ABD Iceland: Just some information I have gathered for trip- 7-14-18

[hygienist999]

I am so excited about our ABD trip to Iceland. On our trip, July 14-21, 2018, will be myself and my DH. We will be driving to Atlanta from Auburn, Al for our flight to Iceland. We will arrive on the 13th and have booked an extra night at the Hotel. I have tried to research this trip as best I could, but I would have loved to have read some past trip reports.

Hopefully this information is helpful for those that haven't researched much.

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Tips for The Blue Lagoon

- You have to shower first before entering the Lagoon.
- The Silica Mud Masks are free. You ask for them at the swim-up bar.
- Don’t rent a towel and flip-flops - bring your own.
- Make sure to put a lot of conditioner in your hair before getting your hair wet.
Your hair will feel like straw for days because of the Silica if you do not.
- No wallet needed. You will be given a digital wristband.
The wristband will open lockers and you can buy stuff with it also.
You settle your bill when you leave the lagoon.
- Buy a waterproof case for your phone, that way you can take it in the lagoon with you.
- Do not wear contact lenses. If the silica gets into your eyes, it will be very painful.
- Do not wear jewelry into the Lagoon, it can get damaged.
- Only 3 alcoholic drinks per wristband permitted.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Make sure to check out the little wooden door at the sauna.
- You can wear your robe and flip flops to the Lava Restaurant.

What to bring

- Swimwear - Sunglasses - Camera
- Hair Bands - Deodorant - Waterproof phone case
- Hairbrush - Personal Towel - Bottle for Water
- Flip Flops - Lotion - Conditioner

What will be provided

- Shampoo/Conditioner
- Hair Dryer

 

[hygienist999]

Bryggjan Brugghus Bistro and Brewery


Dinner Menu

Starters

- Ocean’s Seafood Soup
- Tuna Ceviche
- Crispy Tuna Taco
- Bryggjan’s Tomato Soup
- Hot Smoked Icelandic Game Bird
- Bryggjan’s Shellfish Platter
- Fresh & Smoked Arctic Shrimp

Main

- Freshest Fish of the Day
- Fish and Chips in our Beer Batter

Tasting Menu

- Moules Frites in Beer
- Bryggjan’s Langoustine Fiest
- Langoustine Salad
- Mushroom Nut Croquettes & Carrots
- Lightly salted Icelandic Cod
- Confit De Canard

The Grill

- Whole Grilled Flounder
- Grilled Beef Tenderloin
- Grilled Salmon
- Bistecca T-Bone
- Veggie Burger
- Bryggjan’s Burger (100% Pure Beef)
- Rack of Lamb

Desserts

- H.R. Chocolates
- Chocolate Cake
- Sorbet 3-way
- Milk of Madagascar

 

[hygienist999]

Efstidalur II Farm


Bed & Breakfast on working farm that is run by a husband, wife, and their grown son and their daughter-in-law.
Main occupation is cattle farming
Ice Cream Barn - The ice cream is made from the milk of their cows. You can watch the cows while you enjoy the ice cream. They also make their own waffle cones.

 

[hygienist999]

Ektafiskur Tour

Informative tour around the Ektafiskur factory where you will see the old methods of making salted Cod (bacalao) by hand from fresh fish to final product ready to eat.
You will be able to have a taste of a traditional and popular schnapps which will work wonders on your body and soul along with a few bits of delicous fermented shark.
The ones brave enough to devour the shark will become a member of the prestigious Rotten Shark Club of Hauganes.

At the Ektafishur Kitchen you can taste the different traditional dishes made from fresh fish and salted cod. You can sit down in a relaxed environment with a stunning view to the South of Eyjafjordur fjord and enjoy your meal along with a glass of wine or locally made beer.

 

[hygienist999]

Fridheimar Greenhouse Farm

Tomatoes are the theme as there are 4 different varieties of tomato cultivated in the greenhouses.

