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Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss are the two great waterfalls of Iceland's South Coast, and nearly every trip that leaves Reykjavík along this shore stops at one of them or both. At the first you can walk behind the falling water; at the second a staircase climbs to the top of the falls. Most tours add the glacier of Sólheimajökull and the black sands of Reynisfjara on the same day.
Seljalandsfoss lies on the Seljalandsá river, in Rangárþing eystra, one of the municipalities of Suðurland, the Southern Region of Iceland. What makes it famous is the path that runs behind the curtain of water. It is open when conditions allow, and in bad weather the guides may leave it out. Expect to get wet: a waterproof jacket and trousers and sturdy shoes make the walk far more pleasant.
Nearby hides a second waterfall, Gljúfrabúi, also written Gljúfrafoss. The three-day tour below stops there too: the falls sit inside a narrow cliff gorge, and you reach them by wading a shallow stream.
Skógafoss falls on the Skógá, a river that carries on to the Atlantic Ocean, and the land around it has been a protected area since 1987, covering about 184 hectares. The spray keeps a mist hanging at the foot of the falls, and on sunny days rainbows often appear in it. You can walk right up to the base, or take the staircase beside the falls to a viewing platform at the top for a wide view over the valley.
Further east, Sólheimajökull is a glacier that forms part of Mýrdalsjökull, in the municipality of Mýrdalshreppur. The day trips stop at its edge after a short walk on a gravel path from the car park. No crampons or technical gear are needed for this stop, and the guides ask everyone to follow their instructions near the ice.
On clear days the tours also point out Eyjafjallajökull, a stratovolcano that rises to 1,651 m (5,417 ft) above sea level.
From Reykjavík, the small-group minibus tour of the South Coast stops at Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and Sólheimajökull, then goes on to the black sand beach of Reynisfjara, the cliffs of Dyrhólaey and the village of Vík. The day trip with the glacier and the black sand beach covers the same two waterfalls, Sólheimajökull, Reynisfjara and Vík, with pickup in central Reykjavík, and is rated easy. At Reynisfjara the waves are powerful and unpredictable, so the guides ask you to keep well back from the water.
A South Coast day trip follows a similar route and ends with time at a geothermal lagoon near Reykjavík. For a private day, the super jeep tour visits both waterfalls, Sólheimajökull and the black sand beach. Going much further east, the day trip to Jökulsárlón includes a boat ride among the icebergs of the glacier lagoon and stops at Seljalandsfoss and Vík on the way.
Two longer tours include the South Coast in their route. The three-day tour combines Reykjavík, the Golden Circle with Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, and a day on the coast with Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara and Vík. The six-day winter minibus tour around Iceland spends its second day here, with a guided glacier hike, Skógafoss and Reynisfjara.
Every trip that passes through here is also listed on the Southern Region of Iceland destination page.
Yes, when conditions allow. The spray soaks the path behind the falls, so wear waterproof clothing and sturdy shoes.
Yes. The day trips listed here stop at both, and most of them also take in Sólheimajökull, Reynisfjara and Vík before heading back.
No. It is a short, easy walk to the edge of Sólheimajökull and you do not need crampons. A guided hike on the ice itself is part of the six-day winter tour.
Sources: Wikidata (CC0).
