Mývatn Nature Baths

Northeastern Iceland

If you love volcanoes and geothermal activity,  then Northeastern Iceland is the place for you. The volcanic activity here is evident everywhere you look. From towering volcanoes to geothermal springs, sulfer vents and bubbling mud pools, it is really a cauldron of activity.

Highlights

    • Mývatn Nature Baths – If you make it this far out into Iceland, then this hot spring is definately worth a look. Rivaling the more popular Blue Lagoon, Mývatn Nature Baths offers a relaxing soak in pools heated by the volcanic legacy of Iceland.
    • Camping Beneath Volcanos – If you don’t feel like driving any more after the relaxing soak in the nature baths, there is a campground nearby that over looks Mývatn lake and the volcano, A quite lovely view to fall asleep to.
    • Hverfell Crater – If you are looking for a nice, short hike with exciting views and lots of volcanic ash, then this hike is for you. This walk take you up along the rim of an active volcano that collapsed on it self.

_MG_7403

Southern Iceland

If glaciers and waterfalls are what excite you, then finding yourself in southern Iceland may be what you’re looking for. Not only is Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull easily accessible via Skaftafell, there is also numerous other sights to behold. One thing that really held my attention was the ice filled lagoon of Jökulsárlón. Large chunks of the glacier break off at this point and float out to sea. The azure blue water is incredible to say the least.

The small town of Vik along the southern coast offered a relaxing place to rest after a day of glacier exploration in the national park to the east. We stayed at Hostel Puffin while we were in Vik. It was a nice little place that offered clean single and double occupancy sleeping bag accommodations for about about 30$. The rooms were small, but they were certainly livable, and the atmosphere felt like that of an old farmhouse.

Highlights

    • Jökulsárlón – This is where the glacier meets the sea. An azure blue lagoon that is full of floating Ice chunks from the Vatnajökull glacier. There are tours available where guides will drive you around in an amphibious vehicle to get you up close with these ice giants.
    • Skaftafell – This is the main excursion point for adventure in Vatnajökull National Park. We hiked a few kilometers up a trail that departed out of here and were able to access the glacier. We had glacier travel experience so we chose to do it on our own, but if you do not, there are guide outfits here that will be more than happy to take you on a glacier trek.
    • Vik – Vik is a small little town nestled on the southern coast of Iceland. The town itself offers plenty of little things to do. There is a wool factory, plenty of geological features to explore, and of course if you love animals, there are puffins and various other birds amongst the nearby cliffs.
    • Seljalandsfoss – If there is one thing Iceland doesn’t lack, that is waterfalls. This waterfall in particularly stunning as it shoots out quite far and cam be easily walked behind. It is also said that this is the only waterfall in Iceland where it is acceptable for a woman to propose to a man.