The south east of Iceland might be a sparsely populated part of the country, but its extraordinary landscapes mean that only a fool would rush through it. If you can spare a couple of days in the region, then we’d like to share an itinerary with you for a weekend escape in Southeast Iceland. Of course we’re excited to welcome you to Fjallsárlón, but there’s plenty more to keep you busy in the area.
One of the best ways to get around South East Iceland is to rent a car and explore on your own pace.
How to get here and get around
Public transport options in this part of Iceland are limited. After all, there’s not the year-round population to warrant a regular bus service. To get here from Reykjavik even in summer involves switching buses; there’s only one workable departure time and even then, you can expect the journey to take around seven hours.
Realistically, therefore, you are likely to have two choices: organised tours or self-drive. For the former, you might join a group tour departing from Reykjavik. Typically these call in at a number of South Iceland landmark locations – such as Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, as well as Reynisfjara beach near Vik – before continuing on to Southeast Iceland.
Though you’ll see the main sights, you won’t have a lot of time here as the bus returns to Reykjavik the same day. Instead, you might consider a private tour to give you longer at each location and enable you to set your own pace. You can use this article to help you formulate an itinerary.
You might also consider catching an Icelandair flight from Reykjavik’s domestic airport to Höfn; there are currently five flights a week. From there, you can rent a car from Budget or Hertz at the airport or Europcar in town. However, as most people hire their vehicle from Keflavik Airport, we’d recommend you book early as supply is much more limited at Höfn.
The Overnight Adventure in the Aurora Hut’s on Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon is a once in a lifetime experience.
Where to base yourself in Southeast Iceland
Where you opt to stay depends a lot on how you choose to define weekend escape. If you prefer the convenience of being in a built-up area, then you could base yourself in Höfn. There are a number of mid-range hotels offering comfortable and good value rooms, as well as guesthouse and hostel accommodation.
Just out of town, you’ll find the Fosshotel and several campsites, while there are also plenty of cabins and other self-catering options in the vicinity. You might prefer to be located closer to Fjallsárlón, and if so you might consider the upscale Hotel Jökulsárlón which is a 20 minute drive east of us along the ring road.
For something a little different, you could sign up for our Overnight Adventure. With space for two, our Aurora Huts make the ultimate base for a weekend escape. Glass walls and glass ceiling give you a fabulous view of the sky; in summer you can appreciate Iceland’s bright nights while in September you’ve a chance of witnessing the Northern Lights from your own bed.
To reach this secluded spot we’ll take you across the lake in one of our Zodiac boats. Arriving in this way sets the tone for an unforgettable stay in one of the most serene and beautiful parts of the lake. The huts have electricity and WiFi as well as a toilet. There’s no access to land overnight, so grab dinner before you board and sleep soundly before we pick you up again in the morning.
The Zodiac boat tour on Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon as become one of the most popular activities in South East Iceland.
Things to do
As with any Iceland itinerary, the key to getting the most out of your stay in Southeast Iceland is to balance sightseeing with activities. This prevents your time becoming one long stream of tick boxes as you dash from place to place simply to say you’ve seen it. We’ll do the same here with our suggestions; you can mix and match the things that appeal to create one full weekend.
• Take a boat trip on Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon
You can’t fail to notice Vatnajökull as you drive east towards Fjallsárlón. This enormous glacier covers around a tenth of the country. It has many outlet glaciers and it’s one of these, Fjallsjökull, which feeds our lagoon. One of the best ways to admire the surrounding landscape – a backdrop of mountains and of course the glacier itself, is to take a boat trip.
We take our guests out for a 45 minute trip in a Zodiac which is enough to experience the lake from different angles and get a close up look at the icebergs which have calved from the glacier. You might also see seals frolicking in the water; some like to haul out onto larger icebergs.
Once you return to shore, keep the camera handy as you’ll want to take a stroll around the shore of the lagoon. The intimate scale of Fjallsárlón compared to our neighbour Jökulsárlón, is something that many guests enjoy the most. If you prefer to be inside, then the picture windows of our restaurant, Frost, are ideal for taking in the view.
Hiking on Fjallsjökull glacier is an unforgettable experience where you can truly feel one with nature.
• Hike on the glacier
Iceland isn’t simply for looking at, however, and as well as taking in the view of the glacier you’ll want to get up onto it to experience it close up. To do so you need to book a guided tour. This can conveniently be arranged from Fjallsárlón with 4X4 transfer included, making it the perfect complement to your boat trip.
