South Iceland is certainly the country’s most popular and most visited region, and for good reason.
Waterfalls and Volcanoes
There is so much going on beneath our feet here, and most of the earthquakes that happen every day in Iceland happen on the South Coast. Some of Iceland’s most famous and active volcanoes are located in this region. Volcanoes such as Hekla, Katla, and Eyjafjallajökull (perhaps our most famous, thanks to its world-stopping eruption in 2010) as well as Grimsvötn and Barðarbunga in the Southeast, where the most recent eruptions occurred.
South Iceland is also home to the most famous black sand beach, Reynisfjara. The sand itself is a result of the lava from previous eruptions meeting the Atlantic Ocean. The sea’s gradual erosion of the lava breaks it down into super fine, very soft sand, making the beaches of Iceland pretty unusual and special. Close to Reynisfjara is the Dyrhólaey nature reserve, offering the best view over any of Iceland’s beaches.
South Iceland is the most volcanically active part of the island. The mid-Atlantic ridge, which separates the Northern American tectonic plate from the Eurasian tectonic plate, runs right underneath Iceland, and so it is possible to see the continents being slowly pulled apart by about 2-3 centimeters a year. There is no better place to get a sense of the scale of this than in Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is part of the Golden Circle route. This route also includes Geysir, one of the most famous geysers in the world (in fact, it is where geysers get their name from), and Gullfoss, or The Golden Falls, one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls. South Iceland is definitely not short of waterfalls, that’s for sure. Here, you will also find Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, two more of Iceland’s best-known waterfalls and extremely popular places to visit.
Glaciers
The largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull, which covers 8% of the country, is situated in Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland’s second UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most of Iceland’s glaciers are found in the South. These colossal ice giants can be easily visible from Iceland’s Ring Road, a single road that takes you around the entire country. Closer to Reykjavík you will find the glacier of Sólheimajökull. This glacier is retreating at an alarming rate, like all the glaciers in Iceland, so visiting them offers a unique opportunity to learn more about the direct impact of climate change on our planet and how it affects us all.
To the Southeast, you will find the beautiful glacier lagoon of Jökulsárlón. This incredible place is where icebergs break off from Vatnajökull glacier and slowly float out to the Atlantic Ocean, where they are broken down into thousands of smaller chunks that lie scattered across the beach. The beach itself has the name Diamond Beach, and there really is no place like it on earth.
Horses and Wildlife
There are many horse farms in the south of Iceland, and this is one of the most beautiful places to ride the Icelandic horse.
These incredible beasts are one of a kind, built for withstanding harsh, Icelandic winters. They may be shorter than most horses, but they are incredibly powerful and hardy animals, but generally with a very sweet nature and temperament. We recommend saddling up whenever possible, which offers a spectacular and unique way to enjoy some of Iceland’s most stunning countryside.
Adventure
Skógafoss waterfall is also the beginning or endpoint of the Fimmvörðuháls hiking trail. This spectacular hike will take you between the glaciers of Mýrðalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull and down into the valley of Þórsmörk, named after the Norse god of thunder, Thor.
This is perhaps the most famous summer day hike in the country, but it can also be done over two days, with camping overnight. Iceland offers a great deal of mountain adventure, and for the most intrepid, we have Iceland’s tallest mountain, Hvannadalshnúkur.
Thrill-seekers will not be disappointed with what is on offer on Iceland’s South Coast. Here, there are all sorts of guided activities, from glacier walking, ice climbing, snowmobiling, quad biking, hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, zip-lining, paragliding you name it! It’s a paradise for the adventurous.
Hollywood in Iceland
Iceland’s South Coast has also received growing popularity from film crews. Movies such as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Arctic, Captain America: Civil War, Interstellar, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Fast and Furious 8, Oblivion, and Batman Begins were filmed here. Also, top TV shows such as Star Trek: Discovery, Vikings, and, of course, Game of Thrones, which heavily relied on some of Iceland’s otherworldly landscape as the setting for “Beyond the Wall” and the home of the Wildlings.
More recently, South Iceland has featured prominently in the Netflix series “Katla”, which is based on (fictional) supernatural events that occur as a result of the eruption of Katla, one of the most powerful and destructive volcanoes in Iceland.
The South Coast really has it all, and it isn‘t surprising to see why it is so popular and is almost always an essential part of someone’s first trip to Iceland. It’s just waiting for you now, that’s all.
Trips to South Iceland
If you would like to visit the South Coast, then you should check out this popular tour!
