Once in a lifetime in Reykjavik - Iceland
As we boarded the flight, we greeted by Iceland air staff who were very friendly and accommodating. The flight was on time. We were in 32" seat pitch which I found very comfortable. All seats had seat back touchscreen TV’s with a wide range of movies and TV shows.
The service on the flight was very good and you get soft drinks and hot drinks included. If you want something a little stronger or a bite to eat you can purchase this onboard. The flight took 2 hours 25 minutes.
On arrival at the airport it was very busy as all the international flights were waiting to connect to the USA. Once we collected our luggage, which was a 23kgs allowance, we made our way out of the terminal to get our transfer to the hotel. As we left the airport there was a rainbow to greet us!
Upon arriving at the Reykjavik Marina hotel I was very impressed with the style of hotel, modern but cosy. This hotel is very central and a 5-minute walk to the centre so it’s perfect.
Well what can I say after today? Absolutely amazing! We did the Golden Circle tour today where we were picked up by a huge Hummer and taken on an adventure. Firstly we visited the national park and biggest lake in Iceland. It was vast, unspoilt and not to be missed if visiting this beautiful country. We then made our way to the Gullfoss waterfall, fiercer than Niagara Falls! It is a steep path to get right up to the waterfall so hiking shoes are recommended. It's very windy and there is a lot of spray from the waterfall so wrap up. We also stopped at Geysir where the warm natural waters erupt every 5-10 minutes.
We then headed to the glacier which involves quite a bumpy ride once off-road but it’s worth it. It might be worth purchasing motion sickness tablets. On the glacier the temperatures drop and it was 0 degrees. We went snowmobiling and they give you gloves, helmet and suit with your guides to show you how to drive and travel around the glacier for around 25 minutes each way. This was great fun and another thing off the bucket list.
This evening was a very clear night so we were very lucky to see the Northern Lights right outside our hotel in the city.
We started with free time the next morning so we had a walk through the town up to the church. It’s very impressive and worth a visit. We then made our way to the lava tunnels which took about 40 minutes to get to from the hotel. We had to wear protective head gear which apparently is just to make us look trendy, not save us if the cave was falling in! We had a geologist guiding us through the cavern.
After an hour there we went into the Blue Lagoon which I was very excited for. On arrival we were given wristbands and towels, the facilities are very modern and clean and lockers are included. Once we were ready and changed we headed into the water which was hot! You can take phones in but a protective bag is advisable. We were on the comfort package which included the above and two face masks followed by a drink at the pool bar. There is also a steam room and sauna. It was amazing! The journey to Blue Lagoon is around 40-45 minutes from Reykjavik. After getting back to the hotel we went to eat at Caruso restaurant in the centre which I would definitely recommend as the food and service was excellent.
At 9.30pm we were picked up to do the Northern Lights. We booked this night as the prediction to see them was good. They drive you out of the city to a location which is completely dark to improve your chances of seeing them. It took us around an hour to reach the viewing point then we grabbed a drink as there was a small restaurant/bar/shop and toilets. At 12am, as forecasted, they appeared and it was just beautiful as they filled the sky, twisting and dancing. Such an incredible experience. A wow moment!
We then headed back to the hotel to catch an hours’ sleep before leaving for our early morning flight with Iceland Air. All I can say is this trip was incredible!