Here's a recap of our three days in Iceland chasing waterfalls, exploring geysers, icebergs, hot springs, and black sand beaches:
Day 1
We flew out of BWI at 7pm and landed in Iceland at 5am local time. Surprisingly, everything was open and buzzing when we arrived. There's a big duty free shop that you'll walk through, grab some water and snacks before heading out. The supermarkets and restaurants wouldn't be open for several more hours. Our first order of business was to get to our car rental facility. We went with Sadcars because they offered the lowest rates. The first car they offered us had a gap at the door, so wind was seeping through even when it was closed. We returned it and they replaced it with a much better one without any hassle.
Once we got on the road, we started for the Golden Circle towards our first destination, Thinvellir National Park. We didn't make it very far before having to pull over to pet some hardy Icelandic ponies and admire a gorgeous church on a hill!
Standing in Thinvellir, you can just feel the history in the moss covered grounds. Here lies the site of the first parliament, continental rifts, and filming scenes of Game of Thrones.
Heading more west on the Golden Circle, you'll come to the Geysir Center where you can warm up with some great Icelandic dishes before walking over to watch Strokkur erupt, which will happen about every 15-20 minutes.
A little over 9 km further you'll find one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe, Gullfoss, the Golden Waterfall! Legend has it that this beautiful waterfall was in danger of having it's power harnessed for electricity, but the daughter of the owner prevented this from happening by threatening to throw herself into the falls. It is now protected by the Icelandic government.
Day 2
We spent Day 2 exploring the southern route of the Ring Road as we made our way to the Glacier Lagoon. There were countless waterfalls and breathtaking views to take in, including the very popular, Seljalandsfoss. If you're here, don't miss the sister waterfalls located within walking distance to the west (grab your wellies and ponchos). We could have easily broken this route up into two days if we had more time.
Having a four wheel drive enabled us to venture onto their F roads where we explored the Fjaðrárgljúfur canyons. Don't attempt these roads without the proper vehicle.
Day 3
We started our third day at the Glacier Lagoon, watching blue ice float by on Jökulsárlón (literally glacier river lagoon). If you want to get between the icebergs, book a tour, but it is not necessary to be on the boat to see the ice. Many will float right by you.
Across the street is Diamond Beach where we found large chunks of glacier ice resting on black sand.
We headed back west after Diamond Beach to our next stop, the black sand beach at Vik. The beach is known for the black basalt columns that were formed from cooling lava. The waves can be dangerous here so approach with extreme caution.
About 20 kilometers west of Vik is the DC-3 plane on Sólheimasandur. The US Navy plane crashed in November of 1973. All of the crew members survived, but they left behind the plane which has now become one of the top tourist attractions in south Iceland. The contrast of the shell of the plane sitting on black sand offers some great photo ops. The road to the site has been shut down to the public so if you're visiting on your own, you'll have to hike the 12 miles roundtrip. The road is flat, making it an easy walk.
Our next stop was Skogafoss. After walking 12 miles to and from the DC-3 plane, we opted not to climb the 527 steps to view the waterfall from above.
We flew out the next day at 3pm, which gave us a lot of time in the morning for more exploring. This would be a good time to visit the famous Blue Lagoon if that's on your list. Just be sure to book as far in advance as possible. We chose to seek out natural hot springs instead.
This trip only scratched the surface of what Iceland has to offer. There is so much more to explore in other parts of Iceland, but this gave us a good idea of how incredibly beautiful this tiny island country is. The amazing landscape in just this region alone was unlike anything we have ever seen! We can't wait to go back and experience the rest of the country!
~ Stephanie
