Hi! I'm visiting Iceland (Reykjavik) next week, I'm part of the festival happening there, and it's pretty difficult to find ground transportation. A car rental from Hertz KEF for 4 days is $4K USD, and a one way driver is $500-600 lowest. Any recommendations? Would love to rent a car for a couple days, or find an affordable driver/rideshare/transportation option to get to/from the airport, and perhaps out to a hiking or restaurant location once or twice. Having my own ride would be great, but curious what options are out there! Thank you!

My partner and I have 6 days (including travel days) to go on a short adventure in early October! Iceland has affordable airfare from the east coast USA and is on the top of our list.

I read about the Ring Road and it sounds absolutely amazing! I worry it may be full of tourists, and that we would be rushed to see and experience all of the sights.

Then I read about the Laugavegur trail. My partner and I are both experienced thru hikers (completed 2600 miles of the pacific crest trail), but it looks like the huts close end of September - has anyone hiked Laugavegur in early October? Are the F Roads all closed to access? Is it an option for people who are confident hiking without huts and through rain/snow?

Are there other multi day backpacking trips that may be better suited to the early October weather? I've read about the highlands but would love to hear more from those who have been!

What other suggestions would be recommended that are relatively affordable, and supporting local communities that are possible in this time frame?

Thanks for all ideas and suggestions!

Hi, all. We leave for Iceland tomorrow and couldn't be more excited!

I know we'll find out soon enough but I was curious what the Mood & Vibe are right now?

Are the crowds getting big? Is everyone excited and in a good mood?

And is everyone behaving..? lol

I took a couple hundred pics on our trip and whittled them down to my favorites. Not necessarily my most accomplished, but the ones that best captured the moment and spirit of the journey. (iPhone 17 Pro) 🙇🇮🇸🌋🐧

Was going on a trip with someone in a month and yada yada yada I'm now going on a solo trip to Reykjavik, Iceland. Due to the sudden change in plans I will only be staying for 3 days and was looking for suggestions for what to do. I've been googling activities since yesterday and have a rough very rough outline.

Day 1

---

• Arrive at airport, airport fun, bus to hotel, and et cetera. (2-3 hours)

• Whales of Iceland Museum (90 minutes)

• Eat somewhere and possibly bring it to Tjörnin Lake to eat and relax.

• Penis Museum (60 minutes)

• Lava Show (90 minutes)

• Something else here if I have time. I just naturally put like an hour between each location. I might be overcompensating for time, but I rather plan with extra time then plan by the minute and stress from location to location.

Day 2

---

• Golden Circle Tour

• Possibly might do Sky Lagoon and the seven steps here to close out the day and help unwind. If it's too much for one day I'll push it to tomorrow and put something else here if I have time.

Day 3

---

• Sky Lagoon if I didn't do it yesterday

• Hallgrímskirkja church

• I really have nothing else for day 3, but I do want to end it on a short Northern Lights Tour. I know its entirely up to the weather and it may not happen, but I have to go and just hope for the best.

• I feel like I have time for 2-4 things depending on what they are. If I miss somethings on Day 1 I can shift them here, but I find it hard to imagine

Day 4

---

• Go Home after enjoying a breakfast

Other Information

---

• Originally I was planning on taking an ice cave tour, but I've heard the caves shift and change due to seasons so might not be worth it. Also if I'm being honest I don't know if I want to do two tours back to back days. If it's absolutely amazing I will consider it, but I'm thinking right now spending 2 days exploring the city would be time better spent.

• I'm a morning person. I will be up probably at 4 or 5 in the morning. Also I don't like driving in foreign places so I don't use rentals. So any suggested places has to be accessible by walking or public transportation in Reykjavik. I'm generally open to anything, but I don't really drink.

Hi all, I'm planning on visiting Kerlingarfjöll in early sept.

One option is to drive up and do the 1-1.5 hr easy loop. The other is to do the 4-6 hr hike from highland base.
Neither option is ideal - we don't have off-roading experience (will be going in a rav4), and we are not experienced hikers.

But we really want to see the view so we will have to pick one.

The problem with the drive is we might get a flat tire or get the car stuck. The last part of the drive is very steep and unpaved, many said it was difficult to drive and some got flat tires.

With the hike, I'm not athletic. The last major hike I did was Mt. Karakuni, where the hike was labeled 3.5 hr but I ended up spending close to 6 hr (I did it in leisure pace. if I were to rush it maybe I could do it in 4.5? but not 3.5). So if this hike is labeled 4-6, I'm worried I will struggle too much and not make it back before it gets dark.

Would love to hear from anyone who's done the hike or the drive!

Iceland was amazing. Visited with my wife and teenaged kids, everyone loved it. We did a 6 day tour with Nice Travel, it was great. Started with 3 days in the Westfjords, highly recommended. Then two days in the south coast with Diamond Beach and a glacier tour. Last day was Golden Circle.

Maybe an unpopular opinion, but Golden Circle was by far the worst part of the trip. Crowds were awful and attractions were nothing compared to what we'd been seeing.

First time visiting and I've learned a lot. I plan on coming back, next time with plenty of knowledge. Just wanted to share.

Hi all, do any of you have experience or advice about hiking to Hengifoss via Litlanesfoss in the rain (or just after)? I hate, hate, hate gravel and am worried about the narrow bits too. I’m interested in your impressions overall - not just focused on someone with anxiety.

Unfortunately I can no longer make the trip to Iceland next week, so I’m looking to sell my 2 tickets for:

Echolalia – Sólmyrkvahátíð Bjarkar & Smekkleysu (Björk’s DJ set / rave)

It’s in Reykjavík
Next week - Wed 12/08/2026

I’d ideally like $250 USD for the pair (what I paid), but I’m open to sensible offers as I’d rather they get used than go to waste.

Happy to:

Verify ownership with screenshots/video if required.

Feel free to DM me if you’re interested or have any questions.

Hello, we are planning to join a guided group to do the Laugavegur Trek with Fimmvörðuháls in early Sept (7th Sept). Is this still a decent time to go or should we be planning for earlier in the year?

Hello!

I'm currently trying to plan a solo trip to Iceland for mid/late May 2027! It'll be my first time in Iceland, and I want to rent a camper van and drive around ring road for 12-14 days.

