Iceland was always a distant dream of mine, and to tell you the truth, I never really thought i'd make it there. I was so enthralled with the landscape, however, that I made it a must-see on my most recent European vacay, and I am SO glad that I did! I have already looked into going back, but that being said, I made a few choices that, had I known, I would have made differently. Here's your opportunity to learn from my mistakes!
1. Do. Not. Stay. In. Reykjavik.
The city is quaint and beautiful in its own right, and while it is most definitely worth visiting, it is NOT smart to book the entirety of your accommodations there. While the island looks rather small on a map, it is actually massive, and it is full of some of the most breathtaking sights you will ever have the pleasure of viewing. You don't want to travel all that way to simply see one or two. Stay in a camper van. You may think traveling in a van is a little too hipster until you realize it's one of the only feasible ways to see the entirety of the island during your stay. It is also a pretty good way to to save money, because you're combining the cost of your accommodation and rental car into one. You can find some of the options for vans available here. Many of them come with the option of including wifi in the van itself, which will come in handy when you find yourself in more remote areas. If the van is really something you can't see yourself in, book accommodations a few days apart all along the Ring Road, which fully encircles the island. We kept having to drive form the city every day as far as five hours out to see some of our bucket list items, and we found ourselves spending nearly all day every day in the car making the same drive. Don't be like us.
2. Be Prepared for all weather conditions.
Within a matter of minutes, we found ourselves spinning off the road from a crazy random blizzard, to cruising in the sunshine. Most of the terrain, at least on the southern coast of the Iceland, is rather flat, apart from the mountains near Vik, so the drive isn't too bad. We managed even in some poor conditions with a Kia Picanto, but I would recommend a midsized SUV with 4 wheel drive if you're opting to rent a regular car. Better to be safe than sorry. Also on the subject of cars, the rental car companies are sticklers for insurances. There's a million different insurances you can get, and honestly i'd recommend getting them all because there are a million ways you can get screwed if you aren't properly covered, and on Icelandic terrain you never know what can happen.
3. Keep your eyes open.
A lot of the most beautiful sights we stumbled upon we literally stumbled upon. Most of the things you don't want to miss will be visible from the Ring Road. I can't tell you how many times we were driving and pulled off to explore waterfalls and caves, etc. You don't want to miss anything, so don't nap and pack your glasses!
4. Pack the right clothing.
Iceland literally has "Ice" in its name. It is notoriously cold and you don't want to spend your time freezing when you could be exploring. The wind often makes it much colder than it appears, so brace yourself, literally, and prepare for temps about 10º cooler than what is actually forecasted. I will say that they have exceptional options for warm clothing when you arrive, but it will cost more than a pretty penny. Most of the Icelandic people dress in wool clothing; socks, sweaters, you name it. While it does provide adequate warmth, it is far from comfortable to wear (in my Americanized opinion). It is rather itchy and scratchy, so if you want a hand-knit wool sweater while you're there, pack an undershirt. All of your clothing should be waterproof. It rains/snows nearly every day on/off and the last thing you want to do is be wet AND cold. Your shoes should also be warm, waterproof, and comfortable for walking, hiking, sand, snow, ice, and more. If you need a recommendation, I wore these Columbia boots and LOVED them! Super comfortable, SO warm, and stylish enough to still strut your stuff on the trails.
If you happen to be going during the summer months, you won't need to be this extreme! Look up the estimated forecasts, and be sure to pack layers!
5. Check out all of the excursions available!
Iceland may surprise you in terms of the number of adventurous activities available to you on one island. You can snorkel using dry suits in between tectonic plates in Silfra (or dive if you're brave enough). You can venture through some of the most beautiful ice caves known to man, fly high above the mountains in a helicopter tour, slip and slide your way across a glacier, shred the fresh powder in a snowmobile, brave the seas to spot a few whales or puffins, take a dip in the Blue Lagoon, and more. Definitely do your research to find out what is available during the season you'll be visiting and take full advantage of the opportunities you'll have. I'd say the sky is the limit, but they have helicopters for that, too!
6. TRY ALL THE FOOD.
I don't think in the six days we spent there that we had a meal we didn't like. Even the sandwiches you find in the gas stations (remember, I said we did A LOT of driving) were nothing short of delicious. I had a gas station donut that I swear changed my life. Best donut I've ever had EVER. It's been over a week and I'm still thinking about it. Don't be afraid to try out the grocery stores, either! That is always one of my favorite parts of traveling, and you can find some real hidden gems if you let yourself succumb to the possibilities of buying something you don't like. Bonus and Krønan are both excellent options and they can save you loads of money in the long run, as Iceland is notorious for being pretty expensive. I've added a few images of some of our favorite store-bought treasures and my favorite little french fry place downtown.
7. The Water Situation
Most all of the bathrooms in Iceland will have a "smell" to them. Don't be alarmed or disgusted, It's just the sulfur coming from the geothermal origins of the hot water, it won't hurt you and you get used to it after a few days. Don't forget while you're there that you are in one of the best places in the entire world for clean, fresh water. If you order water bottles or buy them from a store, you will most likely be made fun of. We lived off the land, so to speak, and frequently filled up our water bottles from the streams of the waterfalls we visited. Trust me when I say, it was the purest water I have ever had and I miss it dearly. Do not take it for granted.
If you are trying to book a trip to Iceland and you have any questions, please place them in the comments below and I would be more than happy to answer all of them for you!
Cheers, friends!
Комментарии