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- Seal-watching from the shore: Ytri Tunga is famous for harbor seals that haul out on the rocks very close to the beach. You can watch them laze, flop into the water and play without a boat — bring binoculars and a telephoto lens if you have one, but stay back and quiet. (This is my personal favorite — there’s something absurdly satisfying about watching seals snooze against a wide Icelandic horizon.)
- Golden-sand sunset photography: Unlike the usual black-sand beaches in Iceland, Ytri Tunga has surprisingly warm, golden sand that catches the low light beautifully. Late-afternoon to sunset gives insanely long shadows and mirrored wet-sand reflections — perfect for moody landscape shots or just sitting and watching colors change.
- Tide-pool and rock-hopping exploration: At low tide the rocky
- Seal-watching from the shore: Ytri Tunga is famous for harbor seals that haul out on the rocks very close to the beach. You can watch them laze, flop into the water and play without a boat — bring binoculars and a telephoto lens if you have one, but stay back and quiet. (This is my personal favorite — there’s something absurdly satisfying about watching seals snooze against a wide Icelandic horizon.)
- Golden-sand sunset photography: Unlike the usual black-sand beaches in Iceland, Ytri Tunga has surprisingly warm, golden sand that catches the low light beautifully. Late-afternoon to sunset gives insanely long shadows and mirrored wet-sand reflections — perfect for moody landscape shots or just sitting and watching colors change.
- Tide-pool and rock-hopping exploration: At low tide the rocky outcrops reveal small pools full of limpets, crabs and tiny sea life — hands-on, close-up nature that’s fun and educational. The rock textures and patterns here are different from the basalt cliffs elsewhere, so it feels a bit like a mini marine laboratory.
- Coastal walks and birdwatching: The stretch around the beach is quiet and raw, with short walks along the shore and low headlands offering good vantage points for seabirds and panoramic views of the Vatnsnes coastline. It’s an excellent place to stretch your legs without crowds and to catch unexpected wildlife moments.
- Northern Lights & stargazing: The area has low light pollution, so on a clear, solar-active night the aurora can sweep right over the beach — seals silhouetted against green curtains makes for a surreal scene. Bring warm layers and a tripod if you plan to shoot; keep noise and bright lights to a minimum so you don’t spook the wildlife.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.