12 days / 3063 km / 43 hours 45 minutes
From Keflavík International Airport to Keflavík International Airport. 12 days and 3063 kilometers of new adventures. You too can use Furkot to plan your next road trip.
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Day 1
8:30 am - 53.5 km / 48 minutes - 9:19 am
Islenski Hesturinn - 9:30am
12:19 pm - 6.6 km / 9 minutes - 12:29 pm
3:59 pm - 45.3 km / 42 minutes - 4:42 pm
Thingvellir National Park/Öxarárfoss - 36%
If you don't want to go snorkeling in Silfra but you still want to see the clear blue waters that Þingvellir is known for you can go to Flosagjá. It's said that if you throw a coin into the water and make a wish your wish will come true.
9:12 pm - 54.4 km / 41 minutes - 9:54 pm
Day 2
9:00 am - 0 km / 0 - 9:00 am
The nearby geyser Strokkur erupts much more frequently than Geysir, erupting to heights of up to 30 metres every few minutes. Strokkur's activity has also been affected by earthquakes, although to a lesser extent than the Great Geysir. Due to its eruption frequency, online photos and videos of Strokkur are regularly mislabelled as depicting Geysir. There are around thirty much smaller geysers and hot pools in the area, including one called Litli Geysir ('Little Geysir').
Descriptions of the Great Geysir and Strokkur have been given in many travel guides to Iceland published from the 18th century onwards. Together with Þingvellir and the Gullfoss waterfall, they are part of the Golden Circle that make up the most famous tourist route in the country.10:00 am - 9.7 km / 10 minutes - 10:11 am
Gullfoss (Golden Falls) is a waterfall located in the canyon of Hvítá river in southwest Iceland.
Gullfoss is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. The wide Hvítá rushes southward. About a kilometre above the falls it turns sharply to the right and flows down into a wide curved three-step "staircase" and then abruptly plunges in two stages (11 m and 21 m) into a crevice 32 m (105 ft) deep. The crevice, about 20 m (60 ft) wide, and 2.5 km in length, extends perpendicular to the flow of the river. The average amount of water running over this waterfall is 140 m³/s in the summertime and 80 m³/s in the wintertime. The highest flood measured was 2000 m³/s.11:11 am - 75.1 km / 52 minutes - 12:04 pm
2:04 pm - 3.9 km / 4 minutes - 2:09 pm
Hjálparfoss (Hjalparfoss) is one of several waterfalls in the south of Iceland situated in the lava fields north of the stratovolcano Hekla near the point where the rivers Fossá and Þjórsá join. Hjálparfoss is located about 30 kilometres (19 mi) east of the village Flúðir and can be reached by a gravel road off Route 32 that winds through the Vikrar lava fields. About 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of Hjálparfoss lies Þjófafoss; further east are Háifoss on the Fossá and Tangafoss on the Þjórsá.
Just downstream from Hjálparfoss is Iceland's second-largest hydroelectric power station, Búrfellsstöð.2:39 pm - 19.5 km / 33 minutes - 3:13 pm
Haifoss - 85%/Grannifoss - 66%
The waterfall Háifoss is situated near the volcano Hekla in the south of Iceland. The river Fossá, a tributary of Þjórsá, drops here from a height of 122 m. This is the second highest waterfall of the island. From the historical farm Stöng, which was destroyed by a volcanic eruption of Hekla in the Middle Ages and reconstructed, it is possible to hike to the waterfall along the Fossá (5 to 6 hours both directions). Above the waterfall, there is also a parking lot, so the hiking can also be made in the other direction.
5:13 pm - 84.1 km / an hour 7 minutes - 6:21 pm
Selfoss is a town in southern Iceland on the banks of the Ölfusá river.
It is part, and seat, of the municipality Árborg. The Ring Road (Icelandic: Hringvegur) runs through the town on its way between Hveragerði and Hella. It is a centre of commerce and small industries of 6,512 inhabitants (2011), which makes it the largest residential area in South Iceland.
