10 things not to miss in Iceland

Iceland is one of our favorite Nordic countries. We could NEVER survive a winter without setting foot in this earthly paradise. 
We’ve put together a nice list of the things we love and that you should see if you want to go to Iceland. So here you go...
 

The 10 things you must not miss in Iceland according to Sto Gran Tour
 

1) THE GOLDEN CIRCLE

The south of the island is full of almost Martian landscapes. Starting with the famous Golden Circle, which includes Thingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss. Here, from southwest to east, throughout the Reykjanes peninsula, you can see with the naked eye the tectonic plates of two major continents drifting apart. On top of that, the ground is full of geothermal channels and pools bubbling with mud and sulfur. Be careful not to get splashed by Geysir, as its water reaches 180°C. Just a short distance away are the country’s largest natural reservoir and the queen of Icelandic waterfalls: Gullfoss.
 

2) SKOGAFOSS

Continuing south, you won’t be the one looking for places—they’ll make themselves noticed in a big way. From the volcanic systems of the infamous Eyafjallajokull and Katla come majestic waterfalls that are absolutely unmissable: Seljalandsfoss, Glujfrabui, and Skogafoss are the best known. This has nothing to do with anything, but... most people in Iceland call their dog Katla, just like the volcano. Who knows!
 

3) MYRDALSJOKULL

Just a few kilometers from Skogafoss, you can access the fourth of the island’s thirteen glaciers: Myrdalsjokull. If you’ve never gone trekking on a glacier flowing down into the valley, well, step right up and put on crampons and a helmet.
 

4) DYRHOLEY and REYNISFJARA

Since this island rose from the sea amid powerful volcanic eruptions, there’s no shortage of headlands and black beaches—really black, like coal. Dyrholey is an incredible promontory (also ideal for great photos, as long as your selfie frenzy doesn’t send you over the edge), while Reynisfjara is a beach with two enormous sea stacks jutting out of the water.
 

5) VATNAJOKULL

Here the landscape suddenly changes: deserts begin, with stretches of centuries-old magma covered in moss and lichen, and highlands of every elevation. But above all, little by little, you get closer to it—the largest ice cap in Europe: Vatnajokull.
 

6) JOKULSARLON and DIAMOND BEACH

You move closer to the ocean, driving alongside lagoons and mountains until you reach another outlet glacier: Breidamerkurjokull. As it melts, it has created an incredibly deep lagoon, Jokulsarlon, where enormous icebergs float until they drift out into the ocean. Oh, and all this happens among countless seals happily splashing around.
 

7) SKAFTAFELL and SVINAFELL

From here you can admire, cross, and reach several glacier tongues that descend into the valley: Skaftafell, from the natural park of the same name connected to Vatnajokull, and Svinafell, to name the most impressive ones. Beautiful. Very beautiful.

8) LUKAFOSS

We know Iceland so well—so very well—that we discovered a waterfall nobody knows about. To make sure tour buses don’t invade this one too, we’re keeping it safe. We call it Lukafoss, in honor of our guide Luca... who that day wandered away from the group for a pee break and made the discovery of the century, becoming the idol of geologists and other scholars who study things like water.
 

9) THE STONE VAGINA

A great Sto Gran Tour classic. We won’t say anything more except that no one has ever been disappointed by it.

10) WHALE WATCHING

One of the most amazing things you could do in Iceland is whale watching. When else are you going to see whales breaching in the open sea?!

We can’t think of anything else, except that you can see all these things in person by traveling with us. Take a look here at our ICELAND TOUR.