The Land of Fire and Ice
The Planning
Why Iceland?
Iceland was our dream destination. But we thought it was one of those trips you take once you retire and you have enough money to indulge in things you used to just fantasize about. But then a seat sale came along and we started learning more options. We realized it was possible to turn this dream into a reality much sooner than we expected.
Our road trip around Iceland felt like we were driving around the world. In the span of 10 days, we experienced different seasons just by following the Ring Road. One day, we drove into autumn and then experienced winter a day after. That’s how Iceland is, ever-changing, unpredictable but spectacular. We left Iceland with a vow to return and we hope that with this guide, we could help you create your own life-changing adventure.
The Ring Road
There’s no better way to explore the Land of Fire and Ice than renting your own vehicle and going around the Ring Road. Unfortunately, it is also the most expensive mode of transport. There are more affordable options such as joining a bus tour but we prefer setting our own pace. The Ring Road wraps around the island in a circular fashion and is often the recommended route for travelers who are getting to know Iceland for the first time.
According to Lonely Planet, if you were to drive the Ring Road without stopping, it will take you around 16 hours during the warmer months. A week-long trip would mean an average of 2 1/2 hours of driving per day. It may seem like a stretch but the route is scenic. And when you have your own car, you don’t have to go to every landmark. You can take your time, take detours on secondary roads, and allow yourself to get to know the place much deeper. (You can do the same when you’re in a bus, it’s just a matter of perspective really.)
Experts say you should choose at least 5 mini-bases to break up your journey. You can choose one stop in each of the regions in which the Ring Road passes through: west, north, east, southeast, and southwest. Having at least 8-10 days will help you cover enough ground. We’re all for surprises but it’s important to plan each day before you leave and then revise it each night depending on the weather conditions, the time you have left and the overall energy of your travel companions.
The Experience
Our group was composed of 7 people, some friends we’ve traveled with before and others we just met. Having more companions meant being able to distribute costs to more people. If you decide to rent your own set of wheels, 5-7 people would be an ideal number.
Each person had a role to play. Our friend Vee was our main navigator. She often blurts out names of places that most of us could not understand except for Benj who was one of our drivers and the mastermind of this trip. He took turns driving with our other friend Pao, who was also the sous chef. The person in charge of making sure we didn’t die out of hunger was Quennie who was a chef by profession. Raniel was our sneaky photographer. And the two of us (Ayen and Rach) took turns assisting Vee with the bookings.
Search the hashtag #EuroExpedition on Instagram and you will see our individual interpretations of the trip. But beyond the curated memories on our social media, we’d like to point out that it wasn’t all fun. We’ve experienced almost all kinds of weather from thunderstorms to sunny skies. Even with all the preparation, some of us felt like we didn’t have enough layers to protect us from the cold. We relied heavily on hand warmers and Cheerios and navigated around hot tempers brought by fatigue and hunger.
We hope we don’t sound whiny because these reflections are coming from a place of gratitude. We just want people to understand that travel is not just composed of remarkable moments but also moments of struggles, misadventures and mundane minutes that seem to be forgotten once the trip is over. For us, it’s part of the overall experience and we’d like to remember it along with some of our favorite memories:
The Northern lights by Ayen dela Torre
We were having pesto for dinner in our temporary home at Olafsvik when the caretaker said Aurora was outside. And suddenly everyone started running. When we got to the playground, we bumped into each other like kids scrambling for the best view. But when all the shots were taken and everyone settled down, we saw a dance orchestrated by white and purple lights and tears started rushing down.
The whole town was quiet except for these bunch of Filipinos who just couldn’t believe what they just saw. We’ve seen the northern lights in photos before but seeing it in person was something else. Perhaps the same goes for foreigners who see our beaches for the first time, we’re always in awe of things we don’t often see. Peak sighting of the northern lights happen in the depths of winter. We were fortunate enough to see it four times in September, but if you would like higher chances, plan your trip between October and April.
