I went to Iceland in April 2010 with a group of school friends when I was 17, and I was lucky enough to celebrate my 18th birthday there. It really was the most beautiful place. If you get a chance to visit, even as part of a stopover on the way to America, then I would most definitely recommend it. It might not be cheap but you will see some of the best things and have an unforgettable experience.
Day 1
We started our trip by going on the Golden Circle tour, which is provided by several companies so make sure you search around for the best deal. We paid about £25 but we were all students at the time, I think an adult ticket now can be the best part of £50 (but it's well worth it and cheaper than hiring a car!). This was great as we could travel around the island on a coach and not worry about public transport or driving on the other side of the road. We also had a tour guide who spoke Icelandic which was invaluable, as well as providing local anecdotes and plenty of information about Iceland.
We started with a walk around Gullfoss waterfall, to the little bit of brown you can see jutting out on the left in the picture below. It was so spectacular and my photos really don't do it justice. I saw it over five years ago now and I still think about it all the time.
As part of the tour we also stopped off at Reynisfjara beach which unusually has black sand. Just off the shore you can see two stacks which according to folklore are two trolls who were turned to stone when they attempted to drag a ship onto the beach.
We also visited Thingvellir National Park where the American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet (top photos, which were taken on my birthday). This was so amazing as you can actually stand with one foot on each plate and be in both places at the same time! In April is was still really snowy in Thingvellir so wrap up warm!
Another of the great sights on the Golden Circle tour is the Geysir geothermal area. You are taken to see several geysers, including Strokkur which shoots water about 30 metres into the air every five minutes. It was so wonderful to witness this, something you usually only hear about in geography lessons.
Day two
The next day we took the coach to the Blue Lagoon, which is rightfully most people's number one destination in Iceland. It was amazing, and again my photos really don't do it justice. Try and get there early in the morning before the crowds arrive. Like all of the geothermal pools we went to in Iceland, the Blue Lagoon has communal changing rooms and you are expected to shower fully naked in them before you enter the water. This was a bit of a shock to a group of English teenage girls but we soon got over it. Make sure you put loads of conditioner on your hair when you leave. The cheapest package is great, I wouldn't worry about splashing out of anything more expensive. If you don't have time to visit, or it's unaffordable, there are plenty of other pools which are naturally warm from the geothermal energy right in the centre of Reykjavik. We visited two geothermal pools, and one of them was brilliant as it had a row of small pools which gradually got hotter as you moved along the line. Your entry into these also included a free salad buffet, great for filling up in expensive Iceland and always full of vegetarian options.
The photo below has been the wallpaper on my laptop ever since I got back from Iceland in 2010. I took it when our coach stopped on the way to the Blue Lagoon. Iceland is so spectacular, you won't be bored driving around with views like this to look at!
Day three
Although we went for 5 days, this was our last full day. We spent most of the day wandering around Reykjavik. A highlight was visiting The Pear, a huge water tower with a restaurant at the top where you can see amazing views of the city. You can also pay to visit the top of the Hallgrimskirkja, a beautiful and unusual church that is definitely worth a visit. We visited Höfði House and ate lots of Skyr! That night we ate at Ruby Tuesday, which had a few veggie options which were fairly priced.
Last day
We spent our final morning visiting the Sulfataras, a knitting museum and walking on Gígjökullglacier. The same glacier that covers the volcano which erupted about a week later. Oops.
Top tips for Iceland:
- Fill up on the salad buffets you can get in many restaurants, they are great value and brilliant for vegetarians and vegans.
- Prebook both the Blue Lagoon and the Golden Circle tour.
- Take lots of money and snacks - Iceland is really, really expensive!
- Make sure you taste Skyr, a naturally thick Icelandic yoghurt.
