First of all, I had a quite adventurous and challenging drive the last 4 km to Gjáin as only on the way back I found out that this is a road for a 4×4… I was sweating (although only driving 15-20 km/h, I was nearly overtaken by a cyclist) and hoping that no car is coming from the opposite direction, but once I stepped away from the parking lot and climbed down the steps to the Gjáin valley, I immediately felt like being in a fairytale… I would have loved a little bench there and I could have spent hours there…
Gjáin is a tiny valley with small picturesque waterfalls, clear, tranquil ponds and amazing volcanic structures – it is like a sample of the Icelandic nature. Getting there, it is almost surprising as this tiny valleyappears like from nowhere and is only visible as you approach the edge of the tiny valley. Even the lava in this area takes on beautiful forms in Gjáin. You can find lava caves and a lot of basalt column as well as volcanic tuft.
And for the TV show nerds, episode 5 of season 4 of Game of Thrones was filmed here when Arya Stark and her traveling „companion“ Sandor Clegane (The Hound) come to a resting place and continue their ongoing dispute. This resting place was Gjáin.
Háifoss (The high waterfall) is the 3rd highest and also one of the most striking waterfalls in Iceland. Placed in a magnificent but relatively narrow gorge leading into the Icelandic Highland from the valley Þjórsárdalur it is one of the major waterfall attractions in Iceland. It is part of the river Fossá or Waterfall River. The height is impressive as it falls the 122 m down the two million years old cliff. It is a beautiful sight from top to bottom including the geologically rich background in the cliffs. It is not a lonely waterfall as it lives in the bottom of the gorge with its dear friend and companion for thousands of years, the waterfall Granni or Neighbour.
The drive to Háifoss was less challenging as it was on a „normal“ gravel road, but it was quite a challenge standing at the edge of the cliff trying to take pictures as quite a hefty wind was blowing that day. But I think I managed quite well.
Wow these stunning landscapes make me feel like a very small. Very impressive!
I totally get you, I’m in constant awe of nature…