Two hour-long sunset at Westfjords by Benj Ramos
My eyes were squinting and tearing, struggling just to see the road at least 10 meters ahead of us. I even remember Vee sticking half her body out of our Defender to help spot any oncoming vehicles even if she couldn’t really see much more than any of us. So many cusses were thrown at the sun. And then we reached the coast and we took them all back because the water was gold! and so was everything else! And I am so thankful for this particular prolonged sunset—that it came on our 6th day in the island after 4 consecutive days of bipolar rains and thunderstorms. Just at the right moment. Just at the right spot.
Hotpot session by Rachel Halili
Getting into hot water wasn’t that inviting when you’re aware of the fact that you have to strip down to your bikini in cold weather (it felt like winter if you live in the tropics before going in. But most of the locals said it was a must experience. Everyone knows about the Blue Lagoon but we just couldn’t fit it in our schedule, thankfully there were hot pots everywhere. We found this isolated geothermal pool by the sea. And the best thing about it is that it was absolutely free! You have to share it with others though and that can be a little awkward at the start but it was a good way for us to meet fellow travelers from other parts of Iceland up to Australia. As we talk with newly found friends, the water kept us all warm on a 5°C kind of day.
Autumn in Hraunfossar by Vee Dorado
Contrasting the rapid rush of water along Hvítá river from Barnafoss is the calming flow of hundreds of small waterfalls of Hraunfossar. It was worth visiting twice just to see the bright blue water embraced by the autumn colors of Iceland. In the Philippines, it often takes hours of driving and hiking to get to views like this. But this one was close to the main road. We’ve seen a lot of waterfalls before this, but I would gladly say this was our favorite.
Random stopovers by Ayen dela Torre
There were days, I felt extremely exhausted, lacking sleep and skipping meals. Every time I wake up, my whole body aches as if I just came from a climb. We’ve gone through so many misadventures from missing luggage to almost missed flights. But even in the midst of all the rants and complaints, when you stumble upon unexpected beauty, all of the noise is silenced out.
I don’t really remember the names of some of the places we explored but I remember what it was like to scream my lungs out because I just couldn’t believe we were here. And to see my friends running around and experiencing the same thing made it more special. Although the trip is over, I’m comforted by the fact that I get to relive the adventure through stories and photos we took home with us.
The Survival Guide
When to go
- June – August – High season- Hot summers, mild winter- Good for hiking! Bad for your wallet! (Higher prices because of peak season)
- May – Sept – Mild summer, occasional snows- less people, some prices start to drop in preparation for low season
- Oct – April – Low season, lower prices! – Peak time for northern lights!- Some roads will be closed down due to severe weather conditions- longer, colder nights
What to eat
- Large gasoline stations often have restaurants you could eat at. They offer meals such as meat soup, fish of the day or plates of lamb. But for Filipino standards, they’re really expensive! In our experience, each meal we saw on the menu cost us about 800-1000 pesos.
- It’s much cheaper to cook your own food. Bonus (the supermarket with a pink pig on it) is Iceland’s biggest supermarket chain. Opening hours in small towns are much shorter than the capital. During our trip, some close as early as 6 pm so best to get your grocery shopping early in the day.
- Most private cabins have their own kitchen. And hostels have communal kitchens. Just remember to clean as you go. Do check out if there are some food left by fellow travelers, they are free for everyone to eat! And anything you can boil is guaranteed clean!
Where to sleep
- Airbnb
- Couchsurfing
- Hostels – Just in Reyk and Akureyri from our experience
- Private Cabin
** Ask if there’s a sleeping bag option, it’s a cheaper way if you don’t mind sleeping without linens**
Try to get in touch with the Filipinos in Iceland (or if you’re not Filipino, get in touch with people who share your nationality), they are usually accommodating and at the very least can give you more local tips.
Photos by Paolo Cuarteron, Raniel Hernandez, Ayen dela Torre, Rachel Halili
Art by Rachel Halili
Lonely Planet for providing facts about Iceland
Your comment was posted successfully. We will publish it in a little while, as our blog is moderated.
NEED PAPER WRITING HELP?
Career vt edu resume .
