Iceland
The best part about Iceland is not the final destination but the drive
The Iceland Ring Road offers amazing landscapes and spectacular scenery. Words cannot adequately describe its enchanting and mesmerizing beauty. This country of Fire and Ice includes endless waterfalls, majestic fjords, surreal waters at the Blue Lagoon, beautiful glaciers and blue icebergs, not to mention the hot springs and geysers. You go from lush green grass, to blue lagoons, to moon-like carters, to black sand beaches with waterfalls at literally every corner.Every turn will reveal new landscape that will make the journey all the more exciting.
Driving in Iceland
Iceland’s Ring Road or Route 1, is the main highway that circles around the country and is the most popular route for tourists. Renting a car in undoubtedly the best way to explore Iceland’s Ring Road. Having you own wheels, you will enjoy the freedom and flexibility of stopping whenever and wherever you want (trust me you will want to stop everywhere!). It is relatively easy to drive in Iceland, as the roads are well-paved, clearly marked with yellow posts along the sides and signs are also easy to follow. One thing you need to keep an eye out while driving is the sheep that are allowed to roam free and may sometimes dash across the road unexpectedly. Iceland also has enormous amount of single-lane bridges.We had 4×4 vehicle and drove counter-clockwise on the Ring Road in 8 days in mid-July and returned our rental car with over 2500 kilometers.
Weather
Summer (June to August) is the best season to travel in Iceland mainly for the weather but it’s also the busiest and expensive travel period. In summer, temperatures are typically between 50-60°F and has long daylight hours. However, it also means that you will not be able to see the Northern Lights. Spring (April & May) and Fall (September & October) are also good travel seasons especially for lower prices and less crowd. Winter can get extremely cold and hard to travel especially if you are doing a self-drive trip, but is when you get to see the Northern Lights. There is really no wrong time to visit Iceland as each season has its pros and cons. The weather in Iceland can change rapidly regardless of when you visit. A rainy morning can easily change into sunny afternoon.
Accommodations
Iceland has a variety of accommodation to choose from cheap camping grounds and hostels to variety of apartments and hotels. If you enjoy staying in smaller properties with a personal touch, I recommend staying at Airbnbs, as they are beautiful and more affordable than hotels. There are hundreds of Airbnbs all over Iceland consisting of tiny houses, cottages, tents or cabins located in small villages or on farms in the middle of nowhere. Our nightly accommodations were as much as an experience as the trip.
Food
Food is very expensive in Iceland. Go grocery shopping and by choosing Airbnbs equipped with a full kitchen it saved us a lot of money. Iceland has a few popular grocery store chains; Bonus and Kronan being the more budget friendly. You will typically find one or the other in all of the larger towns throughout Iceland. We typically had eggs for breakfast and packed sandwiches for lunch. We had brought a soft foldable cooler to keep groceries cool as we drove around and then put them in the fridge at each new Airbnb. The water in Iceland is incredibly clean and drinkable. Just bring a water bottle and refill from the tap or even most streams. Purchase your liquor from the duty free at the airport as liquor is very expensive in Iceland.
I have broken down my report into separate posts by day and each post focuses on what we saw and where we stayed.
Iceland Itinerary Overview
Day 1 – Reykjavik
Day 2 – Golden Circle
Day 3 – South Iceland (Selfoss to Vik)
Day 4 – Southeast Iceland (Vik to Hofn)
Day 5 – East Iceland (Hofn to Egilsstadir)
Day 6 – North Iceland (Egilsstadir – Akureyri)
Day 7 – West Iceland (Akureyri – Grundarfjordur)
Day 8 – Snaefellsjokull Peninsula
Day 9 – Fly home
DAY 1– REYKJAVIK
Most flights from North America arrive early in the morning (ours landed around 7:30AM). We bought liquor from duty free at the airport as liquor in Iceland is very expensive. We had our rental car booked through Blue Car Rental. Airport has shuttle buses to the car rental and the rental process was quick and easy.
From the airport we headed straight to Blue Lagoon, which is only a 10 minutes ride. The Blue Lagoon is a spa centered around steaming geothermal hot tubs. The brilliant blue water caused from organic silica, algae and minerals is supposedly good for the skin. It is a commercial place but was a totally different experience than any other spa. We had booked the comfort package which included towels, 1 drink (the fresh forever juice was awesome!) and silica face mask. We spent a relaxing 2 hours at the blue lagoon after a long flight and were definitely refreshed.
We used the rest of the day to explore the capital city, Reykjavik. The major sights in Reykjavik included:
Hallgrimskirja Church
Hallgrimskirja Church – Its 244 feet tall and built from white concrete. Its design is inspired by Iceland’s geology with columns on each side based on the rock formations you get when lava cools. The church is pretty minimalist on the inside but you can take an elevator to the top of the tower for great views of the city’s colorful rooftops.
Harpa Concert Hall
Harpa Concert Hall – it is located by the city’s waterfront and the building is made up of three-dimensional glass panels. Its worth wandering around and checking out the building architecture.
Sun Voyager
Sun Voyager – Also along the waterfront is the Sun Voyager statue made of stainless steel on a base of polished granite. It is designed as a dream boat, an ode to sun and light.
Baejarins Beztu Pylsur
Baejarins Beztu Pylsur – popular hot dog stand located near the waterfront that has been opened since 1937. Hot dog condiments include ketchup, mustard, fried onions and a mayonnaise-based sauce. The hot dog was nothing exceptional but worth a try.
Laugavegur Street
Laugavegur Street–Its one of the oldest streets in Reykjavik and is home to many boutiques, restaurants and bars. We visited Kaldi Bar (very refreshing gin) and had dinner at Glo (vegan restaurant).
Accommodation: We stayed at a 2-bedroom apartment in a very picturesque setting located in the Vesturbaer area about 15 minutes’ drive from downtown Reykjavik. Location was quiet and safe and the place was spacious and clean.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/5915786?source_impression_id=p3_1568652837_qj%2FPxFxT3M9Bkm3a
Day 2 – GOLDEN CIRLCE
Before starting on the ring road, we headed to the famous golden circle on Day 2. Golden Circle is one of the most popular tourist attractions and an easy day trip from Reykjavik. Golden Circle covers three major tourist attractions (Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal park and Gulfoss Waterfall).
Thingvellir National Park
Thingvellir National Park– is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has played a major part in Iceland’s history (it is the location of Iceland’s first Parliament). This is also where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are slowing splitting apart from each other, creating deep fissures in the ground. There are many walking trails and sights here; we visited Oxararfoss which is a gorgeous waterfall about 15-minutes’ walk from the parking lot. The Visitor Center opens at 9AM though the Park is open 24 hours.
Snowmobile tour
Snowmobile tour– we did the snowmobile tour at the Langjokull glacier with Mountaineers of Iceland. We met the big bus at the Gulfoss Waterfall café and it was an hour-long bus ride to the Mountaineers base camp. At the base camp we were suited up for the ride (cozy wetproof suits with gloves and helmet) and after another 20 minutes of extremely bumpy ride we were on the glacier. We had an hour of exhilarating snowmobile ride on a glacier while it rained. It felt like we were on the moon! Since it was summer and a pretty warm one; there was a lot of ice especially on the lower part of the glacier which made riding the snowmobile a little rough. When we were on the soft snow patch; it was definitely a much smoother ride. Surrounded by pristine nature, drinking the purest water ever and the feeling of total isolation, it was definitely a very unique Icelandic experience.
Gulfoss Waterfall
Gulfoss Waterfall– Gullfoss means “gold waterfall” in Icelandic. The dramatic waterfall of the Hvita river crashing over the cliffs into a relatively narrow crevice is a mesmerizing sight to watch. After descending a long staircase from the parking lot, a concrete pathway allows visitors to walk along the edge of this mighty waterfall.
