Iceland: Off the Beaten Path!

So you’re heading to Iceland? You likely know the touristy hot spots—the blue lagoon, a northern lights tour, the golden circle, and the southern shore—all “touristy” for good reason and places you definitely don’t want to miss, but perhaps, like us, you are looking to get off the beaten path just a little more while in Iceland. If you want to get a better feel for this rugged and beautiful country, here are a few suggestions for fun things to do that will get you off the beaten path, and into the real and rugged heart of Iceland.

#5 – Stykkishólmur

If time allows (scratch that… make time for this one), make sure you take a leisurely drive up to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. It’s less touristed, and every bit as rugged and wild as other more “famous” parts of Iceland. Make a stop in the charming seaside town of Stykkishólmur just 172 kms from Reykjavik—boasting a population of only 1150. The colorful fishing boats and adorable, bright houses make it really unique, not to mention picturesque. Take the time to hike up to the lighthouse and enjoy a breathtaking panorama of this quaint village and the wild seaside below. Stykkishólmur’s beauty comes not only from its scenery, but from its environmentally-friendly approach. It comes as no surprise that this town has won the European Destination of Excellence Award (EDEN) since 2011, making it a must see on your Icelandic bucket list.

#4 – Faxi Waterfall

If you are already headed on a Golden Circle tour, this is an easy add-on. This lesser known waterfall should  be at the top of your bucket list. It is reminiscent of its big sister, Gullfoss, a mere 20 kms away, but is arguably the prettier of the two. It stands at approximately 23 feet high and 260 feet wide, but visitors can walk right up to the base if they so choose. An extra perk of this waterfall, besides its beauty, is the total lack of tourists. You can enjoy this waterfall from above or below without waiting in line for a good photo op, or worrying about digitally removing tourists later. Another cute gem about this waterfall is the salmon ladder to its left. There, lucky visitors can watch wild Icelandic salmon swim upriver, making this an extra special stop that shouldn’t be missed.

#3 – Black Sand Beach of Djúpalónssandur

This beach is a must! Iceland is known for its black sand beaches, such as the famous Reynisfjara with its iconic rock islands and basalt columns. Lesser-known, and arguably just as cool is the lovely Djúpalónssandur on Iceland’s Northwest Snaefellsnes Peninsula. This gorgeous beach is lined with black volcanic pebbles (back massage anyone?), and it boasts the ramparts of a rusty ship wreck—pieces of which are scattered all along the beach. This coastline is less visited, has just as much beauty as it’s more famous counterparts, and is all yours! One extra cool little tidbit about this beach is that it stands at the base of Snæfellsjökull, a 700,000 year old glacier-capped volcano.

#2 – Smokin’ Puffin

Don’t let the “Puffin” in the name deceive you, this is no tourist trap. This hidden gem is an ordinary-looking little pub in the heart of Reykjavik, but definitely one of the coolest spots in town. The pub is owned and operated by a group of bartenders and bar managers--who hop from one side of the bar to the other as soon as they clock out. If you ask me, it says a lot when the employees of an establishment hang around long after they’re being paid to do so. The bar is a cozy dive featuring local brews and live local artists each night. Extra cool points for the foosball table in the back corner. This is a great place to come and chat with locals and get a glimpse into real Reykjavik nightlife—not the glitzy, puffin-stuffed tourist traps that abound in much of the city.

#1 – Dinner with the Icelanders

This one wasn’t an easy find, but by far the coolest thing to do in Reykjavik. We connected with locals through a cool tour site called “Iceland Unwrapped.” Owner Helga, connects travelers with local families who open their doors to visiting guests who want a glimpse of actual Icelandic culture. Our hosts were Albert, a world-class chef, and his partner Bergthor, a famous Icelandic opera singer. To say they rolled out the red carpet for us was an understatement. We feasted on roasted lamb and potatoes, the best Icelandic chocolate cake money can buy, and we were treated with a private concert by Bergthor, along with a viewing of his home-woven traditional Icelandic handicrafts. We cannot recommend this enough! Come ready to eat, learn, and laugh until your sides hurt. Dinner with the Icelanders is a MUST! You can check out this and many more of Helga’s unique Iceland Unwrapped experiences by clicking here. You’re welcome in advance.

