VanLife Iceland- SE & E Diary & Highlights

August 28, 2023

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I spent 4 days exploring the unbelievable SE and E of Iceland in my motorhome. Right here’s my day-to-day vanlife in Iceland diary so you may observe alongside.

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Day 1 of Vanlife Iceland

The ferry arrived in Seydisfjordur at round 09.30 and I used to be pleasantly shocked to see a lot of blue skies and sunshine. I began as I imply to continue- by stopping on the Netto to purchase recent meals (you’re not allowed to carry recent meals into Iceland), plus a caramel doughnut.

This was swiftly adopted by the unintended discovery of Iceland’s worm (cousin to the Loch Ness Monster apparently) and a good greater unintended introduction to the notorious Icelandic gravel roads…

In reply to the query I had earlier than I arrived: sure, a 2WD motorhome can get down a gravel highway, however I don’t advocate it in your coronary heart well being. Not simply because gravel roads will not be enjoyable to drive, however as a result of the Icelanders drive loopy quick down them!

I spent the evening at a Viking Cafe, which was round £12pppn and had each improbable views and waffles!

Days 2 & 3 of motorhoming in Iceland

Day 2 began early. The speak I attended about Iceland on the ferry over mentioned one of the best ways to take care of fixed daylight is to get right into a rhythm and follow it. Additionally they steered getting up early to do essentially the most touristy issues, so you may see all the pieces earlier than the tour buses arrive.

Subsequently, I booked myself onto the very first rib boat tour of the day on the Glacier Lagoon. Excitedly, I awoke at 6am… and located myself in thick fog. It was, as we might say in Jersey, a correct peasouper. Nevertheless, as I drove in the direction of the Lagoon parking, the fog appeared to hug the coast, however not go too far inland, which means after I rounded a nook I had the jaw-dropping expertise of seeing the glacier proper in entrance of me.

It’s onerous to place it into phrases when you’ve by no means seen a glacier earlier than. The sheer scale of it’s huge, and the fantastic thing about this explicit one set in opposition to the mountains and sea is particularly breathtaking.

After which I rounded one other nook and noticed the Glacier Lagoon with all its icebergs. I’ll be sincere, I nearly got here to a whole cease within the highway. It’s STUNNING. The solar was low and made the ice sparkle and the water was so still- it was unbelievable.

I managed to get the drone up earlier than the tour, which was improbable. My advice is certainly to do the rib boats relatively than the large yellow ducks- you’ll get a lot additional into the lagoon and nearer to the glacier. We even noticed a seal sunbathing on an iceberg. 🙂

Afterwards, I handled myself to presumably the world’s costliest crepe (£12.50 for ham and cheese!)- but it surely was scrumptious and warming after the chilly wind on the rib.

I headed again anti-clockwise, stopping at one other pretty campsite with views over the ocean and mountains- simply £12 for the evening. In truth, I appreciated this one a lot that I made a decision to remain right here one other day to calm down and have a day of not driving- crucial whenever you’re doing lengthy journeys.

Day 4 of vanlife in Iceland

At the moment’s mission- discover a sea geysir and two waterfalls.

Though the day began in mist and low cloud, it cleared up rapidly. The NE nook known as ‘Majorca’ by the Icelanders as a result of it’s typically sunny right here – that’s actually been my expertise. The ocean geysir was a bust.

After strolling all the way down to the spot and ready for 20 minutes, I concluded the ocean was both too calm to make it go off, or it solely goes off very occasionally. Both method, I moved on to discover a waterfall you could possibly stroll behind.

This was very almost a bust too. It’s known as Gilsarfoss and there aren’t any indicators aside from a tiny handmade one… which I missed. The issue with lacking this signal is I discovered myself on a really slender gravel coastal highway.

Turning the motorhome round was unattainable for a number of miles- and even after I managed it, it was very dodgy (and the drop was steep as I reversed in the direction of it!) I nearly didn’t hassle to return.

However I’m so glad I made the hassle. This waterfall was great. A couple of 10-minute hike to a crystal clear pool, and you could possibly stroll behind the falls. I want I’d purchased a picnic and my swim gear to benefit from the place longer- there wasn’t anybody else round the entire time I used to be there.

On my strategy to the subsequent cease, I handed one other superior spot. Proper on the primary highway, it’s subsequent to a waterfall whose title stays unknown, however was a beautiful view for lunch.

Finally made it to Hengifoss, certainly one of Iceland’s tallest waterfalls- and it didn’t disappoint. The hike is just not notably lengthy, however STEEP. You can select the left or proper facet of the canyon- I went proper and was glad I did as a result of it had higher views.

Lastly, I drove one other 90 minutes to Borgarfjörður- a beautiful campsite proper on the East coast which is simply £8pppn!