Main Course

Fridheimar Tomato Soup served on a buffet with sour cream, home baked bread, cucumber salsa, butter and fresh herbs
Fresh Pasta Ravioli with home made pasta sauce and pesto
Grilled Tortillas with tomato, basil and mozzarella

Dessert & Treats

Green Tomato & Apple Pie with whipped cream
Home made Tomato Ice Cream
Cheesecake with jam of green tomato, cinnamon and lime

Refreshing Drinks

Tomato Schnapps
Virgin Mary
Bloody Mary
Healthy Mary
Happy Mary
Gin & Tonic
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The Little Tomato Shop is their store where you can buy edible souvenirs.
The Tomatoes are grown year round, using state of the art technology in an environmentally-friendly way. Green energy, pure water, and biological pest controls make for tasty and healthful tomatoes.
They also cultivate cucumbers.
They raise bees for pollination, so you will be able to see many boxes of bees
The crops at Fridheimar yield an average of a ton a day. The annual harvest is 370 tons.
The also breed horses and put on a horse show.

 

[hygienist999]

Gullfoss Waterfall

Dubbed “King of Waterfalls”
In Icelandic Gullfoss means “Golden Waterfall”, because the water looks golden-brown on a sunny day. This is due to the sediment the glacier ice picked up over the years.
2-tiered waterfall - water cascades in two stages, one 36 ft, and the other 69 ft., into the 1.6 mile long crevasse below. This crevasse was created at the end of the ice age by catastrophic flood waves and is lengthened by 9.8 inches a year by the constant erosion from the water.
Gullfoss is a part of the famous Golden Circle Route and located in the Haukadalur Valley, in the river Hvita, along with Geysir.
Gullfoss is the largest volume waterfall in Europe.
The area around Gullfoss is around 656 feet above sea level.

Tips
The bathrooms inside the restaurant are free
There are different levels in which to view the waterfall for great photos.

 

[hygienist999]

The Strokkur Geyser

Very active, erupts every 8 minutes or so
Strokkur can erupt up to 180 feet, but usually the eruptions are around 60 feet.
Strokkur is very reliable, so have cameras and video handy
There are smaller geysers in the area you can walk around and check out

 

[hygienist999]

Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon Boat Tour

Amphibian boat tours - you sail among the huge icebergs. On the boat you get to taste the 1000 year old ice and if your lucky you may see some seals.
The Lagoon is not very wide but it is up to 250 meters deep, which makes it the deepest lake in Iceland.
The lake is a result of Breidarmerkurjokull Glacier slowly retreating, leaving in its wake the lagoon and the oddly shaped iceburgs of various sizes.
En-route to the lagoon you will see some of Icelands most magnificent scenery, including the tallest mountain in Iceland, Hvannadalshnjukur, and the sprawling black sand desert between Skaftafell National Park and the Lagoon itself.
The Lagoon featured in the 1984 James Bond movie A View to a Kill.
Once everyone puts on a life jacket you set sail on a 40 minute guided tour around the Lagoon.


Dinner - Foss Hotel Glacier Lagoon

 

[hygienist999]

Kerid Crater & Horseback Riding

Kerid is a volcanic crater lake on the Golden Circle Route, filled with milky blue-green water amid stark black & deep red slopes.
The Kerid Volcano is thought to have formed when the magma in the crater simply depleted itself, and the empty chamber beneath caved in.
In addition to the bright, sapphire-colored waters, the steep slopes of the caldera’s bowl are almost entirely covered in red volcanic rock.
There is one, less steep side of the slope that is covered in rich green moss.
Kerid, is a 55 mile deep volcanic crater, about 3000 years old.
Kerid is part of a group of volcanic hills called Tjarnarholar, and is now filled with water, creating a lake whose steep circular slopes resembles an ancient amphitheatre.
You can walk to the top edge of the crater and look down at the lake in the center, or you can walk down the inside to the edge of the lake.

