We set off from Reykjavík, with our car fuel tank full, and boot filled with loads of groceries from Bonus, warm and toasty winter wear and phones ready with all the apps, Vedur for the road conditions, Aurora for the northern lights we were hoping to catch.
Reynisfjara black sand beach
The road between Selfoss and Vík is dotted with countless horse farms and I wanted to just jump out and squish all of the horses. Don’t worry I didn’t… and please do not be that idiot who stops anywhere on the road, it is illegal, dangerous and there are plenty little lanes off you can turn into if you must stop to take photos.
Icelandic horses
Skogafoss falls and the unfortunate weather
On the way to Vík we spotted 2 gorgeous waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss for quick visits. Unfortunately, the weather was beyond crap.
As we headed east we reached Vík, which great for a stopover to get food, you can replenish your groceries at the Krónan and fill up your tank.
Vík
This is also the town where you can experience the Black lava beach as well as the Basalt columns… the gap between reality and expectation were far and beyond thanks to the weather, a storm and our bad luck.
Reynisdrangar, we could barely spot the sea stacks and the wind was blowing lava sand, salty water into our faces. I almost flew away, or at least my car door did
We hurriedly continued to drive east as we had booked a 2pm Crystal Cave tour with Arctic adventures. We planned to finish the tour, drive back to Fosshotel Nupar where we were booked and spend the next day exploring the east. A better plan would have probably been to stay in Jökulsárlón or further east but we didn’t find a great spot to stay so we settled for Nupar and we were not disappointed.
Crystal cave tour
Amazement
Mindblowing !!! If there is one reason I am grateful about the time we chose for Iceland it is this. Pure blue crystal ice formations in the middle of one of Europe’s largest glacier, what a freaking experience. We went with Artic adventures and were not disappointed. It is not for the faint hearted, or if you tend to get motion sick.
Even my tallie looked tiny compared to the massive ice formations
Hoping I won’t fall into the melted ice
Walking through an Ice crevice on Vatnajökull glacier
Standing on the Vatnajökull glacier (with my crampons)- panicking cause the sun is going down rapidly and I have a fear of being stranded on a glacier in the dark
The next day we planned to visit the Diamond beach and Höfn but road and driving conditions to Höfn in the east were questionable. We decided to explore the diamond beach and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon at leisure and explore Skaftafell.
I can never quite explain the sight as we drove over the bridge towards the glacier lagoon. My jaw hit the floor of the car. 250 metres before the bridge we turned off the main highway at one of the parking bays. We headed up a little bump of land and found a totally empty patch of the Glacier lagoon and a hiking trail going around the lagoon. We spent 40 minutes hiking around the lagoon with only floating icebergs all around and not another soul. Moments like these fill my heart with so much gratitude for the ability to travel.
Watching the icebergs float past into the sea, bittersweet feelings because even while humans destroy nature, the beauty of nature surpasses everything else
The glacier lagoon which we had to ourselves
Glacier Lagoon, one of my top experiences ever (there were about 1000 tourists around me here)
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend
Diamond beach
As we left the lagoon, watching icebergs float into the ocean, getting washed back up onto the black sand beach forming ‘diamonds’ I had a deep sense of sadness. What have we humans done to our planet, and sadness that I may never see this once in a life time sight again.
The drive back to Nupar is just stunning with a view of the whole Vatnajökull glacier and its magnificent scale towering over us, tiny specks in the universe.
The Skaftafell area has a gas station on the highway. You will also find Freysnes the store here, which stocks sandwiches, ice-cream but has a restaurant with warm food, pretty decent burgers, meat and potatoes and soup. This was such a welcome change from eating cold food.
STAY
Dreamy skies at Fosshotel Nupar
Fosshotel Nupar, stunning hotel, the rooms were spacious, and had incredible views of the glacier. They had a “northern lights system” where if the lights came out to play they wake you. No such luck though… yet… wait for it!
The breakfast was great. The only down side was that the only dinner they were serving was a very blah and pricey Christmas buffet dinner. The menu was the same 2 days in a row. This meant that on our second night here we had to rely on instant noodles and sandwiches yet again. After this trip, needless to say.. I have stayed off any sandwiches for almost 2 months!