Geysir National Park
Geysir National Park – being one of the most active geothermal countries on the European continent, there are plenty of hot spots in Iceland where you can see their geothermal activities. Geysir was one of the most notable geysers but it is inactive now and doesn’t erupt anymore. Strokkur which about 100 meters away from Geysir erupts every 10-15 minutes.
Fridheimar Greenhouse
Fridheimar Greenhouse–This was definitely an amazing dining experience. It is essentially an all-tomato restaurant where you sit among the tomato vines in a glass house and drink tomato beer and eat tomato ice-cream. Yeah it does sound gross but was actually really good. We also had the tomato soup and bread buffet which includes bottomless bowl of tomato soup and constantly refilled platters of fresh baked bread. There was a lovely basil plant at the table for snipping and adding it to the soup. One of our best meals in Iceland! This place is open only 12PM – 4PM and is extremely busy; reservations are highly recommended and can be made by emailing at fridheimar@fridheimar.is
Kerid Carter
Kerid Carter– is a stunning old volcanic crater made up of red rocks alternating with streaks of green grass and moss, which contrasts with the deep sapphire blue color of the lake. This is one of the few spots in Iceland that does charge an entrance fee ($3.50 pp) but it is an interesting place to stop with a short hike to the bottom.
Accommodation: Today we spent the night at the magical 5 Million Star Hotel aka Bubble Hotel. We stayed at the South Coast location. Since it was summer, we were able to book only a bubble for the night and not take the tour (which was perfect since we had our car).
This location has 6 bubbles; each secluded in its own area. There is a wooden house which has 2 showers and 2 toilets with basic essentials (soap, shampoo, towels, hair dryer) along with a coffee machine. At the South Coast location, there is a steep hill from the wooden house/parking area to get to the bubbles. Bathroom stalls are available near the bubbles as well. All the facilities are very new and clean. Since we were the only group staying at the hotel; we did not have to share the showers/toilets with anyone.
Once we got to the bubble; it was a truly immersive experience in nature. Laying in bed and staring up into the sky was a great feeling. The bubbles are equipped with a lamp and a charging outlet. There are no restaurants on-site or close-by but we had food which we ate at the bubble. It was definitely a surreal night!
Day 3 – SOUTH ICELAND (SELFOSS TO VIK)
The southern coast of Iceland is absolutely packed with touristy spots, most of which are visible from the Ring Road.The day started off with some rain but by mid-morning it was sunny & temp was 19 C.
Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss – This waterfall is practically unmissable – you can spot its 213-foot plunge long before the winding road reaches it. This is one of the most popular waterfall in Iceland; but since we got here extremely early in the morning we beat the bus crowds. While Seljalandfoss is truly spectacular, the real charm comes from the experience of walking behind the falls offering a different perspective. A few stairs and an easy dirt path lead you to the back of the fall; make sure you wear waterproof gear as you will be soaking wet.
Gljufrabui
Gljufrabui – Right next to Seljalandsfoss is another waterfall in a cave. It is a short walk from Seljalandsfoss (to the left if you are looking at the waterfall). The waterfall is behind a cliff and you will have to walk through some shallow water to get to it. This tumbling cascade falling from the opening in the roof of the cave is truly magical. The mist from this waterfall felt like a shower; so,again make sure you have your waterproof gear on.
Eyjafjallajokull
Eyjafjallajokull – This is a volcano that erupts frequently most recently in 2010; which affected air travel across the globe. This volcano mountain is covered in thick glacial ice and is seen behind this farmhouse located along Route 1.
Skogafoss
Skogafoss – Another major waterfall on the south coast and hence very crowded. Its 60 meters (200 feet) high and 25 meters (82 feet) wide.The waterfall is majestic and as we approached it, we could see rainbows forming in the mist. The spray from this waterfall is incredible. You cant walk behind this waterfall but you can walk up to the top (about 500 steps) to see it from above.
Kvernufoss
Kvernufoss – a hidden waterfall that is located right next to Skogafoss which usually has a smaller number of visitors. It is a 20 minutes hike which starts behind the Skogar museum parking lot and at one location you have to use a 2-step ladder going over a fence; but it is a beautiful walk along River Kverna. You can go behind this waterfall as well.
