This was our first time to Iceland and we went there expecting occasional wild weather, interesting terrain and some exciting geology, very different to the UK. What greeted us was wall-to-wall sunshine, calm conditions and it was all the unique experiences that totally blew us away!

Having the hire car included is what made this trip so flexible and successful. Along with our daily itinerary & maps, we also had been given loads of extra tips and ideas for things to do along our route, which would have also been great options if the weather was poor.

These tips are featured on the KE App and the Tour Notes for this trip. For example on our second day, we enjoyed a quiet hike to a crater rim, but we could have easily chosen to visit a museum in Reykjavik that morning, and in the afternoon explored lava tunnels underground if it had decided to rain. And this was the case every day.

Read on for just a few of the many elements which combine to make this holiday so brilliant.

With a high number of glaciers melting in the summer months and frequent rain fall, there are many rivers and waterfalls throughout Iceland. Some are pretty and small, some are colossal and loud and all are must-see.

During this trip you’ll see Gullfoss (our hotel was so close to the falls, we visited before breakfast and had them to ourselves!), the beautiful Kirkjufellsfoss cascades, Glymur waterfall (we did a superb hike up to its enormous drop), and a boiling hot waterfall in a geothermal active area. There was also Öxarárfoss, which is on the fault line of the North American and Eurasian Plates, and Grundarfoss – this was my favourite foss (pictured above) – the perfect combination of beauty against a rugged backdrop, and not far from the car park.

Read my in-depth guide of the waterfalls and hiking during this Icelandic adventure.

So this list could get extremely long, but to summarise, on this trip you have time to learn about Iceland’s fascinating Viking history at an abundance of museums (we went to the Settlement Museum for a 1 hour audio tour) and you visit some important historic sites including Iceland’s 1,000 year old parliament location.

We saw the Northern Lights (more visible with the naked eye here than I’ve seen in the UK) and you can do culture Icelandic style – some unique architecture and plenty of trendy bars despite the frightening cost of alcohol.

You’ll see famous geysers up close in the Golden Circle (one of which erupts around every 7 minutes so you’re guaranteed to get a photo) and the following day you’ll hike completely remotely amongst ‘wild’ geysers with steam all around you - (see my photo at the top of this article). This was a truly unique day and we saw no one else on the mountain!

On top of this you’ll enjoy a beautifully rugged coastal walk with black sandy beaches and a walk along the pretty shores of Iceland's largest lake, Þingvallavatn.

The driving in Iceland is so much more than a means of getting from A to B. The landscapes you’re driving through are simply jaw-dropping, especially the first couple of days around the lesser-visited Snaefellsnes Peninsula.

The road surface is smooth and coupled with a 55mph max speed limit and barely any other cars on the road, it's a stress=free, enjoyable way to explore Iceland.

The electric car infrastructure is well advanced (helped no doubt by Iceland’s incredibly cheap, geothermally produced power) so many locals and tourist opt for electric car upgrades and you can re-charge at all the hotels and sites you visit. Petrol stations are 24/7 and all seem to be self-service – simple!

Packing a swim suit was essential for this trip as we got to experience (and went the extra mile to seek out) all varieties of geothermal pools.

Firstly, on day one of this holiday you experience the outstanding, uber-lux Sky Lagoon, which is a fantastic way to start a holiday. The next day, thanks to the KE App we found a completely isolated two person sized hot hole in the middle of nowhere on our drive to the Snæfellsness Peninsular.
Another day we were lane swimming in a heated 50m outdoor pool and the next day having a dip in the appropriately named Hot River. We also enjoyed a soak in Iceland’s oldest swimming pool. now named the Secret Lagoon.

A good coat? Waterproof trousers?

No! The first item that I would recommend is a re-usable sandwich bag. We saved A LOT of money and time by buying lunch items at supermarkets and making up packed lunches; sandwiches, crisps, fruit and cuppa soups, thanks to also bringing a thermos flask and spork. These are the small items you don’t want to forget to help keep things more budget friendly.

We didn’t even unpack the rucksack covers and waterproof trousers thanks to a week of amazing weather!

Experience this Icelandic holiday for yourself