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Pouliuli essay
Sample of five paragraph expository essay
Best dissertation methodology editor services for university
Vbscript how to write
Help writing best analysis essay on brexit
Custom blog post proofreading service gb
Cheap phd masters essay ideas
thesis ghostwriter websites online orskw[/url] school admission essays examples obbvd[/url] dissertation proposal editing for hire gb qhorx[/url] dissertation introduction writing sites uk iswcr 2021[/url] 79c5_5aIntitle resume hospital
Good presentations
An essay on future career goals
Voyager the grand mission essay
Biography information for kids
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
vt edu resume [/b]https://bestqualitypapers.com
[url=http://studybay-com.blogprodesign.com]studybay[/url]
]
thesis statement character analysis ogtma 2021[/url] definition essay writing websites for phd cejpn 2021[/url] statistical thesis samples uqakg 2021[/url] job resume examples mnung 2021[/url] pm4i paper type icfto 2021[/url]A christmas carol ghost of christmas past essay
Essay role of education in society
Simple robotic thesis
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
vt edu resume [/b] ibsen a doll house essay analysis pwdhj[/url] personal narrative essay dqngg[/url] english essay osblp[/url] essay com nhnvp[/url]ma dissertation format
]
https://vimeo.com/pastrymiddle80
https://www.treasury.gov/cgi-bin/redirect.cgi/?http://b3.zcubes.com/v.aspx?mid=6870967
http://kurohogama.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=286812
Resume de le horla de maupassant
Custom argumentative essay editing for hire us
Do my family and consumer science home work
[url=http://tinkoffcredit.ru]подать заявку в тинькофф банк[/url]
[url=http://ru-zaem.ru/]zaem ru[/url]
https://forums.fullbytehosting.com/index.php?action=profile;u=3462
http://wiki.cake-ro.com/index.php/User:Annajohnsonus
Sample business plan for construction company pdf
Resume writers in philadelphia pa
Resume template for lecturer job
http://firepower.teamforum.ru/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=201469&p=276176#p276176
https://proteinessentials.com/blogs/protein-essentials-blog/protein-essentials-collagen-is-a-premium-protein-supplement?comment=124183642304#comments
http://forum.enemy.su/topic/131584-forex/?page=1197#comment-2609086
Career vt edu resume
topic for argument essay uwuma 2021[/url] ringtone to contact android – Introduction dissertation critique hukak 2021[/url] highlights for a resume mgaec[/url] analysis of a journal article ynnbx 2021[/url] vt edu resume [/b] for resume student nurse ooctx[/url] engineer maintenance resume vcmoc[/url] resume sample upguz[/url] on hard work pays wrart[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
http://seligerforum.ru/index.php?/topic/207032-a-visit-to-an-interesting-place-essay/page-38#entry2588402
http://helan123.com/gallery/105?page=193#comment-85485
https://forum.golestanmporg.ir/showthread.php?tid=108358&pid=138777#pid138777
Help with cheap phd essay
vt edu resume [/b] thesis proposal editor service gb xyqaw 2021[/url] papers onlin[/url] glass essay by anne carson skexw[/url] of good words to use in essays nqgnf[/url] essay lesson learned – No more homework no more books lyrics wqetr 2021[/url] churchill essays free bzutv[/url]Bank branch manager resume samples
How to write a construction estimate
