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Southern Iceland: A Day at the Black Beaches of Vík | Road Trip Part 3

Southern Iceland: A Day at the Black Beaches of Vík | Road Trip Part 3

A Gay Couple exploring South Iceland Vík during a Road Trip Part 3. The mystic landscape of the world-famous Black Beaches of Iceland is the base for uncountable stories, fairy tales, and sagas of the land of trolls and elves all over the biggest most northern island of Europe. Specifically, the South of Iceland around the town Vík marks a unique spot to experiences those mysteries of the lava and rock formations of Reynisdrangar, for example. Actually, you have to be there to truly experience the magic of nature. The small South Icelandic municipality Vík is definitely worth a stop on an Iceland Road Trip and is often at least worth a one-day trip from Reykjavík. Wait, did somebody say the word Puffins? We were lucky to see the last national birds of Iceland of the season. You cannot imagine something more adorable, but look at yourself! Join us on our day in South Iceland at the black beach in Vík and 3rd part of our round trip Iceland with some wonderful travel photos and enjoy South Iceland through a couple of men’s eyes before we will continue our trip to Glacier Ice of Skaftafell National Park.

A Gay Couple exploring South Iceland Vík Black Beach © CoupleofMen.com
A Gay Couple exploring South Iceland Vík Black Beach © Coupleofmen.com

From Waterfalls & Golden Circle to the Black Beach of Vík

Coming from the Golden Circle Tour, the landscape of Iceland is changing rapidly: almost every minute while driving along the retrieved Icelandic coastline, nature began to look different but extraordinarily beautiful. Cars, houses, and humans became so small compared to the cliffs and mountains of South Iceland on the left side while the view over the northern sea on the right side seemed to fade into an endless horizon. The sun points through the cloudy sky and gives an unforgettable show for us two gay travelers on our road trip around Iceland. A thing we both never experienced so close: the Skyfall over the mountain and rock formations spotted in sunlight. Behind an unreviewable mountain formation, we drove downhill entering the small South Icelandic town Vík with the remarkable blue chapel. Welcome in South Iceland, welcome in Vík.

Our tent on the campsite | Gay Couple exploring South Iceland Vík Black Beach © CoupleofMen.com
Our tent on the campsite in Vík © CoupleofMen.com

The South Icelandic coast of Vík

Vík in the middle of the Mýrdalur valley is a collection of a couple of houses in the shadow of the mountains in the North and the open sea in the south. Some guesthouses, little shops, and the small church Víkurkirkja together with dark clouds and rain showers creating a mystical atmosphere. The campsite Tjaldsvæðið inVík í Mýrdal is located directly next to the stone edge with a small round building with showers, toilets, and a room to sit, cook and connect with other travelers. Although the campsite left its best days already behind, the morning view of the sunrise and open waterside is an astonishing and stunning experience not to miss on a South Icelandic day in Vík. For dinner, we can recommend the restaurant Strondin Bistro and Bar with its delicious self-made pasta and original Icelandic burger. A tip for going out for dinner: wait until you be seated. The night was windy and rainy, though. But the sunny view out of the tent the next morning… well… No words needed. Have a look at the picture.

Morning view from the campsite | Gay Couple exploring South Iceland Vík Black Beach © CoupleofMen.com
Morning view from the campsite | South Iceland Vík Black Beach © CoupleofMen.com

Waking up with Icelandic Music

Getting up at around 7 – 8 am had its positive: More time to discover Iceland with daylight because the sun goes down already at around 6 pm in September. The plan for each today: taking a hot shower, packed our tent and stuff in the car, and start the discovery of the day.

To get into the right morning mood we loved to listen to our Spotify Iceland Playlist with Íkorni, Kate Bush, and Yunip, simply perfect for our road trip. 

Lonely Black Beach with Sunrise in South Iceland

On our way back west again over the mountain for about 1 kilometer, we took the first road on the left towards the coast. The road leads directly to a parking spot next to a small restaurant. Warm packed due to windy weather the way guides us on the black sand for a South Icelandic Day in Vík.

The last Puffins & stunning rock formations at Black Beach | Gay Couple exploring South Iceland Vík Black Beach © CoupleofMen.com
The last Puffins & stunning rock formations at Black Beach © CoupleofMen.com

For all of you who know the Netflix series sense8, here is the spot they shot some of the most beautiful scenes of the first season. Basaltic rock formations, smaller and bigger caves, and the big round or oval stones of the Black Beach Reynisfjara making this place one of the most beautiful spots we have ever seen. Did you ever listen to a concert of stones created by the waves taking and bringing back the cast stones? The music of nature with the strong roaring wind and the stones floating back and forward… Yes, speechless moments full of deep sensual moments absorbing the calmness of our South Icelandic Day in Vík?

Watching the last Puffins of the season

Sure you know about the national bird and icon of the Nation of Iceland? Exactly, Puffins. These small clumsy birds with shining orange feet, a black coat with white chest, and bright red beak are also known for being good divers and are normally detectable in Iceland from spring until the end of August. Our time to see them was over, but apparently, luck was with us.

Karl busy with Puffin watching in Vík | Gay Couple exploring South Iceland Vík Black Beach © CoupleofMen.com
Karl busy with Puffin watching in Vík | Gay Couple exploring South Iceland Vík Black Beach © Coupleofmen.com

Coming around the corner of the beach towards the cliffs gave us the chance to see hundreds of Puffins flying around and catching the small fishes before landing like clumsy flying penguins on the cliffs again. Especially Karl couldn’t get enough of them… Don’t miss seeing them fly and land on our YouTube video!

