nights

2. Northern Iceland (5 days)

If you want to get away from the crowds of the south coast of Iceland, then a good option is to head north. This tour does just that, starting from Akureyri on the north coast.

From here you will explore some of the incredible highlights of the north of Iceland, including Godafoss waterfall and the Lake Myvatn region (home to some of our favourite nature baths!).

This is definitely a less trodden, but still absolutely beautiful part of Iceland, and we know you’ll have an amazing time on this tour.

When: May – Nov
Duration: 5 days/4 nights

3. Reykjavik, Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, South Coast (5 days)

This tour covers many of the popular highlights of Iceland, including the Blue Lagoon and the highlights of the Golden Circle, including Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, and the geysers at Geysir.

It also spend two days along the south coast, taking you all the way out to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and the Diamond beach, with accommodation in the Vatnajökull National Park. Definitely a good summer option for the classic highlights of southern Iceland.

When: Mar – Oct
Duration: 5 days/4 nights

4. Trekking from Landmannalaugar (5 days)

If you want to really get under the skin of some of Iceland’s remote volcanic wilderness areas, then the best way to do that is with a multi-day hike. One of the most popular and beautiful hikes in Iceland is this one, the Laugavegur trail, which runs from Landmannalaugar to Thorsmork.

Aimed at intermediate to advanced hikers, the trek with a local guide starts in Landmannalaugar, home to gorgeous colourful mountains and a hotspot of geothermal activity. From here, you spend four days hiking across the stunning landscapes, camping each night in the wilderness huts along the route.

When: June – September
Duration: 5 days/4 nights

5. South Iceland including the Westman Islands (3 days)

In their rush to tick off all the highlights of the south coast, many visitors never make it out to the beautiful Westman Islands. These are a mere 40 minute ferry ride from the mainland, and are home to huge numbers of seabirds in the Spring and Summer, including puffins.

This south Iceland tour doesn’t make that mistake. It covers all the highlights you would expect on the south coast of Iceland, including the black sand beach, Vatnajökull National Park, and Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon, but also includes a day and a night on the Westman islands, which in our opinion are very much worth a visit.

When: July
Duration: 3 days/2 nights

6 – 7 Day Guided Tours of Iceland

1. Northern Lights and Ice Caves (7 days)

Visiting Iceland in winter lets you experience some of nature’s most spectacular wonders, including the Northern Lights. It’s also the time of year in Iceland when it safest to actually go inside the ice caves.

This tour offers both of these activities, as well as a visit to all three national parks in Iceland, Þingvellir National Park on the Golden Circle, Snæfellsjökull National Park in the west, and Vatnajökull National Park in South Iceland. You will also see the majority of the highlights of west and south Iceland. A good winter option for seeing the highlights of this region of Iceland.

When: Oct – April
Duration: 7 days/6 nights

2. An epic 7 day hiking adventure (7 days)

Two of Iceland’s most famous treks are the Laugavegur trek and the Fimmvörðuháls trek, and this guided hiking tour has you doing both of them across seven incredible days.

This is definitely the tour for those of you who love to hike, and is aimed at the intermediate to advanced trekker. You’ll be walking every day across stunning volcanic landscapes, and sleeping dormitory style in mountain huts. The tour also include your luggage transportation between huts and all your meals, meaning you can focus on just enjoying the hiking!

When: Jun – Aug
Duration: 7 days/6 nights

3. Complete Iceland Circle (6 days)

Six days is definitely the minimum you’ll want to allocate to doing the full circle of Iceland, and even so, you’ll miss a few things.

Still, if do want to cover the whole country, this is an excellent and well reviewed tour that covers all the highlights of Iceland’s ring road, including the Golden Circle, the south coast, Akureyri and Lake Myvatn regions. If you are a bit short on time but keen to see as much as possible, this is a good option.

When: Year round
Duration: 6 days/5 nights

4. Best of Iceland (7 days)

This 7 day small group tour (maximum 12 people) covers all the highlights of the ring road, including Akureyri, Lake Myvatn, the east coast, south coast highlights and the Golden circle.

Seven days is still quite a fast pace for the full Iceland ring road, but this tour will let you see all the highlights. 6 nights of accommodation are included as are six breakfasts.

When: Jun – Aug
Duration: 7 days/6 nights

8-10 Day Guided Tours of Iceland

With seven to ten days in Iceland, you have enough time to take a tour around the whole country, or spend some time really focusing on one or two areas. Here are what we think are some of the best options for tours of a week to ten days in Iceland.

1. Game of Thrones Tour (8 days)

If you’re a Game of Thrones fan in Iceland for eight days, this is definitely the tour you want to take. As you are probably already aware, much of the HBO series was filmed in Iceland, particularly the scenes north of “the Wall”.

This tour takes you to all the major filming location in the country, including those in the north of Iceland, where you’ll explore many of the filming locations around Lake Myvatn. It also include many other awesome Iceland sights including waterfalls, volcanoes and hot springs.

