Thisincluded a fullcampingsetincludingsleepingbags, a cookstove, dishes, a tableandchairs, andwhatwassupposedtoinclude a boxforWi-Fi, exceptthatthestaffforgottoputitinthevehicle.
BycampingontopoftheJeep, wedidnothavetobookanystays, butwedidhavetopayforcampgrounds, whichcostus $150 total, whichwasonaverage $20 a nightfortwopeople.
TheIcelandickronaisthecountry s currency, butcreditcardsarewidelyacceptedallaroundtheisland.
However, it s stilladvisabletocarrysomecashforthingslikecampgroundshowers.
Eatingat a restaurantisexpensive, thinklike $20 for a bowlofsoup, sotosavesomemoneyourfirststopafterlandingattheairportandpickingupourrentalcarwastogotothegrocerystore, wherewegot a week s worthoffoodfor $125 andthenjusttreatedourselvesto a fewmealsalongtheway.
Also, I willdomybestwithIcelandicpronunciation, butsince I alreadyknowthat I willfallshort, I askforgraceinthecomments.
Forouritineraryondayone, weflewin, pickedupourrentalcar, andwentgroceryshopping, beforewedrovepastReykjavikcontinuingeastalongtheRingRoadtoourfirstcampsitetosetourselvesuptobeabletoget a goodstartontheRingRoadthenextday.
ThispartoftheRingRoadclosesttoReykjavikoverlapswith a popularroutecalledtheGoldenCircle, whichis a greatoptionifyouhavelesstimetoexploretheisland.
Itis a family-rungreenhousethatusesgeothermalenergyfromtheislandtogrowtonsoftomatoesandhas a restaurantwitheveryitemonthemenufeaturingtomatoesthattheygrowin-house, includinganicedtomatolatte, which I triedandwasquitegood.
FedbytheSkógaRiver, thewaterfallcascadesovertheedgeof a cliff, sendingplumesofmistintotheaircreatingrainbowsinthesunlight.
Legendhasitthat a treasurechestishiddenbehindthewaterfallleftbehindby a Vikingsettler. Manyhavesearchedforthechestovertheyears, butitremainselusive.
NexttoSkógafossis a lesserknownandoftenoverlookedwaterfall, Kavernufoss.
ThewaterfallisfedbytheKavernaRiveranddropsgracefullyover a rockycliff, creating a picturesquescenethatfeelslikesomethingoutof a fairytale.
ThehiketoKavernufossisrelativelyshortandeasythrough a canyon, makingitaccessibletotravelersofallagesandfitnesslevels.
ContinuingalongtheRingRoadonthesouthcoast, ournextstopwastothefamousSolheimissanderplanewreck, whichistheremainsof a U.S. NavyDC-3 aircraftthatcrash-landedonthisremotebeachin 1973.
Thiscampgroundhas a reallynicefacility, andwecookedoutandrestedafter a longday.
Day 4 startedbybacktrackingslightlyoutsideofViktoReynisferiabeach, whichwesavedforsunrisesothatwecouldbeatthecrowds, asthisisoneofthemostpopularstopsonthesoutherncoast.
Nextwas a canyoncarvedbytheglacialwatersof a riverovertime.
Thismajesticcanyonoffers a glimpseintothegeologicalforcesthathaveshapedIceland's ruggedterrain.
Continuingdowntothesoutheast, wehikedabout a mileouttoSvartifoss, whichissetapartfromotherwaterfallsinIcelandwithitsincrediblebackdropofbasaltcolumns, whichresemble a magnificentorganpipeformation.
A fewminutesmoredowntheroadisSvinasfelljökullGlacier, whichis a shortwalkfromtheparkinglotandistheoutletglacierofVatnajökull, thelargesticecapinEurope.
Astemperaturesriseinfall, theglaciersshiftandchange, carvingoutnewcrevassesandiceformationswitheachpassingyear, andis a placetodefinitelyusecautionwhileexploring.
Notonlyisthere a stunningreflectivebeachhere, butthere's also a lighthouse, a coffeeshop, anabandonedVikingmovieset, and a campgroundwherewespentthenight.
Bydrivingabout 20 minutesoffoftheringroadtotheporttownofSeydisfjordur, famousforitslittlebluechurchanditspopularityas a stopforcruiseships.
Wescoredbigwith a two-for-onelunchspecialhereattheNordicRestaurant, wherewewereabletotryIcelandiclambandfreshlycaughtcodforthepriceofoneplate.
Thisdidturnouttobe a longdrivingday, butwemadeittothenortheasternpartoftheislandbyaround 5 p.m., wherewemadeittotheStulagilCanyon, whichwas a shorthikeouttothisstunningspot.
Althoughweweretherewhenthewaterwashighandunfortunatelyprettybrown, thisspotisknownforitsvibrantblueriver, whichwindsitswaythroughthebasaltcanyons, creating a strikingcontrast.
Wecontinuedalongto a campgroundonthenorthernpartoftheislandforthenight.
Itturnedouttobe a supernicecampgroundwith a restaurantandgrassyrollinghills.
DaysixstartedatDentifoss, Europe's mostpowerfulwaterfall, with a heightof 44 metersor 144 feetand a widthof 110 metersor 330 feet.
Forournextstopoftheday, weventuredintotheheartofanunworldlylandscape, stoppingattheKroflaviteCrater, whichwasformedduring a volcaniceruption.
Andthenweventured a littlewaysoffoftheRingRoadtocampthatnightinthetownofHafsás, whichisoneoftheoldesttradingportsinnorthernIcelanddatingbacktothe 16thcentury.
SowecontinuedalongthenorthwesterncoastofIceland, wherewewentto a beautifulhotspring.
SowecontinuedalongthenorthwesterncoastofIceland, wherewewentto a beautifulcanyonthat's beencarvedover a millenniabytheriverandwaterfallthatrunthroughit.
Next, wecontinuedalongto a historicalsitefortheafternoon, whichisbelievedtobethehomesteadofEriktheRed, thelegendaryNorseexplorerwhoiscreditedwithestablishingthefirstNorsesettlementinGreenland.
Thelonghouse, reconstructedonitsoriginalsite, offers a glimpseintothedailylifeofVikingsettlers.
Wefoundthemuseum, however, tobeoverpriced, chargingus $50 towalkintothesadreconstructedlonghouse.
If I hadtoredoit, I wouldhavejustoptedtoviewitfromtheoutsideorskipitaltogether.
Toendourday, wedroveanhourand a halftoourcampsiteforthenightinthetownofGrundafjordurontheSnæfellsnespeninsula.