South Coast and Glacier Snowmobiling Day Trip from Reykjavik

Mýrdalsjökull is the star here: you ride a snowmobile across Iceland’s ice-covered high country with wide views over the south coast. No previous snowmobile experience is needed, and the guide handles the safety briefing and route.

I like the mix of an active glacier outing with classic waterfalls, and I like that transport, helmets, protective clothing, and instruction are included. The main drawback is the weather risk: the snowmobile ride can be cancelled after you leave Reykjavik, and the long coach day can feel poor value if the glacier portion does not run.

The tour costs $249 and lasts about 10 hours. That is fair if you want one organized day combining transport and a glacier activity, but less attractive if you mainly want waterfall sightseeing or prefer to set your own pace.

Key points before you book

• The snowmobile ride lasts one guided hour: The glacier stop takes about three hours, but the actual included ride is one hour.
• Two people share each snowmobile: You need a valid driver’s licence to drive, while passengers can ride without one.
• Weather can change the whole day: The ride may be cancelled before departure or after the coach has left Reykjavik.
• Bring your own lunch: There is no lunch stop, so pack food and water before you board.
• You visit two major waterfalls: Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss each receive about 30 minutes.
• The group is kept fairly small: The maximum is 15 people, which should make the safety briefing and guide contact easier.

Riding Mýrdalsjökull from the South Coast

This day trip gives you two very different views of Iceland. From the bus, you watch the south coast pass by in broad sweeps of farmland, mountains, rivers, and open sky. On the glacier, the scenery turns white and stark, and the journey becomes an active outing rather than a standard sightseeing loop.

You travel in a climate-controlled vehicle from Reykjavik to the Mýrdalsjökull area. The advertised start is 9:00 a.m. at Reykjavík’s BSÍ Bus Terminal, with pickup also offered from select centrally located hotels. Check your exact pickup details carefully, since the meeting information identifies BSÍ as the main starting point.

The trip lasts about 10 hours, so this is a full day out. You should expect a large part of the day to involve driving. That is not wasted time in Iceland, since the road offers plenty to look at, but you will want a charged phone, warm layers, and something to read or listen to during quieter stretches.

At the glacier, the guide gives a safety briefing before handing out protective clothing and equipment. You do not need snowmobile experience, which makes this a useful choice if you want to try the activity without committing to a specialist adventure.

What the one-hour snowmobile ride is really like

The snowmobile section is the reason to choose this tour. You follow your guide toward the summit area of Mýrdalsjökull, where the main reward is the view across South Iceland. On a clear day, you can expect a broad panorama rather than a close look at one single landmark.

The included experience is one guided hour. The full glacier stop is listed at about three hours, so some of that time covers gearing up, receiving instructions, reaching the riding area, stopping for views, and returning to the vehicle. Do not read three hours of glacier time as three hours driving a snowmobile.

Each machine carries two people. If you want to drive, you need a valid driver’s licence. A passenger does not need one, so this works for mixed groups in which one person prefers to ride rather than operate the machine.

This shared setup also affects the value. Two people can alternate driving if the guide permits it, but the supplied details do not promise a set amount of driving time for each person. If operating the snowmobile is your main goal, ask the provider how driver time is handled before booking.

The guide remains with the group and leads the route. That matters on a glacier, where conditions can change quickly and the surface may not be familiar to you. The equipment and briefing remove much of the worry, but you still need to follow instructions and dress for cold conditions.

The weather warning deserves serious attention. The ride may be cancelled because of poor conditions, including after departure from Reykjavik. One poor outcome described for this tour involved a long coach ride followed by no snowmobiling and no daylight access to the planned sights. That is not something you can solve with better planning, but you can protect yourself by keeping expectations flexible and checking the cancellation terms.

If the snowmobile ride is cancelled because of weather, the stated policy offers either another date or a full refund. If you cancel on your own, you need to do so at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Within 24 hours, changes and refunds are not accepted.

Skógafoss gives you a dramatic first stop

Skógafoss is usually the first listed sightseeing stop, with about 30 minutes there. The waterfall drops in a broad white sheet, and the spray can produce rainbows when the light is right. It is one of the south coast’s most famous sights for good reason.

Thirty minutes is enough to see the falls, take photographs, and walk a little near the base. It is not enough for a long visit or for exploring every nearby path. The waterfall also marks the starting point of the Fimmvörðuháls route toward Þórsmörk, a famous walking route, though this tour does not give you time to undertake that hike.

The short stop is both a strength and a weakness. You get a memorable waterfall without giving up the glacier outing, but you will not have the freedom of a self-drive visit. If waterfalls are your priority, the fixed half-hour schedule may feel rushed.

Seljalandsfoss and the chance to walk behind water

Seljalandsfoss receives another 30-minute stop near the end of the day. Its special feature is the path behind the falling water, giving you a view outward through the curtain of the waterfall. This is a different experience from Skógafoss, where you mainly face the water from below.

The ground near Seljalandsfoss can be wet and slippery. The tour supplies snowmobile clothing for the glacier, but you should still bring sturdy shoes and a rainproof outer layer for the waterfall stops. Do not assume the equipment issued for the ride replaces ordinary sightseeing clothes.

Again, half an hour is a short visit. You can see the waterfall and attempt the walk behind it if conditions allow, but you may not have time to linger, explore surrounding paths, or wait for ideal light. The stop works best as part of a busy day rather than as a stand-alone visit.

Skógar Folk Museum adds a human side

After the glacier, the route includes Skógar Folk Museum. The museum offers a look at Icelandic cultural history and daily life, giving the day a useful change of pace after the cold and motion of the snowmobile ride.

