Travelling the Icelandic Ring Road on a Budget

Last year I travelled to Iceland with my two friends in October – and it was MAGICAL! This was my first time leaving North America and we travelled on a university student’s budget. One of the reasons we travelled in October was that it was the tourist off-season since we were a little concerned about busy places and covid-19 at the time. Another reason was that October is when universities in Ontario have a reading week break from classes.

I wanted to explore somewhere that I wasn’t familiar with so there were no expectations. Sure, I had heard about the Blue Lagoon before; however, my travel inspiration had come from my late uncle who had travelled there when he was younger. Aside from the occasional Blue Lagoon post on Instagram, I had only heard of this foreign place and never seen it for myself.

If you love enumerable waterfalls, vibrant aurora borealis, green fjords, wildlife-filled oceans, blue waters, beautiful beaches, unique adventures, friendly people, and the most breathtaking landscapes, then I think Iceland is for you!

How did we get there?

We flew with Icelandair from YQT (Thunder Bay, Ontario) with a layover in YYZ (Toronto, Ontario). From YYZ we had a direct flight to KEF (Keflavik, Iceland) that was just under 6 hours. The round trip flight with cancellation insurance cost each of us $975.80 CAD. I was honestly quite surprised at the cost of an international flight when domestic flights within Canada are comparable to that price. And don’t sweat it if you forgot your neck pillow; the airline provides a pillow and blanket on each seat. On board the plane there were vegan friendly and gluten-free snack options and TV that we enjoyed. Each seat had an audio jack and a USB port for charging devices.

How did we travel around the country?

We went with the rental company called CampEasy and rented the vehicle above. My friend did some research about which vehicle we should rent while touring the island and had landed on this one. In Iceland, many of the roads are narrow and made of gravel – they’re called F-roads. We wanted a vehicle that was F-road rated so we weren’t limited in terms of which roads we could travel on. I’m so glad we did because some of the most spectacular views were on the tiny dirt roads we endeavoured. I’m not going to lie, some roads were a little tricky to drive through, but thankfully my friends and I live in a northern and more remote part of Canada and we were used to driving on narrow dirt roads and the weather cooperated. You’ll want to check the weather before travelling as Iceland is quite windy!

The rental came with three neck gaiters, three pairs of sunglasses, and three sleep masks to keep as complementary souvenirs. The van was the perfect size and comfortable for three average-sized women. We all took turns driving with no concern. There were three bench-style seats in the front of the van. In the back, which was separated by a curtain we could draw was a table and seats that doubled as a bed and storage. There was also a countertop with a fridge, water storage, cupboards, and a sink. The table could easily fold down into a bed, the mattress came from the seat cushions, and the benches lifted up for our backpacks to be stored in. The van came with:

• all of the bedding we required
• a heater
• a sink with water
• USB ports for charging devices
• a fridge

For our needs, we added:

• a cook stove
• cookware, plates, bowls, cutlery
• towels
• a tablet that provided us with wifi, a 24 hour service chat, and directions

I did purchase an international roam like you’re at home cellphone plan, but the wifi was still a must keeping us in the right direction and allowed us to be connected with friends and family back home with no worries about data overages. Let’s face it, even on a trip I am addicted to my phone and enjoy the security of instant access to the internet, text, and calling. There were plenty of other add-on options for the van, but none that we required. At the CampEasy store, there were also free take one, leave one shelves that were occupied by food and camper items that previous campers had left upon departure. We scooped up some of the said items on our first day and left some on our last like the campers before us – how neat!

We saved so much time travelling in our accommodation – it afforded us the ability to see so many sights during our short 8 days in the country instead of spending time driving to hotels, hostels, or Airbnb rentals in cities. If I’m being honest, some of my most memorable nights were meeting other travelers and locals in campsites. I don’t think the experience would have been the same if we didn’t camp. We also saved a lot of money in the camper van. It cost around $2800.00 CAD for the camper which would have been similar to the cost of a hotel. I say “around” because we paid for everything in Icelandic króna so I can’t say for sure how much we spent in CAD. One hundred ISK was roughly one CAD. We did prepay for a lot of our excursions and took out ISK at the bank, but the majority of time when we paid for things in Iceland we used Apple Pay on our phones. The diesel to fill the van was quite inexpensive as well. On top of diesel, the van required a fill up of something called AdBlue (that can be acquired at a gas station) which CampEasy reimbursed us for. We didn’t have to spend money on restaurants though because we could grocery shop and cook within the van or campsite kitchens. We did indulge in some restaurants, cafes and bars to experience the culture, but the majority of our meals were on the road. And besides, it was super fun experiencing foreign grocery stores – there were so many different kinds of food to try. The grocery stores were extremely clean as well as gluten-free and vegan friendly which was an initial concern of ours.

Some things that really blew me away while driving in Iceland are that around the entire island I believe we only saw one transport truck, two police vehicles, and there was virtually no traffic. There are also no shoulders on the sides of roads. Sheep are one of the only animals that you will see and need to look out for while driving. When I say that sheep are everywhere, they are EVERYWHERE. One thing that was quite funny in my mind was that damage to the vehicle due to Icelandic horses and/or sheep was not covered. Don’t worry about that happening though because a plus to driving in Iceland is the visibility is exceptional since there are virtually no trees or mountains to get into the way.

Everyone drove at or below the speed limit. It seemed that no one was in a rush to get anywhere. I’ll admit, usually I speed a little, but with no traffic and no time constraints it was easy to go the speed limit. Near cities there will be signs warning you that there is a radar check ahead – you will be ticketed. There are also electronic speed signs that smile if you are driving at or below the speed limit and an unhappy face if you are in fact speeding – the positive reinforcement worked; we tried our best to achieve a smiley face!

Many of the bridges in Iceland are one way bridges and Icelanders will flash their high-beams at you to indicate that you can pass over the bridge first – how polite!

The only thing I would have changed for the next time I rent a camper van for travel is to rent a taller one that I can stand inside of. Although it isn’t a big deal to most, I find it highly inconvenient to crouch or lay down to get dressed and to sit while cooking.

Day 1 in Iceland:

Holmsberg Lighthouse

After picking up our CampEasy van, we stumbled upon the very cute Holmsberg lighthouse on our way to a grocery store. We took in our first views of this mystical country and enjoyed a little stroll to smell the ocean and the see the contrast of the green landscape against the blue sky. It was WINDY!

The Blue Lagoon

I don’t think that the Blue Lagoon was all that it was cracked up to be on social media; however, I still recommend going! It was pretty busy compared to everywhere else we saw in Iceland. It wasn’t crowded though. The cool blue geothermal lagoon was a very unique and enjoyable experience. From check in, the workers were friendly, and upon request, there was a gender neutral/accessible change room available. The check in process was also easy: you’re provided with a bracelet that is attached to your booking and you use the bracelet to purchase beverages at the bars. Upon your exit you scan your bracelet and pay for what you’ve consumed. One thing to note, you must get your hair wet prior to going into the lagoon (it’s a rule).

Once in the relaxing water, you have the option of making your way to either the swim up alcohol bar or the swim up face mask bar! We helped ourselves to some beverages and soothing face masks to relax after our long travels – it was nice. I think overall we spent about an hour at the Blue Lagoon and felt really rejuvenated after. We brought waterproof cases for our phones so we could take pictures of the experience!

Fagradalsfjall Volcano

While driving by, we saw signs for an active volcano – how unreal is that? This impromptu ten kilometre and four hour hike in the evening was a trip highlight for me. We pulled off the side of the road at a little parking lot and paid about $10 CAD, made the saddest vegan cheese and mayo sandwiches for dinner ever because we were in such a rush (my first sandwich actually blew out of my hand due to the winds and I sadly watched it blow into the abyss), changed into appropriate hiking apparel, grabbed our photography gear, water, and we were on our way. We had no idea how long this hike would take, but the trail was well marked with flags, there are no natural predators in Iceland to worry about, and we could almost always see where we had parked. What I packed with me on this hike were my hiking boots, a hat, a buff, a warm sweater, hiking pants, a rain jacket, a handheld phone gimbal, water, candy, and a headlamp.

Remember when I said that we could almost always see where we had parked? Well, I am used to hiking in the dense Canadian bush where you could dive off of the trail anywhere to pee in privacy – this is not the case in Iceland. After hiking for about an hour I really had to pee. With no trees in sight to hide behind I thought that I was safe. At the base of the volcano just prior to the ascent I popped a squat as one does…and sure enough, the only others we saw on that trail the entire hike crested over the top of the volcano peak and saw a Canadian moon. It didn’t matter that we were far away, I could see them clearly and I’m sure they could see me as well. In the midst of the panic, I tried to wipe fast, but it was so windy it ended up being quite the struggle and my friends were howling! Despite making my nude debut in Iceland, I still had a blast.

The ascent was tough, but there were ropes to support us the entire way. I’ll never forget feeling like I stepped onto another planet when we made it to the top of that volcano. It was like nothing I’ve ever seen before.

It smelled like someone lit a match. We had a lot of fun spending some time touring along the rocks seen in the lower portion of the photo, but careful not to step on the hot and hollow lava that was cooling. Throwing rocks into the dark and smoking rock was satisfying and safe though!

Day 2 in Iceland:

Þríhnúkagígur Volcano – Inside the Volcano Tour

Every adventure we went on in Iceland, I kept thinking “this is the coolest tour!” That held true for going inside an inactive volcano! And yes, I know, it looks quite yonic! Look at those colours though!

