South Coast Day Tour: Iceland’s Coastal Wonders
The South Coast Day Tour offers a glimpse into some of Iceland’s most stunning natural attractions, all within a day’s reach from Reykjavik.
Key Attractions:
- Seljalandsfoss Waterfall:
- 60-meter high cascade
- Unique opportunity to walk behind the waterfall
- Skógafoss Waterfall:
- Powerful 60-meter waterfall
- Legend says a treasure chest is hidden behind it
- Sólheimajökull Glacier:
- Outlet glacier of Mýrdalsjökull ice cap
- Optional glacier hiking or ice climbing tours available
- Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach:
- Dramatic black sand beach
- Basalt columns and sea stacks
- Powerful waves (caution advised)
- Vík:
- Charming coastal village
- Iconic red-roofed church overlooking the sea
- Dyrhólaey:
- Massive stone arch extending into the sea
- Puffin nesting site (seasonal)
Tour Details:
- Duration: Typically 10-12 hours
- Best time: Year-round, but summer offers milder weather and longer daylight
- Transportation: Guided bus tours or self-drive options
Highlights:
- Diverse landscapes: Waterfalls, glaciers, beaches, and cliffs
- Opportunities for short hikes and exploration
- Rich birdlife, especially in summer
- Chance to see the effects of Iceland’s volcanic activity
The South Coast Day Tour provides a perfect introduction to Iceland’s southern region, showcasing its varied landscapes and natural wonders. It’s an ideal option for those with limited time who want to experience some of Iceland’s most iconic sights.
Overview
Travel is the movement of people between relatively distant geographical locations, and can involve travel by foot, bicycle, automobile, train, boat, bus, airplane, or other means, with or without luggage, and can be one way or round trip. Travel can also include relatively short stays between successive movements.
The origin of the word “travel” is most likely lost to history. The term “travel” may originate from the Old French word travail, which means ‘work’. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, the first known use of the word travel was in the 14th century.
It also states that the word comes from Middle English travailen, travelen (which means to torment, labor, strive, journey) and earlier from Old French travailler (which means to work strenuously, toil). In English we still occasionally use the words “travail”, which means struggle. According to Simon Winchester in his book The Best Travelers’ Tales (2004), the words “travel” and “travail” both share an even more ancient root: a Roman instrument of torture called the tripalium (in Latin it means “three stakes”, as in to impale).
Trip Highlights
- The Glacial Lake of Floating Icebergs
- Icy Gems on Obsidian Sands
- The Black Falls Amidst Columnar Basalt
- Panoramic Viewpoint of Europe's Largest Ice Cap