The supplied timing does not specify how long you spend at the museum. That makes it hard to predict how much of the collection you will see. The stop is a good addition for anyone who wants more than scenery, though visitors mainly interested in outdoor activity may see it as less essential.

The contrast is valuable. Iceland can sometimes become a sequence of waterfalls and viewpoints. A museum stop gives you context about the people who have lived with this climate and terrain, even if the overall schedule leaves limited time at each attraction.

Transport, timing, and group size

The bus fare is included, along with a professional local guide. The vehicle is described as climate-controlled, a welcome feature on a day that shifts between a warm bus, cold glacier air, and wet waterfall paths.

The maximum group size is 15 people. That is modest for a full-day coach excursion and should make it easier to hear the guide and ask questions. The trip still follows a set schedule, so you will not have the same freedom to stop as you would in a rental car.

One positive account singled out the driver’s care and the useful information shared during the trip. That is important on a long road day. At the same time, a separate account described a guide who offered little explanation at the sightseeing stops. Guide quality can shape how much you get from the waterfalls and museum, so I would treat the commentary as a possible bonus rather than the main reason to book.

The start and end point is BSÍ Bus Terminal in Reykjavik, although pickup is offered from selected hotels. The tour returns to the original meeting point. If you are staying outside the central pickup area, confirm the arrangements before paying.

The lunch problem is easy to overlook

Food and drinks are not included, and there is no place scheduled for lunch. You need to bring a picnic lunch, plus water and perhaps a light snack for later.

The practical advice is to eat before the glacier ride and carry food that is easy to manage. A packed sandwich, fruit, snack bars, and a drink are more useful than anything that needs heating or a long sit-down break. You may have little appetite during the cold activity, but the full day makes food essential.

This missing lunch stop is one of the tour’s clearest inconveniences. It keeps the schedule moving, but you cannot simply wait for a café or restaurant along the route. Prepare in Reykjavik, ideally before reaching BSÍ.

Is $249 good value?

At $249, this is not a cheap sightseeing bus. The price includes round-trip transport, a guide, safety instruction, protective clothing, equipment, and a one-hour snowmobile ride. The glacier activity is the part that justifies the cost.

If you rented a car, you could visit Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss more cheaply per person, especially as a couple or family. You would not, however, get the guided glacier ride or the supplied snowmobile gear. You would also need to handle driving, road conditions, parking, and the glacier booking separately.

The value is strongest for a first visit when you want the logistics handled in one day. It is weaker if the ride is cancelled, if you dislike long coach journeys, or if you want substantial time at each waterfall.

The tour’s rating is 4.5 from 22 published ratings, but the individual experiences are not all alike. Positive accounts praise the stunning glacier views, careful driving, organized operation, and the balance between safety and adventure. Negative accounts raise serious concerns about communication, cancelled snowmobiling, and confusion around the tour’s operation. I would book with a clear understanding that weather is not a minor footnote here. It can change the entire day.

Who should choose this day trip?

I would recommend it to you if you want to try snowmobiling without prior experience, do not want to drive in Iceland, and have only one free day for the south coast. It also suits couples or friends who are happy to share a machine and split the driving.

It is a good match for active visitors who still want major sights. You get a glacier activity, two famous waterfalls, and a museum rather than spending all day on a bus.

I would think twice if your priority is photography at the waterfalls, long walks, or a relaxed lunch. The stops are short, the schedule is fixed, and the snowmobile section depends entirely on glacier conditions.

Children aged seven and younger are not allowed. Only one child is permitted per adult, and the tour is not suitable for anyone who cannot follow the safety instructions or cope with cold outdoor conditions.

What to bring and how to prepare

Bring a picnic lunch, water, warm layers, sturdy shoes, and clothing that can handle spray at Seljalandsfoss. Keep your phone protected from rain and cold, since the glacier and waterfall stops both offer strong photo opportunities.

If you plan to drive, carry a valid driver’s licence. If you are only riding as a passenger, you do not need one.

Arrive ready for a long day. The coach leaves at 9:00 a.m., and the return is around the end of the 10-hour schedule, though weather and road conditions can affect the timing. Keep evening plans flexible.

The operator provides protective clothing and safety equipment for the snowmobile ride. You should still dress sensibly underneath it, since you will spend time outside before and after the ride and at the waterfalls.

Should you book the South Coast and Glacier Snowmobiling tour?

Book this tour if the glacier ride is your main goal and you want a guide, transport, and equipment arranged in one package. The chance to ride on Mýrdalsjökull, then see Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, gives you a strong variety of experiences for one day.

Do not book it as a guaranteed waterfall tour with a little snowmobiling added. Weather can cancel the ride, and the waterfall visits may feel brief. If you accept that risk, pack lunch, confirm your pickup point, and keep your schedule open afterward, the tour can deliver a memorable slice of South Iceland for $249.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The listed start point is BSÍ Bus Terminal, Vatnsmýrarvegur 10, Reykjavik. Pickup is also offered from select centrally located Reykjavik hotels.

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 9:00 a.m.

How long does the tour last?

The full experience lasts approximately 10 hours.

How long is the snowmobile ride?

The included guided snowmobile experience lasts one hour. The full stop at Mýrdalsjökull takes about three hours, including preparation and time at the glacier.

Do I need previous snowmobiling experience?

No. Previous experience is not required, and a guide provides a safety briefing and instruction.

Do I need a driver’s licence?

You need a valid driver’s licence if you want to drive a snowmobile. Passengers can ride without one.

How many people share a snowmobile?

Two people sit on each snowmobile.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, and there is no lunch stop. Bring a picnic lunch and water.

Can the snowmobile ride be cancelled?

Yes. Operation depends on glacier and weather conditions, and the ride may be cancelled after the tour has left Reykjavik. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund.