Seljalandsfoss is one of Iceland’s most famous and enchanting waterfalls, located on the Seljalandsá river. Its true magic lies in the unique path that allows visitors to walk completely behind the 60-meter (200-foot) cascade. The water plunges over a former sea cliff, which now marks the boundary between the coastal lowlands and the highlands. Standing in the cavern behind the falls offers a surreal, 360-degree perspective, where the roar of the water is amplified and the world is viewed through a shimmering, liquid curtain. Be prepared to get wet from the heavy spray, but the breathtaking views and photographic opportunities make it well worth it.

Just a short drive from Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss stands as a magnificent and powerful force of nature. This waterfall, with a width of 25 meters (82 feet) and a drop of 60 meters (200 feet), is a classic cataract and one of Iceland’s largest. The immense volume of spray it consistently produces results in a single or double rainbow on sunny days, making it a photographer’s dream. A staircase of over 500 steps on the eastern side allows you to hike to the top of the cliff for a panoramic view of the cascading water and the expansive coastline. Legend says that the first Viking settler in the area buried a treasure chest behind the waterfall’s cascade, which a local man later found and was only able to grab the ring from before it vanished forever.

Voted as one of the top ten non-tropical beaches in the world, Reynisfjara is a wild and dramatic shoreline unlike any other. The sand is a stark, inky black, composed of volcanic basalt particles created by ancient lava flows that cooled rapidly when they met the frigid ocean. The beach is bordered by unique geological formations, including towering basalt columns that resemble a giant’s staircase and the majestic Reynisdrangar sea stacks rising from the churning Atlantic waves. According to local folklore, these stacks are the petrified remains of trolls who were caught by the rising sun while dragging ships to shore. Visitors must exercise extreme caution here, as the beach is known for its powerful and unpredictable “sneaker waves” that can sweep unsuspecting people into the freezing water.

Vík í Mýrdal, often simply called Vík, is Iceland’s southernmost village. Nestled at the foot of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier (which covers the notorious Katla volcano), Vík is a charming and picturesque stop on the South Coast. It serves as a vital service center for the surrounding area, but its true appeal lies in its stunning natural setting. From the village, you can see the Reynisdrangar sea stacks and the vast black sand beaches. The red-roofed church perched on a hill above the village offers a fantastic vantage point for photos of the town, the ocean, and the surrounding dramatic landscape.

Jökulsárlón is a breathtaking and otherworldly glacial lagoon at the edge of the Vatnajökull National Park. This vast, serene lake is filled with floating icebergs that have calved from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, an outlet of Europe's largest ice cap. The icebergs, which can be over a thousand years old, drift slowly across the lagoon's surface, their forms and colors constantly changing. Some are a brilliant, luminous blue, a result of the extreme pressure that forces out air bubbles, while others are a mix of white, black, and turquoise from volcanic ash. The lagoon is also a popular spot for seals, which can often be seen basking on the icebergs or swimming playfully in the frigid water.

Located just across the road from the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach is a stunning finale to the tour. This black sand beach gets its name from the glistening chunks of ice that wash ashore after floating from the lagoon into the Atlantic Ocean. Polished by the waves and tides, these sculpted ice fragments sparkle like thousands of diamonds against the jet-black volcanic sand. The shapes and sizes of the ice pieces are ever-changing, making every visit a unique experience. This stark and beautiful contrast between fire and ice offers some of the most spectacular photographic opportunities in all of Iceland.