Samples of South Iceland - Part 1: Keflavík to Vík

Iceland is a place where there is always something more
to see just around the corner. The south shore main road is an example,
stretching roughly 500 km from Keflavik to Höfn. Passing through some of the most
amazingly wild if not extraterrestrial landscape on this planet.

The south coast offers a collection of experiences that should rock any traveller´s world. Beginning with the great
geothermal areas of
peninsula. Passing Eyjafjallajökull volcano and the
otherworldly Eldhraun lava field. Ending near the magnificent
and the
black sand deserts.

Let´s start with the south western part. 

peninsula is not only the home of KEF
international airport and
. It also contains the powerful hot spring
Gunnuhver, the Bridge Between Continents and the crazy rugged beach at
Reykjanesviti lighthouse. All these are around twenty minutes from the airport
and the lagoon. Road 427 takes you through the great lava fields from Grindavik
along the coastline eastwards. You will pass the geothermal area at
with its
boiling mud pools and the otherworldly Lake
. Keep going with the sea
on your right and you will hit the town of Þorlákshöfn. Here you can either go
up to the great lava cave at Raufarhólshellir or continue to Selfoss along the
beautiful coastline. If you are in the mood for a great meal our recommendation
would be: The langoustine feast at Við Fjöruborðið in Stokkseyri. If you are into fine
dining we recommend Tryggvaskáli Restaurant in Selfoss.

Also, if you are coming from KEF airport you will already
have had a pretty full day so there always
, a save haven for any
traveller in need of a warm bed.

is a drive full of
sights and history. This area is the setting for one of the great sagas, Nial´s
Saga. A tale of heroes and villains centring around an argument between two
women that escalated into a minor civil war around 1000 AD.

and
, both in the foothills of Eyjafjallajökull volcano. As well as Sólheimajökull glacier and the Black Sand Beach (Reynisfjara). There are also
numerous other stops that can be made for longer or shorter experiences. The
ferry to Vestmannaeyjar islands sails from Landeyjahöfn which is also worth
driving to just for the view of the islands and the volcano. There is also the
plain wreck on Sólheimasandur made famous by Justin Bieber in his video for the
song “I Will Show You”. Justin managed to piss off most of the South Coast with
his video. He did this by climbing out on dangerous ledges and dancing on protected
vegetation. Topping it off by doing downright stupid things like jumping into icy waters in
his underwear. People worried that legions of Beliebers would follow after and
either kill themselves or leave a path of destruction. For better or for worse
neither has been the case. However it´s worth keeping in mind that despite the
monstrous forms of the landscape here it still shelters a fragile ecosystem.

Reynisfjara lies between the amazing rock formations of
Dyrhólaey and Reynisdrangar basalt columns rising from the sea. This is one of
the truly breathtaking stops along the ring road and should not be passed by
under any circumstances.

also has various options for
accommodation such as Hotel Dyrhólaey, Hotel Katla and Icelandair Hotel Vik.
All well situated , and it must be said that this area is worth at least a
couple of days stop on any journey around Iceland.