The town is located on the southwestern coast of Iceland, 50 km from Reykjavík. It is the major town and the administrative seat of the region of Suðurland. The closest towns are Stokkseyri, Eyrarbakki and Hveragerði.7:21 pm - 70.5 km / 51 minutes - 8:13 pm
Seljalandsfoss, 65 metres high and the fourth highest waterfall in Iceland, is definitely on the top 10 list of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland. It is safe to say that most tourists visiting Iceland make a stop at this picturesque waterfall. It can be seen from far away, a white streak in the distance when driving west to east, and is very easily accessible, with a gravel path from the car park up towards the waterfall and yes – you can also walk behind it! The cliff that Seljalandsfoss Waterfall falls off used to belong to the cliffs of the South Iceland coastline, thousands of years ago.
9:13 pm - 0.7 km / a minute - 9:15 pm
Gljúfrafoss or Gljúfrabúi ("one who lives in the canyon") is a small waterfall north of the larger falls of Seljalandsfoss in Iceland. The falls are partially obscured by the cliff rock, but hikers can follow a trail to enter the narrow canyon where the water plummets to a small pool. There is also a winding trail nearby and a wooden staircase to enable sightseers to climb roughly halfway up and view the falls from another perspective.
9:45 pm - 23.2 km / 16 minutes - 10:02 pm
Day 3
9:00 am - 0 km / 0 - 9:00 am
Seljavallalaug is a protected 25-metre outdoor pool in southern Iceland. The pool is one of the oldest swimming pools in Iceland and was built in 1923.
Seljavallalaug is located not far from Seljavellir. The construction was headed by Bjorn Andrésson Berjaneskoti, who received the Ungmennafélagið Eyfelling for the work. Courses in the pool were initiated as part of compulsory education in 1927. The pool is 25 metres long and 10 metres wide and was the largest pool in Iceland until 1936.
In 1990, a new pool about 2 km closer to the valley was built, but people can still go swimming in the old pool free of charge, but at their own risk. The pool is cleaned once every summer. Prior to that, it is often covered with thick ice, requiring care.
The 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull filled Seljavallalaug with ash. In early summer 2011, a group of volunteers gathered to clean the pool with loaders and excavators.11:30 am - 9.1 km / 9 minutes - 11:40 am
Skógafoss Waterfall, the fifth highest waterfall in Iceland (62 metres high and 25 metres wide), is one of Iceland’s most visited tourist attractions. It is safe to say that most tourists travelling in Iceland visit this magnificent waterfall. It is nearly impossible to drive by without making a stop and taking a closer look. There is a path leading up close to the waterfall, but there is also an uphill stairway beside the waterfall, enabling people to take a closer look from above.
Skógafoss Waterfall is one of the many amazing tourist attractions along the south shore route in Iceland. One of the most popular day tours purchased by tourists takes them through South Iceland, visiting Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Skógafoss Waterfall, the area around Vík in Mýrdalur, including Dyrhólaey Cape and Reynisfjara Beach. The final destination on that route is Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in South East Iceland.12:40 pm - 9.9 km / 10 minutes - 12:51 pm
2:51 pm - 0 km / 0 - 2:51 pm
3:06 pm - 18.3 km / 23 minutes - 3:30 pm
Dyrhólaey Island is actually not an island but rather a small peninsula or a cape on the south coast of Iceland, not far from the town Vík. Dyrhólaey rises 120 metres high and is 12 kilometres long. You can drive onto it and walk almost to the edge of the cliff, but going too close to the edge is probably not for those who are afraid of heights!
Dyrhólaey offers a breathtaking view in all directions, across the distinctive black sands stretching east and west. Dyrhólaey is a haven for birdwatchers, who can get up close with the many species of birds living there, including the puffin, probably considered the king of the island. There is a small lighthouse on Dyrhólaey, which is also nice to visit. English seamen used to call the island “Portland”, and for centuries, it was the southernmost part of Iceland. That changed in 1918 when an eruption in the nearby Mt. Katla and its aftermath changed the shoreline and moved that southernmost part further east.4:30 pm - 20.0 km / 24 minutes - 4:55 pm
Reynisdrangar are basalt sea stacks situated under the mountain Reynisfjall near the village Vík í Mýrdal, southern Iceland. Legend says that the stacks originated when two trolls dragged a three-masted ship to land unsuccessfully and when daylight broke they became needles of rock.
