City: Iceland
Top Things to do in Iceland
Countries
The 5 Best Valleys in Iceland, Iceland
Iceland (/ˈaɪslənd/ ( listen); Icelandic: Ísland, pronounced [ˈistlant]) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic, with a population of 348,580 and an area of 103,000 km (40,000 sq mi), making it the most sparsely populated country in Europe. The capital and largest city is Reykjavík. Reykjavík and the surrounding areas in the southwest of the country are home to over two-thirds of the population.
Restaurants in Iceland
1. Gjain
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 86 reviews
Located in southern Iceland, this small valley contains breathtaking waterfalls and volcanic formations.
Reviewed By marclQ2537WH
This might be the most beautiful place on the planet. We half expected fairies and pixies to pop out of the nearby caves. Totally worth the drive off the road.
2. Asbyrgi (Shelter of the Gods)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 180 reviews
Reviewed By TrevorB2025 - Costa Mesa, United States
Legend says Asbyrgi Canyon was formed when Odin's horse Sleipnir touched a foot to the ground there. The remarkable horseshoe shape of the 100 meter high cliffs with lush forested areas and water full of bird life in the canyon itself make for a beautiful and serene setting. We were lucky enough to arrive on a sunny day which just added to the beauty. There are not many tourists here, in fact it was almost eerily silent in certain spots which was a nice break from the more heavily trafficked attractions in the South. We took road 864 from the Ring Road to get here with a stop at Dettifoss/Selfoss. The condition of the road was surprisingly good the day we went with speeds typically between 50-60 km/h handled easily in our 4x4, though smaller cars would definitely need to take it a little slower.
3. Herjolf's Valley (Herjolfsdalur)
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By WildernessCoffee - Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
Herjólfsdalur is intimidatingly beautiful, whichever angle you look at it. It looks like a giant natural amphitheatre, with stupendous rocks rising up on all sides as you enter the valley. The walk along the top ridge is one not to be missed. You can see why in my description (including pictures of stunning views along the way!) if you search for 'The walking track to Herjólfsdalur - The Valley of Magic' on my blog Wilderness Coffee & Natural High. The track has some rocky and very steep sections, especially on the path up or down in Herjólfsdal itself. You can also start from Sprangan, behind the harbour and go up a slightly gentler slope. This walk takes about 1,5 to 2 hours to complete at a leisurely pace - but the distraction rate is very high. The path leads up to the eastern cliffs of Herjólfsdalur, where you can look straight down into its intimidating depths (not recommended if you are prone to vertigo ;-) Continue towards a plateau called HáHá, and you'll see a beautiful path winding down sharply along the sides of the valley. A small wooden step marks the start of the ridge section. From here, you can choose the high road along the top of the ridge, or the safer path along the hillside below. The upper path can be very crumbly in some places, and you have to be especially careful on sections with loose gravel. Both paths join together just before the gravelly part of the steep slope into Herjólfsdal. It continues along the top of the ridge towards Blátindur - that majestic peak rising up at the end of the valley. There are a couple of tricky bits where the path winds precariously around rocky outcrops and bizarrely shaped lava forms. Don't forget to look back every now & then - the views are absolutely stunning in all directions. At the end of the ridge you'll see a steep zigzag path down the slope and around some huge boulders to the bottom of the valley. Interesting detail: Herjólfsdalur is where the yearly Þjóðhátíð festival in August takes place. On the last evening, the mountainside is set alight with a row of flames along the entire length of the valley - a truly magnificent sight to see! :-)
