Publicado: 26.10.2023
A normal Monday in February. The TV is on and an email appears on my smartphone with travel offers for Iceland. Who is going to Iceland in February? However, the offer sounded extremely interesting: 3 nights in a hotel with breakfast including flights, transfers and two excursions for 500 euros per person. Cheapest start date: Thursday from Frankfurt. Really doesn't sound so bad, does it? First sleep on it for one night...
The next day it's still somehow a good but also very crazy and spontaneous idea - at least for me. After a few conversations and obtaining permission (including vacation), everything went incredibly quickly. Trip booked and train tickets. The day after tomorrow we're going to Iceland!
It's early around 6:00 a.m. and the train to Frankfurt is actually on time! The excitement is rising. The baggage drop-off worked smoothly, the check-in was absolutely problem-free, the security check was stress-free and the boarding was also on time. Off to Iceland!
My first impression when arriving and during the transfer to the hotel: The island is quite bare than expected, there is less snow than expected and it is also "warmer" than expected (0-5 degrees). Somehow I imagined everything to be more wintery. But no matter, check into the hotel first and eat something in the attached restaurant. The food and drinks are very expensive - but I knew that. After dinner - off to the first nighttime Northern Lights tour!
While waiting for the bus to pick me up for the Northern Lights tour, I quickly looked up at the sky in front of the hotel and lo and behold: the first and hopefully not the last Northern Lights in my life! The Northern Lights tour by bus was rather sobering - cold, wet, windy and unfortunately no further sightings.
An Icelandic proverb says: "If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes." That should be the motto for the coming days.
The next morning after breakfast we took the bus for a so-called lava tunnel tour. Really really exciting and impressive. Unfortunately, the pictures hardly capture this mood. Then we went to the capital!
Hello Reykjavik! Hard Rock Cafe, Ice Bar, church visit, whale museum and another Northern Lights tour - this time by boat (unfortunately no sighting either). What a day! Of course there was also a short stop at a brewery :D An incredible number of impressions in this extremely short time. Pause and enjoy the moment.
And a new day begins. On the agenda today? Golden Circle Tour. This route goes from Þingvellir National Park to the Geysir geothermal area and then to Gullfoss waterfall . Seeing with your own eyes how a geyser shoots water into the sky and how it steams from hot springs - in combination with the smell of sulfur - is really very impressive and an unforgettable experience.
The weather: Completely mixed - wind, sun, snow, rain, fog... it's all there. The mood at each location varies depending on the weather. To experience the waterfall in the snowstorm as well as in the sunshine. Indescribable.
The end of the day: swimming in the Secret Lagoon. A hot spring as an “outdoor pool”. Beautiful, warm and relaxing.
And unfortunately, after a restful night, the journey home is on the agenda. It was unexpected, beautiful and definitely worth another trip. See you soon Iceland!