Private Tour of Valley of Tears and Highlands adventure

The best part of this 10-hour Iceland Highlands tour is not simply seeing another waterfall. It is reaching places such as Sigöldugljúfur, the Valley of Tears, where small cascades spill through a broad canyon in shades of blue and green. These are the kinds of stops that a standard coach tour cannot easily reach.

I like the private format, which gives your group more control over photo stops and walking time. I also like the guides, especially Thor and Otto, who bring humor, Icelandic stories, and practical care to a long day on rough Highland roads.

The main drawback is the price: $1,922.34 per person is a serious spend. You also need to accept changeable weather, gravel tracks, wind, and the chance that a road or final stop may be closed for safety.

Key points to know before booking

• Háifoss gives you a huge waterfall view into the Þjórsárdalur valley after a short walk from the parking area.
• The Valley of Tears is the visual prize, with a series of small waterfalls and blue-green water in a quiet canyon.
• Gjáin combines nature and history, with an old farm site, small cascades, and a Game of Thrones filming connection.
• The private group format saves time, since you are not waiting for a large coach at every stop.
• Hrauneyjar is a practical lunch break, but lunch and snacks are not included in the tour price.
• Highland weather controls the day, and the guide may replace or remove a stop if wind or road conditions become unsafe.

Why this tour reaches a different Iceland

Most first-time visitors stay near Reykjavík, the Golden Circle, or the south coast. Those routes are popular for good reason, but they can feel busy, especially at the best-known waterfalls. This tour turns inland toward the Icelandic Highlands, a broad, stark region of gravel roads, volcanic ground, open valleys, and very few buildings.

You are not booking a quick sightseeing loop. You are paying for access, driving skill, and local route knowledge. The roads leading toward Háifoss and Hekla can be rocky and rough. A normal rental car is not the right tool for this day, and a camper van without four-wheel-drive will not get you to all the same places.

The private arrangement matters here. Your group participates alone, rather than being mixed with a large busload. That can mean faster loading, less time spent gathering people, and more freedom to pause when the light is good. It also makes the day feel more personal, especially with a guide such as Thor, who is known for jokes, Icelandic culture, and stories about the country’s natural features.

The schedule is full but not frantic on paper. The day begins at 8:30 a.m. and lasts about 10 hours, ending back at the meeting point. Pickup is available at assigned Reykjavík bus stops, the BSÍ bus terminal, and locations in Hveragerði, Selfoss, and Hella.

Gjáin: a small oasis at the edge of the Highlands

Your first stop is Gjáin, an unexpectedly delicate pocket of greenery and water near the roots of the Highlands. The area includes small waterfalls, rocky formations, an old farm, and narrow paths through the oasis.

Plan on walking about 500 meters each way to reach the old farm and explore the area. That is not a major hike, but the ground can be uneven, and outdoor shoes are recommended. You will get more from this stop if you are willing to leave the vehicle and take your time among the rocks and streams.

Gjáin also has a screen connection. It was used as a filming location for Game of Thrones, though the place is more interesting as a real Icelandic setting than as a television backdrop. The combination of old human settlement and rushing water gives the stop more variety than a simple roadside viewpoint.

I especially like Gjáin as an opening stop because it eases you into the day. You begin with a walk, small-scale scenery, and a sense of place before reaching the vast views farther into the Highlands. The limitation is that the hour can pass quickly. If you enjoy photography, you may wish you had more time here.

Háifoss: Iceland’s height and the Þjórsárdalur view

From Gjáin, the route continues along rocky gravel roads toward Háifoss, one of Iceland’s highest waterfalls. After parking, you walk toward the viewpoint for a broad look into Þjórsárdalur.

The waterfall is the main event, but the setting does much of the work. You are looking into a deep valley, with the water dropping dramatically through the open terrain. The scale is hard to judge from a photograph, so give yourself time to look beyond the falling water and take in the full valley.

The stop is scheduled for about 30 minutes. That is enough for the viewpoint and photographs, but it may feel short if conditions are especially clear or the waterfall is flowing strongly. This is one reason the private format helps: your guide can manage the timing without the stop feeling like a race from a large coach.

Keep your clothing secure here. Highland wind can be strong, and one person described conditions so windy that safety and driving skill became especially important. The guide may need to shorten a walk or change the route if weather turns poor.

Hrauneyjar: a useful break, not a meal included in the fare

After the waterfalls, you stop at Hrauneyjar Highland Center for about 40 minutes. This is the practical middle of the day, a chance to use facilities, stretch your legs, and buy lunch.

Lunch is not included. Alcoholic drinks and snacks are also excluded, so budget for food separately. The center has a small selection of food rather than a large dining hall, but that is enough for a straightforward break during a remote excursion.

I appreciate having this stop built into the plan. Ten hours in the Highlands is a long day, and a proper pause makes the rest of the route more comfortable. You should not assume you will have frequent shops or cafés once you leave Reykjavík, so carrying a snack is sensible even though the tour makes a lunch stop.

Sigöldufoss: a short stop with striking water

Sigöldufoss is a smaller waterfall near the entrance to the Icelandic Highlands. The stop lasts about 15 minutes, so this is a quick look rather than a long walk.

Its appeal is color. The water is often a bright blue, creating a sharp contrast with the darker volcanic surroundings. Conditions can change the exact look, but when the color is strong, this may be one of the most photogenic short stops of the day.

Do not judge the stop only by its size. Iceland has larger waterfalls, but the value here is the setting and the sequence. After Háifoss, you get a different kind of waterfall, one that works well as a compact pause before the main canyon stop.

