South Coast and Glacier Snowmobiling Day Trip from Reykjavik

The best part of this long day is the change of scale: you leave Reykjavik by coach, pass broad southern scenery, then trade the road for a snowmobile on Mýrdalsjökull. From the glacier, clear weather can open wide views across south Iceland. No prior snowmobile experience is needed, and safety gear is supplied.

I like the combination of an active glacier ride and three classic South Coast stops. I also like the small maximum group of 15, which should make the safety briefing and guide’s instructions easier to follow. The main concern is weather: the ride can be cancelled after you leave Reykjavik, and one recent account describes a very frustrating day when the snowmobiling and daylight sightseeing did not go ahead.

Key points to know before booking

• Mýrdalsjökull is the main event: The guided snowmobile session lasts about one hour, with roughly three hours allocated to the glacier stop for preparation, travel, and the ride.
• You share the machine: Two people sit on each snowmobile. A valid driver’s licence is required if you want to drive, but passengers do not need one.
• The day begins early and runs long: Departure is at 9:00 a.m. from the BSÍ Bus Terminal, with the full outing lasting about 10 hours.
• Bring your own lunch: There is no lunch stop, so pack a picnic and eat before the ride or carry a light snack for afterward.
• The waterfalls are short stops: Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss each receive about 30 minutes, enough for photographs but not a leisurely visit.
• Weather controls the glacier portion: Conditions can force a cancellation, including after the coach has left Reykjavik.

A glacier ride with a full South Coast day attached

This tour is built around one strong idea: pair an hour of guided snowmobiling with a quick tour of Iceland’s most famous southern sights. At $249, it is not a cheap bus ride, but the price includes transport from Reykjavik, a local guide, protective clothing, safety equipment, and the glacier activity itself.

I see the value mainly in the logistics. Reaching Mýrdalsjökull on your own means arranging a car, finding the glacier operator, dealing with winter roads, and making sure you have the right clothing. Here, the coach and the glacier company are organized as one day out. That convenience matters in Iceland, especially when weather can change quickly.

The tradeoff is time. You spend much of the day on the road, and the waterfalls receive only brief visits. If you want a slow South Coast day with long walks and plenty of time at each viewpoint, this will feel rushed. If your priority is trying a snowmobile without arranging the details yourself, the balance makes more sense.

Leaving Reykjavik from BSÍ at 9:00 a.m.

The stated meeting point is the BSÍ Bus Terminal on Vatnsmýrarvegur. Pickup may be offered from selected central Reykjavik hotels, but you should confirm your exact pickup arrangement when booking. The tour ends back at the original meeting point.

Plan to arrive ready for a full day. You will be in a climate-controlled vehicle for the long trip south, watching Iceland’s scenery pass the windows. The road journey is part of the day, not just a transfer. It gives you a look at the changing countryside before you reach the glacier.

The maximum group size is 15 people. That is a useful middle ground: small enough to avoid a huge coach group at the activity, but large enough that the day will not feel private or flexible. The guide leads the schedule, so you should be comfortable with set departure times and short stops.

The tour is generally open to most participants, but children aged seven and younger are not permitted. Only one child is allowed per adult. Those rules matter if you are arranging a family outing.

Skógafoss: a powerful first waterfall stop

The first listed sightseeing stop is Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s best-known waterfalls. Water drops in a broad sheet, and the viewpoint gives you a clear look at the falls without an admission fee.

You receive about 30 minutes here. That is enough to see the waterfall, take photographs, and get a sense of its scale. It is not enough for a long walk or an unhurried exploration of the surrounding area.

Skógafoss also has a connection to the Fimmvörðuháls route, a famous walking route that leads toward Þórsmörk. You will not be hiking that route on this outing, but the detail helps explain why this spot matters beyond its photographic appeal.

I would bring waterproof outer layers even if the forecast looks dry. Icelandic waterfalls throw spray, and the same clothing that helps at Skógafoss will be useful later on the glacier.

