Iceland in October - Ring Road in 7 days

Iceland is amazing. There is nothing like the scenery there + the chance to view the northern lights.

---

TRIP COST FOR 2
​Flight: $325/pp (DTW <> JFK <> KEF)
Hotels: $1050
Activities: $815
Rental Car: $415
Misc: $1820 (FOOD IS SO EXPENSIVE!)
Total: $5400
Per Person Total: $2700

---

Iceland Google Mapped: ​https://goo.gl/maps/qTEuWmHfDaDVfHbR8

---

DAY 1: BLUE LAGOON TO WEST ICELAND

Blue Lagoon

• ​We went at sunrise as soon as we landed! The water is so so blue and HOT.
• You get a free smoothie drink which has yogurt in it, but not the kind we're used to, so we didn't particularly like it.
• You also get free white sulfur & silica face mask, which really kills the romance vibe, but is great for your skin!
• All in all, a relaxing, unique geothermal spa worth the visit

Jet Lag

• We took a red eye flight, but boy, did we need a nap.
• We couldn't check into our hotel when we got there, so we napped in the car for 3 hours
• Everything planned for the day went down the drain due to lack of sleep
  
  

Gerðuberg Cliffs

• We emerged from our nap to finally do something
• The cliffs are made of basalt columns formations, a cool little stop that wasn't crowded at all

Ytri Tunga - lookout with seals

• Right on the ocean, this was a neat place to watch the sunset.
• You can see loads of seals in the distance.

LODGING
Hotel Hafnarfjall
*booked "bungalow with sea view" - essentially a tiny house - LOVED!

LEARNED LODGING OPTIONS:
I ended up booking all our stays through booking.com or airbnb. We met a couple renting a heated camper van, the only downside to this is going outdoors to go to the bathroom. There are a ton of campsites around the island, making for a less stressful itinerary. Most days we barely ate lunch, because I jammed so much into the day, with sunlight only being out from 9-5. There were very many hangry moments in our days. Some Camper Vans we saw: Camp Easy & Happy Camper - but keep it in mind as an option! If I ever go to the Iceland again, I'd choose the camper van route.

---

DAY 2: WEST ICELAND TO THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
Since we took a crazy long nap yesterday during precious daylight yesterday, we explored a little more of the west today.

Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge

• A gorge, which is essentially, ​a crack in a rock formation, typically caused by water erosion
• A river runs through the gorge, you can get in the beginning of the gorge easily by stepping on rocks in the river
• Quickly, you'll find a boulder about 5' tall that is hard to get up without getting wet! This is where most people stop.
• It gets more difficult the farther you go down the river. You can get far enough where you see a tall waterfall with a rope next to it to climb up. 
• My boyfriend did this hike, while I basically patiently waited for him to inevitably plummet to his death. Thankfully, he hiked it without any hiccups, but completely soaked when he came back! It only took him 6 minutes to hike as far as he could.

Kirkjufell Mountain

• This is the most photographed mountain in Iceland, and for good reason
• It is gorgeous, with ​Kirkjufellsfoss in front of it
• We went when it was pouring rain, and there is a steel walkway to prevent erosion, and it is tough to climb uphill on a steel grate when slick, without railings. Either crawl or grab onto someone with great strength & balance!
• A must see in Iceland! One of my favorite stops.

FROM THE WEST TO GOLDEN CIRCLE
Kerið Crater

• It cost 800 or 900ISK to get in ($8)
• We went up to it, and moved on. It's neat, but I feel our time could be spent elsewhere.

Geysir Geothermal Area

• As I mentioned, it poured today, all day.
• We get there and didn't read any signs as any tourist on a time schedule would do.
• There are about 20-30 people waiting near a geyser, named Geysir, waiting for it to blow.
• We wait, and wait, and it pours, and pours. We finally leave to read the sign and it says Geysir hasn't erupted since 2000.
• We could've waited there for another 19 years!
• Strokkur, however, erupts every 10-15 minutes! 

Gullfoss

• Incredible. Probably one of the most iconic waterfalls in Iceland.
• I personally think it's more magnificent from afar, but take the trail to see it close up!

LODGING
Airbnb - Austurey Cottages - another great tiny house!

