South Coast with Lava show VIP tour

The South Coast: Fire and Ice tour starts with pickup in Reykjavik from 8:30 am. We head out along the south coast, driving through the beautiful Icelandic landscape to the town of Hvolsvöllur where we will have a quick snack stop before getting into the exciting parts of the south coast. During the darkest winter months (Nov – Jan) it will be good to load up on snacks and food to have on the go today, allowing us to use more of the daylight hours at the wonderful sights.

Our first stop, is at the famous Skógafoss waterfall. This 200ft fast flowing vertical waterfall can be enjoyed from afar or up close. Just remember to wear your waterproofs if you go to the very front. You can hire some Hidden Iceland waterproofs if you want to get really close. On sunny days you might be treated to a rainbow appearing in the mist of the waterfall. The majesty of this waterfall is not lost on popular culture either with Game of Thrones, Vikings and even Eurovision using this location for filming.

Next up, we head to Reynisfjara to see the amazing rock formations at this spectacular black sand beach. The angular basalt columns with their hexagonal shapes are the perfect photo spot on calm days. In summer you might get to spot some very cute puffins nesting in the cliffs overhead. In winter you are often treated to some intense crashing waves. One thing is for sure, you’ll get lost in thought as you wander along the volcanic black sand.

No south coast trip is complete without a pit stop at the famous town of Vík í Mýrdal, though village might be a more accurate portrayal of this quaint coastal settlement. This is the southernmost town in Iceland and despite its small population of 750 people, it is an important base in the south of Iceland for many locals and travellers alike. This is where we’ll likely have lunch and where the Lava Show is hosted, in the shadow of the volcano, Katla. This is as far east as we go today.

While here, we make a stop at the newly added Icelandic Lava Show. This is a family friendly indoor show that pours real lava over blocks of ice mere metres from where you are sitting. The lava that turned to rock during the 1918 Katla Eruption is literally re-melted in a furnace to show you up close what it feels like to be this close to lava. This is not a simulation, trust us. You will feel the heat (from a safe distance) as your local guide delights in telling you all about his grandfathers narrow escape from this historic eruption. There will be plenty of learning to be had too with an informative video detailing Iceland’s turbulent volcanic past. You will even get a chance to take some of the newly cooled lava glass home with you.

The Soup Company is located in the same venue, and is the perfect lunch stop to keep you fuelled for the day, serving various sorts of delicious soups, panini’s, and other tasty dishes. During the darkest winter months we will need to order food to have on the go, so that we can use the precious short daylight hours at the wonderful South Coast sights. Lunch is not included in this tour.

A short drive back west, through some awe inspiring scenery and we arrive at one of the true highlight of the trip. We get ready for a valley walk to a safe viewpoint near the front of the stunning Sólheimajökull glacier. This mighty glacier flows down from the enormous Mýrdalsjökull icecap. The ice cap sits directly on top of one of the most powerful and feared volcanoes in the country, Katla. Past volcanic eruptions and the moving glaciers create the stunning landscapes that are unique to this area.

The valley walk is considered easy, but there is some areas with uneven slopes that require full mobility of your ankles and knees. The walk takes around 20 minutes in each direction. Although this is an easy walk, we are entering a wilderness setting that inevitably comes with risk. One danger that needs to be considered is the potential rock fall along the edge of the glacier. On rainy, windy and/ or icy days this can become a safety concern. Therefore, we have made the decision to avoid this hazardous area as a standard part of the tour, and instead focus on reaching the fantastic view point allowing for full view of the ice. Two things are certain, you will be safe throughout and you will get stunning pictures to take home with you.

NOTE: WE DO NOT WALK ON THE ICE ON THIS TOUR, WE TAKE A GUIDED WALK DOWN THE VALLEY TO A GREAT VIEWPOINT

The action doesn’t stop there though. Our final stop of the day on the South Coast: Fire and Ice tour is at the Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. A similar height to Skógafoss but with one key difference; you can walk behind this one when it’s not icy. The waterfall is a result of melting glacial ice pouring down from the peak of Eyjafjallajökull volcano. The cave behind the waterfall is massive enough to walk all the way around for the ultimate view. In winter it is often not possible to walk behind due to ice. During these months you are then treated to the wintery scene of snow, icicles and a partially frozen waterfall. In the darkest days of winter the waterfall is lit up, and we will likely be reaching this stop at sunset or afterwards, so we may be seeing the often icy waterfall lit up in the dark.