Category: Road Trip

Off Road Driving in Iceland

Our Road Trip

We got a camper van with 4 wheel drive for one important reason: to leave the ring road, Iceland’s main drag, for some adventures! Some of our most fun times included off road driving in Iceland.

Nothing against Iceland’s Ring Road: it takes you to the country’s most well-known spots, including waterfalls and hot springs. But. We want to go off-the-beaten path, to parks that are harder to get to. So we have a 4WD and we are using it!

Driving in Iceland isn’t always easy, but the beautiful views of nature and wildlife are incomporable. If you’re planning your own trip, read these essential Iceland driving tips.

Camper van with 4WD Iceland
Our campervan in Iceland

Off Road Driving in Iceland Video

This was us crossing a river yesterday. We had fun! I am not going to lie, we were a little bit hesitant at first, me more than Brian, but we made it through that river twice.

Continue reading “Off Road Driving in Iceland”

Day 7: Iceland Geo Thermal Activity Gets the Thumbs Up from Us

This morning was amazing! We woke up at the Kerlingarfjöll campsite to find that we were not alone. Brian got to talking to a man who we think was the owner of the place. Very Northern, and very understated, he suggested we drive up the hill and see the geothermals. Wow! Are we glad we did. Iceland geo thermal activity at Hveradalir was impressive, surprising, amazing, and many other adjectives. Brian said it was in his Top 5s of Iceland (not sure what the other 4 are: probably 4 hot pots) and it definitely made my day. After that, it is going to be hard to top.

about the iceland Geo thermal activity

So what about the geo thermals was amazing? Well, once we drove to the top of the hill, it was time to hike. Kerlingarfjöll is part of a volcanic mountain range, so we hiked through landscapes unlike anything we’d seen before. We could see glaciers in the distance, but we were among hills and flowing water, flowing HOT water which was bubbling and steaming and smelled sulfuric. It was really otherworldly, and we were the only ones there. We just kept stopping for photos and saying “wow.”

There was also what in better weather must be a hot pot but wasn’t too hot or full of water at the moment. If you go to Iceland and have 4WD this is a must stop! Even with rain and wind, this hike was one of the favorite things we did all week. WOW to geothermals!

Continue reading “Day 7: Iceland Geo Thermal Activity Gets the Thumbs Up from Us”

Hot Tubs and Rough Roads in Iceland

So Brian made sure today included some off the beaten path “hot pots” in Iceland. He knew there was one southwest of Akureyki on the way to the off-road destination he planned for today, and by god, we were having a soak! Today was a day of hot tubs and rough roads.

Hitting the Road

We packed up and left the campgrounds by 9am. The morning started beautifully in Akureyki but the sun never came out from behind the clouds,

Campsite View Akureyi
Campsite View Akureyi

and the day got cloudier and windier, with rain intermittent. Still, when in Iceland we must find the hot water!

Continue reading “Hot Tubs and Rough Roads in Iceland”