1. Venture behind the Seljalandsfoss waterfall. The picturesque Seljalandsfoss waterfall is a popular tourist attraction in South Iceland, located east of Hvolsvöllur and a mere five-minute detour from Route 1. What is unique about Seljalandsfoss is that you can walk behind it, which gives you a completely new perspective on waterfalls. A small, winding, slippery trail leads visitors behind the waterfall, where the immense power of the water crashing down can truly be felt. Being surrounded by mossy cliffs and the mist from the waterfall makes it a magical experience. Be sure to wear a raincoat when visiting Seljalandsfoss, because you will definitely get wet. And tread cautiously, since the paths are wet and can be slippery. Across from Seljalandsfoss, the Markarfljót river delta can be seen extending out into the North Atlantic. The glacial river arises in the Rauðafossfjöll mountains, east of the volcano Hekla, and is roughly 100 kilometres (62 miles) long.
2. Hekla volcano, Europeans believed that Hekla, one of Iceland’s most active volcanoes, was the gateway to Hell. The eruptions are difficult to predict, but the general correlation is this: the longer Hekla remains dormant, the larger and more catastrophic its next eruption will be. The most recent Hekla eruption was in 2000, but the volcano has erupted between twenty and thirty times since 1104. In spite of that, Hekla is a popular destination for hiking, and there’s a path that goes most of the way to the summit. If you visit in the spring, keep in mind that legend has it that witches gather on Hekla at Easter.
3. Kerið crater. A number of years ago, the State held an auction and a group of friends can now proudly tell whomever will listen that they own a volcano! Kerið is a volcanic crater and, more often than not, it’s included as a stop on the Golden Circle Tour. As it is privately owned, a small cover charge to visit Kerið is collected. The legal grounds for charging visitors is currently disputed, however, so you can try your luck and refuse to pay the fee.
4. The Golden Circle:
Þingvellir national park is special for a variety of reasons. One of them is that in 930, the first Parliament was established at Þingvellir, and it remained there until 1798. The founding of Parliament was the founding of the nation of Iceland, which laid the ground for a common cultural heritage and national identity. So it is perhaps not too surprising that the Prime Minister of Iceland has a cottage at Thingvellir—for one must remember the past in order to help design the future. Another interesting fact about Þingvellir national park is that it is located just between the European and North American tectonic plates. You can even see the rift in the vertical canyon at Þingvellir, called Almannagjá. And if you are scuba-certified, you can scuba at Silfra fissure—perhaps your only chance to be able to touch Europe and North America at the same time. Keep in mind that the plates drift apart about 2 centimetres a year.
Gullfoss waterfall is a very popular tourist attraction, and perhaps the most magnificent thing about the fall is how close you can get to it, especially in the summer. During the winter months, looking at it from a distance may be your only choice, but it’s for your safety. When you first approach Gullfoss, the crevice is obscured from view, so it seems as if the water is falling into the Earth, and not into the Hvítá river. It’s big, it’s loud, and it’s worth checking out.
Geysir, as the name suggests, is a geyser. The word ‘geyser’ in English actually derives from the Icelandic word Geysir. The geyser you will see erupt into the sky in the Geysir geothermal area is, however, not the famous Geysir, but one called Strokkur. It erupts every few minutes to heights of up to 30 metres.
5. Because of the delicate beauty and rugged terrain. The Þórsmörk nature reserve is a breathtakingly beautiful area surrounded by glaciers, bursting glacial rivers, and stunning landscapes. To reach Þórsmörk one must either go by foot, or navigate rugged mountain tracks and cross unbridged glacial rivers. The 25-kilometre-long (15.5 mile) hiking trail from Skógar to Þórsmörk is very popular. Along the way, one traverses natural wonders such as Fimmvörðuháls, a pass between Mýrdalsjökull and the infamous Eyjafjalljökull ice caps.
6. It's a world of ice. South Iceland boasts three glaciers: Mýrdalsjökull, Eyjafjallajökull, and Sólheimajökull. The last mentioned stretches all the way to the desolate black sands that characterize the southern coast. A number of tourist operators offer guided hikes up Sólheimajökull. During the hike, one is surrounded by amazing scenery, blue caves, a myriad of beautiful ice formations, and dark streaks of ash.
