Adventures in the Land of Fire and Ice

[NoHo Arts District, CA] –  This month’s Active World Journeys travel blog by Jack Witt takes us to Iceland – “Adventures in the Land of Fire and Ice.”

To say that Iceland is amazing is an understatement. With geothermal wonders in every direction, northern lights that constantly captivate, and a colorful and quirky capital city, Iceland is a place that erupts with wonder and sparkles with excitement.

Continuing my celebration of hosting fun groups on active tours for the past 10 years, I had the pleasure of spending eight scheduled days (plus one extra…we’ll get to that) in The Land of Fire and Ice with 10 intrepid travelers.

Our flight from the USA arrived in Iceland early in the day and we kicked things off with a leisurely 3-hour afternoon walking food tour around old Reykjavik city center. Walking down the famous Rainbow Street, we could feel the artistic and cultural spirit of the city welcome us. We learned during the tour what the Vikings ate and how Icelandic people have survived harsh winters with special cooking techniques and preservation methods. We sampled everything from lamb tartare to puffin to fermented shark. (We all agreed the fermented shark was a one-and-done thing…it sort of tasted like jet fuel!) However, once we got to the licorice-tasting portion, there was no stopping us.

Did you know that Iceland has over 10,000 waterfalls!? 

On day two, we set out to start discovering some of the best ones. The Silver Circle driving route from Reykjavik takes you to Hraunfossar & Barnafossar Waterfalls which are a collection of countless creeks and cascades small and big streaming out of the lava, spanning over 3,000 ft. wide. It was a feast for the eyes and really unlike any waterfall I’d ever seen. We hiked through the surreal landscape of the Highlands afterward, ending with a geothermal soak in little pools nestled in magnificent Húsafell Canyon. The pools varied in temperature from 86F – 105F. This was a perfect way to get acquainted with the outdoor vibe in rural Iceland.

Making our way down to the South Coast of Iceland on the program we visited The Caves of Hella. The caves are thought to be Iceland’s oldest still-standing archaeological remains. In the 8th century, before the Vikings even settled in Iceland, Irish Monks came and lived and worshipped in these caves. Much of the reasons they came and why they left still remain a mystery to this day. We were treated to an Icelandic Whiskey tasting while we were down in the caves, which along with the subtle lighting in the caves and the ancient crosses carved into the walls, really created a medieval monastery-type atmosphere.

Continuing our “chasing waterfalls” theme, we went to Seljalandsfoss Waterfall (I really liked this one because you could walk behind it) and Skógafoss Waterfall (very large and elegant). Our guide then took us to the famous Black Beach.

It was very crashing, foreboding, and moody. Nobody swims there…that is unless you’re planning it to be the last swim of your life.

Eventually arriving at Sólheimajökull glacier we laced up our crampons, grabbed some ice picks and did a glacier walk. It was a magnificent experience to be on this glistening glacier and we even drank the water that was running down the glacier in a little stream. It’s the cleanest and purest water in the world you know!

When we checked into our eco-friendly hotel in the south, the front desk clerk asked us if we wanted a “Northern Lights Wake-Up Call.” I had never even heard of that. Well of course we all confirmed with great excitement. 2024 was indeed supposed to be an active year for the Aurora Borealis. And so, it was about 11pm that evening and I was just about to drift off into a happy trip leader slumber when the front desk called with that Northern Lights alert )))

They said they were visible right behind the hotel! I quickly jumped out of bed, threw my coat on over my pajamas and raced down to catch this magical phenomenon with all the other hotel guests for an impromptu party in the parking lot.

As we ventured further in the south, we went to Skaftafell National Park, a beautiful and rugged area of mountains and glaciers. We did a great hike and soaked up all the good energy and views.  Next, we suited up and took a zodiac boat ride in Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon. It was so enchanting as we circled icebergs of all shapes and sizes in an otherworldly landscape.

The next day we swapped out our private group van for a private 4×4 Super Jeep. It really allowed us to get off the beaten track and explore Iceland’s hidden gems and breathtaking landscapes a little deeper. We went to The Valley of Thor, a natural paradise between glaciers where we did a wonderful hike and afterward barbecued some Icelandic hotdogs at a secluded campsite. We were all channeling our inner Viking by this point in the tour and felt invincible!   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oR7HrqB-jI 

Heading back towards Reykjavik we explored the Golden Circle driving route. Our first stop was the Geysir Geothermal area. The dormant geyser Geysir, is the one and only geyser that gave all other geysers their name! It is no longer active, but Strokkur Geyser close by erupts every 20 minutes or so with a crowd-pleasing burst.

Then it was on to Gullfoss Waterfall, the waterfall which gives the Golden circle its name. The sheer power and beauty of it was something to behold. Afterwards, we headed to Thingvellir National Park. Besides being a natural wonder, it is also the sight where the world’s longest continuously run parliament was founded during the great clan gatherings of the Settlement Age (A.D. 930). Thingvellir is also a site of geological wonders, as it lies in a rift valley between the Eurasian and North American plates. Getting out of our comfort zone and not feeling so invincible anymore, we suited up into special dry suits to snorkel in the freezing cold albeit crystal clear waters between the two tectonic plates. It ended up being one of the most surreal and incredible experiences on our tour. We could see 350 ft. down with 100% clear visibility. We celebrated our daring feat by going to a Friðheimar Restaurant & Tomato Farm, where we gained an insight into the processes of greenhouse horticulture, and the use of geothermal heating in Iceland. We had the most delicious tomato soup in the world, and let me tell you, the Bloody Marys there were to die for!

On our last full day in Iceland (we thought), we decided that after all the activities we did in Iceland, we deserved a relaxing pamper day visit to one of the 25 wonders of the WorldThe Blue Lagoon. It’s one of Iceland’s most visited attractions, famous for its ethereal milky-blue waters. Remaining at 102 degrees Fahrenheit all year round, the waters are rich in silica and minerals. The premium package that we had allowed us three different mud facial masks and two alcohol drinks from the swim-up bar. They also had a massage waterfall and a steam cave. We were glad we had an opportunity to go as just a few weeks prior the eruption of a nearby volcano had closed the Spa. What can I say, timing is everything.

After an exciting and wonderous eight days in Iceland, we boarded our plane at Reykjavik International Airport for our flight back home. However, our Captain made an announcement just before we pulled back from the gate that one of the engines could not start and that they were going to have to fly in a part from London. (Better to diagnose engine problems on the runway as opposed to 30,000 ft. I guess!) This meant that we were going to need to stay one more night in Reykjavik… oh darn (not really). So, we made the best of it and did a little hike from our new Reykjavik hotel that the airline put us up in, to the Perlan Museum. There we watched an intense Volcano movie short about the 2021 Geldingadalir eruption, experienced an 8K Northern Lights Planetarium show, and explored an Ice Cave made out of 350 tons of snow from Icelandic mountains and kept at a cool 15F. As we took in the view of the city from the hill-perched museum’s outer deck, we were convinced we were meant to spend this extra day/evening in beautiful Iceland.

And so alas with the plane’s engine repaired the next day it was wheels up on day nine of our trip.  As The Land of Fire and Ice got smaller and smaller through the window and the clouds eventually obstructed my view, I knew Iceland would go down as one of the most epic tours I’ve ever hosted and a destination that surely qualifies as a rite of passage for adventure travelers.

Cheers,

Jack Witt, MS, CPT

Fitness and Health Coach

“Get Fit with Witt”

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