Iceland 5 days

Super happy and incredibly excited, we take a flight that brings us to Iceland. We pick up our vehicles and head toward our base of operations in Reykjavik Bay.

We have a briefing about our adventure, which will be short but intense, and a great dinner at the best restaurant in the area (which is also the only one, but details). We sleep right there, not in the restaurant but near the bay.
We’re in one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights, so fingers crossed, pleeease. Can you imagine how awesome it will be?

This morning, in our own vehicles, like the A-Team, we head toward the Golden Circle.

First we go to Gullfoss, the golden waterfall where there are always rainbows. Well, always when there’s sun. Anyway, it’s huge, tall, awesome, with glacial water falling into a basalt canyon. Then we head to Geysir to watch the water eruptions, and to the geothermal valley with colorful pools that boil and steam (what a bunch of junkies).

Then nothing much: there’s a little waterfall, a basalt canyon, and the separation between two tectonic plates. We’re at Thingvellir, and here the Tour Leader tells you why it’s one of the few places in the world where you can literally put one foot on two different continents: we’re between two continents. And that was the Golden Circle, boom!

Tonight we wait for the northern lights while we eat in some little place nearby.

Rise and shine, we’re hitting the road again! Today we head straight for the south coast, and already from the window waterfalls start popping up as if it were raining them.

First stop: Seljalandsfoss, the waterfall you can walk behind. Yes, behind it. We slip onto the little path behind the cascade and come out soaked but happy. Then Skógafoss, a 60-meter wall of water.

In the afternoon, for those who want to, we hop on quad bikes across the desert plain of Sólheimasandur (take a look at the extra activities sheet) all the way to the wreck of an abandoned American Navy plane that made an emergency landing here in 1973. The entire crew made it out safely, the plane did not: it is still there, in the middle of nowhere, and it is one of the most surreal sights in Iceland. If you do not want to go there by quad, you can go on foot.

We wrap up with the Dyrhólaey promontory, with its gigantic rock arch over the ocean, and the black beach of Reynisfjara, with volcanic sand, basalt columns, and sea stacks that according to legend are petrified trolls. Here the Tour Leader will repeat until you are sick of hearing it: never turn your back on the waves. Listen to them, because the waves here are no joke.

We return to our cottages and turn our eyes to the sky. If the northern lights decide to show up, we will be waiting.

We say goodbye to the cottages and get back on the road toward Reykjavík.

Anyone who wants can set sail from the harbor for a whale-watching trip to spot whales (there aren’t many in winter, but you never know!) and dolphins. Take a look at the extra activities info sheet! Anyone who prefers to keep their feet on the ground can enjoy a stroll around the city: there’s plenty to see. We’ll also grab an Icelandic hot dog, which apparently is the national dish. No judgment.

And in the evening? In the evening we take a soak in the Blue Lagoon (take a look at the extra activities info sheet), surrounded by warm blue waters, steam, white mud masks on our faces, and the Icelandic cold left outside. Just the right way to wrap up this Great Big Journey.

We head back to the bay for the last night. One last look at the sky, because you never know.

Today is the day to return: we leave the cars at the airport and, with tears still in our eyes, head back to Italy. It was a short but intense trip.

When are we doing it again?!