The Diamond beach and crystal ice caves are approximately 4.5hours away from Reykjavik by car, without stopping, but don't worry, there's plenty to see and do along the way. If you're looking to reach one of the most visited landmarks in Iceland, but need a route then you've come to the right place, read on to find hidden gems and beautiful pit stops along the way.
How to get there:
From Reykjavik take the ring road 1, east, for roughly 4.5 hours. It is a relatively easy route as you just follow the same road for 230 miles. Just be sure to watch out for the ever changing speed limits.
Day 1
Set of early from Reykjavik to ensure you have as much time sight seeing before it gets dark (depending on what time of year, sunlight hours can vary from 24hrs to just 4hours). 40 minutes into the drive you will reach Sellfoss, perhaps one of the last stops for a toilet or for last minute snacks for a good hour or so.
Here you will find Alma Bakari. A bakery full of nutella filled donuts, pizza slices and really good coffee. Our next suggested stop is Gljúfrabúi 'the hidden waterfall'. Located 150meters from the famous Seljalandsfoss (the one you can walk behind), Gljufrabui looks poor compared to others at first glance, but don't let that dishearten you. As you get closer and closer its true beauty is revealed. It is within a cave like formation, where you have to tip toe across the stream to get closer. Opt to also see Seljalandsfoss or save it for the journey back.
Next stop Vik. This is a great stop for some food and to stretch your legs, walk up to the well photographed church 'Vik i Myrdal Church' or head down to the black sand beach. Nearby we also found 'Skool beans bus cafe' It is bright yellow you can't miss it! After this point, it it another 2 hours until you reach .Jökulsárlón, here lies the bridge between the Glacier Lagoon and the Diamond Beach. Be sure to check the check tides levels or be in for a fun challenge when taking a picture with the waves crashing so close by. We opted to witness both during high tide and the next morning. Feeling tired after a full day of driving and sightseeing? Stay the night at an airbnb or visit Glacier lagoon Fosshotel. This hotel was beautiful but not budget friendly for us at upwards of £74, luckily we had been given a hotel voucher so it was feasible. Despite this, Hof, Iceland is a beautiful location to unwind and relax with the ocean in the foreground and the mountains and glacier behind. We would also recommend checking out bungalo.is, for cottage getaways in Iceland, or stay in a campervan. Please note, that in Iceland RVs such as campervans, tent trailers, vans, and motorhomes can no longer stay overnight outside of designated camping areas.
Top sights from Day 1:
Sellfoss
Gljúfrabúi
Vik
Jökulsárlón
Day 2
On our second day we woke up early to go on a tour of the Crystal Ice Cave; our main reason for travelling so far south! This tour was an amazing opportunity to experience natural beauty of our surroundings, both safely and without detriment to the Glacier in which the cave resides on. The cave was larger than we had ever expected, every step we took into the cave changed the view immensely. From what looks like fixed bubbles, little waterfalls to flowing streams, it was definitely worth the 4.5hours drive the day before. You can find out more about our excursion to the crystal ice cave and the environmental impact soon on our blog.
After this experience warm up by grabbing some hot food/hot drink at a take out van near the Glacier Lagoon. Sadly for us due to Covid-19 reducing tourism, the van was not there due to lack of business. Instead, we brought plenty of supplies to keep us going on our way back to Reykjavik. You can extend this trip by going round the whole of the ring road 1, or head back the way you came like we did if you are short for time.
Following from this why not stop back off at the Diamond Beach, I assure you it will look completely different.
"When the ice melts from the icebergs in the glacier lagoon, it travels, in smaller pieces that end up in the ocean, only to be pushed back into the nearby shore of black sand, giving its name 'The Diamond Beach' They glisten in the sunshine, varying in size, shape and colour."
To keep the long drive back interesting, Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is 1 hour 30 minutes from the lagoon, towards Reykjavik. Stay on the 1 and then turn right onto 206 Holtsvegur, where after a few minutes you will reach a car park. This canyon is said to have been formed at the end of the last ice age when glaciers retreated forming glacial rivers that carried sediments carving out this spectacular canyon. Here there are also toilet facilities, but be aware, they are sometimes closed by the park rangers. If you are hoping to find an 'álfahús' then you have come to the right place, an added bonus of visiting this canyon was stumbling across these beautiful red elf houses. Their locations seem to be kept a secret, so all we can say is keep an eye out on your journey from lagoon to canyon.
Vik is the next closest town, so be sure to stop there for a hot meal if the food vans don't take your fancy. We can thoroughly recommend Smiðjan Brugghús and The Soup Company. 2 more hours on the road and you are back in Reykjavik, where you can park the car and rest up after a jam packed weekend of travelling.
Ultimately I would recommend 2 nights and 3 days rather than just the 1 night, but if you're short on time it is definitely achievable.
Top sights from Day 2:
Crystal Ice Cave
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
Alfahús
Socks and Sandals