ICELAND ROAD TRIP: Golden Circle, Diamond Beach, snorkeling at the Silfra Fissure, Everlasting Glaciers, whale watching tour, scenic hikes and so much more!
Hey Guys! This one trip will be once-in-a-lifetime adventure! We will discover Iceland during 10 crazy days driving around this remote land! On a journey through glaciers 🏔️, breathtaking nature parks, unforgettable waterfalls, secret canyons, dormant volcanoes 🌋, seething geysers and more, we will get lost in the beauty of this unique Island. During these fantastic days together, we will also experience, some of the most typical adventures of this land, such as: snorkeling between the tectonic plates of North America and Europe at the Silfra Fissure in Þingvellir National Park; hiking on the Vatnajökull glacier 🚶🏼♀️🚶🏻🚶🏼♀️, the largest in Iceland; whale watching tour, in Skjálfandi Bay; and an afternoon at the Mývatn Hot Springs, where we will spend a relaxing day, surrounded by a breathtaking scenery! But first… it’s-a me, Giulia! I'm the typical Italian girl, raised on Margherita Pizza 🍕 and weird hands gestures! I love meeting new people and getting to know new cultures. Whether you are looking for a new friend, a new mum or a new mascotte, I can be the one for you 😬! Traveling in June 🗓️, we will have plenty of daylight that will allow us to explore Iceland to the fullest, making the most out of the hours available, without having to fear the approaching darkness! Although we will have to forgo the Northern Lights for this time, the period will allow us to reach even the most remote corners of this immense heath, which are often closed during the winter months (not to mention the possibility of witnessing the atmospheric event of Midnight Sun, a natural phenomenon that illuminates the earth's surface for about 24 hours)! Visiting Iceland in June will also mean coming into contact with the local wildlife, which is more willing to come out of the wild (or return from migrations) during the "hot" summer days. Fingers crossed we might encounter whales, dolphins, friendly Puffins 🐦, and why not, maybe even herds of seals! Where are we staying? 🏡 Being a Road Trip, we are going to change our “home” every night! The accommodations will mostly be hostels and Guesthouses. Everyone will have their own bed, but rooms will be shared. That’s why the perfect Mate for this Trip wouldn’t mind share the space, make use of shared bathrooms with others, and loves being surrounded by people 😉 I have already booked all the accommodations, in such a way as to guarantee us the spots we need in June (usually more crowded than the other months, especially in the southern area). Respectively: —> 1° NIGHT: Hostel - 2x Economy Quadruple Room with Shared Bathroom —> 2° NIGHT: Apartment - 2x Two Bedrooms Cottage with Private Bathroom —> 3° NIGHT: Luxury Hostel - 8x beds in mixed dormitory with shared bathroom —> 4° NIGHT: Guesthouse - 2x Quadruple Room with Private Bathroom —> 5° NIGHT: Mixed structure - 1x Family Bungalow with Private Bathroom + 2x Single Room with Shared Bathroom (single room available upon request, with a small over price) —> 6°: Hostel - 2x Family Room with Shared Bathroom —> 7°: Guesthouse - 1x Quadruple Room with Shared Bathroom + 1x Family Room with Private Bathroom —> 8°: Guesthouse - 2x Family Room with Sea View and Shared Bathroom —> 9° NIGHT: Hotel/Inn - 2x Queen room with 3 beds with private bathroom + 1x Double Room with Private Bathroom (PLEASE NOTE: This will be the only facility in which a double bed is contemplated. I will make myself available for one of the two seats, the other will be offered to another girl at a small discount). What about the transportation? 🚕 As for the transportation, we are going to rent 2 cars 🚗🚙, and pick them up directly at the arrival Airport (Keflavík International Airport). I’ll be one out of the two drivers, so I’m only looking for another mate to join me as the Group’s chauffeur! I’ll reserve the 2 cars in advance, so no worries, on the day of arrival they will be assured. For the other mate in charge of driving, there will be a little discount (I know that driving can be pretty tiring)! The trip costs include 💰: - All the accommodations - Car transportation (both the rental and the fuel) - Snorkelling experience - Glacier Hiking Tour with a professional Guide - Whale watching tour - Last morning Breakfast - Some light snacks provided by yours truly 😬, for the hikes ahead - Travel Insurance (unluckily, for now, provided only for travellers from Germany and Austria) What is not included 💸: - Flights (Nevertheless, prices to Reykjavic from major European cities are currently affordable, between 150 and 400 euros. They can be a little more expensive coming outside Europe). - Food - Parkings - Other activities not mentioned in “The trip costs include” (es: Myvatn Nature Baths) - Travel Insurance (except travellers from Germany and Austria) ❕IMPORTANT GUIDELINES: —>It will be important for this specific trip to be lightly equipped, as we will be sharing two cars with 8 of us 🤓! I suggest a big hiking backpack (or at most a trolley size carry-on luggage) for the all load and a really small bag 🎒 for the daily explorations. —> Always bring with you some cash 💶, you never know! —> Dress in layers 🧥: despite the month, Iceland weather can still be cold and tricky, so you will need to bring heavy sweaters and fleece, rain jacket and slacks, even better if you have a windbreaker jacket (No worries, before the actual trip I’ll send you guys a list with all you will need to bring with you!). —> For the first day, we will all meet in the afternoon at the airport for car pickup (set for 4 p.m.). For those arriving in the morning, you are absolutely free to move to Reykjavic and begin your solo explorations, before the meeting hour (PLEASE NOTE: in this case you will have to make your own arrangements for moving from the airport to the city center and you will not be able to check in at the hostel before I arrive). —> Spending many hours in the car, it will be necessary to start our days early (sometimes even waking up at 6 a.m. ⏰)! Full (and not always relaxing) schedules must therefore be taken into account. —> At the moment, for most European countries, you do not need a visa to enter Iceland, only a Passport or ID card valid for traveling abroad 🛂. Remember however, to check online the guidelines for your Home Country! For detailed trip stops, take a look at bottom of the page in the "Trip Itinerary" section! For any other question or curiosity don’t mind to send me a message here on JoinMyTrip 🤗 Can’t wait to meet you soon, Giulia *The apartments and all the activities planned may be subject to variation based on both the weather and the number of TripMates. Every change to the original plan will be notified in advance and another option/experience will be provided instead.
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On the first day we will meet during the afternoon, either at the airport (Keflavík International Airport) or directly outside the hostel for those who arrived during the morning (the other driver will have to meet me at the airport 😉). We will gather around 4 p.m. at the car rental booths to pick up our cars and leave directly for the city center (all details about the meeting point and time will be given in advance 🤗). Once we checked into the hostel, we will immediately embark on our explorations! Only a 5-minute walk away, in fact, Hallgrímskirkja ⛪ will await us with all its grandeur. The immense church towering over the city will welcome us to town and also give us a chance to start taking some inimitable shots. We will then reach the waterfront, starting to enjoy the absurd views of Iceland. In the process, we will encounter some well-known landmarks such as the Harpa Concert Hall and the Sun Voyager. We will then move downtown to Skólavörðustígur, the Rainbow street! Here we will enjoy our first dinner at the nearby Lebowski Bar, one of the city's busiest bars and inspired by the very famous movie The Big Lebowski, which will catapult us back with its retro vibe of a classic American diner. After dinner we will take a stroll down Laugavegur Street and, then, to bed early for the real start of our road trip the next day!
2
Laugarvatn
Day 2-3
Our first day on four wheels will take us to perhaps the most famous destination of all: the Golden Circle 🥇! A roughly 300 kilometers route from Reykjavik through some of Iceland's most beautiful and famous landscapes. Our first stop on the circle will be Þingvellir National Park, which teems with faults, such as those of Silfra and Almannagjá. We will visit Silfra first, where we will have an exciting experience, diving into the crystal clear waters of the area on a unique snorkeling tour. We will then move on to Almannagja, where we will tackle the first short hike of our trip. Then in the afternoon we will visit Gullfoss, which literally means "golden waterfall," and Haukadalur, a geothermal area with the renowned Strokkur, which every 7-10 minutes shows his power, by swelling and erupting hot water up to 30 meters!
