Looking Back

Our Week in Iceland

Looking back on our trip to Iceland some would say we missed a lot and we rushed it, maybe we did but we feel that the time we had was well spent and put to good use. I would recommend Iceland to anyone, it may not be cheap but there are ways of travelling to suit everyone's budget. For us it was a lot less than if we had done a guided tour and we took in all the same places as the tours do if not more.

Tips for travelling around Iceland:

If you like a beer buy it at the duty free shop on arrival as beer and spirits are hard to purchase unless from a bar.

Hostels and guest houses are just as nice as hotels at a fraction of the price.

Petrol is a lot cheaper in the East and North of the country.

A few speed camera but watch for the police helicopter that lands in remote places with speed guns.

If you are camping a lot of the sites of interest have campsites attached to them.

All sites of interest have toilets and a few have cafes but not many, stock up at the supermarkets (10am opening)

I recommend you take a sleeping bag with you even if you are not camping as you get your bed cheaper in guesthouses and hostels if you have one.

Day 7

Last Day

Before we leave Reykjavik we must pay a visit to a Icelandic chocolate shop where a bag was purchased of course. We were now heading for the famous Blue Lagoon where we hoped to spend most of the day and we did.

Reykjavik

Sunning ourselves

I can float

Headed for Grindivik to spend our last night as its only 10 minutes from airport. Found a hostel that was a converted warehouse and we were the only guest and again we phoned the owner to be told what room we could have and leave the cash in the fridge. So trusting. We dumped our kit and found a little cafe that did amazing cakes.

Sally's

I went for the lower calorie option

Now we need to work these cakes off so we head of to find the Bridge between two Continents but we found some very hot springs first.

Gunnuhver

Bridge between two Continents

Now for the Cliff of Birds which was a heck of a walk across a lava field to the cliff edge where all kinds of sea birds were nesting.

Cliff of Birds

Absolutely exhausted we headed back to the car that was a pin prick on the horizon, hot and sweaty and hungry now. Made it back about 9:30 to find an Italian place still open with 4 other people eating, not a bad meal. Ready for bed now as we have an early start in the morning for our 9am flight back to Gatwick.

Day 6

Full Circle

On our last big drive to complete a full circle of Iceland on the only road there. Drove into Hvammstangi to seal watch and we are told about a polar bear that was in the area but we didn't see it. Drove an hour on a gravel road to see some seals sunning themselves on some rocks but we were more happy to watch the ducks and swallows and their chicks.

Hvammstangi

Fish Drying

Swallow chicks

Seals

A duck on take off

Feed me

Now leaving a very beautiful part of Iceland we are heading back to Reykjavik and fins somewhere to stay. We find a room in a converted office block that was very nice, went out for a Italian meal and of course a pint of Viking beer.

Day 5

Whale watching in Husavik

After a hearty breakfast we drove the 30 minutes to Husavik where we were booked on the whale watching boat. The sea was so calm and clear we could see for miles although rain was forecast. It wasn't long before we spotted our first hump back whale and then they just kept coming to see us. So many whales there as the feeding this time of year is good for them. Yes it did start to rain but thats ok because to finish the 2 1/2 hour trip off, we spotted a blue whale, the largest animal in the world. It didn't stay around very long but it was still a great moment for us to witness.

Hump Back Whales

The Mighty Blue Whale

After a great trip we had a walk around the town and stopped for a hot chocolate as we were hoping the rain would stop. In Iceland they have a saying "if you don't like the whether just wait 10 minutes" and thats very true.

So now we headed back to Lake Myvatn to walk up a volcano and do some exploring. Of course we choose the largest one to climb and walk around the crater "Hverfell"  The walk up was worth it as the size of the crater was huge and we walked it in an hour. 

Hverfell

After that hike we headed for the lava fields which is hard to imagine all that area was red hot lava not so long ago.    
 On route to Akureyri we came across Godafoss Waterfall which again was an amazing site.                                                

Getting late again so time to move on to Akureyri, Icelands second largest city. We were pretty tired by the time we arrived so headed for the tourist information centre to find some beds for the night. Booked into the backpackers hostel in a 4 bed dorm but only us 2 were in there which was good. Very nice place and very new in the centre of town.

