2 Day South Coast
DAY 1
REYKJAVÍK
Pick up at 9.00 AM, at your accommodation, or meet us at bus stop number 8, next to Hallgrímskirkja church, downtown. Along the South Coast you will drive past Hveragerði, the town of hot springs, due to geothermal activity just below the earth surface. The geothermal water is used to heat greenhouses to grow food.
SELJALANDSFOSS AND GLJÚFRABÚI WATERFALLS
Seljalandsfoss is a 60 m high waterfall, beautifully located and exceptional because you can enjoy it from behind. A path takes you around the waterfall and standing behind it is a rare and unique experience. However, on very cold days the path can be closed because of ice, but then you have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful icy landscape. Gljúfrabúi is a nearby waterfall. Gljúfrabúi translates to "the one who lives in the canyon" and is a small hidden waterfall partially obscured by the cliff rock. You need to follow a trail along the small river to enter the narrow canyon where the waterfall tumbles down.
SKÓGAFOSS WATERFALL
Skógafoss is one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland. It is also 60 m high and about 25 m wide. Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss are both in glacier rivers, meltwater from Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers. Alongside the waterfall a staircase can take you to the shelf above the waterfall for stunning views.
SÓLHEIMAJÖKULL GLACIER
Learn about warming climate and the effect on glaciers in Iceland by visiting the Sólheimajökull glacier. Sólheimajökull is an outlet glacier, flowing out of the ice cap Mýrdalsjökull. Underneath Mýrdalsjökull is the famous volcano Katla. Glaciers are retreating and disappearing around us on an unprecedented rate. It is predicted that in a few decades the glaciers in Iceland will all be gone.
DYRHÓLAEY
At Dyrhólaey there is an amazing view of the south coast landscape and black beaches. Dyrhólaey is a 120-metre high promontory that the sea has eroded from the headland. In summer Dyrhólaey is rich in bird life, the most common, the puffin. Note, in spring during nesting Dyrhólaey is closed.
REYNISDRANGAR AND REYNISFJARA BLACK BEACH
Iceland is a volcanic island, made up mainly of basaltic material that is black in colour. Hence, the “Black Beaches”. The black beach was, in 1991, ranked as one of the ten most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world. On the beach, there are remarkable basalt columns. Reynisdrangar is a sea stack, a geological formation made by wave erosion of surrounding material.
EYJAFJALLAJÖKULL VOLCANO
Hopefully the weather allows a view of Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which is famous for it´s eruption in 2010, that disrupted air traffic in Europe.
VÍK VILLAGE
Vík village is a small village south of Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Stop there before heading to the accommodation. Overnight near Skaftafell National Park.