Coldest Trip: Iceland
- LoAroundTheGlobo
- Feb 2, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 21
January 2019
Seven girls, one vehicle, five days, five nights, and countless shenanigans. What began as a reunion for three of us quickly snowballed into a full-blown girls’ trip—and I couldn’t have been happier. I had two college friends (Sarah and Taylor), a trio of childhood friends (Jess, Olivia, and Schyler), plus Dominique (Schyler’s friend from London), all eager to hop over to Iceland during its coldest, darkest time of year. Bold choices all around.
Planning was fun but tricky, since winter in Iceland means a measly six hours of daylight. We knew renting a car was non-negotiable, so after our redeye into Reykjavík, we grabbed our rental and headed straight to the Blue Lagoon before sunrise. Floating in spooky, steamy waters in total darkness? Ten out of ten—especially because, by midmorning, the crowds rolled in and the magic faded. Naturally, we took full advantage of the included drinks and face masks made from mysterious local potions.
Afterward, we drove the Golden Circle, a central loop with pull-offs for jaw-dropping sights like Gullfoss Waterfall, a field of feisty geysers, and Thingvellir National Park. These views are, indeed, golden: dramatic, powerful, otherworldly—and free. Just park, hop out, and let your jaw drop.
Once darkness fell (which took approximately five minutes), we grabbed sandwiches and groceries from a nearby shop and finally checked into our Airbnb. Some people got big beds, others got bunks, but everyone knocked out and woke up ready for round two.
The next day, we explored Reykjavík, home to about two-thirds of Iceland’s 300,000 residents. You’ve probably heard, “It’s cheap to get there but expensive once you’re there”—which is only half true. Our stroll through the port, the city museum, and the colorful-meets-brutalist streets included coffees, beers, snacks, and tickets that were all surprisingly reasonable. Plus, you can walk most of downtown in a day, hitting all the hotspots without breaking a sweat (or the bank).
That night, we pre-gamed at our apartment, played some rowdy games, then headed out for dinner and dancing. We ended up in a tiny, almost-empty bar, did shots with the bartender, swayed to the DJ’s electronic beats, and staggered home in loosely organized groups. Perfect.
The next morning, we hit the South Rim—a road that hugs the island’s southern edge—and crammed all seven of us into our passenger van. We trekked across snow and ice, stopping anytime a sign, map marker, or adorable Icelandic horse caught our eye. Gravel lots, frosty trails, random detours… honestly the best way to explore Iceland, and I’m thrilled to report the internet was right.
Along the way we saw waterfalls, black sand beaches, glaciers, iceberg lagoons, and landscapes so bizarre I’m still not convinced they were real. After nine hours of driving, we finally reached Höfn and checked into an Airbnb that looked like a concrete bunker in a tiny, remote community. Slightly creepy? Yes. But Iceland’s impressively low crime rate eased our minds. We drank wine, played charades, demolished snacks, and piled into a few beds like happy sardines.
The next day was another long haul back to Reykjavík. I did all the driving, carefully navigating rural roads that seemed to dissolve into the snowy horizon while some girls napped, others read, and a few jammed out. The scenery changed every hour—lush green waterfall hideaways one moment, frozen tundra the next. With so few tourists around, the whole place felt eerily post-apocalyptic… in a charming, Icelandic way.
Between car games, belly laughs, wildlife spotting (horses! mountain goats! caribou!), and hikes whenever the mood struck, we squeezed every ounce out of our short days and long nights. Thermoses of Baileys helped too. It was weird, wonderful, wild—and absolutely unforgettable.
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To Do or Not To Do?
Definitely go—and soon if you can! Our flights were cheap, but I doubt that’ll last. Iceland is blowing up because people visit, fall madly in love, and won’t shut up about it. It’s well on its way to becoming a top tourist hotspot. Just remember: it’s an outdoorsy place, so be prepared for lots of walking, climbing, and getting delightfully filthy. And unless you have a superhero-level bladder, know that bathrooms (and civilization in general) can be scarce on certain coastal stretches.
Rent a vehicle—seriously. It’s cheaper overall and gives you the freedom to wander wherever the road, or lack thereof, takes you. We were so grateful we did; off-roading became a personality trait. And don’t skip Reykjavík’s nightlife either. We didn’t. Local pubs, drag clubs, random dance spots—they’re all fun, friendly, and safe.
Iceland is a fascinating little island with a lot to offer, and you won’t regret a single minute. I'm grateful to have visited twice now and welcome the opportunity to explore other parts of this other-worldly place!
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