How to Visit the Stranger Things Waterfall — and Five More Iceland Tours

Stranger Things fans, this one’s for you. The closing scene of the series finale — Eleven standing at a cliff edge above a vast canyon and a thundering waterfall — was filmed right here in Iceland. The waterfall is real, it’s called Háifoss, and it’s about a two-hour drive from Reykjavík. You can stand in that exact spot yourself — and as of now, there’s an easy way to do it.

That easy way is Reykjavik Excursions, and I’m pleased to tell you they’re now a Stuck in Iceland partner. I only work with top-quality Iceland travel partners — operators I’d happily send my own family to — so a new name on the list isn’t something I add lightly. Reykjavik Excursions earns its place with room to spare.

If you’ve flown into Keflavík and ridden the Flybus into town, you’ve already met them. Reykjavik Excursions has been running coaches and day tours around Iceland since 1968, making it one of the most experienced operators in the country. Certified guides, carbon-neutral tours, pickups from points around Reykjavík, and booking terms that won’t catch you out — it’s a safe, sensible choice whether this is your first day in Iceland or your fifth visit.

Here’s what the partnership means for you. When you sign up for the free Stuck in Iceland newsletter, you’ll receive discount codes for six of their day tours — codes arranged just for my readers and not available anywhere else. I’ll tell you how to get them at the end. First, let me walk you through the tours, starting with the one you’re probably here for.

Into the Upside Down: the tour to the Stranger Things waterfall

Let’s start with that waterfall. Háifoss sits in the Þjórsárdalur valley in the south of Iceland, and that final Stranger Things shot was filmed right at the rim of its canyon. The waterfall beside it is called Granni — the two share the same gorge. The cluster of houses in the distance was added afterward with visual effects, but the canyon and the falls are entirely real.

Háifoss is one of Iceland’s tallest waterfalls — the water drops around 122 meters in a single fall into a deep gorge. It sits well off the usual tourist routes, and the road to reach it is rough gravel. That’s the first reason a guided tour makes sense here: most rental car insurance won’t cover gravel-road damage, so letting Reykjavik Excursions’ coach and driver handle the journey is simply the practical choice.

The tour, fittingly named Into the Upside Down: Háifoss & Þjórsárdalur, is a full-day, small-group trip that runs in summer. It takes in three stops:

The three stops on the tour

The tour, fittingly named Into the Upside Down: Háifoss & Þjórsárdalur, is a full-day, small-group trip that runs in summer. It takes in three stops:

• Háifoss — the tall waterfall from the finale, with time to walk the viewpoints and take photographs. The walking here is easy to moderate.
• Hjálparfoss — a wide double waterfall framed by dark, geometric basalt columns. A short, easy path leads around it.
• The Commonwealth Farm (Þjóðveldisbærinn) — a carefully reconstructed Viking-age turf farm, based on archaeological remains from the 11th century. It’s a genuine window into how Iceland’s first settlers lived.

A bit more about the Commonwealth farm. I visited there a few years ago and met two young archaeologists who were there to answer questions. I asked them whether they thought this was a good reconstruction of a Viking-age longhouse from the settlement era. They thought it was, their only question mark was that the longhouse has a lot of wood in its interior and structure. But otherwise, they said the reconstruction’s quality was impressive.

A couple of practical notes from me: the minimum age is 10. The lunch and the entrance fee to the Commonwealth Farm aren’t included. Bring something to eat and a little cash, or a card for the farm. You can see the full details on the Reykjavik Excursions tour page.

Five more tours worth your time

The Háifoss trip is the headline, but it’s a summer-only tour, and it won’t suit every itinerary. Here are the other five tours your discount codes cover.

Golden Circle Direct

The Golden Circle is the classic Iceland day out: Þingvellir National Park, where the continental plates pull apart, and the country’s old parliament once met; the Geysir geothermal area, where Strokkur erupts every few minutes; and Gullfoss, the broad two-tier waterfall. The Direct version keeps the stops focused, so you’re back in Reykjavík with part of your day still free. A good choice if your time is tight. You can use the time gained to do more in Reykjavik or just chill.

Golden Circle Evening Tour

The same three landmarks, but timed for the evening. You’ll share the sights with far fewer coaches, the light is softer, and your daytime stays open for other plans. It’s a particularly sensible option in summer, when the daylight stretches well into the night. Those long Icelandic summer nights are wonderful. I recommend using them wisely, for example, take a walk at the seaside at Grótta or wrap yourself in a blanket and have a nice drink or a meal at a Reykjavik restaurant.

South Shore Adventure

The South Shore Adventure follows the coast past two of Iceland’s most photographed waterfalls. These are Seljalandsfoss, which you can walk behind, and Skógafoss, and on to the black-sand beach at Reynisfjara near the village of Vík. One word of caution I give every reader: the waves at Reynisfjara are genuinely dangerous and arrive without warning. Enjoy the beach, but keep well back from the water and listen to your guide.

Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon

Jökulsárlón is the glacier lagoon in the south-east, where icebergs break off the glacier and drift slowly out to sea. Across the road is Diamond Beach, where chunks of ice wash up on black sand. It’s a long day.  The lagoon is a fair distance from Reykjavík — but it’s one of those places that genuinely lives up to the photographs. Check the tour details to judge whether the driving time fits your trip.

Volcanic Wonders of Reykjanes Geopark

This year-round tour explores the Reykjanes Peninsula, the volcanic region that has been erupting on and off in recent years. You’ll visit the Seltún geothermal area, with its bubbling mud and steam, and take a roughly 45-minute hike across older lava fields near the Fagradalsfjall volcano. The tour also stops in Grindavík, the fishing town that has been repeatedly evacuated due to the eruptions. It’s a sober, respectful look at what it means to live alongside an active volcanic system — not a spectacle — and a guide who knows the area makes all the difference.  Full details are on the tour page.

Note that this gives you a chance to experience part of the Volcanic Way. This is new route being promoted here in Iceland. It is all about geology, volcanology, and seeing for yourself how Icelandic landscapes and history are shaped by the living Earth.

How to get your discount codes

Here’s the simple part. The discount codes for all six of these Reykjavik Excursions tours are sent to Stuck in Iceland newsletter subscribers, and only to them. Signing up is free, it takes a minute, and you can leave the list whenever you like.

Once you’re on the list, you’ll get one email a week from me: a few honest tips for planning your trip, the occasional interview with someone who really knows Iceland, and the discount codes my partners have set aside for readers. No noise, no daily nagging — just the things I’d tell you over a coffee if you asked.

Reykjavik Excursions has looked after travelers here since 1968. I’m glad to have them on board. I think you’ll be glad to have a code in your pocket the next time you’re deciding how to spend a day in Iceland.