 

[hygienist999]

Blue Lagoon Lava Restaurant Menu

Set Items

Seafood
- Langoustine Soup
- Cod
- Creme Brûlée
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Icelandic Gourmet Menu

- Birch and Juniper Cured Arctic Char
- Lamb Fillet and Shoulder of Lamb
- Astarpungar & Caramel - Caramel chocolate mousse, Vanilla Ice Cream, Salted Caramel.

Vegetarian Menu

- Baked Yellow and Red Beets
- Baked Celery Root
- Strawberries

A La Carte

- Grilled Beef Tenderloin
- Lamb Fillet and Shoulder of Lamb
- Cod
- Fish of the Day

Desserts

- Astarpungar & Caramel
- Strawberries
- Creme Brûlée
- Sorrel & Skyr

 

[hygienist999]

Reykjavik - While in the City
Puffin Express boat tour with Special Tours - Within walking distances of the Harpa Concert Hall. Located at the Old Harbor. The tour lasts an hour.
Explore and shop along Laugavegar. Make time to stop in 66 degrees North for warm weather gear, and Volcap which is a store where everything is handmade with Icelandic Wool and the colors are inspired by the ice and fire.
Take an elevator ride to the top of the Hallgrimskirkja Church for beautiful views over the city. Open 9am-8pm, adult-600isk, kids-100isk.

Baccala Bar Menu
Main
Fish Soup with bread
Captains Favorite
Fish and Chips
Traditional Fish Stew
Light Courses
Grilled sandwich - with ham, cheese, sauce
Sandwich with fries - with ham, cheese, sauce, and fries
Plate of Salad - with croutons and dressing
Desserts
Cake with cream
Assorted ice cream
Skyr with cream

 

[hygienist999]

Seljalandsfoss Hike

The Seljalandsfoss Waterfall is the only one in Iceland you can walk behind.
The Waterfall is slightly over 197 feet in height, Seljalandsfoss cascades over a volcanic cliff that used to be part of the coastline of Iceland.
In English, “Seljalandsfoss” means “Selling the land of Waterfalls”.
From the parking area, it is a short walk to the base of the waterfall (0.1 miles). The direction to the left (North) takes hikers up to a small platform next to the cascade from the falls; and the route to the right (SE) takes hikers up a slight hill and behind the waterfall itself. Visitors can take both trails easily as they are both very close to parking area.
A trail also branches off from the left fork (North) and proceeds along the cliff, providing views of other portions of the waterfalls cascades, before arriving at a separate waterfall, Gljufurarfoss.
Most of these foot trails are mostly flat, and accessible to all skill levels, although be prepared to get wet, either from the spray from the waterfall or weather.
Bring rain jacket - you will get wet. If it is sunny you may see a rainbow when your behind the waterfall.
You will need to use a flash when taking photo’s behind the waterfall.
You can spot Seljalandsfoss from the Ring Road long before you reach it.
The Falls are part of the Katla Geopark, and the water flows in the Seljalands River from the Volcano Glacier Eyjafjnallajokull.
Because of the rush of water and the wind, there is a lot of mist. So protect yourself and your camera.
Because of the water, it is slippery so wear good shoes.
One person said it was better to complete the hike behind the waterfall counter-clockwise. They said it was the best option because one area is rocky and slippery and it was better to climb the trail than walk down it. They saw people having a hard time.
Wear waterproof clothing/shoes. You will get wet if you go behind the waterfall.
Protect your phone and camera. Use a waterproof case to ensure it doesn’t get wet.
Wear shoes with good traction - trail is slippery.

 

[hygienist999]

Skaftafell Glacier Visitor Center Cafe
Cafe only open during the summer months
The cafe offers hot soups, sandwiches, cakes and coffee, along with some basic dairy products, bread, biscuits, and fruits.

What to Bring
Warm Clothing/Waterproof - Rain Gear
Hiking Boots/Waterproof that reach over your ankles (can be rented)
Safety equipment will be distributed and you will be shown how to correctly put on crampons.

