DAY 1 Pingvellir, Geysir, Gulfoss and Bruarhlod Gorge:

Pingvellir

This was our first stop and first site to see. We reached Keflavik international airport the previous night and camped in Pingvellir after we got our camper van. The campsite was clean and we took a shower there as well. On our first night there we saw the NORTHERN LIGHTS for the 1st time. My heart has never raced at that rate of speed before. I felt the power and presence of a higher force that night. Since it was our first night, we weren’t expecting to see the Northern Lights and didn’t have our camera handy but we still managed to get this legendary shot:

When day light broke, we headed off to Pingvellir, a national park and UNESCO World Heritage site. WE WERE TREATED TO THE BEST WEATHER. Clear blue sky and with the sun beaming brightly

Things to see at Pingvellir are and (reasons why it’s a world heritage site):

– The park lies in a rift valley, between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. YOU CAN LITERALLY WALK BETWEEN THE TWO PLATES.

Pingvellirvatn

This is Iceland’s largest natural lake and the water is so blue and clear it’s unbelievable. There are many vantage points and bridges where you get the best view of the lake. Take a look:

–The oldest parliament in the world: Pingvellir is home to the oldest Parliament in the world, the Icelandic Parliament. This was founded here in 930AD and was an open air parliament.

Oxrarfoss

The first waterfall we saw in Iceland (little did we know what we had in store in terms if Waterfalls next 😉 )

Silfra

Silfra valley has the clearest water on earth (fact) and is a scuba diving hotspot.

Þingvallakirkja (pingvellir church)

Tucked away in the national park you’ll find this wooden 17th century church next to the Prime Minister’s summer house. You can literally walk up to the house and the church is usually open from the middle of may and the beginning of September.

Geysir

From Pingvellir, we drove to Geysir. The name itself gives away what this place really is all about.

Geysir also known as the Great Geysir is a geyser in SW Iceland. The English word geyser (a periodically spouting hot spring) derives from this pace in Iceland Geysir. This place is home to Strokkur geyser which launches boiling water about 50 metres high! There are many geo-thermal pools around the area (not safe to dip into and not allowed as well).

Strokkur erupts roughly about every 8 minutes. The entire place smells of eggs due to the sulfur content in the water.

Gulfoss

Iceland’s two tiered waterfall!

Bruarhlod Gorge

This is spot that’s not on the ring road and a site that a local told us to see. This gorge has turquoise water meandering through it. There was no one at this place, no one.

We later drove to our campsite-The Selfoss campsite at Selfoss in South west Iceland and called it a night.

DAY 2 : Seljalandfoss ,Skogafoss , Solheimasandur ,Dyrholaey, Vik , Northern Lights

We were welcomed with the best weather again on Day 2! Clear blue skies and the sun beaming down on us. From our campsite in Selfoss we headed off to Seljalandsfoss!

Seljalandsfoss

The waterfall where you can walk behind it into a cave. Surreal! Make sure you dress appropriately. The spray will get you drenched. We however dried our clothes in no time just as below!

The official music video of “I’ll Show You” by Justin Bieber features Seljalandsfoss!

Skogafoss

Skogafoss is one of the largest waterfalls in Iceland with a 60m drop and one of my favorite waterfalls of all time let alone Iceland. Legend has it that there is a chest of gold and treasures behind the waterfall. But I couldn’t care less. What was in front of me was a sight of a life time. The water itself is 60m single drop one and is 25m wide, and looks like a brides veil. Could it get better? Since we were treated to the best weather in Iceland on that day, the sunlight was scattered by the spray to form an end to end rainbow in front of it. I had the deepest spiritual moment of my life right there. We also stood right in the middle of the stream and drank right out of it. Pure, crystal clear water-the best I’ve ever had.

FYI- you can drink out of any stream in Iceland, you won’t taste fresher water anywhere else on earth, guaranteed.

Solheimasandur Plane Wreck

You’ve all definitely seen this in movies (Dilwale-SRK and Kajole), music videos (Gerua, I’ll show you-Justin Bieber) and random pictures of it on the internet.

