Discussion
My wife and I are off to Iceland in October. We've been before, five years ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it. We're mainly going for the landscapes and hopefully a decent Aurora Borealis. We're having a few days near Reykjavik, a few near Vik and a few near Skaftafell. Effectively anywhere in the Golden Circle and the south coast is do-able for visits. We've decided on accomodation already, and have a rough idea of where we want to go, however I wanted to see if anyone else has been and could recommend any hidden gems - thanks!
I spent four weeks touring Iceland a few years back. I'll dig out my notes, but from memory only:
Jökulsárlón - take a boat trip onto the lagoon to get up close to the icebergs
At Vatnajokull head up the track in one of their 4x4s and go skidooing (sp?)
There's a boat trip from somewhere near there out to a little deserted island full of puffins - I'll remember the name and post it up tomorrow.
Hike up to the top of Hekla - allow a day, go prepared and you need to be moderately fit. Be very aware of your path up when you get to the top as it is very easy to lose your bearings when you arrive, and if you descend the wrong side it's a long night out in the open.
If you possibly can take a flight up to Lake Myvatn - masses of birdlife (though check as not sure when they depart - October may be a little late) and a surreal volcanic landscape.
Will post more when I find my notes tomorrow.
Edited to say ignore the boat trip - the puffins will be long gone - I just realised it'll be too late in the season for them, and most other birds. It is in fact very late and you may find travelling difficult if the weather is bad. Many of the roads around Iceland are closed during the winter months - especially once you leave the farming areas.
Jökulsárlón - take a boat trip onto the lagoon to get up close to the icebergs
At Vatnajokull head up the track in one of their 4x4s and go skidooing (sp?)
There's a boat trip from somewhere near there out to a little deserted island full of puffins - I'll remember the name and post it up tomorrow.
Hike up to the top of Hekla - allow a day, go prepared and you need to be moderately fit. Be very aware of your path up when you get to the top as it is very easy to lose your bearings when you arrive, and if you descend the wrong side it's a long night out in the open.
If you possibly can take a flight up to Lake Myvatn - masses of birdlife (though check as not sure when they depart - October may be a little late) and a surreal volcanic landscape.
Will post more when I find my notes tomorrow.
Edited to say ignore the boat trip - the puffins will be long gone - I just realised it'll be too late in the season for them, and most other birds. It is in fact very late and you may find travelling difficult if the weather is bad. Many of the roads around Iceland are closed during the winter months - especially once you leave the farming areas.
Edited by Stephanie Plum on Monday 9th January 23:07
Well im in Iceland as i type, Geysir to be specific in Hotel Gulfoss. Its £75 per room which is quite costly compared to most places we've stayed. Expect to pay, if you can, around £50 per night for a log cabin. ALWAYS get one with a hot tub (or hot pot as they're called here, not the oven based northern cabbage dish).
As its January there are almost no other people around, we have so far seen zero tourists but we arrived last Thursday and immediately went North and followed the Route 1 around the Island. We're almost back at Reykjavik. There are dozens of sights along the way, you cant really miss them however its best if you read LP so as you know what to see and what not to bother with.
The roads are rather treacherous, we had dig ourselves out of snow everyday for the first three days, and where there is no snow the roads are white with ice. The roads on the East coast are less icy and the scenery is nothing less than fantastic. I would recommend anyone who does venture out here in January hires a 4x4 as a car simply will not do though although the locals do seem to enjoy Skodas and Subarus, the latter obv 4x4. The speed limit on Route 1, Iceland's major ringroad is 90kph, more than enough at this time of year, we've averaged 80kph which is frankly dangerous but then we're twenty somethings with a carefree attitude.
So in final review my suggestion is to definitely attend Iceland in the Winter but we are all itching to comeback with a rear wheel drive car in the summer and cane it around what will be (come Spring) an ice free country of excellent driving roads, no traffic and even fewer police but be aware of speed cameras around the capital.
As its January there are almost no other people around, we have so far seen zero tourists but we arrived last Thursday and immediately went North and followed the Route 1 around the Island. We're almost back at Reykjavik. There are dozens of sights along the way, you cant really miss them however its best if you read LP so as you know what to see and what not to bother with.
The roads are rather treacherous, we had dig ourselves out of snow everyday for the first three days, and where there is no snow the roads are white with ice. The roads on the East coast are less icy and the scenery is nothing less than fantastic. I would recommend anyone who does venture out here in January hires a 4x4 as a car simply will not do though although the locals do seem to enjoy Skodas and Subarus, the latter obv 4x4. The speed limit on Route 1, Iceland's major ringroad is 90kph, more than enough at this time of year, we've averaged 80kph which is frankly dangerous but then we're twenty somethings with a carefree attitude.
So in final review my suggestion is to definitely attend Iceland in the Winter but we are all itching to comeback with a rear wheel drive car in the summer and cane it around what will be (come Spring) an ice free country of excellent driving roads, no traffic and even fewer police but be aware of speed cameras around the capital.
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