Iceland Excursion

I was genuinely looking forward to this trip. The last few trips have been memorable but hardly distinguishable. Walking through the cobbled streets, looking at Churches, eating street food from that vendor in the main square. Wait a minute, which country was that again? In all honesty it does start to become slightly repetitive. This trip would also be different because we had a schedule and a list of things to do. In total, 11 people would embark on the 3 hour flight from London to Reykjavik.

Flights plus 3 nights accommodation at Hotel Cabin (£205). The flight was comparatively longer than most weekend trips but was comfortable and most importantly did not feel rushed. Hotel Cabin was basic but featured a shower which makes a mockery of Australian Water Restrictions. Speaking of water, the tap water was the best tasting water I've have ever tasted.

Day 1 (07/03/09):

0930: Breakfast
1000: Hire Car and drive around the Golden Circle (£25)
2000: Dinner reservation at Humarhusid (£60)
2330: Apotek Bar

That was at least the plan. We picked up the hire car just after midday and began our first day in Iceland.

Gullfoss Waterfall. Absolutely freezing up there, don't let the pictures fool you.


Geysir and Strokkur.


The National Park leg of our private tour suffered a premature end when our hire car showed little enthusiasm against the snow littered tracks.


Day 2(08/03/09):

0800: Breakfast
0830: Pick up
0900: Glacier Tour (17950 IKR)
0730: Northern Lights Tour (€40)

One thing I have prided myself on is surviving the London winter without the aid of gloves and an umbrella. After our first day out in uncomfortably cold conditions I decided I would not survive Iceland without gloves. We sat at bus terminal waiting for the tour bus to arrive when my friend spotted some gloves. "Psst, look somebody left their gloves here, why don't you take them?". I glanced over at the manky looking gloves and picked them up. Some poor tourist had left their gloves while waiting to be picked up. I brought them close to my nose and gave them a whiff. They reeked "Geez, they sink!" to which my friend replied "Do you want smelly hands or no hands?". Promptly I tucked them into my pockets and started our tour.


The glacier tour was amazing, our group consisted of 25 people and two guides. We were separated into two groups and given picks, crampons, pulleys and ropes and we began our ascent up the glacier.


We arrived back at the hotel later than expected. Thankfully our Northern lights tour was canceled. It was reported that for that night there was a 0% chance of seeing the aurora.

Day 3 (09/03/09):

0800: Breakfast
0830: Check out/Pick up (€25)
0900: Blue Lagoon (€18 entry)
1400: Airport Direct
1700: Flight


It's such a surreal feeling floating on your back in hot water while snow and ice blow across your face. What a lacky post.