Iceland has always been a destination that I was absolutely dying to do ever since it first started to come on the map with budget airlines back in 2016. I always wanted to do it justice which is why I waited till I could get proper time off to be able to experience it and the fall of 2021 seemed like the absolute perfect time. It was truly the trip of a lifetime and I absolutely had to create a guide for anyone looking to take a trip anytime soon!
Day 1: Breakfast, Drive to Blue Lagoon and Hella
Our flight got in at 7am which meant we were super jet lagged since it was a red eye from Toronto and decided to start our trip with Joe and the Juice smoothies whilst picking up our car (more on tips on exploring Iceland here).
Our first stop was just a short 20 minute drive away from Keflavik Airport: the iconic Blue Lagoon! Considering how tired we were and felt like doing absolutely nothing, this was the absolute best way to kick off our trip. After spending a beautiful few hours at the Blue Lagoon face masking, drinking delicious smoothies and floating around in Silica Pools we grabbed a quick lunch en route our first AirBnB in Hella.
P.S. Take a look at my tips for visiting Blue Lagoon here!
Our AirBnb was perfectly located for a head start to all of the main falls for the following morning, fully kitted out with everything we needed including a tiny little kitchenette to warm up food late at night as everything in the area was either super far away or closed early. There were a bunch of little stand alone huts around us and we made sure to get there while there was still daylight out. As a side note, this is something you would have to watch out for during a trip to Iceland as most places and even places to stay are super remote which means food options are as well.
Click here for our AirBnB in Hella.
Day 2: Seljalandsfoss, Gljufrabui, Skógafoss, Sólheimajökull Glacier and ATVing on Black Sand Beaches
Stop 1: Seljalandsfoss and Gljufrabui
Our first part of the morning was to drive up right to the parking lot for the first falls and marvel at the stunning view of our first Icelandic waterfall or should I say foss: Seljalandsfoss. We got to climb up from the side rocks to take get another vantage point from behind the falls. You can do a full loop from behind the falls and trek down from little built in steps bring you into a full circle to the bottom of the falls.
From here, the other hidden Gljufrabui falls were just a short walk away but since it was raining, we decided to drive about a minute over to the next parking lot. This one is slightly tricky to get to and the key is, and I cannot emphasize this enough, to be 100% waterproof in everything you are wearing. If you’re not, prepare to get absolutely soaked. You’ll find the little cave with a little pathway leading up to it hopping over scattered rocks and then look up (if you can manage because the water is powerful) to experience the waterfall.
Stop 2: Skógafoss
About a 30 minute drive later, we parked at the lot for Skogafoss. It is about a 15 minute hike, more like a walk over very well maintained steps up to the viewpoint. From here you can either continue walking, or climb the steps back down for your next stop. There is also the very famous and iconic photography spot right at the base of the falls which tends to be packed with tourists, so getting an empty shot will require a little bit of quick action!
Stop 3: Sólheimajökull Glacier
This was our 3rd stop of the day as we parked and hiked down over the black rocky area taking a million pictures and trying to get close to the glacier before we had to turn back for our next activity. We were unfortunately on a timer because we had an ATV activity booked shortly after, so couldn’t spend much time here but there is also the option of booking a glacier walk here. This also a famous Game of Thrones filming spot.
Something sad to note was how much the glacier is melting and receding every single year. So if you wanna catch it, get on the Iceland trip train sooner rather than later!
Stop 4: ATVing on Black Sand Beaches and Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck
We did a little bit of research and found that the famous Plane Wreck we wanted to visit was about a 45 minute round trip walk with not much of a view so ATVing was an amazing option! We booked a tour through Project Expedition (book here) and the route took us right to the Black Sand beaches, the rocky terrain across the ring road going through little rivers…it was beyond amazing! This is definitely something that I would put as a highlight of our entire adventure and I would definitely recommend that you have this booked in advance so you don’t miss out!
After ATV we were pretty much done for the day and headed straight to the town of Vik for an early dinner. We ended up having some paninis and volacano soup at The Soup Company right in the heart of two and about a 3 minute drive from our next AirBnB. This is also where we did a mini grocery shop and picked up some granola and juice for our early morning start the next day.
Click here for a link to our AirBnb in Vik.
Day 3: Vik, Glacier Walk, Reynisfjara Beach and Fjadrargljufur Canyon
Stop 1: Katla Ice Cave and Glacier Walk
On our third day, we were booked on a Glacier Walk to an ice cave which took us right from our meeting point in Vik in super jeeps to the closest point near Katla Cave. You will definitely have to have this booked in advance so do plan ahead as you cannot do this without a guide and driving to the area is literally like driving in the middle of nowhere. A guide is absolute key. We did ours through Troll Expeditions and it was absolutely perfect. Our guide was super well informed and entertaining as we made our way up.