DC-3 Plane Wreck
DC-3 Plane Wreck – In 1973 a United States Navy plane crashed onto the beach in South Iceland. The U.S. military salvaged the usable pieces and left the rest on the beach. The scenery of this white abandoned plane on a totally black sand is quite cool. You cannot drive all the way to the site and a hike takes about an hour each way. It is now possible to take a shuttle bus that takes you to the wreck site in 15 minutes. The shuttle departs frequently from the parking lot along Route 1 from 10AM to 5PM every day. It costs about 2,000 ISK ($) for a round trip and tickets are sold on location. More information is available at https://www.arcanum.is/tours/from-myrdalsjokull/the-plane-wreck-shuttle/
Dyrholaey
Dyrholaey – is a small peninsula with amazing views of the volcanic rock and the black sand beaches. It is also the nesting grounds for Atlantic Puffins and Artic Terns. There are two viewpoints: one that overlooks the black sand beach and one that’s higher up which overlooks the iconic rock with the hole. The higher viewpoint has breathtaking views in all directions (glacier; black lava sea stacks, endless black coastline and the rock arch).
Reynisfjara
Reynisfjara – This is the famous black sand beach in Iceland.The wild, rugged beach was created by lava mixing with ocean water. Along the beach stands a basalt cliff which looks like it is made from rocks stacked on top of one another.
Accommodation: This tiny cottage within walking distance to the black sand beach and view to the Dyrholaey rock arch was simply amazing. Walking on the beach at 10 pm (hosts recommendations) to see the puffins without anyone else is worth the price. The space is small (1 bed room with a sofa bed in the living room), particularly the bathroom but the location and breathtaking views makes up for it.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/10011387?source_impression_id=p3_1567021986_KGtVlqmshg7tRZYT
Day 4 – SOUTHEAST ICELAND (VIK TO HOFN)
Another amazing day along the southeast coast.Weather this morning was extremely windy with torrential rains, but cleared up by midafternoon.
Eldhraun
Eldhraun – Eldhraun is a large lava field (lava rocks covered in moss) that you will drive through on the Ring Road. Eldhraun was formed during one of the most disastrous volcanic eruptions. Today the lava field has long since solidified and it is now covered by a thick, soft layer of moss. There is a spot right off of Route 1 with a short trail to the viewing platform to view the lava fields.
Foss– I can’t seem to find a name for this beautiful waterfall along the Ring Road; but it is definitely worth a stop.
Fjadrargljufur Canyon
Fjadrargljufur Canyon – It’s a rather short canyon but worth seeing.Fjadrargljufur is a very narrow canyon with a beautiful double waterfall at the end.There is a trail around the edge of the canyon to view it from above; we ended up driving to the tiny gravel parking lot up the hill and a gravel walkway lead us to the secret waterfalls. We walked down along the marked path which had several viewpoints for amazing views over the canyon to the lower parking lot
Skaftafell/Vatnajokull National Park
Skaftafell/Vatnajokull National Park- Vatnajokull is the largest glacier in Europe, covering 10% of iceland’s landmass. The National Park is made up of several areas, including Skaftafell which has a vast network of hiking trails, including one to Svartifoss waterfall and another to the base of the Skaftafellsjokullglacier. Both hikes start at the Skaftafell Visitor Center. The National Park also has a nice cafeteria where we grabbed a lunch of soup and sandwiches.
Svartifoss
Svartifoss – meaning black falls is famous for being a waterfall that cascades down a wall of black basalt rocks. This natural architecture inspired the design of the Hallgrimskirkja church in Reykjavik. It is a 3 km round trip hike that is fairly easy but pretty much all uphill. On the way you will come across other waterfalls and some amazing views.
We also did the trail to the Skaftafellsjokull glacier (a 3.7 km round trip) which is paved half way and the latter half is gravel. It is an easy hike (beware of the wind conditions as you get closer to the glacier) that leads you right to the base of the glacier.
Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon
Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon – This is regarded as one of the must-see sights in Iceland and it truly is the Jewel of the South Coast. Breidamerkurjokullglacier is slowly melting, with giant blue-tinted icebergs breaking off and floating into a large lagoon called Jokursarlon on their way to the ocean. The lagoon only appeared some 80 years ago and has only gotten bigger as the glacier has been melting. There are two types of boat trips you can take (big amphibian boat or a speedboat). We had pre-booked a ride amongst the icebergs in a Zodiac boat (speed boat). Floating among these massive icebergs was truly a great experience. The icebergs are bigger than you can imagine and it is incredibly a surreal place to visit.
Diamond Beach
Diamond Beach – The icebergs wash down from the Jokulsarlon lagoon and make their way out to sea, where they frequently break up into large chunks of ice and wash up to the shore which you can see at the Diamond Beach. There chunks are thousands of years old and have amazing blue hues. These icebergs stand out as diamonds against the black sand beach.
Accommodation:Tonight, we stayed at a cozy cottage in Djupivogur. It was a great place with amazing views (it is a cottage in the middle of nowhere) though we didn’t realize while booking that it is over an hour drive from Hofn.The unit was spotless and very comfortable. The host was very helpful and also gave us a loaf of bread as we got there very late and all the stores were closed.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/16530565?source_impression_id=p3_1567089732_iQ5nyqGlHuLcy0TE
Day 5 – EAST ICELAND (HOFN to EGILSSTADIR)
As you head North, the landscape quickly transforms from coastal countryside to picturesque villages, mountain fjords and more stunning waterfalls. it’s a quiet and peaceful drive with countless sheep, horses and isolated farm houses along the way.
Leaving from Djupivogur, we stayed on Ring Road instead of talking a shortcut along Route 939. Staying on the Ring Road takes you in and out between the fjords, hugging the coastline the whole time with breathtaking views.
Pictures with Icelandic horses
Pictures with Icelandic horses – this honestly can be done any of the days when seeing Iceland by car as you will see horses like everywhere.
Fossadalur
Fossadalur – Means waterfall-river-valley. We were looking to visit the Mulafoss waterfall but found that it’s a 4.3 km hike to the fall from the parking area. We decided to skip that and a very friendly local lady told us about the other waterfalls in the area. We parked at the Fossadalur campground and visited Nykurhylsfoss. Walked a little beyond and saw another lovely waterfall as well.
Seydisfjordur
Seydisfjordur – This small town is a 30-minute drive from Egilsstadir along Route 93. The road there takes you up a mountain and then back down to the fjord, surrounded on all sides by waterfalls which in itself is a great experience. The town’s harbor is also a stop for most of the cruise ships. We wandered around the town along the lagoon, stopping at local craft shops, taking random photos and visiting the cute blue church (BlaaKirkjan) which can be a reached by following a rainbow road. Seydisfjordur is one of the most charming town in Iceland that gives you the feel of a peaceful village setting. Upon leaving the town, we saw the Gufufoss waterfall. There is a place to park your car and walk closer to the waterfall.
BorgarfjorourEystri
BorgarfjorourEystri – This is a small fishing town (no more than 150 inhabitants) east of Egilsstadir which is accessible through Route 94, a partly gravel and dirt mountain road along the edge of a cliff with no barriers.This region is also the most northernly fjord in the Eastern Fjord region and is very scenic. The town is home to a picture-perfect turf house as well as a small harbor (Hafnarholmi) where the puffins reside among grassy cliffs usually between April to September. There is a staircase to get to the viewing platform and we saw literally hundreds of puffins some barely an arm’s length away. Even though this place is a little out of the way, it was where we saw the best sightings of the Puffin colony and would recommend this detour if you have the time.
