Summer on Ice Tour: Exploring Iceland's Southern Splendor

Your flight arrives at Keflavik International Airport on the Reykjavik Peninsula. The stubble-like grass around the landing airfield leads to the indigo blue water of the sea. Your private transfer meets you at baggage claim and escorts you to the most northerly capital city in the world. Buildings shine with brightly painted outer walls as the aroma of grilled sausage emanates from the small stands scattered along the streets. Even in the summer, the evening air is crisp. Locals frequent chic bars and bohemian cafes, blending the cultural atmosphere of a small city with the community ambiance of a local town.

Snowcapped mountains fill the horizon and outline the city against the churning waters of the sea. Check into your hotel, and then stroll through the streets of the city and find quaint charm along with a Scandinavian sense of architecture and ambiance. Hallgrimskirkja is the largest church in the country and stands atop Skolavorduhaed Hill. The statue in front of the church depicts Leif Ericson, who landed on the shores of North America in the 11th-century. The church was erected in white concrete between the 1940s and 1980s, and the spire is visible from more than 12 miles away. The elevator leads to the top of the tower, reaching a height of nearly 245 feet above the city. Two columns framing the tower represent volcanic basalt, and you have an unadulterated view of the city, the central lake, and the distant mountains.

In the morning, the sunlight glints off of the pearled façade of the church. The white hues imitate the snow atop the nearby mountains. After breakfast, your private transfer escorts you to the airport for your brief flight to Höfn, a village on the southern tip of Iceland. You will reach the head of the Ring Road and make your way to Vatnajökull Glacier, the largest ice cap in Iceland extending 3,100 square miles with an average thickness of 1,300 feet. Meet your guide at the base camp located on a small farm outside of Höfn.

Mount a snowmobile and take laps in circles on the estate before venturing out to the snowy reaches of the glacier. The landscape turns lunar and rugged, taking you upwards to the mountainous ridges as you look behind you for views of the lush valleys. The region contains some of the highest peaks in Iceland, including Hvannadalshnjúkur, which reaches a height of 6,920 feet above sea level. Bits of the snow drift into the air as you travel across the undulating expanse; the wind brushes against your cheeks as the icy texture of the ground rises and falls with the surrounding foothills. Explore the glacier to discover the rugged, yet captivating, beauty of Iceland.

The reflective water of the harbor laps at the shoreline with sporadic licks. Fishing boats return from the sea with nets filled with langoustine. See the rising stretch of Vatnajökull’s façade, and a collection of glaciers, from the shoreline. Arctic terns dive into the frigid sea and reappear along the surface holding fresh-caught fish. After breakfast, return to the Ring Road and make your way to the town of Vik. The scenic route takes you to Jökulsárión Glacial Lagoon, which encompasses nearly seven square miles of surface area. The water formed after the Breidamerkurjökull Glacier receded from the Atlantic Ocean.

Now on the deepest lake in Iceland with a maximum depth of 660 feet, board a zodiac boat and venture into the water.  Dip your fingers into the lagoon, and let the frigid water envelop your skin. Icebergs sprout from the water’s surface and glow an icy blue. At times, the icebergs resemble frozen mountaintops with conical tips. The water has deteriorated the lower sections of the ice creating caverns and archways. The zodiac can get close to the glacier, allowing you to witness the height of the glacial wall and the size of calving blocks of ice in the water, some reaching heights of 98 feet. The milky white overtakes the bright blue of the ice when the light and crystals begin to fade.

The black sand of the beach next to the village of Vik contrasts with the shimmering water. The coloration stems from the volcanic activity around Iceland, which has paved the southern beach in basalt fragments. After breakfast, make your way to the coastline to trek along the water. On the high ridge above Vik stands the Reynisfjall, situated at the edges of the black-sand beach. The basalt columns resemble staggered building blocks towering above the shore. Cave pockets open the twists of basalt cliffs as the sea crashes against the rugged coastline. In the summer, puffins shoot out from the cliffs and dive into the water.

