ICELAND A BUCKET LIST ADVENTURE WITH GO AHEAD TOURS
Iceland has been at the top of my bucket list for several years now, and my recent trip with Go Ahead Tours was nothing short of spectacular! This adventure was short, fast-paced, and jam-packed with all the must-see sites of this stunning country! From the unbelievable geography to the science behind its volcanic landscape, Iceland is truly like no other place on earth. What happens beneath the surface of this island is absolutely mind-blowing! Every moment was unforgettable, and I would highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for a thrilling, once-in-a-lifetime journey!!!
FIRST STOP THE BLUE LAGOON
One of Iceland’s most famous attractions, the BLUE LAGOON, is as dreamy in real life as it looks in pictures. This geothermal spa is a warm, mineral-rich oasis surrounded by lava fields. The milky blue waters are rich in silica, and left my skin feeling so soft! One of the highlights of this experience, was applying the famous mud mask, which is known for its deep-cleansing and revitalizing properties. My skin truly was glowing! It was thee perfect way to relax after a long plane ride.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH MY BLUE LAGOON REEL!
CITY TOUR OF ICONIC SITES
A city tour of Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital, was a beautiful mix of history and modern culture. First stop was this steel sculpture of the SUN VOYAGER, sitting right next to the Atlantic Ocean. The artist wanted it to speak to the promise of undiscovered territory, a dream of hope, progress, and freedom. One of the most striking landmarks is HALLGRIMSKIRKJA, an iconic church with a stunning design inspired by Iceland’s volcanic landscapes. You can see in the picture how spectacular it is! I went to the top, and so happy I did! It was mostly an elevator and not hard at all. It had an incredible panoramic view of the colorful city below, and the sound of the church bell up on top…. BEAUTIFUL!
LAVA CAVES
Exploring Iceland’s lava caves was an adventure! These underground tunnels, were created by ancient volcanic eruptions over 5000 years ago. Inside were stunning ice formations that resembled tiny gnomes. At one point our guide had all the lights turned off and we stood in complete silence. The only sound was water dripping in the darkness….. a moment of pure stillness that was both eerie but super cool! Even for those who might be claustrophobic, the experience felt completely doable for everyone. We had helmets and headlamps, so navigating the rocky path was easy, and I never felt unsafe. I’m so glad I had the chance to experience this!
THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
The Golden Circle is a popular route for tourists, that highlights some of Iceland’s most breathtaking sights. It’s a loop sometimes referred to as the Golden Triangle. You’ll see three gorgeous destinations. Thingvellir National Park, is where you can literally walk between two tectonic plates, the North American and the Eurasian plates. It was super cool to see the drop-off where the earth had fallen! Then the beautiful Gullfoss Waterfall, which is known to be one of the most powerful in all of Europe. It’s also know as the Golden Waterfall. SPECTACULAR! And finally the active geysers at Geysir Hot Springs. Watching the eruption of Strokkur, took me back to being a little girl at Yellowstne, watching Old Faithful! It erupts every 5-10 minutes or so.
LUNCH AT FRIOHEIMAR WAS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT
I couldn’t skip our lunch experience at the Frioheimar! It’s the most charming family-run farm that sits in the countryside. What makes it so special is not only the food, but its geothermal greenhouse, where rows and rows of tomato plants thrive all year long, even in Iceland’s cold weather. We got a close-up look at the busy bees, that were safely behind glass. Hundreds of bees pollinate the tomatoes and help keep the greenhouse ecosystem thriving!
We sat at a beautifully set table right amongst the plants. The ambiance was incredible! But the food? It was simple but perfect…. tomato soup and freshly baked breads, sour cream, cucumber, and butter! The flavor of the soup was to-die-for, and the breads were DELICIOUS! At each table was a basil plant, where you could snip off fresh leaves and add to your soup. I was in heaven! I dare say…. THE BEST MEAL of the entire trip!
SOUTHERN SHORE & BLACK SAND BEACH
It was a long drive from our hotel, to get to the southern coast, but oh so dreamy! The day we made the trip, we experienced some snow flurries, fog, along with some sunshine. It was incredibly beautiful! Our tour guide, Daniele, was so excited about what we were seeing and said it was EXTRA MAGICAL that day! More on traveling with a guide below.
The highlight was of course, the Black Sand Beach. The sand is the result of centuries of volcanic eruptions and erosion. It made for some stunning pictures! Daniella had warned us not to get close to the water. It’s powerful enough to pull you in unexpectedly, and sure enough….. a woman in our group almost got taken! But wow, what an incredible backdrop for my pictures, and the deep rumbling sound of the ocean was powerful!
We stopped at the beautiful Skógafoss Waterfall, a breathtaking sight! The cascading water drops down 200 feet to a pool below. The hike to the top is short…. it actually looks more intimidating than it is. It’s so worth it for the views from the top. Normally you can walk behind the waterfall into a cave area, but the day we were there the weather wasn’t ideal to do so.
The Byggoasafn Folk Museum was really worth a visit. It gives you a glimpse into the country’s rural past. It’s located in the town of Skogar, really close to the Skogafoss waterfall. You’ll find displays of art, traditional tools, household items, and even a reconstructed schoolhouse and church. It truly takes you back in time and a beautiful display of Iceland’s rich cultural.
CHASING THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
Of course, no trip to Iceland would be complete without hunting for the northern lights. We went out twice, and was fairly successful. The skies were a little hazy, but really surprised me at what kind of pictures you could get from your phone! If you’ve not heard people talking about this experience, the naked eye can’t see what your phone will see. It was interesting looking up and maybe being able to see a subtle streak of color. But when you took the picture and then looked back on your phone… the colors were there. It was very cool!!!!!
FLYOVER MUSEUM WAS INCREDIBLE
The FlyOver Museum wasn’t part of our tour, but on the last day we had some time before our flight, and so took the opportunity to go. It was definitely a WOW!!! It truly was breathtaking! It’s a simulated flight over some of Iceland’s most stunning landscapes. The sensation of souring over glaciers, volcanoes, and waterfalls was exhilarating. One thing to note…. if you have a tendency to get motion sickness, take something beforehand!!! It was absolutely worth going!!!
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT A TOUR TRIP
If you haven’t ever traveled with a tour, you need to, and here is why. Stress-free travel, knows how to navigate all the hot-spots, and points out all the hidden gems. And then there’s the unexpected weather…. they always have a backup ready-to-go option, just in case! It’s the most effortless and enjoyable way to explore somewhere new! And besides all of that, there’s all the amazing friends you make too!
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Iceland should be a bucket list adventure on anyone’s list! It was everything I dreamed of and MORE! This trip was truly unforgettable, and if you’ve ever considered visiting, don’t hesitate…. just GO! GoAhead Tours was wonderful in keeping us organized, safe, informed, and I wouldn’t have wanted to see Iceland any other way. They were incredible to travel with and I would highly recommend them!
REEL ~ ICELAND A BUCKET LIST TRIP
REEL ~ WHY I LOVED MY TOUR DIRECTOR
