Top 5 things to do in Iceland
*This is a collaborative post*
Of all the places I have traveled to in the world (which granted isn’t as long a list as I’d have liked), there is one place that always stands out in my memory. One trip, one experience, and one location, that I would return to in the blink of an eye given the chance. Iceland.
A fascinating country with so many different sights, landscapes and landmarks to explore, I first visited Iceland as part of my British Heart Foundation Trek Iceland tour in 2011. If you are planning on visiting Iceland yourself – here are my top 5 things to do in Iceland, and definitely some to add to your Iceland Bucketlist!
1) See the landscapes by foot
As tempting as it may be to fly straight to Reykjavik and enjoy the city life in Iceland, there is so much more to offer if you trek and stay in some of the copious amounts of camp sites across this vast landscape. One of my top things to do in Iceland has to be exploring the landscape by foot. During my four day trek across Iceland, I got to experience some amazing scenery, from ice and lava ash, to geysers and natural springs. It is stunning, and there is something really special about getting up close and personal with the natural world at its best. We were even lucky enough to see some wild Icelandic horses! A truly special memory.
2) Brave a River Crossing
If you are brave enough, another of my top things to do in Iceland is the river crossings. There is something truly exhilarating about an Icelandic River Crossing. As we trekked between Landmannahellir and Thorsmörk there were LOTS of river crossings for us to contend with, and although it takes a lot of team work, a LOT of stamina and trust, the satisfaction of getting to the other side whilst the river tries to push and bash against you at every turn is a huge achievement. Don’t underestimate the importance of having the right kit however – you’d definitely need some high quality walking boots (ideally with a thick gortex coating to keep the water out), thick socks and waterproof trousers. If you are carrying a camera or any electrical equipment, you’d also need to consider small Pelican cases, at least if you want them to still work when you reach the other side!
3) Climb a volcano
Iceland has a LOT of Volcanos, and so you won’t be surprised that this made my list of top things to do in Iceland. I am pretty sure you will be familiar with some of them – in particular Eyjafjallajökull, whos eruption in 2010 caused a humongous ash cloud that bought most of Europe to a stand still. When theyre not erupting however (treking one then would be very unwise) they offer a great opportunity to test your physical endurance and see the Icelandic landscape from the very best vantage point.
4) Experience going to bed in the daylight
One of the most bizarre things about visiting Iceland (in July at least) is that due to its location, Iceland experiences 20 hours of daylight each day, meaning in all probability, you’ll be going to bed in what looks and feels like the middle of the day! Take a face mask or a black out blind if you’re staying in a hotel, else if you are a light sleeper it may come as a bit of a shock! There is one obvious positive of this if you are camping however – at least you don’t have to fumble your way to the toilet block in the middle of the night! No torch required!
5) Bathe in the Blue Lagoon or Go Whale Watching
At the end of our trek, we had the option of two distinct trips, one of which was heading out on the boat to see whales in the wild, and the other was to bathe and relax in the Blue Lagoon. After four days of walking and climbing for 7-10 hours a day, doing well over my 10,000 steps, you can probably guess which one I opted for. Such an amazing experience, and the colour of the water is something I will remember forever. Don’t head home until you’ve applied some of natural facial scrub (it does wonders for your skin!) and grab yourself a cocktail from the swim up bar. BLISS.
Have you visited Iceland yet? What are your top things to do in Iceland? I’d love to know what would make your Iceland bucketlist so feel free to share in the comments below!
Lucy x