I don’t have a lot of quality photos of this excursion because I was so entranced with the experience if that says anything about it. To start off the tour, you meet at a big building on the side of the road where you can drop your belongings off, go to the washroom, and meet your tour guides (who were amazing by the way). You trade your personal jacket for a very long bright orange or bright yellow rain jacket – I really liked the colours, actually. They’re fun and kept me dry! Then before you know it you’re hiking over volcanic rock for about 45 minutes and 3.5 kilometres. Along the way you see the bright green vegetation scattered on black rock, lava tunnels filled with ice and snow, and then you come upon three volcanos in line with each other while the guide is keeping you engaged in educational conversation throughout the journey. It turns out going inside a volcano is a geological rarity. As you’re getting closer you realize how huge they are and that you’re going to be lowered into one!

When we arrived to our destination we were greeted by new guides in a cabin where we could take our jackets off, sit to have a cup of coffee, listen to Icelandic folklore, and meet our fellow tourists. The washrooms were gender neutral AND had heated seats…that’s a new one for me! Because I always forget something, I purchased the most expensive souvenir toque of all time from this cabin. I forgot a buff to cover my sensitive ears from the wind, but it was a warm toque nonetheless. Once we all warmed up and had a chance to rest, we were provided with harnesses, helmets, and headlamps and followed our new guide to the opening of Þríhnúkagígur Volcano. We used the harnesses to secure ourselves to the elevator. Lowering into the crater felt surreal. The descent only took a few minutes, but it felt like we were moving in slow motion as everything was so new and exciting. The colours inside the volcano were very vibrant and beautiful. When we reached the bottom of the volcano we had ample time to walk around as we pleased taking it all in.

Arriving back to the cabin we were met with fresh homemade coffee and soup – gluten-free and vegan options too! It was the most soul warming soup I’ve had after a cool fall hike. We stayed in the cabin long enough to get to know some extraordinary individuals from across the globe and hear their life stories. I was really inspired by one woman who had been travelling solo since she was 15 years old every chance she could. My cheeks hurt from genuinely smiling the entire meal. On the hike back we had enough time to detour and explore the lava caves. Overall I would really recommend spending the money to do this tour if you’re physically able to hike the way. It was worth every penny.

FlyOver Iceland

FlyOver Iceland is a must if you’re in Reykjavik. It’s relatively inexpensive and it isn’t very long. I encourage you to click on the image above to check out their website. I think this was my friend’s favorite experience in Iceland. I couldn’t take any photos during the ride, but I think it’s important to mention. It is an immersive audiovisual experience that teaches you about the Icelandic elves, you’re given some history from a modern Viking, and you experience Iceland with your body, eyes, ears, nose, and imagination. The “flight” was exhilarating. I’d do it again if the opportunity arises.

“You will hang suspended, feet dangling, before a 20-metre spherical screen while our film whisks you away on an exhilarating journey across Iceland. Special effects, including wind, mist and scents, combine with the ride’s motion to create an unforgettable experience.”

From FlyOver Iceland’s website

Whales of Iceland

Since we were in Reykjavik anyway, we decided to stop at this museum: The Whales of Iceland. It was a really quick stop and for anyone who loves whales as I have grown to, it’s worth it. I found it relaxing, informative, and the café inside the museum had good coffee. It’s geared toward families of all ages. I send post cards to my close friends when I travel, so I was pretty pumped when the giftshop had postcards.

Reykjavik – Northern Lights by Boat

To end our exceptional day, we boarded a boat downtown Reykjavik to experience the northern lights at sea. You can check out the aurora forecast online any day of the week while you’re visiting Iceland. The calmness of the ocean at night sitting outside in the cool air with the waves gently rocking us was perfect. On the night of our tour, the solar storm wasn’t very intense so we only saw blips of green dancing across the sky. I had already seen the northern lights living in Northern Ontario, but I could tell by the cheers and yells from the other tour guests that this was a spectacular sight for someone who had never seen aurora borealis before. On board there were drinks and snacks for purchase and a gender neutral washroom. There were both indoor and outdoor decks with ample seating. We were provided with warm and waterproof jumpsuits that doubled as life preserves in the event of falling overboard. The only downside to this tour was the lights of Reykjavik city dampened the night sky; however, the lights and Imagine Peace Tower were beautiful in their own way.

Day 3 in Iceland:

Jökulsárlón – Glacier Lagoon

What a breathtaking experience the Glacier Lagoon was. We arrived at the parking lot after a stunning drive watching the glacier in the distance slowly gaining mass as we approached. Although my friends were asleep during this portion of the drive (I was sure I snapped the most awesome photo – slack jaws and everything), I revelled in the view while I was in charge of the auxiliary cord. With my music playing it felt like an entrance scene to a movie. When we arrived, we walked around the water’s edge waiting for our Zodiac boat tour. There was a gender neutral washroom for use.

We were fortunate enough to see numerous seals, a mushroom shaped iceberg, and the glacier itself up close. Although no one had their cameras recording at the time, we heard a loud crack that ripped through the air and we watched the glacier break and fall into the lagoon with front row seats. I’m not sure I’ll ever be lucky enough to experience this again. Our guide was pretty pumped about the timing!

I’d recommend this tour to everyone.

