🇮🇸 ICELAND, 1 winter week roadtrip ❄️
Quick overview to important things to know:
- Language: everyone speaks English
- Currency: Icelandic crown.
- International airport: Reykjavik airport (RKV)
- Safety: Very safe.
- LGBTQIA+ index: 83/100. Iceland in Second Place for ILGA Europe “Rainbow Map”
We traveled the south of the island to the Snæfellsnes peninsula.
Plan to rent a 4x4 and consider that there are very few hours of lights during winter. Roads might be close sometimes too due to weather conditions. But usually it’s well organized and you just wait for a short time and then you follow a convoy.
They also have a very nice app specially for the road conditions, you must use it if you go during winter to check the roads during the day because it changes fast.
The app: SafeTravel - Iceland
Departure from Reykjavik airport, first stop the Blue Lagoon, I think it's good to see even though it can really be crowded.
Day 1:
Next day: Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, 2 waterfalls next to each other, it was really beautiful, not much people in the morning when sun is up.
On the road: Sólheimasandur, the famous DC-3 plane wreck. There is a car park and then you will have to take a shuttle to get there or walk in the snow a bit to get to the plane wreck! I loved this place, it's all white around, you feel like in a movie.
And we ended up in Reynisfjara beach, the black sand beach. Made me feel in a Harry Potter movie! It's beautiful.
Hotel: one night
Day 2:
- Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, you can park at the bottom and walk along the canyon, the view is amazing! We were there at early morning.
- Diamond Beach, the black sand beach with icebergs, the contrast is striking.
Hotel: one night
Day 3:
We took the road to see the Kerid crater, go early because it is quite touristic. It's quick to visit. We slept in a hotel near Selfoss.
Hotel: one night
Day 4:
Golden circle!
- Secret lagoon, a relatively little known natural hot water pool, therefore less touristy. More detail in the experience.
- Gullfoss, another waterfall, very touristic by noon, go early
- Strokkur, the famous geyser, to see although also very touristy!
- Hraunfossar: THE most beautiful waterfall of the trip! The colors, the place... we went there at sunset, we were alone, a real treat!
Hotel: one night
Day 5:
- Mountain and waterfall of Kirkjufell: the emblem of Iceland! Very nice site (the waterfall is frozen in winter though)
- Búðakirkja, the famous black church lost by the sea, incredible contrast, not to be missed!
Hotel:
Day 6 et 7:
Direction Reykjavik, visit of the city and the famous church.
We ended up at the Sky lagoon (15min by car from the center) which I recommend 100%! To choose at the blue lagoon which is to be avoided in my opinion. I tell you everything in the experience!
In the evening we had dinner at the Food Cellar, very good food!
You can relax in a large heated swimming pool facing the sea and do the 7 rituals (sauna, scrub, hammam, cold bath, etc.). The view from the sauna is breathtaking!
We went at sunset it was beautiful but I think sunrise has to be even better and quieter.
Hotel:
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