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Once your Zodiac boat ride among icebergs is done, or your glacier hike on Fjallsjökull is completed, you can expect that your heart will still be racing from all the excitement. As you may imagine, this is not a regular travel excursion you ordinarily book on your trips, so you should expect your soul to crave more.
Luckily, the adventure does not have to end at Fjallsárlón! Since the road east to Höfn is one of Southeast Iceland’s most dramatic stretches and comes with hidden gems, wild landscapes, and flavors, you will have the chance to expand your experience and make it even more unforgettable.
So, if you need some guidelines on how to make the most of your South Coast Iceland drive, you should keep reading.
After your glacier tour, you will most likely want to warm up and refuel.
For this purpose, you can stop at Hali Country Hotel, a favorite with locals and travelers alike. Their restaurant serves up hearty Icelandic classics, hot drinks, and irresistible cakes, which is just what you need after a morning on the ice.
Also, while you are there, you should not miss the Þórbergssetur museum, which honors one of Iceland’s most celebrated writers, Þórbergur Þórðarson, and the fascinating local culture of Suðursveit.
And, believe us, it does not matter whether you are a literature lover or just want to soak up some Icelandic history. It is truly worth spending 30–60 minutes there.
If your muscles are feeling the glacier hike, head 40 minutes east to Hoffell Hot Pots.
Five geothermal tubs await to provide the ultimate experience. They are set in a stark, stunning landscape, so you can soak, unwind, and let the adventure sink in.
If you ask us, there is no better place to relive your favorite moments from Fjallsárlón, or to plan your next one.
An hour’s drive from Fjallsárlón, the fishing town of Höfn is your gateway to Southeast Iceland.
It’s known as Iceland’s lobster capital, and Höfn’s restaurants serve up world-famous langoustine. So, if you are a lobster fan, you will fall in love with this town. Also, if you visit in June, make sure you do not miss the lobster festival!
However, even if you are not keen on lobsters, there is plenty to do in Höfn. You can wander the harbor, snap photos of historic houses, and watch colorful boats bobbing in the Atlantic. Höfn is also your base for exploring Iceland’s East Fjords, with their dramatic mountains, quirky villages, and endless photo ops.
Before you hit Höfn, you can include Stokksnes in your Iceland Ring Road stops for breathtaking views of Vestrahorn. This is one of Iceland’s most iconic, photogenic mountains. So, you will not want to miss it!
You will see black sand dunes, wild waves, and sharp peaks that make this a dream for photographers and aurora chasers.
In winter, it is one of the best places to watch the northern lights dance above the Atlantic. So, if you visit during the cold months, this is your spot!
Tucked beneath the jagged, black peaks of Vestrahorn on Iceland’s remote Stokksnes Peninsula sits one of the country’s most photogenic surprises: a Viking village that was never actually home to Vikings at all. Built originally as a film set for a project that never made it to screen, the settlement has since found new life on camera, appearing in productions like Netflix’s The Witcher: Blood Origin.
The village doesn’t disappoint up close. Turf-roofed longhouses huddle together as if bracing against the Atlantic wind, their grass roofs a clever nod to how real Icelandic settlers once insulated their homes. A weathered wooden warship and a dark, half-buried dungeon complete the scene, and since 2022, a full-scale replica of the historic Gokstad ship has sat along the shoreline, oars resting as though its crew just stepped ashore.
What makes Stokksnes unforgettable, though, is the setting itself. The village sits on a working family farm, sandwiched between black volcanic sand and the sharp, dramatic spires of Vestrahorn rising behind it. It’s an easy ten-minute walk from the on-site Viking Café, but the payoff feels anything but ordinary, equal parts film set, photographer’s dream, and a strange, beautiful pocket of the Icelandic coast.
Iceland is about glaciers, so if you are craving more glacier action, it is completely understandable to want to swing by Hoffellsjökull for more hiking and ice views.
The area is less crowded than bigger glacier spots, meaning you will often have the wilderness to yourself.
If you have time, you may want to go further east into the fjords. Seyðisfjörður’s rainbow street and charming church are a must, while Borgarfjörður Eystri is a summer paradise for puffin-lovers.
So, if you want an adventure after the glaciers, you should definitely consider the fjords.
Since Southeast Iceland is an adventure by itself, it goes without saying that your trip does not have to end with a single tour. That is why our local, expert guides run a range of adventures for every type of traveler:
Weather in this part of Iceland is famously unpredictable, so be sure to pack layers – waterproofs, warm clothes, and sturdy boots will help you stay comfortable no matter what the skies or you decide to do.
Also, if you decide to explore Höfn without a particular plan, take into account that gas stations can be few and far between, meaning you need to top off your tank whenever you have the chance. You surely do not want to get caught on empty during your South Coast Iceland drive.
Moreover, as you journey from Fjallsárlón to Höfn, remember this stretch of road deserves to be savored, not rushed. Each stop along the way offers something unique, so slow down and give yourself time to linger over the views, the flavors, and the stories.
If you are a photographer or simply love a stunning view, sunrise and sunset will reward you with magical light, painting the glaciers, icebergs, and ocean in unforgettable gold and pink hues.
The stretch from Fjallsárlón to Höfn is not just a drive but rather a journey through Southeast Iceland’s wild heart. So, no matter what you decide to do- soaking in a hot pot, chasing waterfalls, savoring lobster, or hiking new glacier trails – you can count on every stop being another chapter in your Icelandic epic.
Ready for more? Contact us and let our local guides help you craft the adventure of a lifetime. We will make sure your Iceland journey is as bold and unforgettable as the land itself.
At Fjallsárlón, we are all about adventure, wild landscapes, and getting up close to Iceland’s raw nature. Our home turf is Southeast Iceland, and we have plenty of activities to offer, but we also believe everyone with extra time should explore Iceland to the fullest. So, for those with a week to spare, North Iceland… Continue reading Spend a Week in North Iceland Without Rushing
FjallsárlónAt Fjallsárlón, we know a thing or two about epic Icelandic adventures. While our home base is the breathtaking Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon in the southeast, we are also passionate about exploring every wild corner of this incredible country, including the untamed wonders of Northern Iceland.
FjallsárlónAs explorers and locals at Fjallsárlón, we spend our days surrounded by icebergs, glaciers, and the endless drama of Southeast Iceland’s wild landscapes. And, if there is one thing we see over and over, it is travelers zipping through the region on a rushed South Coast itinerary – snapping photos at Jökulsárlón and then dashing back to Reykjavík.
Fjallsárlón
