What to do When you get to Iceland:
OMG! So you have landed in Iceland, ready for your adventure in the land of fire and ice. New to this land, a land which is remote and only hosts to only 300,000 people. A land scape that you hear about on the news for its erupting volcanos! There is plenty to do here and you know that. You have many choices to pick from, so where do you start? That is why you should read this before you land in Iceland so I can help you!Today this blog will cover the Western side of the Island BUT I will cover a few activities by the Airport as that is usually a starting position.
The Blue Lagoon:
A lot of people tend to enjoy taking a nice dip in the Blue Lagoon-spa after a long flight. In my case my flight is 6 hours, how long is yours? |
| Blue Lagoon in the evening |
It is one of the most popular attractions in Iceland and although it is man made where the majority of the attractions of the Island are natural, it still is enjoyed by all who soak themselves in this geothermal spa. Plenty of packages to buy which include but isn't limited to, mud masks, slippers, a robe, a free drink, one of their massage packages are wonderful treats. There is a reason why the Blue Lagoon is one of the 25 wonder in the world. Check it out when in Western Iceland!
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| Blue Lagoon Website |
Also offered at the Blue Lagoon is a full restaurant, café, and an exclusive lounge. The Blue Lagoon hotel is also close by.
Is it a tourist trap or is it simply a must see and do attraction? If you have been to Iceland and been to the Blue Lagoon then comment below.
Directions:
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| Google Maps |
The Bridge Between Two Continents:
Okay, so if you are like me and this is your very first International trip, AND you are from the American continent, I am Canadian myself, then you may find it extremely cool to walk across the Bridge Between Continents-Reykjavik, (Tectonic Plates) America and Europe.You can also dive or snorkel in between the two continents at Silfra. Yes I do mean you can swim in Iceland. I will be touching on Silfra in a later blog that will be titled "Self Drive- The Golden Circle"
But you can click the link and go check it out now, it's cool and worth a look.
Directions:
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| Google Maps |
Explore A REAL Volcano:
Not far from the Bridge Between Continents and the Blue Lagoon stands a Volcano named Thrihnukagigur, in the middle of a lava field. It is the only place on earth where you can enter a magma chamber. The Volcano has been asleep for 4,000 years and this new tour (started a year ago) is your chance to see the inside of a Volcano. The cost is steep but again, no where else on the planet offers this amazing adventure!Reykjavik: The Capital Of Iceland
The Capital of Iceland is on the west end of the island. So if your adventuring Iceland it is worth checking out BUT do not, DO NOT make this the only place you visit when in Iceland. Now since this blog is about taking an adventure and taking a road trip around Iceland I can presume that you are not just staying in one place. IF you are making Reykjavik your home base then at least this blog will give you adventures you can find around the Capital.
Reykjavik has a few museums, art gallery's and more within its city.
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| Reykjavik, Iceland, Sun Voyager |
If the party scene is more your thing then the Capital can satisfy your needs, especially Friday and Saturday nights! The bars don't start filling up till around 1 AM and they don't close till 6 AM. Singing in the streets while drinking is a usual for a weekend in the Capital. Laugavegur is the most popular street in the Capital for hosting the Nightlife.
From the Capital you can book Angling activities, horseback riding, ATV trips, whale and puffin tours, hikes and more.
Main Sights
Mount Esja
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| Mount Esja, Reykjavik, Iceland |
Mountain Esja over looks the Capital of Iceland, if you are up to it you should climb this mountain, get a great view and sign the guest book! Follow this link for more details.
Directions:
There is a good path to take up the mountain, how to get there from Reykjavik, is to drive on Highway One through the town of Mosfellsbær, turn right after you have passed the small fjord of Kollafjordur to the café at Mógilsá.
Barnafoss/Hraunfossar
Off Ring Road One, follow the river to a place of magic!
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| Google Maps |
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| Hraunfossar/Barnafoss |
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| Barnafoss |
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| Hraunfoss |
These two gems found off the beaten row offer a tremendous location for photo taking and relaxation.
Hraunfossar, (Hraun means lava, Foss means Waterfall) Created by a lava flow which formed the rivulets and created this unique series of waterfalls in Iceland.
Barnafossar, has a story behind it. (Childrens Waterfall) Supposedly two children who were following their parents to church chose to take a shortcut. They crossed a natural stone bridge over the water where they felt dizzy and fell into the water and drowned. Their mother had then casted a spell on the bridge saying any who crossed would suffer the same fate. The bridge was eventually destroyed during an earthquake.
Directions:
From Reykjavik, drive north on the Ring Road for about 63km passing beneath the Hvalfjörður but turning right onto the Route 50 (not crossing the Borgarfjörður towards Borgarnes). Then, follow the Route 50 for another 30km or so before turning right again to leave the route 50 and get onto the Route 518.
