Ring Road self-drive Scenery Spectacular!
Iceland
|
Jul 23 - Aug 3, 2024
We did a 12 day/11-night self-drive trip around Iceland. Overall, it was an amazing experience in a country where the scenery is so truly spectacular - just when you think you've seen the most magnificent vista, you turn the corner and the next is even better! Over 10,000 waterfalls, 130 volcanoes, vivid blue glaciers, black beaches littered with sparkling icebergs, rugged lava fields, spouting geysers, steaming geothermal pools, whales, puffins, artic horses ... the visual variety was astounding! Each place of special interest was usually well signposted, and we did many beautiful self-guided hikes. (Beware that most tourist spot carparks require payment)
Our particular highlights were a Glacier hike, Fjallsárlón Glacier overnight adventure and zodiac tour, Puffin watching on the East Coast and Sky Lagoon thermal baths.
We hired a Kia hybrid Sportwagon which was comfy, roomy and economical but there were a few roads we couldn't explore because we did not have a FWD.
We also paid for the "medium band" priced accommodation level and 3 of our 8 guesthouse/hotels were a bit disappointing in terms of standard (only 2 star and clean but very basic). Food and wine in Iceland is very expensive but having said that our final "splurge dinner" in a Michelin star restaurant in Reykjavik was relatively great value!
Activity Reviews
Make sure you visit Hverfjall crater Godafoss after leaving Myvatn. Akureyri a nice town to visit - good shops and cafes and lovely Botanical gardens
Reykjadalur Valley is a lovely walk not far from The Greenhouse hotel where we stayed, but it is a 7km hike for the carpark and quite steep. Don't bother visiting gyesir/geothermal park in Hveragerdi. Not worth it. But their bread is worth trying!
Amazing experience walking on a glacier complete with harness and crampons. Excellent guide too.
WE did the Fjallsarlon zodiac tour instead which was fabulous and much less busy and less touristy than Jokulsarlon . You can still see a lot of the later by driving there and viewing from the roadside.
Very crowded even in the evening. Water is milky and black gravel bottom to the pools. Freezing getting from change rooms to the pools
The diamond circle in the north is a must. Whale watching tour from Husavik was great, as was a visit to the Whale Museum there. Dettifoss and Asbyrgi Canyon were fantastic
Long drive around this peninsula and roads rough and lots of potholes. 4WD preferable if plan to go here. Can't get to Beserkjahruan or Snaefellsjokull without risking Tyre blow out - need 4WD. Kirkjufell and kirkufellfoss majestic
Magnificent experience. beautiful pools with great views
Loved Reykjavik architecture and food scene