Sean Horgan

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Iceland Travel Guide

Sean Horgan

Last edited 107 days ago by Sean Horgan

Maps

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Weather

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https://en.vedur.is/⁠

From

https://www.reddit.com/r/VisitingIceland/comments/14ouf3e/when_to_visit_iceland_infographic/⁠

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Random tips

Expect rain, get rain pants

Think about camping

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https://www.gocampers.is/useful-info/campsites-in-iceland⁠

General guides

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https://icelandwithaview.com/⁠

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https://www.epiciceland.net/⁠

Videos

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Overland expedition Iceland 2019. An overland adventure! Part one.⁠

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How to plan Ring Road in Iceland 4K⁠

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AI / Gemini

Iceland is a beautiful country with a lot to offer overlanders. There are many different roads to choose from, each with its own unique scenery and challenges. Here are some of the best roads to overland in Iceland:

The Ring Road: The Ring Road is a 1,332-kilometer (828-mile) paved road that circles the entire island. It is the most popular road for overlanders, as it offers a great overview of Iceland's diverse landscape.

The F-roads: The F-roads are a network of unpaved roads that connect the Ring Road to remote areas of Iceland. They are only accessible during the summer months, and they can be challenging to drive, but they offer stunning scenery and a sense of adventure.

The Highlands: The Highlands are the interior of Iceland, and they are home to some of the most remote and rugged landscapes in the country. The Highlands are only accessible by 4x4 vehicles, and they can be dangerous to drive in, but they offer a truly unique experience.

There are many great 4x4 rental companies in Iceland. Here are a few of the best:

Blue Car Rental

Car Rental Iceland

Europcar

Hertz

Lava Car Rental

Northern Lights Car Rental

Reykjavík Cars

Sixt

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Write-up of our 6-night trip Aug 10-16⁠

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https://www.reddit.com/user/NoLemon5426⁠

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https://www.visiticeland.com/article/volcano-info?fbclid=IwAR1YxItolO17M26eHwS1Gay85gZ43m6YcQZFMxyWwtQZPsslkYvJ-Q7PKQ4⁠

From

https://www.reddit.com/r/VisitingIceland/comments/1ajmyuh/5_day_winter_iceland_trip_who_needs_thermals/⁠

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Blue ice cave tour https://adventures.is/iceland/day-tours/ice-caves/into-the-glacier/

KATLA ICE CAVE (UNDER THE VOLCANO) TOUR https://adventures.is/iceland/day-tours/ice-caves/katla-ice-cave-tour-under-the-volcano/

SENSATIONAL ICELAND - SOUTH COAST, GLACIER HIKE & NORTHERN LIGHTS https://adventures.is/iceland/day-tours/combo-tours/sensational-iceland-waterfalls-glacier-hike-and-northern-lights/

Golden circle (self guided)

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plan for 3 hours, starting from Reykjavik

I’d stay in Vík for the Katla ice cave and further east on the south coast for Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón. There are some really nice accommodations outside of towns. Try using the map search feature on booking websites to see what’s in the area.

Day 1 - either Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon, then explore Reykjavik while adjusting to jet lag

Day 2 - Westman Islands

Day 3 - Vik (beaches + first few miles of Fimmvorduhals)

Day 4 - Glymur, then end somewhere in Snaefellsness Peninsula

Day 5 - Snaefellsness Peninsula

Day 6 - ?

