Southern part of Iceland part.1

1. You can rent a car and drive around individually (recommended in summer when driving conditions are in general safe)
2. You can book a guided tour by mini bus or bus from Reykjavik (recommended during winter, when the weather conditions can be very difficult . It is a good and safe option to learn a lot about Iceland and its history while being driven there).
3. Journey with a private car with a guide. This is a more expensive option but very convenient. Especially if you want to get to know Iceland and its secret places which you probably will not discover by yourself.

Reykjadalur Valley: Walk 3 km to the Reykjadalur / Hveragerdi hot springs valley

Near the city of Hveragerði, there are many hiking trails in the mountains that lead you to steaming hot springs. The valley of Reykjadalur, nestled near the Hengill volcano is the perfect place for travellers who value comfort and who will enjoy a walk ending with a bath in the geothermal mountain river. Reykjadalur should be visited by anyone planning to conquer south-central Iceland or want to take a short break in their expedition. The bathing area is located at the bottom of the Klambragil river near the location where geothermal heated water is flowing down from the western part of the valley and mixes with the cool and refreshing water flowing from the east.

Haifoss waterfall

Located near the powerful Hekla volcano, the Haifoss waterfall is another important point on the map of Iceland and a place that every fan of Natures power should see. The waterfall has a height of 122 m and is fed by the Fossá river which is a tributary of the river Þjórsá, the longest river in Iceland. The falling water creates a spectacular soaring stream flowing with a bang on the exposed slopes of the canyon. You can access the area which leads to the waterfall from June to October.

Hjalparfoss waterfall

Surrounded by unusual rock formations, the Hjálparfoss waterfall is one of the most beautiful attractions of the picturesque valley of Þjórsárdalur. What is amazing about this place is the fact that the river Fossá here flows between unusual, twisted basalt walls and falls down in a double stream. It’s worth taking some time to enjoy the pleasant atmosphere and picturesque scenery that will delight you regardless of the season.

Hekla volcano

Before the explosion of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in 2010, the dreaded Hekla was the most famous Icelandic volcano. Hekla has erupted 18 times in the last hundred years. The first eruption which is documented was in 1104 and destroyed part of the settlement of the Vikings near Stöng. When you look at Hekla it doesn’t look like a typical volcano with a characteristic volcanic cone. It is actually a series of bulging ridges that are often covered by dense clouds and therefore it is often called “hooded”. Hekla has been erupting regularly about every ten years since 1970. The last eruption took place on February 26, 2000 and lasted 12 days.

Museum of Volcanoes and Lava – Lava Center

In the small town Hvolsvollur a fantastic interactive museum can be found. Visiting the museum begins with watching an exciting short movie about the largest volcanic eruptions that occurred in Iceland.
After the movie the visitors enter the interactive exhibition. This exhibition informs you about Iceland’s main volcanic eruptions, and shows how Iceland was created over time.
In the museum, you will also learn more about earthquakes and you can experience it yourself. You can also see the volcanic heart of Iceland, a structure simulating the flow of magma under the island. Additionally all different types of lava that can be found in Iceland are shown as explained. Through interactive screens you will learn more about the volcanoes and how they were formed.

The LAVA Center is also the regional tourist information center; it has a souvenir shop and a restaurant where you can eat tasty meals from the fantastic buffet lunch-buffet.

Seljalandsfoss waterfall

Although Iceland is the land of countless and impressive waterfalls of diverse construction many people will be surprised by the fact that you can also admire them from a completely different angle. The Seljalandsfos is a magical singularity that makes a great impression when you look at it from the front but visitors can admire the waterfall also from inside! This place really takes your breath away! The waterfall will delight you so much that when you find yourself again in the front of it you realize that you should have used your raincoat.

Thorsmork

Þórsmörk is an unusual valley trapped between the glaciers Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull. The valley is abundantly covered with moss, birches and firs and is surrounded by white peaked mountains. The valley is hidden between mountain formations. Due to this there is an unusually warm climate which is attracting tourists, especially the native ones. The valley is also well known among Hikers as there are many wonderful hiking routes starting and leading here. For instance the infamous hiking trails Fimmvörðuháls and Laugarvegurinn. Access to the Thorsmork valley is nevertheless challenging. Due to several bigger river crossings it is only possible to reach the valley by bigger well equipped 4×4 jeeps (e.g. Land Rovers & similar) or by a (guided) bus tour. It is essential you inform yourself about the dangers and ask for information where it is best to cross the rivers before you attempt the crossing as fatalities have occurred here.