In 1973 a United States Navy DC plane ran out of fuel and crashed on the black beach at Sólheimasandur, in the South Coast of Iceland. Luckily, everyone in that plane survived. The sea is walking distance from the plane wreck and is completely empty. We could see the arch of Dyrholaey from the beach, that’s how good the weather was. The hike from where you can park your car to the plane wreck takes about one hour one way. The scenery of this white abandoned DC on the totally black sand and is quite surreal. I’m sure, it’s like walking on the moon.

Dyrholaey

This site was amazing, never have I seen such a landscape from a height and so many hues in the sky. Dyrholaey provides a viewpoint on top of a hill of the blank sand beach extending from Solheimasandur one side and the famous rock arch extending into the sea. We were treated to a site of an acrobatic stunt plane performing swoops around the arch. This was the perfect place to the sun go down in the horizon, pictures speak for themselves as below. Purple sky gradually turning saffron, a stunt plane within proximity, a majestic rock arch extending into the sea, an endless black sand coast on side below and the sun set, could this site get any better?

In the distance you can also see Renisfjara, the weather was so clear we could see beyond. After then sun set, we headed off to Vik and were in for a surprise at night.

The arch Right opposite the arch!

Vik

“Vík is a remote seafront village in south Iceland. It sits in the shadow of Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which covers the Katla volcano.”- Sounds cool? We reached Vik at night after witnessing a mesmerizing site at Dyrholaey and camped at “Vik Camping” an open camping site overlooked by Reyniskirkja is a wooden church dating to 1929 on a hill.

At Vik camping after a dinner which we made ourselves, we were treated to the display of the Northern lights at full force. I was reborn that night. We not only saw it in green but the ever so rare red and purple sheets of light as well. Stargazing at it’s finest.

We could hardly sleep that night, as we were always on the lookout for another show of the aurora.

DAY 3: Reynisfjara, Landmannalaugar, Fjadrargljufur, Sistrafoss

Reynisfjara

The beach closest to Vik is Reynisfjara black sand beach, the most famous black sand beach in Iceland has black pebbles, basalt columns and the Reynisdrangar offshore rock formations.

We reached the beach at 7:30AM in the morning to find NO ONE on the beach. Literally, the beach was hours and so were the basalt rock formations and the cave.

Reynisfjara is not only Iceland’s most famous black sand beach but also Iceland’s most deadliest site, and is the site that has claimed the most number of lives. The waves are HUGE here and is home to the deadly “Sneaker Wave” phenomenon. Watch here for yourselves:

Landmannalaugar

We couldn’t make it here as it’s in the highlands and we didn’t have a vehicle capable of going there but if your car has the ability to then you should. This place is known for its natural geothermal hot springs and surrounding landscape.

We made it to the edge though to see the moss covered lava fields and roll in them. They’re like huge giant fluff balls. Also seen in I’ll show you by Justin Bieber.

Fjadrargljufur

Iceland has way to many canyons for a tiny Island that it is, but if you can’t see them all, this is the one you should visit. I’ve been waiting to see this for ages before it even became widely photographed. This place is seen again I’ll show you by Justin Bieber.

What a place, Iceland kept giving.

I’ll show you-Justin Beiber

Sistrafoss

Systrafoss (‘sisters’ waterfall’) found at Kirkjubæjarklaustur which is a tiny village.

Systrafoss was a place that nobody usually goes to but we did after a local told us about it. You can hike up by the side of the waterfall to the top of the flat top mountain where there is a lake that feeds the waterfall. We then walked all around it and it was the highest we’ve even been in Iceland. We were literally on top of the mountain and wind speed literally almost had us swept of our feet. We then carefully maneuvered ourselves down. Whilst doing so both of us slipped and almost fell off the side of the mountain. At that moment, I thought that was it, we’re finished. the wind was on a mission to throw us off the side. We lucking made it down and we were lost in someones sheep farm. We lucking found the owner and he guided us back to where we parked our camper at the foot of the mountain.

