Vik, Iceland

Reynisfjara—one of the largest and most striking examples of Iceland’s black sand beaches—is a well-known stop for those exploring the South Coast. Be sure to hike to the east end of the beach to get a better look at the cliffs and the wide ocean vista. According to legend, the sea stacks were fo...

I put Dyrhólaey on my to-visit list because of the rock arch that gives the peninsula its name. What made it memorable, however, was its breathtaking view—the flat, treeless coastline jutting into rock shelves and glacier peaks is typical for Iceland’s south coast but was absolutely remarkable to...

Thakgil, or Þakgil, is a one-of-a-kind campground nestled in a small canyon surrounded by steep, mossy walls. To get there, you'll follow a dirt mountain road up into the mountains, passing a glacial river and finally entering into the canyon where the campsite is located.  The campground feature...

Since WWII, four US planes have perished above Iceland's black sands. Here is one of them, sunken into the beach in the middle of nowhere since 1973. After running out of fuel above the town of Vik, the crew mis-executed an emergency landing and felt their wheels snap upon contact with the too-so...

Begin by driving to the Skogar Museum, just off the Ring Road (1). You will take the same turn to get here as you would to get to Skogafoss, so it makes sense to plan to see both at the same time. Just past the Skogar Museum on your left, you'll see a warehouse/hangar building with two large gara...

Throughout all seasons of the year, Skógafoss is one of Iceland’s most visited waterfalls. This waterfall is in the top 5 largest in the country, with a dizzying drop of 60 meters. Skógafoss is especially unique because it comes directly from two glaciers. Millions of gallons of glacier water cas...

You can see Skogafoss from the highway. You will also immediately see the tourist buses and the throngs of people working hard to make the same photo. Yes the waterfall is truly amazing (put on your rain gear and get as close as possible to feel its power), but there is so much this river has to ...

You can start on either side of the pass whether it is Thórsmörk or Skógar, each way is just as visually stunning as the other. The trail winds up past numerous waterfalls and picture perfect landscapes. Signs and cairns will direct you in the right direction. At the top there are two mountain hu...

You will reach the trailhead by turning off of the Ring Road 1 onto road 242. You will see signs marked for Seljavellir. You will drive straight on this unpaved road until you reach a parking lot for an abandoned pool (little shack in photo above). From here it is only a 15-20 min walk along t...

It is said that half of the population of Iceland believes in elves. If you spend time exploring the wilderness of Iceland, you'll begin to understand why. If elves do exist, this is where they would live.The Þórsmörk – Skógar hike, along the trail known as Fimmvörðuháls, cuts right through the k...

If you have limited time in Iceland and/or are trying to make good time circumnavigating the entire island, you will not have time to complete the entirety of the world renowned Laugavegur Trek. However, the next best thing can be tackling a partial day hike that takes you along a portion of the ...

Starting at the Básar facilities, the loop can be completed clockwise and do Réttarfell to Hvannárgil, or counter-clockwise. We did it counter-clockwise which was nice as we made our way through gorge and ended on a high note.The counter-clockwise loop follows the road until a sign and markers po...

If you are on your way to Iceland to trek the incredible Laugavegur trail, and you've read about the first part of the trek in this article, then don't miss out on the last 15 miles you should be adding to the trek. This trail actually continues on to Skógar, but some backpackers choose to end at...

Starting at the trailhead, it is a leisurely hike into and through Stakkholts Canyon (in Icelandic, Stakkholtsgja). There are some defined paths along the way, but the path can vary from year to year and ultimately you will make your own way up the canyon, with relatively easy crossings of the ri...

The hike starts at the volcano huts in Þórsmörk, you head northeast on the main trail. Signs along the way will lead you all the way to the summit. it is about 1.5 miles one way. At the summit the view is incredible. Sprawling out in every direction are glaciers, volcanoes, moss carpeted cliffs, ...

Located just off the Ring Road, Seljalandsfoss is one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls and it's easy to see why. Reaching nearly 60 meters, this waterfall’s claim to fame is that it can be viewed from nearly every angle. The well-developed loop trail allows you to go behind the falls for an ep...