By Marta & Alex
Everyone who loves adventure should get to know the land of ice and fire. You will fall in love with its mysticism, beauty, and vast nature. Nowhere else in the world will you see anything so spectacular. Driving through this land of ICE and FIRE is a real JOY! It feels like you are suddenly on ANOTHER PLANET!
Camperstory submission September 2024
How is Iceland?
Our adventure in Iceland lasted 6 whole days in September and it was SPECTACULAR. Every trip is accompanied by excitement, joy, and illusion. This one, In particular, awoke in us a whole range of emotions, apart from great excitement. We were also a little uncertain and afraid, as it was going to be our first experience in the camper. Initially as it was our first time, we were not sure that a camper was a good idea. Thanks to Rent.is and its well-equipped van, it was a GREAT CHOICE.
They say there is no such thing as bad weather, there is only bad clothing, and it’s true. The key is to be well prepared, and everything will be fine. You have to prepare yourself for the worst case scenario. Then you won’t be disappointed rather even surprised. The weather was spectacular and not a single drop of rain in the whole week of our stay! Spectacular sunshine, good temperatures, but a lot of wind. Anyone who hasn’t been to Iceland doesn’t know what wind is. We are privileged.
Our takeaway
Iceland gave us the best of itself. Now, as we are on our way home. We are still AMAZED by everything we have seen these past few days. Is it possible to see so many impressive things in such a short time? Yes, everything is possible in Iceland. The MAJESTIC nature that leaves you speechless and breathless. Countless waterfalls, beautiful mountains, dreamlike coastline, turquoise blue glaciers, and lagoons that contrast with the magma rocks of the volcanoes. Hectares of uninhabited, empty, and endless land fascinate and makes you really rest. Mother Nature is the greatest thing in the world and here you come to understand it. She was here before we appeared on this planet and she will be here when we no longer are. She exists on her own and we are so small compared to her greatness. In Iceland its immensity and beauty not only make you DISCONNECT from your problems and forget about your everyday life. It makes you reconnect with yourself and find your INNER PEACE, see things clearly, and have a clear mind.
We were very lucky to have been able to see Northern Lights four times. A beautiful performance, the whole SKY DANCING and full of COLOUR. The stars are closer to us than ever, and more visible than ever. What we felt watching this was GRATITUDE to life, for having given us these moments.
To all travelers on their way to Iceland, we recommend touring the island with a camper van. It is the best way to see it, feel it, know it, and breathe it. The freedom you feel at all times is priceless, it is literally the adventure of a lifetime.
Landing in Keflavík.
As soon as we landed we were picked up at the airport to collect the camper from Rent.is. We loved the camper as soon as we saw it, very new and very well equipped. They were very friendly and explained everything about the camper so that we had no problems. They gave us a demonstration of how the heating worked and we could see that it was working very well. Our itinerary began with the obligatory visit to the famous Blue Lagoon. A unique and unforgettable experience that feels great to the tired body. After a whole night of traveling, we were the first customers to enter at 8:00. The first night was spent at the Skátabúðir Úlfjótsvatni campsite. We highly recommend it, it is on the shore of a lake and has very nice views. It’s very quiet and has good facilities, toilets, showers, and a very practical and comfortable shared kitchen. Cleanliness is 10/10 and the best value for money without a doubt. The cheapest of all the ones we have stayed in. We liked it so much that we decided to repeat it at the end of the trip.
Second night.
We started our tour of the island, we saw Þingvellir and the beautiful waterfalls of the Golden Circle. As well as the famous Geysir. That day we slept at the Guesthouse campsite in Selfoss. Which, although it had nothing special, was very practical for us. It is one of the only campsites with electricity in that area.
South Coast
The next day we started the ascent to Vík. On the way, we saw the most spectacular waterfalls of our lives. As well as the rocks of the famous black beach. We slept at the most beautiful campsite of all: Thakgil. It looks like a fairytale. The access road is not an F Road, so it can be reached by any vehicle. But be very careful because it is a 14 km long road lost in the mountains, breathtaking!
Day three.
The next day we made several stops on our way up to Jökulsárlón. Starting at the famous Yoda Cave, and through several waterfalls until we reached the Skaftafell campsite. This day it was so windy that we don’t know how we didn’t fly away. We slept at the foot of the biggest glacier in Europe, unforgettable! We highly recommend this campsite too: for the views and for the good facilities it has. Also, everything is very clean.
Day four.
The next day we saw the beautiful Svartifoss waterfall and the glacial lake Jökulsárlón. These were some of the most beautiful and unique things we have ever seen in our lives.
We should all be a bit more conscious and take care of our planet to stop climate change. And to be able to preserve this beauty of nature, which regulates the climate all over the planet.
After, we started the descent to the Golden Circle area, stopping at Reynisfiara which we loved. A magical beach, so different and impressive. That night we slept again at the first campsite. We liked it so much, we decided to repeat it.
The last day.
On the last day, we decided to stay in the area because we still had some things to do. We went to the Foxi waterfall. We couldn’t resist trying the famous tomato soup in Fridheimar, and thank goodness because it was delicious! The visit to this restaurant alone is an experience. It is inside a greenhouse and you eat a soup buffet with delicious homemade bread among the branches of tomatoes.
During the trip, we took advantage of the camper and we cooked everything on the camping stove. This was great, it gave us freedom, saved us from trouble, and saved a lot of money. But the tomato soup restaurant was a must. Then we visited the Kerid crater, which is very beautiful and worth a visit. We then went to Reykjavík. We took a two-hour walk through its charming streets, and tried its famous hotdogs and cinnamon buns: everything was delicious. To finish the trip we decided to try Sky Lagoon. It was a very good decision. We were able to relax and rest a bit after this intense week of seeing beautiful places. Besides, we enjoyed watching a spectacular sunset from the thermal pool. We couldn’t imagine a better end to the trip.
The last night we slept at the Vogar campsite because of its proximity to the airport. We don’t recommend it. The place is not nice and the facilities are not good. The location is definitely the best if your flight leaves early in the morning, so we were happy.
Dear Iceland: now we have no choice but to leave. But there’s something addictive about you, something that grabs you and makes you lose yourself completely after just one visit. It is more than clear to us: we will be back!
Marta & Alex – from spain
#VANcation #camperstories
