If you don’t fancy paying 44 Euros or higher around Reykjavik, try Reykjadalur. You get the full Roman bath treatment: palaestrae (the uphill hiking trail to the main bathing area), the frigidarium (the cold river that flows from the east), the calidarium which flows from the west from underground.
The mineral content is extra high here so try not to bring anything that you want to be re-coloured.
Having spent some time in the capital area on the last trip, I decided to go to some unusual spots. Like the
The Icelandic Phallological Museum, a hike up Esja,
Now, enough of the weirdness and the crazy drivers in the capital. I decided that the countryside is where I wanted to spend my last few days in Iceland. After checking to make sure that parts of the F26 and F224 are passable, I decided to set off to the highland nomad town of Landmannalaugar which literally means “people’s pools.” Land, man, lagoon, get it? Get it. (Thanks Icelandic language!)
I highly recommend the Bláhnúkur – Brennisteinsalda loop and the Sudurnámur trail. These are not easy or the safest trail(river crossings, very slippery downhills, windy, and icy conditions are common). However, I promise they have the best views!
If you are feeling ambitious, try the multiday trip through the famous Laugavegur to Þórsmörk or further!
Of course, being the place of the “people’s pool,” I had to dip into the pool. At 9:30pm, I was the only bather in the pot. What a joy!
They say the Lauvegur is an excellent place to go by yourself. It indeed is true. The Icelandic search and rescue team is stationed in Landmannalaugar. An open wound on my hand(thanks Bláhnúkur!) started an expected evening of chatting around the grill and playing Kubb around the famous “Mountain Mall!”
Stories were exchanged and drinks were poured. Sadly I had to bid goodbye the next morning to the amazing scenery and the Icelandic rescue team. I marched on my final destinations the erupting Fagradalsfjall and the steaming Blue Lagoon(one more time).
(I passed by this waterfall a bit off the Southern Ring Road, apparently a great spot to fish salmon)
I arrived at the volcano absolutely smothered by the heavy fog. No erupting fireballs for me. However, seeing the newly formed lava is still fascinating.
Though I wasn’t able to see the volcano, I had no regrets. Every single day of this trip had been absolutely amazing. Before I get too sentimental. time to go for a steamy finish with a soak and drink at the Blue Lagoon!
