Winter Iceland Road Trip 2023:
Group Trip Highlights Week 1
After two amazing group trips to Iceland in 2022, I was so excited to come back with another group to kick off my 2023 season!
I absolutely adore Iceland. And in this location, I partner up with one of my favorite local guides I’ve ever worked with, Kristjan! He’s a total Iceland expert. It’s been so fun running trips together the past two years.
And if you’re interested in joining more Iceland adventures with us, stay tuned!
We have a summer trip on the way!
So here is everything we got up to in Iceland while road tripping around for the last 8 days with this amazing crew!
Watch the Youtube recap here:
Day 1: Arrive in Reykjavik
Everyone flew into the stunning capital city of Iceland, Reykjavik, to kick off our adventure!
Some who arrived early visited the Sky Lagoon while others joined the excellent and free walking tour of Reykjavik. Everyone got checked into Hotel Klettur.
That evening, we all met up for our welcome dinner at a nearby restaurant. It
Afterwards, we went out into the blizzard for some Northern Lights hunting but due to weather, we didn’t see any of the aurora.
Day 2
The next day, we set off for the Golden Circle! There was the most beautiful fresh layer of snow covering everything!
The sun was shining and it was the perfect day to stop at national parks, waterfalls and glaciers!
After a full day of sightseeing and Icelandic stories from our guide Kris, we went to the oldest swimming pool in all of Iceland, the Secret Lagoon!
This lesser known gem is one of my favorites in Iceland. We sipped champagne, rolled in the snow and ran back to the steamy hot lagoon water. It was a blast!
That night, we stayed at the most beautiful and remote organic farm where the family cooked for us a delicious fresh meal! Icelandic cuisine is truly fantastic and totally underrated.
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Day 3
The next day we headed off to stop at some more gorgeous waterfalls before arriving at the Black Sand Beach.
The Black Sand Beach in Vik is always one of my favorite stops! The magnitude of the waves combined with the enormous basalt columns… it is truly spectacular!
After the beach, we drove up to one of my favorite views overlooking the little town of Vik where we stopped for lunch!
After Vik, we continued our drive to the stunning glacier lagoon, Diamond beach and Vatnajökull National Park in South Iceland.
The weather was absolutely beautiful with the light dusting of fresh snow on everything!
And to make the day even more perfect, Milan and Gabi got engaged overlooking a beautiful glacier landscape!! We all toasted and celebrated the newly engaged couple together! She was completely surprised and it was such a beautiful proposal. I’m so happy I was able to help capture these memories!
That night, we continued our celebrations at our hotel which is located right next to Vatnajökull Glacier, the largest glacier in Europe!
We dined on a fantastic meal of Icelandic arctic char, fresh homemade bread and chocolate mousse for dessert.
The forecast for the Northern Lights was looking good so around 11pm we all piled in the van and Kris drove us around looking for a clearing in the clouds.
And sure enough, due to his expert guidance, we were treated to the most spectacular Northern Lights display I have ever witnessed!
The entire sky lit up green as the aurora danced above us! We all gathered just off the side of the road. No big tour buses or crowds.. just our little group gathered together at midnight as the winter winds whipped around us. It was an unforgettable night. And the perfect ending to an amazing day.
Day 4
The next morning, some of us braved the elements and hiked to the Vatnajökull glacier just behind our hotel. However it was a wet and rainy morning!
We then checked out of our hotel and began driving back towards Reykjavik, stopping at waterfalls and sights along the way. The wind was insane but Kris is an excellent driver in all sorts of weather.
When we reached Reykjavik, we checked back into our hotel before heading off to the Blue Lagoon for the night.
Day 5
The next morning we set off towards Snæfellsnes Peninsula, a region in western Iceland known for its dramatic landscapes. We first stopped to see a river where freshwater and salty glacial water collide to make the most beautiful shade of blue water.
For lunch, we stopped at the stunning Krauma Geothermal Baths and restaurant.
We soaked in the hot waters with beautiful view of the mountains.
That evening, we checked into our cozy cabins at an Icelandic horse farm.
Our local Icelandic host welcomed us to the most fantastic home-cooked meal! We sang Icelandic songs, laughed, drank and ate way too much! That night we played games in our cabins before falling asleep. Another fantastic day!
Day 6
The next morning we had more unpredictable Icelandic weather so we altered our itinerary slightly but the day turned out great!
We visited tiny scenic churches, rugged lava fields, and stunning coastlines.
That night, we had another delicious home cooked meal at the horse farm. Our host was so welcoming and kind! And for the second night in a row, we had drinks and played Heads Up in our cabins.. it was a hilarious and memorable night to say the least!
Day 7
For our final full day in Iceland, we toured around the stunning Snæfellsnes Peninsula coast line. We walked along the boardwalk as the enormous waves crashed against the cliffs.
Later that day we made it back to Reykjavik in time to go shopping downtown before our farewell dinner. We shared our favorite moments from the trip and fondly recalled all the amazing memories we shared together over the week. After a teary goodbye to Kris, I led the group on a little Reykjavik pub crawl ending at my favorite Irish bar that always has great live music and a dance floor!
Day 8
The next morning, we had one last breakfast together at our hotel. Afterwards, we went into town for some final shopping and famous Icelandic hot dogs.
Thank you to everyone who made this week so incredible! It wouldn’t have been the same without each and every one of you!
To join a group trip, check out the “Travel With Me” section!
Past group trips include: dog sledding in Minnesota, Southwest USA, Sail Croatia, backpacking the Superior Hiking Trail, Christmas in NYC, Iceland, Morocco, Turkey, Ireland, and more!
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