Iceland South Shore Adventure

Your memorable adventure in Iceland begins the very moment you arrive at Keflavík Airport. Once you have picked up your rental vehicle, you’ll head directly for Reykjavík and your exciting, first night in Iceland.

If your flight arrives early enough, we have a great suggestion for starting your trip off the right way: Plan a visit to Iceland’s world-famous Blue Lagoon. Be sure to pack your swimsuit, so you can take a relaxing dip in the Lagoon’s soothing geothermal waters before heading to your hotel.

You can start by a drive to Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the geological wonders of the world where you can see the effects of the tectonic plate movements which have opened various cracks and fissures in the earth’s crust. You continue to the famous Geysir Area where the Strokkur hot spring ejects its water column high into the air every 5 – 10 minutes and where numerous small springs boil and bubble. Afterwards you only have a short drive to reach Gullfoss, surely one of the country’s most beautiful waterfalls. Drive along the south coast to Vík/Kirkjubæjarklaustur area for your overnight stay.

Your next stop is Iceland’s scenic southeast. After passing various, outlet glaciers belonging to Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice cap, you’ll arrive at the stunningly surreal beauty of Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon. This exceptional sight sits at the foot of Iceland’s highest mountain, Hvannadalshnúkur.

Skaftafell National Park is another area definitely worth a visit. This oasis, surrounded by glaciers and black sand plains, offers a broad range of options for great hiking. Head back for your second overnight stay in Vík/Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.

Today you can start by taking a look at the black sand beach of Reynisfjara, famous for the Reynisdrangar rock stacks that rise from the sea and for its basalt columns. Dyrhólaey cape is the southernmost point of Iceland. A small road takes you to the top of this 120 m high sea cliff where you often can see a large number of puffins (please note that Dyrhólaey is closed during nesting season from May 15 til June 23 and from mid- August the puffins will have gone to sea!). Continuing westbound you arrive at Skógar and pass Skógafoss waterfall, one of the highest in Iceland. As you continue towards Hella you pass Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which you can actually walk behind. Your day will end in Reykjavík where you will spend your last night in Iceland.

It seems as if your journey to fabulous Iceland only began a moment ago, but now it is time to head back home, driving back to Keflavík Airport for your flight. Depending on your flight’s time, you may be able to squeeze in a last day in Reykjavík or an extra night in there to experience all the amazing things that the city has to offer.

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Hike to the Meradalir Eruption Site

If you have time before you leave Iceland, you can hike to the latest volcano eruption site at Meradalir on the Reykjanes peninsula. In August 2022, new fissures opened close to the site of the 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption. Why not take this rare chance to see a fresh caldera and newly solidified lava?

On this self-guided hike, you can see the lava fields produced by both eruptions. You might also be lucky enough to glimpse fountains of molten lava gushing from the ground. No matter how active the volcano is that day, you’ll be able to witness the incredible power of the natural forces that produced the lava.

A volcanic eruption is a natural phenomenon and activity levels vary from day to day, so sightings of molten lava cannot be guaranteed. It’s also worth bearing in mind that the eruption site may be closed for your safety during periods of bad weather.

This hiking tour is only recommended for people with a good level of fitness, used to walking over rough terrain in poor weather. Marked paths are only available for part of the route.

For more information, check out this Volcano Eruption Update.

Tour: Hike to the Meradalir Eruption Site (no extra cost)
Duration: 9 hours, including driving time
Hiking duration: 4–5 hours (2–2.5 hours each way)
Total distance: 14 kilometers (8 miles)
Total elevation gain: 300 meters (990 feet)
Required equipment: Hiking shoes, warm and waterproof clothing, packed lunch, drinking water
Parking: There’s a parking lot near the start of the trail. The entry cost is ISK 1,000. Parking along road 427 is prohibited
Minimum age: 12 years