Iceland is home to some of the most incredible experiences in the world! From ice caves and tectonic plates to the Northern lights and fancy-ass horses, this place has it ALL. Our 8-day trip around the Ring Road of Iceland was the most remarkable time of my life. To help make your trip just as memorable, I’ve come up with a list of 10 Unique Experiences to Add to Your Iceland Itinerary.
Let’s DO THIS!
Table of Contents
Unique Experiences to Add to Your Iceland Itinerary
1. Snorkel Between the Tectonic Plates
To kick things off, let’s get a little nerdy and dive into some science. Bear with me.
In 1789 earthquakes opened up several fissures in the area now known as Thingvellir National Park. The Silfra Fissure cut into an underground spring filled with glacial meltwater from the nearby Langjökull glacier. Why is this important? Because this awesome event has made it possible to snorkel or dive between the North American and Eurasian Plates.
Silfra is the only place in the world where you can dive or snorkel between tectonic plates! Which is pretty badass. This was one of my favorite experiences from our time in Iceland. To do this unique experience, you’ll need to book a tour. The tour operator will provide you will all of the necessary gear for a safe snorkel/dive trip.
Nearby Towns:
- Reykjavik- 55 miles (55 km)
- Laugarvatn- 20 miles (30 km)
- Selfoss- 30 miles (50 km)
- Vik- 110 miles (115 km)
2. Bake Bread Underground
At the Geothermal Bakery at Laugarvatn Fontana, visitors can make bread using geothermal energy. The bread is placed in a metal pot and then put into the hot black sand. 24 hours later, you’ll have a delicious loaf of bread!
This is a fun stop to add to your Golden Circle tour. The Geothermal Bakery is located between Silfra at the Thingvellir National Park and the Geysir Geothermal Area. It is easy to combine all 3 for a jam-packed day of fun.
Pro-Tip: While you’re in the area, check out the Kerid Crater and Bruarfoss.
Nearby Towns:
- Reykjavik- 50 miles (80 km)
- Laugarvatn- 0 miles (0 km)
- Selfoss- 25 miles (40 km)
- Vik- 105 miles (165 km)
3. Visit a Geothermal Lagoon or Pool
A visit to the Icelandic baths is an absolute must! Iceland sits on one of Earth’s “hot spots” which has resulted in natural geothermal pools scattered around the island. Several man-made pools in Iceland also harness this geothermal power.
While we were in Iceland, we visited the Blue Lagoon and Hofsos Swimming Pool. Both were wonderful. Other popular options include: Sky Lagoon, Hvammsvik Hot Springs, Myvatn Nature Baths, Vok Baths, and Fontana Geothermal Baths.
Related Post: Visiting a Pool or Lagoon in Iceland for Newbies
4. Go Inside a Volcano
Uh…yeah, that’s right. This is a thing. You can enter the Þríhnúkagígur volcano and descend into the only accessible lava chamber on Earth. Talk about gaining street cred with the adventure crowd!
After a 3km hike, you’ll reach the dormant volcano. From here, you’ll suit up and descend 400 feet into the volcano in an open cable lift….if you dare!
Tours operate from May 5th until October 31st.
Nearby Towns:
- Reykjavik- 20 miles (35 km)
- Laugarvatn- 50 miles (80 km)
- Selfoss- 30 miles (50 km)
- Vik- 110 miles (115 km)
5. Go Whale Watching
Although it may be true that you can whale watch in many parts of the world, there’s nothing quite like doing it near the Arctic Circle. Whale-watching tours are available from Reykjavik, Akureyri, and Husavik.
If you’re doing the entire Ring Road, consider going on a tour out of Husavik (not too far from Akureyri) as it is widely known as the whale-watching capital of Iceland. Husavik was also my favorite town in Iceland.
6. Visit the Penis Museum
There’s something weirdly appealing about visiting the world’s only penis museum. Reykjavik’s Penis Museum was our second stop in Iceland- after the Blue Lagoon. The museum’s collection holds well over 300 wieners from more than 100 different species of mammals….including a human. The visit was quite interesting, to say the least. Be sure to read our blog post about our visit– you won’t be disappointed.
Nearby Towns:
- Reykjavik- 0 miles (0 km)
- Laugarvatn- 50 miles (80 km)
- Selfoss- 35 miles (60 km)
- Vik- 120 miles (190 km)
7. Ride Icelandic Horses
As if Iceland wasn’t already cool enough, they also have their very own horse breed! Icelandic horses are a “five-gaited” breed…whereas regular old horses just have 3 gaits.
These gentle horses are also known for being calm, laid-back, and easy to work with, making them perfect for new riders. Tours range anywhere from 30 minutes to 10 hours and can be found all over the island.
8. Hike Through an Ice Cave
This was one of our favorite activities in Iceland. We caught a tour out of Vik that took us to the Katla Ice Cave. Once we were fitted with helmets and crampons, we hiked through a lava field and up to the ice cave. We crossed several wooden footbridges (with the help of ropes), and found ourselves inside of Katla. It was such a cool experience!
One neat thing about the ice caves is that each tour is completely different because the caves are constantly evolving/melting. The entrance we went into will be completely gone in less than 2 years.
Nearby Towns:
- Reykjavik- 130 miles (210 km)
- Laugarvatn- 115 miles (187 km)
- Selfoss- 90 miles (150 km)
- Vik- 10 miles (20 km)
9. Snowmobile on a Glacier
If you want to get your heart pumping a bit, check out a snowmobile tour. There are a handful of places in Iceland where you can snowmobile on a glacier. Popular choices are Langjökull Glacier and Eyjafjallajokull Glacier. You can also snowmobile near Lake Mývatn. All tours come with expert guides and the necessary snowmobiling gear.
10. Scope out the Northern Lights
Iceland is one of the best places in the world to catch the Auroras because it is perfectly positioned in the Auroral Zone. If you want to scope out the Northern Lights, you’ll have to visit during the cooler months. Due to the midnight sun during the summer, the aurora borealis is not visible during peak season.
The best time to catch the lights is between September and April. The best place to see the Auroras is from Lake Mývatn- known as the “Northern Lights Capital”. However, on active nights, the lights are visible from anywhere in Iceland, even Reykjavik.
A Summary of Unique Experiences to Add to Your Iceland Itinerary
- Snorkeling between the tectonic plates at Thingvellir National Park
- Bake bread underground
- Visiting a geothermal lagoon (Blue Lagoon) or pool (Hofsos)
- Whale watching
- Go Inside a Volcano!
- Visit the Penis Museum
- Riding Icelandic Horses
- Hiking through an Ice Cave
- Snowmobile on a Glacier
- Scope out the Northern Lights
More Iceland Resources
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