Hálsanefshellir is a remarkable sea cave made of columnar basalt. It lies at the southwestern side of Reynisfjall where the mountain meets a great expanse of black beach.6:10 pm - 10.8 km / 11 minutes - 6:22 pm
Vík í Mýrdal (Vik in Myrdalur) is the southernmost village in Iceland, located on the main ring road around the island, around 180 km (110 mi) by road southeast of Reykjavík.
Despite its small size (291 inhabitants as of January 2011) it is the largest settlement for some 70 km (43 mi) around and is an important staging post, thus it is indicated on road signs from a long distance away. It is an important service center for the inhabitants and visitors to the coastal strip between Skógar and the west edge of the Mýrdalssandur glacial outwash plain.7:52 pm - 69.0 km / 51 minutes - 8:44 pm
Day 4
9:00 am - 0 km / 0 - 9:00 am
12:30 pm - 76.4 km / an hour a minute - 1:32 pm
2:00pm
5:02 pm - 2.3 km / 2 minutes - 5:05 pm
Svartifoss Waterfall is located in Skaftafell, within Vatnajökull National Park; about 40 minutes’ walk along a walking path leading from the camping site in Skaftafell to the waterfall. It falls majestically off a cliff consisting of beautiful dark basalt columns, hence the name Svartifoss meaning ‘Black Waterfall’.
Such columnar basalt cliffs can be found in a good number of places around the country, such as Reynisfjara Beach, near Reynisdrangar Rocks in South Iceland, and Kálfshamarsvík Cove in North Iceland.
The hike up to Svartifoss Waterfall, one of the most popular tourist attractions in South Iceland, is slightly uphill at first but relatively easy for most people. The path itself is mostly gravel but made to withstand the thousands of tourists visiting Svartifoss Waterfall every year. The waterfall itself is breathtaking, surrounded by the beautiful basalt columns falling into a gorge well-hidden in the birch wood covering the hills above Skaftafell Nature Reserve and sheltered by the overwhelming Vatnajökull Glacier, Europe’s largest glacier.
The basalt columns surrounding Svartifoss Waterfall have often inspired Icelandic architects, the most visible and famous examples being Hallgrímskirkja Church and the National Theatre in downtown Reykjavík.
Svartifoss Waterfall is one of the many amazing tourist attractions along the south shore route in Iceland. One of the most popular day tours purchased by tourists takes them through South Iceland, visiting Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Skógafoss Waterfall, the area around Vík in Mýrdalur, including Dyrhólaey Cape and Reynisfjara Beach. The final destination on that route is Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in South East Iceland.8:05 pm - 57.8 km / 45 minutes - 8:51 pm
Day 5
10:00 am - 0 km / 0 - 10:00 am
11:00 am - 80.0 km / an hour 3 minutes - 12:04 pm
Höfn í Hornafirði (Hofn in Hornafjordur) is an Icelandic fishing town in the south-eastern part of the country. It lies near a fjord named Hornafjörður.
As of 2013, the population of the town was 1,691 and the whole municipality inhabited 2,166 people. This harbour town, the second largest in the south-eastern part of Iceland, gives scenic views of Vatnajökull (the largest ice cap in Europe by volume). The community was formerly known as Hornafjarðarbær, between 1994 and 1998.1:34 pm - 103.7 km / an hour 24 minutes - 2:59 pm
Djúpivogur (Djupivogur) is a small town and municipality (Djúpavogshreppur) located on a peninsula in eastern Iceland, near the island of Papey and on the fjord Berufjörður. As of 2011, it has a population of 352.
The town is famous in Iceland for being the place with the highest temperature ever recorded in the island. 30.5 °C (87 °F) in June 1939.
