Magnificent West and Glacier
Super Jeep Day Tour from Reykjavik

The Magnificent West & Glacier is the the most diverse day tour in terms of variety in landscape. It’s a bit like a buffet were you get to taste almost everything Iceland has to offer; waterfalls, hot springs, glaciers, lava cave, barren wilderness, tectonic plates, a fjord and so much more. It’s also a fun off-road drive and an adventure.

This Nature Explorer adventure day tour starts by driving to Thingvellir where the oldest parliament in world was founded and you can see the tectonic plates drift apart. After Thingvellir we cross the rough mountain road of Kaldidalur (‘Cold Valley’) were we enjoy great variety in barren landscape before reaching Langjokull, Iceland’s second largest glacier.
After a short cruise on the white plains of the glacier on the Super-Jeep we go lower again, to Husafell where we can have some lunch before continuing with the adventure.
Close to Husafell is a large lava field which has some of the largest lave tube caves in Iceland, e.g. Vidgelmir and Surtshellir.  Vidgelmir is accessible all year and you have the option to explore it. It’s an an easy tour on a wooden platform/walkway and of course you get headlights. Surtshellir is only accessible in summer and is more challenging to explore.
We continue down to Borgarfjordur to see Hraunfossar (‘Lava Waterfalls’) where the river flows from underneath the lava field and cascades down into river.
Just a few meters away there´s another great waterfall, Barnafoss. We pass through the historical site of Reykholt before visiting Iceland´s most powerful geothermal spring, Deildartunguhver.
Return to Reykjavik via scenic Hvalfjordur (Whale Fjord).

Sometimes during winter this route may be changed because of difficult conditions at Kaldidalur so we may need to skip Thingvellir and go through Borgarnes instead – but there will still be plenty of off-roading and remote wilderness.

For your safety, Nature Explorer reserves the right to change tours according to weather and snow conditions

Thingvellir National Park
– Walk in the footsteps of Vikings at the historic Alþingi, the world’s oldest parliament.
– Stand between two continents at the rift valley of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
– Explore a UNESCO World Heritage Site brimming with geological wonders.

  • Hraunfossar Waterfall
    – Hraunfossar means ‘Lava Falls’. Water flows from underneath a lava field and cascades into a ravine. Quite unique and very beautiful waterfall.
  • Barnafoss Waterfall
    – Next to Hraunfossar is Barnafoss which is quite powerful as it’s thrusted under a natural stone bridge
  • Langjökull Glacier
    – Discover Iceland’s second-largest glacier, a breathtaking expanse of ice and snow.
     Optional: Add an exciting visit to a man made ice cave; Into the Glacier
  • Super Jeep Adventure
    – Enjoy an exhilarating off-road drive on the glacier and rugged mountain tracks.
    – Exploring Iceland’s wilderness, away from buses and crowds

Q: Do we need to bring lunch, or is there a place to stop on the way?
A: You don’t need to bring lunch! We stop at Geysir and Gullfoss, where you’ll find cafés and bistros offering a variety of meals and snacks. There’s also time for an afternoon coffee break.

Q: Is there blue ice on the glacier?
A: The appearance of the glacier changes with the seasons. In winter, Langjökull is a snowy wonderland, and the blue ice is often hidden beneath the snow. In summer, as the snow melts, the stunning blue ice becomes visible.
Fun Fact: The ice isn’t actually blue—it appears blue due to the way light reflects and refracts through the dense ice!

Q: How far up on the glacier do we go?
A: This depends on snow and weather conditions. In winter, when the snow is firm, we can often drive higher up on the glacier. In summer and early fall, the lower parts of the glacier become icy and creviced, so we stay closer to the edges for safety.
Safety is always our top priority, and we never take unnecessary risks.

“An Ideal Way to Explore” 

My husband and I did the “Golden Circle and Glacier Super jeep” tour by Nature Explorer. We enjoyed the flexibility of being able to take pictures for as long as we wanted at our favourite destinations and getting the personalized attention throughout the tour. Our guide, Finn, was a brilliant man with prodigious knowledge of Iceland. We enjoyed learning about Icelandic history and culture while visiting stunning natural wonders. Gulfoss was magnificent and awe-inspiring.
I highly recommend snowmobiling on the Langgiuokull glacier as an optional part of this tour. It was a thrill to hit a little speed in the snowmobile and the view from atop the glacier was one of the best of our entire trip. Pictures can’t replicate it due to the difference between what the eye sees and what the camera can capture. The vast volcano and glacier skyline with seemingly endless snow were a sight to behold.
Another highlight to this tour were the geysers of Haukadalur. It’s very touristy but for good reason. As the boiling of pressurized water results in a powerful upward stream of water and steam, it’s hard not to appreciate this natural spectacle. Our guide, Finn, is also a professional photographer so he helped us set up some of our best pictures.
Needless to say, I highly recommend this tour.

– Reviewed on Tripadvisor by Treveller T, Toronto Canada

 

“This is the BEST tour in Iceland!”

I cannot stress how much we enjoyed our time with Nature Explorers while we were in Reykjavik. We set up two tours with the company; one to the Blue Lagoon and one to tour the Golden Circle with an added glacier tour. Both guides were informative and fun, and both locations are not to be missed! the Golden Circle was especially memorable as we toured with Hawk, the owner of the company. His wealth of knowledge of the area and general fun facts about Iceland kept us entertained throughout the 9 hour tour. The sites were fabulous, especially the glacier. He was able to take us ONTO the glacier in his converted vehicle…a special and unique treat that ALL must do. I can’t recommend choosing Nature Explorer enough – so much better than a bus tour and so fun and memorable.
– Reviewed on Tripadvisor by Sierra Higgins, California USA

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Tour details

Available: Every day.
Duration: 8 – 10 hours.
Departures: 9 am or at your request.
Free hotel pick up in Reykjavik.

Not included: Lunch and refreshments.

Price:
ISK 269900 per Super-Jeep
ISK 369900 per XL Super-Truck
Optional:
Into the Glacier, Ice Tunnel on Langjokull
ISK 24900 per person
Vidgelmir Lava Tube Cave.
ISK 8900 per person

Click to See pictures from the tour

Into the Glacier - ice tunnel