Shortcuts are not always good. Take the long road around the corners.
This is the highlight of our Iceland trip and was the final stretch of our vacation (we did a cruise around Scandinavia, Baltics and Russia). On our third day, we decided to rent a car and take a road trip to the "Ice Side" just for the day. Yes, just for 1 day and its perfectly doable. If there is a country perfect for a road trip, I would always say it would be Iceland.
Ultimately, our goal is to see Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon, it is on the South Coast. It is quite popular because Tomb Raider was filmed there, Die Another Day and other films. So if you are planning to take a day trip to see this area, here are some tips:
Ultimately, our goal is to see Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon, it is on the South Coast. It is quite popular because Tomb Raider was filmed there, Die Another Day and other films. So if you are planning to take a day trip to see this area, here are some tips:
1. OF COURSE, RENT A CAR, BUT WHAT KIND?
We only rented a small and economical car just for the two of us, but if you are feeling adventurous and want to pass by the mountainous and treacherous roads, by all means rent a 4 x 4. Of course, it is cheaper to rent a smaller car but this all depends on what you want to do, what suits your need and most importantly your budget. We advice you to book a car earlier to avoid problems once you get to Iceland. While GPS is essential in some countries, you can get by in Iceland with a simple road map. We used the one the rental agency hands out. The tourist stops were marked on the map and it was easy to read. You can always get a map at the gas stations, if the rental car company doesn't have it.
2. PLAN YOUR ROUTE AND START EARLY
The process of renting the car can eat up valuable time so we recommend starting early. Plan ahead, know where you want to go and what you want to do, especially if you are just taking a day trip. We decided to drive to Seljalandfloss, Skogafoss, Vik and the Glacial Lagoon. You will see road-side waterfalls (smaller than the Golden Waterfalls), the black beach, the biggest glacier in Europe and so on.
3. THE RING ROAD THAT RULED THEM ALL
The most popular road in iceland is the Ring Road or Route 1. It encircles the whole of Iceland, connecting the major towns. The roads are well paved and the signs are easy to understand. All the scenic views have areas to pull off to park and no entrance fee on any of the spots that we saw. Fill up your car when you see a gas station because they are far and few between. The towns are charming as you can imagine, with picturesque and colorful homes by the coast. You will notice when you are driving, there are a lot of hitchhikers because Iceland is considered a one of the safest countries in the world. We picked up one hitchhiker and took her to our final destination but we don't recommend this, its totally a personal judgement call.
4. BE READY! IT'S A LONG RIDE
Going to Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon can be done as a day trip. It took us 5 hours to get to the lagoon, which was longer than we thought because we stopped at every amazing natural wonder we saw along the way. Pack up some snacks and drinks on the road so you won't waste time stopping OR if you didn't have time to stop by a grocery store, stop at the gas station and when you fill up your tank, grab a quick bite from a hotdog stand. Hotdogs in Iceland was surprisingly delicious. Make sure to try all toppings, they are well known for that. Mentally prepare yourself (if you are driving), since its going to be a long ride. Luckily, my husband drove and did not mind it at all because it was during Midnight Sun.
5. ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE RIDE
If you know you wanted to rent a car prior the trip, bring some sort of entertainment handy that can easily connect to the sound system of the car. Bring an audio jack, a bluetooth and whatever new gadget that is out there that can connect your iPod, iPad, iPhone, etc. to the car. Sometimes, people tend to forget this little things. Having the right music is a-must on any road trip but as an alternative you might want to try an audio book. We like audio books better on long trips because you have time to really get into the story.
If there is one thing we could do differently on this trip, that would be to arrive with the idea of renting a car. This would have given us the extra time to go further, and see more.
Iceland will captivate you and you will definitely fall in love. The landscapes will just blow you away. It was a long and tiring day, especially for Brock because he is the one who drove, but the scenery just takes our breath away. It was definitely worth it! Despite the long drive, we were giddy, excited and happier than ever because nature just continues to delight us in every mile. The more I look at the pictures, the more I look back to this day, all the more I realize that indeed, Earth is crammed with heaven.
Iceland will captivate you and you will definitely fall in love. The landscapes will just blow you away. It was a long and tiring day, especially for Brock because he is the one who drove, but the scenery just takes our breath away. It was definitely worth it! Despite the long drive, we were giddy, excited and happier than ever because nature just continues to delight us in every mile. The more I look at the pictures, the more I look back to this day, all the more I realize that indeed, Earth is crammed with heaven.
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