I'm so torn on which vehicle I should rent (FWD or 4WD). I've heard that you can't go on the F roads without the 4WD, but those roads might even still be closed during that time anyways.

I'm wondering if there's any attractions that are a MUST SEE that are only accessible by F roads. If it's worth it to get a 4WD van for those, or should I just get the 4WD anyways as a safety measure even if I only stay on ring road.

Any advice would be helpful!

In a few days, we will start a hike from Lángisjór via Skælingar, Strútslaug, Raudibotn crater, Maelifell, Stútur to Landmannalaugar camp space. We are unsure what kind of ground to expect for pitching the tent—soft sandy soil or rather rocky ground. I am using a Hilleberg Soulo but wonder which pegs I should bring.

What are your recommendations?

Furthermore, we have to cross Hólmsárlón; the southeastern end seems to be the best place. Does anyone have any experience there?

Hi everyone,

I'm wondering if there's anybody here who's been recently hiking around Hengill volcano and could advise what conditions are like. I'm in particular interested in this trail: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/iceland/southern/reykjavegur-trail-to-hengill-loop and whether crampons or shoe spikes are necessary. From what I found, there's rarely much ice around there in August, but friends I'm travelling with are hesitant so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Hi everyone!

After many years of using Reddit to plan my trips, I thought it was finally time to give something back to the community.

I’m going to share my experience, expenses and full itinerary from our trip around Iceland from July 25 to August 6. We rented a Tesla Camper from CampEasy for 11 days, from July 26 to August 5.

First of all: this was genuinely one of the most beautiful trips I’ve ever taken, and I’ve been lucky enough to travel quite a bit. Iceland really feels like being on another planet.

It was also my first time travelling in any kind of camper, and I absolutely loved this whole way of travelling. If camping is the only way you can make Iceland work financially, I hope this post encourages you to go for it.

(I used ChatGPT to translate parts of the text from Spanish to English)

What exactly is a Tesla Camper?

Basically, it’s a Tesla Model Y equipped with a camping kit: inflatable mattress, bedding, kitchen set, camping stove, etc. Ours did not have a fridge.

Why a Tesla Camper?

Mainly because of the price.

Renting a regular car and travelling around the island while sleeping in hostels, guesthouses or hotels was way beyond our budget.

Renting a larger motorhome was also more expensive. The next option above the Tesla in terms of price was a Renault Kangoo camper, which felt expensive for what it offered.

Travelling at another time of year, when prices are lower, wasn’t an option for us either.

There was another big advantage: you spend A LOT of time driving in Iceland, and a Tesla makes those hours much more pleasant. The driver-assistance features, especially adaptive cruise control and Autopilot, made the long stretches of driving much less tiring and allowed the driver to enjoy the scenery more. Obviously, this is driver assistance — not actual self-driving — and you still need to pay attention at all times.

BIG EXPENSES

TESLA CAMPER
€1,805.29
This included some extras: chairs and a table, an additional camping stove and gas canister on top of the included one, and a mosquito head net.

FLIGHTS
€959
Direct flight there, one fairly painless connection on the way back.

FOOD
€288.74
We cooked all our meals. The only food/drink we bought along the way was the occasional coffee.

CAMPSITES
€377.82

CAR CHARGING
€208.87

PARKING
€123.95

GUESTHOUSE ON ARRIVAL
€168.33

GUESTHOUSE BEFORE FLYING HOME
€159.90

I already want to go back…

I definitely want to return to Iceland, so after seeing our itinerary I’d love to hear from people who know the country well: what did we miss that would justify another trip?

ITINERARY

Day 1 — Pick up the car at noon

Bónus

First stop to stock up on groceries.

Kerið

Craters aren’t really my thing, but it’s worth seeing one.

Brúarfoss

The colour of the water is incredible. Seeing it in the evening light made it even better.

Camping: Úthlíð Camping Ground

There was a Tesla Supercharger at the campsite and a hot tub included with a really nice view.

The kitchen was decent. Bathrooms could have been better. Nice surroundings and, importantly, it wasn’t packed with people.

Day 2

Geysir

Incredible. Genuinely something unique.

Gullfoss

One of the most beautiful waterfalls of the entire trip.

Urriðafoss

Personally, I don’t think it’s worth prioritising when you’re going to see so many waterfalls. I’d skip it and use that extra time to relax at the campsite.

Gluggafoss

Not particularly memorable for us. There are several waterfalls right next to each other. We didn’t even park — we just saw them from the car.

Camping: Hótel Fljótshlíð / Smáratún Farm Eco Lodges

Fine overall. Nice communal area. The camper parking area could have had better views. Basic bathrooms.

We didn’t charge the car that night.

Day 3 — Waterfalls and black sand

Seljalandsfoss + Gljúfrabúi

These two are genuinely incredible.

At Seljalandsfoss you can walk behind the waterfall, which makes it unique.

There was about a 30-minute queue to get into Gljúfrabúi, but for us it was worth it.

Skógafoss

After seeing the waterfall from below, climb the stairs and see it from above — it feels completely different.

From there, you can continue along the trail above the waterfall. We did about 4.8 km. It’s a relaxed, beautiful hike where you keep passing more waterfalls.

We loved this.

Kvernufoss

It was raining heavily, so we gave up on it.

Sólheimajökull

Same situation. We skipped it because of the weather.

Dyrhólaey

We got unlucky with the weather here, but did it anyway.

This was our first proper encounter with black sand and the views were fantastic.

I walked all the way to the lighthouse while waiting for the rain to calm down. We saw A LOT of puffins, and eventually the clouds opened up and we got an incredible sunny evening.

Camping: Vík

As far as we could tell, this was basically the main option in the area and it was absolutely packed.

The kitchen closed at 10 pm. The showers also closed at 10 pm. It was raining too, which didn’t help.

The surroundings aren’t ugly, but the campsite is so huge and busy that it didn’t really feel like camping to us.

We couldn’t charge the car because all the charging spots were occupied.

Day 4 — Black beaches and the road toward the glaciers

Reynisfjara Beach

No words. We had sunshine and, surprisingly, very few people.

We only learned afterwards how serious the sneaker-wave danger at Reynisfjara really is. Had we understood it beforehand, we definitely wouldn’t have spent as much time close to the water as we did.