Other places to see in West Iceland that we didn't have time for:

• Gatklettur - arch
• Djúpalónssandur - black sand beach
• Skarðsvík Beach

More spots on the way or near the golden circle:

• Hraunfossar/Barnafossar - large lava waterfall
• Vidgelmir Cave - $53 for 1.5hrs
• Haifoss - gorgeous waterfall
• Gjáin - valley with waterfalls and ponds
• Þjórsárdalur - Olly's farm in Game Of Thrones
• Secret Lagoon Hot Spring

---

DAY 3: SNORKEL THE SILFRA

Snorkel the Silfra

• Silfra is a fissure between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates in Thingvellir National Park
• Silfra is the only place in the world where you can dive or snorkel directly in a crack between two tectonic plates
• I hestiated booking this in the winter, because the thought of being in freezing cold water isn't for me.
• But, I didn't get to do this last time and really regret it. Bucket list - let's go! 
• We had a ​10am spot - $303 for 2 people for a 1 hour trip
• We suited up in our long johns, wool socks, winter onesies, and put our dry suits on.
• They even tape your wrists, and secure your neck to prevent water from coming into your bodysuit.
• We get in and they encourage you to drink the water, it is so clear & fresh!
• I highly encourage you to try it! It was is something I will never forget.
• They also take pictures of you & your trip with a link to digital photos for an extra $25. Can't be beat!
• Click here to book your Silfra Snorkel Tour with dive.is​

---

DAY 3 CONTINUED: SOUTH ICELAND

​Seljalandsfoss

• This is the waterfall you can hike around 360 degrees! Easy, iconic waterfall to get to

Gljúfrafoss

• Keep walking down the trail after Seljalandsfoss and just around the bend, there is a small gorge leading to a beautiful waterfall! It's a gem.

Skógafoss

• Another easy, iconic waterfall to get to

Reynisfjara Beach

• Iceland's most famous black sand beach
• Its beautiful black sand, powerful waves, and the nearby Reynisdrangar sea stacks make Reynisfjara a truly unique place to visit
• You can see the Dyrhólaey arch from a distance too!

Fjaðrárgljúfur 

• THIS IS A MUST STOP! 
• I will say google maps dropped us at the parking lot farthest away from the best lookout.
• We had a decent hike there, but there is another parking lot with stairs that drops you out at the lookout.
• We were there at Sunset, and the colors blew me away. The lush moss, the blue river, the canyon walls, and the glow of the sunset. This was my favorite place throughout the entire trip.
• Magical. Breathtaking. Need I say more?

LODGING
Fosshotel Nupar
This place is deceiving. Looks nice from the outside, the lobby, the dining room, the bathrooms, until you get into your own room. Great dinner & breakfast, and will knock on your door (if you opt in) if they see the northern lights! But our bathroom was gag-worthy, and I don't have high standards. Beware.

Things we didn't get to because of time:

• Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool - 20/30 min flat walk
• Solheimasandur Plane Wreck - 1hour walk there, 1 hour walk back, flat
• Dyrhólaey - arch, beach
• Dverghamrar - unique rocks for a quick pic

---

DAY 4: GLACIER HIKE / DIAMOND BEACH

Glacier Hike

• We booked an "Into the Glacier" Tour with Arctic Adventures
• It was $160 per person for approximately 4 hours
• You meet at their hut at Skaftafell, take a bus to a lot, and hike for 20-30 minutes to the Vatnajökull glacier
• Put on your cramp on's to continue hiking up the glacier to see piercing blue crevices, spikes, and ice caves.
• "Angry cowboy" was the motto of the day, as you really need to stomp your feet to go up on a glacier
• I have hiked a glacier before, with arctic adventures in Iceland and have had a better time.
• Before they left you down into a crevice and let you ice pick your way back up, but not this time.
• I would honestly skip this if you want to save time & money, unless you want to knock glacier hiking off your bucket list.

Svartifoss

• This trail was closed due to eroded walkways, and too much tourism. Super sad.

There are more glaciers to see in this area, but we were glaciered-out after our trek

• Svínafellsjökull
• Fjallsárlón

Diamond Beach

• Parts of the glacier break off, and are dropped into a lagoon, connected to the ocean.
• This leaves both the lagoon and beach with large diamond-shaped icebergs everywhere creating a unique landscape
• Must see in Iceland!

LODGING
Gerdi Guesthouse

---

DAY 5: DRIVE 5 HOURS TO MYVATN

Vestrahorn

• Vestrahorn is a mountain on private property, you have to pay around 900ISK ($8) as an entrance fee at the cafe.
• It was super windy when we went, we couldn't even open our eyes as we stepped out of the car as we were beaten alive by black sand. 
• But, it was pretty, whatever my camera could see and capture! ha.
• There is a viking village, where the mountain blocked the wind, so we wandered about there.
• I was convinced this was a real village. It looked legit.
• Months later, I found it wasnt, and the magic wore off.
• The authentic Viking village was built in 2010 at the foot of Mount Vestrahorn in southeast Iceland for a movie that never was filmed.
• Despite the realness being a dream, still a very cool place to visit, and probably even better when the weather is good!

