Leaving the Guesthouse Vatnsholt at Selfoss town was not easy. We wanted to hang around in that cute B&B (bed and breakfast), go for a walk in the farms, but reminded of the long day ahead, we set out by 9am soon immediately after a sumptuous breakfast.
Today, we’d be on the south coast of Iceland, driving from Selfoss to Vik across 220 kms. Through the day, we drove past landscapes so magnificent and breath-taking, that we constantly stopped by, hopped off the car to gaze at the sweeping frames around us. And then we walked so much through the day – there were two major waterfalls and the trekking of the Sólheimajökull glacier in the afternoon.
Driving east from Selfoss, our first waterfall was the Seljalandsfoss waterfall. You can see it from quite a distance, falling from a high plateau that looks like a long table. In fact, there are a couple of waterfalls, but none as big and powerful as the Seljalandsfoss. Key to experiencing this waterfall is to dress in complete waterproof clothing since you can actually walk up a flight of stairs and go right behind the waterfall. The gust of the wind is so strong that it carries the water right inside. Hence, the waterproof clothing. The complete climb and walk around the waterfall can easily take you an hour.
Onward from here, we drove by the famous Eyjafjallajökull glacier that had erupted as recently as 2010. Do stop by for photos both of the glacier, and also the magnificent landscape. Lupines swarm the lands in end May-beginning June, and we were lucky to see them bloom glorious.
30 kilometres ahead is the Skógafoss waterfall. Another of the big ones, if the sun is shining, you will most certainly get an amazing rainbow across the waterfall. A flight of stairs on the adjoining hill takes you to the top of the waterfall, showing a different angle of the rainbow. Do trek up…it isn’t much. But the sight is too good to miss…..
The most important trek of the day comes now — the trek in Sólheimajökull glacier. We drove down to the base camp, where we wore our trek gears and headed off for an out-of-the-world experience of walking in ice! A good three hours spent manoeuvring an extremely humbling trek, reminding us, more than ever now, how fragile our world is.
Hearts aflutter, legs tired, our final destination for the day was Dyrhólaey. The south most point of Iceland, Dyrhólaey completely resembles the Twelve Apostles in Australia. Its arches and the high cliffs, lashing waves and furious winds make the place eerily dramatic. One is reminded of spells and serpents from thrillers…and its lighthouse brings alive Enid Blyton’s stories…
Mesmerised by the day’s adventure, and still struck by Iceland’s diversity and magnificence, we checked in at the very comfortable Icelandair Hotel for the night. And called it a day after a sumptuous dinner of steak and wine at its restaurant Berg.
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Planning a trip to Iceland? Here is help with the itinerary of a 10-day roadtrip in Iceland