Image above: The stunningly black volcanic beach stretching off to Reynisfara in the misty distance. [Sunday 30 May] | [View all photos]
Our third day in Iceland and had a long day driving along the southern coastal road to check out the famous iceberg lagoon at Jokulsarlon as well as stopping off at plenty of sights along the way too.
Armed with a very filling hotel breakfast we hit the open road once more with our trusty rental car and our first stop was the thunderous Seljalandsfoss waterfall which has a slippery path that takes you behind the waterfall itself which was fun to follow.
Then passing through towns and the majestic scenery, our next stop was the dramatically monochromatic Reynisdrangur peninsula with its midnight-black volcanic beaches and basalt columns being pounded by the relentless waves driving onshore. It was breathtakingly beautiful and just sitting in and listening to the sounds of the crashing waves was so calming.
But, we had to get back on the road and after a quick pit stop for lunch we were passing volcanic ash fields and valley-filled glaciers before reaching Jokulsarlon and getting our first look at the awesome view of the iceberg lagoon below.
We made it in time for one of the last amphibious tours of the lagoon and it was amazing passing by icebergs metres away from us and seeing the iridescent blue of some icebergs and the dirt encrusted exterior of others. Our guide took some clear glacier ice from the lagoon and we got to eat a piece! It will probably be the oldest thing that I’m ever going to taste in my lifetime. Finishing the tour, we wandered by the shore where I discovered that when trying to pick up a tiny glacier, that it’s a lot heavier that it looks!
The sun came out as we were leaving to give us a tremendous view of the lagoon before we headed back westwards and whilst passing glacier fields we stopped off to get a jumping-in-the-air shot that we traditionally do each trip.
Dinner was at a little hotel in Skaftafell which some amazingly fresh seafood. Starter was juicy smoked salmon with a main course of a delicately cooked char, a local fish. All finished off by some electrifying glacier ice-cream!
Then it was back in the car to continue back to our hotel. Well, that was the plan but as we passed by more glaciers we decided to do an impromptu turn off to see one up close. Clambering up the valley, it was just stunning seeing the glacier stretch back up the valley to the horizon.
That was the last stop and we drove straight back to Reykjavik which included driving through ash-laden skies near Eyjafjallajokull volcano though it was impressive seeing the wind blow the plumes around.
Coming up next … heading north-west to see the spectacular coastline along the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
- Iceland – Part 1
- Iceland – Part 2
- Iceland – Part 3
- Iceland – Part 4
- Iceland – Part 5
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