By the early nineteenth century, Djúpivogur was 'a tiny port with a Danish colonial trading base'. Hans Jonatan, who had been a slave in Copenhagen, escaped there and became one of Iceland's first people of colour.3:44 pm - 39.1 km / 33 minutes - 4:18 pm
4:33 pm - 93.7 km / an hour 36 minutes - 6:10 pm
Day 6
9:00 am - 0 km / 0 - 9:00 am
Hengifoss is the third highest waterfall in Iceland, 128 meters. It is located in Hengifossá in Fljótsdalshreppur, East Iceland. It is surrounded by basaltic strata with thin, red layers of clay between the basaltic layers. Fossilized trunks of coniferous trees, sensitive to cold, and lignite, which depict warmer climates during the latter part of Tertiary. Further down the Hengifossá river is Litlanesfoss, notable for the columnar jointed volcanics around it.
12:30 pm - 61.2 km / 57 minutes - 1:28 pm
If you visit only one town in the Eastfjords, this should be it. Made up of multicoloured wooden houses and surrounded by snowcapped mountains and cascading waterfalls, obscenely picturesque Seyðisfjörður is the most historically and architecturally interesting town in east Iceland. It’s also a friendly place with a community of artists, musicians and craftspeople.
Summer is the liveliest time to visit, particularly when the Smyril Line’s ferry Norröna sails majestically up the 17km-long fjord to the town – a perfect way to arrive in Iceland.
If the weather’s good, the scenic Rte 93 drive from Egilsstaðir is a delight, climbing to a high pass then descending along the waterfall-filled river Fjarðará.2:28 pm - 186.6 km / 2 hours 17 minutes - 4:46 pm
Dettifoss - 100%/Selfoss - 87%
Dettifoss is a waterfall in Vatnajökull National Park in Northeast Iceland, and is reputed to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe.
It is situated on the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river, which flows from the Vatnajökull glacier and collects water from a large area in Northeast Iceland. The falls are 100 metres (330 ft) wide and have a drop of 45 metres (150 ft) down to the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon. It is the largest waterfall in Europe in terms of volume discharge, having an average water flow of 193 m3/s.
The waterfall can be reached by a new tarmac road, finished in 2011. On the west bank there are no facilities and the view on the waterfall is somewhat hindered by the waterfall's spray. On the east bank there is an information panel maintained by the staff of Vatnajökull National Park (Vatnajökulsþjóðgarður) and a maintained track to the best viewpoints.
Dettifoss is located on the Diamond Circle, a popular tourist route around Húsavík and Lake Mývatn in North Iceland.
Selfoss Waterfall is located in Jökulsá á Fjöllum River, meaning ‘the Glacier River in the Mountains’, about 1.5 kilometres south of Dettifoss Waterfall, Europe’s most powerful waterfall, in North Iceland.
Selfoss Waterfall, 10 metres high and very wide, belongs to a row of magnificent waterfalls decorating the Jökulsá á Fjöllum River, the others being Dettifoss Waterfall and Hafragilsfoss Waterfall. It is also relatively easy to access. From the car park there is a walking path towards Dettifoss Waterfall but just before reaching it there is another path to the south and up-river towards Selfoss Waterfall.6:46 pm - 3.4 km / 8 minutes - 6:55 pm
Hafragilsfoss is a waterfall in Iceland. The waterfall flows downstream from Dettifoss within the depths of the Jökulságljúfur canyon. This waterfall is also on the glacial river Jökulsá á Fjöllum, making it a powerful waterfall. The falls are visible from both sides of the river. The waterfall has a single drop of 27 meters (89 feet) and has an average width of 91 meters (300 feet).
7:55 pm - 28.0 km / 37 minutes - 8:33 pm
Day 7
9:00 am - 0 km / 0 - 9:00 am
Ásbyrgi Canyon lies in the north of Iceland, about 50 minute drive to the east from Húsavík on the Diamond Circle road. The horseshoe-shaped depression is part of the Vatnajökull National Park and measures approximately 3.5 km in length and 1.1 km across. For more than half of its length, the canyon is divided through the middle by a distinctive rock formation 25 meters high called Eyjan ("the Island"), from which hikers may enjoy spectacular views.