What To Pack (Iceland Edition)

Headed to Iceland in October to check out the infamous Northern Lights? Or planning to take a rejuvenating dip in the Blue Lagoon? Do a little whale watching? You know what you want to see, but like so many others you may be absolutely lost about what to pack. Not to worry, we’ve got your back!

Fall in Iceland can be tricky, weather-wise, temps are fairly cool, and it's known to rain a lot, making packing an overwhelming task. To help you out we’ve compiled a list to make this daunting task a little easier, so you can get back to your Northern Lights countdown and stop stressing about forgetting something essential.

The first key is to pack light! Since you’ll be carrying your luggage on and off the plane, the bus, and the hotels (which may or may not have lifts), you should try to condense what you need into one small suitcase and a carry-on.

Packing essential items into a carry-on has other advantages too! You will basically eliminate the risk of your bag getting lost or delayed. Win! Just make sure your bag meets the dimensions required for the airline you're flying. 

If you're traveling with Land + See, you can check out Delta's carry-on baggage weight and dimension requirements by clicking here.

Here is a list of essential items you won’t want to forget to pack.

Travel Aids

·         Chewing gum

·         Meds for motion sickness and sleep

·         Travel Pillow

·         (The airplane will likely supply earplugs, headphones, and a sleep mask so you can leave those at home unless you are partial to your own).

Clothing and Accessories

·         Comfortable walking shoes

·         Waterproof shoes with good grip (Iceland’s terrain can be hard to navigate)

·         Shirts (short and long sleeved) Think layers!

·         Socks and underwear/bras (thermals too!)

·         Watch

·         Jewelry

·         Pants/jeans (bonus for waterproof items—it’s rainy in Iceland in October)

·         Pajamas

·         Glasses/contacts

·         Sunglasses

·         Belts

·         Bathing suit (Bear in mind silica residue from the lagoons can stain your suit. It's rare, but it can happen)

·         Dressier outfit

·         Raincoat and/or umbrella 

·         Warm waterproof jacket/fleece

·         Jackets/Gloves/Scarves

·         Collapsible tote/duffel bag for dirty clothes, souvenirs (if only using a carry-on)

·         Luggage tags

·         Journal (if planning to document your trip)

·         Backpack or daybag

Toiletries

·         Toothbrush

·         Toothpaste

·         Floss

·         Mouthwash

·         Shampoo/conditioner

·         Soap

·         Deodorant

·         Hairbrush/comb

·         Hand sanitizer

·         Straightener/curling iron (If you have wattage converter--Iceland wattage is 220V)

·         Hair styling products

·         Hair accessories

·         Cleanser

·         Moisturizer

·         Shaving Cream

·         Razor

·         Perfume/Cologne

·         Makeup

·         Makeup Remover

·         Feminine Hygiene Products (if applicable)

·         Nail clippers

·         Nail File

·         Hand wipes

·         Tweezers

·         Cotton swabs

·         Tissues

·         Lint Roller

·         First Aid Kit/Band Aids

·         Lip Balm

·         Washcloths (not standard in European hotels)

·         Any medications (in addition to a copy of any prescription)

·         Spare set of contact lenses/glasses (if applicable)

·         Saline Solution (if applicable)

Money

·         ATM card (Call your bank prior to departure to alert them of the trip; foreign purchases sometimes result in a hold on bank accounts.)

·         Personal credit card (also make sure to notify lender of your travel plans)

·         At least $50 converted to the currency of the first country that you’re visiting

·         Pouch for storing money and passport under clothing

Electronics/Technology

·         An alarm clock (Many hotel rooms won't have one.)

·         An adaptor/converter (Iceland uses type C and F outlet plugs. More info here.)