7. The black sand beaches. Stretching from the village of Vík all the way to Höfn in Hornarfjörður, along the South shore of Iceland, are black sand and pebble beaches that are quite unique. It may seem strange at first, but in a volcanic island such as Iceland, it’s no surprise that the beaches are black from the tiny fragments of volcanic lava. A popular black sand beach is the Reynisfjara beach, which has black sand and basalt columns like you’ve never seen anywhere else. From the beach you can see the Reynisdrangar basalt sea stacks, which according to legend are really two trolls who attempted to drag a ship to land when the sun rose and turned them into needles of rock.
8. The hidden treasures at Skógafoss waterfall. Skógafoss waterfall is one of Iceland’s biggest waterfalls. With a drop of 60 metres (200 ft) and a width of 25 metres (82 ft), it is sure to take your breath away. A Viking named Þrasi Þórólfsson was the first to settle the area and the legend says that he hid his fortune in a cave located behind the massive waterfall. Near the Skógafoss waterfall is the Skógar Folk Museum, which was founded in 1949 and houses an extensive collection of old artifacts from the area as well as reconstructed turf farmhouses. Equally interesting is the museum’s 93-year-old curator and founder, Þórður Tómasson. Þórður is known as an expert on the old Icelandic way of life, as he began collecting artifacts at the age of fourteen, often traveling from farm to farm to record stories from the region.
9. Because of Iceland's only equestrian theatre. Iceland’s first “equestrian theatre” is open for business in the town of Selfoss. Icelandic horses are the stars of the show, says the show director, Guðmar Þór Pétursson. The centre also features a restaurant and a designer shop. Iceland’s only horse park provides an opportunity to dine on fresh Icelandic food, while also getting to know our unique breed of horse that is unlike any other in the world. This is a fun, entertaining, and educational place for the whole family to visit all year round.
South Iceland is home to the renowned Golden Circle tour, consisting of Gullfoss waterfall, the Geysir geothermal area, and Þingvellir national park. Those destinations never cease to amaze, but they are only a fraction of the travel opportunities that are more diverse in the south than in any other part of the country.
1. Venture behind the Seljalandsfoss waterfall. The picturesque Seljalandsfoss waterfall is a popular tourist attraction in South Iceland, located east of Hvolsvöllur and a mere five-minute detour from Route 1. What is unique about Seljalandsfoss is that you can walk behind it, which gives you a completely new perspective on waterfalls. A small, winding, slippery trail leads visitors behind the waterfall, where the immense power of the water crashing down can truly be felt. Being surrounded by mossy cliffs and the mist from the waterfall makes it a magical experience. Be sure to wear a raincoat when visiting Seljalandsfoss, because you will definitely get wet. And tread cautiously, since the paths are wet and can be slippery. Across from Seljalandsfoss, the Markarfljót river delta can be seen extending out into the North Atlantic. The glacial river arises in the Rauðafossfjöll mountains, east of the volcano Hekla, and is roughly 100 kilometres (62 miles) long.
2. Hekla volcano, Europeans believed that Hekla, one of Iceland’s most active volcanoes, was the gateway to Hell. The eruptions are difficult to predict, but the general correlation is this: the longer Hekla remains dormant, the larger and more catastrophic its next eruption will be. The most recent Hekla eruption was in 2000, but the volcano has erupted between twenty and thirty times since 1104. In spite of that, Hekla is a popular destination for hiking, and there’s a path that goes most of the way to the summit. If you visit in the spring, keep in mind that legend has it that witches gather on Hekla at Easter.
3. Kerið crater. A number of years ago, the State held an auction and a group of friends can now proudly tell whomever will listen that they own a volcano! Kerið is a volcanic crater and, more often than not, it’s included as a stop on the Golden Circle Tour. As it is privately owned, a small cover charge to visit Kerið is collected. The legal grounds for charging visitors is currently disputed, however, so you can try your luck and refuse to pay the fee.