Day 4

East Coast Fjords

A long drive ahead of us today, heading up the east coast where the rugged coast line merges with the mountainous fjords. Main traffic on this roads are the sheep and they have right of way.

Traffic jam

One of many fjords we drove

Heading for Lake Myvatn to spend the night, this is a very volcanic area with lots of craters and lava fields. 

Rugged coast East line

Arrived at the lake which we found to be the most expensive place in Iceland but the natural beauty of the place made up for that. Had pasta and cake for dinner as the place we stayed had a kitchen we could use. Very trusting owner we just phoned him up and he told us where to find the key and he would see us in the morning for breakfast. It was a good breakfast and not too bad coffee either.

Dettifoss

Day 3

Cruising the South Coast

Driving along the south coast you get your first views of the Myrclals-Jokull Glacier and just how big it is. Parked up at Skaftafell, where all the glacier tours start from so it was very busy there. We opted to hike to the glacier on our own so we could spend at much time as we wanted there. We took the path that follows the mountain round to the glacier, which took about 1/2 an hour. When we arrived at the glacier its hits you just how big it is, there is a small lagoon right in front with ice-bergs floating. (my first ice-bergs) Spent a couple of hours there walking around and taking photos, an amazing place.

Myrclals-Jokull Glacier

Back in the car and on the road to the Glacier Lagoon where we hope to get a boat ride around it. What an amazing place, a huge lagoon covered with ice-bergs that are moving about with the tide. This is the lake where 2 James Bond films where filmed (cars on the ice, lake was frozen over by closing the sea water off) Took an 1/2 hour boat ride around then spent a couple of hours watching some seals bobbing around the ice-bergs. 

Glacier Lagoon

Thousand year old ice

Getting late so time to head to Hofn for the night. Very nice little fishing village where we found a guest house right on the harbour and pizza and beer for dinner.

Day 2

Heading down South

Up and about quite early as we had planned to do a lot of sight seeing today. Our first stop was to be the Geysers but on route we came across the Kerio Crater so time for a rest stop and a walk.

Kerio Crater

Onwards to the Geysers and what a great site with everyone waiting for the great geyser to explode from the centre of the earths core and don't she go when she blows.

Great Geyser

On to our first great waterfall and what a waterfall it was, I was at this point wondering if Iceland has anything better to offer. The sheer power of this fall and we were amazed at how close we got get to the waters edge.

Gullfoss Waterfall

Continuing along the 1 highway (one and only road around the island) heading towards Vik, we came across Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. This waterfall can be viewed from behind and you only get a little bit wet.

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

On to Skogafoss Waterfall which again is a highlight of this trip. The falls has stairs so you can walk to the top (400 steps) I felt a bit dizzy looking over the edge, again I'm amazed how close you can get to the falls.

Skogafoss Waterfall

Early evening and time to get going onto Vik and find some beds for the night.

Iceland

Who said Iceland couldn't be done in a week?


30th June had arrived and we headed for the airport for our trip to the land of fire and ice; Iceland.
I booked with Iceland Express not because they were slightly cheaper but the flight times were perfect for taking and picking up Millie from my parents. The airline was fine (no TV or food) and we had a very smooth flight of 3hrs. We landed to beautiful weather, the sun was out and I was glad I packed some tee-shirts. Hired a nice Ford Fiesta car that had hearted seats, very nice. Had a very easy drive to Reykjavik and surprisingly we found the hotel easily. Well I say hotel it was more like a posh hostel but it suited our needs. Dumped our kit and off exploring we went, straight away we found the ironic Hallgrimskirkja church. Paid to go to the top which gave us panoramic views of the capital of Iceland. Now to eat and the interesting bit, after viewing many menus we decided to skip the puffin and whale choices and head for the oldest cafe in Reykjavik for hamburger and chips and a pint of Viking beer. Its a very strange feeling as the sun doesn't set this time of year and when you wake in the middle of the night and its day light.

Hallgrimskirkja Church

Views of Reykjavik

Well recommended

No thank you