#driveiceland

[amirawanders]

Iceland

[amirawanders]

Iceland

[amirawanders]

ICELAND 

[drewottawa]

Church under the glacier. . . . . . #iceland #icelandtravel #driveiceland #scenery #beautiful #drive #church #snæfellsnes #glacier #mountains (at Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnkQ0r4HhXt/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=e0qyd0fjjz8o

[emmyhermes]

Crushing Pavement, Iceland Style (Also seen at SinglesTravelCompany.tumblr.com)

The list of things to do within the Reykjavik city limits could keep travelers entertained for weeks at a time, but be sure to carve at least a few days (if not all the days) into your itinerary for mobile exploration. A personal bucket list item of mine, for example, would be to rent a car for 7-10 days minimum and drive the perimeter of the country in its entirety. Unfortunately, renting a car in Iceland is more expensive than what we are accustomed to paying in the states and our bank accounts just didn’t agree with the idea for this go-around. However, we were fortunate enough to afford one glorious day with a vehicle that turned out to be one of our favorites of the whole trip.

There are a few line items to consider as you begin the vehicle reservation process. First and foremost, keep in mind the time of year of your visit and prepare accordingly. Because the weather changes so frequently in Iceland, it is usually recommended to rent a car with 4-wheel drive capability so as to be prepared for all kinds of potential obstacles, both land and climate related. This advice is especially valuable if planning to go off-roading to explore areas that are removed from the beaten path. However, travelers who visit during the summer season could be an exception to the rule, as the weather is consistently drier and less volatile during the months of June, July and August. We kept to the main roads for the majority of our drive and found that our pint-sized Hyundai was more than sufficient for the journey. We were also lucky enough to be graced with unfaltering weather, brisk air and cloudless skies, so that helped a bit. If taking the summer route, remember that July and August are peak tourist months so reserving the vehicle well in advance is of the utmost importance to ensure availability.

The first thing folks usually want to do when finally behind the wheel is to drive “The Golden Circle.” The Golden Circle is one of two major tourist attractions in the country of Iceland (the other being The Blue Lagoon, but more on that later) and consists of a circular-ish route located in the southwest region of the island. It guides its travelers along their way to some spectacular sites - the most notable being Thingvellir National Park, breath-taking and vast; Geysir, which is ‘geyser’ in English just in case the translation isn’t clear; and Gulfoss Waterfall, literally translated to Golden Waterfall and the area’s namesake. There are countless tour operators that offer daily excursions to the circle, but if you already have the luxury of a vehicle in conjunction with even a half decent sense of direction, odds are you will navigate the route with minimal issues. The road is well-equipped with signage, and like, it’s a circle, so…it shouldn’t be too terribly confusing, right?

The Golden Circle in total takes about three hours to complete without stops. However,  after factoring in the time that it takes to stop and enjoy the views, hike, take photos, picnic, etc. the ride could take up the better part of a day. This is why it is an ideal activity to do during the summer, as you are given the beautiful and rare gift of eternal sunshine. Time is suddenly on your side when you don’t have to worry about losing the light. Because we weren’t threatened by nightfall, we decided to squeeze as much landscape into our allotted 24 hours of ultimate mobility as humanly possible by also taking a drive east to a fishing town called Vik. Vik is centrally located on Iceland’s southern coast, and while en route we hiked two waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss, and ended the drive at a black sanded beach where we ate our picnic lunches (consisting of pita, smoked meats, pretzels, and dried fruit).

Ultimately, no matter where you drive, every view out of your window is something that could be put on a postcard. There are absolutely no wrong turns in Iceland. Pack warm if intending to hike the falls and be mindful of the weather patterns, roaming sheep, and hitchhikers, and all will run smoothly on your day on the pavement.