The canyon's steep sides are formed by cliffs up to 100 metres in height. Down in the canyon, visitors walk through a woodland of birch and willow. Between 1947 and 1977, a number of foreign tree species were introduced, including fir, larch and pine. The small lake Botnstjörn is home to a variety of waterfowl species.12:00 pm - 62.4 km / 47 minutes - 12:48 pm
Húsavík, Iceland’s whale-watching capital, has become a firm favourite on travellers’ itineraries – and with its colourful houses, unique museums and stunning snowcapped peaks across the bay, it's easily the northeast's prettiest fishing town.
2:18 pm - 23.4 km / 18 minutes - 2:37 pm
2:52 pm - 44.3 km / 36 minutes - 3:29 pm
Krafla Power Plant/Lava Fields
The Krafla Power Station is a 60 MW geothermal power station located near the Krafla Volcano in Iceland. It is the nation's largest geothermal power station, drawing heat from some 33 boreholes, about 15 of which are used at any one time. About 15 employees work there, full-time.
4:29 pm - 7.5 km / 8 minutes - 4:38 pm
As you tumble down the far side of Námafjall, you’ll suddenly find yourself in the magical, ochre-toned world of Hverir – a lunar-like landscape of mud cauldrons, steaming vents, radiant mineral deposits and piping fumaroles. Belching mudflaps and the powerful stench of sulphur may not sound enticing, but Hverir’s ethereal allure grips every passer-by. Safe pathways through the features have been roped off; to avoid risk of serious injury and damage to the natural features, avoid any lighter-coloured soil and respect the ropes.
A walking trail loops from Hverir up Námafjall ridge. This 30-minute climb provides a grand vista over the steamy surroundings.5:38 pm - 12.4 km / 19 minutes - 5:58 pm
Grjotagja - Jon & Ygritte Cave
Grjótagjá Cave is a small lava cave on the east side of Lake Mývatn, North East Iceland. Inside the cave, you will find a thermal spring. Outlaws used to live in the cave and use the hot spring for bathing in the early 18th century. Grjótagjá was also popular for bathing in the 1970s, but during volcanic eruptions in the area from 1975 to 1984, the temperature of the water rose to more than 50°C. The temperature has since decreased again, but it is still very hot. You will find that the nearby lava cave of Stóragjá is more suitable for bathing.
Grjótagjá was one of the locations for filming the television series Game of Thrones. The cave is difficult to enter and might be dangerous for some. The path leading into the cave only facilitates one or two persons at a time, and there is a low level of security. Please note that this is the case in many caves in Iceland. Not far from Grjótagjá Cave are the modern thermal baths called Jarðböðin á Mýtavni, (Myvatn Nature Baths) which can be used safely.7:28 pm - 4.5 km / 8 minutes - 7:37 pm
Dimmuborgir is a large area of unusually shaped lava fields east of Mývatn in Iceland. The Dimmuborgir area is composed of various volcanic caves and rock formations, reminiscent of an ancient collapsed citadel. The dramatic structures are one of Iceland's most popular natural tourist attractions.
The Dimmuborgir area consist of a massive, collapsed lava tube formed by a lava lake flowing in from a large eruption in the Þrengslaborgir and Lúdentsborgir crater row to the East, about 2300 years ago. At Dimmuborgir, the lava pooled over a small lake. As the lava flowed across the wet sod, the water of the marsh started to boil, the vapour rising through the lava forming lava pillars from drainpipe size up to several meters in diameter. As the lava continued flowing towards lower ground in the Mývatn area, the top crust collapsed, but the hollow pillars of solidified lava remained. The lava lake must have been at least 10 meters deep, as estimated by the tallest structures still standing.9:37 pm - 9.1 km / 9 minutes - 9:47 pm
Day 8
9:00 am - 0 km / 0 - 9:00 am
$32 each. (1. September - 31. May): 12:00 – 22:00
Entry no later than 21:30.12:15 pm - 52.9 km / 44 minutes - 1:00 pm
To keep it short and sweet, we would offer a qualified recommendation of Goðafoss being a waterfall worth visiting. Those who happen to either be on the north side of Iceland already, or wish to visit multiple attractions in the area over several days should absolutely plan on stopping to see Goðafoss. Likewise anyone planning to drive the Ring Road in entirety should definitely stop by.
