Summer has officially started here in Iceland (according to the Icelandic calendar, not the weather) which means the long days of the midnight sun are just around the corner and I am all about planning summer travels.
Last year I made a list of 5 places I wanted to visit in 2015 and by the end of the year I was able to cross all of them off but one. It was a year packed full of beautiful Icelandic adventures! I feel like writing the places down held me accountable to getting out and exploring instead of just sitting on my couch talking about how I really wanted to visit ____ place. So this year I am back with another list in the hopes that I will get to cross all (at least most) of these places off my list.
If you are planning a trip to Iceland and looking for some places to visit add these spots to your list, and then Instagram a bunch of pictures to share at #UnlockingIceland so I can feel like I was there to in case I don’t make it this summer. Deal?!
So, this year I hope to travel to…
The West Fjords
The one place on my list from 2015 that I didn’t get to visit was the place I wanted to visit the most, the West Fjords. You guys, this trip has to happen this summer. The whole 6 hour drive to get there from Reykjavik is a bit of an obstacle, but if I only get to take this one trip that is fine by me! I need to spend some time exploring this area, camping, hiking, and soaking in all the beautiful hot springs I am always hearing about in the West Fjords.
Fimmvörðuháls hiking trail
via
Fimmvörðuháls is one of the most popular hiking trails in Iceland but is only passable during the summer months. We had plans to do this 8 hour hike last summer, but thanks to all that snow we had last winter the trail only opened for a few weeks when we happened to be abroad. So attempt number two is going to happen this year.
Fimmvörðuháls hiking trail begins at the beautiful Skógafoss waterfall and takes you between the two glaciers Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull and past new craters where lava is still steaming under the surface and the heat of the lava can still be felt. My Viking has done this hike once before and he has said the diversity of the landscape in this hike is amazing. Fingers crossed I get to explore it this summer!
Fjaðrárgljúfur
Thanks to you all who have shared your pictures of the beautiful Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon at #UnlockingIceland this place is at the top of my radar this summer. This place looks like a photographer and outdoor lovers dream, I can’t wait to visit!
Glacier Lagoon
So I have actually already visited the popular Glacier Lagoon two years ago, but it was so windy on our visit that our time there wasn’t really that pleasant. As in the wind was so strong it was making my eyes water, so I only saw the lagoon with squinty eyes, not good.
Anyways.
We didn’t have any plans to return this summer since there are so many other places in Iceland I want to check out, but then I heard about the firework show over the Glacier Lagoon. A firework show over the Glacier Lagoon, how cool is that? The Viking and I now have it in our calendar, I can’t wait to see all the icebergs sparkling underneath the fireworks!
Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck
The abandoned DC plane at Sólheimasandur beach is at the top of my Viking’s list, and I have no objections to a visit to this unique spot! Sadly access to this area has been closed off due to visitors damaging the plane, but I am hoping it will be re-opened soon so we can make a visit.
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Iceland may be small but the list of places to explore is never ending! My Viking is still not sure how I am constantly finding new places that I want to visit, but I think he should just look at the positive side of how much of his own country he gets to explore!
Question of the Day?
Have you visited any of these places?