Day 7 - drive back to Reykjavik or Keflavik before flight next morning

I have been to Iceland quite a bit. 9 trips over the past 6 years. IMHO, I would schedule a completely operate trip for the Westfjords (this is what I did). There is plenty to see there for a week. And do bear in mind that it takes a day pretty much to get out there (and another day to get back) from Reykjavik/KEF. The Westman Islands is fantastic. Great hiking, good food and beer, cool volcano stuff. And a great pool with a slide that dumps you out onto a trampoline! Personally for the first trip: I would spend 7 days in Reykjavik with a trip along the south coast +/- Westman if you have time. I also would skip Blue Lagoon for sake of time (I know... blasphemy) and spend $100 less to go to the city pools. You will be back and can do Blue Lagoon next time! :D

Activities & Places To Go

Maps

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https://www.road.is/road-network/⁠

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https://guidetoiceland.is/travel-info/maps-of-iceland⁠

Reykjavik

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https://www.thereykjavikfoodwalk.com/⁠

Places to stay

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Center Hotels Plaza⁠

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Hot springs

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https://www.reddit.com/r/VisitingIceland/comments/135pv1h/101_all_things_hot_springs_water_in_general_in/⁠

Sky Lagoon next time. And Krauma. We loved that spot. Up near Reykholt.

hits Husavik I would do Geosea again in a heartbeat. We did Geosea first then did Blue Lagoon and we thought Blue Lagoon was a letdown.

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https://hekla.com/blog/top-10-natural-hot-springs-in-iceland/⁠

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Secret Lagoon⁠

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Hot Springs⁠

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Ice caves

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https://www.reddit.com/r/VisitingIceland/comments/14flr14/katla_volcano_ice_cave_tour/⁠

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https://katlatrack.is/tours/ice-cave-glacier-tours-in-iceland/katla-ice-cave/⁠

Silfra Snorkeling Tour

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https://adventures.is/iceland/day-tours/golden-circle/golden-circle-and-snorkeling/⁠

F Roads

F622 (

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYikx6TOA1oU5pbea3X8YPg⁠

)

Hrafntinnusker area

There are many beautiful F roads in Iceland, each with its own unique attractions. Here are a few of the best:

F208: This road takes you through the Landmannalaugar area, which is known for its colorful mountains and hot springs.

F26: This road traverses the Sprengisandur desert, which is one of the most remote places in Iceland.

F35: This road passes through the Kjölur mountain pass, which offers stunning views of the glaciers and volcanoes of Iceland's central highlands.

F88: This road takes you to the Askja caldera, which is a massive volcanic crater.

F910: This road takes you to Landmannalaugar and Lakagigar, another area of volcanic craters.

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https://anywhereweroam.com/f-roads-in-iceland/⁠

Fagradalsfjall-volcano

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https://anywhereweroam.com/fagradalsfjall-volcano/⁠

Landmannalaugar

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https://anywhereweroam.com/landmannalaugar-iceland/⁠

Guided Trips

Troll

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https://maps.app.goo.gl/grkAccXUkpY4t3Bn7⁠

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https://troll.is/iceland-vacation-packages/multi-day-tours/5-day-winter-tour/⁠

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https://www.reddit.com/r/VisitingIceland/comments/12mvhb9/south_and_south_east_coast_5_days_planning_stays/⁠

I just got back and did the south coast my 2nd week there. Vik to Hofn is a haul - you might stop before.

I stopped in: Vik - stayed at The Barn. They have hostel rooms, private rooms with shared bathrooms and private bathrooms, and a more upscale hotel on site called Black Beach Suites. I really liked this place and stayed in a private room with private bathroom (which was very nice) and a private room with shared bathroom (which was totally fine). It’s a lively, social place with gorgeous views and is right next to Reynisfjara Beach.

The drive from Reykjavik to Vik has a bunch of great waterfalls to stop at, namely Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. Both are beautiful. I did the Katla Ice Cave tour with Katlatrack and horse back riding with Vik Horse Adventures. Both highly recommended.

Skaftafell: stayed at

Hotel Skaftafell⁠

. It was a proper hotel with a bar and restaurant. The rooms are nothing special, but the hotel is right in front of the glacier. You can take a walk out back right up to it, and it’s 10 min from Skaftafell National Park if you’re planning to visit. The restaurant is great, but pricey. It was a good jumping off place for the glacier lagoon and Diamond beach.

Höfn: Lilja Guesthouse. I loved this place. It’s a bit west of central Hofn but is in the most beautiful setting. I had a room with a view and it was breathtaking and so peaceful. There are a bunch of hotels in Hofn, but I’m glad I stayed here instead.

