South Coast & Glacier Hike

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

Seljalandsfoss waterfall is a powerful waterfall in the South of Iceland, with a dramatic 60-meter drop. This beautiful waterfall is one of the best-known and frequently visited places not only because it’s so close to Reykjavik, but also because of its unique structure – as the cliffs behind the waterfall have a wide cavern, allowing everyone to fully encircle the waterfall from behind.

Make sure to bring rainwear, as you have a high chance of getting wet from the drizzle.

Skógafoss Waterfall

Your next stop will be the majestic waterfall Skógafoss, which is 30 minutes away from Seljalandsfoss. 
Skógafoss – which means  “forest waterfall’ in Icelandic’, is one of Iceland’s largest and most beautiful waterfalls, with another dramatic 60-meter drop (197 feet), and one of few waterfalls that can be viewed from the top.

Skógafoss is frequently referred to as a “unique waterfall” because the waterfall comes directly from two glaciers nearby – Eyjafjallajökull & Mýrdalsjökull. Eventually, all this water ends in the North Atlantic Ocean.

The most special thing about this waterfall is the fact that you can climb to the top of the mountain from where the waterfall is coming down. On the side of the mountain, you will be greeted with 500 stairs, which will let you easily reach the top. From there, you will be able to see how the waterfall forms and will be greeted with a beautiful walking path into a magical canyon along the Skógá River on the top of the mountain.

The land near the waterfall is very flat, allowing everyone to get close to this beauty easily. The stairs are a bit more challenging.

After all the mystical waterfalls, you will go for some lunch.

Glacier Hike on Sólheimajökull Glacier

After lunch, we will continue driving East for the most exciting activity of the day – a Glacier Hike on one of the last remaining glaciers in the world. We will explore Sólheimajökull – a mesmerizing, long, and wide outlet of the Mýrdalsjökul glacier, which is the 4th largest glacier in Iceland.

We will first arrive at the Sóleimajökull Glacier parking lot, where you will be greeted by your professional glacier guide. Your guide will hand you all the necessary equipment: crampons, harnesses, ice axes, and more. For the hike, we recommend wearing layers of clothing and a waterproof shell rather than wearing bulky clothes.
Immediately after that, you will start your hike toward one of the most beautiful glaciers in Iceland. 

Be ready to be welcomed by gigantic crevasses constantly detaching themselves from the glacier; therefore, seeing large pieces of ice falling into the lagoon is not uncommon. On most days, you will be able to see huge icebergs floating in the lagoon, a few hundred meters away from the glacier.

Your adventure will be pretty easy. However, it is important to be in good shape. The hike will include some higher elevations at the beginning of the tour. After reaching the top of the glacier, your hike will remain relatively easy.

Be ready for a spectacular experience with this rare natural phenomenon. 

Reynisfjara: the Black Sand Beach

After an unforgettable hike on the glacier, you will make one more stop at the famous Reynisfjara – also known as the Black Sand Beach. Black sand beaches form after numerous volcanic eruptions in the area, slowly eroding the lava over millions of years.

At this breathtaking place, you will also be welcomed by massive basalt columns. Basalt columns have a special shape because of the way the lava cools. It is very rare to find such long & solid basalt columns anywhere else in the world.

The photogenic Dýrhólaey cliffs are also very well seen in this area.
The south is also a paradise for bird lovers, like puffins, razorbills, and dozens of other species nest on top of these cliffs in the summertime.

Back to Reykjavík

We will then start heading back to Reykjavik and are expected to arrive around 8 pm, though this may be subject to change depending on weather and road conditions.