Iceland
“Iceland—tailor-made travel plan” is a 15-day trip around the island. Our route includes both the most popular attractions and those visited only by the most motivated tourists or locals.
I wrote the travel plan based on Polish guides, Icelandic travel agencies and numerous travel blogs. We found a few places by accident, some of which we only found on the spot.
Iceland – initial travel plan and last-minute changes
A trip to Iceland occurred in August 2020, during a global pandemic. Everything was already scheduled at the beginning of the year: air tickets, hotels and car renting. Back then, there was no sign that there would be a global “lockdown”, closed borders, cancelled flights and cancelled hotel reservations. All plans of my “carefully” prepared travel had to be revised several times. I changed the dates and places of departure, airlines, travel routes, and reservations. Until the last minute, it was unknown whether this trip would happen, whether the borders would be open, or whether there would be a need to stay in quarantine on-site.
A few days before departure, after buying air tickets for the third time (both previous flights were cancelled), Iceland introduced new border rules. The country has lifted the quarantine obligation for those who will voluntarily take a coronavirus-paid test on arrival.
Ultimately, we decided to go through the coronavirus tests at the airport. We hoped that in Iceland, there would be no crowds of tourists or queues to popular tourist attractions. We were hoping to travel in silence and be able to keep a social distance—so much these days recommended by WHO.
Our assumptions turned out to be true—there were almost no tourists in Iceland this year. We got a chance to see this beautiful country without rushing and without people around. We had the opportunity to spend this time surrounded by natural wonders, breathtaking views, and animals.
Iceland tailor-made travel plan (15 days, 14 nights)
Arrival, coronavirus tests and car rental
We arrived in Iceland in the afternoon. At the airport, we had to undergo COVID-19 tests. We waited in the queue for about one hour. There were 10 stations where doctors collected samples from all passengers. My doctor was from Poland, and he promised to run the examination smoothly and painlessly. I appreciated his efforts.
The company where we rented the car was already waiting for us in the arrival hall. We went with them to Keflavik, where several companies had car rental offices. After signing the agreement, we picked up our car, loaded suitcases into the trunk, and went to the hotel. We stayed in Keflavik that day, waiting for the COVID-19 test results.
Still, before sunset, we had time to walk around the small fishing port and along the coast.
Accommodation: Hotel Duus by Keflavik Airport, Keflavik
Reykjanes Peninsula
Keflavik, troll’s cave, Stekkjarkot, Viking World museum, Reykjanesta lighthouse, Valahnúkamöl cliffs, Gardur
⇒Route: Keflavik – Reykjanesta – Gardur
The day greeted us with thick fog and rain. In the morning, we received information via SMS about the negative results of our coronavirus tests. The virus had not been found, so we could start our journey.
We started our tour by visiting the troll’s cave—Skessa, who lives on the other side of the small port, near the Duus Hotel. Then we went to the place where the charming Stekkjarkot cottage-type houses stand. They were built between 1855 and 1924, and their roofs are covered with turf.
The Viking World Museum is nearby, and we spent almost three hours there. The main attraction is a 1:1 scale replica of the Viking ship Islendingur.
In the afternoon, we went to see the Reykjanesta lighthouse and the wonderful cliffs nearby – Valahnúkamöl cliffs.
On the way back, we stopped at the point where two tectonic plates meet: the Eurasian and North American plates. The canyon, which marks this place, is marked by an 18-meter bridge, where, of course, you need to take a commemorative photo.
At the end of the day, we went to Gardur, where on the Gardskaga headland, there were two lighthouses and a few fishing boat wrecks.
Accommodation: Lighthouse-Inn Hotel, Gardur
Blue Lagoon, Geothermal area Krýsuvík, Reykjavik
⇒Route: Gardur – Reykjavik
That day began again with showers of rain, cold gusts of wind, and dense fog. We were going from Gardur to Reykjavik, but on the way, we would visit some interesting places.
We started with a visit to the Blue Lagoon, but we only saw the part that was not commercial. Our initial plans to rest at the Blue Lagoon SPA were forced to cancel due to the constant wind, cold and rain that did not encourage swimming that day.
Then, we went to see the cliffs by the ocean – Krysuvikurberg Cliffs.
We were going to Reykjavik by Route 42, which is very picturesque and forced us to stop at every parking lot by the road. In my opinion, riding on this road is an attraction in itself ♥!
We also stopped by the geothermal field—Geothermal area Krýsuvík. At this point, for the first time, I was enjoying the rain. Thanks to rain, the omnipresent smell of sulfur (“rotten eggs”) was not so intense—and so, by covering the nose tightly, it was possible to breathe.
Reykjavik
In the afternoon, we arrived in Reykjavik and walked around the city. It was still raining, so we tried to do this tour as quickly as possible. On the way, we visited Hallgrimskirkja church, walked along Laugavegur Street, which is popular among tourists, and went to see the Town Hall situated by the lake. Then, we visited the Old Port and the wonderful and very modern Harpa building, which houses, among other things, a concert hall and philharmonic hall.