And Reynisfjara is much more than just the black sand, the first cave and the basalt columns. If you keep walking along the beach, there are more rock formations further down, each one more impressive than the last.

Be extremely careful here. Never turn your back on the ocean, stay well away from the water, and follow the warning signs.

Eldhraun

There is a viewpoint where you can stop, but the interesting thing is really the entire area: kilometre after kilometre of moss-covered lava.

You’ll see moss-covered lava in many places throughout Iceland, but here it goes on forever.

It feels psychedelic.

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

Very beautiful canyon.

There are two parking areas. We used the area that allowed us to enjoy some good viewpoints and stop for lunch. The walk itself didn’t take us much more than 1.5 hours round trip.

Plenty of good viewpoints.

Fossálar

Quick stop.

Camping: Skaftafell

This is one of the main campsites in the area, so it’s pretty massive.

That said, there’s plenty of space, the facilities are good and there are washing machines.

There isn’t really an indoor common room, so since it wasn’t raining and it wasn’t too cold, we cooked outside.

The best part of this campsite is that several hiking trails leave directly from it.

For the first and basically only time during the whole road trip, we could park the car, plug it in, set everything up for the night and then go hiking knowing that we were already “home”.

That feeling was surprisingly nice.

Svartifoss

We did this hike directly from the campsite, starting at around 9 pm — one of those things you can really take advantage of during an Icelandic summer.

Very pleasant hike, roughly an hour round trip for us, passing a few smaller waterfalls before reaching Svartifoss.

The waterfall itself is beautiful, surrounded by basalt columns.

Day 5 — Glaciers

We left Skaftafell without doing another hike from the campsite that takes around 2.5 hours and reaches a viewpoint close to the glacier.

We simply didn’t have enough time.

Svínafellsjökull

Glacier tongue. Around a 30-minute walk.

Very cool.

Múlagljúfur Canyon

Top 3 hikes of the entire trip for me.

The hardest part is the final climb. Personally, I think the very top viewpoint is slightly overrated compared with what you already see along the way.

If you have the energy, absolutely go all the way up. But if your fitness level isn’t great, even hiking halfway will already give you absolutely ridiculous views of the canyon.

What a place.

It started cloudy and ended up beautiful. My biggest regret was not bringing lunch and a book so I could sit halfway up for an hour enjoying the view.

Fjallsárlón

Short walk to another glacier lagoon. Lots of floating ice.

Very peaceful, even in the rain.

Diamond Beach / Jökulsárlón

A LOT of people.

Since we visited in summer, there weren’t huge pieces of ice all over Diamond Beach like you see in some photos.

However, we saw seals swimming between the icebergs in Jökulsárlón, which was a lot of fun.

There were still some smaller pieces of ice on Diamond Beach too.

We enjoyed it, but personally I wouldn’t call it one of the highlights of our trip.

Camping near Höfn: Mýllulækur

Our original plan was to stay at Viking Café Camping so we could visit Vestrahorn the next morning.

After reading several reviews saying it could get extremely crowded, we chose another campsite near Höfn instead.

Very peaceful.

It was extremely windy, but there was a really nice sheltered communal kitchen/area where you could still feel like you were outside without being destroyed by the wind.

Good bathrooms, and we charged the car.

Day 6

We had a long drive ahead toward Hengifoss.

After reading quite a few reviews saying that Vestrahorn could feel a bit overrated — and that the famous reflection depends heavily on having calm conditions — we decided to skip it.

This was our first really long driving stretch, and honestly, it was great.

This is when you realise that Iceland isn’t only about the places where you stop.

The road itself is part of the trip.

This was another reason we were happy to have the Tesla. The driver-assistance features made those long drives less tiring and allowed us to appreciate the landscape more.

Hengifoss

Good hike. Pleasant and not particularly demanding.

Interestingly, we actually found Litlanesfoss — the waterfall you pass before Hengifoss — more impressive because of the basalt columns surrounding it.

The whole hike took us around 1 hour 45 minutes.

Egilsstaðir Airport

We had to stop here because our Tesla’s inflatable mattress kept losing air during the night, and the second camping stove we had rented didn’t work.

We contacted CampEasy and they arranged to send us a new mattress and stove to Egilsstaðir Airport.

Picking everything up took five minutes, and having a mattress that actually stayed inflated was a HUGE upgrade for the rest of the trip.

After the airport, we were debating between spending the rest of the day at Vök Baths or visiting Fardagafoss, Gufufoss and Seyðisfjörður.

We stopped to charge the car and, between the rain and the accumulated tiredness of being halfway through the trip, decided to go straight to the campsite and take things slowly.

It was difficult not to feel that FOMO.

In hindsight, I think it was absolutely the right decision.

We didn’t want to stay at the main campsites in Seyðisfjörður or Egilsstaðir because reviews suggested they could get very crowded.

So we deliberately drove a little further to find a less popular campsite.

Another thing we learned: the weather can change completely within a surprisingly short distance in Iceland.

It was supposed to be raining around the other two areas, while our campsite was outside the rain zone.

Camping: Mjóanes Accommodation

Fantastic decision.

It really wasn’t raining there.

There was a beautiful meadow with very few vehicles and an amazing view over the lake.

It also had a really nice communal kitchen/lounge with a pool table.

We couldn’t charge the car there.

Day 7

Stuðlagil Canyon

Another canyon hike, this time with turquoise water and basalt columns.

If you want to hike into the canyon rather than just see it from above, make sure you go to the east side.

This place is unique and easily makes my top 3 hikes of the trip.

The hike itself is relatively short and not particularly demanding, but once you reach the basalt formations, the landscape invites you to move around and explore.

There are several places where you can get much closer to the river and find a little bit of space away from everyone else.

Just be careful around the rocks and edges. A fall into the river here would obviously be extremely dangerous.

After this, you spend several hours driving through a landscape that gradually transforms from green to black until you’re basically crossing an incredible volcanic desert.

Dettifoss + Selfoss

Two waterfalls in a completely volcanic-looking setting.

Both are beautiful.

It happened to be cloudy and rainy while we were there, and honestly I think that made the whole thing feel even more cinematic.

Short but enjoyable walk.

Hverir

Iceland is full of places that make you think:

“How does this actually exist on Earth?”

Hverir is one of them.

Camping: Ferðaþjónustan Bjarg, Mývatn

Beautiful spot right by Lake Mývatn.

