The last day trip that I have booked for my week in Iceland in June is the South Coast tour. The chance to see some of the South Coast is one of the big advantages of my decision to base myself in Reykjavik for the whole time and taking small group tours, instead of renting a car and driving up the west coast on my own.

So what is there on the South Coast? It is, after all, the most popular tourist destination after the Golden Circle. Well, black sand beaches, amazing waterfalls, and iconic basalt rock formations, as well as volcanoes and a glacier. Let’s look at some pictures.

(These photos are from the tour organizer Saga Travel GeoIceland, from the daytrip I will be going on, which is called “GEO207 South Coast small group tour by GeoIceland.” The method of travel is by minibus or car, depending on the size of the group.)

 

This is what GeoIceland says about its small-group South Coast tour:

In this South Coast small group tour, we are not in a hurry, we are traveling. You will explore the stunning and dramatic south coast of Iceland at its best with waterfalls, volcanoes, glacier and black sand beaches….

This full-day tour of Iceland’s stunning South Coast is ideal for nature lovers, as you will drive through one of the country’s most scenic regions, reaching as far as Vík.

Drive along the black sand coastline, where the beaches are formed out of black basalt, and see the impressive Reynisdrangar rock formations.

You will explore the gorgeous Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, unique in the fact that you can walk behind it. and to the majestic waterfall Skógafoss. Continue through the glacial landscape of Mýrdalsjökull Glacier, where the active volcano Katla is located under the icecap.

Also of interest to me is that along the South Coast are important sites from Njal’s saga, which is considered by many people to be the premier Icelandic saga (although my favorite is still Laxdaela saga, perhaps because of its focus on women).