Monday

There was another optional trip today and so we had to choose between exploring Reykjavik or exploring more of the scenery by jeep. We chose the latter, along with 5 others. Not a cheap option but well worth it. The jeep was roomy and very comfortable but as you can see in the photo, well equipped for the terrain. We set off at 9am with our guide, Stefan, unfortunately on the same route as the day before but we were soon off-roading. We visited the site of a geo-thermal energy plant which will soon be built and then zoomed around in the mountains, going across rivers and up and down ridiculously steep hills. We got stuck a couple of times and at one time Stefan had to let down the tyres to get us moving again. Back on the road, we had time to savour the lovely sunrise while he pumped them up again. Then on to another black sand beach, which we drove along - great fun. Our next stop was at Porsmork, site of the most incredible glacier. You wouldn't be able to reach it in a 'normal' vehicle - we could see the glacier shining blue form a distance but didn't realise how close we would be able to get. We parked the jeep by the lake at the foot of it and then walked towards this amazing place. 

This time the ice was blue and the whole thing was on a larger scale than the one we'd visited the previous day. I would happily have stayed there all day, but we had to move on, stopping briefly at a summer campsite where we did a bit more off-roading. It's so good to see places without hordes of others around you, definitely a good time to visit. 

We arrived back at around 5.30pm and had an aperitif of champagne before going out for dinner. It was now raining so we took a cab to our chosen restaurant, Laekjarbrekka, a traditional restaurant specialising in lamb and seafood. We chose set menus, one of lamb and one seafood and both were delicious. We had a bottle of wine and the total cost was £100 so it's not the cheapest place to eat, but we did enjoy it. It was a very festive place and we were given  complimentary drinks of port afterwards. 

Tuesday

Our last day and we were able to lie in for a while. We were to visit the Blue Lagoon on the way to the airport, after paying for all our trips at the tour offices. The lagoon is a huge  thermally heated outdoor pool, and one of the few places in Iceland that seems to be known of by many people in the UK. We were the only coach load there - apparently in summer there can be 20-30 coach loads at any one time, so we had the place to ourselves. A word of caution - you are expected to shower naked which didn't go down too well with some of the group. The water was lovely, a constant 39°C. There are buckets of mud to rub over you -  good for your skin but it's a bit too abrasive for your face. Then on to the airport and home.

It had been a superb trip and one I would recommend highly, especially for a winter break if you prefer to keep away from crowds. Iceland has become incredibly popular recently so I think we timed this well.

LINKS:

Voyages Jules Verne    G J Travel    Radisson SAS Saga Hotel    Blue Lagoon    Iceland Tourist Board    South Iceland