Travel Advisor, Jamie Frantz, had the most epic trip exploring Iceland with her family last July. The land of fire and ice, Iceland truly feels like another world.
Since Jamie brought along her 2-year old & 11-month-old, they opted to explore Iceland in a camper van for the ease of traveling with little ones. Iceland offers very unique hotel options; however, here are not a vast number of hotels so early planning can ensure we can find the right fit for you. Whether you opt for a campervan experience or hotel lodging, Iceland is an incredible country that is truly a bucket list destination.
How They Traveled
Jamie’s campervan fit her family of four perfectly and came stocked with the essentials. A GPS tablet, pots and pans, coffee maker, stove, sink, utensils, a fridge, bed linens with blankets, blackout shades (big WIN!), bathroom with a shower, and two double beds made them feel right at home. Their first stop was visiting the local Bonus grocery store to stock up on groceries and they were on their way! Traveling in the campervan allowed them to call it a day whenever they felt it was time and they did not need to stress about reaching a certain destination with their two kids. It was a great way to allow for flexibility! Jamie had the opportunity to visit a few hotels along the way to expand her knowledge on different lodging possibilities in Iceland.
What They Did
Jamie visited Reykjavik on their arrival day, which is about a 45-minute drive from the Keflavik airport. Reykjavik was recently ranked one of Condé Nast Traveler “Best Small Cities of the World” and it makes complete sense. With churches, museums, shopping, whale watching, colorful murals, there is plenty to see and do.
As many first timers to Iceland do, Jamie set out onto the Golden Circle for their week of exploring. They spent the night near Thingvellir National Park and set off to Oxarafoss waterfall for the spectacular scenery and searching for all of the Game of Thrones filming locations. They set onwards to visit Haukadalur Geothermal Field where they spotted geysers and some of the many naturally occurring hot springs.
No trip to Iceland is complete without seeing some Icelandic ponies! No worries, they are spread throughout the countryside and some farms will even have food you can feed them.
Iceland is estimated to have over 10,000 waterfalls! Jamie and her family visited the most famous waterfalls throughout the Golden Circle including: Gullfoss, Seljalandfoss, Gljufrabui, Skogafoss.
The small town of Vik is a must-see! Home to Reynisfjara Black Beach, Puffin sighting at Dyrhólaey, the iconic Vik I Myrdal Church, Icelandic Lava Show, Skool Beans Coffe, and Black Crust Pizza. There is a ton to see nearby the town of Vik which makes it a great place to camp for the night.
Jamie and her family continued up to Fjaorargljufur Canyon, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, and the famous Diamond Beach, where chunks of ice are sparkling in the raven black sand brought in by the high tide. Fjaorargljufur Canyon, as seen in Game of Thrones, was one of Jamie’s favorite sites she saw in Iceland!
No trip to Iceland is complete without a stop at The Blue Lagoon! You either have to visit the Blue Lagoon when arriving or leaving Iceland. Jamie was thankful they saved it for the last day as trying to enjoy it upon arrival with jetlag children would not have been ideal. Kids ages 2 and up are allowed in the Blue Lagoon and puddle jumpers are included!
Best Time To Visit
Best Times to Visit for Good Weather: During July & August, the temperature ranges from 50-60 degrees. We were very comfortable in late July with thin puffer jackets and leggings! We experienced very little rain and the winds were very mild. In June, there is 24 hours of daylight while July & August have about 4-6 hours of darkness which makes it more ideal for better sleep.
Best Time to see the Northern Lights: The best way to optimize your chances of seeing the Northern Lights (because it is not guaranteed) is going from mid-October through March. You will have extended hours of darkness. To see the Northern lights, you need three things: darkness, clear conditions, and a surge in solar activity.