Mýrdalsjökull: the reason to choose this tour

The coach then heads to Mýrdalsjökull, where the active part of the day begins. The glacier is one of the major ice areas in southern Iceland, and the tour takes you up by snowmobile rather than simply to a roadside viewpoint.

Before riding, you receive a safety briefing. Protective clothing and safety equipment are included, and an instructor guides the group throughout the activity. That makes this a reasonable first snowmobile outing, provided you are comfortable following directions and working within a group.

The snowmobiles hold two people. If you want to drive, you must bring a valid driver’s licence. A passenger can ride without one. It is worth sorting out who will drive before the activity begins, since switching roles may depend on the guide and the conditions.

The listed guided ride is one hour. The glacier portion is given about three hours in total, so do not read that as three hours of continuous snowmobiling. Time is also needed for clothing, instructions, getting to the machines, and returning to the vehicle.

The ride leads toward the summit area, where clear conditions can produce broad views across south Iceland. That is the payoff for choosing the glacier option. Snow, ice, and open space replace the close roadside viewpoints of the waterfalls.

Weather is the biggest variable. The operator can cancel the snowmobile ride because of glacier conditions, and sudden weather changes can force a cancellation after departure from Reykjavik. In poor visibility, the panoramic view may not appear even if the ride goes ahead.

This is not a minor footnote. A recent account described being told the activity was cancelled on arrival, then being told it was still going ahead, followed by a long coach journey and no snowmobiling or daylight sightseeing. The operator’s stated policy is to offer another date or a full refund when poor weather cancels the tour, but you should still understand that the day can become disjointed when conditions shift.

What the safety setup means for first-time riders

You do not need previous snowmobile experience. The instructor provides the briefing and leads the ride, while supplied clothing and equipment help protect you from the cold.

That does not make the activity passive. You still need to follow instructions, dress sensibly underneath the supplied gear, and be prepared for cold conditions. The experience is best for someone who wants a controlled introduction rather than a private, high-speed adventure.

The two-person arrangement is practical and also affects the feel of the ride. One person drives while the other rides behind, then you may be able to change places if the guide allows it. If you are booking with a friend or partner, discuss who wants to drive before the day starts.

The strongest praise attached to this outing focuses on the snowmobiling, the careful driving, and the way the guide combines safety with a sense of adventure. That is exactly where the tour earns its price. The weaker parts concern communication, timing, and what happens when the glacier weather turns bad.

Seljalandsfoss: a quick look behind the water

Seljalandsfoss is the final major sightseeing stop. Its special feature is the path that can lead behind the falling water, giving you a view from the other side of the curtain.

The stop is scheduled for about 30 minutes. In dry, mild conditions, that may be enough to walk around, take photographs, and see the falls from more than one angle. In winter, spray, ice, and slippery ground can make the route behind the waterfall less practical. The supplied details do not promise that the rear path will be open, so treat it as a possibility rather than a guarantee.

You should expect wet conditions near the falls. Waterproof shoes and a rain shell are useful even when the rest of the day is cold and snowy. Keep cameras and phones protected when you move close to the water.

The short visit is a clear limitation. The two waterfalls are here to round out the day, not to receive the attention they would get on a dedicated South Coast trip. One assessment found the waterfall stops too brief and the guiding too quiet, while other accounts praised the information given during the drive. Your enjoyment may depend partly on how much you value seeing the famous sites versus hearing detailed commentary at each one.

Skógar Folk Museum and the cultural pause

The day also includes a visit to the Skógar Folk Museum. This gives the outing a cultural stop between the glacier and waterfalls, adding some context about Icelandic life rather than keeping the schedule entirely focused on scenery.

The museum visit is important because the rest of the day is visually dramatic but physically brief. A museum can slow the pace and provide a different way to understand the country. However, the supplied timing does not state how long you spend inside, so you should not book this expecting a long museum visit or a detailed guided program.

