Alex’s tips for her trip to Iceland with two friends in October to Skaftafell, Lake Myvatn, Egilsstaðir and Seydisfjordur on the Ring Road in 6 days.
Who & what? Three friends from thousands of miles apart, meeting up in October for a reunion in Iceland to circumnavigate the country in 6 days. We planned our basic stops to ensure we made it around the island in 6 days, but left food/drink plans open so we could go with the flow and take advantage of local recs too.
Any lodging, restaurants or activities especially awesome?
Lodging: Icelandair Hotel in Akureyri was especially lovely with delicious breakfast. You should stay at least one night at a guesthouse and be looked after by a local family.
Food: Cafe Nielsen was the best meal of the trip
Activities: Incredible views and black sand beach at Dyrhólaey lighthouse/arch. Do all the glacier activities before they melt away: glacier bay boat tour and strap on crampons and walk on Skaftafell
Dislikes/things you would have done differently? Gone at a different time of year. October was pretty rainy, which made seeing the Northern Lights a gamble every night, and there were no puffins nesting. Also the interior of the country was largely inaccessible without a serious 4-wheel drive because of snowfall.
If you had one more/less day? I would have added: hiking in Hellnar, trip to Snæfellsnes peninsula, more glaciers! I would have skipped the Golden Circle.
Any other tips? The Golden Triangle is a tourist trap. There are far more wondrous parts of Iceland outside of that area and the southwest. Loved Lake Myvatn and the northeast, so happy we rented a car and explored that area. Egilsstaðir in the east and the village of Seydisfjordur with it’s “rainbow road” were a hidden gem.