Our keep at The FossHotel Glacier Lagoon, after the day earlier than spent exploring a number of the greatest waterfalls in Iceland, was just for one night time however this was as far East as we’d be going – hotels-wise.
We really selected it initially resulting from its proximity to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in addition to Stokksnes but in addition as a result of it could be our first time doing an ice cave tour in Iceland which might be leaving from Vik.
Once more, Vik isn’t too removed from right here in order that simply works excellent for our plans for the day.
Now we’d really left our lodge reserving for Iceland until fairly late this summer time and each single place appeared to be totally booked.
It was then we realised how unfold out inns had been as a result of, in a super world, we’d have somewhat booked inns with a lot shorter drives in between them however hey ho.
The nice factor is that the drive the day earlier than was most likely the longest drive between inns we’d need to do.
Plus this lodge was fairly near Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, which we made our very first cease that morning.
Fortunately the fog from the day earlier than had lifted and we had clearer skies for our go to to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon at present.
The final time we had been at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, it was throughout a snowstorm and you can barely see something in any respect.
It was so unbelievable seeing all of the, typically gigantic, icebergs floating previous.
From time to time they’d crack and create smaller icebergs which arrived full with a wave to usher them alongside their merry manner.
This journey was additionally the primary time we’d noticed the wildlife at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
We noticed a seal swimming round and I believe it’s the primary time I’ve ever seen a seal in Iceland in all of the years we’ve been visiting.
We additionally noticed geese enjoying round within the water right here too.
Leaving Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, we made our manner over to Stokksnes – which is that this space with this grand seashore and towering mountains standing guard over it.
You really need to pay to go to this place for those who drive right here which is so in contrast to most locations in Iceland.
There’s additionally a bit ‘village’ right here which is the place The Witcher on Netflix was filmed.
The perfect time to go to is when the tide is a bit in and it creates this mirror-like impact that appears completely dramatic with the mountains within the background.
We didn’t test the tide occasions earlier than we visited Stokksnes and actually even when we did, we nonetheless wouldn’t have had a lot alternative as we might solely actually go to at a selected time given our schedule.
If you’re nonetheless travelling alongside additional or staying right here for longer, I’d undoubtedly suggest being strategic with the time of day you go to Stokksnes.
Leaving Stokksnes, we made our manner over to Vik for one thing we had been very enthusiastic about.
A lot in order that it was the very very first thing we booked after reserving our tickets to Iceland.
See in Vik we’d lastly get the prospect to enter an ice cave.
We’d tried doing this a couple of years earlier than however the snowstorm in Iceland scuppered all likelihood of that.
This time it regarded extra possible however then as we left Stokksnes, the climate simply appeared to take a wierd flip.
The darkish clouds descended alongside the way in which and got here with some thick fog to maintain it firm.
At this level, I wasn’t fairly positive what climate situations this go to to the ice caves might run below nevertheless it wasn’t trying promising.
Nonetheless although, our lodge was in Vik so we simply carried on our journey.
We stayed on the Lodge Kria in Vik and it’s really fairly good.
It’s pretty easy in the way in which most Icelandic inns are however appears fairly constructed for plenty of social enjoyable with video games rooms and areas to simply hand around in.
We really checked into this lodge within the rain and after dropping our stuff off, headed over to city to satisfy our guides for the ice cave go to.
We booked this ice cave tour on Get Your Information – it’s this particular one right here and I can’t suggest it sufficient.
It’s also possible to e book a Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon tour right here too.
There are lots of issues you are able to do in Iceland with no information and a go to to an ice cave shouldn’t be a type of issues.
That you must e book on an official ice cave tour since you want somebody to take you right here as a result of there are such a lot of errors one might make in the event that they attempt to go to on their very own.
For starters, the entire space is surrounded by quicksand however you gained’t know which components are quicksand and which components are simply common.
It’s all of the volcanic ash that’s launched that makes it this fashion.
It’s so effective and has been trapped within the ice for ages and launched because it melts which may be tough to navigate when it will get moist.
Then there’s the entire entry to the ice cave itself.
You gained’t know which one to enter and even how you can get into the place.
The guides accomplish that you’ll want them for this.
Additionally, bear in mind ice caves are consistently melting so the guides are those that know which of them are robust sufficient to go to and which of them you must keep away from.
Anyway so yeah, we went off to satisfy our information as I child you not, as he drove us nearer to the ice cave, the climate began to clear.
We had been simply happy that the rain had stopped, however the climate determined to take issues up a notch and produce out this wonderful sunshine.
It was like all of the fog and rain had by no means even occurred.
We had been fitted with crampon attachments for our footwear and hardhats and off we went into the ice cave.
It was completely wonderful by the way in which.
So beautiful and the colors inside it had been phenomenal.
It kinda brings the entire expertise earlier at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon full circle too.
It additionally opens up on the different finish trying into the glacier.
It was melting on the entrance once we bought in however probably not inside.
Inside, the ground was coated by the ash launched from when it melted.
In case you have a look at the ice partitions contained in the ice cave, you possibly can see every time the volcano erupted and launched ash (depicted by the road of the ash inside) then all of the snow that collected on high of it, then the subsequent volcanic eruption, adopted by the snow and so forth and so forth.
It’s unbelievable. It’s like this snapshot into the pure historical past of the world.
After taking our time marvelling at this place, it was ultimately time to go away and for those who have a look at the glacier round right here, you’d really assume they’re mountains.
They’re coated in ash and look similar to that.
It’s solely while you look nearer that you just realise it’s all ice beneath them.
Anyway, suffice to say, we left that have so completely happy.
It was so unbelievable seeing Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon after which happening this ice cave tour that confirmed the place the icebergs within the lagoon began off as and even Stokksnes that confirmed the way in which the ice and ash formed the panorama in Iceland.
Like I mentioned this ice cave tour was the very first thing we booked for Iceland, even earlier than reserving our inns and we’re so happy it was so price it. Completely wonderful.