Iceland, or the land of ice and fire as some call it, is truly a visual treat.
With a dramatic landscape unlike anything I have ever laid eyes on before, experiencing Iceland was surreal.
We decided to include Iceland as part of our trip, upon learning that Iceland Air offered a free stopover when you were flying with them to one of their European destinations offered. We were flying from Halifax to Paris, connecting in Iceland shortly on the way over, and having our stopover on the way back home. The flight from Halifax to Iceland was short (slightly short of 4 hours) and comfortable. Iceland Air offers fantastic service and a great selection on their onboard menu (additional cost).
After leaving Paris, we arrived in Iceland 3 hours later, at midnight. This was during July, so it wasn't completely dark at midnight. The temperature was a cool 8 degrees.
We wasted no time getting into our rental car and heading towards the beautiful South Coast.
The drive to our destination (Vik) was around 3 hours, and the time passed quickly as there was so much to see on our way, from wild horses, to volcanoes. We were the only car in sight, and frequently had to stop to let sheep cross the road. I read somewhere that in Iceland, sheep outnumber people 2:1, and it's believable.
One of the things that made me want to visit the South Coast, was Skogafoss. Skogafoss is one of the bigger waterfalls in the country, with a width of 82 feet, and a drop of 200 feet. The are around it was gorgeous, the hills and grass were the most beautiful shade of green. Combine the vivid green with the black sand at the base of the waterfall, and you have a picture perfect contrast.
Another draw was Seljalandsfoss ( say that 3 times fast) which is a waterfall that also has a drop of 200 feet. Seljalandsfoss was a thrill because you could walk behind the waterfall for a different viewing perspective.
With a dramatic landscape unlike anything I have ever laid eyes on before, experiencing Iceland was surreal.
We decided to include Iceland as part of our trip, upon learning that Iceland Air offered a free stopover when you were flying with them to one of their European destinations offered. We were flying from Halifax to Paris, connecting in Iceland shortly on the way over, and having our stopover on the way back home. The flight from Halifax to Iceland was short (slightly short of 4 hours) and comfortable. Iceland Air offers fantastic service and a great selection on their onboard menu (additional cost).
After leaving Paris, we arrived in Iceland 3 hours later, at midnight. This was during July, so it wasn't completely dark at midnight. The temperature was a cool 8 degrees.
We wasted no time getting into our rental car and heading towards the beautiful South Coast.
The drive to our destination (Vik) was around 3 hours, and the time passed quickly as there was so much to see on our way, from wild horses, to volcanoes. We were the only car in sight, and frequently had to stop to let sheep cross the road. I read somewhere that in Iceland, sheep outnumber people 2:1, and it's believable.
One of the things that made me want to visit the South Coast, was Skogafoss. Skogafoss is one of the bigger waterfalls in the country, with a width of 82 feet, and a drop of 200 feet. The are around it was gorgeous, the hills and grass were the most beautiful shade of green. Combine the vivid green with the black sand at the base of the waterfall, and you have a picture perfect contrast.
Another draw was Seljalandsfoss ( say that 3 times fast) which is a waterfall that also has a drop of 200 feet. Seljalandsfoss was a thrill because you could walk behind the waterfall for a different viewing perspective.
Of course, any trip to Iceland wouldn't be complete without a trip to the world famous Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa located in Grindavík, which is just outside of Keflavik (airport). The Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland's most visited attractions, and it isn't hard to understand why. Although before arriving in Iceland, I was under the impression it was a natural lagoon, the Lagoon is actually man made, and is fed by the water output from a geothermal plant. The water is renewed every 2 days and the silicate minerals are the cause of the water's milky blue shade. The water has a rich mineral content (sulfur and silica) which has been said to help people with skin conditions. Not sure if that is true, but the skincare products they sell from the lagoon are absolutely fantastic and worth their price ($$). We spent around an hour soaking in the lagoon, and sipping wine which was sold at the swim up bar in the Lagoon. You will receive an electronic bracelet when you arrive to the lagoon (remember to pre book your visit!) which is what gives you access to your locker, as well as what they scan when you order drinks. We each had 1 drink included in our entrance price, as there are 3 different options you can select when booking.
Even if your trip to Iceland is short, make the trip to the lagoon. There is a bus that will take you from the airport to the lagoon for a low cost, and it is something I can't imagine missing while in Iceland.
The restaurant at the Blue Lagoon, properly named "Lava" was a wonderful dining experience, where we had one of the best meals of our entire Europe trip. We did not book this ahead of time, and luckily didn't have to wait to be seated.
Although expensive (it is Iceland, everything is expensive) it was worth it for the quality of food and service we received.
Even if your trip to Iceland is short, make the trip to the lagoon. There is a bus that will take you from the airport to the lagoon for a low cost, and it is something I can't imagine missing while in Iceland.
The restaurant at the Blue Lagoon, properly named "Lava" was a wonderful dining experience, where we had one of the best meals of our entire Europe trip. We did not book this ahead of time, and luckily didn't have to wait to be seated.
Although expensive (it is Iceland, everything is expensive) it was worth it for the quality of food and service we received.
My one regret with Iceland, was not being able to spend more time there enjoying it. We were limited to 24 hours there for our stopover, and were able to squeeze in the things we wanted to experience, although there is so much more that we didn't see. Iceland is bigger than you would think, and there are so many beautiful, other worldly sights to see, you really need a good chunk of time to get to them all. The Icelandic food is different and interesting (you must try SKYR, and an Icelandic hot dog!), and the people are beautiful, warm and friendly. Iceland is definitely a place I plan on returning to someday, because 24 hours wasn't enough to experience all that this unique country has to offer.