See our full guide to Game of Thrones filming locations in Iceland for more.

When: Apr – Oct
Duration: 8 days/7 nights

2. Iceland Complete Tour (10 Days)

If you have around seven to ten days in Iceland and want to see a bit of everything, this is definitely the tour we recommend. It circumnavigates the whole country, and you’re going to get to see nearly all the highlights.

This includes the Golden Circle, the south shore, the East Fjords, Dettifoss, the Lake Myvatn area, and Akureyri. You’ll see waterfalls, glacial lagoons, volcanic landscape, interesting museums, Icelandic horses, hot springs, and much, much more. Definitely one to add to your short list for 9 days in Iceland.

A similar tour is also available in an 8 day version here.

When: May – Oct
Duration: 10 days/9 nights

3. Complete Iceland (9 days)

This 9 day tour with G Adventures covers the whole Iceland ring road in a small group tour of no more than 16 people. The tours runs from April – October, and includes the majority of Iceland’s highlights including the Golden Circle, Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Golden Circle and south coast.

The trip includes accommodation in small hotels, guesthouses and inns. It also includes Blue Lagoon entry, and 8 breakfasts.

When: Apr – Oct
Duration: 8 days/7 nights

4. Snowshoeing, Northern Lights, Snæfellsnes Peninsula & Northern Iceland (8 days)

If you are looking for an active winter trip in Iceland and have a larger budget, this National Geographic tour may be for you. Led by a National Geographic guide, this active tour has you taking in a great many of Iceland’s attractions, many by snowshoeing or hiking.

It starts with you exploring Reykjavik, before heading up to northern Iceland and exploring the Mývatn area, including time snowshoeing to a volcano crater and a soak in the gorgeous Mývatn nature baths – from where you might be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights.

It then heads down the west coast of Iceland, out onto the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, where you spend a couple of days exploring, and amongst other activities, take another snowshoeing tour. Finally, the trip has you touring the Golden Circle and hiking up Miðfell, before finishing in Reykjavík, where you’ll also visit the Blue Lagoon.

When: Nov – March
Duration: 8 days/7 nights

5. Highlands, South Coast, Snæfellsnes Peninsula & the Golden Circle (10 days)

This 10 day winter tour has you exploring many of the highlights of Iceland, including a 3 day super jeep tour to see the incredible winter landscapes of Landmannalaugar national park and 2 days on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.

You’ll also explore the south coast of Iceland for two days, visit the Blue Lagoon, have a chance to see the Northern Lights and go ice caving. It’s an itinerary that really takes advantage of the myriad winter adventures available in Iceland, and focuses on thoroughly exploring what’s available at this time of year.

When: Sep – Apr
Duration: 10 days/9 nights

10+ Day Iceland Tours

If you’re lucky enough to be visiting Iceland for more than ten days, you’re going to be able to see a great deal of this incredible country. There aren’t many 10 day+ group tours in Iceland, but the ones that we’ve chosen are going to showcase the best of the country, whatever time of year you visit.

1. Complete Iceland Ring Road Tour in Winter (11 days)

If you’re looking for a slightly longer winter tour that covers all of Iceland, this might be a good option. This tour includes a complete circle of Iceland, so you’ll see all the highlights including the Golden Circle, the south coast and it’s black sand beaches and magnificent waterfalls and the Fjords of the East.

It also includes the magical Lake Myvatn area, where much of Game of Thrones was filmed, and which is also home to the beautiful Lake Myvatn baths. Finally the tour heads back down the west coast, and visits the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. As you journey, you’ll have the opportunity to hike on glaciers, go inside ice caves, and to see the northern lights.

When: Sep – March
Duration: 11 days/10 nights

2. Iceland Cruise (10 days)

Looking for a different way to experience Iceland? How about a cruise! This 10 day trip has you circumnavigating the entire country by boat, visiting all the highlights.

This cruise visits a range of locations all around Iceland, including the wild Westfjords, Akureyri, and Snaefellsnes.

It also visits locations many tours don’t get to go to, including the Westman Islands and the island of Grimsey. Plus, since you’re at sea, you get a lot of opportunities for things like whale and seabird spotting.

All your meals are included, however the daytrip activities are optional, so you’ll want to factor in the prices of those on this trip.

When: May – Sep
Duration: 10 days/9 nights

3. Iceland Photography Workshop (12 days)

Iceland is world renowned as a spectacular photography location, so why not take advantage of that and join a photography tour of Iceland? This will guarantee you get to the most photogenic spots in the country, plus you’ll be accompanied by a professional photographer guide who will help you get the most out of the trip.

The tour includes stunning locations like the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Hvitserkur & North Iceland, Lake Myvatn, the highlights of east Iceland, Vatnajokull National Park, the stunning Vestrahorn mountain range and finishes along the south coast. You’ll see all the best bits of Iceland, and be guaranteed to leave with incredible photos!

