Visited four waterfalls IN ONE DAY
Today we visited 4 waterfalls, each one was a beauty by itself and each different from the other. Our first drive was to Seljalandsfoss which was about 1 hr 10 min (86km) from Fludir/Austurhof where we had stayed two nights. The first two falls Seljalandsfoss and Gljufrabui were near each other, the next two falls Skogafoss and Kvernuffoss was about 35 minutes away.
Seljalandsfoss & Gljufrabui
From far we could already Seljalandsfoss and it did not look very big. But as we drove nearer Seljalandsfoss became much bigger from first sight.
Viewing the falls was free but parking was not. We paid 900ISK for parking and it was only for two hours. We purchased a parking ticket using our card from one of the machines at the edge of the carpark, then displayed the parking ticket on the top of the dashboard of our car. We read from somewhere that a fine of 4500ISK would be imposed if driver did not pay the required parking fee.
Seljalandsfoss was special, the cliffs behind the falls had a wide cavern with a paths and visitors could walk behind the falls. We came well prepared to walk behind the falls. We put on our rainpants and raincoats.
We walked to the right side of the falls where we saw a path going up to behind the falls. As we got closer we were blanketed by water droplets drifted from the cascading water. Wow! our faces were dripping wet, we were only too glad to be “waterproofed” down to our waterproof hiking shoes.
The cavern behind the falls was huge. It was wet, rocky and moldily green. It was pretty fun/exciting and a wonderful experience to see the cascading water from the other side, which was the back of the waterfalls.
From Sejalandsfoss to Gljufrabui was just about 600m, we did not have to go back to our car and drive up to Gljufrabui along the main road instead we took an inner walking path that linked Sejalandsfoss to Gljufrabui.
Near Gljufrabui we saw a narrow entrance that was formed by two high moldy uneven cliff walls. Water was flowing out at the base of the narrow entrance which meant we had to wade though the rushing water to get through.
After a few metres through the narrow entrance we entered a roofless chamber. It felt like we were in a huge shower room with a rain shower high above our head. Gljufrabui was a 40 metres high waterfalls and it was pelting water down on us!
Skogafoss & Kvernufoss
It was a short 35 minutes drive from Seljalandsfoss carpark to Skogafoss carpark. This time parking was free!
From the carpark we could see the gigantic Skogafoss. As we approached the falls we realised the downpouring water seemed to fall onto a flat ground and w could practically walked up to it. The water bouncing from the ground was all around us. This falsl was about 60 metres tall and had a width of 25 metre. We quickly put on our raincoats and walk nearer to the falling water. It was so fun!!
At the side of Skogafoss was a stairs, so we climbed upt to take a look. The stairs went up to the top of the falls. As we went up the steps we turned back to view the land below, it was green, vast and beautiful. At the top of the stairs there was a viewing deck that had a slight obstructed view of the top of the falls. The view of the water falling over the cliff was not as “fantastic” as we expected.
Before leaving Skogafoss we went to have a coffee break at a Bistro Bar which was part of Skogafoss Hotel. There at the outdoor deck we had a great time drinking our cafe latte as we enjoyed a partial view of the falls.
From Skogafoss carpark to Kvernfoss carpark was a very short drive of about 1.8km. We arrived at a big car park with several buildings/estabishments sharing the usage of a huge carpark. There was museum and a bistro.
There was a signboard indicating that parking was for a fee. There was no parking machine nearby so we paid our fee using “Parkapp”, the charge was 500 ISK. We understood from the museum staff that there were cameras at the entrance of the carpark so if a driver did not pay the parking fee a fine would subsequent be forwarded to the car rental company.
On way to KvernufossAt the end of the carpark was a path leading to the falls. It was a 750 metres walk to the falls. The cliff formed a half dome and water fell off the edge of the cliff into the cavity. The falls was 30 metre high and was half hidden in a gorge.
Unlike Seljalandsfoss there was no proper path leading to the cavity behind the Kvernufoss. We scrambled up the rocks leading to the back of the falls, it was not an easy climb but we made it after carefully treading over the big and small rocks. We were the only people going behind the falls!
Our Stay for two nights : The Barn
Our stay for the night was at Vik (near the main town of Vik), which was only a 30 minute drive from Kvernufoss carpark. There were many interesting attractions in the vicinity of Vik so this place definitely required a two night stay.
We booked “The Barn ” for two nights in 2020 unfortunately Covid19 striked that year and international travelling for leisure was suspended by the Singapore government for her citizens. Unfortunately we had already booked a non-refundable two-night stay at The Barn. Though we could not visit Iceland in 2020, The Barn kept our “two nights” indefinitely to be claimed when we visited in Iceland at later date. Three years later in 2023, July we claimed our two night stay without any problem. “Kudos” to the management of “The Barn”!
“ The Barn” was as posh as the pictures shown on its online listing. It offered dormitories, double rooms with shared toilet and double rooms with private toilet in its main building and standalone bungalows nearby.
We had a double room with shared toilets. The cost of the room for two nights without meals was SGD$414, Eur272.20. Our double room was on the second level of the main building. Going up the second level there was also a common kitchen cum dining room on the left side of the stair and on the right was a private door leading into a common corridor of the double rooms. Our room was the first one after the private door.
Our double room at “The Barn”Our oom was small but was clean, cosy and comfy. We were pretty happy with it till meal time. On the other side of one of the walsl of our room wall was the common kitchen cumdining room and the sound of chair pulling reverberated loudly through the wall!.
The shared toilets were pretty clean,big and modern. It was at the end of the corridor and served only the double rooms on the second level.
The common kitchen cum dining hall was huge and well equipped. We were able to cooked four delicious meals during our stay. We had hams, eggs, vege, strawberry for our first breakfast, mayo tuna and pita bread for our 2nd breakfast. Pasta with hams for our first dinner and roasted chicken wings for our 2nd dinner!!! We bought our food from “Bonus” a huge supermarket chain in Iceland and the food pricing was definitely reasonable and very affordable!
