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Blog Iceland Nature & Outdoors Travel Tips

7 Must Sees on an Icelandic Road Trip

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I don’t like bucket lists and I don’t think I ever had one. However, I do like to add certain adventures and destinations to my Pinterest board as ideas for…

I don’t like bucket lists and I don’t think I ever had one. However, I do like to add certain adventures and destinations to my Pinterest board as ideas for future travels. Icelandic road trip is one of them!

Driving itself is enjoyable for me but when you add activities that include seeing active volcanoes, icebergs, waterfalls and other natural beauties, it’s logical why Iceland is a dream trip for many of us.

Of course, to be able to do this you need to rent a car in Iceland. Also, be sure to bring good photography equipment. Here are some tips for mobile photography, if that’s what you prefer.

So here are some highlights that make road trip across Iceland one of the best road trips that you can possibly take;

Thingvellir National Park

This park has a great geological importance and is one of the most popular attractions in the country. It is located in a valley which marks the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This is a tectonic plate that separates the North American and the Eurasian plates. The largest natural lake in Iceland is also located here and it’s popular as a diving and snorkeling location. You can also see many geysers and amazing Gullfoss waterfall.

https://vimeo.com/13842607

Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls

Seljalandsfoss is one of the best known waterfalls in Iceland. It’s located just by the famous Ring Road. It drops from 60 meters and visitors can walk behind it. Skógafoss on the other hand has a width of 25 meters and is famous for a rainbow formation due to the amount of spray the waterfall produces. Amazing photo opportunities await!

Glacier Hiking

Another amazing activity for the adventurous buffs is hiking on the glaciers. This requires a professional guide and equipment but it is well worth it considering that you can walk on ice that formed a thousands a years ago. Sounds awesome to me! 🙂

Ice Caves

If you think that walking on glaciers won’t please your hunger for adventure, well in that case, you can go inside them! Vatna glacier is the largest in Iceland and it covers more than 8% of the territory.  These caves are famous for its atmosphere as the blue light is seeping through the ice giving it a unique feel. It’s another activity that requires a professional guide but you can check out Trip Advisor to help you with the search.

Northern Lights

Iceland is obviously a great place for hunting Aurora Borealis. Driving in the night can increase the chances of seeing them so you can stop anytime and watch this amazing natural phenomena. Dark skies and clear weather are necessary and Northern and Eastern parts of the country offer some good spots.

icelandic road trip

Northern Iceland

Northern parts of the country also offer some amazing natural attractions. One of them is Krafla which is a caldera and Hverir – a geothermal area with boiling mudpools and fumaroles. Krafla had 29 eruptions in its history. Akureyri is the biggest city in the North and a good starting point for hunting Aurora Borealis. The area around Akureyri is also famous for whale watching. The season lasts from June to October.

Reykjavík

Reykjavík is the capital city which offers vivacious cultural scene, eclectic architecture and is surrounded by many natural wonders in its vicinity, such as the Blue Lagoon. You can relax, enjoy the warm waters and be in awe of this beautiful setting. The lagoon is famous for its healing activities and attracts visitors from the country and abroad.

icelandic road trip

These are just some out of many beautiful attractions this country offers. For more ideas and suggestions you can visit the official website of the Icelandic Tourism Board.

Photos: iceland.is

 

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Blog Iceland Nature & Outdoors

Why You Should Pack Up And Escape to Iceland

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My fascination with Iceland began from a very young age. Whether it was its picturesque scenery, the remnants of old pagan beliefs (such as believing in the existence of elves)…

My fascination with Iceland began from a very young age. Whether it was its picturesque scenery, the remnants of old pagan beliefs (such as believing in the existence of elves) or its rich culture; there was always something about this small, mystical island and its inhabitants that lured my daydreams up north.

Here is a list of reasons why Iceland should be renamed Wonderland:

The beauty of Iceland, among other things, lies in its diversity. It was dubbed as the Land of Fire and Ice for its spectacular mixture of volcanoes (about 130 of them!), geysers and glaciers. The Eyjafjallajokull volcano, Lake Mývatn, black sandy beaches, Vatnajökull glacier, hot springs, the Fjords…the fairytale scenery will inspire even the biggest couch potatoes to become avid hikers. You can also look for the cheapest car rentals in Iceland and have a road trip around the country. As you can see you have an array of choices, so choose freely as it’s impossible to go wrong.

Coastline, Isafjordur

Gufufoss, Seydisfjordur

Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa near Reykjavik. It is one of the most visited sites in Iceland. You can relax, drink cocktails, enjoy the warm waters and be in awe of the otherworldly setting (the spa is located in a lava field in Grindavík). Besides being famous for its natural beauty, Blue Lagoon is also known for its healing abilities. A lot of people from all over, come here to seek treatment for various skin diseases.

