South Shore Adventure
National parks, beaches, canyons, and waterfalls are all part of this tour perfect for the nature-loving traveler. Your guide will take you on an adventure along Iceland’s South Coast, stopping to explore some of the world’s most beautiful scenery. Here’s a glimpse into some of the places you’ll see on the tour.
Highights
Seljalandafoss waterfall
- If you’ve been reading Iceland tour guides, you’ve almost certainly seen this waterfall.
- It’s one of the country’s most photographed features, and it’s easy to see why.
- Seljalandafoss pours into a deep, round pool right at the mouth of a cave — like something out of a fairy tale!
- You can even walk behind the waterfall and look out at the magnificent landscape extending outward in all directions.
Eyjafjallajokull Glacier / Volcano view
- This glacier, also called E15, is a massive ice cap covering a volcano.
- The volcano itself is 5,417 feet (1,651 meters) tall. Despite that size, Eyjafjallajokull is far from the largest ice cap in Iceland.
- You might think a volcano covered with ice would be dormant, but Eyjafjallajokull erupted fairly recently. In 2010, a relatively small eruption caused several earthquakes and interrupted air travel.
Skógarfoss waterfall
- Skógarfoss’s white curtain of water makes it one of the country’s most majestic waterfalls.
- It tumbles over the cliffs of Iceland’s former coastline. That means that much of the verdant land surrounding it was once an ocean floor!
Kvernufoss waterfall
- Skógarfoss waterfall is quite popular with travelers. The smaller, nearby waterfall of Kvernufoss is often overlooked.
- Even though it’s fairly close to the road, it’s tucked away in a gorge, giving you the sense of being deep in the wilderness.
- *Please note that the trail to the waterfall may be closed during the winter, from November to March.
Dyrhólaey
- Dyrhólaey is a small island located off Iceland’s South Coast. The name translated to “door hill island,” although seafarers once called it Cape Portland.
- The name comes from the fact that there’s a massive arch of volcanic rock at the island’s edge, and seawater flows through it like a door.
- The rock formation isn’t Dyrhólaey’s only attraction, though.
- You’ll also see the Dyrhólaey Lighthouse, originally built in 1927.
Reynisfjara – Black Sand Beach
- Reynisfjara — one of the world’s most famous black-sand beaches — looks almost like a beach on another planet.
- Smooth, jet-black sand, strange and geometric rock formations, and massive crashing waves all create an atmosphere best experienced in person.
Fjarðarárgljúfur – feather river canyon
- Fjarðarárgljúfur is also known as Feather River Canyon.
- It’s easily the most spectacular canyon in Iceland, and you can take in its beauty while standing on an overlook or hiking through the canyon itself.
- If you’re a hiker or a photographer (or both), this is a destination you can’t miss.
- * Please note that the trail to the Canyon may be closed during the winter, from November to March.
Skaftafell (in Vatnajökull National Park)
- This is an area of Vatnajökull National Park widely regarded as one of Iceland’s most beautiful places.
- It offers hiking trails for people of every ability, so you’ll have the opportunity to explore it yourself.
- Between glaciers, black-sand beaches, waterfalls, and green meadows, you won’t run out of features to discover.
Diamond Beach at Jökulsárlón
- Jökulsárlón is an Icelandic glacial lake famous for its countless, blue-tinted icebergs.
The icebergs chip off the main glacier, so you’ll see a different assortment on any given day.
The glacial lake itself is striking enough, but Diamond Beach — an area of black sand alongside it — is a place you need to see to believe.
- As small pieces chip off the floating icebergs, they eventually wash up on shore.
- The chunks of white ice look like shimmering diamonds along the dark coast.
