Iceland – May 2022
Hotel: Sandhotel (Reykjavik)

I’ve always traveled a lot, just not usually this back-to-back, as it had only been 3 weeks since Tahiti. But when Joe sent me a link to soccer tickets — a game in London — and told me he couldn’t get the payment to process, I had to show him how simple the form really was to fill out. I’d never leave an opportunity to call him an “idiot” on the table when I can do something better than him.

I hit “purchase,” and then it only took a few seconds for me to realize, “Oh… so we’re going to London?” We had visited 2 years prior, so we were going to take this opportunity to explore elsewhere the week before the game, and that’s how we ended up in Iceland. Lucky for Joe, I had visited once before and was prepared with all the snacks.

Day 1

We landed very early morning in Iceland, and although we didn’t get very much sleep on the plane, we needed to hit the ground running.

The best time to check out the Blue Lagoon is on your way to or from the airport, so we picked up our rental car from Sixt — Tip: Make sure you add the “Sand and Ash protection” if you plan on driving cross country. — and headed straight there. There are a few different packages to choose from to access the lagoon, but whichever you decide, be sure to book in advance since they will sell out.

The basic package comes with one free drink at the swim up bar and a free face mask as well. They also have changing rooms, showers, and lockers for free use before heading into the lagoon. It’s recommended to leave any jewelry in your locker since the minerals can tarnish the metals. I also highly suggest tying your hair up and lathering it in the conditioner provided in the showers. The water is amazing from your skin, but can be extremely drying for your hair.

After spending the morning relaxing, we headed to our hotel in the heart of Reykjavik. We spent the afternoon wandering the streets, visiting the famous Hallgrímskirkja church, enjoying yummy Iceland hotdogs, — Yes, it’s a thing. — and souvenir shopping.

Day 2

The next morning, after some much needed sleep, we woke up bright and early and stopped by Braud and Co. to grab one of their delicious cinnamon rolls before hitting the road.

We were visiting Iceland during a time when the sun didn’t set until almost midnight, and sunrise was around 4 a.m. But even when I woke up at 2:30 a.m. to use the bathroom, the sun was still out shining, so not sure that setting part ever happened. Because of all the sunlight, we knew we’d be able to drive the island all day without any restrictions of losing sunlight.

Note: If you wanted to continue heading east even farther than we started, — about 5 hours from Reykjavík — you can enjoy the breathtaking views of Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach directly across the way. As you head back west, you can also stop to enjoy hiking at Skaftafell National Park.

We started our road trip heading east about 2.5 hours to Reynisdrangar black sand beach to take in the pretty views of the ocean, basalt columns, and beach caves.

Note: Before the stop, you can find the Sólheimasandur Plane Crash. The parking lot is just off the highway, but the walk to the actual plane is quite long, and can be extremely cold. Be sure to bundle up.

We continued our journey heading next to Skogafoss Falls. This is a large waterfall, and usually gives off enough mist to produce a rainbow for viewing too. You’ll be able to climb a large set of stairs to the right and hike along the river that provides the water to the falls. You’ll also find a small bistro here, which I recommend stopping to eat at since there won’t be many options along your route.

Next up, we stopped at Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi waterfalls. Seljalandsfoss is another large waterfall, and you can enjoy the view from both in front and behind. There’s a cave behind the waterfall that you’ll be able to walk around, but, be warned, you’ll will get wet!

About a 10-minute walk to the left, you’ll find Gljúfrabúi waterfall. This one is a little hidden, so you’ll have to navigate your way through a small stream to reach inside the cave where this falls is located.

We ended up ending our trip here, and heading back to town since we had an early flight the next morning, but you could easily head straight into the Golden Circle, a popular route with many more gorgeous natural wonders of Iceland. Or even spend an extra day doing the Golden Circle too, as there is a lot to explore.

Note: Another option following the two falls, before heading to Reykjavík, would be stopping in Hveragerdi for a hike to some geothermal waters. 

Joe and I had an amazing time exploring all of the beautiful nature in Iceland during our short stay, but with such amazing views, you could easily spend a week exploring all it has to offer. Until next time, Iceland.

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