2:00 pm - 52.5 km / 44 minutes - 2:45 pm
Akureyri is a town in northern Iceland. It is Iceland's second largest urban area (after the Greater Reykjavík area) and fourth largest municipality (after Reykjavík, Hafnarfjörður, and Kópavogur).
Nicknamed the Capital of North Iceland, Akureyri is an important port and fishing centre, with a population of 17,754. The area where Akureyri is located was settled in the 9th century but did not receive a municipal charter until 1786. The town was the site of Allied units during World War II. Further growth occurred after the war as the Icelandic population increasingly moved to urban areas.
The area has a relatively warm climate due to geographical factors, and the town's ice-free harbour has played a significant role in its history.4:45 pm - 204.4 km / 2 hours 25 minutes - 7:11 pm
Hvítserkur Sea Stack (Hvitserkur) is a peculiar looking rock which rises 15 m high out of the sea, just to the east of the Vatnsnes Peninsula in the North. It was formed when molten lava solidified in a fracture of a rock. The sea waves have since carved away the softer surrounding rock, leaving a rock formation that could have come out of Jurassic Park, as it resembles a prehistoric monster.
It provides seabirds with a handy seat, and to show their gratitude, they colour the rock with white deposits, hence its name which translates to White Kaftan.
The rock’s creation also has an explanation in folklore. An ogre living nearby, named Hvítserkur, could not stand the noise of the bells of the local church; they kept him awake. He set off on a journey one night with the intent of smashing the disturbing bells to pieces. Unfortunately for him, the night proved too short, and when the sun came up, he literally became petrified and ended up as a rock.
A 30 km rough gravel road leads from Road 1 to a car park and a viewing platform near Hvítserkur. Care should be taken when walking on the steep footpath, which extends from the car park down to the shoreline.8:11 pm - 71.3 km / 54 minutes - 9:06 pm
9:21 pm - 44.3 km / 32 minutes - 9:54 pm
Day 9
9:00 am - 279.8 km / 3 hours 12 minutes - 12:13 pm
Ísafjörður (Isafjordur), meaning ices' fjord, is a town in the northwest of Iceland. It is the seat of Ísafjarðarbær municipality.
With a population of about 2,600 Ísafjörður is the largest town in the peninsula of Vestfirðir (Westfjords) and the seat of the Ísafjarðarbær municipality, which includes the nearby Hnífsdalur, Flateyri, Suðureyri, and Þingeyri. It is located on a spit of sand, or eyri, in the Skutulsfjörður fjord which meets the waters of the larger Isafjarðardjúp fjord.
The town is connected by road and a recent 5.4 kilometres (3.4 miles) road tunnel to Bolungarvík which lies 15 km (9 mi) to the northwest, and to the small town of Súðavík to the east. The partly one-lane Vestfjarðagöng (Vestfirðir Tunnel), completed in 1996, leads to the small towns of Flateyri and Suðureyri, and to the western parts of the Westfjords. Ísafjörður has an airport with regular flights to Reykjavík.2:13 pm - 84.6 km / an hour 23 minutes - 3:37 pm
Dynjandi Waterfall is the largest waterfall in the Westfjords, and many people consider it the most impressive and beautiful waterfall in Iceland. It falls gracefully down a 100 m high mountainside, is 30 m wide at the top and spreads to 60 m at the base like a semi-transparent white veil through which the rock strata show. Further downhill, the river cascades in six smaller waterfalls before entering the sea at the inner end of Arnarfjörður Fjord (Arnarfjordur). The names of each of the waterfalls are signposted on the path that leads past them to the base of the large waterfall.
The name Dynjandi, appropriate for the largest fall, means roaring or thunderous.
The walk uphill takes about 45 minutes, but the effort is rewarded on the way back with a splendid view across the fjord.
There is a car park, tourist information boards and toilet facilities at the falls.
