How we Cover Iceland Ring Road in 7 Days – Itinerary (Day 5 & 6) Black Sand Beach + Golden Circle Tour

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Iceland 7 Days Itinerary - Day 5-6

Day 5 & 6, This is where the main bulk of sight seeing begins. For the past 4 days we have not been seeing much attractions. Mainly covering the distance.

Perhaps the highlights for the past 4 days are the Blue Lagoon, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Dettifoss and Myvatn Bath.

For Day 5, you have 2-3 more waterfalls and the black sand beach!

Day 5 - South Iceland

This is the region which received the most tourist including Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon). And I have been telling my friends that we will be covering quite a few attractions for the day. Although the driving distance is short, but imagine every attraction we stop for 1-2 hours. 

See: Fjaðrárgljúfur

We are supposed to head for Fjaðrárgljúfur, which is a magnificent massive canyon. But along the way, we were cut off by the locals where were herding their sheeps. Apparently, I guess their sheeps run out.

Fjaðrárgljúfur is a magnificent and massive canyon, about 100 meters deep and about two kilometres long. The canyon has sheer walls, and is somewhat serpentine and narrow. The bedrock in Fjaðrárgljúfur is mostly palagonite from cold periods of the Ice Age and is thought to be about two million years old.


source

wikipedia

See: Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

We heard a lot on Black Sand Beach. We actually have high expectations of it. The rock formations were impressive, but the beach itself looks a little lonely. Not sure if it is because of the cloudy weather.

But our 4th day at Hvalnes Nature Reserve Beach was much more enjoyable.

There were many tourist trying to climb up the rock formations to have good pictures. We as Singaporeans of course cannot lose out. We also climbed up and took quite a fair bit of pictures.

What caught our attention is actually the signboard that the "sneaky wave" actually drowned some tourist.

Perhaps that explains why the beach seems lonely.

See: Dyrhólaey Lighthouse

This Dyrhólaey Lighthouse is rated the #2 things to do in Vik. Of course must come and take a look. From the height you can able to see the whole of the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach.

I would actually rate this place more than the black sand beach.

Lighthouse

Dyrhólaey Lighthouse

Very Cold at the Light house!

Very Cold at the Light house!

View of the Black Sand Beach

View of the Black Sand Beach

You say Chio Anot? - Dyrhólaey Lighthouse

You say Chio Anot? - Dyrhólaey Lighthouse

Panoramic View from Dyrhólaey Lighthouse

Review on Dyrhólaey Lighthouse

Nice view from the top.

Don

See: Solheimasandur Plane Wreck

We actually planned not to go to this plane wreck because of the 4km walk to the plane wreck.

However, we see so many cars park at the designated lot. We still succumb and went ahead.

But the walk is really far. We did a fast walk, 50mins and got to the site. Will not recommend for someone whom have difficulty walking.

Total it took us 2 hours 30mins for this site, and 4 pairs of aching legs.

Initially, cars were able to drive near the wreck, but to protect the route and nature all car vehicles were banned.

Review on Solheimasandur Plane Wreck

Be prepared for a long walk, 2 hours at least!

Don

See: Sveitagrill Míu - Mia's Country Grill

We were supposed to have this Fish and Chip, but we did not know they close at 5pm. 

It was 4pm when we were at the plane wreck. You can read the reviews.

See: Skógafoss Waterfall

1st waterfall of the day. This is one of the biggest waterfall in Iceland. This a path leading up to the top of the waterfall so that you can have an aerial view.

But after the Plane Wreck walk, we were too tired to do anything.

The Skógafoss is one of the biggest waterfalls in the country with a width of 15 metres (49 feet) and a drop of 60 m (200 ft). Due to the amount of spray the waterfall consistently produces, a single or double rainbow is normally visible on sunny days. According to legend, the first Viking settler in the area, Þrasi Þórólfsson, buried a treasure in a cave behind the waterfall. The legend continues that locals found the chest years later, but were only able to grasp the ring on the side of the chest before it disappeared again. The ring was allegedly given to the local church. The old church door ring is now in the Skógar museum.

source

Review on Skógafoss Waterfall

Huge Waterfall! Weather was gloomy, that's why we didn't see the rainbows.

Don

See: Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

This is the first waterfall that we have to pay for the parking. It is 700isk (S$ 8.50).

Initially we wanted to cheat on the parking, and just go 2 by 2 to see the waterfall. But we were still too tired, so we decided to pay the parking and just take our time to enjoy the scenery of the waterfall.

This is the only waterfall which you can go behind the water. But just beware of falling rocks.

Seljalandsfoss is a waterfall in Iceland.[1] Seljalandsfoss is located in the South Region in Iceland right by Route 1 and the road that leads to Þórsmörk Road 249. The waterfall drops 60 m (197 ft) and is part of the Seljalands River that has its origin in the volcano glacier Eyjafjallajökull. Visitors can walk behind the falls into a small cave

source

Review on Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

Nice Waterfall that you can get behind it. But just beware of falling rocks.

Don

Stay: Airbnb @ Hella

This is the best stay we had for the entire Iceland trip.

It is clean, big, spacious. The bathroom is huge! They have 3 bedrooms although we only need 2. And best of all, they have a washer and dryer!

So we actually did our laundry here.

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

Dinner: Peking Roasted Duck

We saw this Peking roasted duck at the supermarket, it cost 4000isk (S$50). Pretty reasonable though still expensive. 

So we fast hand fast leg, prepare for dinner!


7 Days Iceland Ring Road Trip

7 Days itinerary in Iceland

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Day 6 - The Golden Circle Tour

We often hear about the Golden Circle Tour whenever checking itineraries for Iceland. 

So what is Golden Circle?

According to Wikipedia,

The Golden Circle (Icelandic: Gullni hringurinn) is a popular tourist route in southern Iceland, covering about 300 kilometres (190 mi) looping from Reykjavík into the southern uplands of Iceland and back. It is the area that contains most tours and travel-related activities in Iceland.

The 3 Main Attractions in the Golden Circle is the 

  • Gullfoss Waterfall
  • Geysers Geysir and Strokkur
  • Þingvellir National Park

See: Kerið volcanic crater

Because the Tour to the Volcano core is so expensive, we make do with visiting the crate instead. It will be the first attraction we will see if coming from the East. 

So far, this is also the first attraction that we need to pay an entrance fee to get it. We were fine with paying for entrance fee because nothing is free and it helps to build their infrastructure and facilities.

We only want free toilet! 

Kerið (occasionally Anglicized as Kerith or Kerid) is a volcanic crater lake located in the Grímsnes area in south Iceland, along the Golden Circle. It is one of several crater lakes in the area, known as Iceland's Western Volcanic Zone, which includes the Reykjanes peninsula and the Langjökull Glacier, created as the land moved over a localized hotspot, but it is the one that has the most visually recognizable caldera still intact. T
he caldera, like the other volcanic rock in the area, is composed of a red (rather than black) volcanic rock. The caldera itself is approximately 55 m (180 ft) deep, 170 m (560 ft) wide, and 270 m (890 ft) across. Kerið’s caldera is one of the three most recognizable volcanic craters because at approximately 3,000 years old, it is only half the age of most of the surrounding volcanic features. The other two are Seyðishólar and Kerhóll.

source

The Volcano Crater

The Volcano Crater

Review on Kerið volcanic crater

The cheapest and closest you can get to a crater. 

Don

See: Geyser Geysir and Strokkur

Next up, the Geysir. From the parking area to the Geysir itself is a short walk. From far, you can witness the erupting of the Geyser every few minutes.

But taking pictures with the Geysir is a challenge, because you need to hold on to your camera.

Here, there is a big souvenir store which you can purchase gifts, but they are too ovepriced. A simple magnet cost 700 - 900 isk. (S$  9 - S$ 12). It will normally cost $2 - $3 in other cities.

Geysir (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈgeːisɪr̥] (About this sound listen)), sometimes known as The Great Geysir, is a geyser in southwestern Iceland. It was the first geyser described in a printed source and the first known to modern Europeans.[citation needed] The English word geyser (a periodically spouting hot spring) derives from Geysir. The name Geysir itself is derived from the Icelandic verb geysa, "to gush", the verb from Old Norse. Geysir lies in the Haukadalur valley on the slopes of Laugarfjall hill, which is also the home to Strokkur geyser about 50 metres south.

source

The Geysir Moment

The Geysir Moment

After 5 mins of posing

After 5 mins of posing

Review on Geyser Geysir and Strokkur

Interesting Geysir! The wait for the erupting is worthwhile.

Don

See: Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss is just 10 minutes away from Geysir. You can actually view the waterfall from the top height where you can see the overview, or you can near them.

The mist from the waterfall often creates a rainbow if you have good sun that day.

We are lucky to have good weather, so we witness the rainbow forming among the mist.

Gullfoss is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland. The wide Ölfusá river rushes southward, and about a kilometre above the falls it turns sharply to the right and flows down into a wide curved three-step "staircase" and then abruptly plunges in two stages (11 metres or 36 feet, and 21 metres or 69 feet) into a crevice 32 metres (105 ft) deep. The crevice, about 20 metres (66 ft) wide and 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) in length, extends perpendicular to the flow of the river. The average amount of water running down the waterfall is 140 cubic metres (4,900 cu ft) per second in the summer and 80 cubic metres (2,800 cu ft) per second in the winter. The highest flood measured was 2,000 cubic metres (71,000 cu ft) per second.

source

Welfie!

Welfie!

Walking towards Gullfoss Waterfall

Walking towards Gullfoss Waterfall

A Closer View of Gullfoss Waterfall

A Closer View of Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss Waterfall with the rainbow

Review on Gullfoss Waterfall

Wah, I like this waterfall. Because can see Rainbow!

Don

See: Þingvellir National Park

Part of the golden circle, I am just curious what is there in this National Park. And I was asked numerous times what is in the National Park that we should be seeing.

I actually have no answer to this. I supposed the tectonic rift valley seems to be the interesting part.

What is actually interesting is, you need to pay for the parking and 200isk to use the toilet. WOW!

The Rift Valley

View from the Top

Sunset View from the National Park

Review on Þingvellir National Park

Ermm, nothing really spectacular here. 

Don

Drive to Reykjavik

After our Golden Circle tour, it is time to drive to Reykjavik. Somewhere along the way we bought a lamb leg for dinner.

Dinner - Oven Grilled Lamb Leg

We were so famished from the visiting the attractions and grilling the lamb leg takes at least 1 hour! 

And it is a 2.5 kg lamb leg! We got this because all other meats were so expensive.

2.5 kg Lamb Leg!

2.5 kg Lamb Leg!

Lamb Leg

We are hungry!

Destroyed!

Another Glimpse of the Aurora

Because of the super heavy dinner, we had to go out for a walk to digest the food. So we decided to head to the lighthouse area to see if we are lucky enough to catch the Aurora.

You say we lucky anot?

Aurora!

7 Days Iceland Ring Road Trip

7 Days itinerary in Iceland

Download Our 7 Days Iceland Expenditure and Full Itinerary Summary

In the guide, you will receive,

  • Summary of 7 Days Itinerary
  • Our Expenses for the 7 Days

OR..

About the author 

Donovan

Don is a Kiasu Singaporean that blogs his journey while exploring Europe.
A Singapore Travel Blog that provides travel guides and tips on how to travel free and easy in Europe.

    • Thank you! I think Iceland has to be in the bucket list. Go before it gets too commercialized.

  • Hello there! Iceland is in my bucket list and I can’t wait to go! Did you guys get to see the Northern Lights? It’s a dream of mine 🙂

  • I would love to go to Iceland but all of the cold weather makes me re-think it. But your pictures make it look so beautiful, serene, and peaceful. I will have to put it on my bucket list.

  • Wow, that was quite the adventure! I hope you were able to warm up at different points along the journey, because you all look frozen! Such a variety of sights and sites to see along the way! The falls were spectacular – and I’ve never seen a black sand beach! Thanks for including so many pics to allow us readers to enjoy a virtual tour!

    • You are most welcome! Certainly very cold – 5c to 10c! Glad we are well dressed for the weather.

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