The experience itself was another incredible one. We were instructed to put on literally claws on our shoes to prevent any slipping/falling and tread on literal ice covered in volcanic ash as you make your way to the cave.
Stop 2: Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
This stop was one of the most awaited on my list especially because of all the stunning rock formations I had stalked on Google. You can just pull up straight to a very well organized parking lot and then walk on over to the beach. We were very lucky as the sun came out and we got to walk along the water and take a million pictures. Also, beware of the sneaker waves that can literally come out of nowhere and sneak up on you. There are warning signs for these out there but they are a very real danger and you have to be careful and not take any silly risks.
Stop 3: The Mossy Lava Fields of Iceland
This was a short 5 minute stop at a view point because as you drive on over to Fjadrargljufur Canyon, you will see these on both sides of the highway.
Stop 4: Fjadrargljufur Canyon
Another stunning location was this phenomenal canyon. We parked right at the lot and again, there was a very well maintained stair trail leading right to the top. Alternatively, there was another spot you could park at more catered towards camper vans but easily can take a car there to cut the climb time short. There are multiple view points up there and you really can stand and take in all the beauty in such a wholesome way. Just thinking about it right now is making my head swoon.
Once done at the Canyon, we headed over to check in at Magma Hotel before heading back out to grab dinner at a local restaurant in town.
Click here for a link to Magma Hotel.
Day 4: Skaftafell, Svartifoss Hike, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach, Stokksnes
Our plans got super accelerated on our fourth day as we had to head back home a couple of days early and for Covid tests, we needed to be in either Reykjavik or Akureyi the next day. This meant we had to cover a lot of ground super fast and skip a few things on our original itinerary. We ended up starting our day driving to Skaftafell then moving on to the popular spot of Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach.
The Glacier Lagoon and Diamond beach get their names from the pieces of the neighboring glacier. Pieces of it get washed onto the shore and look like large pieces of crystals and diamonds, some massive and some you’re able to hold! Here you can also do a water tour which we originally had booked but it really is weather dependent. Unfortunately on the day we got there, the wind was really bad and they ended up cancelling all kayaking and boating in the lake. This isn’t something you can really predict so it’s quite the chance you will have to take.
After the Diamond Beach, we drove on to Stoksness near Hofn, which is another stunning spot with a Black Sand Beach that looks so beautiful it feels unreal. The main backdrop is that of the Vestrahorn mountain. We ended the day having an amazing dinner experience at xx with Icelandic lobster. Definitely a food highlight of the trip.
Day 5: Drive to Akureyi, Hverir Thermal Pools, Grjótagjá Cave
This day started super early for us because we really wanted to pack in as much as we could. Unfortunately, the Studlagil Canyon was something we ended up having to miss because of the time crunch and the hike period required to get to the viewpoint. We started super early at 3am, before the sun was even out as we set out from Hofn.
This was one of the most hauntingly beautiful scenes that I have ever seen in my life as we drove through Road 1 to Akureyi. In between we stopped at the Hverir Thermal Pools which were so cool but equally STINKY. Its a massive area of bubbling pools of mud and dramatic landscapes. This is one of the top attractions in the Myavtn region in North part of Iceland.
Next we took a quick stop at the Grjótagjá Cave. This is also another very beautiful geothermal pool that is hidden away, like REALLY hidden away in this cave and is a must stop for any Game of Thrones fan! This also used to be a pretty popular bathing pool once upon a time but now it’s too hot!
After close to 10 hours of driving (insane, I know!), we finally made it to Akureyi where we took our covid tests and grabbed a proper breakfast. We did a few more hours of driving, which is mostly what there was to do in the area since the major of the sites were now done and it was more about the scenery.
Day 6: Golden Circle, Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal, Strokkur, Kerid Crater and Sky Lagoon
This was our last full day and we were pretty close to the Golden Circle which was something we had saved for the last leg of the trip. We started with Thingvellir National Park, leading up to the Geysir area which houses the active pool of Strokkur. This erupts every 10 minutes and the water is scalding hot so beware as you wait for the eruption! You have to make sure you are not standing in an area where the water will splash on you especially if there are strong winds.
We came full circle with Kerid Crater and then headed for a late lunch before heading to Sky Lagoon which was our last activity of the day and of the trip.
Sky Lagoon is a very new attraction, with a 7 step spa experience and an infinity pool that looks out into the ocean. It was the absolute best way to say goodbye to such an incredible experience in the land of ice and fire!
Day 7: Reykjavik and Airport
On our final day, we grabbed brunch in the city and headed straight to the airport so quite an uneventful afternoon.
In general, I would say Iceland has been one of my favorite and most incredible destinations to date. The landscape is literally out of this world beautiful and nothing else makes you feel like on top of the world than at one of the lagoons or standing in the middle of an incredible canyon. Definitely could not recommend a destination more and I truly hope my little guide to Iceland is of extreme use in planning your next trip here!
