Sightseeing Near Us
Iceland is full of amazing geology and nature. With us as your base camp explore your surroundings and enhance your stay. Here are some recommendations of where to eat and what you should visit.
Restaurants
In case you get hungry we would like to recommend 2 places you should totally visit during your stay.
The Valhalla Restaurant and Saga Center can offer you anything from a great meal in what looks like an ancient Viking food hall but also has a museum and other activities to participate in. Definitely give them a try.
There is also Midgard Restaurant & Bar located at the Midgard Base Camp, they offer a variety of food inspired both by Icelandic dishes but also follows some foreign inspirations. Perfect for any traveler searching for a great meal to have.
Check out a few more on Trip Advisor or contact us for more information on what to do and what tours to take.
Driving in Iceland
Iceland is full of amazing roads and scenery, the landscape is dynamic and mesmerizing. When driving in Iceland keep in mind that the weather conditions can change rapidly so it is always good to be aware of the conditions near your destinations before departing.
To be safe always check Road.is and Vedur.is before you start driving.
When the weather is good you might find that it is the animals that you need to be wary of. During the summer months, while traveling in Iceland, you might find sheep roaming the country side, this includes the sides of the roads and the roads themselves.
Nauthúsagil
Nauthúsagil is a short hike you can take, it roughly translates to Bull Shed Ravine and is a 3 minute drive from our accommodations in the direction of Þorsmörk (Thorsmörk).
Walk through the river or jump from stepping stone to stone and witness the amazing waterfall at the end of this mystical ravine. This is a short hike but you should come prepared with good waterproof or water resistant footwear. It should take you around 20 minutes each way but you will find it hard to not stop and enjoy the scenery while snapping some nice memories for your photobook.
There was a small farming settlement here that was abandoned in 1777 due to reports of it being haunted, locals say the hauntings continue to this day.
Seljalandsfoss & Gljúfrabúi
While driving to our location you will pass by Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi, two mesmerizing waterfalls just 5 km away from your stay with us.
Seljalandsfoss drops from about 60m (200ft.) and is part of the Seljalands River, which is originated from the volcano glacier Eyjafjallajökull.
Next to Seljalandsfoss lies Gljúfrabúi waterfall, hidden away behind a big rock in a small gorge. Gljúfrabúi or the “Dweller in the Gorge” was until very recently a well kept secret here in these parts of South-Iceland but has now become a well known attraction.
Eyjafjallajökull
Above these waterfalls looms the dreaded Eyjafjallajökull, literally translating to Island-Mountain-Glacier, you might remember it from 2010 when it erupted and grounded flights all across Europe. This eruption caused the greatest air traffic disruption since WWII.
We recommend taking the tour with Into The Wild. This tour consists of taking super-jeeps up to the glacier and passing through multiple craters, including the one that erupted in 2010. This will give you a privileged look over the South Coast of Iceland. If you end up trying this trip on your own please keep in mind you should have a 4x4 vehicle with good ground clearance and you should never drive on the glacier itself.
Þórsmörk
Þórsmörk or Thorsmörk is one of Iceland´s favorite hiking area in the country, even though it is not easily accessible there are buses that can easily take you there from Seljalandsfoss. Into the Wild also offers a day trip with pick up at our cabin for your convenience. Be careful to not try this trip on your own as the road is impassible for regular vehicles during the winter (October 16th to April 30th) and you will have to traverse glacial rivers during the remainder of the year (May 1st to October 15th).
This trip is a must for nature lovers, a walk into the God of Thunder’s hidden valley with view of the three glaciers; Eyjafjallajökull, Tindfjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull, the home of the Katla volcano that you might have heard of from the Netflix show of the same name.
The Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is a sightseeing route that contains 3 of the most visited or historically important areas of Iceland. Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss.
Þingvellir is historically very interesting as not only is it surrounded by beautiful nature and also where the world’s first democratically elected parliament was founded in the year 930, which remains up and running to this day. It is also home to the Silfra Fissure, a very prominent snorkeling location, and the exposed North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Geysir is a well known hot spring in the geothermal area of Haukadalur Valley, the geyser in this area spouts out water every 7-10 minutes and the small hike around this area is definitely recommended. Be mindful that the waters are very hot.
Gullfoss is one of Iceland’s largest waterfalls, surpassed only by Dettifoss. Gullfoss was the center of a great controversy in the early 1900’s, where investors attempted to purchase the waterfall for the construction of a powerplant by exploiting a loophole in a lease. After years of legal battles the waterfall was returned to the hands of the Icelandic people once again.
Souvenir shops sell traditional Icelandic gifts along with many handcrafted goods representing Iceland. While at Gullfoss don’t forget to try out one of Iceland’s national dishes, the lamb soup.
Westman Islands
Vestmannaeyjar also known as the Westman Islands is an archipelago off of Iceland’s south coast. Formed by underwater volcanic eruptions only the island of Heimaey is inhabited. The youngest island, Surtsey, was formed in 1963. The Heimaey island has two volcanos, Helgafell and Eldfell. Interactive displays at Eldheimar Museum, show the devastating effects witnessed by the eruption of Eldfell in 1973, which destroyed 400 buildings.
Westman Islands is a prominent location for puffin watching, as they form their nests in the many hills and cliffs of this island between May and September. Here you can also take many pleasant hikes while bird watching.
You might have heard of Halldórsskora, also known as the Elephant Rock, a very interesting rock formation very clearly shaped like the head of an elephant facing the ocean.
To visit the Westman Islands you should book the ferry in advance, which can also accommodate your car.
Vík and Skógafoss
Vík is the southernmost village in mainland Iceland, it is a very famous sightseeing destination being a seaside village with black sand beaches and a richness of bird wild-life surrounding it. When on any beach in this area it is important to keep in mind there are “sneaker waves”, these waves are very infamous for dragging people out to sea. Always be mindful, in particular with children around you.
Reynisfjara is a must stop for anyone in the south coast of Iceland, it is a gorgeous black sand beach surrounded with basalt column cliffs that leave you in awe.
Sólheimasandur is a very photogenic location home to a crashed landed US Navy Douglas Super DC-3 plane, many music videos feature it and celebrities have visited this plane.
Skógafoss can be found on your way to Vík or on your way back to the cabin. It is on the side of the main road along the coast and is one of the most beloved waterfalls in Iceland.
