Skaftárhreppur is right in the centre of South Iceland which makes it the perfect place to be while travelling all around South Iceland. Kirkjubæjarklaustur, often abbreviated to Klaustur, is a tiny village set on the edge of an ancient lava field. It is centrally located in the district and offers services to travelers. Roads radiate from Kirkjubæjarklaustur in many different directions. The Ring Road (no.1) runs through the district. From here you have an easy access to many of Iceland’s most treasured nature wonders. Being in the centre of south Iceland makes Klaustur the perfect location for adventurous day trips or walks. 

Skaftárhreppur is a part of Katla UNESCO Global Geopark and Vatnajökull National Park, it’s like driving into an open-air natural history museum - springy hummocks of wooly fringe moss and conical volcanic mounds topped with little vents, called rootless cones, dominate the landscape for as far as the eye can see. The district spans a vast variety of landscape and vegetation, with a natural environment of striking contrasts.

The entire region is bursting with mysterious tales connected with events that occurred hundreds of years ago, when Klaustur was the site of a convent. In 1186, a Benedicte convent was founded at Kirkjubær. The convent was active until disbanded at the Reformation in 1550. Many local place names and folktales reflect the presence of the nuns and ecclesiastical history down the centuries.

Natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions and sudden floods from beneath the glacier have through the centuries, shaped the nature and society of the region. In Skaftárhreppur was the greatest lava flow from a single volcanic eruption in the history of the world, the Laki Eruption of 1783-1784, when a huge lava flow streamed from Lakagígar. Eruptions have also taken place in historic times in Eldgjá, Katla in Mýrdalsjökull glacier and under Vatnajökull glacier. 

Skaftárhreppur is the second largest region in Iceland, but very thinly populated. It enjoys a pleasant climate, with mild winters and warm, sunny summers. The cornerstone of the local economy is agriculture and tourism. Here you can find rich gastronomy with variety of food from local farmers.  

The area has many diverse walking paths in unspoiled nature and unique landscape. Majestic waterfalls of diverse sizes can be found in the area and glaciers crown the view. The famous Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon is close by, and Vatnajökull Glacier, the biggest glacier in Europe dominates the horizon to the east and Mýrdalsjökull to the west.

Exciting stuff indeed and just waiting to be discovered!