I’m sharing what fascinated me. There’s so much more to discover.
#1 Dettifoss
'Dettifoss' is considered Europe's most voluminous waterfall. With a drop of 44 meters and a width of 100 meters, hundreds of cubic meters of water per second thunder down into a gorge at Dettifoss.
#2 Studlagil Canyon
The 'Studlagil Canyon' is a basalt rock formation located in Jokuldalur Valley in East Iceland. It was discovered in 2009 after a hydroelectric project lowered the water level of the Jokulsa a Dal River, exposing the distinctive walls.
#3 Diamond Beach
That's what I was looking forward to the most: The 'Diamond Beach' is a stunning stretch of black volcanic sand in southeast Iceland where gleaming, centuries-old icebergs wash ashore.
#4 Lambhus Glacier View Cabins
We spent two nights at the 'Lambhus Glacier View Cabins', surrounded by incredible nature and a fantastic view of the glacier Vatnajökull. Vatnajökull is Iceland's largest glacier and the largest in Europe outside the polar regions.
#5 Stokksnes Beach
'Stokksnes Beach' made a deep impression on me because of its spectacular, almost otherworldly stretch of black volcanic sand. I could easily lose myself there time and again.
#6 Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss' is an impressive waterfall. The most fascinating thing about it is a deep, cave-like recess behind the waterfall, allowing you to walk all the way behind the cascading water—and get a little wet in some places. At first, we didn’t actually plan to go there, but we have to admit it was an extraordinary experience.
#7 Puffins
On 'Dyrhólaey beach', we finally spotted the puffins. It was pouring with rain and the birds were at least as surprised to see us as we were to see them. Windy, rainy and freezing cold – the perfect time to spot a puffin.
#8 Iceland Road Tip
Iceland Road Trip – I’ve summarized all the points for you here.
This sequence follows Iceland’s Ring clockwise and minimizes backtracking.
+++ 1st Stage: Keflavík Airport → Borgarnes
A gentle first day to leave the airport behind and start your journey around Iceland.
Stop en route:
→ Grábrók Volcanic Crater
+++ 2nd Stage: Borgarnes → Akureyri +++
Stops in optimal order:
→ Hraunfossar Waterfall
→ Barnafoss Waterfall
→ Goðafoss Waterfall
→ GeoSea Geothermal Baths, Húsavík
+++ 3rd Stage: Akureyri → Egilsstaðir
1 night at Mjóanes Guesthouse
Stops:
→ Dettifoss Waterfall and Selfoss Waterfall
→ Stuðlagil Canyon
+++ 4th Stage: Egilsstaðir → 2 nights at Lambs Glacier View Cabins
Stops:
→ Vestrahorn, Stokksnes Beach
→ Múlagljúfur Canyon Hike
→ Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
+++ 5th Stage: Lambs Glacier View Cabins → 1 night at Hotel Rangá
Stops:
→ Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
→ Vík
→ Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
→ Dyrhólaey (puffin viewing in season)
→ Skógafoss Waterfall
→ Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
+++ 6th Stage: Hotel Rangá → Reykjavík
Stops on the Golden Circle Route:
→ Urriðafoss Waterfall
→ Kerið Crater Lake
→ Geysir Geothermal Area
→ Gullfoss Waterfall
→ Þingvellir National Park
Highlights in Reykjavík:
→ Perlan
→ Hallgrímskirkja Church
→ Sun Voyager Sculpture