Visiting Iceland for 8 days – our Itinerary & experience (Part 2)

Last week I shared stories and pictures from the first three days of our eight-day Iceland trip. Iceland is a beautiful country. As tourists, we must respect the locals and this beautiful country by always cleaning up after ourselves so others can enjoy the Land of Ice and Fire too.

For the first three days of the trip, we toured around the Golden Circle and saw many waterfalls, geysers, and the famous Thingvellir National Park.

Let’s pick up where we left off, shall we?

Day 4 The LONG day – Driving to Kirkjubæjarklaustur

When we planned the trip, we knew Day 4 would be a long day. Going from the first cabin to the second cabin would take three hours of non-stop driving. 

Since we planned to make many stops along the way, we knew we needed an earlier start, so we said goodbye to our lovely cabin at 9 AM and started driving. 

First stop was at Seljalandsfoss & Gljufrabui. I knew you could explore a bit at both waterfalls but both turned out to be great adventures for Kid 1.0 and me (Mrs. T and Kid 2.0 decided to just see the waterfall and skip the exploration). 

After enjoying Seljalandsfoss’ view from the front, we walked behind it and got pretty wet. For Gljufrabui, the falls were partially obscured by the cliff rocks so we had to enter the narrow canyon before seeing the waterfall in its full glory. 

Exploring Seljalandsfoss & Gljufrabui was a ton of fun for Kid 1.0 and me and we had some special father-son bonding moments.

Seljalandsfoss from a distance
Seljalandsfoss from a distance
Seljalandsfoss. As you can see from the picture, you could walk behind the falls and so we did
Seljalandsfoss. As you can see from the picture, you could walk behind the falls and so we did
I got pretty wet taking this picture
I got pretty wet taking this picture
From behind the waterfall.
From behind the waterfall
Iceland
Entrance to Gljufrabui
Entrance to Gljufrabui
Gljufrabui. It was incredibly wet
Gljufrabui. It was incredibly wet
Mrs. T pointed this out after we got out of Gljufrabui…
Mrs. T pointed this out after we got out of Gljufrabui…

After taking a “shower” at Seljalandsfoss & Gljufrabui and having a quick lunch, we had a quick stop at Faxi Bakery for delicious coffee & goodies before visiting Rutshellir aka the Troll Cave. In front of Faxi Bakery, there were some pictures of Eyjafjallajökull eruptions. It reminded Mrs. T and I of when she got stuck in Denmark and couldn’t return to Vancouver due to Eyjafjallajökull eruptions in 2010…

View of Eyjafjallajökull from Faxi Bakery
View of Eyjafjallajökull from Faxi Bakery
Rutshellir aka Troll Cave
Rutshellir aka Troll Cave
Inside Rutshellir. There are two man-made caves, one runs parallel to this walkway, and the other runs perpendicular.
Inside Rutshellir. There are two man-made caves, one runs parallel to this walkway, and the other runs perpendicular
Cool rock formation by Rutshellir
Cool rock formation by Rutshellir

After Rutshellir, we continued heading towards Vik. Before Vik, we made a couple of side stops – Dyrhólaey and Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. 

To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect at Dyrhólaey. I knew that Dyrhólaey was the southmost point in Iceland and there was a world famous massive rock arch. 

But Dyrhólaey was more than just a rock arch! 

First of all, to get to Dyrhólaey, you had to drive up a steep switchback road to get to the top of this rocky peninsula. When we arrived at the top, we were rewarded with an amazing 360 degree view of the valley and the ocean.

The amazing view
The amazing view

Because I like to get on top of mountains and enjoy the views, I loved the view from the different viewpoints at Dyrhólaey.

The massive rock arch was really neat. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any puffins (this was a hot spot for puffins in the summer months).

The famous Dyrhólaey rock arch
The famous Dyrhólaey rock arch
Panoramic view from Dyrhólaey
Panoramic view from Dyrhólaey

After walking around in the Dyrhólaey lighthouse area, we drove to the east side of the peninsula to allow us an amazing view toward Vik, with Arnardrangur in the foreground and the gorgeous black sand beach in the background.

Looking back toward the Dyrhólaey lighthouse area
Looking back toward the Dyrhólaey lighthouse area
Panorama view. Simply stunning.
Panorama view. Simply stunning

Next, we headed toward Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach to check out the volcanic black sands and the famous basalt columns. By then everyone was a bit tired so we sat on the black sand beach to recover our energy.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach by Vik
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach by Vik
Cool basalt columns
Cool basalt columns
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Before finally arriving at our cabin near Kirkjubæjarklaustur, we stopped at Gígjagjá aka Yoda Cave. The road to Gígjagjá was a gravel road and quite bumpy. We were happy to see the cave after about 15 minutes of bumpy driving. 

Walking around Gígjagjá area
Walking around Gígjagjá area
Gígjagjá was HUGE!!!
Gígjagjá was HUGE!!!
Cool landscapes driving from Vik to Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Cool landscapes driving from Vik to Kirkjubæjarklaustur

The Airbnb cabin for the next three nights was a small cozy place in a remote area. It was a volcanic landscape around the cabin with some moss and shrubs. Both kids enjoyed exploring around the cabin, running up and down the different tiny rolling hills. 

Home for the next three days
Home for the next three days

That night we found a highly rated restaurant in town called Kjarr. The grilled Icelandic lamb was superb and the tiramisu dessert was equally amazing. That dinner cost us $21,950 for the four of us or about $219.50 (3 main dishes + 2 desserts). Expensive but worth every penny! 

Delicious!
Delicious!

Day 5 – Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach, Fjallsjökull

Months ago, when we started doing some research about Iceland, we were fascinated by Diamond Beach. All the pictures looked really neat and being able to see and feel fragments of icebergs on the black sand beach would be a memorable experience. Therefore, we knew we had to check out Diamond Beach and the surrounding area regardless of how long the drive was.

We knew the drive from the cabin was about one and half hours but we also knew there were a lot of things to see along the way. Wanting to spend as much time as possible at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach area, we decided to drive there first and then stop by the different sights on the way back to the cabin.

The drive to Jökulsárlón was quite interesting. We drove across bare landscapes with mountains in the distance. It was quite surreal. 

What we saw driving to Jökulsárlón
What we saw driving to Jökulsárlón
Iceland

We didn’t see any icebergs floating in the water until we turned a corner on Route 1. We got very excited to see icebergs floating down the river as we drove across a bridge. 

Iceland
Seeing icebergs floating in the water

We walked around Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, completely amazed by the stunning view. It was also very neat to see the icebergs with binoculars. 

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Icebergs everywhere at the lagoon
Icebergs everywhere at the lagoon
Iceland
It was quite windy
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon panorama

After spending about two hours at the lagoon and having lunch, we headed to Diamond Beach to experience the juxtaposition between white and clear iceberg chunks and the black volcanic sand. 

Both kids enjoyed playing with the black volcanic sand. Unlike the typical beach sand, you could tell the black sand at Diamond Beach was made up of ground-down volcanic rocks. The sand had a very special texture.

Diamond Beach sand
Walking around Diamond Beach
Walking around Diamond Beach
Walking around Diamond Beach
Walking around Diamond Beach
Diamond Beach
Diamond Beach

We reluctantly said goodbye to Diamond Beach and headed to Fjallsárlón. To get the viewpoint to see this magnificent glacier up close, we had to drive on a very bumpy and not well-maintained gravel road for about two km. Luckily the Model Y handled the road relatively well.

Fjallsárlón was far less touristy than Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon as there was one other car at the viewpoint. If you want to see a glacier up and close, this would be the place to go.

Fjallsárlón
Fjallsárlón
Panoramic view of Fjallsárlón
Panoramic view of Fjallsárlón

Due to the volcano eruptions near Blue Lagoon, the air was very hazy. Driving across the bare landscapes with poor hazy visibility, it was as if we were driving in post-apocalyptic wastelands.  

Before we drove back to our cabin, we stopped by Dverghamrar to see the cool rock formations and explored the surrounding area. Fortunately by then the haze had cleared up. 

Dverghamrar
Dverghamrar
Surrounding area by Dverghamrar
Surrounding area by Dverghamrar
Very cool mountains while driving around
Very cool mountains while driving around

After a long day and a nice dinner, we ended the day with a lovely midnight sunset. 

Iceland midnight sunset
Iceland midnight sunset

Day 6- Rest day in Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Day 6 was a rest day for us. After a late breakfast and playing a few board games, we toured around Kirkjubæjarklaustur. First, we checked out the beautiful Fjaðrárgljúfur. 

Goats were everywhere and we had to be careful driving around
Goats were everywhere and we had to be careful driving around
Fjaðrárgljúfur.
Fjaðrárgljúfur
A cool waterfall at the end of the trail
A cool waterfall at the end of the trail
Stunning!
Stunning!
Stunning!

After spending about one and a half hours at Fjaðrárgljúfur we went to Kirkjugólf Natural Monument in Kirkjubæjarklaustur. It was neat to walk on the basalt columns on the ground.

basalt columns
basalt columns
basalt columns

We then spent the rest of the day resting, packing, and getting ready for the long drive to Reykjavík and relaxing at the Blue Lagoon. 

Looking back, we probably could have changed Day 6 itinerary and headed to Reykjavík instead of spending another night at this cabin. But resting and relaxing for a day was quite enjoyable nonetheless. 

