Best Things To See & Do – South Coast
When planning a trip to Iceland, the South coast is a must see. It is home to many of the countries most famous sites. Not only will you see one of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland, but you will experience nature from a whole another perspective. You will be able to walk behind a waterfall, go on a glacier hike or visit an ice cave, visit the famous Glacier Lagoon Jökulsárlón, experience Diamond Beach and visit the Black Sand Beach Reynisfjara. All this you can do on a 2-day trip with Troll. But if you have time, you can add one extra day to experience the famous Golden Circle. With this trip, you are getting truly the best of the South Coast!
Your tour will start in Reykjavík. From there you will drive to Selfoss. Iceland’s largest river by volume, Ölfusá, runs through Selfoss and you will drive over it. Less than an hour later you will visit Seljalandsfoss waterfall.
Finding Waterfalls
Seljalandsfoss waterfall is considered to be Iceland’s most beautiful waterfall, and also the most photographed one. What is unique about this waterfall is that the cave behind it allows you to go behind the rushing water. No worries, it is easy to access the cave and walk behind the waterfall. You can truly experience the power of the waterfall and see it all around.
The scene behind the fall and the trembling ground from the power of the falling water makes it super easy to take awesome photos.
Just be sure to take a rain jacket and a protection for your camera so it doesn’t get wet. Also it is recommended wearing hiking boots or waterproof boots so your feet do not get soaking wet.
Further east along the coast you will visit Skógafoss waterfall where water tumbles down a 60 meters cliff before continuing down the landscape towards the ocean. If you are up for it, you can walk a staircase that will take you to the shelf above the waterfall where you will have stunning views over the waterfall and the landscape all around you!
Exploring the Glacial World
You will then end your first day by going on a Glacier Hike in Skaftafell. There you will hike an outlet glacier spawning from the largest glacier in the country, Vatnajökull. You might be familiar with the area since the area has been used as a filming location for many TV shows and films, such as Game of Thrones. If you want adventurous Icelandic photos of you, this is the spot to take them.
On your second day you would start the day off by going to Jökulsárlón where enormous icebergs fall from an outlet glacier of Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull. You can take a boat ride tour around the lagoon to get closer to the icebergs that are floating all around the lagoon.
Only a few minutes’ walk will take you to Diamond Beach where you can see where the icebergs float from the lagoon to the Atlantic Ocean. The beach is full of smaller ice blocks that sparkle like diamond in the daylight.
Going to Volcanic Remains
After you think you have seen it all, you go to Reynisfjara, also known as the Black Sand Beach. You have to be careful there since the massive waves can be dangerous, but your guide will tell you all about that. The massive waves from the Atlantic coastline hit the unique basalt pillars in the cliffs above the sand. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in Iceland. If you love birds, this is definitely the place for you since puffins, razorbills and dozens of other species nest on top these cliffs in the summertime.
If you decide to take the full South Coast tour, we really recommend taking the third day and taking the Golden Circle also. If you want awesome pictures, have a great time and an awesome adventure this trip is something to look at.
Here you can book the 2-day or 3-day South Coast Tours
