Southeast Iceland - The best highlights and sights

Our tour through Iceland was a true adventure and certainly one of our most beautiful trips. The natural diversity on this island is more diverse than in almost any other country. New views and landscapes open up around every bend. Since we were really lucky with the weather, we were able to fully enjoy all the beautiful, vibrant colors. We particularly liked the north of Iceland and the south. Today we’ll introduce you to the southeast of Iceland in more detail. We’ll tell you our highlights on this leg of the Ring Road.

Hvalnes Viewpoint

Just as we were leaving the East Fjords behind us, we discovered the Hvalnes Viewpoint in Lónsvík Bay. There is a lighthouse and parking. From here, it is only another 25 kilometers to Höfn. The bay is 21 kilometers wide and extends a full 3 kilometers inland. You have a great view of the mountain and coastal road that winds along here. The sea is a bit rough here, and the wind is also quite strong. The sun was still a long way off this morning. Nevertheless, this backdrop with the wide, black beach in the bay is truly beautiful.

Iceland Round Trip Ring Road Southeast

Stokksnes & Vestrahorn

Shortly before Höfn, we discovered one of the most beautiful spots in southeast Iceland (at least for us). The road branched off to the left, and we followed the signs to Stokksnes. Eventually, we reached a small restaurant (Viking Café), located in front of the dark and eerie Vestrahorn mountain. The property is owned by a farm owner who charges 800 ISK admission per person. The property also features a film set of a Viking village and beautiful, long, black sandy beaches. After paying the money, we drove toward the sandy beaches. There’s a parking lot just before the end of the path. The scenery is simply stunning. Mystical and beautiful at the same time.

The Jökulsárlön Glacier Lagoon

After our detour to Stokksnes, we drove through Höfn and on to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. It was already late, but we still wanted to catch a glimpse. We arrived at our destination around 7:30 p.m. The sun had just set, and the sky was turning beautiful colors. Blue blocks of ice floated on the glacier lagoon, and camera-hungry vacationers stood everywhere, waiting to capture the perfect shot. We even saw a few seals in the area, curiously emerging from the water every now and then.

The ice blocks in the lagoon come from the Breidamerkurjökull, an offshoot of the Vatnajökull. They crash into the water and then drift out into the lagoon, all the way to the Atlantic. Some icebergs even tipped over and splashed to the side. What a loud crash! You’d almost think the lagoon had existed since the Ice Age. In reality, however, this glacial lagoon is only 80 years old. The glacier retreats significantly every year, up to 500 meters. Thus, the lagoon continues to grow.

You can take various tours on the lake. One option is the amphibious boat tour*, which lasts 40 minutes. You’ll chug along the shore and learn a bit about the lagoon. Cost: 5,000 ISK per person (approximately €40). The inflatable boat tours on the lagoon last approximately 1 hour and take you to the edge of the glacier with a maximum of 19 other people. It’s best to book a tour in advance, as they’re very popular. Cost: 9,500 ISK (approximately €75). We didn’t do a tour ourselves, as there were no boats running. However, we wouldn’t have done a tour anyway, as the view from the shore was already more than impressive.

Diamond Beach

If you’re already at the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, make a detour to Diamond Beach. It’s located directly in front of the lagoon by the sea. Here, blocks of ice drift out into the Atlantic. Some ice blocks land on the black volcanic sand beach. The view is simply stunning. Here, too, we repeatedly spotted a few curious seals poking their heads out of the water.

The beach always looks different, no matter what time of day you visit. Icebergs melt or reenter the water and drift out. Other icebergs wash up, and the scenery changes. Many of the icebergs are over 1,000 years old. Unimaginable, isn’t it? Here at Diamond Beach, the icebergs glitter like tiny diamonds. Hence the name.

Southeast Iceland – Skaftafell National Park

The vast Vatnajökull National Park is home to the area’s crown jewel – Skaftafell National Park. Breathtaking mountain peaks and glaciers await you here. You can also enjoy some great hikes here. We also did a day hike here and highly recommend it. In front of the park, there’s a large parking lot and an information center (with restrooms and a café). You don’t have to pay an entrance fee for the park itself, but you do have to pay 750 ISK for parking. To do so, you have to enter your license plate number on a small computer at the information center and pay by credit card. You can book tours here: Guide to Iceland*

We first hiked to the Svartifoss waterfall and then continued to the Sjónarnipa viewpoint. The view over the Skaftafellsjökull glacier tongue is simply breathtaking. The hike took about 2.5 to 3 hours and wasn’t particularly physically demanding. From the viewpoint, you can hike further, for example, to the Gláma viewpoint or to the Kristinartindar peak (1,126 meters). You can get detailed advice at the information center. They also offer hiking maps for around €3. Many visitors also hike in the other direction after Svartifoss, to the traditional, turf-roofed Sel farm. This hike takes around 2.5 hours.

From Skaftafell National Park, you can also go on glacier hikes and ice climbing tours. Crampons are used to ascend the ice. Here you’ll discover ice caves, ash, and glacier mice (moss cushions), among other things. However, you should never hike alone on a glacier without equipment. It can be very dangerous. Icelandic Mountain Guides or Glacier Guides offer many different tours. What’s also really cool is that you can even take a sightseeing flight over the glacier. Atlantsflug offers 20-minute flights starting at around €200. Book your tour here*.

The Fjaðrárgljúfur Gorge

We continue with the highlights of southeast Iceland. After our hike in Skaftafell National Park, we continued along Road 1 towards Vík. Shortly before, you absolutely must stop at the Fjaðrárgljúfur Gorge. This darkly picturesque gorge seems almost surreal. It was carved out by the Fjaðra River and is apparently around 2 million years old. A signposted path leads you to the most beautiful photo spots. The scenery resembles a movie set. Everything seems so mystical, and you somehow get the feeling that hobbits are wandering around the area.

And please: Take the rules seriously and adhere to the local regulations. Many people jump over the barriers to take THE photo for Instagram and the like. Others then follow suit, and thus nature can’t recover at all!

Southeast Iceland – Further Highlights

Along the way, we repeatedly discovered beautiful viewpoints, waterfalls, and moss-covered lava fields. Of course, we couldn’t remember every single name. Just look for the relevant signs. If you have a 4×4, you can take a detour to Lakagigar.

Here you will experience the full extent of one of the most catastrophic volcanic eruptions in human history. The lava field resembles an apocalyptic scenario that occurred over 230 years ago. The bizarre, black lava formations are covered with green moss. Relatively few visitors make the trip there. The 818-meter-high volcanic peak Laki can be climbed from the parking lot in about 40 minutes. There is also a 500-meter-long visitor trail through the crater area. The beautiful Fagrifoss waterfall is also located in this area.

Before heading to the Fjaðrárgljúfur gorge, you will pass the town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. This town is located near Lake Systravatn with its Systrafoss waterfall on the Skaftá glacial river. From here, you can explore the Laki crater or the Eldgjá gorge. Skaftafell National Park is also only 45 kilometers away. Another highlight in southeastern Iceland is Ingólfshöfdi. This offshore island is only accessible at low tide and by tour. Many puffins and the Northern Fulmar breed here. Whales are also frequently spotted in the water here.

The most important facts at a glance

Route: Hvalnes to Vík, approximately 315 kilometers
Driving time: 4 to 6 hours
Camping: Vík, Svinafell, Skaftafell, Höfn
Supermarket: Vík, Höfn, Klaustur
Fueling: Vík, Höfn, Klaustur, Fagurhólsmýri, Freysnes
Tours: A large selection of tours is available at Guide to Iceland*