A Return Trip to Iceland

Iceland seems to be having a bit of a moment right now, and as more and more posts about the country pop up on Instagram and blogs, I find myself with a huge case of travel envy. I mean, how beautiful are these photos of Iceland? The thing is, I’ve already been to Iceland hundreds of times, or at least around 50 times. My family would always fly Icelandair on our yearly trips to visit family in Norway, which always included a layover in Reykjavik. A couple of times we extended our time in Iceland, but sadly I was too young to remember much of those magical trips.

Luckily though, now that I’m living in Trondheim I’m only a short flight away from Iceland! And you better believe that I already have an extensive list of things I want to see there. So when Guide to Iceland asked me to share my Iceland wish list I didn’t have to think hard about it!

The Golden Circle

There’s no better way to explore a small island nation than a road trip, am I right? The Golden Circle in Iceland is a 300 km loop that takes visitors through some of Iceland’s most beautiful sights, including Þingvellir National Park, the famous Gullfoss waterfall, and Geysir – the original hot water spring from which geysers got their name! This tour is especially perfect for visitors to Iceland who are short on time, as it doesn’t take you far outside of Reykjavik but still covers a lot of diverse landscapes and sights. Next time I have a layover in Reykjavik I’m definitely going to take advantage of the chance to explore the Golden Circle.

Esjan

With all its gorgeous nature, it’s no wonder that Iceland is an ideal hiking destination. And it just so happens that there are some excellent hikes just outside of Reykjavik. I have a photo of me as a child standing on a viewpoint at Esjan looking over Reykjavik and I would love to recreate that shot – and see the view again!

Landmannalaugar

Ever wanted to hike through a lava field? Landmannalauger lies on the edge of Laugahraun lava field and has lots of trails through the volcanic dessert and along natural geothermal hot springs. With its volcanoes and hot springs, Iceland has some unique landscapes, and a hike through Landmannalaugar shows off the country at its best. While Landmannalauger lies several hours outside of Reyjkavik, I definitely want to make time to go out there someday.

Gjáin

I first stumbled on a photo of Gjáin on Instagram, and since then have heard it described as one of Iceland’s hidden treasures. I’m all about exploring hidden spots where few tourists visit, so Gjáin is definitely on my Iceland bucket list. Gjáin is full of lava caves, as well as two impressive waterfalls.

photo source

Snæfellsnes

When I think of Iceland I picture glaciers, waterfalls, beaches, volcanic mountains, and adorable little villages. Luckily for me, I there’s a place in Iceland where I can see all of this: Snæfellsnes peninsula. The peninsula also happens to be home to Snæfellsjökull National Park, which covers 170 square kilometers. My parents still talk about the beauty of Snæfellsnes, so I can’t wait to return and explore there as an adult.

Do you have an Iceland bucket list yet?

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Photos courtesy of Iceland.is unless otherwise stated.