3
Vik
Day 3-4
On the third day we will leave for Vïk, a small town in southern Iceland. During the trip, we will face several stops, starting with two emblematic waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. The former allows it to be crossed from behind, thus giving a unique viewpoint. The second, on the other hand, can be admired both from its base and at the top; in fact, it is possible to climb above the summit of the waterfall via a long staircase. We will then stop at Dyrhólaey, a unique promontory where in summer many puffins nest perched on the rocks. Then arriving in Vik, we will explore the town and its main attractions such as Myrdal Church, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, and the cute Skool Beans Cafe ☕. Optional: If the schedule permits it will, in addition, be possible to visit the Abandoned Plane (Solheimafjara) 🛩️, an American vehicle that has been there since 1973, when it ran out of fuel and crash-landed on the black sand in Sólheimasandur. From the parking lot it will be about a 45-minute walk to the plane.
4
Diamond Beach
Day 4-5
The first real trek of the trip will take place on the very fourth day (btw, it won't be too difficult, in order to allow everyone to take part to it, even without a proper hiking expertise). Leaving Vik, after a couple of hour drive, we will reach the Vatnajökull Glacier, the largest in Iceland, where an experienced guide will lead us on a 2/3-hour hike over the everlasting glaciers (precisely, we'll hike Falljökull glacier, an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull). Included in the tour will be Transfer from the meeting point 🚞, an English-speaking guide and specialised equipment (including crampons). After the trek is over, we will move to the famous Diamond Beach, whose name comes from the large number of icebergs of various sizes that are scattered on the beach. We will end our day in Höfn, wandering around the town and its typical stores such as Handradinn, with its unique Scandinavian knitwear products, perfect for some souvenirs to take home!
5
Stuðlagil Canyon
Day 5-6
Up bright and early, we will face one of the two days with the longest hours in the car (which, despite the numbness, will give us crazy views and unforgettable atmospheres -the journey, after all, is always the best part!-). The first stop to greet us will be Seyðisfjörður, the most prosperous town in eastern Iceland. Despite its small size and its incredible natural landscape nestled between fjords and mountains, the town guarantees some rather renowned points of interest such as the Blue Church, the Avalanche Monument and the Seyðisfjörður Rainbow street 🌈. After a quick lunch, we will move on to the most important destination of the day: the Stuðlagil Canyon. Little known, the place is slowly becoming more and more famous for its absolutely inimitable conformation. Until about mid-August the Jökla River, which cuts through its center, is calm, featuring beautiful emerald water. To get to Stuðlagil Canyon there are two options: we will opt for the second one (being the most stunning) and, after leaving the car in the designated parking lot, we will walk for about 3 kilometers (completely flat), to reach the basalt columns. We will end the day in Modrudalur. Right in the middle of "nowhere" in the wilderness, we will find the highest inhabited farm in Iceland, where our accommodation for the night will wait for us.
6
Mývatn
Day 6-7
On the sixth day we will head to the Myvatn area, where we will first visit Dimmuborgir, the lava fields 🌋, also called the Black Fortress. Here we will get lost in the maze of rocks and lava sculptures. In the afternoon we will enjoy, at last, some well-deserved rest at the Myvatn Natural Baths. Less famous than the Blue Lagoon, but also less crowded and cheaper, these baths feature milky blue water and soak up the scenery surrounding the lagoon.
