7 Days in Iceland

01

REYKJAVIK & SKY LAGOON

We started in Reykjavik and kept the first day pretty simple, which in Iceland still means doing something pretty spectacular. After exploring the city, we headed to Sky Lagoon, where you can sit in geothermal water with the ocean right in front of you. But the real highlight for me was the sauna. It has one of the most incredible views I have ever seen from a sauna, and I mean that seriously. For a place that is basically built on fire and ice, Iceland has figured out hot water very well.

02

THE GOLDEN CIRCLE & SILFRA

Today was the classic Iceland greatest hits, Þingvellir National Park, Geysir and Gullfoss. Then we did something considerably less touristy, snorkeling at Silfra with Dive.IS, Iceland's leading snorkeling and diving provider. The water is ridiculously clear, the visibility is incredible, and you are literally swimming between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. It is also freezing. And if you are hoping to see some fish, don't hold your breath. There aren't any. Apparently even the fish think the water is too cold.

03

ICELANDIC HORSES & A VIKING DINNER

We went to see my friend Mr. Iceland, a longtime friend who knows the country incredibly well, and spent the day riding Icelandic horses through the landscape. This was one of those experiences that felt less like being a tourist and more like getting to see Iceland with a friend who actually knows the place. Riding through the Icelandic landscape gives you a completely different perspective on the country. You are moving slowly enough to actually take it in, which is useful when pretty much every direction looks like a movie set. That night we went full Viking with a traditional Icelandic dinner experience.

04

SELJALANDSFOSS, GLJÚFRABÚI, SKÓGAFOSS & VÍK

We headed south toward Vík, and this is where Iceland really starts showing off. First stop, Seljalandsfoss, the famous waterfall you can actually walk behind. Then Gljúfrabúi, tucked inside a narrow canyon just a short distance away. Next was Skógafoss, one of Iceland's biggest waterfalls, followed by Kvernufoss, a much quieter waterfall hidden in a gorge nearby. Then we continued to Vík and walked along the black sand beach before stopping at Black Crust Pizzeria.

Somehow, in the middle of one of the most beautiful places on earth, we had the best pizza of the trip. Allocate about six hours for this very Icelandic adventure, and be sure to set out early to catch the mountain at its most dramatic and to stay ahead of any unpredictable weather.

05

FJAÐRÁRGLJÚFUR, MÚLAGLJÚFUR & JÖKULSÁRLÓN

Today was glacier country. We started at Fjaðrárgljúfur, a massive canyon carved through the landscape that looks almost too perfect to be real. Then we explored Múlagljúfur, another spectacular canyon with waterfalls running through the valley and seriously incredible views. Then we continued east to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where huge pieces of ice break away from the glacier and float around the lagoon before eventually making their way toward the ocean. We explored the lagoon by kayak, getting close enough to appreciate how massive these pieces of ice actually are. It is one of those places where you take a photo, look at the photo and realize the photo doesn't really do it justice.

06

GLACIER CLIMBING, ZIPLINING & AURORA IGLOO SOUTH

At this point, simply looking at glaciers wasn't enough. We went ice climbing on Sólheimajökull, getting onto the glacier and actually climbing through the ice. Then we added a little more stupidity to the day, in the best possible way, with a zipline across the glacier. And then came one of the coolest stays of the trip, Aurora Igloo South. The idea of sleeping in a glass igloo in Iceland sounds like something you put on a bucket list and never actually do. We did it.

07

4X4, LAVA CLIFFS & THE BLUE LAGOON

We finished the adventure side of the trip with a 4x4 ride out onto Iceland's lava fields, getting properly into the landscape and seeing another side of the country's volcanic terrain. Then we headed to the Blue Lagoon in the evening. Warm geothermal water, volcanic landscape and a few hours to do absolutely nothing.