Hengifoss & Litlanesfoss

• This hike in total is about 3 miles, 1.5 miles each way, all uphill.
• We hiked this in at least 60mph winds.
• Hiking the glacier the day before, I was literally sweating from hiking & all the clothes I wore.
• I decided to dress "lightly", and, well... regret. I could not feel my legs.
• We lost our sanity on this hike, still a lovely place.
• The trail to get closer to Hengifoss was closed, but we got close enough to see it. 
• It looks nothing like the photos with a dusting of snow on it.

LODGING
Icelandair Hotel Myvatn
^the nicest hotel we stayed in
​
Things we didn't see due to time:
Seydisfjordur - village with rainbow road
Stuðlagil Canyon

---

DAY 6: MYVATN - ARSKOGSSANDUR

So, we found out why it was so windy yesterday. We woke up to being a winter storm. One day = not winter, today = winter.
We couldn't see out our window. We didn't want to go outside, so we stayed in the hotel as long as possible.
When we went to check out around noon:

• The receptionist asked me where we were going, which I initially thought was really odd and forward.
• After my really weird answer, he proceeds to say that many of the roads are closed.
• Oh, okay! You're not a creep. 
• So that eliminates alot of our plans included Dettifoss.
• We drive... it's bad. We also cant get gas because the self-serve gas machines can't handle the elements, and oddly enough, you can't just walk into the gas station and say "$20 on pump #X please", because they're not connected.
• So, cool. No gas.
• We have enough to get to our next destination, so let's do things around town.

Mývatn Nature Baths

• Another hot spring, similar to the Blue Lagoon
• They encouraged us not to do this activity since the springs were 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), below average body temperature. 
• Giving customers 15% off because of the cold/inconvenience
• We decided against it, since they discouraged it
• Another activity bites the dust

Grjótagjá Cave

• Cave that Jon Snow & Ygritte get it on in, in Game of Thrones.
• It is on private property. We didn't have to pay a fee though, different than what I've read online.
• The new dusting of snow made it hard to see where to get in, but Pete figured it out
• The water was lukewarm and the cave was warm!

Akureyri

• The second largest city in Iceland
• We walked around town, saw the church and went into some shops.

Bjórböðin - Beer Spa

• Right next to our airbnb igloo, we decided to give it a go!
• I love beer, but Peter doesnt, so I was going to do this myself if he wasn't in.
• Nothing else to do in a winter storm!
• It is $136 for a couples bath, for 25 minutes.
• They fill a wooden tub with beer, water, hops and yeast.
• You get to drink unlimited beer from your own tap, and soak in the tub for 25 minutes
• Afterwards, you go to a relaxation room (without the beer you just filled up) for another 25 minutes
• They tuck you into a bed with blankets, and it turns into a giggle fest with strangers.
• Afterwards, the giggle fest we had with strangers moved to the sauna & the outdoor hot tubs with a view!
• They served us more beer in the hot tub, during a winter storm, it was the best way to experience the storm.
• We ate dinner there with a couple we met from Toronto. Really great burgers & beer.

LODGING
Airbnb Igloo
^ absolute favorite place we stayed. We saw the northern lights in between storm clouds from our bed.

Things we didn't see due to the weather:

• Namafjall - otherworldly
• Hverir
• Viti Crater Lake
• Krafla Lava Fields
• Dettifoss
• Godafoss

---

DAY 7: DRIVE 5 HOURS TO REYKJAVIK + EXPLORE THE CITY 

Thankfully, no snow storms! 
I tried to break up the drive with a few stops in between

Kolugljúfur Canyon

• Neat, little canyon just a little ways down a dirt road on the highway
• Worth a stop!

Grábrók

• Google maps took us to the wrong place, so I gave up.

Reykjavík

• Rainbow Road
• Hallgrimskirkja - you can climb to the top for a view of the city
• Icelandic Phallological Museum
• Harpa Concert Hall
• Reykjavik has really neat buildings, surrounded by art

Grotto Lighthouse

• Best place to see the northern lights, 15 minutes from the city
• Yes, we could see the lights tonight!
• We waited an hour, but they showed up and stuck around for the next 2 hours, and did not disappoint!
• It was ultra ultra annoying to be surrounded by tourists, with their car lights going by, or just blatantly left on (huge eye roll), really prohibiting everyone from seeing the northern lights to the fullest
• Cars were constantly coming and going
• I fully appreciated the igloo experience after this.
• Despite all the commotion, I was super grateful to see the northern lights!

LODGING
Hotel Fron
^Nice! Lovely location in the city center.


*note 1 day of travel to get there & 1 day to get back were not apart of this - but plan for it! - 9 days total.

---

HIGHLIGHTS: