Second trip to Iceland

HOT SPRING OF DEILDARTUNGUHVER

Location:

64.66362, -21.41057 Deildartunguhver 64.66451, -21.41135 Krauma Spa

This is a hot spring (100°C) and the most powerful in Europe. The Icelanders built an aqueduct system to bring this water to nearby towns and use it as a heating system (geothermal energy).

The site isn’t very large, but it’s pretty impressive. The water escapes through the rocks and flows into a small stream. It’s so hot that it bubbles and spurts like a fountain.

The steam that rises from it, however, carries a strong rotten-egg smell—that’s just the sulfur.

You’ll also find Krauma Spa, where the hot water comes directly from Deildartunguhver. This place has six baths in total (five hot and one cold) and also offers dining services.

https://youtu.be/WkUu7VfgnLM

HRAUNFOSSAR & BARNAFOSS

Location:

64.70164, -20.97867 Parking 64.70220, -20.97800 Viewpoint 1 64.70225, -20.97523 Viewpoint 2 64.70228, -20.97405 Viewpoint 3 64.70165, -20.97398 Viewpoint 4 64.70151, -20.97384 Viewpoint 5 64.70118, -20.97703 Hraunfossar Restaurant–Café

The Hraunfossar waterfall is made up of countless small cascades that flow beneath a lava field and emerge to empty into the Hvítá River. It’s absolutely stunning!

The Barnafoss waterfall stands out for its power. Its waters are tumultuous as they wind through a narrow passage created by erosion.

Barnafoss means "Children’s Waterfall." The name is said to come from the deaths of two children who tried to cross an arch over the river.

There’s a trail on each side of the river, as well as several promontories that let you see the site from different angles.

https://youtu.be/-yuAxJKgBD8

Hi Géraldine,

Thanks for your comment. I hope you have an amazing trip to Iceland.

Anne

VISITING REYKJAVIK

Reykjavik is a small city that’s easy to explore on foot. There are lovely trails around Tjörnin Lake.

The streets are lined with charming, colorful little houses. You’ll find plenty of shops, restaurants, cafés, and bars.

There’s also a long promenade along the sea. That’s where you can admire the Sun Voyager, an art piece representing a Viking ship.

https://youtu.be/I2onZhc56kM

REYKJAVIK - WHALE SAFARI - WHALE WATCHING

Location: 64.15150, -21.94418

We went on an excursion with Whale Safari to observe whales. The departure is from the old harbor in downtown Reykjavik.

Their RIB boats are designed to get closer to whales, dolphins, and puffins in Faxaflói Bay. They can accommodate 12 passengers per boat, and each boat has an expert whale-watching guide and a captain on board.

During this sea tour with perfect conditions (sunny skies and no waves), we spotted the following species: humpback whale, minke whale, white-beaked dolphin, harbor porpoise, and several bird species.

Thanks to Captain Öddi and guide Pedro for this amazing adventure!

https://youtu.be/QxMdQaurTH4

RAUFARHOLSHELLIR LAVA TUNNEL

Location: 63.93966, -21.39595

Raufarhólshellir is one of Iceland’s longest lava tunnels. Located just 30 minutes from Reykjavík, it’s easily accessible year-round. Plus, tours leave every hour during the day.

Equipped with a helmet and headlamp, we set off with a guide who shows us some of the tunnel’s most interesting features.

Raufarhólshellir is a lava tunnel formed during the Leitahraun eruption, which occurred east of the Bláfjöll mountains about 5,200 years ago.

The tunnel’s total length is 1,360 meters, with the main tunnel stretching 900 meters.

Near the tunnel’s entrance, the ceiling has collapsed, creating three beautiful columns of light inside.

The inside of the tunnel is stunning and very colorful.

https://youtu.be/I8tmbbqdLS8

LAC GÍGVATNSVATN (GREEN LAKE/GRAENEVATN)

63.88276, -22.05691 Parking

This lake is located very close to the Seltún geothermal site. An explosion is said to have formed a crater that then filled with water. The water is a beautiful turquoise color.

There’s a trail that lets you walk around the lake.

https://youtu.be/RzieQYBaJZE

GEOTHERMAL SITE OF SELTÚN (KRÝSUVÍK)

Location:

63.89585, -22.05274 Parking 63.89300, -22.06720 Hverafjall Summit

On the information sign at the entrance to the site, it states that this geothermal area has boiling mud pools and steam vents. The Earth's heat exceeds 200°C at a depth of 1,000 meters.

Wooden walkways have been installed to explore the site, and there are observation points on several levels. It's crucial not to stray from the marked path due to the risk of burns.

The ground displays intense colors that make the site so beautiful. You can observe hot springs and mud pots, all accompanied by a strong sulfur smell.

There’s also a trail leading to the top of the mountain. The slope is quite steep, but the effort is rewarded when you reach the summit. The view is stunning.

On one side, you can see, among other things, the emerald-green Lake Gígvatnsvatn, and on the other, you get a panoramic view of the geothermal site with the ocean in the background.

https://youtu.be/SMVPL9UK3Rc

LAC KLEIFARVATN

63.92992, -21.99464 Parking

Lake Kleifarvatn is one of Iceland’s largest and deepest lakes. The lake is surrounded by beautiful black sand beaches.

https://youtu.be/l06JJgHbLUk

BLUE LAGOON THERMAL STATION

Location:

63.88184, -22.45329 Parking 63.88190, -22.45318 Start of the 900 m loop trail 63.88135, -22.44797 Small bridge 63.88045, -22.44918 Toward the parking lot

Free outside the site. There’s a lagoon right in the middle of a lava field near the thermal station.

https://youtu.be/jKMqbaqoxvo

GUNNUHVER GEOTHERMAL SITE

Location:

63.81842, -22.68722 Parking 63.81911, -22.68595 Viewpoint 63.81941, -22.68417 Gunnuhver

Gunnuhver is a geothermal site in Iceland. It’s one of the hottest places in the country. The ground temperature can reach 300°C.

There are wooden walkways that let us stroll around the site, which isn’t very large.

This is where we felt the phenomenal power of all the energy rising from deep within the earth the most.

Among other things, there’s a pool where water and steam erupt with an infernal noise. You’d think you were hearing the roar of airplane engines.

Steam rises from the ground, a sign of the extreme heat beneath. The soil also has different shades created by sulfur deposits.

A legend tells of the ghost of a woman named Gunna who once haunted the area. A plan was devised by locals to lure the ghost into a hole to get rid of her. When she finally fell in, the site was named Gunnuhver in honor of the event.

https://youtu.be/I_whpMzLdXY

REYKJANES PENINSULA - REYKJANESVITI LIGHTHOUSE

Location:

63.81444, -22.70416 Parking 63.81502, -22.70397 Steps 63.81559, -22.70437 Lighthouse

We climbed the steps leading up to the lighthouse. From up there, we had a panoramic view of the Gunnuhver geothermal site.

https://youtu.be/_UJUPl52C4c

REYKJANES PENINSULA - VALAHNÚKAMÖL - REYKJANESTÁ

63.81272, -22.71550 Parking

Reykjanestá is the southernmost tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula (Reykjanesskagi) in Iceland.

Off the coast, you can spot Eldey Island, which is home to the world's largest gannet colony.

On the opposite side, the Reykjanesviti lighthouse stands atop a small hill in the heart of a stunning valley. It’s the oldest lighthouse in Iceland.

https://youtu.be/yuUWHT3NBAs

ÆGISSÍÐUFOSS

Location:

63.8142, -20.4160 Parking 63.8191, -20.4167 Ægissíðufoss

The Ægissíðufoss waterfall is located on the Ytri-Rangá River. It’s just a few kilometers from Hella, a small village in southern Iceland.

This waterfall, which is absolutely stunning, is a well-known fishing spot on the river and has a salmon ladder.

https://youtu.be/9BNPrc9058s

SUPER JEEP EXCURSION TO LANDMANNALAUGAR

63.83421, -20.40057 Hella – Bus stop

We bought an excursion that allowed us to explore Landmannalaugar in a Super Jeep, located in Iceland’s Highlands, one of the most beautiful regions in the country.

We went to the bus stop in the village of Hella for boarding.

Along the way, we made a few stops that let us discover the active volcano Hekla, which offers a stunning view of the region; the crater lake Ljótipollur with its turquoise waters and red coastal hills; Lake Frostastaðavatn, surrounded by black lava fields and colorful rhyolite mountains; and Sigöldufoss, a magnificent horseshoe-shaped waterfall.

You’ll get a glimpse of these sights in this video.

https://youtu.be/uAF1R1bhf_g

HIKING IN LANDMANNALAUGAR

Landmannalaugar is an astonishing natural phenomenon that makes it one of Iceland’s most beautiful regions.

Its rugged landscape, magnificent colors, bubbling hot springs, lava flows, and clear rivers make this place a paradise for hikers.

We did a loop hike that starts with the famous Laugavegur trail, which allowed us to discover extremely varied landscapes—from the black lava of the Lagahraun lava field to the colorful Mount Brennisteinsalda, passing through steaming hot springs, green moss, and of course, the Bláhnúkur volcano with its blue and black walls.

The cliffs around us display a stunning palette of colors. It’s a feast for the eyes!

After our hike, we headed to the natural hot water pool. Several people were bathing there.

Actually, it’s a stream hidden among the grass, accessible via a wooden footbridge. The place is incredibly soothing.

https://youtu.be/Ng35kNv1jh0

SCENERY SPOTTED ALONG THE ROAD

When conversations turn to the trips we’ve taken, I’m often asked: What’s your favorite destination? It’s hard to say since the attractions vary from one place to another. But I can confirm without a doubt that Iceland is definitely one of them. This country is packed with natural beauty.

After covering over 3,600 km on its roads, I can assure you I never got tired of admiring the stunning landscapes that unfolded before my eyes.

I wished I could’ve captured the vastness of Iceland in photos and videos. It’s completely unrealistic, of course. Still, I couldn’t resist snapping shots here and there as we traveled around the island.

I won’t comment on these videos. A picture is worth a thousand words, after all.

So I invite you to watch them. You’ll get the chance to explore Iceland’s roads from the comfort of your armchair.

Part 1:

https://youtu.be/cK-wvsstohk

Part 2:

https://youtu.be/6KfCRGX6yJY

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