We then called it a day and had our first meal outside at a cafe, called Cafe Munkar at the foot of the mountain where we had parked our camper. Finally, a well cooked warm meal for the first time.

We then drove to the campsite Skaftafell camping ground. The campsite has a great location, in the vicinity of the glacier Skaftafellsjokull, only a 5 minute walk away. The bathrooms were heated and clean. We called it a night and woke up early to walk to the skaftafellsjokull glacier.

DAY 4: Skaftafellsjokull, Svartifoss, Glacier lagoon, Diamond beach

Skaftafellsjokull

Skaftafellsjökull is a glacier tongue that spills off from Iceland’s largest ice cap, Vatnajökull.The glacier tongue of Skaftafellsjökull sits in Skaftafell meters off the camping site. You can walk all the way to the tongue and surrounding water bodies. You also do a Glacier walk with a professional. Again, there a multiple warning signs warning you that the site can kill you within seconds of you doing something silly, so be carefull in the area!

Svartifoss



It takes a hike to get to this waterfall and on the you’ll see a few unnamed ones. Svartifoss is so unreal and it looks like it’s been artificially sculpted. You can get very very close to waterfall but only at your own risk. The water flows down and between dark lava perfectly hexagonal basalt columns!

Glacier lagoon-Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach

Jökulsárlón is a glacial lagoon, bordering Vatnajökull National Park. The blue waters have icebergs scattered all over and you can spot lots of seals popping their heads out of the lagoon.

The Glacier Lagoon flows through a short waterway under a motor bridge into the Atlantic Ocean, leaving chunks of ice on a black sand beach forming the diamond beach. The diamond beach is something you’ll never see anywhere else. Again as you can see there were hardly any people.

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We then drove to Hofn, a port city on the south east cost of Iceland and camped at Camping Hofn, where we called it a night.

Day 5: Hofn, East Iceland, Dettifoss, Myvatn

Hofn and Eastern Iceland

Hofn is a small fishing village where we spend time in only looking at the docks and the Vatnajökull glaicer from a point. The place is good for a pitstop for fuel and food. We left immediately after to the north of the country through the east of the country where there is not much to see at all. The route however is dotted with many unnamed streams and waterfalls where you can stop for breaks and have quick looks. The drive from Hofn through the East to Dettifoss in the North was long and tiring, roughly 6 hours.

Dettifoss

This is Europe’s most powerful waterfall and you can feel the spray from a long long way. The road to Dettifoss is real pain the a** though as the road is unpaved and filled with potholes. It really was like driving on the moon and some people may not find it worth dong the drive but the choice is left up to you.

Myvatn



A short distance away before we reached Myvatn, is Hverir, a hot-springs area with boiling mud pots and fumaroles. The entire place smells of eggs due to the sulfur.

Mývatn is a volcanic lake in northern Iceland and is home to Mývatn Nature Baths have a naturally heated man-made lagoons, with mineral-rich waters known for their health-giving properties. The drive to these lagoons had us so excited as it was going to be our first blue lagoon thermal bath experience out in the open. Damn, I can still feel that excitement. We reached the place, stripped down in the designated changing areas and ran out (It was 7 degress late evening) and jumped right in the 40 degree Celsius water. WHAT A FEELING, absolutely amazing and to add to that we saw the sun go down whilst in the thermal pool.

After Myvatn we drove towards Husavik and camped for the night at Campground Husavik.

Day 6: Husavik-Whale watching capital of the world , Akuryeri, West fjords, Northern Lights

Husavik

Husavik is known as the Whale watching capital of the world and very rightly so. If the weather permits (which it did for us) there is almost certain guarantee that you will spot whales and WE DID.

There are quite a few tour operators in the area and they will offer you two types. One which involves on going on a large vessel with 50 odd people on it and the other which involves a speed ribbed boat and takes roughly 6 odd people.

The speed ribbed boat is obviously the more expensive one, but the chances of spotting whales on the speed boat is much higher than the large vessel as once a whale is spotted the speed boat can quickly speed to it.

