Daily Update Iceland 2021
Updated: Nov 13, 2021
Bookmark this page, I’ll be posting our journey as we go. Newest entry will be at the top. ********We are moving so fast with a full schedule, and sometimes out of service range, I’ll keep updating here but it will mostly be a list of when and where. Watch for specific Iceland adventure blog posts when we return in August.
Iceland by the numbers.
40 Days including travel to and layovers. 34 in Iceland
Hiking- 200Miles/321.87KM
Driving- 2,242.22 Miles/3608.5
8 Flights- 10,898 Miles/17,538.63km
2200 photos and videos
13 nights in a bed
26 on the ground
1 Amazing unforgettable adventure.
August 10-12, Travel home.
August 10, 2021
A trip to the Blue Lagoon before boarding our flight.
August 7-9
Exploring the Reykjanes Peninsula including another trip to the volcano.
August 6, 2021
Returned to the Reykjavik area.
August 5, 2021
Jokulsargljufur- Asbyrgi Canyon
August 3-4, 2031
August 1-2, 2021
It is really strange to spend so much time in the car. I think in the last 48 hours we haven’t walked more than 5 miles. A travel day and car travel have dominated the time. We took a little stroll to the top of the hill behind the campsite. This hill appears to be an experimental forest. It even includes some Alaskan varieties. You will also find Sitka Spruce in managed forests in Scotland.
July 31, 2021
Week three update. 260km + of Iceland viewed on foot. 1300km by automobile and about 500km by air. Untold stream and river crossings. Several “oh shit” moments on “trails”. Endless expressions of thankfulness, appreciation for each other and so much more.
Flying back to Reykjavik, we will overnight in a hotel and the finish out our adventure with a camping road trip up north.
July 25-31
Hornstrandir = epic
Fly, ferry, zodiak, hike 5 days, zodiak, ferry, fly.
Photo links to video.
Hike 1 of 4
Hike 2 of 4
Hike 3 of 4
Hike 4 of 4
July 24, 2021 road trip exploring out of Reykjavik.
July 23, 2021
This may be our first non-hiking day since we arrived July 8th. (Walked about 3 miles around town)
Purchased groceries and supplies for our upcoming Hornstrandir hiking. We had to get new shoes for Crystal as the tread was worn to unsafe.
Tonight, the Sky Lagoon. Reykjavik’s newest spa attraction with the 7 steps to relaxation.
July 22, 2021
Ferried back to the mainland. Hiked 7 miles round trip to the active volcano.
July 21, 2021
Heimaey Island walk. Spent the day completing almost 13 miles of walking around this magnificent island. Finished the walk with great beer and food at the Brother’s Brewery and spent the evening at the public pool hot tubs and sauna.
July 20, 2021
Went for a morning swim in Seljavallalaug pool, one of the oldest pools in Iceland
Went for a swim, and used the sauna and hot tubs at the Hvolsvöllur public pool.
Took ferry to Vestmannaeyjar islands islands.
July 19, 2021
Black Sand Beach x 2
Dyrhólaey Lighthouse
Hiked part of Fimmvörðuháls trail from Skogar. Stayed at Skogafoss.
July 18, 2031
Hike in Skaftafell National Park
Visited Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon and diamond beach.
Overnight in Vik
July 17, 2021
Walk to p/u rental car
Thermal River
Seljalandsfoss 325km drive Svartifoss
July 16, 2021
Stakkholtsgjá Canyon
Bus to Reykjavik, Reykjavik Campsite.
July 15, 2021 Fimmvörðuháls sample
We left volcano huts around 8am for a sample of the Fimmvörðuháls Trail.
July 14, 2021
Porsmork day hike.
After reviewing the weather just an hour before our bus was to whisk us off to Skogar we determined that the safest plan was to forego Fimmvörðuháls hike and camp here in Porsmork. This morning we enjoyed a nice day hike to a Thor’s Valley (Porsmor) overlook we heard mixed reports from those who completed Fimmvörðuháls today but with the rain and wind building here in the valley all day we are glad we chose to skip that hike. Now for two nights of glamping and two days of short hikes.
July 13, 2021
Ermstur to Porsmor, Volcano Huts.
Only 1 hour of rain during 4 days in the highlands? Unheard of. What a hike. Tonight we bus our to Skogar and will complete our final highlands hike back to Volcano Huts. *** We opted out of the bus and hike option for weather concerns***
July 12, 2021
Aft… to Ermstur
Two river crossings today.
Windy with a small bit of rain. Walked across an amazing plain surrounded by mountains on all sides.
Arrived at Ermstur early set up camp and went and looked over into the Ermstur Canyon truly a remarkable formation.
July 11, 2021
Hraf… to Alt…
Stunningly beautiful day. You really run out of superlatives, and sometimes you just have to be quiet before God and what he has created. Some real scary snow bridges to cross. We had lots of snow and most of them were safe but we did way-find around one that I am glad we didn’t cross. Today campsite is beautiful along the lakeshore.
July 10, 2021
Landmannalaugar to Hraf…
What stunning vistas we had behind us as we came up out of the valley. An amazing day of hiking. The last hour was spent in the clouds be sure and bring a form of navigation at the Least Alltrails with the route downloaded. There are time when the markers are not visible. Some our down in the deep snow. Very cool to spend the evening camped in rock circles to protect from the wind.
July 9, 2021
Landmannalaugar
The bus ride here was several hours long and included about an hour of teeth chattering kidney shaking washboard road. What an amazing place.
It takes a rugged bus to get here
July 8, 2021
Iceland Arrival
After seven hours of flying and a 7 hour time change from Seattle we stumbled into our Airbnb just in time for a nap.
After a few hours of snoozing, we took a quick walk around Reykjavik, had some fish and chips and bought our fresh groceries for tomorrow.
When visiting Reykjavik, don’t miss the street art.
July 7, 2021
Travel day
We leave around 4pm Seattle time today,Wednesday,and will arrive tomorrow morning at around 6am Iceland time. About 7 hours of flight time.
July 6, 2021
Mailbox Peak
Mailbox peak is a but kicking 9 mile trail. Super steep old route up followed by a too long meander down on the new trail.
Burgers at Blue Moon on Alki, I highly recommend.
July 5, 2021
Alki Beach Trail, Family visit and camping at Saltwater State Park.
I sitting here under the flight path of Seattle Tacoma International Airport. Approximately every minute another flight soars overhead. It is all at once disturbing and soothing.
Our day began with our Turo host delivering is a fantastic car for the next two days. If you are not familiar with Turo I highly recommend that you look it the service especially with the recent rental car shortages.
with our wheels under us we head off to The Alki Beach Trail for and urban waterfront walk. What a great outing. We covered just under 9 miles and enjoyed amazing views of Seattle the the surrounding mountains. We then set up our tent and went to visit family for a couple of hours, before retuning to camp.
July 4, 2021
Anchorage to Seattle
We arrived early so our gate isn’t ready for us. This make our current status “waiting”. Once we get moving we will be out of here quick, off to the hotel and into bed. Nice smooth flight and landing tonight.
Special treat for me, I love these birds.
I forgot it was the Fourth of July until we were landing.
Kodiak to Anchorage.
We left a foggy Kodiak behind and drifted into Anchorage with a nice smooth flight and landing.
Anchorage greeted us with sunshine and our layover is just long enough for a quick meal at Silver Gulch.
