South Coast, Jokulsarlon & Diamond Beach

We start our day in Reykjavik but it’s also possible to be picked up on the way to Skaftafell National Park (see pick up locations for more information).

As we drive along Iceland’s epic South Coast, we will stop at the most beautiful locations and must-see natural attractions. The number and the order of our stops vary between summer and winter, due to dramatic daylight differences.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

The wonderful Reynisfjara black sand beach with its pitch-black volcanic sand, rounded pebbles, awe-inspiring basalt columns, towering sea stacks, and a fantastic basalt-column cave is famous for being one of the top 10 non-tropical beaches of the world by the American journal, Islands Magazine.

Just off the shore, the Reynisdrangar peaks dominate the view. The oddly-shaped basalt rock stacks rise high from the ocean. According to a local legend, the were originally trolls who were turned into stone when they faced the morning sun.

These cliffs and sea stacks here are home to a number of nesting seabird species, including the cute and silly-looking Atlantic puffin among them. They can be seen here in the summertime, between May and September. In the distance, the impressive Dyrhólaey stone arches tower120 meters/400 feet high over the black sandy beach.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, and the Diamond beach

Jökulsárlón is a large glacial lagoon – the deepest lake in Iceland – at the foot of the Vatnajökull glacier. As the glacier reaches the lowland areas, it retreats and melts, creating a lagoon. Giant icebergs coming from the glacier float slowly towards the ocean. The icebergs are quite varied in size and shape. The biggest ones can be as large as 20 to 30 meters. As the glacier “calves” and new icebergs enter the lagoon, it changes its appearance all the time.

The black sand beach where the icebergs are washed ashore by the waves is called the Diamond beach. Together these two attractions are probably the most photographed natural attractions in all of Iceland. Jökulsarlon has deserved the nickname “the Crown Jewel of Iceland”.

They have become world-famous as they have been featured in Hollywood movies such as James Bond, Batman Begins, and Tomb Raider. From May until September, you have the option of a boat ride in the lagoon to get even closer to the icebergs (the boat ride is not included).

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

Seljalandsfoss is one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls. It is very photogenic as it plunges over 60m into a shallow pool. The river which feeds Seljalandsfoss has its origins at the magnificent volcano glacier, Eyjafjallajokull. But the main reason why this cascade is so unique is that you can walk behind the water flow and see the waterfall and the world from a new perspective. Bring your raincoat as you will get wet from the drizzle! (Please note that during winter, the path behind the cascade may be closed as it gets too slippery and dangerous.)

Skógafoss Waterfall

Skógafoss waterfall is another well-known cascade. It is located a 30-minutes’ drive from Seljalandsfoss. Both waterfalls drop 60 meters tall (197 feet) but Skogafoss is much wider (25 meters /80 feet) than Seljalandsfoss. Although it’s not possible to walk behind Skógafoss, you can walk very close to it or even climb the stairs up to its top. Due to the amount of spray it produces, rainbows and even double rainbows can usually be observed on sunny days.

Vík Village

With a population of 300 inhabitants Iceæand’s southernmost village, Vík í Mýrdal is the busiest settlement in a 150-km / 39 mi area on the South Coast. This vibrant little place is a typical Icelandic countryside village, with colorful houses, scenic views and a teeny-tiny church on the top of a hill.

Skaftafell Nature Reserve in Vatnajökull National Park

Skaftafell Nature Reserve was established in 1967 and later became part of  Vatnajökull National Park in the year 2008. It is a vibrant valley surrounded by impressive glacier tongues and beautiful mountains. No wonder why it’s one of Iceland’s most popular hiking area. Iceland’s highest peak, Hvannadalshnjúkur, (2,110 meters / 6922 feet), can be seen as it towers over Skaftefell.

Pick-up Information

Pick-up: Pick up starts at 8:00 am. You will be picked up from your selected pick up location in Reykjavík. Please note, that the pick up can take up to 30 min.
Available pick-up points: Arctic Adventures’s pick-up list.

Practical Information

Remember to bring: Warm outdoor clothing, waterproof jacket & pants, headwear, and gloves. Good hiking shoes are recommended. This is a long tour so bringing some snacks with you is also a good idea.

What if I don’t own all of these clothing necessaries?
Don’t worry, you can always rent sturdy hiking boots, waterproof jacket, and pants in the booking process. We do not rent gear from the location.