Day 7- Reykjavík & Blue Lagoon

Before arriving in Iceland, we booked tickets to Blue Lagoon in the afternoon. But because of the ongoing volcano eruptions, the typical route via Route 43 was closed. Instead, we had to take the long way via Route 425. 

Alternate Blue Lagoon route
Alternate Blue Lagoon route

This meant instead of about three and a half hours to go from Kirkjubæjarklaustur to Blue Lagoon, it would take four and a half hours.

So Day 7 was all about getting ourselves from Kirkjubæjarklaustur to Blue Lagoon.

A couple of days prior, Blue Lagoon was closed due to volcano eruptions. But the day before, we received an email from Blue Lagoon stating it was open. On the morning of Day 7, I checked my email and the Blue Lagoon website to ensure the facility was still open. We were happy to find out that Blue Lagoon was indeed open.

Unfortunately, when we arrived in Selfoss for lunch, I saw an email from Blue Lagoon stating it was closed due to poor air quality. Although we could rebook our tickets, all the time slots for the next day (our last day in Iceland) were booked. This meant we had to cancel our Blue Lagoon booking. 

Having Icelandic hot dogs at the famous Pylsuvagninn
Having Icelandic hot dogs at the famous Pylsuvagninn. Reminded me a little bit of Japadog

We were all disappointed but this meant we could arrive in Reykjavík earlier and check out this lovely city. And that was exactly what we did. 

We first checked out the iconic Hallgrimskirkja church. We didn’t take the elevator to the top but we checked out both inside and outside of this striking piece of architecture. After a quick stop at a cafe, we walked Skólavörðustígur to see the famous rainbow street. We then walked around downtown Reykjavik.

Hallgrimskirkja
Hallgrimskirkja
Rainbow street
Rainbow street

Before arriving in Iceland, Mrs. T found out about the Icelandic Phallological Museum. We made a quick detour to the museum to check out the “interesting” displays in the gallery. We then walked along the waterfront and explored the Harpa Concert Hall.

Inside Harpa Concert Hall.
Inside Harpa Concert Hall.

After dropping off our luggage at the Airbnb accommodation near Hallgrimskirkja, we went to Laugardalslaug, the local pool for some relaxation.

Laugardalslaug was very neat. The pool water was sourced from geothermal hot springs so it was nice and warm. There were several hot tubs in Laugardalslaug – a couple at 38C, a couple at 40C, one at 42C, and one at 44C. There was even one cold tub at 9.5C. We went in and out of these tubs, making the most out of them. I managed to stay in the cold tub for close to one minute, completely numb from the icy water; I stayed in the 44C hot tub for about two minutes, only to emerge out of the hot tub completely red like a lobster. 

Both kids loved the waterslide at Laugardalslaug and spent a lot of time there while Mrs. T and I were relaxing at the different hot tubs and the geothermal powered steam room. Although we couldn’t check out Blue Lagoon, Laugardalslaug was a solid replacement.

That night we went to Hlemmur Food Hall and had an amazing dinner from the different food vendors. With our tummies full, we went to bed happy and relaxed, ready to head home the next day.

Yum!
Yum!

Day 8 – Perlan & heading back home

Prior to the trip, we booked tickets to Perlan, an interactive nature museum, to provide an educational opportunity. My favourite parts of Perlan were the northern light show, the volcano show, and the ice cave and glaciers exhibition. 

Both kids enjoyed the interactive aspect of the museum and we spent about two hours at Perlan.

Walking inside the glacier ice cave
Walking inside the glacier ice cave
Ice cave inside Perlan
Ice cave inside Perlan
View from the top of Perlan. Hallgrimskirkja is the tallest building you see in the distance
View from the top of Perlan. Hallgrimskirkja is the tallest building you see in the distance

After Perlan, it was time for us to start heading to the airport. After a brief stop at a Tesla supercharger to ensure we could return the Model Y at above 50% charge and another quick stop at a cafe, we returned the rental car and arrived at  Keflavík International Airport ready to come back to Vancouver after a fantastic 8 day Iceland adventure.

Since we only explored a small part of Iceland, we all agreed that we have to go back to the Land of Fire and Ice another summer. We also talked about visiting Iceland in the winter to see the northern lights with our eyes. 

Iceland is truly an amazing country that offers so many different sights. I highly recommend visiting! 

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6 thoughts on “Visiting Iceland for 8 days – our Itinerary & experience (Part 2)”

  1. I was looking forward to part 2, after reading part 1 last week. Such a cool adventure. Thank you for sharing your vacation with us. I loved reading about it.

    Reply
  2. Iceland is amazing. I’d love to spend more time there. It sounds like you guys had a great time. Not sure if I want to visit in the winter, though. We don’t handle the cold very well.

    Reply

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