Day 4 Highlights:
15 min drive to Solheimajokull Glacier Parking
1 mile hike to Solheimajokull Glacier
27 min drive to Dyrholaey Lighthouse
24 min to Reynisfjara Beach
10 min drive to Vik
50 min drive to Fjaorargljufur Canyon
15 min drive to Night 4: Hotel Geirland
Back to the full 10 Day Iceland Itinerary
Solheimajokull Glacier:
Yes, starting from our Glamping Airbnb, it was a slight backtrack to go West to see this glacier, but we wanted to see it in the daylight and it was totally worth it!! There is a main parking lot with plenty of space and the route is well marked from the main road. There are several tours that operate in the area, taking large groups onto the glacier, however, we opted to hike the ~1 mile in to take some photos and explore the base of the glacier and its lagoon. We were up in the air between a tour on Solheimajokull Glacier and the glacier tours in Vanajokull National Park. We opted for the latter and we were happy with our choice!
Dyrholaey Lighthouse:
Heading back East towards Vik, there are some incredible black sand beaches with some nice lookouts. The dirt road to Dyrholaey Lighthouse is marked as AWD-only, however we made it up just fine in our small 2WD car. This area was fairly crowded, but very beautiful. Keep an eye out for PUFFINS!!! We didn’t end up seeing any close-up but there were a few flying around here in the air. Depending on the time of year, you can find many puffins in this region.
Reynisfjara Beach:
A short drive down the road is the majestic Reynisfjara Beach which is most commonly recognized by it’s basalt column cliff that lines the Eastern side of the beach. We spent some time here for photos and also walked the black sand beach which took us away from the crowds and let us experience the waves crashing and puffins flying overhead.
Next, we stopped by Vik and got a bite to eat. The Soup Company was some of the best soup we had in Iceland (yes, you will have a lot of soup). We recommend stopping there for a meal!
Fjaorargljufur Canyon:
Moving on from the Vik area and the black sand beaches, is an incredible canyon cut into the Earth. The parking is a short drive off the main road on a beat-up dirt road, but seeing this canyon was totally worth it. It seems like over the years, the influx of tourists have resulted in more fences and signs warning of getting to close to the edge. We did a short walk along the canyon wall on a very well marked path. The canyon was breathtaking, and being here at sunset meant essentially no other people which was SO COOL to have the place to ourselves.
Night 4, Hotel Geirland and the Northern Lights:
A short drive from Fjaorargljufur Canyon, we found a great hotel, Hotel Geirland, nestled next to the mountains. We were pleasantly surprised by the food here. We went to bed with the heater on full-blast (cold from being outside all day), and woke up at 2am to a blazing hot hotel room! I went to open the front door to our room to let the cool night air in, and looked up to the Northern Lights - talk about lucky! We spent the next couple of hours photographing the Northern Lights… one of the most incredible experiences!
This was on September 3rd, so although most people come to Iceland to see the Northern Lights in the winter - they can be seen at other times of the year as long as it is dark and clear outside. Also, the forecast that night was only a 4 out of 10 - so if you really want to see the Northern Lights, we recommend setting an alarm and checking in the middle of the night, just in case! Also, something else to fully prepare you - when we saw the lights, they appear white to the naked eye, not green! They appear green in camera. We have heard sometimes they appear green or purple to the naked eye, but not this time. It was quite surprising to see them looking bright and white - a once in a lifetime experience!