7
Akureyri
Day 7-8
We will begin the day with one of the most distinctive experiences of our trip. Upon reaching the meeting point, in fact, we will enjoy all the beauty of Skjálfandi Bay with a boat tour as we observe whales 🐋, dolphins and seabirds in their natural habitat. The tour will include English-speaking guide, drinks and light snacks. In the afternoon we will explore the Nordic fjords, making a quick stop at Laufas, turf houses that showcase typical Icelandic spirit. It is a charming heritage site full of history with its huge farmhouse and beautiful nineteenth-century church. We'll end the day in Akureyri, where, in addition to our guesthouse, we'll be awaited by Akureyrarkirkja, a Lutheran church whose architect also designed Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavik, and Iceland's best ice cream at Brynjuís 🍨🍧, with its recipe unchanged since 1939: a soft serve milky frost cream covered in toppings of all sorts and tempting dippings. OPTIONAL: if we’ll have time and the group is willing to, it will also possible, before reaching Akureyri, to visit Goðafoss, the waterfall of the gods!
8
Hvitserkur
Day 8-9
The eighth day will be the least busy of the entire road trip, partly to recharge our batteries for the last day on four wheels, which will be long and full of amazing stops. How, then, will we spend it? After a quick grocery shopping in Akureyri, we will move on to Blönduós, an unknown village, where a pristine islet awaits us: Hrútey Island. Almost encircled by the river Blanda, Hrútey is blessed with a wide variety of vegetation and birdlife is abundant, being the habitat of geese and many other species. Here we'll also find good footpaths and a clearing with benches and tables, where we will enjoy a leisurely picnic with our purchased lunch. After a pleasant morning under the order of leisureliness, we will visit another one of the most famous points of interest in Iceland... Hvitserkur! This mammoth basalt rock stack reminds some onlookers of a dragon and others of a rhinoceros or an elephant, although an ancient legend tells of a troll turned to rock after being caught in the sunlight ☀️.
9
Snæfellsnes
Day 9-10
On the last day on four wheels, we will travel the second longest stretch of our journey. But don't despair! The journey will be studded with countless stops, all of them short but breathtaking! In fact, we will embark on a Photo Tour 📷 of the famous Snæfellsnes Peninsula, rich in attractions and mother of famous shots that dot Google searches! Just to give you a taste, we will see places like: -The Black Church of Budir -Kirkjufell -Arnarstapi Cliff -Svörtuloft Lighthouse -Saxhóll Crater -Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge -Ytri Tunga beach And many more! In short, it will be the perfect day for a thousand unforgettable snapshots and to say goodbye to Iceland in the best way possible! We will return, then, towards Reykjavic, where we will stay overnight in a hotel only 10 minutes from the airport.
10
Reykjavík International Airport
Day 10
After a relaxing (and no less melancholy - we will miss you Iceland! -) night, we will say goodbye early... but only after a nice breakfast included in the price! Personally, I will be heading to the airport very early in the morning, around 8 a.m. This is to return the car and embark in time. Of course, you will be free to organise your day as best you can and, why not, take a few extra hours to visit one of the few remaining attractions nearby! In that case, of course, it will be necessary, as on the first day, for you to make your own travel arrangements. The only other person who will have to follow my morning schedule will be my fellow driver! In fact, he will have to go with me to the airport to drop off the other car. Afterwards, of course, he will be free to return to Reykjavic by public transportation for further explorations!
Trip Summary
Accommodation
Hostel & Hotel & Apartments & Other
10 days trip
Reykjavík, Laugarvatn & 8 more
Transportation
Car
Questions and Answers
Is it fully booked 🥺?
Hi! Yes, unfortunately, it is!
We are two people here, and really want to join your trip. Can it be accomodated please?
Hi 😊! Unfortunately, only one spot is available, and the accommodations cannot be changed. The spot is also temporarily taken (for few days) 😔 But I hope to see you two guys on another trip of mine!... Read More
Hey Julia! I would be super happy to come along, the trip is exactly what I'm looking for! But I'm a... Read More
Hi Marie! So nice to meet you :) Unfortunately yes, the spot available is reserved for a man because of shared rooms and dormitories booked. I'm really sorry, especially because you said that was the ... Read More
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