Menu

Iceland

As I stood bundled in my parka atop a frozen hill, searching the blackest midnight sky for a glimmer of green or a sparkle of blue. It was night five of our search & as my eyes adjusted and my hands warmed on my fresh cup of cocoa–slowly the colors crept across the sky. The Aurora Borealis. The reason we ended up in Iceland in February. 

The land of 1,000 waterfalls. & my favorite road trip. The frigid tundra of Iceland is spotted with electric-blue glaciers & fuzzy herds of reindeer. Although the cuisine is pickled & fish forward, the country remains at the top of my list in sheer beauty.

Iceland Travel Guide

Recommended Cities: Reykjavik, Vik, Höfn, Akureyri, Snæfellsnes, Thingvellir National Park 

Recommended Minimum Trip Length: 2 weeks

One Bucketlist Item You Cannot Miss: Hiking atop the Vatnajökull glacier. Snorkeling between the tectonic plates in the Silfra fissure. Watching the Northern Lights paint the sky. 

Things to Consider Before You Go: Get the rental car insurance. Roads can be treacherous. 

Don’t forget that glacier hikes & the Northern Lights are only available in the winter months. But during those months you’ll experience much less daylight. 

Estimated Backpacker Budget

On a Shoestring: $50/day 

Flashpacker: $70/day 

Backpacker Luxury: $85/day

Keep in mind these are backpacker budgets. On a shoestring expect to be eating street food, sleeping in hostel beds, & skipping the more expensive tourist attractions. Backpacker Luxury opts for private rooms, eats mostly in restaurants, and splurges on activities. Flashpackers are the middle ground & often do a mixture of both.  

Iceland is perfect for travelers looking for dramatic natural landscapes, wildlife experiences, & adventurous hiking.

Iceland Blog Posts