Epic Travel → Europe → Iceland → Southern Iceland → Reynisfjara

Location: Skógar/Vík area, Southern Iceland

Time Required: 1 hour

Red Tape/Notes: The currents and undertow can be particularly strong here, and deaths seem to occur nearly every year. Be careful while you’re walking on the beach!

What’s Nearby?: Seljavallalaug, Skógafoss, Kvernufoss, Sólheimasandur Plane Crash, Dyrhólaey, Fjaðrárgljúfur

If you’ve looked at pictures of Iceland, you’ve probably seen pictures of this beach – it’s widely considered to be the most impressive black beach in Iceland (though please note the beach is made of pebbles and not sand), running along a rugged coastline which starts out with the amazing Halsanef – the basalt cliff composed of regular square stacks of increasing height, resembling some kind of geometric step pyramid. Towards the end of the beach, particularly if you scramble around on the rocks at that end, you get increasingly better views of the Reynisdrangar, the imposing pair of rugged basalt cliffs a short distance out to sea. On the other end of the beach (the Halsanef side), you can see Dyrhólaey a short distance away, and even make out the arch. This is a popular spot, so be prepared for company. Side note of names for this area – I’ve seen this place called Reynishverfi, Reynisfjara, and Reynisdrangar. I think Reynishverfi refers to the general area, but I’m not entirely sure. I am sure that the suffix “fjara” means beach (therefore “Reynisfjara” is talking specifically about the beach), and the suffix “drangar” means “pillars” (so Reynisdrangar is referring specifically to the basalt pillars).

Epic Travel → Europe → Iceland → Southern Iceland → Reynisfjara