“Wow!” We said that a lot when touring incredible Iceland! At one point during our Highlands guided hike, I told my husband that my brain could not conceive such a beautiful and wild place. How blessed we were to experience such a treasure of the Earth!
Our family’s favorite sights and pictures were too pretty NOT to share. So here I am on my little blog again.
Thingvellir National Park
We drove to Thingvellir on day 1. The moody sky and mountains surrounding Thingvallavatn, one of Iceland’s largest lakes, made for cool pictures. Can you see the Icelandic flag in the middle portion of the picture? This UNESCO World Heritage site has a notable government history and geological features, including the boundary between the Mid-Atlantic and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Brúarfoss Hiking Trail
I read about this trail that was pretty close to our hotel, and I thought it be a good one to try. With relatively flat terrain and three waterfalls: Hlauptungufoss, Midfoss and Brúarfoss, what’s not to like?
The trail meanders next to the Bruar river and it’s easy to stop and enjoy the bright turquoise water along the way.
Gljúfrabúi Waterfall
We had a blast walking behind the waterfall named Seljalandsfoss, located at the base of the Eyjafjallajökull Glacier . When we hiked farther down the path, we saw more waterfalls, including Gljúfrabúi in a cave. Only our kids went into the cave to snap this cool picture.
Waterproof gear was a must here. We donned rain jackets, rain pants, and waterproof boots / hiking shoes.
Dyrhólaey and Puffins
Our kids were thrilled to see so many puffins at Dyrhólaey. We walked around trails at the top of the overlook near the lighthouse and walked down to the black sand beach. Puffins and seagulls were everywhere! Birds would dive off of the cliff and fly out to sea or make the return flight to the cliffs.
Rauðibotn Crater in the Highlands
We took a Highlands excursion with Siggi, owner of Snæbýli Excursions to see Axlarfoss waterfall and Rauðibotn crater. This was my favorite experience of our trip! We hiked for several hours to the top of the mountain to see the crater from above and below at the mouth of the lake. It was breathtaking!
On our hike down the mountain, we could see Maelifell volcano in the black sand desert.
Our guide shared so much about the area, his family farm, and Icelandic nature and culture. Plus his 4×4 vehicle with huge tires could easily navigate through water and across bumpy F-roads. At times we could smell the sulfur from the volcano, Katla, that lies underneath the glacier!
We returned to the cottage on Siggi’s family farm, and had some furry friends on the deck.
Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon
We managed to snag a parking spot and eat a meal from food trucks at Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon. I had a tasty Icelandic hotdog with a crunchy fried onions, while other family members had lobster roll sandwiches. I took this picture when we walked closer to the lagoon.
We took a zodiac boat tour at the smaller, less busy Fjallsárlón. We ate a yummy meal at Frost Restaurant after our boat tour.
Riding Icelandic Horses
We booked a riding tour at Lækjarhús Farm Holidays. Our horses, named Víkingur (viking) and Stava, were so sweet. I loved experiencing their unique tolt gait. We even crossed water and could see the ocean on our ride. I highly recommend riding and meeting these beautiful horses.
Gluggafoss Waterfall
We got off the beaten tourist path and discovered Gluggafoss, on the Merkjá River. My kids really liked the name and had to take a “glug” from their waterbottles by the sign.
Lava Tunnel
We went inside of the earth to see a Lava Tunnel. It was interesting to learn how lava flows and leaves stripes or levels of magma as it cools. This lava flowed from a volcanic eruption that happened over 5000 years ago. Nature sure is incredible.
We took hundreds of pictures throughout our trip to Iceland, but these were a few of the standouts that were blog-worthy.
I truly loved experiencing this incredible island with my family. Next time, I would head north to see other parts of Iceland…but I’d still love to return to some of our favorite spots pictured here too.
go mama o. 
Wow, what an amazing trip! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Kerry! It really was a cool adventure.