THE NORDIC SERIES, DAY 8
ICELAND
From one paradise to another. Bidding farewell to the Faroes I knew Iceland had it’s work cut out to come anywhere close to it! Something told me Iceland would be overhyped, so lowering expectations would help me enjoy it more.
2 TOURISTS DIED HERE JUST 2 MONTHS LATER
But how is that possible considering what Greenland LINK and The Faroe Islands LINK have just delivered? But with the amount of activities I had arranged I hoped it wasn’t going to be the case.
WHERE IS ICELAND?
HELLISHEIDARVIRKJUN
Walking out to torrential rain wasn’t a good start; it was very different from Greenland and The Faroes. I met my parents and sister, who arrived yesterday, before heading to Hellisheidarvirkjun Geothermal Power Plant. As a fan of engineering feats, this was perfect for me; I recommend it to anyone since it’s only a 30-minute tour.
GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
In as few words as possible let me explain how it works; Iceland sits on 2 continental plates and between the 2 there is an abundance of heat and energy. The plant takes boiling water from the ground, using its energy to heat clean water from other ground sources. Hot clean water is piped to Reykjavik (1 hour by car) to heat buildings, while the original hot water is pumped back.
SELJALANDSFOSS
Next we took off for Seljalandsfoss one of Icelands most famous waterfalls but the highlight was the hidden gem, Gljufrabui. Few people know Gljufrabui is a 5-minute walk from Seljalandsfoss, so it’s often quiet. Iceland has many waterfalls, which I thought wouldn’t interest me unless as big as Iguazu, but they are special.
ITINERARY
Our itinerary was meticulously organized, but we had some daylight left before reaching our hotel. With winter approaching, we needed to use every minute, so we raced to the Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck, a famous site.
TIPS….
- Pack warm clothes, it can’t take up to 4hours to hike there and back (7km)
- Do not travel when it is dark.
- Stick to the road if walking or get the bus.
- The bus comes every 30minutes.
SÓLHEIMASANDUR PLANE WRECK
The weather wasn’t ideal, but the rain stopped once we started the 4 km walk. The walk is manageable, but you must get used to walking if you want to see Iceland’s sights. You can however get the bus which goes back and forth from the carpark costing 1500ISK (£10).
Seeing the crash site was strange after so many photos; I guess this will be common in Iceland. Climbing inside or on top isn’t allowed, but people do it, especially when crowds are small.
In 1973 a US Navy DC crash landed on the black beach in southern Iceland. The exact cause is still unknown but luckily all passengers survived.
MAGMA HOTEL
Tonight we have checked into Magma Hotel, a stunning hotel with cabin like rooms which look out onto a lake. It is located pretty close to the Eldhraun Lava Fields which will be off to tomorrow.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Not a bad first day considering I had only just arrived
NEXT UP
Horses, Lagoons and beaches!! Click to read.
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
138/229
This post is part of The Nordic Series, click to explore or for episode 1 click here.
To watch the video of my trip, head to my highlights on my Instagram.
Question Time
- Have you been to Iceland?
- Did you visit the plane wreck or any waterfalls?
- What was your highlight?
Let me know in the comments below . . .
