An Unforgettable Camping Adventure: 5 Day Iceland Itinerary
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5 Days in Iceland
A Campervan Itinerary
Ever the adventure seekers, my husband and I have been talking about visiting Iceland for years. Back in my university days, as a freshman in Sciences, one of my most favourite professors expressed during a lecture; “If you love nature, the one country you absolutely have to see is Iceland. It has the highest number of natural wonders that you’ll find in one small area on the planet”.
I remember going home and spending the entire evening reading about Iceland, flipping through photos of waterfalls, geysers and glaciers, and I added it to my bucket list without hesitation.
Fast forward ten years and I finally bought my ticket and was ready to devise my 5 day Iceland itinerary. I’ve never been so excited for a trip! As a photographer, I was thrilled at the prospects of photographing some of Iceland’s epic landscapes and well-known wonders.
How to see the best of Iceland in 5 days
We were interested in seeing as much as possible. As we only had 5 full days in the country we knew we would have to sort out our priorities. After a little research, we decided that the best way to do this was by renting a campervan.
Camping meant we could travel to each new area in the evening and wake up the following day and start sightseeing immediately without losing any time. We decided to rent a campervan from a small company based outside of Reykjavik called GoCampers. They were fantastic and so helpful.
One word of advice, if you decide to experience Iceland in a campervan, try to book as far in advance as possible. Iceland’s tourism industry is booming right now. Rentals book up very quickly.
However, if you can score a campervan, you won't regret it. It was such a fun experience and I would highly recommend this as the best way to see Iceland efficiently. We spent the night in some amazing places; between two waterfalls, at the foot of a glacier and within downtown Reykjavik itself.
What you will need to live in a campervan
Food! Our campervan included a cooler and the basics; plates, utensils, etc. We stopped at the first grocery store we saw and stocked up on cereal, milk, bread, sandwich meat, condiments, and do NOT forget to grab some SKYR (an Icelandic cheese/yogurt product). Also, don’t forget a water bottle. Iceland’s spring water is completely drinkable, so you ca fill up as needed!
Now I’m not going to pretend this is a comfortable way to live. Sure, you’ll sleep cramped in the back of a small van, sure you’ll struggle to find where to keep you suitcases (we had to rotate ours to the front seats while we slept). But, I can assure you it was one of the most fun vacations we have ever had, and I’d relive this any day over a 5 Star hotel. We had some of the absolute best laughs on this adventure.
I’m also not going to tell you this is a relaxing itinerary, but if you want to see Iceland in 5 days, you’re going to have to be willing to be busy.
With that in mind, here is my recommended Iceland itinerary.
Day 1: Reykjavik and Blue Lagoon
Reykjavik is the capital city of Iceland, and it as as quaint as they come. Its centre feature is Hallgrimskirkja church and its downtown shops are uniquely topped with brightly coloured roofs. It is a short drive away from Grindavik, the home of the world-famous Blue Lagoon, a large geothermal day spa whose primary attraction is an enormous natural (ish) hot tub with pale blue waters rich in silica and sulfur.
Day 2: The Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is an iconic road trip that has become incredibly popular in recent years. This route takes you around several of Iceland’s most famous natural wonders; including a geyser, volcanic crater and a massive multi-tiered waterfall. It can easily be driven in a day, and can quite simply segue into a day in the South Coast.
Day 3: The South Coast
The South Coast is most well-known for its waterfalls; Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. However, this isn’t all there is to see in this lovely region. Nature parks and rugged coastlines as well as a mysteriously abandoned aircraft seemingly in the middle of nowhere draw travellers from all over the world.
Day 4: Vatnajokull National Park
Iceland’s glacial region is incredibly fascinating. Here you can visit glacier lagoons, watch ice float and toss in the surf of the ocean and hike on a glacier itself, cramp-ons and all!
Day 5: Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Snaefellsnes Peninsula is perhaps the least talked about region on this itinerary, but I wholeheartedly believe it deserves to be higher on the list. This region is home to several small fishing towns, lighthouses, and again… more waterfalls and glaciers!
After spending your final day in Snaefellsnes, I recommend making your way back to Reykjavik to spend the night as close to the airport (and campervan drop off) as possible.
From here, check out my detailed posts on each of these regions individually. You can start with Reykjavik and Blue Lagoon. Please feel free to leave your comments below!
Bless,
Hill XO
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