Iceland always seemed like a land so far away and captured my curiosity for years. When I finally booked my trip to this island country, I was on cloud nine. Alot of research went into the preparation for the trip - from visa, flights, accomodation, tours and the costs for food and miscellaneous expenses. After extensive research, I flew with wow airlines. The visa is nothing to consider if you have a valid schengen visa. Since Iceland is relatively one of the expensive travel destinations I have been to, I planned to take some easy to cook meals, canned food and versatile electric kettle which could help make easy soups, porridge and some curries. We all this settled, I was ready to embark on this wonderful experience.
Arrival to Iceland
The flight from Germany to Reykjavik was about 4h. The landing view was already taking my breath away. The moment I stepped out of the plane, the wind hitting my face was intense. I withdrew some cash from an ATM at the airport and took the bus shuttle to the city. After dropping off the luggage at the hostel, I went around exploring the city.
I walked through the city passing by the main attractions such as Harpa concert hall, parliament building, city hall, churches and exquisite art installations.
We took a tour to Raufarholshellir, 4th longest lava tube in Iceland. The site can be visited only with a guided tour and is 30 min from the Reykavik. The necessary equipment is provided on site with the tour. We walked on the path of the lava from past volcanic eruptions which is now lit by installed lightings and a walkaway. It was spectular to walk underground and see the bright red tinges in the solidified lava rocks. Based on carbon dating, the caves are approximately 5000 years old.
We started the day with the traditional Golden Circle tour. We visited Iceland’s most famous and distinguishable waterfall, Gullfoss. Also known as ‘the Golden Falls’, the water gushes in two tiers into an ancient valley with tremendous force. It is possible to walk to several viewing platform for the best views of the waterfall. It is truly a waterfall like no other.
The next stop was Þingvellir. The national park is a fascinating place located directly between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates known for its geological beauty. It is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Icelandic mainland.
Following Þingvellir, we made our way to the Haukadalur Valley, an renowned for its geothermal geysers. One of the geysers named Strokkur, erupts every ten minutes, blasting water up to 40 metres high. The area has several hot springs around and is a nice place for a walk. The largest of the geysers was inactive during our visit. Nonetheless the smaller neighbours were already a treat to the eye with their magnificence.
After long day on the road, we unwound ourselves with a visit to the famous Blue Lagoon. It was a completely unique experience to spend time bathing in the milky blue water and gazing out over the landscape of black lava fields and peaks surrounding the lagoon. The water temperature was a soothing 37-40°C and the perfect atmosphere to relax the muscles sipping a drink or two in the water. One can also apply a face mask of the silica mud knwon for deep cleansing and clarifying the skin.
The next day we drove through the Hellisheiði mountain pass through lava fields covered with moss and along the coastline and geothermal springs. The Seljalandsfoss Waterfall was the first stop of the day. It was quite humid and foggy and it was barely possible to see the waterfall. With bare minimum visibility, it was still wonderful to see this magnificent waterfall. Afterwards, we continued our journey to the Skógafoss waterfall. It is possible to take a flight of stairs and walk behind the waterfall. This was a rare experience and truly enjoyable.
The next stop was the Solheimajökull Glacier, a photographer’s delight. We were lucky to be able to see a huge part of the glacier breaking off into the water. The sound and the vision of this was moment was unmatched to any other experience in my life. I felt grateful for being able to be there to witness such a natural wonder.
The last stop for the day was the black beach known as Reynisfjara. At this beach, the water from the Atlantic Ocean crashes upon the adjoining black sands cliffs. A walk along the beachside with just the sound of the waves and the few birds transported me to a different world. Several sea birds nest in the area. It is beach filled with lava rocks which are perfect souvenir to remember the place.
Farewell it was but just for now
Iceland would always remain one of the dreamy locations I visited. Once was not enough and I plan to revisit iceland during a different season to explore the country further.
Tips for travellers
- Book tours well in advance.
- Budget travellers must be prepared to cook meals in hostels/airbnb.
- Travellers who wish to drive must download weather apps since weather can change very rapidly within a few hours on the island.
