South of Iceland

after the Golden Circle it's time to go further towards Vik. Several stops are planned on the way, but here a view you'll see a lot in the area...extensive Lupin fields..LOVE them! :)

so leaving Kerid we stopped for lunch at one of the gas stations on the way to gain some energy. the people were super friendly so we even got free hot water for soup :)

Seljalandsfoss

First water fall we saw was also my favorite one of the day.
The waterfall has 60m and originates in the famous volcano that erupted Eyjafjallajokull. 
Cool thing about it is that you can go behind it. 
Recommendation: get waterproof cloths, if windy you will definitely get wet.  

Seljavallalaug Pool

You've probably heard or if not you can find out now, Iceland is a paradise for swimming in hot springs. While I was planning the trip to iceland I came across iheartreykjavik page who was recommending this place as a hidden gem. I would say it is and it is not in the same time. The walk there is nice, I mean look around :) so if you have time then you should go. Otherwise don't stress it's not that spectacular. Get your swimming suit along if you plan to take a bath. You have some sort of changing rooms (poorly maintained, but is on voluntary basis). There is no toilette â€‹over there.

one more thing. how to get here? Google Maps does not find the location on the gps, so what we did we searched for the pool on google maps and then dropped a pin. Plus once off-road you can follow map below:

photo credits to dana

Skogafoss

The waterfall has 60m and originates in the famous volcano that erupted Eyjafjallajokull. 
According to legend, the first Viking settler in the area, Prasi Porolfsson, buried a treasure in a cave behind the waterfall. The legend continues that locals found the chest years later, but were only able to grasp the ring on the side of the chest before it disappeared again. The ring was allegedly given to the local church. The old church door ring is now in a museum, though whether it gives any credence to the folklore is debatable. (Source)

you can climb on top of the waterfall for a great view. There are approx 385 big stairs and another 36 small ones to climb.

 Dyrholaey Arch & Reynisfjara

going further towards Vik, we arrived quite late at the Dyrholaey Arch so we only stopped at the side of Reynisfjara although late the light during this period of the year (June) is helping going around till late. 

Reynisfjara

This beached is considered to be the most beautiful black sand beach in Iceland and one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. 

Dyrholaey Arch

According to folklore, two trolls attempted to drag a ship to land but were turned to stone as daylight broke, turning them into the Reynisdrangar stacks, clearly visible from the beach. (source)

The waves at Reynisfjara are especially strong and unpredictable, and fatal accidents have occurred at this beach, so people are advised to take extra care when visiting the area. (Source)

and yes! this is a place where you can spot puffins but to get a picture of them you need a lens with quite some zoom 

Sony a5100, lens 50-210mm

went back to our guesthouse and managed to go to sleep around 1:30 AM .. with that light hard to realize you are actually tired. The morning we got up with this view 

cute, right? :) .. one last stop before starting our 3rd day plan

Vik

Vik lies directly south of the Myrdalsjokull glacier, which itself is on top of the Katla volcano. Katla has not erupted since 1918, and this longer than typical dormant period has led to speculation that an eruption may occur soon. An eruption of Katla could melt enough ice to trigger an enormous flash flood, potentially large enough to obliterate the entire town. The town's church, located high on a hill, is believed to be the only building that would survive such a flood. Thus, the people of Vik practice periodic drills and are trained to rush to the church at the first sign of an eruption. (Source)

walking through lupin fields to reach the beach

keep an eye on what's next ;)

Accomodation

Guesthouse Vellir
Vellir, Vik, Iceland
Phone:+354 487 1312
it was very expensive I would say, but it was the best option we found. Book as early as possible.