WARNING : The sea is extremely rough out and you will get sea sick, it’s horrible 5 out of 6 people on board threw up heavily. The entire tour takes roughly 3 hours to complete. The boat goes far off the coast but well worth it when you spot all those whales coming up to take a breath and flip themselves on their belly. The most majestic sight though is when you see their tale fin rise above the surface as they dive back down.

Akuryeri

The biggest city in the North. Akuryeri appears like an oasis. Whale watching tours operate here as well. We took the opportunity to do some souvenir shopping here and decided that we would camp in Akuryeri as well after exploring the city.

Things to see in Akuryeri are:

-Akuryeri Church

-Akuryeri Arctic Botanical Garden

-Akuryeri Swimming Pool

-Hof Cultural and conference center

Day 7: Hvitserkur , Stykkisholmur

Hvitserkur

Hvítserkur is a basalt stack along the shore, in northwest Iceland. The rock has two holes at the base, makes it look like a dragon drinking water. You can go walk along the black sand beach, we saw many dead jellyfish that has washed ashore. I didn’t take the risk of touching them.

Stykkisholmur

We then stopped at the town of Stykkisholmur, where we decided to take it easy and not travel any further. We went to the public heated outdoor pool by the coast, witnessed another sunset and then headed of to a local restaurant and indulged in vegan burger. We also filled our tank up and headed of to Bonus to refuel for food supplies. We called it a night at Stykkisholmur camp site.

Day 8: Lighthouse at Stykkisholmur, Kirkjufell , Helnaar, Reykjavik

Lighthouse at Stykkisholmur

Woke up in the town and headed of to the lighthouse atop the cliff. The climb isn’t hard but it gets very windy up there. The view is lovely and again, we were the only ones there.

Kirkjufell

Kirkjufell is the most photographed mountain in Iceland and it’s not hard to see why. We spent a while here and made ourselves coffee. Hot coffee and a view like this was unreal again.

Helnaar

Hellnar is an ancient fishing village and here you’ll some ancient houses and turf houses.

A freestanding rock, extends into the bay here and ice one of Iceland’s most peculiar rock formations.

We then had the evening left to spend, we though of hitting Reykjavik to see a bit of the city at night. Word was also on the street that Northern lights were to be out in strength in Reykjavik.

Reykjavik

We headed off to the most happening street in Reykjavik, Laugavegur.

Laugavegur is like the Bond Street of London/ Brigade road of Bangalore. We roamed around and widow shopped and ultimately settled for some Viking beer and some Pizza at Devito’s Pizza and the far end of the street.

We then camped at Moskoggar campsite just outside Reykjavik. At the campsite, we witnessed the strongest display of the Northern lights. Absolutely insane!

Day 9 & 10: Hraunfosser, Reykjavik, Keflavik

Hraunfosser

We woke up and realised that we’d missed a nearby waterfall on our way to Reykjavik the previous night, so it had to be done! We drove back up to Hraunfosser to be greeted to this multiple cascading waterfall through the yellow is vegetation into the bluest stream ever! LOOK AT THESE PICTURES!!!!

We then headed back to Reykjavik across two days to see the remaining sites:

-Hallgrimskirkja

-Perlan restaurant

-Harpa Conference Centre

-The Sun Voyager

-Laugavegur street

That was it! We headed back off at night to Keflavik International airport to get our respective flights back! I headed back to London and Shamanth back to Bangalore.

As you can see, Iceland has something to offer every day,every night and in every corner. No number of days is really enough to see everything. Iceland really is paradise on earth! No words and pictures can do justice to the feeling the place induces in you.

A warning however, as beautiful as Iceland is , the land has claimed the lives of many tourists. The landscape is extreme and people often do bone headed things to get the best capture and well reasons no sensible person will be able to understand. A day before we visited Kirkjufell, a man fell to his death after he went off the legal trail and separated from his group. We hope you abide by all the rules and sensibly enjoy Iceland’s natural beauty.

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