The same applies to commentary. Some guides have been praised for giving interesting information about Iceland, while one account found the guide offered very little explanation at the sites. If learning about local culture is your top priority, a specialist museum or heritage tour may serve you better.

Food, clothing, and the small details that matter

There is no included food or drink, and there is no dedicated lunch stop. Bring a picnic lunch. The practical suggestion is to eat before the snowmobile ride and carry a light snack for afterward.

That advice is easy to overlook, but it can make a long winter day much more comfortable. The coach ride, cold air, waiting for equipment, and physical effort can leave you hungry well before you return to Reykjavik.

Your packing list should include:

• A packed lunch and water
• Warm layers under the supplied protective clothing
• Waterproof footwear and an outer layer for the waterfalls
• Gloves and a hat, unless the operator confirms they are supplied
• A valid driver’s licence if you plan to drive
• A phone or camera protected from spray and snow

The operator supplies protective clothing and safety equipment for the snowmobile session. That does not mean you should arrive in ordinary city clothing. You still need warm personal layers for the coach, stops, and time outside the supplied gear.

Is $249 fair for a 10-hour day?

At $249, this tour sits in the premium day-trip category. The cost covers the bus fare, guide, one hour of guided snowmobiling, safety instruction, and protective equipment. It also saves you from arranging separate transport to a glacier activity.

The value is strongest if you do not plan to rent a car and the snowmobile ride is high on your Iceland wish list. Paying for a South Coast coach trip and a separate glacier excursion could cost more, while also creating a harder day of coordination.

The value is weaker if you mainly want Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss. Both are free to visit, and the 30-minute stops may feel too short for the price. A standard South Coast tour, or a self-drive day if you are comfortable with Icelandic winter conditions, may give you more time at the waterfalls.

I would also place weather risk into the price decision. The operator offers a different date or full refund if poor weather cancels the experience, but a cancellation after you have already left Reykjavik can still disrupt your day. Keep your schedule flexible and avoid placing an important evening reservation too close to the expected return.

Who will enjoy this day most?

This tour suits you if you want a first snowmobile experience, prefer organized transport, and are happy to accept a long coach day for one hour on the ice. It works especially well for couples or friends who can share a machine and decide in advance who wants to drive.

It is also a good fit if you want several famous South Coast sights without renting a car. The guide, equipment, and transport take care of the main practical hurdles.

I would think twice if you dislike fixed schedules, need a proper lunch break, or want long walks at the waterfalls. It may also disappoint you if you expect several hours of snowmobiling. The advertised riding time is one hour, not a full afternoon on the glacier.

The published rating is 4.5 out of 5 from 22 ratings, but the range of experiences matters more than the average. Strong days center on striking glacier scenery, safe instruction, and informative driving. Poor days have involved weather problems, confusing communication, and lost daylight.

Should you book the Mýrdalsjökull snowmobile trip?

Book it if snowmobiling is your main goal and you want the South Coast landmarks added without managing transport yourself. Bring lunch, dress for wet and cold weather, carry your licence if driving, and keep a backup plan for a weather cancellation.

Skip it if the waterfalls deserve your full attention or if you need a relaxed day with a dependable meal stop. For the right person, this is an efficient way to add a genuine glacier activity to a South Coast route. For the wrong person, it is a costly, road-heavy day with very little time at each waterfall.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The stated meeting point is the BSÍ Bus Terminal at Vatnsmýrarvegur 10 in Reykjavik. Pickup is also offered from selected centrally located hotels, so confirm the exact arrangement when booking.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 9:00 a.m.

How long does the tour last?

The full outing lasts approximately 10 hours and ends back at the original meeting point in Reykjavik.

Do I need a driving licence?

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

Can one person ride a snowmobile alone?

No. Two people sit on each snowmobile.

What happens if bad weather cancels the ride?

The snowmobile activity depends on glacier conditions and may be cancelled. If poor weather cancels the tour, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time.