Chasing Waterfalls, Northern Lights and New Dreams
Trip Highlights – Iceland in 4 Days 🇮🇸
- 🏔️ Kirkjufell Mountain, one of Iceland’s most iconic landmarks
- 🌊 Whale watching in Akureyri, spotting whales and dolphins in the wild
- 💦 Goðafoss, the legendary “Waterfall of the Gods”
- 🌋 Lake Mývatn area, including Grjótagjá Cave and Hverir geothermal fields
- 🪨 Stuðlagil Canyon, famous for its basalt columns
- 🌅 Sunrise at Stokksnes Black Sand Beach with views of Vestrahorn and glaciers
- 🏖️ Vík village and black sand beach, postcard-perfect in good weather
- ♨️ Sky Lagoon, the ultimate relaxation with ocean sunset views
Following our first visit in Iceland in February 2025, my cousin , my sister and I felt we had only scratched the surface of this extraordinary country. So we listened to that feeling, and booked Iceland, Part 2.
If you haven’t read Part 1, I recommend starting there for more details. This article is the natural continuation of that journey. I’ll share our journey day by day, mixing practical tips, personal impressions and a bit of background about the places we visited.
Day 1 – From Reykjavík to Kirkjufell: the road that started it all
We landed early at Keflavík Airport, picked up our hire car and hit the road.
Our first stop was Gerðuberg Basalt Cliffs, famous for their perfectly shaped basalt columns. Formed by cooling lava, a geological wonder worth seeing, even in the rain.
We continued towards Kirkjufell, one of Iceland’s most iconic mountains. Made famous by Game of Thrones, Kirkjufell completely exceeded my expectations. The mountain, the waterfall, the sea and the nearby village create a scene that feels unreal. Easily one of my favourite spots in Iceland.
We made an unplanned stop at Selvallavatn Lake, drawn in by the beautiful view from the road. Later, we drove towards the Viking Longhouse area, which was already closed, but we did spot a small Viking house replica near the village.
After a very long day of driving, we reached Sauðárkrókur, for the night. The weather wasn’t ideal, but we still caught a faint glimpse of the Northern Lights, teasing us for the days ahead.
Day 2 – Akureyri and whale watching in the north
The morning started quietly in Sauðárkrókur, before we drove to to Akureyri, the relaxed and charming capital of North Iceland.
Here we joined a whale watching tour, one of the most popular activities in Iceland. Wrapped in layers, surrounded by fjords and snowy mountains, we spotted whales and dolphins in the open sea. Seeing them for the first time in the wild was emotional and unforgettable.
That evening, we enjoyed a delicious dinner at Eyja, in Akureyri and went searching for the Northern Lights again, visible, but still shy.
Day 3 – Waterfalls, geothermal wonders and wild Iceland
We left early to visit Goðafoss, the famous “Waterfall of the Gods”, a place deeply connected to Icelandic history and mythology.
From there, we explored the Lake Mývatn area, one of the most unique landscapes in the country. Volcanic craters, lava fields and endless horizons made it feel like another planet.
Along the way, we stopped at Grjótagjá Cave, a small geothermal cave with steaming water, and Hverir, known for its bubbling mud pools, fumaroles and intense colours.
Later, we reached Stuðlagil Canyon, famous for its basalt columns. While the water wasn’t the bright blue seen in photos, the canyon’s structure alone made the visit worthwhile.
On our way to Djúpivogur, we were lucky enough to see seals resting by the sea at sunset, an unforgettable, unplanned moment. That night, nature rewarded us with the most beautiful Northern Lights of the trip.
Day 4 – Black sand beaches, glaciers and Sky Lagoon
We started the day before sunrise to reach Stokksnes Beach, one of the most photogenic places in Iceland. Watching the sun rise over the black sand, reflective water and dramatic mountains of Vestrahorn felt surreal.
Heading south, we passed glaciers and familiar landscapes from our first trip like Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. We continued to Vík, a small coastal village known for its black sand beach and iconic church. With perfect weather, it felt completely different from our previous visit , calm, colourful and postcard-perfect.
To end the trip, we treated ourselves to Sky Lagoon, near Reykjavík. After visiting the Blue Lagoon on our first trip, Sky Lagoon felt more intimate and magical. Sitting in warm water, watching the sunset over the ocean, was the perfect way to close our Iceland adventure.
Iceland – a country that changes you
Day 5 was the hardest, going home.
Iceland isn’t just a destination. It’s an experience.
If you love nature, this country will feel like paradise.
If you don’t, Iceland will teach you how to love it.
Hire a 4x4 car, and I can’t recommend this enough. Iceland is made for road trips. Having a car gives you freedom, flexibility and access to places that tours simply don’t reach.
This was the perfect continuation of our journey that began in Iceland – Part 1, and I already know it won’t be our last.