Diamond Beach

This beach is across the road from Glacier Lagoon and free to explore which is totally convenient! After visiting the beach, I understand why it’s called “Diamond Beach.” The black sand created the perfect place for hundreds of small chunks of ice to wash upon creating the illusion of diamonds sparkling in the sunlight. This was my friend’s first time touching the ocean! I have taken this for granted as I grew up right next to the Pacific Ocean and spent my childhood summers swimming in it.

Although it wasn’t planned, the sunset at Diamond Beach was gorgeous.

Keep in mind that just because the beach is beautiful, it doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous. If you haven’t heard of “sneaker waves” before, I would suggest giving it a little Google search prior to getting too close to the water in Iceland. My cousin told me about them; it’s a humble reminder how powerful Mother Nature really is.

Day 4 in Iceland:

Stuðlagil Canyon, Jökuldalur

This was a chill day. We spent most of the day driving and stopped at a few free places to get out and stretch our legs while taking in incredible views. Although we perceived we didn’t have time to hike the entire Stuðlagil Canyon trail, we walked down stairs to the lookout seen above. The water was a gorgeous emerald green with the neatest columnar basalt rocks that formed pillars along the water.

Fljótsdalshérað

I can’t quite remember where this photo was taken, but I remember stopping for my friend to take photos of the CampEasy van for the photo competition and I walked down a gravel trail that brought me to this pile of rocks. It was placed in yet another terrain change along the island and was a welcome stop.

Hverir Geothermal Area

This place was a welcome accidental find. Along the drive we saw plumes of steam from the highway and followed it to check it out. We were on a mission to find a geyser. Unfortunately, the geothermal area wasn’t a geyser, but something I’ve never heard of before. Mind your nose – this place is SMELLY. I personally didn’t think this place smelled too putrid, but I do have a seasoned nose working as a nurse. My poor friend was coughing and gagging. Underneath the steam is cobalt blue-grey mud that is bubbling. Our shoes got quite muddy during this adventure, but if you don’t mind a little mess it is totally worth it.

Mývatn – Rest Stop

This little rest stop was very cute. We pulled over on the side of the road at a pull off before entering Mývatn. The sunset was breathtaking with geothermal steam in the forefront. We goofed around using our cameras to take some photos while getting some fresh air that was “safe” from the smell of Hverir Geothermal Area.

Stóragjá Hike to a Geothermal Cave in Mývatn

This small hike was another trip highlight for me! At one of our campsites earlier in our trip, the camp host was excited to share some hidden gems of her hometown with us – Stóragjá was her biggest suggestion. I so badly wanted to swim in a geothermal pool outside of the Blue Lagoon, but we didn’t plan for it with our limited time on the island. This pit stop was highly anticipated. It was dusky at the beginning of the hike so we packed our headlamp for guidance. I wasn’t initially optimistic about finding this spot because there was no signage from the road, but with a little faith we embarked on the hike. It is an easy and short hike that will lead you to a set of stairs and the cave entrance you see above.

Originally I wasn’t planning on swimming, but how could I not!? It was cold and dark outside upon our arrival, but the water felt so warm and inviting. To be honest, I am scared of water even though I love swimming. Yes, I know it is irrational, but thankfully I was able to convince my friend to test the swim out first for me. Good thing she’s fearless! We spontaneously stripped to our underwear and climbed in the water using a rope that was already there! The water was crystal clear to the bottom of the cave and the water was the temperature of a bath. Once inside the cave you could swim around freely. This experience truly felt magical. I know I’ve thrown the word “magical” around in this blog, but Iceland really is magical. I don’t know how else to explain it.

The photos are blurry from the steam coming off of the water. If you can probably tell from my big smile I was having a good time! I love spontaneous adventures so much! If you have the time to find this place, I’d recommend trying during the daylight!

Day 5 in Iceland:

Húsavík – Gentle Giants Whale Watching Tour

I remember driving into Húsavík with my two friends, there was music playing and the sunrise looked just right. I was overcome with this intense feeling of bliss. I recall saying, “this is what happiness feels like.” I don’t have the vocabulary to describe how beautiful the drive while entering the coastal town was, but if you’re driving the Ring Road be sure to do this portion during daylight. The sky was the deepest orange and pink backdropping the snow-capped mountains and water. The road here is dark black winding back and forth into the distance and it is absolutely breathtaking.

Wow! Húsavík was my favourite Icelandic city that we visited. My only regret is not staying longer. The views were incomparable to any coastal town I’ve ever visited. To start our amazing day off right, we went on a whale watching tour. Because I’m scared of water, I was nervous for this tour; however, my fear washed away with the waves when it started. Whales weren’t an animal I had put much thought into prior to this tour so I was completely blown away! I’m grateful this was my friend’s must do excursion while in Iceland. Not far off the shores of Húsavík were humpback whales in the dozens swimming near all of the boats in the water. Our boat captain swiftly brought our boat out to sea and we followed a family of three humpback whales who kept in close proximity to each other. I couldn’t believe that the boat captain recognized the whales by the markings on their fins.