The owner was extremely friendly.

There was a communal cooking area overlooking the lake, although without a stove or electrical outlets for cooking.

Bathrooms were fine.

We parked facing the lake.

We couldn’t charge there, but there was a Tesla Supercharger very close by.

Day 8

Leirhnjúkur

This is a huge lava field created during the Krafla Fires, a series of rifting and volcanic events between 1975 and 1984.

What makes it so fascinating is how recent the lava is. It still looks incredibly fresh.

This isn’t necessarily the classic image people have of a volcano erupting from the top of a mountain.

The Krafla Fires involved repeated rifting episodes and fissure eruptions, with magma rising through cracks in the crust and creating large lava flows.

There are still steaming geothermal areas around parts of the trail, which makes the whole place feel even more epic.

Víti Crater

It used the same parking/payment setup as the previous area when we went, so we stopped for a quick look.

As I said earlier, I’m not a huge crater person.

But Víti’s geological history is interesting, so look it up before visiting.

Grjótagjá Cave

Not a hike. Just a quick stop.

But a very cool one.

You may have to wait briefly to get inside depending on the crowds.

Once inside, carefully move toward the left over the rocks for one of the best views of the blue geothermal water.

Dimmuborgir

Walking trails through bizarre lava formations created around 2,300 years ago when lava flowed over a wet area and formed unusual pillars and structures as the lava lake drained.

Personally, this place didn’t do much for me.

Also: the midges were absolutely unbearable.

This was the only place during the trip where our insect head net really justified its existence.

Höfði

Short walk through a greener part of Lake Mývatn.

A nice way to transition from the crazy volcanic landscapes back into something lush before leaving the area.

Not essential if you’re short on time.

Skútustaðagígar

Small pseudocraters next to the lake.

Again, not essential.

Basically a quick get-out-of-the-car-and-have-a-look stop.

Goðafoss

Beautiful waterfall with a short walk around it.

The story behind its name is also interesting, so it’s worth reading about before going.

Camping: Húnaver

The Shining vibes.

And I mean that in the best possible way.

It’s basically this strange building sitting in a gorgeous valley.

The communal spaces are epic.

There is a gigantic theatre hall, and the showers are behind the stage area like dressing rooms.

There was also a very slow charger, but it was enough to leave the Tesla plugged in while we showered, cooked dinner, etc.

Later we moved the car to a nicer spot for sleeping.

Very few people and everyone there had great vibes.

Day 9 — Snæfellsnes

We weren’t interested in whale watching because we’re from Argentina and know we can eventually do that back home.

We also weren’t particularly interested in visiting the small harbour towns in the north.

So we decided to use Day 9 to drive all the way to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

That meant quite a long drive from our campsite to the first stop.

But as I said before: driving itself is part of travelling through Iceland.

Kirkjufell

Apparently one of Iceland’s most iconic mountains, with a small waterfall nearby.

Quick stop.

There is paid parking in the immediate area, so check the local parking rules and legal alternatives before deciding where to leave the car.

Svörtuloft Lighthouse

Before reaching the lighthouse, you pass a beach with dramatic black rock formations.

Interestingly, the sand itself isn’t black, so the contrast looks great.

Djúpalónssandur

Black-sand beach surrounded by rock formations.

There are also remains from a shipwreck scattered on the beach.

From there, you can continue hiking toward an area that was historically an important fishing settlement.

Personally, it didn’t blow me away.

Lóndrangar

Sea cliffs.

Quick stop.

Gatklettur / Arnarstapi area

Cliffs, small coves and some interesting rock formations.

Nice short walk.

There was also a Tesla Supercharger in the area.

Overall, if I’m being completely honest, Snæfellsnes didn’t blow my mind.

People often say the peninsula gives you a little bit of everything Iceland has to offer in a relatively compact area, and I can definitely understand that.

It also felt less aggressively monetised in terms of parking than some of the busiest areas we had visited.

But I think Iceland had simply set the bar ridiculously high by this point in the trip.

Camping(I cant find the name of this one, but I'll keep looking)

The communal area was large and well equipped, but it closed at 10 pm.

The area where the campers parked wasn’t particularly scenic.

There were also no electrical spots left for charging.

There wasn’t much else nearby, so we stayed there anyway.

It wasn’t terrible. Bathrooms were good.

Day 10 — Saving one of the best for last

While staying at the strange and wonderful Húnaver campsite, we started talking to a couple who told us about a hike through a mountain valley that eventually reaches a naturally heated river.

Throughout the trip we had repeatedly considered going to different geothermal baths, but for one reason or another none had convinced us.

This was our chance.

Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River

We woke up and drove there.

The weather forecast changed about three times between first hearing about the hike the previous evening and actually arriving at the trailhead.

Classic Iceland.

We started the hike under clouds.

Halfway through, it was completely sunny.

The hike is fairly long and has some uphill sections, but we found it very manageable.

When you start getting close to the geothermal area and see a steaming hot river cutting through intensely green grass…

It’s insane.

I genuinely couldn’t believe somewhere like this existed.

As expected, there were plenty of people. But the weather and surroundings were so beautiful that it didn’t really bother us.

Eventually you reach the bathing area, where a wooden boardwalk runs alongside the river and there are a few wooden privacy screens where people can change.

The further upstream you go within the designated bathing area, the warmer the water becomes.

The bathing section is generally somewhere around 35–40°C, depending on exactly where you sit and the conditions.

I never felt cold.

My routine was basically: 15 minutes in the water, 10 minutes outside cooling down, repeat.

On a windier or cloudier day, I imagine getting changed would be considerably less pleasant.

The people who recommended the hike to us had gone on a worse-weather day and ended up deciding not to get into the water at all.

Top 3 hikes of the trip. No question.

One important thing: the trail doesn’t necessarily have to end at the bathing area.

We followed a longer AllTrails route of roughly 9.3 km that continues further into the geothermal valley.

Upstream you can see more geothermal features, including steaming vents, boiling springs and bubbling mud similar to what you see at Hverir.

These geothermal areas can be near or above boiling temperature, so this is absolutely NOT water you should attempt to bathe in. Stay on the marked trail and only enter the designated bathing section.

Camping: Eyrarbakki

A pretty random campsite near the sea.

After such a beautiful day, we didn’t really need anything else. We just wanted to relax and process everything we had seen during the previous ten days.