Skaftafell Glacier Hike
Enormous white glacier surrounded by black sands
You hike up Svinafellsjokull, a glacier tongue of the largest glaciers in Europe.
A guide will take you on a 15 minute drive to the Glacier Tongue, where you will receive all the equipment and knowledge necessary to scale the massive icecap. You will be led through the frosty wilderness, past incredible ice formations, deep cracks, and blue crevasses.
Svinafellsjokull is part of the highest mountain range in Iceland, and on a clear day, you might see the magnificent Hvannadalshnjukur, the country’s highest peak.
This hike takes you safely among the crevasses and glacier sculptures of Svinafellsjokull Glacier Tongue in Skaftafell Nature Reserve.
Fairly easy to moderate walk with real ice crampons attached to your hiking boots. You need real hiking boots for the glacier hike, that have a thick sole and cover your ankles. Ice crampons are provided and cannot be attached to normal shoes.
Usually provided with the hike is: ice crampons, ice axe, and helmets.
Hike usually lasts 3 hours

GLACIER SVINAFELLSJOKULL
This glacier tongue is an outlet of the immense Glacier Vatnajokull, and the ice is 1,000 years old.
Glaciers are made up of fallen snow. The ice eventually gets so compressed that most of the air is forced out of it. This causes glacial ice to appear blue.
A Glacier is a river of ice. It flows. Locations where a glacier flows rapidly, giant cracks called crevasses are formed. This is why it is dangerous to walk on a glacier. The snow will sometimes cover the crevasses.
Svinafellsjokull offers breathtaking views to the ice covered highest peaks of Iceland rising more than 6500 feet.
Melted glacier ice usually produces the tastiest water and the water found on Falljokull Glacier was not any different.

 

[hygienist999]

Slippbarinn Restaurant Menu

Perfect to Share Items
Gratinated Cheese- gratinated buri cheese with honey, pine nuts and bread
Calamari - Fried Calamari tempura and chili aioli
Marina Fish Soup - ideal starter for 2
Happy Chicken Wrap - Crispy chicken wings from Litla Gula Haenan Farm, served with bourbon hot sauce and yoghurt dip
Charcuterie - Serrano ham, chorizo and all kinds of sausages with Icelandic cheese, olives and pickled veggies
Main Courses
Slippbarinn’s Vegetables - Roasted summer cabbage with asparagus, juicy tomatoes, rattle potatoes, kale pesto and crispy crudite
Lamb Sirloin - Grilled sirloin of lamb with creamy barley, salsify, salted beets and roasted onions
Beef Sirloin Burger - Steak burger on brioche with bacon, ketchup, pickles, vintage Odals cheese, smokey potatoes and horseradish mayonnaise
Flatbread
Rubbed chicken, peanut butter hummus, avocado roasted seeds and pesto
Goat Cheese - goat cheese, sweet pears, pickled chili, fresh grapefruit and pesto
Langoustine flatbread - garlic fried langoustine tails, chili aioli, roasted fennel, toasted almonds, basil, tomato sauce
Bar Snacks
Bread and dip - delicious sourdough bread and dip
Olives - marinated black and green olives
Crisps
Peanuts - Salty
Sweets
Classic Vanilla Creme Brûlée
Apple Crumble - Carmelized apples with cinnamon crumble and salted caramel ice cream
Cheeses - 3 Types of Icelandic cheeses with sweet walnuts and grilled sourdough bread
Frozen Irish Coffee
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Breakfast - 6:30am-10:00am - Grab-N-Go available 4-6:30am for guests leaving early

 

[hygienist999]

DAY 2 - THINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK
(Think - Velt - Tier)

- Parliament - Outdoor amphitheater in Almannagja fault
- Almannagja Fault - Great views top and bottom of canyon
- Geographical Error - Both sides of the canyon are part of the North American Plate
- Silfra Underwater Fissure - Dive/Snorkel in a Mid-Atlantic Ridge Fissure - Water is cold but clear
- Golden Circle - Thingvellir is one of the top 3 draws of the Golden Circle tour route
- About 1 hour from North East of Reykjavik
- Historic church settlements

