If you’re looking for stereotypical Iceland views and magic, head to the South Coast.

Using the same company that we used to view the Golden Circle, Reykjavik Excursions, my sister and I set off on a 12.5 hour tour of southern Iceland.

The scenery is expansive and impressive, the names are intense tongue twisters (no seriously try and read some of these out loud), and the waterfalls are plentiful.

When you head to Iceland (because everyone should at some point), you should definitely consider exploring this beautiful section of this stunning country.

Eyjafjallajökull

Most people don’t even try to pronounce many Icelandic names because of their sometimes seemingly nonsensical complexity, but a few years ago this particular volcano decided to erupt and disrupt the travel plans of thousands of people in Europe.

Because of the continual weeks of coverage, the infamous Eyjafjallajökull became a household name that many around the world attempted to learn to say correctly. It became a point of pride apparently if you could manage it!

Mýrdalsjökull

Nearby the infamous Eyjafjallajökull is a rapidly retreating glacier called Mýrdalsjökull.

Our guide showed us the place where the glacier used to reach, not 10 years ago, and the difference in distance was incredible and disheartening. At the moment it’s showing a receding speed of approximately 50 meters (164 feet) per year

Mýrdalsjökull is the southernmost glacier in Iceland, and also boasts as the 4th largest (though for how much longer remains to be seen).

Reynishverfi Beach

Basalt columns and black sand. That’s what this beautiful beach is known for, and boy does it deliver.

The basalt columns are like the ones I saw in Ireland at Giant’s Causeway, but on a smaller scale.

The sea stacks are huge, and according to legend, the Reynisdrangar (as these large rock formations are known as) are the remains of two trolls, who tried to pull a ship to land. But they were caught by the rising sun and when daylight broke they turned into stone.

Vík í Mýrdal

We stopped at the beach before heading to lunch, as there was some incoming weather and our driver wanted to make sure we saw the beach before the weather hit. So needless to say we were a bit chilly and ready to find a place to warm up. We stopped off at the tiny village of Vík, Iceland’s southernmost town.

There were beautiful beaches and picturesque churches throughout this ‘town’ of 300 people. This was the farthest our tour would travel along the south coast of Iceland, so after a quick pitstop it was time to make our way back to Reykjavik.

Skógar Museum

The Skógar Museum was a really interesting stop, as it afforded you a look into the every day life of the early inhabitants of Iceland. They had artifacts that had washed up along the southern shores from probably all over the world, tools of the very dangerous fishing trade, and replicas of what homes and churches looked like (not so) way back when.

Some of them even had ‘me’ sized doors!

What blew my mind was when our guide at the museum informed us that the wheel came to Iceland during World War I! Talk about advancing a long way in 100 years.

Skógafoss

Skógafoss is a waterfall situated next door to the Skógar Museum on the cliffs of Iceland’s former coastline. The coast has moved about 5 km from its original location (where this waterfall stands), and these cliffs create a clear boundary between Iceland’s highlands and lowlands.

Because Skógafoss is one of Iceland’s largest waterfalls, and it creates a lot of spray as it…well…falls, it produces single and sometimes double rainbows (cue the old school viral double rainbow video) on sunny days, making it one of Iceland’s most photographed waterfalls as well.

Seljalandsfoss

Our (unfortunately) last stop of the day was at another waterfall, Seljalandsfoss. Like the nearby Skógafoss, it too falls over the former Icelandic coast line, but this waterfall you can (relatively) easily walk behind.

But in order to do so, you have to be willing to get wet. Very wet, thanks to the constant spray that the fall gives off.

But of course, you suck it up and do it! Because who’s going to pass up the opportunity to walk behind a waterfall. In Iceland no less.

Have you booked your ticket yet??

If you haven’t, I’ve done something wrong. If you are on the edge and need an extra push, go ahead and check out my previous Iceland posts about the Golden Circle Tour and SCUBA diving in between tectonic plates!

So what are you waiting for?

TRAVEL TIP: Especially for my East Coast friends, check out WOW airlines. They’re constantly having deals between Boston and Reykjavik. My sister and I flew them back to Boston, and yes, they are a budget airline and you have to be careful of baggage sizes/weight if you’re flying carry on (they’re pretty strict about it), and you will be charged extra for checked luggage (though don’t they all these days?), but the deals can’t be beat!

Have you ever been to Iceland? Are you chomping at the bit to visit?

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