Iceland's Top Spots On the Less Beaten Path!
- Veronica Rocha
- Aug 19, 2017
- 4 min read
This summer my husband and I spent ten awesome days circling Iceland. No doubt Reykjavik, the Golden Circle, and Snaefellsnes Peninsula have much to offer. However, I encourage you to go beyond these traditionally visited places. Here's a list of my top spots to check-out on the less beaten path around Iceland!
1. Gjáin
No picture or words could ever fully describe Gjain. Nestled between surrounding black lava fields, lush greenery and clear blue icy cold waterfalls and streams, Gjain feels like paradise in nowhere land. Gjain is like no other place I have ever experienced before. It is surreal, magical, a true paradise in the middle of nowhere, and no other place that I would rather be at!
2. Dyrholaey Nature Reserve and Vik
We stumbled upon Dyrholaey Nature Reserve by pure happenstance yet it was one of the most rewarding experiences of our trip. Looking toward the ocean at the top of the cliff one can see enchanting rock formations that seem like mystical dormant warriors protecting the vicinity and ready to come alive at moment's notice.
From the top of the cliff at Dyrholaey Nature Reserve you can see the charming town of Vik. At the highest elevation of Vik is a beautiful white church. Townspeople are trained to go to this church in the event of a tsunami caused by the explosion of nearby active volcano. More than a gathering place, I love that the safety of this church unites the townspeople and gives them the opportunity to continue living in the land that they adore!
3. Skaftafell Glacier and Nearby Lagoons
Skaftafell Glacier can be accessed through the southern part of Vatnajökull National Park. Upon arriving at the foot of the glacier, it is hard not to get pulled into the vastness of the glacier, leaving its tracks by the surrounding melted ice lagoon on the sharply contrasting black volcanic sand.
Further east of Skaftafell Glacier is Fjallsárlón glacial lagoon. I highly recommend taking a raft tour out of this lagoon as it gets you up-close to the glacier. It is not uncommon to experience a part of the glacier tear off from above or beneath the water. When it happens you can't help but feel extremely grateful for the once in a lifetime experience yet extremely vulnerable to the vastness and power of the glacier.
Past Fjallsárlón glacial lagoon is its better known relative, Jökulsárlón glacial lakes. The best part of this lagoon is becoming mesmerized by the aqua blue water and even brighter fresh ice floating on the lake.
These melting glaciers are a personal reminder of impermanence, the concept that nothing ever stays the same. They also remind me of the importance of adopting to the changing times and protecting our environment. It gives me further passion to pursue my work in clean energy policy and the elimination of fossil fuels for energy generation.
4. Mývatn Nature Baths and Akureyi
If you are looking for a relaxing "Blue Lagoon"-type of experience without all the crowds, then I highly recommend checking-out Mývatn Nature Baths. After soaking-up the warmth and minerals of the lagoon's aqua blue water and enjoying the beautiful unobstructed surroundings, spend some time in the dry or steam saunas followed by traditional Icelandic soup in the Mývatn Nature Baths' cafe. It's guaranteed to be a delicious experience inside and out!
Although Mývatn has great lodging, I recommend staying at the nearby town of Akureyi. I was very attracted to Akureyi's simple and effective architecture with a twist of artistry and charm!
5. Delvik and Northern Glacier Roads
Every year my husband and I travel to Maui to check-out humpback whales that migrate from Alaska. Being spoiled in this way, we almost passed-up the opportunity to go on a boat whale watching and fishing tour off Delvik's port. So glad we did not! Shortly after leaving Delvik, our boat stumbled upon a lively humpback whale that gave us quite a show with breaches and fin slaps. Whenever we got slightly tired of looking for whales, it was easy to re-engage with excitement as the surrounding fjords are breathtaking! Also fun was fishing out of the boat as even the most inexperienced fishermen (such as myself) caught cod, which was grilled for us upon docking back at Delvik. Truly the best cod I have ever had!
After the boat ride, we made our way to the the eastern part of Iceland meandering through the vast Northern fjords. While all of Iceland is photographers' paradise, I found the the Norther fjords to be particularly memorable. I felt that the dirt roads were strategically unpaved, forcing one to slow down and enjoy the view of of the fjords appearing to float at a distance above green pastures carefully adorned by native lavender flowers. Just thinking about it immediately relaxes me and has me yearning for my next visit to Iceland!