The main road to the falls is still unpaved and can be muddy when it rains. It does not go past the waterfalls but crosses the river on the mountain pass above the falls.5:07 pm - 49.6 km / 39 minutes - 5:47 pm
6:02 pm - 32.1 km / 21 minutes - 6:24 pm
6:54 pm - 19.3 km / 26 minutes - 7:21 pm
Rauðisandur Beach (Raudisandur), on the south coast of the Westfjords, is the most colourful beach in Iceland. It derives its name, which translates as Red Sand, from the golden red colour of the sand. It is about 10 km long and is embraced by a semicircle of high mountains; the one furthest to the west is Látrabjarg Cliff, Iceland’s westernmost point.
The colour of the sand comes from the shells of scallops who live in abundance in the seabed off the shore. The surf breaks up the shells and washes the fragments, the smallest being fine sand, up on the beach. The colour of the sand varies with the daylight and goes through a red to yellow spectrum. The beach is an isolated and tranquil place; most of the farms in the surrounding countryside are abandoned.
In a lovely setting on the beach is a coffeehouse, Franska kaffihúsið (The French Café). It is only open in the summer.
Care must be taken while driving down to the beach, as the gravel road that leads to it is narrow and may worry those who are afraid of heights.9:21 pm - 53.3 km / an hour 17 minutes - 10:39 pm
Day 10
9:00 am - 0 km / 0 - 9:00 am
Látrabjarg Cliff is a cape in the southern Westfjords, at the westernmost point of Iceland and in fact the whole of Europe.
Látrabjarg Cliff is a very popular destination for tourists and for a good reason. Although it is located somewhat off the beaten track, thousands of visitors go there each year to cast their eyes on this magnificent and somewhat overwhelming place. Látrabjarg is a very high and steep cliff, home and nesting place for millions of birds, among them the puffin, with its colourful beak, northern gannet, guillemot and razorbill. For some species, such as the razorbill, Látrabjarg Cliff is home to over half of the total world population and is therefore extremely important for the survival of those species. Látrabjarg Cliff is not only the westernmost point of Europe, but it’s also the largest bird cliff in Europe, 14 kilometres long and up to 440 metres high.11:00 am - 170.4 km / 3 hours 25 minutes - 2:26 pm
3:26 pm - 21.0 km / 18 minutes - 3:45 pm
Kirkjufell Mountain (Church Mountain) is one of the main landmarks of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula (Snaefellsnes) in West Iceland. It rises 463 metres high on the north coast of the peninsula, close to Grundarfjörður Town (Grundarfjordur).
Kirkjufell Mountain is probably one of the most picturesque mountains in Iceland, and pictures of it have caught the eye of the world’s media, calling it “Out of this world!”
The area around the mountain is popular among geologists, because you can clearly see how forces of nature have moulded the land for thousands of years. There is a hiking route around the mountain, and it takes about 3 hours to walk. Climbing the mountain is only for the most experienced, since it is very steep. There is a path leading to the top, but there are reports of people falling to their death while trying to get to there.
There are many attractions in the area. Grundarfjörður Town is almost midway between two other towns, Stykkishólmur Town and Ólafsvík Town, all of them offering various services for tourists travelling in the region, such as bird watching and whale watching to name only a few. Further to the west is Snæfellsjökull National Park (Snaefellsjokull), and at the tip of the peninsula on the north side, you have Öndverðarnes Point (Ondverdarnes) with the remarkable Skarðsvík Cove (Skardsvik), where you’ll find white sands and powerful surf.4:45 pm - 3.4 km / 4 minutes - 4:50 pm
Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall is located in West Iceland, close to Kirkjufell Mountain and Grundarfjörður Town (Grundarfjordur) on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula (Snaefellsnes).
The waterfall is small but very charming as it falls down two steps in the Kirkjufellsá River, which has its source in a mountain ridge called Helgrindur (The Peaks of Hell). There are many waterfalls in the river as it flows from Helgrindur to sea.
