Travel to Island, the youngest land in the world

Peninsula Reykjanes geothermal, Golden Circle, Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Vik, Skaftafell National Park, Vatnajökull

Iceland, the earth's youngest world, evolving in a constant upheaval. Here, where the ice meets fire, where the volcanoes of anger likes to change the landscape of waterfalls where the water rushes powerfully first and then smartly, where the brilliant green countryside contrasts with the black lava rocks older.

Here where the land constantly smokes and vapors from underground enchants with the arrogance and the geysers of magic, where you can soak in thermal hot water while the air temperature is more than sparkling.

Iceland, where live a few days beyond the cliches, other than summer, the edge of the continent and perhaps the world, at an intensity of emotion, combined with a pinch of adventure through landscapes and unimaginable.

Premise

After evaluating the long route along which, considered the only 7 days to the end we decided to go and spend more time on the south coast and national parks of Skaftafell and Vatnajökull glacier, the largest glacier in Europe to practice The park offers various activities, avoiding travel the full ring because the time available would not allow us to visit places with due calm.

Organizing the trip individually, we managed to save not just due to the strong devaluation of the Icelandic krona, compared to last year, has lost half its value. In this way, a destination which until 12 months ago brought prices prohibitive, however despite their higher average cost was more handy and cost more or less comparable to our and other European destinations.

Book well in advance, in December, we found a direct flight to Keflavik Icelandair Malpensa € 360. More trouble finding a rental car prices human, since the major rental companies have converted their prices in euros.

In the end we booked with a local company (Hasso Car Rental) at a cost of € 350 per week, including pickup and delivery at the airport. The agency does not have an office in Keflavik, there is a charge that will deliver the car.

For accommodation cottages have ranged from the apartment hotel on the farm, alternating the possibility to cook yourself some dinner out at a restaurant or the buffet in the hotel. Average price per night, 3 with breakfast, € 90-100.

Prices in supermarkets are similar to ours, the most expensive fruits and vegetables, cheaper meat. The price of gasoline is just over 1 euro, less than here.

 

1st day: Malpensa, Keflavik

Slightly delayed departure of the flight arrives on time at 19.15 but Icelandair. Fast baggage and are now in charge of Hasso Car Rental that you return the car. The exchange office at the airport was strangely closed, tell us that open in the evening around 22:00 ... will you?.

Our first destination is only a couple of miles, Motel Alex (€ 91), where we arrange in a handy wooden chalets small but it has a kitchenette with a tiny bathroom with shower and sink to the limit of viability .

The air is pungent, blue sky and white clouds painted on the horizon, the barren landscape around. You feel immediately immersed in the Icelandic climate!

At 22:00 there is still clear, back at the airport and find the open exchange ... do not believe it! Discrete exchange rate (1 crown = € 0.0057, last year was .012!)

2nd day: Reykjanes peninsula and Hengill

After a quick breakfast at the motel and we leave to visit the Reykjanes Peninsula, a place not usually visited, outside the main tourist circuits, which instead strongly suggest places to visit because it offers very impressive.



Garoskagi first stage, a promontory with two lighthouses, an ancient and a modern vantage point for bird-watching. Nothing exceptional.

We continue towards the most beautiful places of the peninsula, with a road that crosses lava landscapes, with green hues here and there and the blue of the sea horizon. On the road does not meet anyone, we pause to bridge between two continents, where a canyon separates the turf from the European American. Next stage of the geothermal area Gunnuhver missed: leave your car and walk along a trail in the meadow surrounded by an imposing lighthouse, where sprouting scattered fumaroles.

He walks beside pools of bubbling mud, high temperatures, strong smell of sulfur seems to be on another planet. Next to it is a blue lake full of silica, a copy of the Blue Lagoon, but with cold water, the place is so desert is even more fascinating.

Given the beautiful day we decided to switch from Blue Lagoon to take some pictures with the blue sky, even if we come back here the last day for diving. Part of the lagoon is left in its natural state, with whitewashed rocks emerging from the blue appears as white as milk, surrounded by black lava rocks and seagulls resting on the rocks. A truly extraordinary and unique. Then enter the baths for up to the terrace where you can admire the entire lagoon, the facilities, where smoke emerging from the impressive lead that the water temperature around 40 degrees.



