Discussion
I really didn't think I was going to like this one- after all I am normaly a "beer by the pool" sort of bloke but i've got to tell you that Iceland is fantastic.
For starters it was hotter than here, I saw whales, geysers, sulphur steams, icebergs (tasting 1000yr old ice!), bathed in thermal pools and saw glaciers.
The kids (6 and 8) loved it, especially the Blue lagoon, and I would go back tomorrow.
Only negatives- its ferociously expensive, we didn't have a meal under £140, (but all in, 9 nights only cost a bit more than 14 in a 5 star resort in Crete recently (and it was far more memoriable) and theres a fair bit of driving, which isn't like anything in the UK, at least not around here.
also if your mobility isn't great (like mine) you need to accept that there are places where you have to wait in the car- but the scenery makes up for it.
No more pools for me- feel like I've just had a real holiday.
Top marks Iceland !
For starters it was hotter than here, I saw whales, geysers, sulphur steams, icebergs (tasting 1000yr old ice!), bathed in thermal pools and saw glaciers.
The kids (6 and 8) loved it, especially the Blue lagoon, and I would go back tomorrow.
Only negatives- its ferociously expensive, we didn't have a meal under £140, (but all in, 9 nights only cost a bit more than 14 in a 5 star resort in Crete recently (and it was far more memoriable) and theres a fair bit of driving, which isn't like anything in the UK, at least not around here.
also if your mobility isn't great (like mine) you need to accept that there are places where you have to wait in the car- but the scenery makes up for it.
No more pools for me- feel like I've just had a real holiday.
Top marks Iceland !
its amazing how long it takes "life" to come back to an area thats either been devestated by flood or lava etc.
Hundreds and hundreds of years.
At worst its like spending several hours driving through the most spectacular gravel pit you've ever seen
and why can they get miles of highway thats been swept away by billions of gallons of water and ice (plus several bridges) open in 3 weeks??
Hundreds and hundreds of years.
At worst its like spending several hours driving through the most spectacular gravel pit you've ever seen
and why can they get miles of highway thats been swept away by billions of gallons of water and ice (plus several bridges) open in 3 weeks??
I did a couple of weeks there in June this year. It was amazing, and i would recommend it to everyone (especially given that it's only a 3hr flight away!).
I drove 2,500 miles in that time and did the ring road (missing the west fjords). Technically at 2,500 miles i could have driven round more than twice, but i took a lot of trips off the main road
I didn't even bother with the Blue Lagoon, and only spent a couple of days in Reykjavik. There's so much more to the country than those two spots
My highlights were probably:
- http://www.insidethevolcano.com/
- Photographing Godafoss at midnight
- Trying to find the wrecked C47 by walking there (not being boring and driving!). The only negative was being dived on by some birds that did not want me there!
https://vimeo.com/44208447
- Driving to Landmannalaugar and walking around with no one around
A few more photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthoulb/sets/721576...
I am so tempted to take a weekend trip there over winter, but am not sure it makes financial sense
I drove 2,500 miles in that time and did the ring road (missing the west fjords). Technically at 2,500 miles i could have driven round more than twice, but i took a lot of trips off the main road
I didn't even bother with the Blue Lagoon, and only spent a couple of days in Reykjavik. There's so much more to the country than those two spots
My highlights were probably:
- http://www.insidethevolcano.com/
- Photographing Godafoss at midnight
- Trying to find the wrecked C47 by walking there (not being boring and driving!). The only negative was being dived on by some birds that did not want me there!
https://vimeo.com/44208447
- Driving to Landmannalaugar and walking around with no one around
A few more photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthoulb/sets/721576...
I am so tempted to take a weekend trip there over winter, but am not sure it makes financial sense
OP, if you liked that type of holiday you should look at a trip with one of the small group adventure companies, Iceland is amazing but these companies can really show you the best of pretty much every country they run trips to. Nowadays they do trips with other families which gives the kids a chance to make pals and gives the adults a breather in the evening.
BrabusMog said:
OP, if you liked that type of holiday you should look at a trip with one of the small group adventure companies, Iceland is amazing but these companies can really show you the best of pretty much every country they run trips to. Nowadays they do trips with other families which gives the kids a chance to make pals and gives the adults a breather in the evening.
thats a really good idea- but unfortunately I'm disabled, don't walk to well. and sometimes its "easier" to do things ourselves.Wife would love it though.
ps- If anyone is reading this, don't let anyone say the bluelagoon isnt a highlight and a must- but people are right, there is so much more to Iceland and in 10 days we only managed to get to Hofn (South coast) and that is a long old drive
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