We were again provided with warm jumpsuits that could be used as life preservers if needed. I truly felt like I was on a pirate ship. Our beautiful wooden boat allowed us to walk around and take pictures from anywhere on board. Our tour guide’s enthusiasm over the majestic humpback whales engaged me in the experience. Since this tour I’ve gone home and have been searching for my next whale watching adventure. These creatures are massive yet gentle. They’re also so intelligent and social like humans!

This was my favourite water tour of the trip. Rocking back and forth on the waves relaxed me with the cool air blowing on my face. The only negative of this tour was that the day prior I had accidentally spilled a bottle of olive oil on my jacket so I was a little cold with minimal base layers on. Don’t worry though, at our next campsite I used the washer and dryer with no issue. My friends were great and squished into me on the ride back to land to keep me warm once my whale watching-induced adrenalin had worn off.

It was during this tour that I really learned to love photography. Up until this point I had primarily used my drone for video-making. Just before the trip, my friend had gotten a new camera so I purchased her old one off of her. With some assistance, seeing the whales up close through the lens was exhilarating. I plan on sharpening my photography skills the more places I travel locally and abroad.

Gamli Baukur Restaurant, Húsavík

Coming off the high from whale watching, we were hungry. We were on the hunt for the restaurant we saw Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams in, in the movie Eurovision on Netflix. (Yes, the song Jaja Ding Dong played lots during our drive!). Even though we didn’t find it, we found this cute restaurant spot! This was our first sit-in restaurant experience in Iceland and the vegan burger was excellent.

These signs were in nearly every bathroom in Húsavík which I found comical.

I had never seen these signs before.

Húsavík Whale Museum

The Húsavík Whale Museum was downtown Húsavík and relatively inexpensive and really neat! I enjoyed this museum. Unlike the first whale museum we visited, the museum was a lot larger and there were real pieces of whale to touch and interact with including; bones, baleen, and teeth. The experience was very informative and interesting. I enjoyed reading about whales from conception to death and from dolphins to the blue whales. I’d recommend stopping by even if you’re not a whale lover! There were also videos and ocean pollution awareness exhibits.

Day 6 in Iceland:

Snorkelling in Silfra

Who else can say they’ve been snorkelling between two tectonic plates!? Click on the photo above to check the website out! I hope you enjoy how swollen my face is from sucking on the snorkel and the frigid water as much as I did! This tour was amazing even though I personally didn’t enjoy it, my friend LOVED it though. I didn’t enjoy snorkelling because I am scared of water, I have chronic back pain so being in the prone position was tough for me, I am a very poor swimmer so it was quite stressful trying to keep up with my group, and it was COLD. My enjoyment didn’t have anything to do with the tour itself though, so don’t let my experience deter you. Let me tell you why I recommend this tour to anyone who is physically able!

Before telling you why I recommend this tour, please read – this might save you some time and money! Prior to being given dry suits, you must complete a medical questionnaire. If you’re someone with diabetes (it doesn’t matter the type) or other chronic medical condition(s) no matter how well managed, you must have a valid medical note from your medical practitioner medically clearing you for the tour and taking “responsibility” for your health. Please read all of the fine print of the tours you’re signing up for and request medical clearance for specific tours from your medical practitioner. We almost lost a few hundred dollars because this isn’t a requirement in Canada and we assumed you can just show up. Upon arrival at our tour, mid struggle getting our drysuits on, our guide came over to my friends and I and requested our medical note. We didn’t have a medical note clearing my friend to complete the tour with type I diabetes mellitus so she was refused! Thankfully I work closely with physicians at one of the hospitals I work at (and had an international roam like at home phone plan) – we frantically called the doctor and he was able to provide a note to our tour guide via email. I understand not many others are as privileged as we were while travelling with connections and means to call. Our tour guide was also fantastic and I am super grateful she was kind enough to hold the tour up for a few minutes to wait for the note. We could’ve been turned away.

Why I recommend this tour:

• You have the chance to see aquatic wildlife! We saw an Arctic char! At one point I called to my friend to tell her to film the shark swimming beneath us (to my mistake it was just a fish and our guide came to laugh with us when she informed me).
• It is the clearest water you’ll ever see. You can see for over a kilometre in distance!
• You snorkel between two tectonic plates!
• Your guide will encourage you to take your snorkel out of your mouth and try the water you’re floating in! It was some of the crispest water I’ve tried.
• You’re getting out of your comfort zone and enduring the cold.
• The world underwater is beautiful.

Look at me floating like a manatee with my Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle hands. I don’t have any photos from this trip, but the guide has a GoPro camera and will provide you with photos after the tour. You’re allowed to bring your personal photography/videography gear underwater though. My friend brought her underwater Sony camera for video footage.

