Iceland
The Church in Seyðisfjörður
Our Epic Iceland Adventure: Unveiling the Land of Fire and Ice
Three Weeks. One Epic Road Trip.
In September 2024, we embarked on a three-week road trip around Iceland’s Ring Road. Our mission was simple: embrace Iceland’s beautiful scenery and soak in as many thermal pools as humanly possible.
We landed in Reykjavik late, courtesy of Iceland Air's economy class, and headed straight to our airport hotel for a quick nap. The next morning, we drove downtown to our cozy, traditional Icelandic apartment, painted in the iconic red metal. Reykjavik welcomed us with outstretched arms. We visited The Blue Lagoon, explored the colorful downtown, and even marveled at the towering Hallgrímskirkja church. Café Loki served us some unforgettable soup. Oh, and the Sky Lagoon at sunset? Simply magical.
The Road Trip Begins!
Our adventure officially kicked off with a scenic drive on Iceland Highway 1. We made stops at Barnafoss and Gianni waterfalls and marveled at Grábrók, a giant crater. The landscapes—otherworldly. Our first overnight stay was at an Icelandic horse farm near Hvammstangi. Although our horseback ride got rained out, we hoped to ride another day.
Next stop: Akureyri, Iceland’s second-largest town. With heart-shaped stoplights and set against the Eyjafjörður Fjord, Akureyri was charming. We explored turf houses in Laxárdalar Valley and finally enjoyed a dreamlike horseback ride through the countryside to a stunning waterfall.
Before leaving Akureyri, we unlocked the wonders of Forest Lagoon. Surrounded by birch and pine trees and overlooking Eyjafjörður, this spa offered tranquility like no other. Cold plunge pools, Finnish saunas, and a swim-up bar—what more could we ask for?
Whale Watching and the Diamond Circle
We drove to Husavik next, the whale-watching capital of Iceland. Four species of whales graced us on our tour, all while we wore warm dry suits. We also tackled the Diamond Circle loop, including Dettifoss and Godafoss waterfalls and the majestic Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon. A woodfired pizza place in the middle of nowhere was the perfect end to our day, followed by a soak in Lake Mytvan’s thermal pools.
Egilsstaðir: A Northern Lights Extravaganza
Aa we drove to our next night stay in Egilsstaðir. We visited Hverir’s geothermal area and Krafla’s volcanic magic. Our hotel gave us some much-needed relaxation, and we were blessed with our first sight of the Northern Lights—an unforgettable spectacle from the comfort of our thermal pool.
The drive to Seydisfjordur was a visual feast, made famous by the skateboard scene from the movie"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." Waterfalls, flower fields, and rock formations made us frolic (yes, I said frolic) in this splendor. Seydisfjordur itself is charming, with the insta-famous Seydisfjordur church at the end of a rainbow road.
Southern Iceland: More Magic
Our journey continued to Vik and its famous Diamond Beach, where diamond-shaped ice blocks glittered on black volcanic sand. We toured Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon aboard a zodiac boat, getting up close to beautiful icebergs and lazy seals.
Golden Circle: The Grand Finale
The Golden Circle is the highlight of any Icelandic road trip. We explored Thingvellir National Park, where my husband scuba-dived the Silfra fissure—cold, crystal-clear glacier water with no life forms except algae. Next, we marveled at the Geysir Geothermal Area and the iconic Gullfoss waterfall. Each site was more breathtaking than the last.
One of our final dinners was at Friðheimar, a greenhouse restaurant serving tasty and inventive tomato-based dishes, cocktails, and desserts. Rows of hydroponic tomatoes surrounded us as we dined. Our last thermal pool visit was to Fontana Nature Baths, a tranquil oasis near the Golden Circle.
Farewell, Iceland
With heavy hearts, we dropped off our rental car and boarded our flight back to the United States. Iceland had given us unforgettable memories, and though we spent three whole weeks, one thing was certain—we vowed to be back. 🌋✨
