SI 3 – Day Tour – Reykjavík to Klaustur via the South Mountain Road

Departure west to east from Reykjavik not later than 9am heading east along the main road via the village of Hveragerði (coffee stop available), the small town of Selfoss and the village of Hella. There we turn left for a stop at Keldur, an old turf house where you can experience how Icelanders lived in the past. For centuries, turf houses were the homes of the majority of Icelanders. The turf farm at Keldur is an excellent example of old Icelandic architecture and housing, that blends almost seamlessly into the natural landscape.

From there we continue on to Syðri Fjallabaksleið (F210), one of the most remote roads in Iceland, an old highland route north of Mýrdalsjökull glacier that winds through beautiful landscapes and across small rivers and streams. We have brief photo- and stretch stops on the way and then cross the river Bláfjallakvísl and then head on to Mælifellssandur, a vast desert of volcanic sand just north of the glacier and continue on to the beautiful mountain Mælifell.

From there we cross the river Hólmsá and can go for a hike to Hólmsárlón and Rauðibotn, two marvelous very remote places if you wish (about 2 km. walk each way). We look at the Axlarfoss waterfall and continue on top of the mountains down to the Klaustur area for an early dinner before heading back east to west to Reykjavík via road 1. This trip can also be done in reverse, heading straight to the Klaustur area for lunch and then continuing on the South Mountain Road back to Reykjavik.