Highlights

• Northern Lights dancing overhead 🌌
• Blue Lagoon geothermal spa 💙
• Skógafoss waterfall up close (got soaked!) 💦
• Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon ❄️
• Black sand beaches of Vík 🏖️
• Reykjavik nightlife 🎉

Thoughts

Iceland doesn't feel real. It's like someone took all the most dramatic landscapes on Earth and put them on one island.

Driving the Ring Road was incredible — new jaw-dropping view every 20 minutes. Weather changes constantly. I experienced sunshine, rain, hail, and fog all in one hour.

The silence in remote areas is profound. No cars, no people, just wind and waterfalls.

Travel Tips

• Rent a 4x4 (F-roads require it)
• Pack layers. ALL the layers.
• Download offline maps
• Gas stations are far apart — fill up often
• Book everything in advance (accommodations fill up)

Favorite Experience

Hiking to a hidden hot spring in the highlands. Sitting in naturally heated water, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, watching the sunset. Pure magic.

Cost Reality Check

Iceland is EXPENSIVE. Budget accordingly. Grocery store meals saved me.

Would I Return?

Absolutely. Want to do the Westfjords next time and catch the midnight sun in summer.