On our way back to the hotel, we walked along the shore where the Sun Voyager sculpture stands.
Accommodation: Klettur Hotel, Reykjavik (2 nights)
West Iceland
Golden Circle, Þingvellir National Park, Reykjavik Perlan Museum – Wonders of Iceland
⇒Route: Reykjavik – Pingvellir – Reykjavik
This day started once again with heavy rain and a very cold wind. Despite this, we have decided to follow our initial plan and not change it due to bad weather conditions.
We are going on a half-day trip to the Þingvellir National Park. Þingvellir is part of the Golden Circle route, one of the most popular attractions among Iceland tourists. Since 2004, the park has also been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. We spent about 3 hours there because it was completely cold and wet.
In the afternoon, we decided to warm up and visit a place “under the roof”, away from the rain. In our hotel, we found an advertising leaflet about the “Perlan – Wonders of Iceland” museum in Reykjavik. We went there and spent the rest of the afternoon.
Most of all I recommend visiting these two places, where an additional admission fee is needed:
- The Ice Cave is the first of its kind in the world. It is 100 meters long and built with over 350 tons of snow.
- The Planetarium with a rotating roof, and with a movie: “Áróra – Northern Lights”. It is the first Planetarium of its kind in Iceland.
-
Reykjavik, Perlan Museum
Golden Circle, Geysir, Gullfoss waterfall, Friðheimar greenhouse, Kerið Crater
⇒Route: Rejkiawik – Selfoss
This day began without rain, and the first rays of sunshine broke through the clouds. Finally, it was going to be a nice day. We left Reykjavik and saw the next two attractions – part of the Golden Circle. The first one was the Laugarvatin Geothermal Field. Some geysers shoot hot water up to 35 meters high. There is also Geysir – the first geyser after which all the others are named – unfortunately, it is no longer active.
Next, we saw the second important attraction: the Gullfoss waterfall, also known as the “Golden Waterfall“.
For lunch, we went to Friðheimar farm, which has greenhouses and a tomato farm. In one of the greenhouses, there is a restaurant serving delicious dishes made of tomato (including tomato mussels, tomato beer and cheesecake with tomato jam!).
At the end of the day, we went to see the Kerið Crater, which has a small lake at the bottom. You can walk around the crater and go down the stairs that lead to the small lake.
Accommodation: Hotel Selfoss Coast, Selfoss
South Iceland
Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Gljufurarfoss waterfalls, Reynisfjara Black Beach, Jokulsarlon Glacier, Diamond Beach
⇒Route: Selfoss – Reynisfjara – Jokulsarlon – Hofn
The day began with dark and low-hanging dense clouds. We planned to take a boat out to the glacier this afternoon, so we were keeping our fingers crossed for the weather conditions, hoping it was not going to be worse and that it would not rain.
We started our tour with two wonderful waterfalls. The first one was the 65-meter-high Seljalandsfoss waterfall. The path behind the waterfall allows you to go around the waterfall, which is a great experience!
The second waterfall is 500 meters away from Seljalandsfoss, and it is called Gljufurarfoss. To see it up close, you must go through a narrow crevice in the rock and through stones scattered in a swift water stream. Be careful, as there is a high risk of falling into the water (which I personally successfully did). The waterfall is over 40 meters high and is under protection as a natural monument.
Then we went to the Black Beach – Reynisfjara and the monumental basalt cliffs.
Jokulsarlon Glacier
In the afternoon, we had a boat trip on the lake around the Jokulsarlon glacier. We arrived 30 minutes earlier and changed into warm technical suits. With the whole group, we went by bus to the beach, where boats moored on the shore were waiting for us. The sun was coming out from behind the clouds, and the sky was getting clearer. We were lucky because the conditions for a boat tour on the lake were perfect.
The boat cruise around the glacier took 1 hour. The guide told us about the glacier and answered numerous questions. He explained why the icebergs were blue. Suddenly, he showed us the place where a big slice of the glacier broke off and burst into the lake. What a view!
Seals are swimming nearby and showing us several times.
Cruising around the glacier was, so far, the best experience we had in Iceland. We were convinced that it would stay in our hearts for a long time.
After the glacier cruise trip, we walked to the nearby beach. Huge chunks of ice lay on Black Beach and just on the shore, shimmering in the sun like sheets of glass. The beach is called Diamond Beach, and the blocks of ice that you can touch with your hand impressed us.
Back on Ring-road 1
We were driving all the time on Ring Road 1. The entire route from the Black Beach area to Hofn was beautiful and picturesque. On one side of the road, there were rocks, a glacier, mountains, and numerous waterfalls; on the other side, there were ocean shores, cliffs, lakes, rushing rivers, water cascades, and wetlands.
In the evening, we went to the small port town of Hofn, where we stayed overnight.
Accommodation: Hotel Edda (since May’23 under a new name) –