When: May – Aug
Duration: 12 days/11 nights

4. Circle of Iceland and Snaefellsnes Peninsula (12 days)

This 12 day group tour will take you on a complete circuit of Iceland, including the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and whale watching.

If you have the time and budget, this is definitely going to be a tour that gets you to as much of Iceland as possible. It includes the majority of your breakfasts, tour guide and accommodation. However, be aware that most activities like whale watching are not included, and evening meals aren’t either, so you will need to factor these in to your overall budget.

When: Aug – Apr. Summer version available here.
Duration: 12 days/11 nights

Which tour company to use in Iceland?

There are multiple tour operators in Iceland, so picking the right one for your trip is definitely important. A good starting point is the Guide to Iceland portal. These guys don’t actually run their own tours, instead, they are a portal for other companies to list their tours. When people book and take a tour they can leave a review, and it’s always worth checking tour reviews before booking as obviously these can vary depending on the operator.

On our trips to Iceland, we’ve used a number of tour operators and booking portals. These include Iceland Travel, Guide to Iceland, Get Your Guide and Viator.

Our experiences have been positive with both companies, so we suggest you find the tour that works for you from one of those two options. We also list a few tours from other companies above as well, including National Geographic, but the majority are from these two.

What is Typically Included in a Guided Group Tour in Iceland?

Most guided tours in Iceland include the following, although do always read the tour description for full details of what is included.

Transport
Accommodation (level of accommodation will vary)
An English speaking guide
Activities that are specifically included in the tour description
Some meals, usually breakfast, sometimes other meals too
Equipment for activities that are included on the tour, such as snowshoeing
Internal flights, if required as part of the tour

If it’s not clear if an activity or feature is included, it will normally not be included, but do always check with the tour operator before booking so as to avoid any costly surprises.

What is Typically Excluded in a Guided Bus Tour in Iceland?

Whilst they include a lot, not everything will be included in your tour. Typical exclusions include the following.

Gratuities, although these are not normally expected in Iceland
Additional activities not explicitly included, which may include northern light tours or activities like horse trekking
Some meals – often breakfast is included with the accommodation, and other meals are not
Transfers to and from the airport, unless specifically included
Clothing, hiking equipment or footwear. A good pair of hiking boots is a good idea in Iceland
Flights to and from Iceland, or internally in Iceland if not a part of the tour
Travel insurance

It’s important when comparing tours to compare what is included and excluded. A tour that includes all your meals for example can result in being good value for money as meals can be expensive in Iceland, and this is a similar story for attraction entry. Remember – don’t just check the headline prices when comparing tours, always carefully check what is included and excluded.

When to Visit Iceland?

As you’ll have noticed throughout the post, few guided tours in Iceland run year round. This is because Iceland is a country that varies dramatically between the seasons.

In the winter months, generally from around December through to April, there is far less daylight available. Weather conditions and snow also mean roads can be closed, and the highland roads in particular are shut completely.

The benefits at this time of year though are that you have the chance to see the Northern Lights, and there are fewer visitors.

If you are visiting Iceland in winter, check out our guide to what to pack for Iceland in winter to get prepared. We also suggest reading our guide to how to photograph the northern lights to be sure you get great photos!

In the summer months, generally May – September, the days are much longer, and you have the chance to experience the midnight sun.

This means you can fit a lot more into each day, and tour itineraries tend to be a bit fuller at this time of year. It’s also likely to be a bit warmer and sunnier, although our experience has taught us that Iceland is by no means a warm destination at any time of year.

We’ve visited Iceland in both summer and winter, and enjoyed our visits at both times of year. It’s just a question of being prepared and knowing what to expect.

Private Tours in Iceland

All the tours that we’ve listed in this guide so far have been guided group tours. Whilst these vary in size, they aren’t private tours, and so you will be sharing the experience with other people, with group sizes varying depending on the tour you choose. Often, more expensive tours will feature smaller groups.

Of course, it is entirely possible to also do a private tour of Iceland. These have the advantage that it will just be you and your group, rather than anyone else. It also means you will likely be able to customise the itinerary, and ensure you see everything you want to see.

The downside to a private group tour is that it is likely going to be the most expensive option for travelling in Iceland. However, it will certainly be a unique and memorable experience!

Some private tours to consider in Iceland are:

This three day private tour that includes the golden circle, south coast and glacial lagoon
This six day private tour which includes the Golden Circle, Snaefellsnes Peninsula, South Coast and the Blue Lagoon
This seven day private tour which includes the Golden Circle, Snaefellsnes Peninsula, South Coast and the Blue Lagoon as well as time sightseeing in Reykjavik
This seven day luxury private tour which has you travelling in a luxury vehicle, staying at the finest hotels in Iceland, and seeing the best sights Iceland has to offer!