Majestic waterfalls & Reynisfjara beach
Southern Iceland in winter is not something for the faint hearted. We researched a lot and decided against driving ourselves; heavy winds have led to incidents of car’s toppling over and remoteness of locations makes it so help is hours away. And, you do not want to be stuck in extreme conditions without any help. As a result, a tour was the best way to go.
The Drive
From Golden Circle we were scheduled to drive to the Jokursarlon Glacier as we had a booking for a Glacier hike. But the weather had other ideas, and around noon we learned that the roads to the glacier were closed because of extreme winds. There was no time estimate as to when they would open, so our experienced tour guide/driver decided we had to stop midway in the town of Voss (if 2 buildings and a hotel constitutes a town). The small van was swaying in the wind as we exited the highway to drive into the village. All of us in the van were so scared of the van toppling over, and the closer we got to the ocean the stronger the winds got.
Needless to say we were delighted to be finally at the hotel/ bed and breakfast, and what a gem it was! As you can imagine we had no option but to eat dinner and breakfast but at the hotel. Being a vegetarian I was not hopeful of getting something, but Iceland has surprised me with quality vegetarian food options. The best vegan dinner and breakfast of our trip was at the Voss hotel – homemade traditional Icelandic dark rye bread and bright, fresh ginger carrot soup. Maybe I will write a post on being vegan in Iceland.
The next day by late morning the winds eased up and our guide informed us that we could be able to drive south. We still were not sure if we would even be able to do the glacier hike since we lost our spot for the day and the Glacier hikes are always booked out. So we waited as our tour agency tried their best to figure something out.
Seljalandsfoss
It is one of the many gorgeous waterfalls in Iceland and is one of the few where you can walk behind the waterfall. On a cold icy day the mist does make for a crazy experience but definitely worth it. We had parkas on but the mist was so strong we still got wet under it.
Skogafoss
Skogafoss is a unique waterfall as millions of gallons of water comes from two glaciers and drops from a cliff. With a dizzying 60m drop, it is one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland. You can hike to the top of the falls using the stairs on the right. The mist however is very strong so be careful as the wind and water make for slippery conditions especially in volatile winter weather.
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
Every nook of Iceland is filled with beautiful things and places to see, we stopped by the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach by sunset. As the sun set, the black basalt columns looked like shadows rising from sand. All bundled up, (no swimwear on this one) mesmerized by the sunset. Anika wanted to climb the basalt columns so we decided to click some pictures there — made for some cool shots. This beach as with other beaches in Iceland is known for sneaker waves so always keep and eye on the ocean.
As we reentered the bus, the guide had some great news: we got a spot for a hike on the glacier the next day! With this welcomed development, we made our way to a hotel near Vik. No shortages of quaint places to stay in Iceland, and the most remote spots always have the most panoramic views. We spent our New Years Eve with our tour family, celebrations illuminated by nature’s spectacular light show; dancing Northern Lights appeared at midnight.
Next and final must see attraction– Glacier hiking to see blue caves in Jokusarlon Glacier and Diamond beach.