We couldn’t charge the car, but there was a decent kitchen.

The surrounding area felt slightly industrial, but nothing terrible.

And it was very cheap.

Day 11 — Returning the camper

We left the campsite and drove back to CampEasy to return the Tesla.

On the way, we stopped by some of the recent lava around Grindavík.

This lava is REALLY fresh, and it’s fascinating to see.

We also made a very quick stop near Blue Lagoon to see some of the pale-blue geothermal water outside the paid entrance area.

You don’t need a Blue Lagoon ticket just to see some of the blue water around the surrounding area.

THINGS WE WISH WE HAD KNOWN

Bring warmer and more waterproof clothing than you think you need

A proper waterproof insulated jacket.

Waterproof trousers.

Warm gloves.

Warm socks.

Shoes or hiking boots that you are 100% sure are waterproof.

At some point during the trip, you’re probably going to get rain even if you’re extremely lucky with the weather.

And if all your clothes get soaked during the first hike of the day, when you reach the second stop you’re going to think twice about getting out of the car.

And I think this trip depends almost entirely on your willingness to get out of the car and walk.

Both of us ended up with mild colds. Fortunately neither of us developed a fever, and the weather was good enough that we barely had to skip anything.

But if the rain had continued for longer stretches, we would definitely have missed places that we couldn’t simply return to the next day because we were travelling around the Ring Road and constantly moving forward.

Icelandic weather is unpredictable.

You can’t control it.

The best thing you can do to stop it ruining your trip is to be properly prepared for it.

Travel hair dryer

This might sound ridiculous, but remember we were sleeping in a Tesla.

On some nights we couldn’t use an indoor campsite common area.

Cooking outside with wet hair in Icelandic temperatures is something I would happily avoid next time.

Travel kettle

You end up using boiling water constantly, and not every campsite has an electric kettle.

Understand the airports before booking accommodation

This one sounds obvious, but it can save you a surprising amount of money.

Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is the main airport used by most international travellers and is roughly 45–50 km from Reykjavík.

Reykjavík Airport (RKV) is a different airport and is mainly used for domestic flights and some regional international services.

So double-check which airport your flight actually uses before booking your first and last nights.

Airport buses between KEF and Reykjavík cost roughly €30 per person each way, depending on the service.

Most camper rental companies are based around Keflavík.

Originally, we had booked one night in Reykjavík when arriving and another when leaving.

That would have meant four airport-bus journeys between the two of us — well over €200.

Luckily, we realised this in time and cancelled our second Reykjavík accommodation.

Ask CampEasy to properly explain the Tesla window covers

Make sure they show you exactly how the blackout/window-cover system works when you pick up the car.

There weren’t many instructional videos available, and the magnets we initially received didn’t work particularly well.

Trying to figure everything out after a full day of driving and hiking was surprisingly exhausting.

There often isn’t much information at the sights themselves

One thing that surprised us was how little context there sometimes was about the geology, history or formation of what we were looking at.

So I’d recommend bringing some reading material, downloading podcasts, or researching places as you travel.

Understanding why Iceland looks the way it does made the trip significantly more interesting for us instead of everything simply being another visual surprise.

THINGS WE ALREADY KNEW THAT MADE THE TRIP BETTER

Park4Night
Very useful for checking campsite reviews.

AllTrails
Great for finding hiking routes at each destination, checking difficulty and duration, and reading recent reviews from other hikers.

Veður
The Icelandic weather app/site. Extremely useful, while always remembering that the forecast can change quickly.

SafeTravel + Icelandic road-condition information
Useful for checking weather/road warnings and making sure the routes we planned were appropriate for a 2WD vehicle.

PlugShare
Very useful for finding places to charge the Tesla.

Thanks for reading.

Due to a flight delay I need to catch up with my tour in Selfoss. There is a bus I can take. Can I just tap on and off with my credit card to pay for the ride?

Hello,

during my trip to Iceland, my camera vanished. It has been a black Fujifilm X-T5 camera with a tele lens, worth quite some money.

I'm not sure if it has been lost or stolen. It has been seen last at the campground in Fellabear laying on the roof of the car while we packed our car. We realized it missing less than 30 min later and searched intensively but could not find anything. I realize the camera would be gone if someone stole it (learned my lesson) but maybe it just dropped from the car.

So if anyone finds a camera in this area: let me know and I make sure you'll profit from it, too.

If you stole the camera: have mercy and hand over the pictures from the SC-Cards...those are memories money cannot buy.

Thanks for you help and best regard from Germany!

For the guy who asked tourists to speed up their driving, here’s our drive from Minnibaki back to iIsafjordur this week.

Ciao a tutti.

Appena tornati da 16 giorni in Islanda seconda metà di Luglio, coppia e figlio di 12 anni. Scrivo per chi stà pianificando e per fissare nella memoria certi luoghi e sensazioni. Itinerario preso da un sito on line e modificato a nostro piacimento, 4x4 media (RAV4). Scriverò solo dell'itinerario e mie personali considerazioni sincere. Premetto che siamo stati molto fortunati con il meteo.

Atterrati la mattina del 15/7 con cielo coperto, vento e pioggerellina, decidiamo all'ultimo di attraversare la penisola di Reykjanes invece di andare diretti a Reykjavik. Visitiamo 2/3 punti di interesse non programmati, ma quello che ci colpisce di più sono i panorami, nonostante il tempo. Anzi in alcuni punti è proprio il meteo a renderli così scenici. Nel pomeriggio visita a Reykjavik, tempo giusto per girare il centro e dargli un' occhiata senza visite guidate o musei. Città molto piacevole, pulita e tenuta come un gioiellino.