Reynisdrangar: The Saga of Trolls & a petrified ship

But do not stop just at the beginning of the beach, even when walking on the stones along is difficult. Keep on walking facing the 3 rocks formation of Reynisdrangar close to the beach. With low water, you can pass a small tunnel cave reaching the side of the coast with a remarkable view over Vík and Reynisdrangar. Is there a special spot for bird watching in Vík? Yes, there is! You will find an almost isolated part of the Black Beach as an ideal spot to watch seabirds and puffins. Mystical, magical, and only reachable by climbing over the cliffs!

Following the Icelandic Saga, the 3 rocks formation was a former ship captured by trolls close to Iceland. Well… slow trolls obviously because they couldn’t manage to be back from their pirate trip before sunrise. And so, the Saga of Reynisdrangar and the 3 rocks was born.

Icelandic Breakfast with a view (like a painting)

Two hours later and starving we arrived back in our car. On the other end of the bay, we spotted a high stone formation with a platform and a white building on top. Curious as we are, we took the road back west, taking the next road towards the coast. And there it was: our private breakfast spot. It should not be our last breakfast stop outside in the sun with a stunning view over the mountains in the north. Equipped with our own and the rented camping stuff from Iceland Camping Equipment Rental in Reykjavík, we could eat where and whenever we wanted to! Have a nice meal!

Breakfast in South Iceland | Gay Couple exploring South Iceland Vík Black Beach © CoupleofMen.com
Breakfast in South Iceland © Coupleofmen.com

On top of Iceland with a White Lighthouse

The second time we were happy to have a 4×4 to do our road trip once around Iceland: Prepared to have stormy weather on top of the mountain, we had to pass a gravel road with huge holes. And there we were: on top of the half-island Dyrhólaey, no wind at all and just an incredible view.

Lighthouse Dyrhólaeyjarviti with view over the Black Beach | Gay Couple exploring South Iceland Vík Black Beach © CoupleofMen.com
Lighthouse Dyrhólaeyjarviti with a view over the Black Beach © Coupleofmen.com

The pure white lighthouse Dyrhólaeyjarviti, the deep blue sea, and the cloudless clear blue sky – a perfect moment on our South Icelandic Day in Vík. The walk from our car towards the coast of the world-famous peninsula Dyrhólaey with the “rock bridge” or so-called “Door whole island” and an overall stunning view south over the North Atlantic.

Sweet & Salty Nature spectacles & Lava Caves

Driving back downhill further towards another part of the beach, we reached quietly a busy part of the coast. Well, busy in Iceland simply means the 20 cars on a parking area. 😉 Here at Kirkjufjara beach, where lava met the ocean, intense colors, different kind of colored stones and huge lava caves invited us to spend hours while sweet water from the glaciers flows into the salty ocean.

Walking along the wide almost lonely beach, we couldn’t get enough of lava basalt caves, the intense, unreal colors while sitting on top of cliffs with a stunning view. Just be, that’s the motto here at Kirkjufjara beach close to Vík. Be and take a deep breath of the intensity of nature.

Campsite Kirkjubær & Public Pool with a view

To be honest, we cannot say how long we spent time in Vík. The only thing we know… It was really late to keep on driving to our planned next stop. We decided to cut the day and reach the next bigger town Skaftárhreppur with 2 campsites (campsite Kirkjubær II & Kleifar) and a public pool, hotels, a shop, gas station, and restaurant. We decided on the campsite Kirkjubær II that was well maintained, clean, and close to the public pool. Do a mountain hike and enjoy the view over the valley or do as we did: take a bath in the small public pool with a view over a waterfall while in the sunset. A perfect end to a perfect day. PS: We would have loved to take pictures of us sitting in the 40 °C pool watching the waterfall during sunset. But we didn’t: Use your imagination and trust in our words. Try it, it is really worth it!

Iceland Road Trip Part 3: Exploring South Iceland Vík Black Beach

As mentioned in our TOP 13 HIGHLIGHTS OF ICELAND the town Vík and the area around are definitely worth a stop, for an hour or even way longer. Our tip: take your time for Vík!

But what happened on day 4 of our 21 days road trip around Iceland after our South Icelandic Day in Vík? We drove through lava fields, over one-way bridges towards the ice of Skaftafell National Park.  Do you want to know more? Stay tuned… On Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

See you on Ice! Karl & Daan.

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Mini Khanna

Tuesday 23rd of May 2017

You seem to have done two whale watching trips , one at Dalvik and one at Husavik. Which one do you recommend. we were planning to skip Husavik and stay a day longer at Myvatan or Hofn. But would love some advise from you before taking the final call.

Karl Krause

Tuesday 23rd of May 2017

Hello Mini! Thank you for your comment and question about our Whale Watching Tours! :) You are absolutely right: we did whale watching trips in Dalvik and Husavik. First of all: there have been both unique and the chance of seeing whales is almost 100% (they can guarantee 99% though). In Dalvik, we had much better weather conditions and next to the seeing a lot of Humpback Whales, we did deep-sea fishing with an additional barbecue back at the harbor. Delicious fresh fish with a great view. Husavik was like a 45 minutes drive from Myvatn. Since we had bad weather there, it felt like a Whale hunting trip in the Storm. A bit like Moby Dick, but of course without the real hunting part. If you wanna skip Husavik but still wanna do a Whale Watching trip, Dalvik is a great choice: https://coupleofmen.com/4857-humpback-whale-watching-dalvik-north-iceland/