The most amazing country in the world, so peaceful yet so extreme.
If you’re having doubts about going to Iceland or not, let me take those doubts away for you. Here are just 6 reasons among many why you should go.
First things first. Iceland is very popular for its waterfalls. There are more than 10,000 waterfalls to choose from. As always before our trip we planned what sights we would like to see and where to go, but once we got to Iceland, everything became mostly spontaneous.
The first waterfall that we visited wasn’t even on our list. We saw it on our way to a glacier and decided to make a little stop. So glad we did it! I am still amazed by how beautiful the Seljalandsfoss waterfall was.
It’s not the biggest one, but it definitely looks magical. Almost like it was taken out of a fairy tale. The best part is that you can also walk behind it, giving more breathtaking views of this wonder. For this waterfall there is a small route that leads to the back of it, and out. It’s also possible to walk down and get a close-up view from the pond and the fall.
Another amazing waterfall Skogafoss was located a little further away. What’s nice about this, is that you can walk as close as you can to the fall. Although I would suggest wearing good waterproof clothing, as it will drench you.
We got pretty close to Skogafoss, and it almost felt like a storm. The force you feel from the water smashing down is unbelievable. Before getting too close to the waterfall, we decided to walk up the stairs to the observation platform which offers amazing views from the top. If you still have energy there is a hiking trail which is about 8km long and follows the Skoga River upstream. We were pretty tired so we hiked only few kilometers and went back. If you are willing to take the whole hike, keep in mind that it might take longer than you think because at every step there are views so beautiful they make you stop and admire them. Along the path there are many other waterfalls worth checking out and also a beautiful landscape on the other side of the river.
As much as I like these waterfalls, there are many others worth visiting. Some with lots of tourists and some so private that you can enjoy enchanting fall peacefully with your travel buddy.
What made me fall in love with Iceland was therapeutic dips in piping hot geothermal pools. Yes, there are many pools and even a river where the water is warm. My favourite -Landbrotalaug. Its glamorous water makes you want to strip down and dip right in. Water was pleasantly warm in a way that makes you never want to leave. There were two big rocks inside on which you could sit, relax and enjoy beautiful nature. I could not imagine a more magical place.
This hot spring is located around 2 hours away from Reykjavik, in the middle of nowhere. Going there I thought we were going to be the only ones, but once we arrived, we realized that people were literally standing in line for it. As there were other things planned for the day, we decided to go to another nearby hot spring (a couple of meters away) and return to this early next morning. It’s hard not to see the other one, because it has a big pipe sticking out almost like a giant tap with hot water coming out. By the looks of it, it wasn’t as charming as other one, but I was so eager to try it out, that I didn’t care. Not to say more, it still was awesome. Yes, the spot that I chose was nice, with sand and rocks behind me – but oh boy how hot it was! And believe me, as a lover of hot showers, when I say it’s hot. I had to adjust my body to this temperature, by slowly putting water with my palms on my legs and belly. Finally, when I got deep enough, took a couple of pictures and went out. Every body part that was in the water was red, but luckily it disappeared in a couple minutes.
Next destination – Reynisfjara, the black sand beach. I know, when you think of sand, black definitely isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But as weird as it can be, that was one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen. This beach has its amazing black volcanic sands, smooth pebbles, unique rock formations and huge waves crashing on the shore.
Along Reynisfjara are the stunning Hálsanefshellir sea cave and the Gardar cliff, which is composed of dark basalt columns that some say resemble a pyramid or organ pipes. Overall, a place like this makes you want to come back and enjoy its beauty more and more. Like most beaches, this one also has a café where you can enjoy snacks with hot tea or other beverage after your long walk along the dreamy beach.
Last but not least. If you are up to going on tours, Iceland offers many different excursions. We took part in 3 tours – kayaking at Sólheimajökull glacier lagoon, lava cave and northern lights. I will not lie, these tours were pretty expensive, each around 100 EUR per person, but they were totally worth it. First time I fell in love with kayaking was in Portugal, so I decided, if it’s possible, we’re doing it in Iceland as well.
The tour began at the Sólheimajökull parking lot where we met our guide and the rest of the group. From there, we headed over to the lagoon which is only a short walk away from the meeting point. There, we received our kayaking equipment and dry suit and our professional guide gave a safety briefing and a rundown on paddling techniques. We viewed the glacier from a unique perspective, not visible to travelers on foot, and we got up-close to the impressive terminal face of Sólheimajökull glacier.
Next was the lava cave. The tour started with meeting our guide and others at the reception house. After everyone arrived, we started a small walk to the nearby cave.
Before we went down, our guide explained some rules to us, such as being careful, always waiting for her, and other basics. Getting down was easy, they have built stairs throughout the cave, so no worries about muddy shoes or dirty clothes. As their website recommended, we dressed warmly, with hats, scarves and gloves because down in the cave, it was very cold.
As we got deeper in the cave it also got colder and darker. At the very end of the staircase path was a platform, where we could see that the cave is much longer. The reason why it’s not possible to go deeper in is because it is unsafe. On the platform, our guide gave us a piece of hard lava and lava candles. Knowing how old these rocks are we all took very good care of them while holding in our hands. Also, we had a chance to see how dark it is under the surface at a depth of 34m. As no sunlight gets in that deep, obviously we could not see anything at all. Not even shades. A little bit creepy, but hey, that’s experience. After standing a couple of minutes in the dark, our guide turned the lights back on and we continued our way back out. Overall, this tour was amazing, our guide knew all the answers to our questions and made this tour unforgettable.
And last, but not least – dancing lights above Reykjavik. We wanted to do this on our own, but reading in forums, everyone suggested booking a tour, because there was a pretty big chance that in September we wouldn’t be able to find them by ourselves. What’s great about this tour, is that they picked us up in their ‘super jeep’ and took us to the best place for viewing northern lights.
This company also prepared a camera so everyone could get a picture with the northern lights in the background (this feature was included in the price), also, at nights it gets pretty cold, so another great feature – blankets for everyone. There’s nothing much to say about this experience, those who have seen them, know – it’s magical.
These are only some of many things you can see and do in Iceland. It is one of the most beautiful and unique places on our planet and its definitely worth a trip.
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