(This is a revisited post from a few years ago – may contain affiliate links)
After taking a solo trip to Thailand with G Adventures, I knew exactly who I wanted to travel with when my sister suggested Iceland in winter.
The goal?
See the Northern Lights.
Spoiler alert: We never saw them.
And yet this was still one of my favorite trips.
Why I Chose G Adventures
As a solo traveler, I love that G Adventures keeps groups small, usually around 10 to 15 people.
Their guides, called Chief Experience Officers, are local experts who know the area, handle the logistics, and somehow keep everyone organized while making it all look easy.
For this trip, our guide Saga was exceptional. She drove the van, cooked dinners, shared Icelandic folklore, and somehow kept 13 travelers from getting blown off a cliff.
Day One: Blue Lagoon and Reykjavik
After an overnight flight from New York, my sister and I headed straight to the famous Blue Lagoon.
The warm geothermal water was exactly what we needed after a sleepless flight.
Floating in the milky blue water surrounded by lava fields felt like arriving on another planet.
The lagoon isn’t very deep, which was good news for those of us who were still half asleep and running on airplane snacks.
Afterward we checked into our hotel in Reykjavik and spent the afternoon exploring the city.
We even went whale watching.
The whales, unfortunately, had other plans.
We saw zero whales but earned a return voucher, which is Iceland’s polite way of saying, “Nice try.”
Day Two: Lava Caves, Waterfalls and Horses
The next morning began with crampons.
That should have been my first clue.
We headed into a frozen lava field and walked toward what appeared to be a hole in the ground.
“Here’s the cave,” Saga announced.
I briefly considered staying on the bus.
Instead, I grabbed the rope and climbed down.
Inside the cave we crawled through ancient lava tunnels, admired ice formations, and tasted pure Icelandic icicles.
Saga also informed us that the country has active volcanoes, frequent earthquakes, and mischievous elves.
Apparently stepping on certain icicles can upset the elves.
I decided not to test the theory.
Next we visited Thingvellir National Park.
This is one of the few places on Earth where you can literally walk between two tectonic plates.
Later we stopped at Strokkur Geyser, which erupts every few minutes.
If you’re looking at your camera settings when it happens, you’ve missed it.
Then came Gullfoss Waterfall.
The wind was fierce.
The waterfall was magnificent.
I spent most of my time wondering if my phone or I would end up flying over the edge first.
Our final stop was to meet the famous Icelandic horses.
They are fluffy, friendly, photogenic, and honestly seemed more interested in us than we were in them.
That evening we stayed in a farmhouse and spent dinner running outside every twenty minutes hoping to see the Northern Lights.
Nothing.
Just clouds.
Day Three: Hiking to a Hot Spring
The next day involved hiking through snow to a geothermal river.
Our guide apparently decided we looked athletic.
I can assure you appearances were deceiving.
We trudged uphill through snow, wind, steam vents, and mud until we reached a shallow hot spring.
The water was warm.
The air was wet and freezing.
Getting into the water was easy.
Getting out was a different story.
Changing into dry clothes behind a tiny wooden privacy screen while standing in snow deserves to be considered an Olympic sport.
By the time we got back to the farmhouse, I was soaked.
Thankfully a hot shower and homemade lamb dinner fixed everything.
Day Four: Black Sand Beaches and Waterfalls
This was my favorite day.
While part of our group chose an optional glacier hike, my sister and I opted for Iceland’s famous black sand beaches.
Best decision ever.
Reynisfjara Beach was breathtaking.
The black sand, towering basalt columns, crashing waves, and sea stacks looked almost unreal.
It was also slightly terrifying.
The beach is known for dangerous sneaker waves that can pull visitors into the ocean.
We admired the view from a safe distance.
Our guide also took us to Dyrhólaey Peninsula, an unscheduled stop that turned out to be one of the highlights of the entire trip.
The views were spectacular.
This flexibility is one of the reasons I continue booking with G Adventures.
We also visited Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls.
At this point I had lost count of how many times Iceland had taken my breath away.
Day Five: Exploring Reykjavik
Our final day was spent exploring Reykjavik on foot.
The city is compact, colorful, and easy to navigate.
Highlights included:
- Hallgrímskirkja Church
- The Northern Lights Center
- Perlan Museum
- The Saga Museum
- Café Loki
At Café Loki I decided to try fermented shark.
People often ask what it tastes like.
The answer is regret.
But when in Iceland…
Reykjavik
Final Thoughts
Would I recommend Iceland in winter?
Absolutely.
Would I recommend renting a car and doing it yourself?
Maybe in summer.
Winter weather changes quickly. Roads can be icy, windy, and unpredictable.
Having a local guide made all the difference.
And while we never saw the Northern Lights, we gained something else.
New friends.
Amazing memories.
A deeper appreciation for Iceland’s rugged beauty.
And about 600 photos.
Not bad for a trip where the main attraction never showed up
Thinking of booking a trip to Iceland? Summer or winter? I can help plan your trip. Contact me:
kristin.markey@cruiseplanners.com
