Summer is the perfect time to explore Iceland. The endless daylight and clear roads open up driving possibilities that are not available when visiting during other times of the year. If you are visiting Iceland during the warmer months, you might want to consider hiring a rental car and discovering what the island has to offer beyond the capital city of Reykjavík and the popular Golden Circle attractions.
Driving Iceland’s south coast along scenic Route 1 will bring you to some of the country’s most spectacular natural wonders, including the majestic Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls and Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon full of floating blue icebergs. Iceland’s Ring Road offers a road trip that visitors will not soon forget.
Hella
Approximately 80 kilometers from Reykjavík, drivers will reach the small agricultural community of Hella. An important area for horse-breeding, Hella offers visitors many opportunities for horseback riding, a popular tourist activity in Iceland. Visitors to the horse farms can take in the beauty of the Icelandic Horse, a small breed unique to the island country. On clear days, Hella and its surrounding hills offer views of the nearby volcano Hekla.
Seljalandsfoss
Continuing southeast on Route 1 from Hella, travelers will come upon Seljalandsfoss on their left, a high, thin waterfall that is visible from the highway. It is worth getting out of the car to get a close-up view of the tumbling waters and deep splash pool. A rocky path allows visitors to pass behind the waterfall for a unique perspective.
Skógafoss
Not far away along the Ring Road is another impressive waterfall worth a stop. Skógafoss, again on the left when driving east, is much wider and more dramatic than the preceding Seljalandsfoss. Rushing white waters tumble 62 meters off lush green cliffs before sending up large sheets of mist. Visitors who opt to climb the steep steps up the cliff side to the top of the falls are rewarded by a sea of rainbows sparkling in the mist and breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside.
Vík
Situated on the southernmost curve in Iceland’s south shore, the town of Vík makes for a nice place for a lunch break on your coastal drive. Before getting back on the road, visitors should make a point of stopping at the beach. With broad expanses of black sand and dramatic rock formations rising from the sea, the beach at Vík it a beautifully brooding place that offers endless photo opportunities and a perfect setting for quiet contemplation.
Skaftafell National Park
The entrance to Iceland’s largest and perhaps most popular national park, Skaftafell National Park, is located just off Route 1. Here visitors have one of their best chances to get up close and personal with Iceland’s glaciers. The one-hour return hike to the Skaftafellsjökull glacier is the park’s most popular trail. Camping is allowed in the park by permit only for those who wish to spend more time hiking and exploring the glaciers.
Jökulsárlón
One of the country’s most unique sights, Jökulsárlón is not to be missed for visitors who want a truly one-of-a-kind Icelandic experience. After driving over a small suspension bridge, an eerily beautiful lagoon full of floating blue icebergs appears on the left side of the Ring Road.
The best way to experience the magic of Jökulsárlón is to take one of the frequent amphibious boat tours that pass through the towering chunks of blue ice. Knowledgeable guides provide information about the history of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier that calves the glaciers into the lagoon and why the icebergs have such an intense blue color. You will also learn that several international movies and commercials have been filmed here, including two James Bond movies. Before leaving Jökulsárlón, visitors should walk across Route 1 to visit the black sand beach where several small icebergs beach themselves before heading out to the ocean.
Taking advantage of Iceland’s long summer days, Jökulsárlón can be visited as a long day trip from Reykjavík, with time to stop at the waterfalls and the beach at Vík. Visitors who plan to enjoy horseback riding in Hella or hiking in Skaftafell National Park should plan to spend at least one night in one of the inviting towns along the Ring Road.
Whether done simply as a day trip from Reykjavík or as part of a longer journey, Iceland’s south coast offers visitors a chance to get behind the wheel and experience the island’s wonders firsthand. The sights along the Ring Road are unlike anything you’ve seen before in your travels and won’t soon be forgotten.
Stephanie Wilkins - Stephanie is a freelance writer and photographer from Brooklyn, NY, focusing on international travel.
