This was my third visit to Iceland, and this time I had the joy of sharing it with my father. We spent an incredible week up north, and despite revisiting some familiar spots, Iceland's magic never fades. It was a week packed with adventure, and we were lucky to have perfect weather to top it all off.

Day 1

We hit the ground running as soon as we arrived, heading straight to explore the raw beauty of the Reykjanes Peninsula. Our first stop was the Miðlína bridge. Next, we soaked in the steamy, otherworldly atmosphere at Gunnuhver geothermal area before heading to Reykjanes lighthouse and the dramatic Valahnúkamöl ridge, overlooking a rugged rocky beach. To wrap up the day, we visited Brimketill natural pool and spent the night in the quiet town of Grindavik.

 
 

Day 2

We had hoped to visit the erupting volcano, but it wasn’t active, so we headed to Selatangar beach, where we spotted our first seal and hiked through the Katlahraun lava field. Next, we explored Grænavatn, the geothermal area at Krýsuvík, and enjoyed a relaxing dip in Skátalaug hot spring. Reykjanes was incredibly peaceful; it felt like we had the entire peninsula to ourselves.

After passing Kleifarvatn lake, we attempted to cross Reykjanesfólkvangur, but the road was closed halfway. We doubled back to Hveragerði via Reykjavík for a stunning hike to Reykjadalur, the Valley of Steam. The hike itself was beautiful, and the reward at the top—a steamy natural hot spring—was the perfect way to unwind after the day’s adventures.

We ended with a leisurely stroll around Reykjavík, soaking in the charm of the city.

 
 

I took the new Fujinon XF 70-300mm F4-5.6 R LM OIS WR for this trip and I was super happy with the results.

As usual feel free to contact Fujifilm Slovenija. They offer great deals on everything Fuji.

 
 

Day 3

We woke to another clear morning and a perfect forecast—ideal for our hike to Glymur waterfall. We hoped to take the circular route, but it was closed off, and for good reason. The shaded side of the valley was completely frozen, making it impassable. Plus, the log over the river had been removed, so crossing wasn't an option.

Still, we made it to the waterfall, which was partly frozen and stunning in its own way. With time to spare, we decided to relax for the rest of the day in the pool at Mosfellsbær. A perfect way to unwind!

 
 

Day 4

We set out early from Reykjavík for the stunning Snæfellsnes Peninsula—a drive that never fails to impress. Our first stop was the basalt columns of Gerðuberg, followed by Ytri Tunga beach. This time, we got lucky—around 50 seals were lounging on the shore, completely unbothered by our presence.

Snæfellsjökull glacier made a majestic appearance, following us throughout the day. We stopped at Bjarnarfoss, the iconic Búðakirkja with its striking black church, and Búða beach. Next up was the Rauðfeldsgjá gorge, before parking in Arnarstapi for a breathtaking coastal walk to Hellnar.

Lóndrangar, a dramatic basalt rock formation, was a new discovery and worth the quick stop. We also visited Saxhóll crater and Ingjaldshóll, with its stunning backdrop of Snæfellsjökull. The day ended with an adventurous trek to Svöðufoss before settling in for the night in Hellisandur, a town brought to life by its colorful murals.

 
 

Day 5

The next day brought clouds and rain, but it didn’t matter since our plan was just to make the drive back from Snæfellsnes. We started in Ólafsvík, checking out the nearby Bæjarfoss waterfall before heading to the familiar sights of Kirkjufell and Grundarfjörður. From there, we continued to Berserkjahraun, a dramatic lava field, before taking Route 56 to cross the peninsula.

We made a quick stop at Landbrotalaug, a tiny hot pool tucked away in nature—definitely worth a dip! Our final stop was Mosfellsbær, and with some time to spare, we headed to a local pool.

 
 

Day 6

We made the most of our location and visited Þingvellir first thing the next morning. Arriving early, we had the place to ourselves, exploring the historic site at a relaxed pace. From there, the Golden Circle took us to Kerið, which was surprisingly crowded, followed by the bustling Haukadalur geothermal area where Strokkur put on a show. Just 10 minutes away, Gullfoss greeted us, partly frozen and as massive as ever.

A pleasant surprise was Brúarhlöð, a beautiful gorge we stumbled upon without the crowds. Our accommodation for the night was in Flúðir, which felt a bit underwhelming. The Secret Lagoon was packed with busloads of tourists from Reykjavík, and the nearby Hrunalaug Hot Spring was also disappointing—tickets collected by the landlady and a crowded pool.

It seems this central area was more touristy than we expected, but with the day winding down, we called it a night.

 
 

Day 7

The next day was all about the south—or more specifically, waterfalls. We visited five in total, with two I haven’t seen before: Gluggafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Árjánurfoss, Skógafoss, and Kvernufoss. Gluggafoss and Árjánurfoss were especially memorable as we had them all to ourselves—except for two crazy dogs at Árjánurfoss who were busy biting and digging up rocks, the most random and hilarious thing!

We also stopped by the Skógar museum, an interesting look into Icelandic history. As we moved further south, the weather took a turn for the worse. Our visit to Sólheimajökull was pretty rough—dusty, windy, and far from pleasant. Still, we pushed on to Dyrhólaey and Arnardrangur, where the sea was wild and dramatic.

We wrapped up the day in Vík í Mýrdal, drying off from the weather, grabbing burgers and beers, and yet again finishing with a relaxing dip in the local pool.

 
 

Day 8

Our final day arrived, and the sun greeted us as we left Mýrdalsjökull behind. We were treated to stunning views of Eyjafjallajökull on one side and the Westman Islands on the other as we made our way back.

A quick stop at Urriðafoss and another at the dramatic cliffs of Krísuvíkurberg marked the end of our journey.

Until next time, Iceland.