Snaefelljokull Glacier
Welcome to Jules Verne's "Journey to the Center of the Earth" where mystery lives. Snaefellsjokull is a National Park in West Iceland. Here you can take a snowmobile and speed across the Glacier on the surface or go underground and explore the lava tubes.
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| Snaefellsjokull National Park |
Directions:
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| From route one follow 54 to Utnesvegur |
Other Places of Interest around Snaefellsjokull
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Hellnar
A place with positive energy so the tale states. This small village lays on the West Coast of Iceland.
The shore line is lined with cool rock formations, worth time making a stop for photos and looking around. On the way into the small village is a crater and a memorial.
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| West Coast-Hellnar, rock formations |
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| West Coast- Hellnar, rock formations |
Directions:
Below is a map with other areas marked worth seeing on your way in or out of Hellnar.
Dritvik/Djupalonssandur
Well you are driving through this is a great area to stop, relax and have that lunch you have packed.
Directions:
Take a turn on to road 572 off Utnesvegur towards
the sea.
Mount Kirkjufell
When it comes to Iceland, unique landscapes is the first thing to come to mind. Kirkjufell Mountain is a prime example. Kirkjufell nicknamed 'Table Mountain' was carved into its current shape by the ice-age glaciers.
When I planned my road trip through Iceland, this mountain was on the top of my list.
Below are a couple of photos but if you want to se more click the link > 11 photos of Kirkjufell to convince you to come to Iceland
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| Kirkjufell Mountain |
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| Kirkjufell Mountain, sunset |
If You Are Going In The Spring & Have A Few Extra Days:
So in this blog I covered a lot of the West but you could explore the top left corner of this map, the Westfjords, that's at the least another day or more traveling but only suggested to visit there in the Summer. However you could visit any time, but I just didn't have the time to add it on my itinerary.
If you have the time, check it out, it looks amazing... Well, what part of Iceland doesn't look amazing?
Need To Knows For Your Road Trip:
When you land and get your car, you will need to pick up your supplies, all your rental gear as well as your food for your road trip. Iceland is costly but Bonus is a great area to get food at a deal! Eat simple and plan a dinner or two out to really get the proper taste of Iceland! Here is a Link to all the food markets in Iceland, locations are given as well.
The other type of food you will dine on can actually be found at gas stations, hot dogs are popular in Iceland believe it or not, and they are not $$. So skip taking time making lunch one day and grab a wiener.
Wild Camping?
Iceland is known for its relaxed rules when it comes to camping. So wild camping is allowed. Wild Camping means camping in a random spot not a set campground. Iceland does have numerous campsites around the island, it is an extremely popular activity in Iceland, and wild camping is fine if you are not near a camp site, if you are it is expected that you would check into the official campsite.
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| Wild Camping |
Iceland allows you to pull over almost anywhere and camp. They offer emergency huts throughout the interior of the island for the hikers adventuring through to have shelter against storms. These huts are always equipped with food, blankets etc...
So when I emailed a random fella and asked if I could set camp under Kirkjufell Mountain on his property he said sure! He didn't charge me but instead has made me and those coming with me feel very welcome to come set up camp.
So not only can you camp pretty much anywhere, if you ask the locals to stay on their land, they are pretty kind about it. Of course be very respectful of their land, and ANY land for that matter when camping.
The idea of camping came to me when I originally planned for a road trip, it wasn't so much about saving money (which you do) but more I thought, if an adventure was what I seek, hotels just didn't feel to adventurous next to the idea of camping, and wild camping when I could. So I talked to the other two accompanying me and we have decided that 3 nights we will camp. We also have cottage accommodations planned too.
Still remaining adventurous one night we will camp under Kirkjufell Mountain, and the other two on the south side of the island by some waterfalls.
Hope This Helped!
I hope the above locations will help you when you go to book your itinerary and are looking at what to do on the Western side of Iceland.
If you are doing the road trip around Iceland and you don't think you will have time to see every thing, don't worry, places around the airport like the Volcano or Blue Lagoon, you could aim to do once you come back around. For me, I am seeing the Bridge Between Two Continents but then I will be heading to the Capital to grab food from the market and heading out to see the falls and areas around Snaefelljokull that I covered. When I come back after going around the Island, I have planned 2 days to cover the rest of the things I want to see, and an evening to experience the Capitals nightlife.
HOWEVER, you must realize that you probably cannot see everything! I touched on some places I felt were key highlights but their are still plenty more to see!
So when you book, remember you won't just be driving through this area, you will be coming back to it as typically this is where you will catch your flight home.
Any suggestions of places in the West that you would highly recommend? I touched on some key ones but if their are others that really stand out as a must do please comment below.
Next time on my blog: Having the right gear
Note: Before discussing more things to see and do, I want you guys to know what gear to bring with you. Talk to you soon!
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