You’re provided with a drysuit to wear over your clothes that makes you quite buoyant, flippers, snorkel, and goggles. You get some help wiggling into the drysuit by your guide and the guide will put a neck collar on you (it’s tight!) to keep you dry within the suit. The gloves will get wet, but they serve to keep your hands warm. My body kept warm except for my face and hands, but once they’re numb the snorkel can be quite enjoyable haha. You’re briefed on land and then brought to the water by your guide who will stay with you the entire snorkel. You’re in the water for about 30 minutes and end up at a different location than the start. It is extremely difficult to walk in the dry suit! I felt like a waddling penguin at the end of the tour on the walk back to the meeting spot!

Icelandic Horses

We saw these stout and stocky Icelandic horses near Borgarbyggð and knew we had to pull over to take pictures. Look at the hairdos! When we pulled over in our van, the horses ran toward us at the fence to say hello. The horses were nibbling near our hands and pockets looking for a treat. Even though I wish I could’ve fed these cute creatures, they weren’t mine and not mine to feed over the fence. I enjoyed their short company while respecting their space.

Haukadalur Geothermal Field – Geysers

I saw a geyser! At this point in the trip, my camera had died and I forgot my battery charger at home (oops), so iPhone photos it was of this natural wonder. My friend did get some amazing photos of the geyser, but I’ll let her post her own photos. The geyser was quite exciting, but be careful not to get too close as the water will scald you! It’s boiling hot. A PSA if you’re someone like me who enjoys flying drones, there are no drones allowed in this area.

The large geyser shot straight into the sky about every 15 minutes. It was a really light and beautiful colour of blue. Before erupting, the pond of water would heave and sway and then shoot straight up in the air for a few seconds before fading into water vapour. Despite being really cold on this day, we endured the weather for around an hour so my friend could get some amazing photos of the geyser that now hang in her house as decor. I took some videos of the geyser, but you can see the camera shake each time the water sprays upward because I jumped. Even though I knew the geyser was about to spray, it still got me. This was such a unique experience – I’d really recommend finding yourself a geyser in Iceland’s South if you have the chance!

Kerið Crater

Kerið Crater is a collapsed volcano that created the crater you see above. I really wanted to go here! Just an FYI, there are no drones allowed here. There is also a fee for parking in the parking lot. This place was very beautiful! The photos don’t do the colour of the water justice. I’m so glad we had time to stop here quickly as this is something that I really wanted to see.

When you approach the crest of the crater you can’t help but lose your breath at the beauty. I had never seen a crater before and it was massive! You can safely walk to the crystal clear pool of water at the bottom using the stairs.

Tattoos at Reykjavík Ink

When I started travelling I decided I wanted to collect tattoos instead of physical souvenirs as I am not a nick-nack person, but I love body modifications. Both my friends and I reached out to Reykjavík Ink online prior to travelling to book ourselves appointments after looking at their portfolio. This place does do walk-in appointments as well. My tattoo artist’s Instagram handle is @evelqbiak. I prefer simple black and white tattoos and went with the humpback whale because it was something that will forever remind me of my first trip to Iceland. We all got our own preference-style of the humpback whale since we completed the Iceland trip together!

Both of my friends had the same tattoo artist with the Instagram handle @heliobiont. I’m not sure what my friends paid for their ink, but my tattoo cost $60.00 USD and took around 20 minutes to complete. My friends’ tattoos were more expensive as they were larger and took more time. We paid using PayPal. We all had quite a few tattoos each prior to these appointments so we knew what to expect as far as aftercare and pain goes. The tattoo parlour was fun, upbeat, and clean. It’s also where I purchased my favourite hoodie from!

Day 7 in Iceland:

We left this day with no schedule so we could fill it with things that caught our eye while on the island. This was our last full day in Iceland and it was spent driving around and finding free places we wanted to see!

Seljalandsfoss

You can walk underneath Seljalandsfoss! “Foss” means waterfall in Icelandic – you’ll probably notice that “foss” is the suffix of MANY Icelandic places as there are waterfalls everywhere! This waterfall in particular was unique because there’s a short trail behind it.

While travelling to Iceland, I’d really recommend packing a pair of rain pants and a rain jacket so you can participate in activities like this and stay completely dry and comfortable. The weather is also unpredictable and can rain at any time, and you don’t want weather to hold you back! My backpack also has a rain cover I put over top of it to keep my belongings as dry as me.

Black Sand Beach Reynisfjara

I talked about sneaker waves earlier in this post and encourage you to check out this website prior to visiting Black Sand Beach Reynisfjara. Now that talking a bout safety is out of the way, this beach was SO COOL! There’s also a cafe in the parking lot where you can dine in, grab a coffee, and use the washroom.

It was so windy here my coffee blew out of my hand and I had to cartoon chase it down the beach! The waves were so powerful and loud as they crashed into the large black rocks near shore! I’d recommend stopping here if you’re driving through. It’s free and beautiful. Not to mention it has the coolest columnar basalts I’ve ever seen! My friend is a geologist and was geeking out over them!

If you can tell by the amount of photos of this place, I liked it a lot!