Blue Lagoon

Reykjavik is the capital and actually the only city in Iceland. Surrounded by many natural wonders that give Reykjavik an almost magical backdrop – it’s a city with a vivacious cultural scene and eclectic architecture. There are many things that make the capital of Iceland worth a visit: places of historical significance, landmarks, their budding nightlife and very interesting restaurants. Icelanders have a very specific palate and most likely you’ll have to train your taste buds in order to truly enjoy their traditional Icelandic cuisine. Make sure not to miss a free tour of Reykjavik (with a history grad) and to go for a swim in one of Reykjavik’s many public pools.

Reykjavik

Iceland Airwaves is one of the most famous music festivals, annually held in November, it attracts thousands of tourists each year. They showcase Icelandic and international music. Over the course of five days of festivities, about 40+ bands and DJs perform. Musical greats such as Crystal Castles, The Kills, The Knife, Beach House and Father John Misty have performed there over the years. The festival is known for its party vibe and laidback atmosphere.

Airwaves Chill-out Party @ Blue Lagoon - Saturday°

Aurora Borealis is a beautiful weather phenomenon. The best chances of seeing the Northern Lights is if you have dark skies, clear weather and make sure to book a week-long stay. It’s risky to plan your whole trip only around the Northern Lights. It should be considered as an added bonus to your whole experience at Iceland. If you’re lucky and you see those bright stars accompanied with lights flickering and twirling in the dark skies, you’ll have that image etched into your mind forever.

Luces del Norte en Tromso Noruega

You don’t want to waste a single day in Iceland – it’s such an intriguing country that it won’t let you feel inertia. Your curiosity will awake a desire to interact and explore your surroundings and you’ll feel as a child that discovers something new each day. As many others before you, you’ll keep coming back in a futile attempt to try and comprehend the magic of Iceland. Or their elves.

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Blog Iceland Nature & Outdoors Travel Tips

Five Reasons To Visit Iceland Now

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Iceland is a place where culture, nature and historical heritage ideally complement each other, making it a destination that you should visit at least once in your lifetime. Here are…

Iceland is a place where culture, nature and historical heritage ideally complement each other, making it a destination that you should visit at least once in your lifetime. Here are just a couple of reasons to visit Iceland now;

Scenic Road Trip Opportunities

The Ring Road is Iceland’s most popular road trip that circles the whole country and offers some fantastic attractions. This main national road allows you to see the city of Reykjavik, hot springs, Vatnajokull National Park, the East Fjords, the Eyjafjallajokull volcano and much more. This is a great option for an active holiday as not only you’ll be able to admire amazing natural landscapes but also hike, relax in the Blue Lagoon’s thermal spa, explore the capital city etc. For all these reasons, Icelandic road trip is very high on my bucket list. If you plan to spend several days in the country and you’d love to do this scenic route, the first thing to do is to look for cheap car rentals in Iceland. If you don’t plan to spend too much time in Iceland another alternative is a Golden Circle which is a popular day trip for the visitors.

IJsland / Iceland

Interesting Culture and Customs

Iceland is rich in history and culture, therefore the country offers many museums especially in the south. Culture has always occupied an important place in the life of Icelanders. That explains so many art exhibits, concerts, folk dance groups etc. Choirs are especially important as one in three Icelanders is an active choir member. Also, reading seems to be the most popular activity as the country is a place where one in ten people will publish a book.

Iceland

The Northern Lights

One of the best places to see this interesting natural phenomenon is Akureyri- a small town in Northern Iceland. Many companies specialize in Iceland trips, among them the Northern Lights. The north of the country also has a number of the historical sights and museums related to the Viking age. Traditional country architecture in a form of turf houses is well presented which makes an interesting ambiance.

Stars over Iceland

Winter Adventures

This doesn’t come as a surprise but if you are a Winter type and into active holidays, Iceland offers some great opportunities, especially in the North. Besides skiing you can go whale watching or you can immerse yourself in a culture that blossoms during cold winter months. The country hosts a festival called the ‘Days of Darkness‘ that intends to brighten up dark and short days.

Iceland Winter photos, 2015

Amazing nature

Iceland’s north-west corner which is the westernmost point in Europe amazes with its unspoiled wilderness. There are great places for hiking and from here you could even see Greenland on a clear day. Natural hot springs are pretty common and this area is perfect for biking. West Iceland is home to the Snæfellsjökull National Park which is very famous primarily due to the novel “Journey to the Center of the Earth” in which the entrance to a passage leading to the center of the world is right here. The Reykjanes Peninsula which is a continuation of the mid-Atlantic Ridge is a famous geo park. Here you’ll be able to experience nature at its best with 100 different craters, lava fields and black sand beaches.

Iceland

Is Iceland on your bucket list? Or is there anything else you have to add? Feel free to comment below.

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