PERFECT PHOTO SPOTS

- Oxararfoss Waterfall
- Oxara River
- Althing, Thingvelttier, Iceland
- Tingvellir Lagoon

 

[hygienist999]

Whale Watching from Hauganes

The tours out of Hauganes regularly see Minke Whales, Humpback Whales, and White Beaked Dolphins. If you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of a Killer Whale or a Blue Whale.
Hauganes is located in the heart of Eyjafor Fjord.
The Humpback Whales grow to 46 feet when fully grown. They do not hesitate to jump and slap their tail to show off and communicate with other whales in the area.
You will also see Harbour Porpoises and White-beaked Dolphins. The White-beaked Dolphins love to catch the waves before the boat and swim alongside.
Minke Whales are curious, playful and widespread. They can be found in Iceland by large numbers
Blue Whales are the biggest animals in the world and they are extremely rare. Best chance of seeing them in Iceland are at the beginning and the end of summer.
Humpbacks are gifted singers and tricky hunters.
Orca’s are the top predators of the Oceans. They are sometimes spotted in the summer, but quite often in winter.
Sperm Whales are occasionally seen around Iceland.
Abundant summer daylight combined with a unique mixture of cold and warm sea currents that blend in Iceland’s shallow Fjords

 

[hygienist999]

Some more random "Tips" I found on the internet.

1 - Waterproof Jacket - Your outer layer must be wind and waterproof.
2 - Layers of short & Long sleeved shirts - Fleece jackets and sweaters
3 - Summertime - T-shirt, a long- sleeved shirt or a sweater, a zip-up sweatshirt or zip-up Fleece jacket and a waterproof jacket
(Best picks (per the Blogs I read)- Columbia Men's Eager Air Interchange 3 in 1 jacket; The NF Cinnabar Triclimate Jacket womens's Tech; Columbia
Women's Benton Springs Full Zip.
4 - Hiking Pants - Only pack 1 or 2 pair of jeans. Not best choice for Iceland. They take forever to dry and you will get wet. During the day wear
Hiking Pants. You may want to take a pair of waterproof pants as well. (Best picks)- Columbia Men's Silver Ridge Convertible Pants; Columbia's
Women's Saturday Trail Pant
5 - Gloves, Buff, Winter Hat - You will need if whale watching
6 - Sleeping Mask - Summer time has mostly sunlight, the mask will help you sleep.
7 - Swimsuit, Quick Drying Microfiber Towel, Flip Flops - all for the Blue Lagoon
8 - Reusable Bottle of Thermos - Water in the streams and waterfall are very pure, so fill up your bottles there. Also, thermos to fill with coffee or hot
chocolate before you start your day, that way you have something to drink that will warm you up.
9 - A Small day pack with a rain cover.
10- Sun Protection - Sun cap, sunglasses, sunscreen should always be in your pack.
11- European Electrical Adapter - Electrical sockets C & E
12- Portable Charger - The days are very long in the summer, and the chances are high your phone will be empty long before you had finished sightseeing
for the day.
13- Rain cover for your camera, there are sprays of water coming off of the waterfalls, you will get wet, which means your camera will get wet.

 

[hygienist999]

Some more information that I gathered from multiple Blogs.

Practical Packing List for Iceland

- Waterproof Hiking Boots - probably only shoes needed.
- Hiking socks - Wool or Synthetic brands
- Quick dry Hiking Pants - Do not pack Jeans, they are heavy and will make you cold if they get wet.
- Waterproof rain jacket with a hood - They spray from waterfalls will drench you head to toe. A good waterproof (not water-resistant) jacket wiith
a hood that fits snugly around your face is essential.
- Waterproof rain pants - Good to have on the days you visit the waterfalls and the Glacier.
- Long-Sleeved shirts (thin/and-or/Thermal)
- Base layer - needed if weather to be chilly on activities like glacier hiking
- Down Jacket - you may only need it a couple times, but you will be glad to have it on those times.
- Fleece and/or weather resistant shell
- Swimsuit, flip flops, Quick Dry microfiber towel
- Sleep mask
- Polarized Sunglasses with neck strap so they don't get lost
- Hat or Beanie - Wool or thermally-lined knit or fleece lined.
- Because of the climate you will need a lot of moisturizer
- Camera Gear - Extra Batteries, extra SD Cards, rain cover, Waterproof Case of phone.

