My husband and I went on a recent February break vacation with two friends to Iceland. We wanted to go in the winter, one because, well Northern Lights, and two because we needed to go during school break. Mutual friends of ours had been before and loved it, so we were excited to experience it for ourselves. We planned a trip with a self-drive tour company. They rented a car under our name, including all mileage and wi-fi, and they booked our accommodations for us, all of which included breakfast. They include an itinerary with suggestions for side excursions, so you can really plan to do whatever you want! We did seven days of literal non-stop activities (though we got in a fair share of lagoon/hot springs exploring too!).

Day One:

  • Plane to Iceland—landed in Keflavik.

  • Drove straight to the Blue Lagoon! Did some soaking, a mask and had some bevvies. Such a fun time!

  • Bridge Between Continents

  • Dinner at Reykjavik Kitchen

Day Two

  • Drove from Reykjavik to Vik to Kirkjubaejarklaustur

  • Seljalandfoss Waterfall—-walked behind it!

  • Skogafoss Waterfall

  • Roadside Waterfall—-Foss a’ Sidu—-coolest dog ever!

  • Horseback riding on the beach got cancelled—way too windy!

  • Black Sand Beach-got mauled by the wind—-it hailed!

  • Lunch at Strondir Pub- great fish and chips!

  • Lava Show in Vik

  • Went to the barn and met the ponies.

  • Eldhraun Lava field

  • Stayed at Fosshotel Nupar in Kirkjubaejarklaustur- ate dinner there. Northern Lights popped off!

Day 3

  • Had breakfast and went on our way to the next leg of our journey!

  • Fjarsarlon Lagoon-smaller lagoon, but holy moly—so pretty! The color of the icebergs!

  • Diamond Beach/Vatnajokull National Park

  • Ice cave tour! Big cave—-did not have to use crampons—-beautiful and otherwordly.

  • Fossalar Waterfall— little stream.rapids—-very picturesque.

  • Dwarf Rocks

  • Dinner at Solheimahjaleiga Guesthouse —got Veggie Schnitzel for dinner.

Day Four

  • Golden Circle Driving

  • Secret Lagoon—-so many tour groups with teens. Too many people…changing rooms were crazy.

  • Geysir

  • Gullfoss Waterfall—-just WOW! and so windy!

  • Dinner at Hotel Hamar—ordered Duck Confit.

Day Five

  • Seal Colony

  • Bjarnafoss Waterfall

  • Budir— church on lava field—-beautiful and stark against the landscape

  • Arnastappi viewpoint and village—-ate an amazing lunch at Samkomuhusid Arnastapa—-had an amazing lamb soup!

  • Gatklettur Arch

  • Basalt Cliffs- Londrangar

  • Djupalonssandur Beach

  • Rainbow!!

  • Saxholl Crater—-crazy stairs but great view at the top!!

  • Dinner at Bara Borganes

Day Six

  • Slept in late! Yay!

  • Krauma Geothermal Spa—-so relaxing—cute dog wanted to play.

  • Lunch at Kverinn Restaurant and Bar—-delicious tomato soup.—vegan!

  • Hraunfossar and Barnafoss Waterfalls

  • Drive through Thingvellir National Park back to Reykjavik

  • Checked into Hotel Fron

  • Went out shopping—checked out Rainbow Street. Got some souvenirs.

  • Dinner at Rok. Super delicious tapas!

  • Bookstore Bar—went with Mike—had a mule, and watched live band—super fun!

  • Dessert at Geata Gelato—-dark chocolate dairy free

Day Seven

  • Woke up, had breakfast at hotel—-not good at all. Very little selection.

  • National Gallery of Iceland Museum—-then we split up and Mike and I went to The House of Collections which had a better selection.

  • Met up for lunch at Skreid—-tapas again—food took a long time, but delicious!

  • Sky Lagoon at 2pm.

  • Checked into Hilton- Canopy

  • Shopping—found gift for mum.

  • Dinner at Sumac—-delicious!

Day Eight

  • Back to the real world!!