Skógafoss

This waterfall caught my eye from the road while driving the first day we arrived in Iceland. I’m glad we had time to visit it at the end of our trip. It is big and so pretty! You can hike to the top of it using stairs as well! Funny enough, I think our bodies knew we had come to the end of our trip. When we got to the parking lot we all made our way to the back of the van without communicating it and took a nap. That was the convenience of driving our accommodation – you can draw the curtain and sleep whenever. What a perfect view to wake up to!

Old House in Mydralshreppur

These tiny and old houses are close to Skógafoss. Although I don’t know the history behind these houses I enjoyed seeing them. I would like to learn more about Iceland’s Viking history and Elf folklore.

Day 8 in Iceland:

On this day we woke up a little hungover after spending the remainder of our Icelandic króna at a very lovely bar that I cannot recall the name of that was near our campsite. The night prior we didn’t know, but the straws our drinks came with were made of pasta to be eco-friendly…one problem, my friend is very allergic to gluten. When I had come back from the bar her face and hands were swollen up like a pink balloon. Don’t worry, she was okay. If anything it was a very funny memory in the morning.

We woke up, had one last van breakfast and headed to the CampEasy store to drop our accommodation off. It was a very memorable trip and I can’t wait to go back one day! If you know me, I’ve probably talked your ear off about why you should go to Iceland! Iceland is a wonderful country with enumerable waterfalls, vibrant aurora borealis, green fjords, wildlife-filled oceans, blue waters, beautiful beaches, unique adventures, friendly people, and the most breathtaking landscapes.

Our Campsites in Iceland:

I’m thankful my friend worried about the places we were going to be camping at. The campsites in October were tricky because many were closing for the season. At the campsites were kitchens to share, some had washing machines and dryers for laundry, and all but one had both a shower and bathroom to use. At the end of each stay we paid for the campsites with either cash or Apple Pay. One thing that just blew me away were that campsites meant everyone parked their camper vans or vehicles in a circle because there were no trees to separate the camp areas. Some of my best memories of the trip were at campsites and I’ll share my experiences at each of them.

Vogar

Click on the header for Vogar campsite information! Our first two nights we stayed at this campsite because it was central to our planned activities. We checked in late at night and had no expectations for camping in Iceland. My first reaction was “this can’t be it; it’s in such an urban area and there are no trees!” The campsite was in fact in an urban area with no trees. The woman who checked us in was kind and told us where to park our van. Behind the check-in office was the shared kitchen where many campers from all over the world were getting to know each other and laughing which was nice to see. In the kitchen there was also a washer and dryer for use with a drying rack.

Once outside, there were two bathroom buildings. One was a private shower and toilet and the other was a shared stall style toilets with one shower facing the toilet stalls made of glass. At this point in my trip, especially after travelling, I really wanted to shower, but my friend had requested to use the private stall and I didn’t want to wait. Growing up playing hockey I was used to showering in a group setting and I was desensitized to naked bodies working as a nurse so I just went for it – I thought “I’m never going to see any of these people again, right?” This was my second Canadian moon debut in Iceland…on day one.

I waited for the bathroom building to be empty and scooted in the shower. I wasn’t sure which way to face since I was standing in my birthday suit behind a clear glass door. I don’t think it really mattered which way I faced so I just focused on having a good shower. I was halfway lathered up with shampoo, soap in my eye when a very tall man half-ran into one of the toilet stalls. He blew that bathroom up like he had consumed gun powder. After the most impressive poop with an audience, I don’t know who was more embarrassed. Him, after having an explosive poop in front of someone, or me, showering naked in a public place. It really was the Spider Man meme if you understand my reference haha! In Canada there is a lot of censorship and sexualization of nudity so I have been socialized to be uncomfortable with my body. If you’re shy, maybe wait for the single bathroom building to be free! Perhaps this experience was good for my confidence in my own skin though. It has become a fun party story nonetheless. Each time I’ve told it it probably got more intense and exciting.

On our second night in Vogar, in the middle of the night I thought that I was dreaming at first. It sounded like someone was having a party immediately next to our camper. I was reluctant to see what the commotion was, but after a few minutes I pulled the curtain back to see – our fellow campers were outside to witness the northern lights. The picture I took through our van window while I was half asleep doesn’t capture how vibrant they were.

Overall, Vogar was a great location. It was near Reykjavík, it was cheap, it had all of the amenities we needed, and the check-in was really easy.

Fossardalur

Click on the header for Fossardalur campsite information! YOU NEED TO STAY HERE IF YOU’RE CAMPING. That’s all I need to say about this place. The only thing I’d change about camping here is driving during the day instead of in the dark. We missed the beautiful views of the cliffs along the way. This would be an amazing drive during the midnight sun!

