Itinerary
Pickup in Reykjavík or meet at Gljúfrabúi waterfall
We will start our day at your selected pick up location in Reykjavík, but it’s also possible to be picked up on the way to Seljalandsfoss (Hveragerdi, Selfoss, Hella, and Hvolsvöllur). We will drive towards southeast through the mountain pass of Hellisheiði Plateau towards the south coast of Iceland and make a short stop for a coffee at Hvolsvöllur. Please note, that this is the only stop where you can buy lunch and snacks for the day.
If you don’t need pickup service, you can meet us and join the tour at Gljúfrabúi waterfall.
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Now we’ll turn off the ring road in the direction of Thorsmork and make a stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall. The breathtakingly beautiful, 60 meters tall Seljalandsfoss is one of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland and it’s on the list of Iceland’s 10 most photographed natural wonders.
You can walk behind the waterfall on a walking trail for a unique viewing angle. Bringing either a raincoat or a waterproof coat along is highly recommended if you want to walk behind the waterfall as you will get soaking wet from the pouring water. On a bright and sunny day, there is a chance to see a rainbow in front of the waterfall.
Gígjökull glacier
Next, we will continue our way in the direction of Thorsmork and head all the way up to Gígjökull, one of the outlet glaciers of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano. You can walk entirely to the icefall edge, touch and walk on the glacier.
You can get an idea of the forces that were at play during the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajokull that not only destroyed the agricultural region around it but stopped air traffic in Europe.
Powerful glacial bursts emerged from Gigjokull during the eruption, sending meltwater gushing down and flooding the surrounding landscape. You’ll witness that the impact of the eruption is still very visible in the area.
A Game of Thrones filming location
Next stop will explore a breathtaking canyon, which is just out of this world and one of the filming locations of Game of Thrones. Stakkholtsgjá canyon is a beautiful natural wonder, a 2 kilometers (1.2 mi) long canyon surrounded by 100 meters (330 ft ) high moss-covered cliffs.
Walking to the end of the canyon is one of the most rewarding short hikes in Iceland. This dramatic, towering canyon was the filming location of a scene in Game of Thrones season 7 when Jon Snow leads the team to ambush a pack of wights.
The palagonite cliffs have many interesting and dramatic forms, caves, narrow and deep ravines. Inside the canyon, there is a small creek, and you will find a dreamlike, beautiful waterfall in a high cave at the end of the track. It’s not just a stunning place, but a place you may think this is one of those places where elves and trolls live. This is one reason why Icelanders have loved and visited this canyon for many years.
Thorsmork, the Valley of Thor
After our walk in the canyon, we will follow our way to deep into Thorsmork, the scenic valley of Thor. This will be the best playground for your super jeep: crossing rivers and handling the rough terrain will be a great adventure. Thorsmork is a natural reserve in a remote area of the southern Icelandic Highlands, nestled between the Myrdalsjokull, Eyjafjallajokull and Tindfjallajokull glaciers, and one of the most favorite location for Icelanders and many travelers.
The valley is a green oasis between the rivers Krossá, Þröngá and Markarfljót with wide vegetation of moss, birchwood, and other small shrubs. This lush green area contrasts dramatically against the black sand desert of the Markarfljót riverbed and the imposing glaciers around it. Locals swear that Thorsmork is one of the most beautiful destinations in Iceland. This is the reason that many Icelanders come here to hike, ride or just relax among the birch trees with their family.
Once we are deep into the Thorsmork valley, you have the opportunity to enjoy the amazing landscape, have lunch and take nice short hikes around the area, and really drink in the beautiful unspoiled nature of Iceland.
Whatever the season, in Thorsmork, you always have a lot of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors in a magnificent landscape that looks like scenes from the Lord of the Rings. Surrounded by ice caps, which shelter the valley below, the weather in Thorsmork is very often much better than in the rest of south Iceland.
A hidden gem
On our way back we will stop at one of our favorite places. Nauthúsagil ravine is a true hidden gem of Iceland’s South Coast. Nauthúsagil’s famed characteristics are the rowan trees growing on the ridges, sometimes horizontally, creating a roof of leaves. We will walk through the narrow ravine and explore its unique, beautiful world. At the end of the ravine, there is an enchanting waterfall waiting for us. The combination of the waterfall and the light from above is unrealistically beautiful.
After an exciting day of exploring the great wonders of the Thorsmork area, we will make our way back out stopping at Hvolsvöllur for a coffee. We will return to Reykjavík around 6 PM approximately.
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