There’s not a ton going on in Hofn but I’m really glad I went. The views from the glacier lagoon to Hofn were absolutely breathtaking, and I loved this stretch of my trip. The best meal of my 2 week trip was at Pakkhus, which I highly recommend. I’m still thinking about that meal.

I visited 4 hot springs in Iceland but none were in this stretch, as south eastern Iceland does not have hot water in the ground. I thought about checking out the Hoffell Hot Tubs near Hofn but after reading reviews, skipped it and went to Secret Lagoon on the way to the airport instead. It’s a nice, lower cost / less touristy option to Blue Lagoon and other more upscale hot springs. There are also local pools in most towns, including Vik but I didn’t check those out.

Bard-recommend trips

I found routes for each leg of your trip:

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Reykjavik, Iceland to Thingvellir National Park, Iceland⁠

. The distance of the route is 44.7 km and it takes 44 minutes to complete.

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Thingvellir National Park, Iceland to Kerid crater lake, Iceland⁠

. The distance of the route is 41.7 km and it takes 34 minutes to complete.

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Kerid crater lake, Iceland to Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Iceland⁠

. The distance of the route is 84.8 km and it takes 1 hour 14 minutes to complete.

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Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Iceland to Vik, Iceland⁠

. The distance of the route is 61.8 km and it takes 53 minutes to complete.

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Vik, Iceland to Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, Iceland⁠

. The distance of the route is 193 km and it takes 2 hours 22 minutes to complete.

Route 1: Reykjavík - Thingvellir - Kerid Crater - Gullfoss Waterfall - Vik

Distance and time estimates (one-way):

Reykjavík to Thingvellir: 44.7 km (44 minutes)

Thingvellir to Kerid Crater: 41.7 km (34 minutes)

Kerid Crater to Gullfoss Waterfall: 84.8 km (1 hour 14 minutes)

Gullfoss Waterfall to Vik: 61.8 km (53 minutes)

Highlights along the route (descriptions are available through Google Maps):

Thingvellir National Park - A UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet.

Kerid Crater - A volcanic explosion geyser with a vibrant red interior.

Gullfoss Waterfall - One of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe.

Additional notes and considerations (descriptions are available through Google Maps):

This route is well-traveled and suitable for most vehicles.

Consider stopping at the Lava Center in Hvolsvölltür for an interactive exhibit on Iceland's volcanic history.

Vik is a charming village with a beautiful black sand beach.

Route 2: Vik - Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon - Skaftafellsjökull National Park - Reykjavík

Distance and time estimates (one-way):

Vik to Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon: 193 km (2 hours 22 minutes)

Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon to Skaftafellsjökull National Park: 25 km (30 minutes)

Skaftafellsjökull National Park to Reykjavík: 380 km (4 hours 45 minutes)

Highlights along the route (descriptions are available through Google Maps):

Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon - A stunning lake filled with ice chunks from the Vatnafjökull ice cap.

Skaftafellsjökull National Park - Home to glaciers, waterfalls, and black sand beaches.

Additional notes and considerations (descriptions are available through Google Maps):

This route is longer and more challenging than Route 1. Consider staying overnight in the area to explore Skaftafellsjökull National Park more thoroughly.

The road conditions in the park can be rough, so a 4x4 vehicle is recommended.

Be aware of the potential for ice on the road, especially during winter months.

Optional Activities and Considerations

Northern Lights hunting - The best time to see the Northern Lights is from late September to April, when the skies are darkest.

Whale watching - Tours are available from Reykjavík and other coastal towns.

Hiking - Iceland offers a variety of hiking trails, from easy to challenging.

Accommodations - Book your accommodation well in advance, especially during peak season.

Currency - The Icelandic króna (ISK) is the official currency. You can exchange your currency at the airport or in Reykjavík.

Respectful tourism - Be aware of and respectful of local customs and traditions.