4. The Golden Circle:
Þingvellir national park is special for a variety of reasons. One of them is that in 930, the first Parliament was established at Þingvellir, and it remained there until 1798. The founding of Parliament was the founding of the nation of Iceland, which laid the ground for a common cultural heritage and national identity. So it is perhaps not too surprising that the Prime Minister of Iceland has a cottage at Thingvellir—for one must remember the past in order to help design the future. Another interesting fact about Þingvellir national park is that it is located just between the European and North American tectonic plates. You can even see the rift in the vertical canyon at Þingvellir, called Almannagjá. And if you are scuba-certified, you can scuba at Silfra fissure—perhaps your only chance to be able to touch Europe and North America at the same time. Keep in mind that the plates drift apart about 2 centimetres a year.
Gullfoss waterfall is a very popular tourist attraction, and perhaps the most magnificent thing about the fall is how close you can get to it, especially in the summer. During the winter months, looking at it from a distance may be your only choice, but it’s for your safety. When you first approach Gullfoss, the crevice is obscured from view, so it seems as if the water is falling into the Earth, and not into the Hvítá river. It’s big, it’s loud, and it’s worth checking out.
Geysir, as the name suggests, is a geyser. The word ‘geyser’ in English actually derives from the Icelandic word Geysir. The geyser you will see erupt into the sky in the Geysir geothermal area is, however, not the famous Geysir, but one called Strokkur. It erupts every few minutes to heights of up to 30 metres.
5. Because of the delicate beauty and rugged terrain. The Þórsmörk nature reserve is a breathtakingly beautiful area surrounded by glaciers, bursting glacial rivers, and stunning landscapes. To reach Þórsmörk one must either go by foot, or navigate rugged mountain tracks and cross unbridged glacial rivers. The 25-kilometre-long (15.5 mile) hiking trail from Skógar to Þórsmörk is very popular. Along the way, one traverses natural wonders such as Fimmvörðuháls, a pass between Mýrdalsjökull and the infamous Eyjafjalljökull ice caps.
6. It's a world of ice. South Iceland boasts three glaciers: Mýrdalsjökull, Eyjafjallajökull, and Sólheimajökull. The last mentioned stretches all the way to the desolate black sands that characterize the southern coast. A number of tourist operators offer guided hikes up Sólheimajökull. During the hike, one is surrounded by amazing scenery, blue caves, a myriad of beautiful ice formations, and dark streaks of ash.
7. The black sand beaches. Stretching from the village of Vík all the way to Höfn in Hornarfjörður, along the South shore of Iceland, are black sand and pebble beaches that are quite unique. It may seem strange at first, but in a volcanic island such as Iceland, it’s no surprise that the beaches are black from the tiny fragments of volcanic lava. A popular black sand beach is the Reynisfjara beach, which has black sand and basalt columns like you’ve never seen anywhere else. From the beach you can see the Reynisdrangar basalt sea stacks, which according to legend are really two trolls who attempted to drag a ship to land when the sun rose and turned them into needles of rock.
8. The hidden treasures at Skógafoss waterfall. Skógafoss waterfall is one of Iceland’s biggest waterfalls. With a drop of 60 metres (200 ft) and a width of 25 metres (82 ft), it is sure to take your breath away. A Viking named Þrasi Þórólfsson was the first to settle the area and the legend says that he hid his fortune in a cave located behind the massive waterfall. Near the Skógafoss waterfall is the Skógar Folk Museum, which was founded in 1949 and houses an extensive collection of old artifacts from the area as well as reconstructed turf farmhouses. Equally interesting is the museum’s 93-year-old curator and founder, Þórður Tómasson. Þórður is known as an expert on the old Icelandic way of life, as he began collecting artifacts at the age of fourteen, often traveling from farm to farm to record stories from the region.
9. Because of Iceland's only equestrian theatre. Iceland’s first “equestrian theatre” is open for business in the town of Selfoss. Icelandic horses are the stars of the show, says the show director, Guðmar Þór Pétursson. The centre also features a restaurant and a designer shop. Iceland’s only horse park provides an opportunity to dine on fresh Icelandic food, while also getting to know our unique breed of horse that is unlike any other in the world. This is a fun, entertaining, and educational place for the whole family to visit all year round.
