Icelandic Adventures

I don't think I've ever seen landscapes as magical as this in my recent trip to Iceland. Just... Look. At It.

With six girls, I travelled to an area near Vogar to stay in a lodge for the weekend; equipped with a hot tub, log fire and stocked to the brim with alcohol. Iceland isn't your typical destination for a hen weekend but for our bride to be, it was the perfect place.

One way I can sum up Iceland is by calling it Sunday island. The pinky blue hues of the sky in the mornings and the low lying mist made it feel mystical and a relaxing calm place to be, just like Sundays are supposed to be.

On our first day we headed to see the Geysers which are part of the Golden Circle route. 

The Strokkur  is the most lively of the hot springs, spouting 100 ft of water into the air every few minutes. I must admit the first time it went off I almost cacked my pants! I wasn't quite prepared for the force and just how high the water shot into the air but my god was it impressive! If you look at the people in the background, you can see how large it was. 

The other hot springs didn't go off as frequently or didn't spout at all but you can see just how warm they were, warming us as we stood in the chilly rain.

The weather for September was pretty mild actually, being on average around 12 degrees, so we didn't need to pack any thermals thankfully and when the sun came out it was actually pretty warm! My top tip if you're going to Iceland around this time of year is to pack clothing you can layer as one minute you'll be chilly and the next hot and bothered. Overall it was a lovely temperature for sight seeing and taking in those views. From where we were staying, it took a couple of hours to get to the Geysers so that's all we did on the first day but regardless we had great views on our road trip and we spent the evening in the hot tub!

On our second day, we surprised the bride to be with a trip to the Blue Lagoon- a gorgeous geothermal spa and probably the most popular attraction in Iceland! Located in a lava field in Grindavik, we'd heard a lot of good things about the spa but you don't realise just how stunning it is until you go or yourself.

With the water averaging 37 degrees, it's like stepping into a warm milky bath and instantly relaxes you. The water contains minerals which are fabulous for your skin and give the water its milky blue colour. Around the lagoon are staff handing out the famous silica and algae masks for a further treat to your skin. The silica mask is made at the lagoon and forms a layer over the water when the water cools. It's a great cleanser for your skin, making it feel silky smooth after!

Floating around in the lagoon is a heavenly experience and just what we all needed after a long days travel the previous day. All seven of us ladies were all in agreement that we'd have to come back here with our partners as it was also a rather romantic place and would be perfect at sunset.

A couple of things to note whilst visiting the lagoon are your jewellery and hair. The water may be great for your skin, but your hair will not appreciate it. We were advised to put our hair up during our visit and/or to slather it in conditioner as the water can cause hair to become very brittle. I opted to pop my hair up in a knot and didn't bother with the conditioner and I can safely say my hair was fine. Jewellery is another one that doesn't agree with the high in minerals water. According to the staff, silver jewellery has a tendency to go black in the water so I would advise leaving yours at home so you know it's safe. As for platinum, they were unsure so I risked it and wore my wedding and engagement rings in the water which seemed to be fine thankfully. I'd rather have them on my hand than loose them in the changing room and besides, platinum is pretty damn hardy.

Another recommendation of mine is to book in advance! I'm so pleased we did this as the lagoon was fully booked and they had to turn people away which must have been pretty gutting for those people.

If the lagoon isn't relaxing enough, there's also steam rooms, a sauna, in-water massages, a waterfall, restaurant and relaxation areas to lounge around. We decided that we'd treat ourselves to a late lunch in the Lava Restaurant which again we booked in advance to avoid disappointment. 

The restaurant itself is built around the lava rock of the lagoon and has tall windows that frame the view of the lagoon, making for a relaxing atmosphere for lunch or dinner.

 

If the views aren't enough, the food was incredible, being fresh a la carte Icelandic produce. Prepare for the food porn below...

I will mention here that like everything else in Iceland, the food is expensive, but we were fully prepared for this when we booked our trip. Regardless of the price, the food and drink at the Lava Restaurant was stunning and teamed with the view of the lagoon we felt it was money well spent. Perhaps if we hadn't been staying at a lodge we would have eaten out more but I was pleased to have eaten fish in Iceland. I mean, it'd be a crime not to right!?

Feeling suitably stuffed, we decided do one of the walks outside of the lagoon and take in yet more spectacular views of Iceland.

As it was a hen party, we of course played the usual silly hen games and enjoyed the hot tub at the lodge so that took up our evenings!

If I'm totally honest, Iceland wasn't on my top list of places to visit but I'm SO glad I went. I can't put into words just how breathtaking the baron beautiful landscape is and I will certainly be returning for a longer stay and to see the rest of the wonders. Chris was super jealous that I went so it's a good excuse to take him.

Have you been to Iceland or planning a trip there?