Skaftafell National Park, Iceland

History of Skaftafell National Park

Skaftafell was originally established as a national park in 1967 for containing some of the most precious natural pearls of the country. Alongside rich flora, magnificent glacier, glacial lagoons, geological formations and black sand desert, the area is widely known or its extensive hiking trails. Originally, Skaftafell National Park was marked by its 500 kilometres square area until 1984 when it was increased to 1,735 kilometres square which included a considerable part of Glacier Vatnajokull. Then in November 2004, the area of the park was increased again to 4,807 square kilometres and now comprises of the Laki Area and about half of Europe’s largest icecap, Vatnajokull.

How to get to Skaftafell National Park

By car:

Take the Route 1 Ring road from Reykjavík to Skaftafell (326 km). Road 998 (2 km) leads up to the visitor centre in Skaftafell. Road 1 continues to the east from Skaftafell. The distance to Höfn is 136 km and the distance to Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon is 57 km.

By bus:

A scheduled bus goes between Reykjavík and Höfn via Skaftafell.

Guided tour:

There are several guided tours you can join that will take you to Skaftafell National Park. Some of our best-sellers and most popular Iceland tours are listed below.

Skaftafell National Park Tours

South Coast, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Glacier Tour

Travel from Reykjavik on this two-day tour, experiencing the most iconic sights of the South Coast with our best guides. An overnight South Coast adventure includes exploration of the Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, Vík town, a trip to stunning Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, overnight stay at Gerði Guesthouse and an exhilarating hike on Svínafellsjökull glacier.

Book the South Coast, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Glacier tour here

Highlights:

• Waterfalls, volcanoes and black sands—see the striking South Coast
• Explore the serene surroundings at Gerði Gesthouse
• Experience the unusual beauty of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon

South Iceland, Waterfalls and Black Sand Beach Tour

Your South Iceland journey will take you through the country’s lush farmlands, flanked by rugged mountains, glaciers (including the infamous Eyjafjallajökull) and volcanoes of the interior on one side and vast Atlantic ocean views on the other. On this tour of South Iceland, you will also experience the powerful beauty of Seljalandsfoss waterfall, where the Seljalandsá river, which originates under Eyjafjallajökull glacier, falls, as well as Skógafoss, one of the largest waterfalls in Iceland.

Book the South Iceland, Waterfalls and Black Sand Beach Tour tour here

Highlights:

• Exploring the black volcanic sand beach of Reynisfjara
• Standing up close to the iconic Skógafoss waterfall
• Awesome view of Reynisdrangar sea stacks
• Charm and peace of Vík Village
• Views of glaciers and volcanoes
• Seljalandsfoss waterfall