The Storeys meet Iceland: Our 5 Day Itinerary
- Jenae Lindsey
- Aug 11, 2023
- 4 min read
Iceland is other worldly. From waterfalls, to glaciers, black sand beaches, and volcanoes, the landscape is ever changing and stunning. We felt like we walked off the plane and onto another planet. I would go back in a heartbeat. Here is our 5 day Iceland itinerary.
Day 1: Hiking Fagradalsfjall Volcano
We were lucky enough to go at a time when the Fagradalsfjall volcano was active. We'd heard from some friends that you could get close enough to watch the lava flowing. Our pictures didn't do it justice. We discovered a little too late that the parking area we'd found doubled (maybe even tripled?) the length of our hike. After flying + jet lag, hiking several hours in the wind and rain wasn't ideal but it was all worth it when we saw her erupting. Fagra in Icelandic is the feminine form of beautiful. Fagradalsfjall means "a beautiful valley mountain." Perfect.
Day 2: Skógafoss Waterfall, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, Dyrhólaey to see the Puffins, Solheimasandur Plane Wreck, Fjaorargljufur Canyon, Vik Campround
We rented a camper van which made it super easy to get around. We made stops along the way to each of our destinations and stayed at some beautiful campgrounds. There are waterfalls EVERYWHERE in Iceland but Skógafoss was one of our first stops and it took our breath away.
The Arch was beautiful but the real highlight for us here were the puffins. We visited Iceland in late August and worried that we'd be too late for the puffins, but we saw hundreds of them. Waddling, flying, snuggling. What a treat.
We learned about Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon from a Justin Beiber music video. Maybe the most important contribution he's made to our lives.
Sólheimasandur plane crash was a site to see, but I'm not sure I'd recommend the 4.6 mile walk to get there. We felt pretty envious of a tour group that rolled up on four wheelers. That seemed like the way to go!
Day 3: Horseback riding, Yoda Cave, Diamond Beach, Glacier Lagoon Boat Tour, Skaftafell, Svartifoss Falls, Reynisfjara Beach
Our trip through Iceland was mostly self guided but we did a few tours that we enjoyed! Horseback riding in Vik was one of them. We especially loved the horses' Icelandic names: Freyja and Spordur.
Dark lava columns surrounding a waterfall? Yes please!
We heard this Yoda Cave was off the beaten path, but as a couple of Star Wars nerds we had to go. It was 100% worth the trek.
I don't know why anyone would want to swim at Reynisfjara beach because it's freezing, but if you're tempted it's also super dangerous because of the sneaker waves. Better to just look at and climb on the rocks instead.
Diamond beach is stunning. Cold but stunning.
Day 4: Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Thingvellir National Park, Silfra Snorkel, Geysir Hot Springs, Kerid Crater, Gullfoss Waterfall, Akranes
The Seljalandsfoss Waterfall is a popular waterfall that's especially unique since you can walk behind it! When I think about Iceland this is one of the places that immediately comes to mind. We can't give Justin credit for helping us find this one, but it also happens to be in his music video.
I'd never worn a dry suit before snorkeling the silfra fissure. Our faces were still freezing but we felt surprisingly warm in water 35-39 F. Because it's so cold, there aren't many creatures able to tolerate the temps but it makes for incredibly clear water. Our guide encouraged us to take a drink before leaving.
Kerid Crater is one of the few paid for sites in Iceland. We thought it was worth every penny.
One of the most photographed waterfalls in the world (and one of the most famous in Iceland), Gullfoss means "Golden Waterfall." It wasn't very golden when we saw it, but it felt energizing to stand in its misty power.
Day 5: Branch meeting, Exploring Reykjavik (Icelandic Hotdogs)
Blue Lagoon, Volcano Hike (round 2)
I've heard people hate on Blue Lagoon because it's a "tourist trap" but we loved it! It was so relaxing for us after so much hiking each day. It was also the perfect warm up before hiking the Fagradalsfjall volcano a second time! We didn't do Secret Lagoon, which I've heard good things about and we'd definitely check that out if we get to go back one day!
We don't have any pictures from our campground in Akranes but we had a beautiful view of the volcano off in the distance. We also made a quick stop at the Old Lighthouse. A perfect last night in Iceland.
If we had to do Iceland all over again we would rent a vehicle with 4-wheel drive to venture up into the highlands. We felt like we packed a ton in with our short amount of time and we'd feel so lucky to come back one day. If you get a chance to go, take it! Oh, and make sure you try Skyr, Icelandic yogurt. A superior alternative to the hotdogs.
Have you been to Iceland? Share with us your favorite places in the comments below!
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