Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
two to three daily) serve Flúðir.
THE SOUTH
As you work your way east from Reykjavík, Rte 1 (the Ring Road) emerges into austere
volcanic foothills punctuated by surreal steam vents, around Hveragerði, then swoops
through a flat, wide coastal plain, full of verdant horse farms and greenhouses, before the
landscape suddenly begins to grow wonderfully jagged, after Hella and Hvolsvo
̈
llur.
Mountains thrust upwards on the inland side, some of them volcanoes wreathed by mist
(Eyjafjallajökull, site of the 2010 eruption), and the first of the awesome glaciers appears,
as enormous rivers like the Þjórsá cut their way to the black-sand beaches rimming the At-
lantic.
Throughout, roads pierce deep inland, to realms of lush waterfall-doused valleys such as
Þjórsádalur and Fljótshlíð, and awe-inspiring volcanoes such as Hekla. Two of the most
renowned inland spots are Landmannalaugar, where vibrantly coloured rhyolite peaks
meet bubbling hot springs; and Þórsmörk, a forested valley tucked safely away from the
brutal northern elements under a series of wind-foiling ice caps. They are linked by the
famous Laugavegurinn hike, Iceland's most popular trek. Though these areas lie inland on
roads that are sometimes impassable by standard vehicles, most visitors access them on
tours or amphibious buses from the southern Ring Road. Þórsmörk, one of Iceland's most
popular hiking destinations, can be done as a day trip.
Public transport (and traffic) is solid along the Ring Road, which is studded with inter-
esting settlements: Hveragerði, famous for its geothermal fields and hot springs; Skógar,
the leaping-off point for Þórsmörk; and Vík, surrounded by glaciers, vertiginous cliffs and
black beaches. South of the Ring Road the tiny fishing villages of Stokkseyri and Eyrar-
bakki are refreshingly local feeling. The south coast is also filled with family farms, some
rich with saga heritage, offering lovely rural guesthouses.
The popular southwest area (
www.south.is
)
is developing quickly and infrastructure
keeps improving. Nevertheless, it gets very busy in high season, so advanced accommoda-
tion booking is essential.