From a distance, the glacier appears to be white, but it’s a very different story once you are walking on it. Over the years, volcanic ash falls onto Iceland’s glaciers. Rocks and stones are plucked by the ice from the valley floor and sides, while weathered material also falls onto the glacier’s surface. All of this is evident in the ice, which may have stripes as a result.
Where ice is compressed, it might appear blue. If you peer down into one of its deep crevasses this is how the ice will often appear. In addition, the surface of the ice has hollows and ridges as well as holes called moulins. In summer meltwater sculpts the ice, so it’s anything but a uniform surface.
The South East of Iceland is one of the best places in the World to explore natural ice caves.
• Explore an Ice Cave
Exploring ice caves in South East Iceland is an unforgettable adventure. The Breiðamerkurjökull ice cave tours offer a unique opportunity to witness the stunning beauty of these natural formations. These tours are typically available from November to March, when the ice is stable and safe for exploration. During this season, the caves reveal their mesmerizing blue hues, created by the compression of ancient ice.
Guided tours ensure safety while providing fascinating insights into the geology and history of the glaciers. The experience of walking through these crystal-clear ice tunnels, surrounded by the serene and otherworldly landscape, is truly magical. Whether you’re an avid photographer or simply a nature enthusiast, exploring the ice caves of Breiðamerkurjökull is a must-do activity that showcases the raw and pristine beauty of Iceland’s natural wonders.
Don’t miss the chance to embark on this extraordinary journey.
The Diamond Beach (Breiðamerkursandur) is truly a unique place to visit and a must visit for photographers.
• Photograph the icebergs on Diamond Beach
A ten minute drive from Fjallsárlón gets you to Diamond Beach. The icebergs that once calved into Jökulsárlón float out to sea and are washed up on the beach by the tide. The volcanic black sand makes the ideal canvas for some stunning images where the white and blue ice really pop against the dark background.
As a consequence, this is a popular place for photographers. If you’re serious about getting some great shots, try to slot this visit in as close to sunrise or sunset as you can. The soft light at these times of day highlight the form and patterns of the ice and cast a beautiful yellow or pink glow over the scene.
It’s possible to combine these three activities into one day, so if you’re only planning to be in Southeast Iceland for the weekend, we’d suggest that you focus on this small area to avoid unnecessary backtracking. There are a number of other suggestions for your second day. Again for reasons of geography we’d recommend you stick to a defined area and travel east or west.
Vestrahorn mountain is one of many picturesque mountains in the South East area.
• East
The characterful port of Höfn lies within an easy drive of Fjallsárlón. It’s the self-styled lobster capital of Iceland – there’s even an annual festival celebrating this delicious crustacean. A visit to Höfn is the perfect excuse for a leisurely seafood lunch and a stroll along the coast later to walk it off.
One of Iceland’s most remarkable views is a stone’s throw away at Stokksnes. Vestrahorn is a striking sight, a mountain whose jagged ridge is often photogenically reflected in the wet sand. Wind ripples the surface of the beach and sand dunes complete the idyllic picture, making this a must-see.
Svartifoss waterfall is a beautiful waterfall with basalt column background, located in Skaftafell, Vatnajökull national park.
• West
If instead you’d prefer to turn west, then we’d suggest you focus your sights on Skaftafell. This delightful spot is part of the Vatnajökull National Park and is home to one of Iceland’s most jaw-dropping waterfalls. Reaching Svartifoss involves an easy hike; when you reach it, the sight of the almost symmetrical basalt columns that flank it makes this an extraordinarily attractive spot.
Close by, if you’re keen on history you might want to check out Sel. A farm has stood here since 1832, though the buildings you stand in front of today date from the turn of the 20th century. It’s now under the custodianship of the National Museum of Iceland who have restored the place and are responsible for maintenance. The turf roofs are especially worth seeing.
Alternatively, you might prefer to swap two legs for four and ride an Icelandic horse. One of the most convenient places to do so during your weekend in Southeast Iceland is in the shadow of Öræfajökull glacier and Hvannadalshnjúkur. Glacier Horses will lead you on a loop ride that not only gives you ample chance to admire the views but also try out the famous tölt, a gait that’s unique to Icelandic horses. Hlíðarbergshestar stables offer similar tours but are based further east.
As you can see, there’s more than enough to keep you occupied in Southeast Iceland during a weekend escape. If you’re already looking at visiting Fjallsárlón, why not stay a little longer in this remarkable part of the country?
