One of the great parts of Iceland is that there are so many options for day trips. The downside? Too many options. Having two of our days already filled with the Blue Lagoon & the Golden Cirlce, we had one day left in our agenda. South Iceland won the coin toss, so we found ourselves driving to Vik.
A three hour ride from Reykjavik, the road to Vik is packed with waterfalls, lava rock, coastline, and glaciers. Heading out from the Standard Ion, the journey began with another cloudy, rainy day. True to Icelandic nature, within the hour, the rain turned to snow, and then complete sunshine (and we think we have it bad in the Midwest) giving us the perfect weather to explore.
Selfoss
We started the journey in the small town of Selfoss as we would be staying there that night. Not more than a few blocks in diameter, we stopped at a small café, Kaffi Krus, for nourishment before the long day. My husband swears that his burger was the best food of the trip! To give you an idea, Selfoss is so tiny that I just used google maps to zoom in and find the name of the restaurant.
Seljalandsfoss
First up: The Seljalandsoff waterfall. Just a short distance from the Ring Road, the waterfall breaks out from the volcanic glacier Eyjafjallajokull. You can get up close and personal with the waterfall; walking behind it into a small cave or hiking up next to it for a good shot. Note to self: You’re going to get wet, real wet.
Tip: Bring a Go-Pro so you can easily wipe the water from the lense.
Skogafoss
My favorite waterfall of the trip, Skogafoss is over 200 feet tall, and use to be a part of the southern coastline. One of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland, you can hike up the side.Although daunting, it is worth every single step. The view from the top is incredible and felt like something out of Switzerland. We were able to get a glimpse of a rainbow when the sun decided to shine through the clouds.
According to Icelandic legend, one of the first Viking settlers buried a treasure in the cave behind the waterfall. Locals tried to find the treasure chest for years, but were unsuccessful in retrieving the treasure.
Reynisfjara Beach, Vik
Ranked as one of the top non-tropical beaches in the world, Reynisfjara is a must see. A black sand beach that features a cliff of basalt columns and a row of sea stacks lining the shore, it is unlike anything else we saw in Iceland. The waves were intense, and the wind made it nearly impossible to walk in a straight line. We were only able to snap a few pictures before the weather moved back in!
A short drive from the beach, you will arrive in the village of Vik. With only a population of 300, Vik is the largest settlement for miles (43 miles to be exact). The village offers numerous accommodations and should definitely be a part of your trip!
A full day of exploring under our belts parkas, we headed back to our Airbnb outside of Selfoss for the night.
If you are staying in Reykjavik during your stay, Vik is accessible by tour bus. If you are renting a car, be sure to get wind damage insurance, as the winds are strong on the coast. I would 100% recommend booking this excursion as a way to see a new part of the country!
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