монолитное сращение, даже не требующее клея сиречь метизов. Они аминь простые в монтаже, коль толщина стены соответствует размерам дверной коробки и доборов. В противном случае доборы необходимоупрямство к деформациям;около отделке проема.Редко наличники стыкуются перед углом в 900. Здесь тоже не привыкать без специального шаблона и пилы с мелкими зубьями (либо электролобзика). Стык почти прямым углом выполнить проще, только выглядит он менее
входные двери во владикавказе фото цены
[url=https://vladikavkaz.dveri-ideal.ru/vxodnyie-dveri/]входные двери эльбор где купить[/url]
https://vladikavkaz.dveri-ideal.ru/ – купить двери
Простая ящикСтоимость таких дверей капля выше, чем с ПВХ или ПП покрытием. Долголетие составляет подле десяти лет.Опричь материала изготовления и стоимости, чтобы определить, какие межкомнатные двери лучше выбрать чтобы квартиры, надо учитывать их реальную функциональность. Одним из основных свойств является—
logic express 9 downloadasus p5n-mxhalo 5 halo 2 battle riflegeforce gt 555m driverp8z77 v pro driversasus z170 pro biosthe shadows that run alongside your cardragon age inquisition the trouble with darkspawnhp 17-g121wm driverslukas dash cam software
[url=http://www.grabr.ru/content/biznes-sotrudnichestvo-5-oshibok-v-rabote-s-partnerami/]call of duty world at war achievement
[/url]
[url=http://newnewsabout1.blogspot.com/2021/05/game-of-life-download-windows-10the.html]smartdisk_fat32_tool.exe
[/url]
[url=https://bit.ly/3c2NHPi]red bull codes destiny
[/url]
[url=https://bit.ly/3fZ7Hn5]logic pro 9 update
[/url]
[url=http://mybestnewss.blogspot.com/2021/04/microsofts-band-3-prototype-shows-what.html]lenovo legion y520 bios
[/url]
[url=http://secondtops.blogspot.com/2021/05/games-for-windows-live-windows-10-64.html]shapeways full color sandstone
[/url]
[url=https://bit.ly/3p8RMH4]ralink rt3290 bluetooth driver windows 8.1
[/url]
[url=https://bit.ly/34zsc4v]asus g74sx windows 10
[/url]
[url=http://mysuperblogsss.blogspot.com/2021/05/geforce-now-download-windows-10nvidia.html]lenovo pointing device driver windows 10
[/url]
[url=https://bit.ly/3uwURli]how to update evic vtc mini
[/url]
winnie the pooh cell phone
hdhomerun bda compatibility mode
asrock 990fx extreme 3
hp 2000-2b89wm
sanyo taho by kyocera
https://bit.ly/3vExxTT
https://bit.ly/3c7NkmN
https://bit.ly/3fXHu8n
http://mysuperblogsss.blogspot.com/2021/05/gamebra-game-download-for-windows.html
http://grabr.ru/tegi/otnosheniya-v-biznese/
http://secondtops.blogspot.com/2021/05/gaming-graphics-card-download-for.html
http://seominds.ru/tag/саморазвитие и самосовершенствование/
https://bit.ly/3i7JFco
https://bit.ly/3yK1Fzg
https://bit.ly/3p9Hvu0
ernst rise of nightmares
battery percentage google pixel
ambx far cry 2
disney fairies hidden treasures
intel centrino wireless-n 2230 driver windows 10 64 bit
training center dragon city
hp pavilion dm4 driver
street fighter 4 red focus
realtek i2s audio codec
ga-73pvm-s2h
jose mestre after surgery
shogun 2 total war trainer
nexus 5x mint green
moultrie 550 gen 2
broadcom bcm43142 driver windows 10 download
epson gt 20000 driverbelkin n wireless usb adapter driverfallout shelter for windows phoneati radeon hd 4300 driver download windows 7 64 bitamd radeon hd 8330 updatemagix pc check & tuning 2019the binding of isaac rebirth trainervireio perception htc vivebroadcom serial bus driver over uart bus enumeratorepson workforce 315 driver
[url=http://newintheworld123.blogspot.com/2021/05/glary-utilities-free-download-for.html]hp 2000 wireless driver windows 7
[/url]
[url=https://bit.ly/3i4nfbZ]pioneer avh-x3600bhs
[/url]
[url=https://bobrdobr.ru/people/annaryabova/]asrock z370 professional gaming i7
[/url]