Skogar, Skogafoss waterfall

This place is well known especially for the magnificent and 60 m high waterfall Skógafoss which is clearly visible from the road. The area has to offer a whole range of points of interest. On sunny days, the waterfall creates beautiful rainbows which are very photogenic. The top of the waterfall is surrounded by grassy slopes, forming a kind of natural staircase. On the way up you can stop to admire a fantastic panorama of the southern coast. At Skogar you can also find the regional folk museum which is quite interesting. Skogar is also the starting point of the popular hiking trail Fimmvörðuháls which leads the hiker between Eyjafjallajökull glacier and Mýrdalsjökull glacier up to Þórsmörk.

Abandoned DC plane on the Solheimasandur black beach.

In 1973 a US DC plane ran out the fuel and crashed on the beach at Solheimasandur at the South shore of Iceland.
The pilot and the crew were rescued but the plane was left behind, abandoned on the black sand beach. The landscape around the plane is like a desert which makes the whole scene amazing and surreal and unreal at the same time. It is therefore a fantastic place for photography, all year around. Definitely worth the walk there, as driving by car to the plane is forbidden. Close to the ring road is a spacious parking place. From the parking it is an approximately 1 hour walk to Solheimasandur beach and the plane wreck.

Myrdalsjokull Glacier

There are many glaciers in Iceland, and Mýrdalsjökull is the fourth largest glacier in the country. This mass of 700-meter-thick ice in some places is firmly set on the grand top of the ominous Katla post-glacial volcano. Its caldera is 10 km in diameter. The underlying volcano has erupted about 16-20 times since the Icelandic settlement. On average every 40-80 years. The glacier itself looks inconspicuous but should always be visited under the supervision of a qualified guide who will guide you over the ice-covered trails around Sólheimajökull, the largest glacial Mýrdaljökull tongue.
The trips I would like to recommend here are: – 2 hours guided walk on the glacier or visit the Ice Cave underneath the Katla Volcano at Myrdalsjokull glacier.

Dyrholaey Cliffs

Dyrhólaey is a wonderful headland with perpendicular cliffs and a magnificent lighthouse and is the southernmost point of Iceland. The most magnificent part of Dyrhólaey is the huge rock-cut arch. It is said that sailboats have sailed through this arch. Dyrholey is also irresistibly attractive for photographers. The area is inhabited by countless species of birds that gather on the raw cliffs and establish nests on grass-covered slopes. Dyrhólaey is a bird sanctuary, therefore it cannot be visited in the evening during the breeding season (from May 1 to June 25). This is also one of the cliffs where you can see / meet the most famous Icelandic bird: the puffin!

Reynisjara beach and basalt caves

At Reynisfjara beach you will be amazed the massive basalt spires with a high up to 66 m. It looks like a gigantic dinosaur wading into the water. According to legend, they are the masts of a troll ship that turned into stone at sunrise. Reynisfjara black sand beach itself is extending over 2 km from the Reynifjall mountain to the Dýraholaey headland. At the foot of the mountain you can find the entrance to the basalt sea cave Hálsanefshellir which is point of interest for many speleologists. Depending on the tides the cave is accessible to be discovered.

It is very important to be aware that, in contrary to a normal beach, you cannot walk close to the sea. The sea and beach here are known for very unpredictable sneaker waves. These sudden waves have resulted in fatalities in the past years.

The town of Vik

At Reynisfjara beach you will be amazed the massive basalt spires with a high up to 66 m. It looks like a gigantic dinosaur wading into the water. According to legend, they are the masts of a troll ship that turned into stone at sunrise. Reynisfjara black sand beach itself is extending over 2 km from the Reynifjall mountain to the Dýraholaey headland. At the foot of the mountain you can find the entrance to the basalt sea cave Hálsanefshellir which is point of interest for many speleologists. Depending on the tides the cave is accessible to be discovered.

It is very important to be aware that, in contrary to a normal beach, you cannot walk close to the sea. The sea and beach here are known for very unpredictable sneaker waves. These sudden waves have resulted in fatalities in the past years.