Iceland is the land of fire and ice, and today is all about the ice. Breakfast at Fosshotel Nupar was served hot and included scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and the European style breakfast offerings of sliced meats and cheeses. The food is good and it’s a good time to go over the plan for the day. 

Our first stop is Solheimajokull Glacier. Pay for parking at the large paved lot and pull on the layers. There is a pay toilet facility and a food truck located on the edge of the parking lot, right at the trailhead. A few tour companies offer glacier hikes where a guide takes you out onto the glacier. We opted to hike at our own pace rather than go the guided route. The glacier is easily accessible and there are hikes available for all levels. Follow the gravel path for a slightly inclined path to the glacier viewing point. Fun fact: Iceland has a Darwinian approach to visitors exploring the natural wonders of the country. They don’t tell you don’t go beyond this point; they have signage to tell you “This is a safe lookout point. If you go further, you take the risk of: loose and falling rocks, quicksand, ice collapsing from the glacier, “… etc. 

The lookout point gives a great view of the glacier and you can walk down the incline beyond the lookout to the edge of the lagoon for a closer view. I don’t recommend hiking out on the glacier without a guide as conditions on the ice change rapidly and can be dangerous for the inexperienced and unprepared. The black-streaked ice of the glacier is striking from the lookout and the edge of the lagoon. The black streaks, created by volcanic ash, makes Solheimajokull one of Iceland’s most unique glaciers. Walk back to the parking lot along the lagoon and look for small chunks of ice along the black sand and iceberg calves in the lagoon. 

Make use of the toilet facilities and grab a hot lunch at the food truck. Langos Factory, the food truck there when we visited, offers a reasonable priced hot lunch. Langos is a deep fried flatbread and is a popular street food in Hungary. Plus, they are delicious. Both hot and cold beverages are also available. We opted to share a Langos between the two of us but it may be easier (less messy) to eat with one per person. I found it helpful to fold the langos in half and eat it like a taco. After lunch, continue the drive to Skogafoss waterfall. 

Skogafoss, one of the largest waterfalls in Iceland, is a popular stop for visitors and the small parking lot can quickly fill up. Regardless of limited parking, Skogafoss is a worthwhile stop. Be sure to grab waterproof layers before leaving the carpark. I suggest going to the top of the waterfall first which involves a climb up the 527-step staircase to the right of the waterfall. Be sure to hold the handrail/chain whenever possible as the stairs are sometimes narrow and may shift slightly under your weight. Spray from the waterfall is ever present so waterproof layers are important. Spend a few minutes enjoying the sweeping views and the beginning of the waterfall before making your way back down. 

Spray and the roar of water crashing down from a 60 meter (200 feet) height welcome you to the impressive force of nature that is Skogafoss. The width of Skogafoss at the top spans 25 meters (82 feet) and the diameter of the spray generated from the waterfall is much wider. Get as close to the waterfall as you dare, but be prepared to be drenched. Waterproof layers are a must as is protective gear for more specialized camera equipment. The spray is sufficient to consistently create a rainbow, and often a double rainbow is visible, making this an even more memorable site. Enjoy the power of nature and listen to the fading sounds of the water as you walk back to the carpark. 

The third and final stop of the day is Fjadrargljufur Nature Conservation Area. Fjadrargljufur Canyon, the highlight of this stop, is believed to have formed around nine thousand years ago during the end of the last Ice Age. The sheer walls of the canyon are about 100 meters (328 feet) deep and a little over 1 km (0.62 miles) long. A gravel path leads along the canyon to multiple lookout points. 

As the sun begins to set, it’s time to return to the hotel. It’s our last night at Fosshotel Nupar and we want to relax a bit before dinner. Opting to dine at the hotel restaurant again, we settled in for the evening after another enjoyable day exploring the beauty of water and ice in Iceland.