Continue along the peninsula with a dirt road, with towering mountains on one side and the blue sea on the other, a road that leads to the spectacular hot springs Seltun. Here the steam out of the ground at about 200 degrees, mixes with sulfur dyes and the mountains of all colors, from blue to yellow from red to green pastures, where the famous Icelandic horses graze free. A wooden walkway allows you to easily visit the area, moving at close range from fumaroles and enjoy beautiful views of the area.



Continue along the dirt road 42, which continually offers magical views of sea, mountains and green pastures and come to town Hveragerði, where we continue to the parking lot where the trail begins along the mountain area of geological Hengill.

The trail winds through a green valley with many fumaroles and multicolored walls, a clear stream flowing with waterfalls that form and that, as they go up, it becomes increasingly warm up to temperatures above 40 degrees, where you can dive. The place is truly idyllic, seem to be in the high mountains on the horizon but we see the sea, the green valley is blinding and some small families are quietly Iceland plunged into the river, with the temperature contrasts sharply with the crisp air, forming steam. The walk takes about three hours, from left, back and a break.



We end the intense and beautiful day in Selfoss, where we booked two nights at the Fosstún Apartments (€ 80 with breakfast) and are super comfortable and spacious modern apartment with breakfast ready in containers in the refrigerator.

While his wife prepares dinner, David and I go to the municipal swimming pool (admission 2 euros), with an indoor pool, outdoor lagoon with water slide and other outdoor whirlpools. In Iceland all villages have their own swimming pool with geothermal water constantly about 35-40 degrees without the need for chlorine in the water is naturally recycled within 24 hours. It 'really strange feeling to be soaking in an outdoor pool and the outdoor temperature exceeds 15 degrees: Davidino not stop even to the water slides, mingling like a rash among children in Iceland, more accustomed to these temperature changes .

3rd day: The golden circle

The entire day is spent visiting the famous Golden Circle, who decided to walk to the opposite of the program usually observed by tour operators in order to encounter fewer people. The road through the green countryside Icelandic horses and sheep grazing, we see the first glacier. After a quick stop at the Kerio crater, where he formed a lake spectral arrive at Geysers, with many expectations. It 'a truly unique and can not disappoint at all! Here is the most regular geyser in the world, the Strokkur, exploding erupting at intervals of 5-6 minutes, creating a show unique. It would be a whole day to admire it. Water is an unreal blue and becomes blue when, shortly before the eruption, forming a giant bubble.



The water comes out violently, creating a tremendous, only to be swallowed quickly, as if the geyers is suddenly emptied. Around the Strokkur other geysers are asleep, the water clarity indescribable.

A short distance we reach the most famous waterfall of Iceland, Gullfoss, very stately and imposing. A path runs along the bottom edge, up to a natural rocky platform and finally climbs to the top lookout where you can admire the strength of the river water as it flows in a deep canyon. Backdrop is the majestic glacier Langjokull. Breathtaking.



From Gullfoss we travel the road that goes from 365 Laughlin, surrounded by volcanic mountains in the breathtaking colors and a spectacular view over the valley and magic Þingvellir Lake National Park, home of the Icelandic parliament open and important geological area. And 'here that you can admire the Atlantic ridge, huge gap that separates the North American continent from Europe. The atmosphere is idyllic, with waterfalls that flow into the clear stream and a 360 degree view of the countryside and mountains. A beautiful day with blue skies and temperatures near 20 degrees.



Let's go back in Selfoss where tonight we will not give to immerse ourselves in the warm swimming pool.

4th day: Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Vatnajökull

Today long day of transfer to the foot of Vatnajökull glacier, where we booked two nights at the farm Smyrlabjorg. The south coast offers many attractions, we decide to visit on different days, since the return along the same road.

The sky is now graying and threatening rain, the beautiful days and warm temperatures of the first three days we shall find them no more. But Iceland is magic, even when the thermometer stops about 11 degrees, the sky is gray and the wind blowing 90 kmh ...



We visit two of the most famous and spectacular waterfalls of Iceland: the first is Seljalandsfoss, looking white and unmistakable, falls from a considerable height by a green wall, a path that will take you behind the waterfall after a shower guaranteed. The second is even more impressive, the Skógafoss, where water is booming and precipitates DA60 meters. A trail that climbs the mountain can reach the top. Nearby there is also a museum of Skogar, a reconstruction of the Icelandic village of the past, with traditional houses with turf roofs, church, school.



Continuing, we enter a landscape more spectacular than the glaciers contrasting with the fire of volcanoes. En route you pass through the green plains of the south of Sandur distressing, from volcanic rocks covered with moss green, the size of the volcano Hekla, Iceland's most famous thanks to its spectacular eruptions that occur about every 10 years. The next is forecast for 2010. ... Mind you, before thinking to Iceland next year!

