I bid farewell to Bitra Guesthouse’s friendly owners after breakfast and set off to visit both Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. The two waterfalls along the Southern Ring Road are among the most popular ones given their convenient locations. There are just so many beautiful waterfalls in Iceland that I had a hard time deciding on which to visit prior to the trip. I cherry-picked a few and hope to return and visit the remaining ones in the near future. I came to realize about Urridafoss waterfall on the map and decided to pay a visit, especially when it’s situated near to Bitra Guesthouse.

Urridafoss and the salmons

Urridafoss (The Waterfall of the Salmon as the signage shows) has the highest volume of water of all waterfalls in Iceland. The impressive stats are well-matched by the water-gushing sound even though the waterfall is not tall at all. It kept me wondering how the salmons made the upstream swim with all those powerful currents.

Seljalandsfoss and the cave

Next up is the well-known Seljalandsfoss waterfall and it can already be seen from quite a distance away. The water originates from the nearby volcanic glacier of Eyjafjallajokull before plunging down a 60 metres cliff top.

It’s a beautiful waterfall and what’s even more amazing is the cave behind the waterfall which shows a completely different view. But be prepared to get really wet especially with all that spraying water. The water droplets also make it such a pain for using cameras at the cave.

Plus, the surrounding of Seljalandsfoss looks equally beautiful too.

Eyjafjallajokull Visitor Centre

I stopped by Eyjafjallajokull Visitor Centre after a splendid visit to Seljalandsfoss. The mighty Eyjafjallajokull Volcano blew up in 2010, amid considered as small eruptions. But yet, the ash clouds seriously disrupted all of Europe’s air travels. A friendly Icelander whom I was chatting with, mentioned that some clueless people even blamed Iceland for causing those disruptions. What? I hope that’s a joke else I really don’t know what to say. I gave the educational videos a miss and headed straight to Skogafoss instead.

Skogafoss and the rainbow

A busload of tourists was leaving while I arrived at the carpark and that’s definitely a boon, given how popular Skogafoss is. The powerful waterfall is yet another stunning sight in Iceland and it rewards visitors with plenty of mists and sprays LOL. A nice rainbow showed up readily right after I have set up my tripod as if both Skogafoss and the rainbow were posing for me, how nice!

Thereafter, I made the climb up the hundreds of steps to see Skogafoss in action from the top. Those stairs lead up to a viewing platform perched at the cliff edge, which offers a great panoramic view of the surrounding. But the platform vibrates whenever people walk around so I have to look for an alternative for placing my tripod. Anyhow, it’s a totally different feel to see the waterfalls from atop and in close proximity.

And there’s the interesting-looking troll rock which faces the Skogafoss.

Black Sand Beaches and Skaftareldahraun

I stopped by to check out the famous black sand beaches along the southern coast before heading to my accommodation for the night. Both Kirkjufjara and Reynisfjara are known for the black sand and the rock formations near them. It’s best to keep a significant distance away from the ferocious waves! And the southernmost village of Vik along the Ring Road is one great place to refuel and stock up.

The moss-covered Lava field at Skaftareldahraun, which the Ring Road passes through, is some of the most unique-looking landscape. Its formation was the result of enormous eruptions which occurred 250 years ago. I followed the walking path around the Lava field to get up close with this bizarre environment and it’s amazing!

STAY: Fosshotel Nupar

Fosshotel Nupar is like situated in the middle of nowhere of Southern Iceland. The container-style building looks quite out of place with its surroundings too. But its location serves as a great base for exploring the southern parts of Iceland. The room was comfortable enough for a good night rest. I particularly like the views from the room and the side door to the outside was a nice touch. The toilet is very basic but serves its purpose. The breakfast can do with a little more choices though. The overall experience for me was positive.

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What are your thoughts about the Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss? Leave a comment and share it with me.

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