Accommodation: We stayed at this 2-bedroom cute yellow cabin located right off the Ring Road about 10-15 minutes from town. The cabin is situated next to a small stream with beautiful view of the mountains. The cabin was very clean and easy to find. The owner had told ahead to time to be careful with hot water use during shower; but our group of 4 had no problem.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/6003099?source_impression_id=p3_1568726449_S4GzBMBt3FIm102Z
Day 6 – NORTH ICELAND (EGILSSTADIR to AKUREYRI)
Dettifoss and Selfoss
Dettifoss and Selfoss – After two hours of driving from Egilsstadir; our first stop was Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Dettifoss can be accessed by taking either Route 864 or 862 from the Ring Road which takes you to the east or the west side of the falls respectively. The west side is paved has viewing platforms to enjoy this wonderful site. Selfoss is much smaller and is an easy walk from Dettifoss.
Hveir
Hveir– is a high temperature geothermal area resulting in steaming vents and mud holes. Here the green landscape of Lake Myvatn was replaced by burnt orange and brown landscape. The smell of sulfur is really overpowering in this area. Despite the odor, the place is really cool. Felt like we were on another planet with bubbling landscape. There is a trail that leads you up to the ridge above the steaming vents; though we did not have time for that.
Grotagja caves
Grotagja caves – is a hot spring in a cave with two entrances and rocky path that leads to it. It is half-full with blue geothermal water through it is not used for bathing as temperature of the water is very hot.
MyvatnNature Bath
MyvatnNature Bath – this is another geothermal spring which is remote but very picturesque. It was definitely relaxing but the place had a strong sulfur smell and the seats along the edge of the pool were a little slimy.
Being to both Blue Lagoon and Myvatn Nature Baths, we really liked the experience at the Blue Lagoon. Yes, it was more expensive but it was much bigger with areas to lounge on, silica mask to rub all over you and more sophisticated with cleaner facilities including steam and sauna rooms.
Godafoss
Godafoss– or the Waterfall of the Gods is one of the most stunning waterfalls in Iceland. Water flows over a horseshoe-shaped rock (similar to the Niagara Falls) and can be seen from the west or the east. We saw the falls from west parking lot and it was very impressive.
Akureyri
Akureyri – this is the biggest town in Iceland outside of Reykajvik. This town has a nice center with a number of shops, cafes and restaurants. There are a lot of museums, the famous Akureyi church (Akureyrarkirya) as well as a botanical garden. We found a Indian Restaurant Indian Curry House, and went there for dinner. The food was good and the owner was very friendly (one of the three Indian families in this town).
Accommodations: Tonight, we stayed at a beautiful Yurt (Mongolian tent) among the hills. We were literally in a field of grass and wildflowers overlooking the town of Akureyi and the mountains. The yurt was very cozy with a comfortable bed and a wood stove. There is no water in the yurt and the bathrooms is a few meters away (no shower facilities). The host were very friendly and helped us with the luggage as the yurt is a hike up the hill. Breakfast was provided in a small cooler which included juice, yogurt, bread with butter and jam. It was definitely a very different experience but one that we enjoyed and recommend.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/26988552?source_impression_id=p3_1568394170_yhIx%2BDsBeKLMgC50
Day 7 – WEST ICELAND (AKUREYRI TO GRUNDARFJORDUR)
Today is largely going to be a driving day with some sights along the way. We had a great picnic breakfast outside the yurt and headed back on the Iceland Ring Road around 9AM.
Kolugljufur canyon
Kolugljufur canyon – this is a big stunning waterfall (Kolufoss) found in a canyon just off of the Ring Road. The canyon cannot be seen from the road, but there is a parking lot right by the main road and the bridge is just a few steps away from the parking lot. From the bridge, there is a fantastic view of the canyon and the waterfall. You can walk down and get closer to the falls but there are no barriers so one has to be very careful. It is one of the lesser known attraction in Iceland but definitely worth a stop.
Glanni paradise
Glanni paradise– This is a rather small waterfall and definitely not as impressive as some of the other falls we have seen all around Iceland but being located close to Grabrokarhraun lava fields it is set in a very beautiful surrounding. The hike to the waterfall is very easy and there is a path leads you to a viewing platform. There is a small waterhole near the waterfall with clear turquoise pond which makes it an ideal picnic spot.