Along the way we find everything from a pale sun that makes room in the clouds, a storm of wind and rain that makes even the skid car, and next we see sometimes some cyclist who is even hard to push the bike.



Upon leaving the state for a detour that leads to the spectacular canyon Fjaðraárgljúfur, where a short walk offers a breathtaking view of the deep rift, where a stream flows downstream. Finally we come to the farm Smyrlabjorg (€ 120 triple with breakfast), which looks more like a 3 star hotel with well-kept rooms and a large dining room where we have dinner with a buffet of quality.

5th day: Vatnajökull and Jokulsarlon

The day unfortunately does not bode well, the mountains are covered with clouds and drizzle, but at least the wind has ceased. We reach the top of the glacier Vatnajökull where we booked a tour skidoo. 9.30 am here to get the point of superjeep Jöklajeppar that climb the spectacular vertical and F985, which in twenty minutes to reach the refuge on the glacier. Here winter wear overalls, helmet and gloves and reach our snowmobiles. Visibility is really bad and unfortunately we can not enjoy the wonderful view of the rare glacier. Here is enough to prevent a cloud, landscape, let alone on a day like this. The snowmobile ride is really a rush, a unique experience, running around on the glacier for about an hour, the guide tells us to keep a distance of about 10 meters between a skidoo and another, often before the fog disappears and you is practically a wall of clouds ahead. ... scary! The course is semi-track, but we are still on a glacier and not on a track with humps and bumps that make you jump and you toss from side to side with the sensation of slip at any moment. The temperature will be near zero, and occasionally drops a slight sleet.

Let's go back to the valley and the clouds lift a little, allowing us to admire the breathtaking road we have traveled the first leg.



Continue along the road that offers a unique landscape of glaciers and sea on the other part, to meet the most extraordinary places of Iceland: the glacial lagoon Jokulsarlon, no description and no pictures can do justice to glance that presents itself before him: an impressive number of blue icebergs that float on the waters where the seals swim with unique reflections and magic. The background is enclosed by a massive glacier that meets the lagoon with some amphibious vehicles, start browsing the lagoon, past these masses of ice where you can indulge in finding the most extravagant, one in particular looks so impressive to an elephant.



On board we are given sample the ice that has more than 1000 years, however, the lagoon has recently been formed about 70 years ago by the melting of ice. The icebergs in the lagoon wander up to 5 years before you find a way into the sea. We return to the farm rather than cold, for our well-earned rest.

6th day: Skaftafell National Park

The day we dedicate it entirely to visit the magnificent National Park of Skaftafell. We meet Conte Glacier Guides, which provides us with crampons and ice ax and we move to a tongue of ice stretching down to the valley. The sun peeps out from time to time and the visibility is reasonable. After the necessary explanations, we begin the walk on the ice, passing alongside appalling crevasses, waterfalls plunging into tunnels formed by the glacier and admire towering walls sprout where pyramids of ice, with impressive languages which are more than i10 meters.



We go back to the Visitor Center and following the path of approximately 30 minutes which leads to the falls Svartifoss black, the least impressive views so far, but only for the presence of hexagonal basalt columns of volcanic origin. To end this unforgettable day, we walk a path that goes on another awesome ice tongue that extends in a green valley, where a rainbow appears suddenly makes it even more attractive place.



We reach the town where Kirkjubaejarklaustur first real night in hotel of the trip, the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur (overnight only triple € 105, breakfast extra about 6 euros).

7th day: Vik and Blue Lagoon

On the road back to Keflavik, we stop in the town of Vik, where we walk the two deviations from a state go to the sea. The black beach of Vik is a fascinating place, there are two huge rocks, a wall of basalt with a gigantic cave and some examples of puffins, the symbol of Iceland. The wind is very strong, seems to be on the edge of the world. The second deviation, the more crowded than the previous one, leading to the cliffs of Dyrholey, where you can admire a magnificent view of the black sand beach and numerous nesting puffins.



The day is pretty gray and cold, perfect for relaxing few hours in the warm waters of the Blue Lagoon The contrast between the temperature and the water creates a very unusual, as clothing, the bartender serves beer to ice bathing costume in the lagoon.



A truly extraordinary, the emblem of this country, surrounded by nature unique, contrasting and fascinating in many respects primitive.