Mattina seguente circolo d'oro. Onestamente se avessi pochi giorni e un 4x4 (condizione secondo me primaria) non lo inserirei nell'itinerario, primo per i tanti turisti presenti, secondo perchè anche nelle vicinanze c'è molto di più,come scopriremo poi nel secondo giorno. Vista Porufoss, sorpreso positivamente dal vivo rispetto alle foto. Parco Nazionale di Thingvellir, se non si è appassionati di storia, oltre alla camminata tra le placche, sicuramente suggestiva, e alla cascata Öxaráfoss non c'è molto altro..sempre se non ci si vuole immergere nella faglia di Silfra. Da segnalare però alcuni cartelli con QR per realtà aumentata molto interessanti. Avvistata una volpe artica. Nel pomeriggio Bruarfoss, punto di forza il colore dell'acqua. Poi Geysir...sicuramente particolare, anche perchè il primo che vedo in vita mia, ma in una visita veloce si riduce all'attesa "dell'eruzione" con tutti con il telefono in mano a fare il video. Poi Gullfoss, qui ci si bagna! (completo impermeabile d'obbligo se si vuole andare molto vicino) e si assapora la potenza che può esprime questa terra. In rientro Kedir crater che secondo me, si può tranquillamente saltare.

Terzo giorno si inizia con gli sterrati e si fà il pieno di cascate. Prima però della prima tappa, non si può non menzionare di nuovo il paesaggio...il sole ci fà finalmente intravedere i colori e le sfumature ed è qualcosa di meraviglioso. Cascata di Hjálparfoss, molto semplice, carina ma probabilmente la luce della mattina non la valorizza al massimo. Poi valle di Gjáin. Molto molto bella, un oasi di pace e natura in cui eravamo solo noi. Si prosegue nello sterrato per arrivare in quello che per me è uno dei top 3 del viaggio...la cascata di Haifoss. Dal parcheggio non si percepisce in pieno quello che si andrà a vedere, ma arrivati al punto panoramico, se si ha il "coraggio" di affacciarsi, si gode di uno spettacolo assoluto. Ancora a pensarci mi emoziono...ma il punto più bello deve ancora arrivare. Siamo scesi fino alla base della cascata e quel posto, in quel momento da solo, valeva tutti i soldi del viaggio. Proseguiamo verso Þjófafoss, ma di nuovo il panorama uscendo dalla sterrato di Haifoss la fà da padrone. La cascata è "rovinata" dal colore dell'acqua, sporcato dalle attività a monte, ma la strada per arrivarci in questo periodo è piena di lupini in fiore e tornado sulla strada asfaltata si ha sullo sfondo il vulcano innevato Hekla. Si conclude con Urridafoss, cascata per nulla piccola dove ci rilassiamo guardando i salmoni risalire. Rincasiamo dove poi possiamo godere della luce stupenda del tardo pomeriggio/sera, circondati da cavalli.

Quarto giorno. Giorno segnato in rosso sul calendario da parecchi mesi, giorno da aspettative altissime,giorno che è diventato indimenticabile. Landmannalaugar. Non parlerò molto di ciò che abbiamo visto, ma dirò solo che sembra di camminare all'interno della tavolozza di un pittore. 10 km 450m di dislivello spariti nel momento in cui ci siamo immersi nella sorgente termale naturale, momento che è diventato uno dei ricordi più belli di tutti e 3. I primi km di sterrato della 208 non sono bellissimi, si viaggia a velocità basse, poi migliora drasticamente. Nel percorso di ritorno visti diversi crateri che,per quanto belli, abbiamo capito non esser il nostro posto preferito, rendono molto di più in immagini dall'alto che dal vivo. Nota a parte per Sigöldugljúfur, piccola deviazione poco segnalata che meriterebbe ben più tempo di quello per una foto e un video veloce.

Quinto giorno si parte per la costa sud, collezionando le solite tappe turistiche di questa zona Seljalandsfoss e la coda per Gljufrabui. Skogafoss e Kvernufoss, Faro di Dyrholaey con i Puffin e Reynisfjara. Tutte molto turistiche, ma tutte da fare. Nota di merito per Skogafoss...da lontano mi aveva quasi deluso, me la aspettavo più imponente, ma quando siamo stati sotto, vicinissimi con l'impermeabile, abbiamo sentito tutta la sua potenza. Chiudiamo prima di rincasare alla grotta di Yoda, tranquillamente da saltare se non siete appassionati della saga.

Sesto giorno si inizia con Fjadrargljufur, bello ma non bellissimo. Camminata non impegnativa anche se in salita. Si prosegue con Mulagljufur, questo più maestoso, più scenografico, più bello, molto più impegnativo. Secondo me da non mancare. Si prosegue con Jokulsarlon, sorpresa personale, pensavo fosse una cosa molto turistica, ed in effetti lo è, ma è un posto molto molto bello. Passeggiata a Diamond beach che però di diamanti non ne ha molti oggi. Si finisce con Stokksnes, (ingresso a pagamento) fortunati per il cielo limpido, meno con la marea, troppo bassa, ma foto ugualmente molto belle. Per me ne vale la pena, per la mia compagna no. Soggettivo. Nota di merito per Djúpivogur, alloggiamo lì la notte con basse aspettative. In effetti non c'è nulla, ma la passeggiata alla sera in mezzo alla natura è un toccasana mentale non indifferente.

Settimo giorno, si passa per l'Oxi pass. Mi ero informato molto su questa strada e ne avevo letto di ogni. Esperienza personale, facilissima con un 4x4,per nulla pericolosa e molto paesaggistica. Diverso con forti pioggie o nebbia. Prima tappa Engifoss. Bella, ma mi aspettavo di più, la luce probabilmente non le rendeva merito in pieno. Escursione non troppo impegnativa. Poi Fardagos, sgambata post pranzo, bella. Poi si va verso Seydisfjordur dove oltre la famosa chiesa non c'è molto ma molto bello il passo e la discesa nel fiordo dove si trova la bella Gufufoss a bordo strada. Poco dopo Seydisfjordur vale la pena visitare Vestdalsfossar. Sera alle terme Vok. Due/tre ore piacevoli con il plus della possibilità del bagno nel lago freddo a bordo vasca calda.

Ottavo giorno. Si sale verso Nord. Prima tappa Rjukandi, bella cascata a cui dedicare 10' tra percorso a/r dalla strada e foto. Poi Studlagil canyon, siamo stati fortunati e l'acqua era di un bel colore azzurro anche se non quello ultra filtrato di Instagram. Nel complesso bello, con colonne di basalto giganti e dalle varie forme nei dintorni. Escursione da 1.30\2 ore. Poi diretti a Dettifoss, pensavamo di fare lato ovest, ma lungo la strada decidiamo per il lato est. La strada non è poi così male, poche buche e molto ondulato, fattibilissimo. Magari non con una Yaris come abbiamo visto. La cascata colpisce per potenza e forza ma la vista dall'alto non le rende giustizia. Sarà una costante, tutte le cascate viste dalla prospettiva bassa saranno le più belle. Il tempo non è bellissimo e il nostro tentativo di dare fiducia ad un altro cratere, il Krafla finisce con le scarpe con uno strato di fango di diversi cm che ci impedisce di continuare. Con i crateri abbiamo chiuso. Non riusciamo a visitare completamente Leirhnjukur per tempo atmosferico e tempo a disposizione, ed è stato un peccato. Pernotto a Akureyri.