The natural rock formations off of the shore look like a nefarious castle. In the distance, see the edges of Dyrhólaey, an archway at the edge of the promontory carved by the elements. Basalt columns frame the entrance to the famous cave of Hálsanefshellir as the sea breeze brushes across the coarse basalt sand; the salty aroma of the sea blends with the mineral scent of the cliffs. In the town of Skogar, visit a museum to find exhibits covering all aspects of Icelandic life, including a collection of restored historic buildings and antique communications.

The dizzyingly tall waterfall of Skogafoss splashes 82 feet into the waiting pool outside of the charming village of Skogar. In the summer, the surrounding landscape radiates with lush greenery. Make your way to the Þjórsárdalur Valley, the easternmost alley in South Iceland. The flatland provides a stunning view to the Sanda and Fossa Rivers meandering through the birchwood trees. The remarkable crater of Hekla rises above the valley floor at a height of 4,882 feet, as part of the volcanic ridge. Hekla has erupted more than 20 times since the 9th-century, including a nearly two-week eruption period in the year 2,000 BC.

Haifoss is Iceland’s second highest waterfall with a drop of 400 feet. The water drapes over the layers of black and brown cliff, splashing down onto the pumice base. The culture of Iceland is as captivating and historic as the landscape. Visit a reconstruction of a Viking longhouse during the settlement era for an introduction to the regional history before arriving at the ruins of Stöng. The Viking-era farmstead contains three buildings, including a longhouse draped in grass with a stone base. The actual town of Stöng was covered in ash after a 12th-century volcanic eruption. The reconstruction was erected to celebrate the 1,100th anniversary of Iceland’s settlement in the 9th-century.

Submerged volcanoes formed the Westman islands more than 11 millennia ago, with Heimaey the only inhabited island. Two looming volcanoes frame the town as the conical peak of Helgafell creates a perfect crater. The blood-red color of Eldfell imitates the magma bubbling beneath the surface. At Eldheimar, find more than 400 buildings buried underneath ash and cooled lava from an eruption in the 1970s. A new museum has exhibits revolving around a home excavated from beneath more than 160 feet of pumice. The multimedia display provides insight into a volcanic eruption and its aftermath, doubling the scenery with compelling footage of eyewitness accounts. Outside the museum, the grandeur of the landscape and sea contrast with the tumultuous past.

Landakirkja, the town’s church, stands at the center of town. During the 1970s, lava from the eruptions stopped just short of the church doors. Today, the carvings decorate the wooden doors with features of island history. Boats wade in the harbor current as the bright colors stand out against the deep brown and verdant grass of the cliffs. Near the harbor, your guide leads you to the cliff to see a version of island cultural life known as Sprangan. It’s common for men on the island to lead visitors to the cliff face to let them try flying through the air by the end of a rope.  Hold onto the rope as hard as you can and swing along the cliff, guided by locals to help lead the way. Afterward, you board your boat and venture to Storhofdi, a small island 400 feet above sea level and home to an abundance of sea birds.

The first lighthouse appeared on the island in the early 20th-century. The greatest wind speed in the world of 119 knots was measured on the island in the 1990s, which led to waves reaching up to 96 feet tall. The puffins burrow between three and seven feet into the soil to lay their eggs; chicks hatch in the months of August and September. When the chicks hatch, they often venture to the lights in town where local children scoop them up in boxes and return them to the colony at daylight. The southern tip of the island contains more than 700,000 puffins. The puffin’s wingspan can reach a length of 21 inches; their bill is bright orange set against a black outline and white face.

In the morning, the sunlight washes over the peaks of Helgafell and Eldfell, returning a sense of wonder to the outline of town. Venture to the top of Eldfell Volcano, trekking up the 672-foot slope. At the peak, enjoy the panoramic view of the island and the sea. The mainland sparkles with snow at the top of Myrdalsjokull, an ice cap covering the active volcano of Katla. The aroma of bread emanates from the soil as women use the heated ground to bake bread, burying the dough beneath the burning ashes of the active crater.

Descend the mountain and visit the gardens of Gaujulundur. The lush and colorful flowers contrast with the lunar landscape of the crater. Continue to discover beauty and charm across the island as soon you will make your way to the airport for the brief flight to Keflavik International Airport. Upon arrival, check-in with the airline and continue your flight home.