Attractions by Skaftafell Nature Reserve

Skaftafell National Park was established in 1967 but as from 2008 it became a part of the larger Vatnajokull National Park. The size of the Vatnajokull National Park including Skaftafell is around 14.200 km² making it Europe's second largest National Park after Yugyd Va in Russia.

See also: National Parks in Iceland

See also: Skaftafell tours

When travelling around Iceland this part of the country should not be left out because there are breathtaking sceneries and vistas wherever you go and great opportunities in terms of photography and outdoor activity of all kind. 

The landscape can be compared with some areas from the Alps with mighty mountain peaks covered with snow along with variable glacier sceneries and volcanoes. 

See also: Volcanoes in Iceland

See also: Mountains in Iceland

Iceland's highest summit, Hvannadalshnjukur, can be seen in this area. Characteristic for Skaftafell National Park is diversity and contrast and when travelling through there you will witness black sand plateau, vibrant glaciers, rivers and icy lagoons, volcanoes, majestic mountain peaks and dynamic floras.

The area has been used as a setting for a few films, depicting both a space planet in Interstellar, as well as countries as diverse as Nepal (in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty), Tibet (in Batman Begins) and Russia (in James Bond's A View to a Kill).

See also: Movie locations in Iceland

Skaftafell National Park is located by the roots of Iceland largest glacier Vatnajokull and once there you will witness plenty of its outlet glaciers cascading to the lowland, all with different names and characters.  

You can even get very close to some of those glacier tongues and grand sceneries making one feel pretty vulnerable and small compared to this giant terrain and forceful nature.

See also: Glaciers in Iceland

See also: Glacier & ice cap tours

Skaftafell park is located in south eastern part of Iceland and to get there is pretty easy. You simply follow the main road number 1 about 330 km east from Reykjavík. There are no roads in the park but a lot of trails and paths offering different kind of hikes.

See also: Hiking in Iceland

See also: Hiking tours

The beautiful Svartifoss waterfall is situated at the end of one of those trails making the hike worth everything. Svartifoss is a small waterfall but what makes it special is the black basalt lava wall surrounding it. 

See also: Waterfalls in Iceland

If you are into more extreme outdoor activity there are a lot of possibilities in this area. In the visitor centre located in the park you can get all the available information needed.  

The beautiful glacier lagoon Jokulsarlon is not far away from Skaftafell park direction further east and of course a must visit area as well.

See also: Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon | The crown jewel of Iceland's nature

See also: Jokulsarlon tours

See also: Rental cars in Iceland

See also: Bus passport for south Iceland

Ice cave tours in Skaftafell area (only in winter)

2 Day Ice Cave Tour | South Coast Waterfalls & Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

3 Day Tour | The Golden Circle, glacier hiking, ice caves & the northern lights

2 Day South Coast Tour | Glacier Hike in Skaftafell & Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon