This is a really dated post, since the trip was back in 2011. However, it was always pleasant to have a trip back down memory lane and review the photographs and recollect the trips once taken.
Iceland is one of those destinations you should go at least once in your lifetime. Aptly named, the island is cold, even during summer. There are also very few people around. Even in the main city, Reykjavik, the number of people you see is as much as one find in a small town.
Iceland Guest
Instead of figuring out what to do and how to go about visiting the sights, I took the easiest way out by booking with a local tour agency. Iceland Guest have the most comprehesive and yet value for money packages that suited my short foray on the island (I did the Reykjavik Stopover package) . I especially liked that they are a local company instead of the huge european chains, so more goes to the locals.
Here's the website (http://www.icelandguest.com/) for more information on the offerings.
The Golden Circle Tour
The Golden Circle Bus Tour is part of the stopover package with Iceland Guest. The full day tour will take you around the southern part of Iceland departing from Reykjavik.
1. Gulfoss Waterfall
Gulfoss is part of the Golden Circle tour, located in South Iceland on the Hvítá (White) river which is fed by Iceland´s second biggest glacier, the Langjökull. The water plummets down 32 meters in two stages into a rugged canyon which walls reach up to 70 meters in height.
On a sunny day shimmering rainbow can be seen over the falls (i had the fortune to witness this!) and the view is pretty majestic.
2. Geysir
Another attraction on the tour are the Geysir hot springs. At the boiling hot geysirs spurts out water every few minutes, which is a spectacular sight. If it's your first time, be prepared to sqeal when one spits out its hot water and get splattered.
3. Pingvellir
Pingvellir is a key location in Icelandic history as the oldest existing parliament in the world first assembled there in 930 AD. Geologically, it is also the place where you can witness the continental drift between the North American and Eurasian Plates in the cracks or faults.
Whale Watching
As I had a free day in Reykjavik so to fill up the day, I decided to go whale watching with Elding Adventures (http://elding.is). The tour begins at the Old Harbour in downtown Reykjavik where we board the boat. Do remember to suit up as it is freezing on the ride.
As it was no guarantee to spot a whale, we were lucky to spot some minke whales and white beak dolphines. We also managed to see the puffins living at the small outcrop.
If you are really unlucky that no whales or dolphins are seen on your tour, Elding will offer you a complimentary ticket valid for two years.
Horse Riding
For the remaining half day, I decided to take up another adventure with the local fauna. Horse riding is another popular activity in Iceland. Icelandic horses are really docile and they have a reall steady gait. So much so that you don't even feel that you are riding a horse. In fact, they are so special in order to protect them, once an Icelandic horse left Iceland, they cannot return in fear of disceses.
Eldhester (http://eldhestar.is/) is one of such farm that offers horse riding tours around their farm.
Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is the famous "hot spring" where you can soak in with the whole lot of other tourists. The minerals in the blue lagoon is purported to be great to you skin. Visitors can also use the mud provided in the pool while soaking in the water.
I do not deny that you'll be sharing the pool with the rest of Iceland tourists but I can attest that my skin was really baby smooth for more than a week after the visit.