·         Camera with extra batteries or charger

·         Cell phone and charger (external chargers are worth the investment too!)   

Documents

·         Passport—(Remember to leave one copy of it at home and bring a couple more copies on tour, in case your passport gets lost.)

·         Emergency contact information

·         A copy of your medical insurance card (and trip insurance if you’ve purchased it)

·         A copy of the tour itinerary

·         A list of important phone numbers 

·         Addresses to send postcards home

·         Copy of any prescriptions (Customs officials may want to verify that a container's contents match its label, so all medication should be carried in its original container.)

·         List of medications/prescriptions

Carry-on bag

Here’s a short list of things travelers might need on the first day of the trip. These should be packed in your carry-on in case your checked luggage is delayed:

·         Passport

·         Money

·         Money Belt

·         Airline boarding pass

·         Toothbrush and toothpaste (Check tsa.gov for current security requirements.)

·         Hairbrush

·         Contact lens case/glasses (to sleep comfortably on the plane)

·         A change of clothes (in case luggage is delayed)

·         Medication

·         Any valuables

* If traveling with Land + See, the Blue Lagoon is our first stop, so pack that swimsuit in your essential bag :)

Hopefully this helps ease the burden of knowing exactly what to pack. You know yourself and what you need so if you see something on the list you know you just won't need, skip it! Now that you're done packing, let's get back to our countdown! If you're like me, you've got this itinerary pinned already and you check it daily, but I'll throw it on here anyway so you can get in the Icelandic groove!

Let the countdown begin!

Iceland Itinerary

Iceland Day 4 - The Golden Circle (With Pictures)

We’ve broken down the exciting first few days of our tour to Iceland. Whale watching, the blue lagoon, and the entire Snaefellsnes Peninsula to name a few. You can peruse our Day 2 and 3 itinerary here. With Day 4 comes a new Mary Poppins bag of tricks. On Day 4 we explore what is arguably one of the most iconic Iceland excursions possible, the Golden Circle.

Tectonic plates

We will depart Reykjavik in the morning for our first stop at Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to the tectonic plates of both Europe and North America.  Those who haven’t seen an image of the tectonic plates are in for a surprise. These giant, diverging crevices are actually where Iceland emerged from. Iceland itself is divided by the mid-Atlantic rift—half of Iceland on the North American tectonic plate, and the other half on the Eurasian plate. You can literally walk between the continental divide while exploring this park. We will also visit the breathtaking Þingvallavatn lake whose volcanic origin can be seen in the lake itself.

Lake Thingvallavatn

From there we will explore the scenic lakeside village of Laugarvatn, famous for its lake heated by hot spring allowing bathers year-round. The area has beautiful panoramic views of the lake below and is an ideal spot for hikers and horseback riders.

Laugarvatn

In the afternoon we will make a stop to the famous Strokkur Geysur—the most famous hot spring in Iceland, which spouts water up to 100 feet high into the air every few minutes. The name itself literally translates to “churn”—likely due to its reliable and frequent spurts. Throughout the centuries this geyser has been blocked due to earthquakes. It wasn’t until a few decades ago that the conduits were cleared by local workers allowing Strokkur to erupt so regularly.

Strokkur Geyser

Next comes the beautiful waterfall Faxi. This lesser-known falls is fed by water from the glaciers  and has a Salmon ladder adjacent to it.

Faxi Waterfall

From here we will head back into Reykjavik for some hearty Icelandic eats before heading out on our hunt for the elusive Aurora Borealis.

Prime viewing season starts in early September and runs through April, so we will be hitting it right at the start of the season. This natural phenomenon is only visible in a few select parts of the world, making Iceland a prime viewing location for locals and tourists alike. The ribbons of green that dance along the sky are one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders of the world and I can’t wait to see this with my own eyes. They say the photos don’t do it justice, but I’ll let you  be the judge.

Aurora Borealis

From here we will head back into town for a good night’s sleep before hitting the Southern Shore on Day 5.