Our tour’s first sensational sight is the “hidden” waterfall at Gljufrabui, which is concealed in a cave and is missed by most visitors here – but we will show you how to find it! Nearby there is an even more fantastic sight, a 60-meter-high waterfall called Seljalandsfoss, which plunges off the side of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano into a deep pool. There is also a path that can be walked around this waterfall, although it can be very slippery, so you should check with our guide first. This place is very popular, as it has been seen in several music videos, TV programmes, and feature films.

The next stop on our South Coast tour brings us to Skogafoss, one of the most recognisable waterfalls in the world, featured in “Game of Thrones” and many other films and TV programmes. From a height of 60 metres, the waters crash over the cliffs and produce sheets of spray and spectacular rainbows on sunlit days. It’s even possible to climb up some stairs to see the falls from on high too. There’s a café and bathrooms here if you want to grab a snack or a coffee.

Hike on top of the Sólheimajökull Glacier After our time at Skogafoss, we will drive a little further east to Solheimajokull, which translates as “Sun’s Home Glacier”. Solheimajokull glacier is part of a much larger glacier, Myrdalsjokull, ice-sheet in the Katla UNESCO Global Geopark, and you will have a chance to walk across this ancient blue-ice glacier. Accompanied by a qualified guide and with all the necessary safety equipment provided, including ropes, crampons, and helmets, you’ll be able to really appreciate the sheer scale of the glacier and explore the criss-cross of crevasses, ice tunnels and other glacial features here.

The final stop on your first day on the South Coast is a visit to the famous black sand beach at Reynisfjara, once named by National Geographic in the Top Ten of non-tropical beaches in the world. The dark volcanic sands are pounded by powerful Atlantic waves and the brooding sea stacks of the Reynisdrangar loom just offshore, a supernatural picture opportunity. Don’t go too close to the waves – they’re often much faster and stronger than you might expect! Hexagonal basalt columns decorate the cliffs, providing a home to puffins and other summer seabird visitors. The stone sea arches of Dyrholaey can also be seen in the distance.

Now we come to the highlight of your South Coast adventure – the Diamond Beach, and the Glacier Lagoon at Jokulsarlon. Diamond Beach gets its name from the countless sparkling fragments of multi-colored icebergs found here. They are slowly being sculpted into fantastic shapes by the wind and the waves on this black sand Atlantic beach. The eye-catching slivers and chunks of ice of all shapes and sizes will astound you and offer fantastic photo opportunities. This is the perfect location to pop up the question.

Just a few hundred yards away from Diamond Beach is the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, one of Iceland’s “crown jewels”. Here, enormous bright-blue and ghostly-white icebergs tumble away from the receding Breidamerkurjokull glacier and crash into an ever-growing meltwater lagoon. From there, the icebergs very slowly start making their way towards the Atlantic Ocean, and you will have the opportunity to take a thrilling 45-minute amphibious boat tour amongst the bergs, getting up close to these icy giants and maybe even seeing a seal or two as well. Jokulsarlon truly is an extraordinary place, a bucket-list location featured in several Hollywood films, but also very peaceful and tranquil too. The scenery is stunning, and always changing too, as wind and tides pull the icebergs in different directions all the time. After enjoying the magic of the Glacier Lagoon, it will be time to return to Reykjavik.

Hofskirkja was the last church of this type to be built in Iceland, dating back to the 19th century. Deep layers of turf make up the roof of the church here, which is also surrounded by moss-covered burial mounds. Rebuilt in the 1950s, it is still a practising church, even though it seems to be merging into the landscape around it. Not many turf churches have survived in Iceland, so this is a rare opportunity to see one. The church is not open to the public, so this will be a quick photo stop.

Fjaðrárgljúfur River Canyon The river canyon at Fjadrargljufur is an astonishing place, a winding green gorge about a hundred metres deep and nearly two kilometres long. Fjadrargljufur became famous when it featured in a Justin Bieber music video. It is now very popular with visitors from all over the world as a result. It’s an extraordinary natural environment, deeply carpeted with fragile mosses. The canyon was formed a few thousand years ago during a glacial period, leaving a snaking river behind when the ice sheet retreated. We will stay at this marvellous place for an hour.

Vik Village The charming village of Vik is the furthest point south in Iceland. It has a fairytale feel to it, overlooked by a pretty church where there are fantastic panoramic views. We’ll take you to this vantage point, where you’ll also be able to see the Reynisdrangar and Dyrholaey from another perspective. Vik is also unusual for being an Icelandic seaside village without a harbour. In the summer, countless seabirds nest here, including Arctic terns.

The day begins with a scenic drive out of Reykjavik, heading towards the majestic Mount Esja and into Iceland’s heartland – Thingvellir National Park, a natural spectacle without parallel. Here, the American and Eurasian tectonic plates are tearing apart, little by little each year, giving you the unmatched opportunity to have your feet standing on two continents at the same time. Geologically enthralling, Thingvellir is also significant in the cultural and historical life of Iceland, as it was the site of the oldest surviving Parliament in the world, established by the Vikings in 930 AD. Laws were passed, disputes were settled, festivals were held, and the Icelandic nation was ruled from here for nearly a thousand years. Iceland declared its independence from Denmark here in 1944. It is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to its rich cultural history and the stunning natural environment that lies all around.

After enjoying the experience of Thingvellir, you will travel onwards to the world-famous hot spring, Geysir. On our way there, we will pass through the small village of Laugarvatn, which sits next to a beautiful lake of the same name in a geothermally active area called Haukadalur. The plumes of superheated vapour billowing into the air in this area are used by the locals to bake rye bread in the ground! Known throughout the world for its power and beauty, Geysir has become a synonym for this fantastic show of nature. Strokkur, another hot spring, sits nearby and is very active, reliably erupting to heights of up to 30 metres every few minutes. It’s possible to get quite close to Strokkur too, but it’s wise to check the wind direction first! Streams of superheated water trickle all around, leaving intriguing colourful residues behind. While we are in the Geysir area, you will also have time to buy lunch or some snacks or shop for souvenirs at the adjacent service station.

Gullfoss is a double drop waterfall with a cascade of more than 30 metres, producing endless sheets of spray as more than a million gallons a minute of water crash down into a narrow canyon. Gullfoss is a natural marvel at any time of the year. There are several viewing perspectives, depending on the time of your visit, which will give you the chance to fully experience the thundering power of this magical waterfall. Setting off countless rainbows on sunny days, and equally stunning when it’s partly frozen in the winter, it is now a protected site having nearly been converted into a hydroelectric power plant a few decades ago.

These three amazing attractions complete the classic Golden Circle tour, but to add even more value and wonder to your experience, we will also stop at the dramatic red earth Kerid volcanic crater. Three thousand years old and more than 50 metres deep, a walk around this crater and lake with its colourful mix of mossy greens and red earth hues is a visual highlight for you and your camera. Bjork once played a concert here too.

As we return to the city, there is one more extraordinary experience to come! Icelanders love to bathe in geothermal hotpots, and now you can do the same at the Sky Lagoon! This brand-new spa experience, located just outside Reykjavik, features an immense 250-foot-long heated infinity pool, a swim-up bar and oceanfront views. You’ll enjoy two heavenly hours lapping up the luxury here at Sky Lagoon – the perfect way to end your Golden Circle experience! During booking process you can select one of the two types of admission: Pure and Sky (CLICK HERE to see more details in the inclusions section) Nowhere else can you see so many natural marvels in one day. Rich in fascinating history and magnificent sights, this tour is your chance to experience Iceland at its best.

Time flies when you travel. A representative from Airport Direct will pick you up from the hotel