The waterfall derives its name from the nearby Kirkjufell Mountain (463 m), which boasts a distinctive cone shape. The mountain is very picturesque and considered by many to be the most beautiful in Iceland. From the right side of the waterfall, you can capture the waterfall with the glorious mountain in the background, a sight like nothing you have experienced before. There is also an old bridge crossing the waterfall where you can stand and experience the waterfall from above.5:20 pm - 57.7 km / 47 minutes - 6:08 pm
Tours every hour on the hour from 10am to 6pm. No bookings needed! Please arrive 10 minutes before the tour starts.
7:23 pm - 5.4 km / 6 minutes - 7:30 pm
Djúpalónssandur Black Sand Beach
Djúpalónssandur Beach and Dritvík Cove are located on the south coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula (Snaefellsnes) in West Iceland, on the southern point of the peninsula, under the towering Snæfellsjökull Glacier (Snaefellsjokull).
Djúpalónssandur Beach is a beautiful, black pebble beach with powerful surf and sheltering rocks. There is an easy walk down to the beach following a walking path that has been laid out to make the walk even easier. The powers of the sea have polished the pebbles completely smooth, making it very tempting to put one or two in your pocket as a souvenir. The surf is quite powerful, and the beach gets a little steep as you get close to the surf, so beware not to go too close.
The first thing you notice is a shipwreck scattered around the beach, from the British trawler Epyne GY7 that crashed upon the shore on 13 March 1948. The wreck, or what’s left of it, is being preserved. Before you leave, you should try your strength at the four stones you see just as you arrive down to the beach. In earlier times, fishermen used to try their strength by lifting the stones, which are of various weight.
Two kilometres to the west, along an easy hiking route, is Dritvík Cove, where up to 400 men and women used to come for work during fishing season. You can see the remains of their huts in the hillside above the beach.8:30 pm - 8.3 km / 9 minutes - 8:40 pm
Lóndrangar are a pair of single sharp and steep cliffs, or volcanic plugs of basalt, that have been hewn out from softer surrounding rock by erosion. At 75 m and 61 m respectively, they are a singular sight, rising above and outside the ocean front due east across from Malarrif and some 10 km from Hellnar, on the southern coast of Snæfellsnes peninsula. History has it so that the taller of the cliffs was ascended in 1735, while the smaller one was left alone longer and not climbed until 1938, or so the story goes.
Lóndrangar are a pair of volcanic plugs left out as remnants from a bigger crater, which has since mostly eroded away with time. It is reckoned though, that the rock in the slopes of nearby Svalþúfa is an isolated part of the original rim around the crater itself, with the rest eroded away by the sea. There is some considerable nesting of birds in the steep slopes of the twin cliffs and various kind of birds can be observed in Lóndrangar, the majority of which are Black-legged Kittiwake, Langvía, lundar and fýlar. Awhile back the coastal area around Lóndrangar, Drangsvogur, would be used for the landing of fishing vessels with 12 fishing boats making use of it as a natural harbor in its heyday.9:40 pm - 24.2 km / 20 minutes - 10:01 pm
Day 11
9:00 am - 0 km / 0 - 9:00 am
Bjarnafoss Waterfall is on Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland. It is a tall waterfall tumbling right behind the small farming hamlet of Búðir (Budir). The waterfall dives off a basalt cliff from lava deposited by the neighbouring Mælifell volcano. Under the waterfall stands “Fjallkonan” (Lady of the Mountain), a national personification of Iceland, the spray from the waterfall falling on her shoulders and bosom. The Lady of the Mountain symbolises what Icelanders consider to be genuine and purely Icelandic, and she represents the national vision, the nation’s ultimate dream.
9:30 am - 63.6 km / 43 minutes - 10:14 am
10:29 am - 93.8 km / an hour 4 minutes - 11:34 am
Though neither considerable in height or volume, the sheer uniqueness of Hraunfossar makes it worth the detour to visit (neighboring Barnafoss is an added bonus, but not terribly interesting itself).
1:04 pm - 118.9 km / an hour 24 minutes - 2:29 pm
5:29 pm - 49.2 km / 43 minutes - 6:13 pm
Day 12