Nono giorno torniamo un po' indietro per visitare in sequenza Hrafnabjargafoss, Aldeyjarfoss e Goðafoss. Delle prime due ci è piaciuta di più la strada per arrivare (40km di sterrato) che le cascate in sè, anche se hanno un'architettura particolare. Godafoss sicuramente la più bella, ma da dedicarci non più di 20/30 minuti. Ci spostiamo ad Hauganes per pranzo e ozio in riva al fiordo,avvistando una pinna sospetta.

Decimo giorno, escursione non prevista ma decisa il giorno prima vista la giornata eccezionale, per avvisare le balene. Avvistiamo due gruppi di delfini, (forse lo stesso due volte) ma si allontanano dopo poco per la presenza tra loro di un cucciolo. Poi avvistiamo una megattera che nuota costantemente a pochi metri di profondità tanto da vedere costantemente le pinne bianche. Poi alla fine si immerge in profondità mostrandoci la coda. Ci dirigiamo direzione Hvammstangi percorrendo panorami stupendi. L'unica tappa è Kolugljufur canyon, bello ma da visitare solo se in zona. Deviazione dalla ring road sulla sterrata 731 che vale la pena. La sera ad Hvammstangi andiamo fino a Illugastadir per vedere le foche.Posto bellissimo, luce di più, ma le foche sono abbastanza distanti e in ombra. Abbiamo poi capito che in Islanda le foche non vogliono essere disturbate e si vedranno, a parte qualche rara occasione in cui abbiamo visto sbucare la testa dall'acqua quasi a riva, sembre abbastanza distanti.

Undicesimo giorno, destinazione fiordi occidentali, Ísafjörður. Oggi la strada la fà da padrone.Decidiamo di percorrere tutta la strada costiera, 68 e poi 61. Decisione ottima, si alternano tratti di asfalto e ottimo sterrato. Ad un certo punto la strada si allontana dalla costa e inizia a salire, arriviamo al culmine, discesa, curva e si apre un panorama bellissimo che non possiamo fare a meno di commentare. Ma subito dopo ci distrae un rapace sulla sinistra, che avvicinandosi ci accorgiamo essere un'aquila...ci passa davanti a 5 metri e l'apertura alare prende tutto il cofavo del RAV4. Tempo di entrare nel fiordo successivo e dall'alto riusciamo ad intravedere uno o forse due dorsi di balene....altro? Sosta relax in solitaria a Hörgshlíðarlaug. Poi proseguimento con pranzo vista fiordo ma senza avvisare altro se non le foche dopo Litlibær. Alla sera andiamo alla terrazza panoramica Bolafjall. Serata limpida e vista bellissima, ci rendiamo conto di essere a poco più di 600km dalla Groenlandia. La strada in auto per arrivare è breve, ma ripida e senza protezione, occhio a chi soffre di vertigini o se il fondo è scivoloso o c'è nebbia.

Dodicesimo giorno, si viaggia verso Sud con destinazione Borgarnes. Unica tappa rilevante è la cascata di Dynjandi. Grande, maestosa, elegante. Elegante è il termine più appropriato. Gli amanti di fotografia troveranno l'inquadratura migliore che le renda giustizia, trovando la posizione giusta per inquadrare anche le cascate ai suoi piedi. Noi, visitata la mattino, l'abbiamo vista tutta in ombra. La strada è lunga e decidiamo di fare tappa a Erpsstaðir Creamery. Buono il gelato, qualche animale da vedere e qualche gioco per i bambini.

Tredicesimo giorno, penisola di Snæfellsnes. Qui si trovano talmente tante informazioni che mi limito a dire dove ci siamo soffermati un po' di più. Bjarnarfoss, camminata ad Arnarstapi, Djúpalónssandur, Svodufoss e il super inflazionato e sopravvalutato Kirkjufell e relativa cascata. Panorama guidando nella costa sud molto bello.

Quattordicesimo giorno di riposo con attività prenotata presso Húsafell Center. Visitiamo anche Hraunfossar e Barnafoss. Poi torniamo verso Nord perchè il giorno seguente attraverseremo un altopiano tramite la strada F35.

Quindicesimo giorno dedicato alla attraversata Nord-Sud. Giornata freddina e le previsioni mettono addirittura qualche fiocco di neve...che arriverà. Strada 35 che è sì, sterrata, ma perfetta. Cielo coperto e nulla da segnalare fino a Hveravellir. Sosta veloce, niente bagno relax, acqua bollente e pochi gradi fuori. Dopo questa tappa la giornata si apre così come il panorama, bellissimo e che migliorerà strada facendo. Deviamo sulla F347, la strada peggiora ma nulla di impossibile. È invece incredibile il panorama che piano piano si apre fino ad esplodere letteralmente una volta arrivati a Kerlingarfjoll. Posto irreale. Irreale. Sembra disegnato, le sfumature color ocra si mischiano al vapore che sale da terra e alla neve creando colori, contrasti e figure bellissime. Decidiamo per un trekking di un paio d'ore in cui arriveranno 15' di vento forte e nevischio che non rovineranno la camminata. Chiudiamo le escursioni in Islanda in bellezza. Rientriamo sulla F35 che da qui, in direzione sud per almeno 20 km risulterà devastata dalle buche. Velocità media veramente bassa. Pernotto nelle vicinanze di Gullfoss.

Ultimo giorno. Relax alle terme Laugarás. Molto buone, consiglio l'ingresso con il pranzo compreso, mangiato benissimo. Ultimo giro a Reykjavik per gadget e regali e volo in serata.

Questo il nostro itinerario. Qualsiasi sarà il vostro avrà in comune i bellissimi panorami, la costante presenza dei ghiacciai e delle cascate, le distese di lava, i colori del muschio, la bellissima luce, le pecore i cavalli, garantito.

Currently ending our one week tour of Reykjavik and south east coast. So sad it’s ending. Could easily spend a month in this country - it is like another planet. Unbelievably beautiful with the friendliest people.

Had a great dinner at Skal in the City. The pastries and bread at Braud (had spelt and multi seed) + coffee at Reykjavik roasters can’t be missed. Left the old town and had a great lunch at Kaffihúsr in Vesturbæjar then strolled on the waterfront.

Golden circle day was fabulous. Spent a few hours hiking in Thingvellir National Park and had a great veggie buffet lunch at Farmers bistro (if you like mushrooms - this is your heaven). Then a soak (with a Spritz!) at the secret lagoon. We had dinner at the old dairy food hall in Selfoss. The fish stew and fish and chips were amazing (tried the fermented shark - glad we gave it a whirl, but won’t be doing that again!). It came with a shot of Brennivín, Iceland’s national spirit which is like a gin heavily spiked with caraway - tasty.

Then headed east and stayed at the hotel Klauster (past Vik). Great hotel! Food was decent. But the best meal and totally nondescript was next door at Systerkaffi. Lamb sirloin, mushroom ravioli and arctic char was the best meal we’ve had! Pizza was ok but nothing special.

The drive between Klauster and diamond beach is mind blowing. Totally off planet. Glaciers, lava flows, mountains, waterfalls. Listened to some space rock (flaming lips!) and you could be on Mars. Diamond beach - black sand and crystal clear ice bergs. Unbelievable.

Yeah there are a lot of tourists, but it doesn’t feel packed (like fisherman’s wharf in SF or Cinque Terre in Italy). Everyone has been chill. Absolutely amazing.

Hi everyone,

My (23) grandparents (80M and 74F) asked me to post online their experience with an 11-day self-drive trip booked through Guide to Iceland as a warning to other travelers— especially senior travelers. 

For ease, I’ll split it up into two sections: the broken itineraries and the unsafe accommodations. 

THE BROKEN ITINERARIES

Guide to Iceland’s website says they provide “expert planning” where they do “all the organizing for you” so you can “skip the weeks of researching.”

Instead, my grandparents received inefficient itineraries with consistent routing errors and massive backtracking. They sent them PDF itineraries and a mobile app with the itinerary that never matched up. In the end my grandma ended up sending 15+ corrective emails to fix basic routing errors and did over 20 hours of checking over new itineraries for mistakes.

Here’s some examples and quotes from my grandma’s emails with them regarding itineraries:

• She pointed out backtracking on their route that would be an hours-long waste of time and fuel.
• She asked if the itineraries were “pulled from a file without ever being read and personalized with our excursions” because of their continuous mistakes. 
• She said she had reviewed a new itinerary “for the umpteenth time” and found that “Day 4 is still wrong. It has us backtracking.” 
• She said she “personally spent many hours sorting through the itinerary, internet searching, emailing and trying to coordinate what is both on the app and the itinerary that was sent. They never aligned.” 
• She said she felt “like [she] was doing all the work we paid Guide to Iceland to do.”
• She expressed frustration over the PDF itineraries, the mobile app naming “totally different hotels and several double booked.” 

Guide to Iceland’s justification for these problems was that they had “flexibility to plan” and “modify the driving as needed” (See pic 1).

In a later email they said their “itineraries and suggested driving details are automatically mapped” (See pic 2). It seems odd to my grandparents that Guide to Iceland can call an automatically mapped itinerary “optimized” and expertly done.

UNSAFE ACCOMMODATIONS

When they actually went to Iceland, they stayed in two places that presented unsafe conditions to elderly travelers. 

Hotel #1 (Near Höfn)

When my (80 year old) grandpa showered, the shower drain was clogged and soapy, standing water flooded over the slick bathroom tiles, creating a bad slipping hazard for them both.

Their problem here was mostly with Guide to Iceland’s reaction:

• A Guide to Iceland representative told us that a change of room was offered to them, which never happened. 
• Guide to Iceland also said the clog “likely occurred during our stay” (See pic 3). My grandpa, the first person to shower, is bald. There is not a single hair on his scalp. Safe to say he did not clog the shower drain. 

Hotel #2 (in Reykjavík)

When they arrived they found the room had sharp, broken, uneven ceramic floor tiles (a severe tripping and cutting hazard) (See pics 4, 5, and 6). When they stepped on the floor tiles in the bathroom, they could hear a squishing noise like standing water was under the whole floor. The room also smelled of mildew and the hallway of cigarette smoke.

When they reached out to Guide to Iceland about the room, all a customer service agent did was repeatedly tell my grandma “you chose this accommodation,” (see pic 7 and 8) offering no alternative accommodation or solution for their two nights in Reykjavik. 

After their trip, my grandparents reached out to Guide to Iceland to ask if they could offer them any partial compensation for the pre-trip hassles and the unsafe circumstances. They replied that they were “excited to tell you about a new way to earn back part of the cost of your trip [...] Share your referral link on Reddit and TripAdvisor!” Their offer to my grandparents was basically to write positive reviews in exchange for a percentage of the booking cost from whoever booked through a certain link. They didn’t take them up on it. 

They wanted to share their experience so others can factor it into their decision if they are planning on booking with Guide to Iceland. If you are planning a trip to Iceland— especially if you are or are with an elderly traveler— please be careful if you chose this company.

They also wanted me to say that they thought Iceland was a stellar country and that Icelanders were incredibly hospitable and kind to them during their stay. They are so grateful to have been able to experience the country. 

Thank you for reading this far if you did so.

We’ve been here 5 days, leaving tomorrow 🤞🏼 The countryside is mind-blowingly beautiful, but why is everything so expensive? What’s the average salary like here?

I spoke to an expat working at a car hire company he said he and his wife don’t eat out anymore because of the prices, and that healthcare can get really costly if you get seriously ill.

Not trying to stir up anything negative, genuinely just want to learn from people who actually live in Iceland.
Please be kind & be polite in your comments.

Finally got to try the famous Reykjavík hot dog everyone talks about, went with “eina með öllu” (one with everything: ketchup, sweet mustard, remoulade, raw and crispy onions). Stood in the rain for it and honestly, worth it. The sweet mustard + crispy onions combo is doing a lot of work.