 

[aggiedog]

Wow, you are excited, aren't you. You should be. Iceland is amazing. I"m working on how to get over there for a third time.

A few extras -
Bring an oil treatment for your hair after the Blue Lagoon, even if you'd never use one normally. It will get your hair back to normal within 1-2 washings.
You can bring a towel and flip flops with you to the BL, but then will you need them for the rest of the trip? If not, consider renting them the price of less luggage.

At Seljalandsfoss waterfall is Gljufrabui waterfall, down the trail to the left of Seljalandsfoss. Don't miss it, but wear waterproof shoes and clothes, as you must walk in a few inches of water as you go thru the crack in the cliff to get to it. Once inside, there's no hiding from the spray. It's worth it though, and truly magical. You'll need a water proof shell to go behind Seljalandsfoss anyways, which is also worth it for the sheer power you feel as the water comes over the cliff.

The weather can easily change every 10 minutes. Beginning of June it was rain, sleet, sun, and repeat. Do not bring an umbrella. The wind will eat it in an instant, as it has been known to rip car doors off when opened into the wind. Umbrellas don't stand a chance.

My lightweight down jacket was perfect, with a rain shell, along with gloves, scarf, hat. Our family picture of our "summer" trip for our Christmas card was us in Iceland, bundled up more than our Texas winters.

Beware the waves/water at the Black sand beach, Reynisfjara. The undertow is deadly, and tourists die there every year. Always keep an eye on the water line and do NOT get in even the smallest amount of surf. There are occasional very big waves that don't obey the "every 7th one" rule that seems to happen in the US. It's also really windy at the beach, as that is where the Gulf Stream hits Iceland before turning east.

Don't walk on the moss. The Icelandic ecosystem is fragile and slow growing (decades for the moss.) Stay on marked trails, especially in lava fields. The locals take this VERY seriously, and are very offended by tourists that don't respect this.

Try their famous hot dogs, with all the trimmings. They can be had from any gas station, and there is a hot dog stand in Reykjavik that our guide told us is more their true "religion" than their churches. Baejarins Beztu Pylsur. Try the rye bread ice cream with rhubarb syrup at Cafe Loki. It was amazing, seriously.

Watch these Iceland Academy videos by their tourist office. I think there are around 5 of them. They are both hilarious and completely on point:

Icelandic is the globe's closest language to old Norse/Viking. They spent so long isolated that the language evolved slowly. Their phonebook is arranged by first name, since family names can change from child to child due to cultural norms (son's surnames based on the father, daughter's on the mother.) Because the weather is so extreme most of the year, and they evolved in a culture where shipwrecks were considered a natural resource (due to their lack of many natural resources), the locals are a wonderful combination of independent and super helpful. When the drive to the next town over could take a few hours or a few days (for the weather to calm down) they tend to not have a very urgent sense of time, but at the same time can be very punctual when weather permits. Case in point, if you have an independent shuttle scheduled for the airport, know that pick up time can start 30 minutes BEFORE the scheduled time. The scheduled time is the LATEST they will come.

Enjoy your trip! Truly, I'd probably retire to Iceland if my dh would let me.

 

[BluesTraveler]

Thanks for all of this information. Re: hiking boots must cover ankles - does anyone know why is that required? We all having hiking shoes but not boots, and it's hard to imagine buying 4 pairs of hiking boots for one glacier walk. Especially for kids who outgrow shoes faster than you can blink.