WOW – this was a trip!
I have been planning my bucket list trip to Iceland for years – and at the end of last year I finally made it happen by giving it to my husband for his Christmas present.
Our three-hour flight was with Easyjet: landing in the snow was fun but you definitely need to be prepared for the cold!
Before we arrived, I deliberated over using public transport to get around. You can jump on a pre-booked bus from Reykjavik airport, or get a taxi quite easily (although they are expensive) but in the end we wanted to be a bit more independent, so we hired a car. The easy drive into this beautiful city takes approximately 45 minutes along one straight road.
We stayed at the Hilton Canopy, a perfect location for everything, and we were given an upgrade too – always appreciated.
It took me ages to arrange an itinerary that would fit into our three-night stay as, despite it being a small island, there is a lot to do and see. For our first evening we went on a two-hour Northern Lights cruise, courtesy of one of my suppliers. The boat was cosy inside, with a bar serving drinks and snacks, so you could keep warm before and after stepping out on deck. If you don’t see the lights you can go back the next evening for a second try, but thankfully we were lucky the first time out, seeing an amazing light show!
Once back at the harbour we headed into Reykavik for a nightcap, stopping off for a fantastic hot dog en route from one of the many vans dotted about the city…a delicious treat at that time of night.
Back at the hotel, we found a note at reception advising everyone to stay local the following day as a storm was descending overnight – how would that affect our plans to drive the Golden Circle, a well-known route taking in some of Southern Iceland’s famous sights?
After a fabulous breakfast at the hotel the next morning, we went for a wander while we thought about what to do. Having driven in Eastern Europe for years we were not scared of a storm, so we decided to go for it and see how far we could get!
Heading out was fine, despite the snow and wind, but when we got on the main road it was ‘blowing a hoolie’ (as we say in Scotland) and we could barely see in front of us. We tried to go back but all the turning places were blocked by snow, meaning we had to carry on until we reached a roundabout.
However…the road ahead of that was actually clear, so the not-so-sensible part of us decided to carry on regardless – how British is that?! We made it to the Gulfloss Falls which were spectacular, then on to the geysers (from icicles to hot bubbling water in just a 15-minute drive!), where we saw one of the big ones erupt. We had to skip the national park so we could head back before it got dark and, after a scary journey through worsening conditions, we arrived safely in the city, where we rewarded ourselves with a large glass of wine!
(And while I obviously wouldn’t usually recommend disregarding weather advice, we were grateful we got to see some of the beautiful countryside!)
Iceland is known for its great lamb, so we stopped in at Grillmarkadurinn, a restaurant with a lovely atmosphere. It was pricey but the lamb really was worth it.
The next morning we went to the Viking Museum and the Harpa, an incredible concert hall and impressive building – both well worth a visit. By the afternoon, the storm had abated enough for us to take to the sea again on a whale-watching cruise. During the three hours we were on board, we saw four humpback whales and were followed by seals throughout. It was freezing, so the warmest clothes you have are a must, but what a sight!
That evening, we got back in the car for a pre-booked relaxation session in the Blue Lagoon’s hot thermal pools, complete with face mask and drink at the bar. For dinner, we went to the Old Iceland Restaurant, sampling the delicious Icelandic char which is similar to salmon, before having trouble choosing which of the many bars in the city to go to for another nightcap!
Our trip was packed with activities, but there was so much else we didn’t have time for (including snowmobiling in the Glaciers which we cancelled because of the weather!) so I definitely want to go back again. I’d love to visit in summer, when the six hours of daylight that we had in January expands into a full 24 hours.
If you fancy an Icelandic adventure, please get in touch: I can help you plan and book your perfect visit.
I am looking for people to join my team! I offer 1:2:1 training and support throughout. The independent travel community is hugely supportive and you earn commission on everything you book – making my Iceland trip a lot cheaper for me. It’s the best thing I have ever done and I wish I had done it years ago!
If you’re interested in finding out more, please contact me on 07788202441 or kimcooper99@gmail.com.