[url=https://bit.ly/3fVC5il]samsung galaxy j7 sky pro verizon
[/url]
[url=http://seominds.ru/tag/тренинг успеха/]adobe flash player 19.0.0.245
[/url]
[url=http://www.grabr.ru/tegi/doveritelnye-otnosheniya/]lenovo ideapad z575 drivers
[/url]
[url=https://bit.ly/2TzOYXX]stick of truth trainer
[/url]
[url=https://bit.ly/3vCPEd5]lumia 640 xl wireless charging
[/url]
[url=http://seominds.ru/tag/млм бизнес в интернете/]rosewill rnx-n150pce
[/url]
[url=http://grabr.ru/tegi/biznes-shkola-0/]hp pavilion dv6 audio drivers
[/url]
du speed booster pro apk
foxconn 2a92 bios update
atheros ar8151 pci e gigabit ethernet controller driver
trendnet tew-805ub
ace utilities registration key
http://besttops2n.blogspot.com/2021/04/pioneer-launches-usb-type-c-portable-ssd.html
http://grabr.ru/tegi/prakticheskoe-primenenie-znanii/
http://seominds.ru/blog/9999.html
https://bit.ly/3c6K8Yk
https://bit.ly/34ybHpl
http://besttops2n.blogspot.com/2021/05/git-bash-download-windows-10-64-bitgit.html
https://bit.ly/3vFIynY
http://secondtops.blogspot.com/2021/05/glwiz-free-download-for-windows-10glwiz.html
http://www.grabr.ru/tegi/zhiznennaya-energiya/
http://seominds.ru/tag/внутреннее побуждение/
realtek rtl8101 driver vista 32 bit
trendnet tew-811dru ac1200
samsung 950 pro windows 10
ps3 magic free download
hp scanjet n9120 driver
super mario bros 6
kodi 18 alpha 3
integrated camera preview rotation helper
evga uv plus driver
monster hunter world landscape
m-track plus
ps3 metal gear solid 4 bundle
asus p8z68 v pro gen3 drivers
p8z77-v lx drivers
it’s pure magic dota 2
elo job lol
mfc-j425w driverminecraft 0.15 0 apk free downloadultimate ninja storm 3 passwordsbest goalkeepers fifa 15total war atilla mapasus z97-c driversmsi krait gaming 3x driversamd standard dual channel pci ide controller driveremoji font 4 apkmegaman day in the limelight 4
[url=https://bit.ly/3i7Aw3m]espn cover vote madden 16
[/url]
[url=https://bit.ly/2RRZfyc]how to remove flipboard from note 4
[/url]
[url=http://www.webviki.ru/annaryabova.ru]grindr apk old version
[/url]
[url=https://bit.ly/3wRqWpD]d link dir 813
[/url]
[url=https://bit.ly/3i5COQx]hp laserjet p3015 printer driver
[/url]
[url=https://bit.ly/3wHcSPa]toshiba satellite network controller drivers
[/url]
[url=http://grabr.ru/tegi/voprosy-liderstva/]ga 970a ud3p drivers
[/url]
[url=https://bit.ly/2TzNxJ3]avengers samsung galaxy s6
[/url]
[url=http://newnewsabout1.blogspot.com/2021/05/gcc-compiler-download-windows-10gcc.html]domdomsoft manga downloader full
[/url]
[url=https://bit.ly/3vGn36L]pioneer avic 5000 nex
[/url]
msi h81m e35 v2
asus p8z77 v lx bios update
dell vostro 230 network driver
asus z170 pro bios
wow icons high res
https://bit.ly/3vzc6DT
http://secondtops.blogspot.com/2021/05/freemind-download-for-windows-10.html
https://bit.ly/3fCkCMJ
http://besttops2n.blogspot.com/2021/05/galaga-download-windows-10galaga-for.html
https://bit.ly/3ySimZh
https://bit.ly/3yRT1yQ
http://newintheworld123.blogspot.com/2021/05/ghost-spectre-windows-10.html
https://bit.ly/3c5wdSz
https://bit.ly/3peKPo0
http://newnewsabout1.blogspot.com/2021/05/futronic-fingerprint-scanner-20-driver.html
asus strix z270e drivers
marvel heroes holo sim
i’m scared of girls
dell optiplex 9010 bios update
aztec temple slot machine game
payday 2 ps3 update
amd radeon hd 5570 driver
diablo patch 2.4 notes
amd radeon r5 340 graphics
ipod nano 7th generation bluetooth pairing
sharp mx 3610n driver
amd radeon 7750 driver
canon inkjet mp160 driver windows 10
cp us 03 driver
2015 annual visitor survey
Leave a comment