Marcel Burger - Third time's the charm

Icelandic horses in Mýrdal, Iceland, July 2025.

Experiencing the central parts of Suðurland is like continuing a journey from film set to film set - whether one reaches the central southern lands from the east or west. The Reynisfjara black sand beach is probably the best known, from the hit series Games of Thrones. Travel on, and you will discover it the rocky points in the sea at the end of this beach look even cooler from the eastern side. That is, from the town of Vik - which might be a bit overrated in some reviews, but is a good jump spot to discover some of the highlights. Vik has its own black sand beach closer to town, which is great for a stroll.

Islande "carved" into the sand of Víkurfjara Black Sand Beach in Vik, Iceland, July 2025.

People at a stone pier on Víkurfjara Black Sand Beach in Vik.

A home on the outskirts of Vik.

Vik's church on the hill overlooking the town.

A local famous crepes with hazelnut cream kiosk in Vik.

Vik's church on the hill overlooking the town.

The famous pointy Reynisdrangar rocks of the Reyjnisfara Black Sand Beach

Reynisfara Black Beach with the famous Reynisdrangar rocks out at sea, the basalt stone columns, and the Hálsanefshellir Cave.

The basalt rocks of Reynisfara Black Sand Beach make a great photo opportunity.

Inside the Hálsanefshellir Cave of Reynisfara Black Sand Beach.

Icelandic horses

The Icelandic horse is a tough animal, and only the ones on Iceland are the real deal. Once an Icelandic horse makes it abroad - by ferry or plane, as the swim too much of a challenge - it may never return to its homeland. This to prevent diseases and keep the breed strong and healthy.

The Icelandic horse is a bread derivative of the ponies Norse settles brought to the island in the 9th and 10 centuries. Mass extinction occurred in the 1780s, after the Laki volcano erupted. But since then, with the help of other countries and breed societies in Iceland, a strong horse has resurrected.

Travellers come across the Icelandic horses in large parts of the countries. Often they roam relatively freely in fenced of sections - and Icelandic horse riding is one of the adventures tourists are lured into. Shepherds use them too, to manage the sheep.

Icelandic horses in Mýrdal

Dyrhólaey

Dyrhólaey is a nature preserve in Suðurland that holds Iceland's geographical most southern point, and doing so in royal class - with a rocky arched cape towering up to 120 metres (394 feet) above the Atlantic Ocean. Dyrhólaey is rich in seabird life, and you will have a great chance to see the famous puffins flying by or touching down within a few arms length of you. To mark the rock for sailors, Dyrhólaey has a very decent lighttower.

The Dyrhólaey arch rock cape, Iceland's geographically southernmost point.

A puffin in fligth at Dyrhólaey.

The photo taken before the previous shot.

The photo taken after the main shot.

Free as a bird! A puffin diving towards the ocean from the Dyrhólaey cliffs.

The Dyrhólaey Lighthouse.

Katla & Eyjafjallajökull

Towering 1,512 metres (4,961 feet) above the Central Suðurland landscape is Katla, an active volcano covered topped by a glacier of 200 to 700 metres (660 - 2,300 feet) thick. Although the last major eruption of the 20 documented in history was already some time ago, in 1918, and it was only the third such eruption since Viking times. When Katla goes again, it will be likely equal in power as the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption that stopped air traffic over large parts of Europe for some time. The Eyjafjallajökull (1,666 metres (5,466 ft)) is situated just west of Katla and is also topped by a glacier.

Depending on your approach or take-off, and your position on the plane, Katla and its neighbour Eyjafjallajökull can be spotted when you fly in or out of Keflavik International Airport from/to the East. For the untrained eye, such as mine, I cannot say which of the two I caught on the photo.