When we arrived here it was dark so we had no idea what our camping situation was until the morning – the surprise was amazing though. Upon check in we showered outside in this little shack bathroom (we later discovered we could have showered inside in a really nice and warm bathroom – but may as well keep the bathroom stories rolling right?). My friend and I were nervous to shower alone since the stall was outside and we weren’t familiar with our surroundings so we braved the cold together – one person “stood guard” while the other showered. The shower itself was very old and the water didn’t drain fast enough so we were standing in a lake which was gross. After the shower catastrophe was sorted out the fun started!

This was the sky that greeted us when we stepped outside of the sketchy bathroom!! I couldn’t believe it. Growing up where I did in Canada, I had only ever seen faint green northern lights. My phone pictures barely capture what we saw. There were ribbons of green, purple, and orange dancing in front of us. We would have completely missed this spectacle if we had stayed in a hotel with a cozy shower.

This was our first time seeing the northern lights like this. Inside the camp kitchen building, we asked our host if the campsite lights could be shut off for about 20 minutes to enjoy the show light-pollution free. After she had asked the other campers if this was okay, we laid on our blanket outside taking it all in. Many other campers joined us in laying outside instead of hanging out indoors.

After the Northern Lights had died down, we met inside with our camp host who shared many local must dos with us.

I’m an early riser from working shift work. So, when I woke up, I was pleasantly surprised we were in the most beautiful campground. The campground itself is a sheep farm surrounded by huge mountains and a river. My friends were still sleeping, so I grabbed my camera and drone gear to catch the sunrise during a hike around the property. The drone videos captured in the area are amazing!

When I was finished taking photos and videos, I went back to the camp kitchen and started making some hangover cure coffee for my friends. I met two men from Spain who were cooking breakfast at the same time as me and they made me a cup of coffee how they make it at home. We sat together and drank our coffee sharing our trip highlights with each other. It was a very wholesome start to my day. Although, they thought that us Canadians were crazy for driving more than an hour a day in Iceland (they were also driving the Ring Road in the opposite direction but taking three weeks to do it – sounds like a dream to me), it was great conversation.

In perspective, I drive over an hour to work so I didn’t think anything of the 13-hour drive around the country, but where they live, everything is within walking distance and their whole country can easily be driven through in a day. When I told them I was from Ontario, they thought I could drive to Toronto. I told them it takes about 16 hours to drive south to Toronto from where I live in the province, and it would take another 8 hours to drive to Ontario’s most north land-access town of Pickle Lake. I take for granted how geographically large Canada is. So, for me, driving around Iceland in 8 days was plenty of time to do so.

This is an example of the shared kitchens we used while stopping at campsites when we didn’t want to cook in our van! We met a lot of amazing people and ate a lot of delicious vegan meals in these campsites.

Mývatn

Click on the header for Mývatn campsite information! I don’t have any photos from this campsite as we arrived at night, slept there, and then left first thing in the morning. From my knowledge, there were no showers that we could find, only bathrooms. It worked for us though! It was also conveniently located near Húsavík. Please note that starting in October, many campsites close for the winter season so plan your campsites ahead of time to ensure that they’re open during your visit to Iceland.

Hvammstangi

Click on the header for Hvammstangi campsite information! Again, I don’t have photos of this campsite, but hindsight is 20/20 when starting this blog. This is the place I experienced the most AMAZING aurora borealis on my trip though. My friend got some cool photos and videos with her camera. CampEasy has a photo contest I talked about earlier that you can enter in, and she got photos of the van with the colourful sky in the background!

We laid on a blanket on the ground for over an hour while the most intense solar storm I have ever witnessed danced in front of our eyes. There were intense greens, purples, pinks, oranges, and reds. I didn’t pull my phone out for this campsite; I just experienced the moment. I was truly in awe. When other campers saw us laying on a blanket in the grass to watch the northern lights, many others followed, and it was amazing that we all experienced this phenomenon together.

Reykjamork

Click on the header for Reykjamork campsite information! We stayed here for three nights out of convenience. It was so close to everything we wanted to see, many campsites were now closed for the season, the location was familiar at this point in the trip, and the showers, laundry, and kitchen were open.

I met a film student from the United States while doing laundry one day at this campsite. Usually, I avoid unplanned socialization for the life of me, but I ended up chatting with him holding mine and my friend’s laundry that needed to be put away for about 45 minutes. He had so many wonderful drone video ideas and we had actually shared so many of the same filming experiences on the trip already! I was very enthusiastic about this conversation as videography is a new hobby for me. We exchanged some must see spots and followed each other on social media. The campsites really were a highlight for me meeting so many international travelers with great stories.

Here’s a photo of one of the not so practical, but fun and hilarious cooking experiences we had using a camp stove in Iceland. Surprisingly, our vegan and gluten-free pizza cooked perfectly fine with this set up. At the Reykjamork Hveragerði campsite, the kitchen was in an outdoor, but covered and sheltered kitchen with lots of seating space! Unlike the other kitchens we used, this kitchen didn’t have a stovetop or oven, so we made the most of it!

Overall, I loved Iceland so much, and I hope that you do too!

Thank you to my friends Dana Campbell and Kendra Lemieux for any of the photos they took of me while on the trip!