Iceland - The Trip of a Lifetime - Day 1
As we reflect on the question, What has been your favorite adventure?, our trip to Iceland in 2017 immediately stands out as a trip of a lifetime. This trip has a deep meaning to Bethany and I as covered in the book Tails From The Trails: Off-Road Stories of Adventure and Resilience compiled by David McBee. We originally wrote this article for Rent.is as part of a sweepstakes to have our full trip refunded (we didn’t win) but has been updated for improved readability for this blog.
Embarking on an Icelandic Adventure: Highlights and Insights
Our journey to Iceland began with seven weeks of planning, which, though brief, fueled our excitement to explore the "land of fire and ice." Our planning process was a mix of research and spontaneous discovery, as we navigated through our busy schedules on the road traveling with our foster son for visitations with his biological father. We calculated that we spent 30 direct hours over that 7 weeks meticulously planning during these long hours in the car, crafting an itinerary that centered around exploring key attractions along the Ring Road, while still leaving room for flexibility.
Our planning process included creating a detailed Excel spreadsheet that outlined our destinations, activities, and must-see sights. To simplify finding campsites, we purchased a camping card for consistent and reliable camp locations.
We heard that food in Iceland could be expensive—a burger, fries, and a soda at a gas station could easily cost $25 USD. Since we planned to do a food tour at the end of our trip, we saved money by bringing freeze-dried meals with us to eat in our camper van. This approach allowed us to stretch our budget while enjoying the journey.
So f anywhere in the world, why do we chose Iceland? The allure of camping and road trips in this breathtaking landscape was undeniable. The stunning visuals we found on Instagram inspired us further, and the wealth of travel blogs and articles helped us craft our adventure. Soon, our much-anticipated trip was underway.
The Journey Begins
Our journey started with a smooth flight from Chicago O'Hare to Reykjavik via Iceland Air. After landing, we picked up our luggage and made a quick stop at the duty-free store for essentials, including Icelandic beer, as navigating Vínbúðin (the beer store) during our road trip could be challenging with their limited operating hours (yes, we knew this because of some awesome travel blogs).
However, we encountered a minor hiccup: we flew into the wrong airport. Instead of Reykjavik, we landed in Keflavik, which is just outside of Reykjavik. A simple mix-up in our planning led to us booking our camper pickup at the Reykjavik office, but our actual arrival was at Keflavik airport. Despite the unexpected shuttle ride to Reykjavik, we managed to catch a nap to refresh ourselves after our red-eye flight.
Upon reaching the Rent.is office in Reykjavik, we were met with friendly staff who stored our luggage as we took a short walk to the nearby park waiting for our rental to be fully prepped. Our tiredness continued to plagued us, and we ended up napping again at a picnic table in the park.
Exploring Iceland
Our adventure truly began once we picked up our camper van around noon. The staff at Rent.is were accommodating and provided a delayed drop-off time due to our later pickup. We received a thorough walkthrough of our VW California 4x4 camper van, which featured useful amenities such as a table, chairs, heater, and a cooler. We were advised to utilize the free water available at campsites and gas stations instead of purchasing bottled water, which turned out to be an invaluable tip.
Our first destination was the iconic Blue Lagoon, where we enjoyed a relaxing soak in the geothermal waters. The complimentary drink, towel, and face masks made our experience all the more rejuvenating.
Next, we ventured to þingvellir National Park, a site where we stood between the tectonic plates of North America and Europe—a surreal experience. The awe-inspiring natural beauty left us speechless.
After exploring the park, we made our way to Graben, our camping spot for the night. The lack of trees was surprising, but the vast fields provided a sense of freedom. The rainy weather could not dampen our spirits, as our camper van's lift gate doubled as a rain shield for cooking dinner.
Our freeze-dried meals and the large water jug provided with the camper made meal prep easy and efficient. Overall, our first day in Iceland was a success, filled with natural wonders and unforgettable moments.
As we continued our journey through this magical place, we looked forward to experiencing more of Iceland's unparalleled beauty and adventure.
Stay tuned for Day 2 and the breathtaking scenery we explored.
