Strokkur and the Waterfalls Day 4

Day 4: Strokkur and the Waterfalls

We are unintentionally awakened by an alarm on a tablet and can’t continue sleeping at 5 AM. In Germany, it’s 7 AM, and I had fallen asleep by 9 PM. When we leave the campsite shortly after 7 AM, the other campers are still asleep. Our first stop is the geothermal area Haukadalur, which is 45 minutes away. Here, we find the Strokkur Geyser. We witness it erupting multiple times. At intervals of 5-10 minutes, it shoots water about 25 to 30 meters high. It’s thrilling to experience this spectacle, and we are almost alone. Once, the fountain erupts three times in quick succession. Several other bubbling pools can also be found nearby. The water is about 80-100°C hot. The outside temperature is 7°C, and my hands are freezing while holding the camera.
Afterwards, we drive 15 minutes to Gullfoss waterfall. The waterfall consists of two steps, with the first being 11 m high and the second 21 m high. Several viewpoints bring us close to the edge of the waterfall. It’s consistently impressive how powerfully the water plunges down.

Now our drive to Seljalandsfoss takes 1.5 hours. Another waterfall. It’s now 12 PM, and many tourists are flocking to this popular attraction. First, we eat our lunch snack and then walk to Gljúfurárfoss. This waterfall is located in a gorge and can only be reached by stepping on individual stones in the riverbed. In the cave, there is a rock that we climb individually to take our pictures. The sunlight creates unique photo opportunities. The mist soaks our pants. Now we walk to Seljalandsfoss, another waterfall a few hundred meters away. It has a height of 66 meters. Here, you can walk behind the waterfall. Again, we end up soaked. Fortunately, we can change our clothes in the camper. The last waterfall for today is Skógafoss, which is 30 minutes away. Here, the water drops 60 meters. Initially, we planned to camp here, but the many tourists disturb us. So, we decide to move our planned stop for tomorrow and stay overnight in Vik.
The last stop for today is Dyrhólaey, a peninsula towering 115 m high. From there, we overlook the Black Sand Beach. After a few meters, we spot the first puffin on a rock. The birds, about 30 cm in size, breed in the cliffs at this time of year. It’s always exciting to see animals in the wild.
Then we admire the coastal formations under bright sunshine. The wind is blowing strong. You can also walk to the lighthouse, but our strength is fading, so we drive the few kilometers to Vik and find a spot at the campsite. We are exhausted from the long day but also happy to have seen so many amazing attractions. There are no entrance fees at any of the attractions, but we pay parking fees totaling €26.