Sigöldugljúfur, the Valley of Tears

This is the reason many people choose the tour. Sigöldugljúfur is known as the Valley of Tears because a series of small waterfalls runs through the canyon. The water is often green-blue, and the view from above lets you see several cascades at once.

The tour allows about 35 minutes here. You explore from above, taking in the canyon rather than following a long route through it. That keeps the stop accessible for most people, but it also means you should not expect a major hiking experience.

The Valley of Tears is especially valuable for people who have already seen Iceland’s famous south coast sights and want something less familiar. It is not just another single waterfall with a parking lot and a marked queue. The view is broader and quieter, and the many small falls give the scene a different rhythm.

This is also where I would keep your camera ready. The water color, canyon lines, and changing light can make the scene look quite different from one minute to the next. Your guide may know the best angle, and the private group setup means you are less likely to spend the whole stop waiting for other people to finish taking pictures.

Hekla and Rauðaskál: volcanic ground and safety first

The final scheduled area is around Volcano Hekla, one of Iceland’s most active volcanoes. The stop itself is listed at about 10 minutes, so think of it as a brief look across a stark volcanic area rather than a climb.

When conditions are good and the roads are open, the vehicle may continue toward Rauðaskál crater. That possibility depends on safety and road conditions. You should not book this tour expecting guaranteed access to every point near Hekla.

The short stop can still add useful context to the day. The waterfalls show Iceland’s water and vegetation; Hekla shows the volcanic forces that helped shape the region. The contrast makes the route feel like a proper Highlands outing rather than a collection of unrelated viewpoints.

Wind can affect this part of the trip most clearly. On one outing, a scheduled final stop became impossible because high winds closed the roads. The guide substituted another beautiful location instead. That is a good sign of sensible operation, but it also tells you to treat the itinerary as weather dependent.

What the guides add to the day

Thor is the guide name most closely linked with this experience, and his role goes beyond driving. He is described as funny, attentive, and full of information about Icelandic culture and geology. That matters on a long road day, when several hours are spent between short stops.

Otto is another guide associated with the tour. His strength is flexibility and care with timing. When strong winds closed a road, he found an alternative stop rather than forcing the original plan. That is exactly the judgment you want on remote tracks.

You may receive a different guide, so do not book on the promise of one particular person unless the operator confirms it. Still, the overall guiding approach is clear: local stories, clear pickup instructions, humor, and attention to safety.

There is one practical weakness to know. One person found it difficult to hear the guide from the back, even when a speaker was used, because the sound was muffled. If you care about every story, ask about seating or stay near the front when possible.

Price, timing, and what the private format is worth

At $1,922.34 per person, this is not a budget day trip. The value depends heavily on your group size and priorities. You are paying for a private vehicle, pickup options, parking fees, a full day of driving, and access to Highland locations that are difficult to reach independently.

For a couple, the per-person cost may be hard to justify unless seeing the Valley of Tears and remote waterfalls is a top priority. For a larger private group, the price may make more sense when divided across the party, though you should confirm the exact vehicle and group arrangements before booking.

Parking fees are included. Lunch, snacks, and alcoholic drinks are not. The tour starts at 8:30 a.m. and returns to the same meeting point, so plan for a full day rather than a flexible afternoon activity.

The tour is rated five out of five from 43 reviews, with 100 percent recommending it. That is a strong record, especially for an outing dependent on rough roads and weather. Still, ratings cannot remove the basic tradeoff: this is expensive, long, and outdoors in a region where plans can change.

Who will enjoy this Highlands adventure most

I would choose this tour if you want remote scenery but do not want to drive Highland tracks yourself. It suits photographers, repeat visitors to Iceland, waterfall fans, and people who would rather see several unusual places than spend the day at the country’s busiest attractions.

It also works well for small private groups that value conversation and flexible pacing. The short walks make the route manageable for most people, though uneven ground and outdoor conditions still require steady footwear.

I would look elsewhere if you want a relaxed food-focused day, a long hike, guaranteed access to Hekla, or the lowest possible price. You should also think twice if wind, gravel roads, or frequent vehicle time make you uncomfortable.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. If poor weather cancels the experience, you can be offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not met.

Should you book it?

Book this private Valley of Tears and Highlands tour if your Iceland wish list includes places beyond the usual circuit. The Valley of Tears and the remote waterfalls are the strongest reasons to go, while Thor or another capable guide can make the long drive informative and enjoyable.

The price is the sticking point. If you can share the cost with a private group and want access to scenery that is hard to reach in a normal rental car, the day offers a clear benefit. If you are watching your budget, choose a less costly south coast or Golden Circle trip and accept larger crowds.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at BSÍ Parking in Reykjavík, at the BSÍ bus terminal area.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 8:30 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends back at the meeting point.

Is pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered at assigned bus stops in Reykjavík, BSÍ bus terminal, and locations in Hveragerði, Selfoss, and Hella.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately 10 hours.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private activity.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, although the tour stops at Hrauneyjar Highland Center where you can purchase food.

Are snacks and drinks included?

No. Snacks and alcoholic beverages are not included.

What waterfalls are visited?

The route includes Háifoss, Sigöldufoss, and the series of waterfalls at Sigöldugljúfur, known as the Valley of Tears.

Can the itinerary change because of weather?

Yes. The experience requires good weather. If poor weather cancels the tour, you may be offered another date or a full refund. Roads or individual stops can also change when conditions are unsafe.