Highlights of South Iceland

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Landmannalaugar are geothermal nature baths and a popular attraction among tourists as well as Icelanders.

Landmannalaugar south Iceland

While the nature baths are great this area has so much more to offer. The Landmannalaugar area is renowned for its stunning beauty and great hiking trails. The hiking route Laugavegurinn (not to be confused with the main street in Reykjavik) is Iceland’s most famous hiking trail. It lies between Landmannalaugar and the Thorsmork nature reserve.  The route is 55 km and takes you up and down amazing volcano hills, over beautiful glacial rivers and clear blue water streams. You will also walk alongside glaciers and rugged mountains, through lava fields and green valleys.  It’s basically the whole spectrum of South Iceland in one area.

Landmannalaugar trail south iceland


Thorsmork is a valley in South Iceland that is named after the Nordic god Thor. Thorsmork is one of Icelanders favorite hidden gem as its nature is very untouched and the area is filled with amazing hiking trails.  Thorsmork sits between Myrdalsjokull to the east, the river Krossa in the South, with Markarfljot and Þronga rivers to the North. Its diverse landscape is characterized by impressive gorges and a wide variety of vegetation that is unique to the area. In Thorsmork the views are spectacular in particular the ones of Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull glaciers. During winter season Thorsmork is the perfect place for a Northern lights hunt.

Thorsmork south Iceland


Reynisfjara beach is a beautiful black sand beach under Reynisfjall mountain with amazing basalt columns called Reynisdrangar. The basalt rock stacks tower up from the sea by Reynisfjara in South Iceland to make a natural work of art. Icelandic folklore states that the stacks were created when two trolls dragged a ship to land unsuccessfully and when daylight broke they became needles of rock. The Reynisfjara area is very rich in bird life, including puffins and guillemots. We advise people to take extra care when visiting the beach as the waves can be very strong and unpredictable.


Eyjafjallajökull glacier

The tongue twister Eyjafjallajökull is a small ice cap in south Iceland. The ice cap covers the caldera of a volcano that last erupted in 2010, stopping air traffic in Europe. This eruption made Eyjafjallajokull one of the better-known volcanoes in the world today despite being nearly impossible for foreigners to pronounce. The ice cap has many outlets and you can clearly view the aftermath of the eruption on the Gigjokull glacier tongue at the roots of Eyjafjallajokull.

eyjafjallajokull eruption south iceland


Jökulsárlón or glacier lagoon is a large glacial lake in South Iceland, on the edge of Vatnajökull National Park. In the lagoon, large blocks of icebergs float on top of the lake before they slowly melt away. The lagoon is open to the sea and so it contains a mix of salt and freshwater, giving it a unique blue-green color. The color combined with the floating icebergs make for a stunning sight that attracts thousands of people year round. Boat rides are available for those who want to take their experience to the next level. Jökulsárlón is rich in wildlife. There are hundreds of seals in the lagoon during winter time. The lagoon also supports many species of fish including krill, herring, trout, and salmon.


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