This is the 2nd day of my Iceland trip, if you want to read about the 1st Day in Iceland visit this link: Day1
Day 2-
On this day, we were all prepared to explore the rest of the southern coast of Iceland. While making all the bookings, this was the tour I was really looking forward to. As on that day, we were going to explore, the most dramatic landscapes of this beautiful country. From Black Beach to walking on the Glaciers, this day was going to be thrilling, adventurous and treat to our eyes. Let’s start with the itinerary-
Tour Highlights:
• Skogafoss
• Reynisfjara Beach
• Solheimajokull Glacier
• Seljalandsfoss
Duration: 10 hours
Cost: 6000 INR for a shared Air-Conditioned Mini Van
Currency exchange: 1 INR= 1.85 Icelandic Krona
•1st stop: Skogafoss:
Skogafoss is a waterfall on the Skoga river. It is one the biggest waterfall in Iceland, it has a width of 82 feet and a drop of 200 ft. If you visit this place on a bright sunny day then there is a high chance that you will witness a single or double rainbow. There is an observation platform on the edge of the cliff, to reach there you have to climb a flight of stairs. Though the stairs are steep but they are worth the climb. Skogafoss offers a great view from the platform.
2nd stop: Reynisfjara Beach
Reynisfjara Beach is the black sand beach famous for roaring waves, basalt rock stacks, a cave and a panoramic view of the enchanting Atlantic Ocean. You can literally listen roaring waves even before you enter this beach and due to that it is advised that a person should never turn their back to the waves. This beach got it’s black color from the lava which floated into the ocean over the period of time.
There are many photography spots on this mesmerizing black beach. Make sure you enjoy this scenic beauty as well as bring back some small lava stones as a souvenir.
There are several restaurants on the beach. We had stopped here for lunch and then we had continued our journey to the next stop.
3rd stop: Solheimajokull Glacier
This was going to be adventurous/ thrilling part of our trip. This glacier is located close to the Iceland ring road. It is approximately 8 km’s long and 1-2 km wide. From the car park it took 15 mins to reach the starting of this huge glacier and once you reach, you’ll need shoe with spikes to maintain your balance (make sure to carry those). Luckily, I was wearing my trekking shoes so I tied my laces and started to climb Solheimajokull, it was slippery but completely worth it. This place was huge, I wish I had more time to spend here.
The most interesting part about this glacier is that it is located between the two volcano Katla and Eyjafjallajokull. This glacier is rapidly depleting, it is believed that in some decades, it will completely melt due to global warming.
4th stop: Seljalandsfoss
It was the 4th waterfall we were visiting in Iceland and yet each and every waterfall was so unique, exceptional and breath-taking. This waterfall is a part of Seljaland river. You should carry a rain coat while visiting this place or the chances are that you will get drenched as the best part of this waterfall is that you can walk behind it. The walking behind experience makes it the most scintillating adventure. When we walked behind this place, it was very slippery but the view from behind was worth the risk. This experience was so majestic that I would ask everyone to visit this magical site at least once. If you are visiting Iceland in winters make sure to check that the backside of the waterfall is open for visitation.
Add on to the tour:
Every small thing in Iceland is scenic and we were not going to miss even a single opportunity to explore this beauty. On this day, we made 2 unplanned stopovers-
1. While travelling from Reykjavik to Skogafoss, we had stopped at a place which had 2-3 small waterfalls. It was such a scenic and serene view.
2. While travelling from Solheimajokull Glacier to Seljalandsfoss, we had stopped on a small horse field. There we fed the horses and took pictures with them and trust me, they were really handsome had a better hairstyle then mine. Lol!
As mentioned above, all the above sightseeing had costed around 6000 INR (excluding food). The good thing about going on these kind of tours is that after spending a fixed amount you are sure that now you won’t incur more costs and Iceland does not have any entry fee to visit any natural wonders.
Our day 2 was completed, it was filled with thrills, adventures and lots of memories to keep.
While visiting Iceland keep your camera and eyes wide open, you won’t stop clicking pictures of its dramatic landscapes. On every corner, a beautiful yet unique landscape awaits.