Don’t even consider coming to Iceland without also booking a tour to the South Coast with Arctic Mike.

If you’re visiting Iceland, Arctic Mike will make your trip extra memorable and special. It’s not an exaggeration to say that this is the best tour and guide I’ve ever had on a vacation.

Mike is kind, prepared, knowledgeable and entertaining. He allows the small group as much time as they want at each destination. You never feel rushed, which often happens on tours.

From the moment you leave the Reykjavik area, he tells you about what you’re seeing outside the comfortable luxury van, he answers each question and interacts with each passenger (6 total on our day), to get to know them. He uses storytelling to make the history, unique geological conditions, and the way of life in Iceland so enjoyable.

We stopped at a convenience store prior to arriving at the South Coast and he gives each person waterproof pants and jackets to use. Nothing we brought would be heavy duty enough for what came next.

He avoided all the crowds by adjusting the order of each stop. We did a bunch of waterfalls – 4 large ones. But unlike most tours where you get in front or to the side of the falls, take a few photos or selfies and leave, we were immersed. We waded through water, across rocks and streams, and up and around rocky areas, to get up close, behind, or right into the waterfalls. Mike knew exactly where the sun would fall to catch some rainbows – and he took some amazing photos for us, in addition to our own.

After we left the waterfalls, a bit wet and extremely happy, he assured us, it would keep getting better. And somehow it did. We saw incredible cliffs, explored a beautiful black sand beach, got up close to a glacier, and so much more. After the last stop, he gave us hot cocoa (no idea how it stayed hot for 12 hours) — and we felt like we had a new friend in Iceland.

We ended up spending 14 hours with Mike, and every moment, even the 2.5 hour drive out and back was just pure joy! Just book a trip with him. You’ll be thrilled you did.