Stykkisholmur
Stykkisholmur – this is the largest town on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula which was built up around the harbor. If you drive around the harbor, you will reach the Sugandisey Island Lighthouse which also provides great views of the town and the harbor. There is a unique church that sits atop the hill; but it was closed when we got there.
Kirkjufell
Kirkjufell– This is said to be one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland. Located just west of Grundarfjordur, it’s a cute little area that is fun to walk around and taking photos from different angles. There is a small parking lot with access to the waterfall.
Accommodation – We spent the night at the Berg HorseFarm, an amazing Airbnb overlooking Kirkjufell. This was a three-bedroom apartment on the lower floor of a family house. Berg Farm is located on approximately 350 hectares of land and has over 100 horses on-site. The apartment was very spacious and the view outside the house was breathtaking. The owner was super friendly and also gave us a tour of her horse farm and stables.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/31442358?source_impression_id=p3_1568652987_HY6Fr9VCPs0CbCbU
Day 8 – SNAEFELLSJOKULL PENINSULA
Snaefellsnes Peninsula is sometimes called “little Iceland” as you can find little of everything that Iceland has to offer from coastal cliff walks to black sand beaches to lava fields to waterfalls and amazing rock formations.
Gestastofa visitor center
Gestastofa visitor center – also a small museum with lots of exhibits and a ranger on duty who was very happy to share information about the national park. You can park your car at the visitor center and walk to the Malariff Lighthouse – located on the southwest corner of the peninsula. This looks like a rocket-shaped lighthouse with an orange top and looks stunning among the rocky cliff backdrop.
From the lighthouse you can walk to the black beach which was entirely made up of small and smooth black pebbles. The sound of waves rushing over these pebbles was so soothing.
Further along, you will come to the Londranger Cliffs which are a pair of basalt rocks that rise above the ocean along the shore.
Arnarstapi
Arnarstapi–this was one of my favorite places on the Snaefellsnes peninsula. It used to be a fishing village but now is a big tourist spot. The cliff formations among clear blue water was definitely a beauty. We observed a myriad of birds (kittiwakes and northern fulmars) along the cliffs and were also attacked by one of them. There is a 2.5 km long hiking trail that takes you from Anarstapi to Hellnar (another fishing village). We drove all the way to the end and parked our car at the small marina and walked above the shore to the statue of BardurSnaefellsas– considered the protector of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula;it’s a huge stone statue of half a troll and half a man. We passed by the stone bridge (where we were attached by the birds trying to get to the arch) and the beautiful Gatklettur – Arch Rock where there is a viewing platform to see the basalt columns.
Had pizza and beer for lunch at Restaurant Arnarbaerwhich is right opposite the parking lot for BardurSnaefellsas. This was a great stop for lunch with good food and reasonable prices.
Rauofeldsgja Gorge
Rauofeldsgja Gorge– this is one of the lesser known things to do here, but the ranger at the visitor center recommended and we were glad we took a stop here. There is a small parking lot on the side of the road and the opening of the gorge is about 20-minutes trek from the car park. There is a small glacier stream that runs through the middle and once inside the gorge you will see lush green moss-covered rocks that feels like they are extending up to the sky. You will have to walk through the stream when you enter the gorge was make sure you have waterproof shoes.
Budir
Budir – this is an old, black painted timber church located next to a graveyard. This town used to be a vibrant fishing village but now is now isolated. Because of its location, this church is very popular for wedding ceremonies.
Once back to Keflavik, we had dinner at Thai Keflavik; and it was definitely a good last meal in Iceland.
Accommodation: For our last night we stayed close to the airport for easy early morning travel. The apartment was nice with large rooms and bathroom (probably the largest we have seen at all the Airbnbs) and within a short drive to the airport.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/31508316?source_impression_id=p3_1568653515_w9TlUreD%2BYOuuMPW