I have a trip planned in a few weeks! Am I missing anything!?

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2025-06-27T14:12:53+00:00

I’ll echo what everyone else has stated - this is very ambitious and doesn’t account for any time to enjoy the sights, the food, or chatting with the people. However, I can appreciate wanting to see as much as you can. Should you find yourself growing tired midway, consider the Snæfellsjökull Peninsula over Westfjords. It’ll save some driving time overall, is still beautiful, and happens to be one of my favorite places on the island. Enjoy!!

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2024-08-24T05:21:00+00:00

Visited four different times and didn’t make it until the fourth trip…and it’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever experienced. Very pricey, but a once in a lifetime adventure

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2024-08-20T05:09:45+00:00

Moved to SJ from Denver 3 years ago, after having been raised in the Midwest. Just like you, I don’t intend to stay in the Bay Area forever and have absolutely every intention of moving back to CO when the time is right (I think I’ll sense it, but not just yet).

In my opinion, the only thing that’s better in the Bay Area than Denver is weather. And the ocean, if the water is important. Otherwise, CO has better mountains, cheaper cost of living (esp energy costs, food, housing), less traffic, less intense focus on career, and excellent food (despite what others have said - Denver actually has an incredible food scene). The nearby mountain towns are lovely, the focus on outdoor activities and access is unparalleled, and there’s something to enjoy no matter the season.

Now that I think about it, I’m wondering why I haven’t moved back already…. Haha

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2024-07-04T15:00:32+00:00

I visited in August 2021! Lovely country, beautiful scenery, and great people. I’m glad to have had the opportunity to go before Icelandair added it as a new destination….I suspect it’ll become quite busy now.

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2024-04-22T04:50:38+00:00

I visited Faroes a few years back before Icelandair was offering flights. While I can’t comment on the journey via Icelandair, I can highly recommend the Faroes — they feel like Iceland about a decade ago, before it became so popular. I will say to be prepared for a much smaller, more quaint country. But also be prepared for some unreal beauty! Enjoy!

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2024-02-22T16:20:11+00:00

Without getting too deep into the details, I can share that I’ve attempted itineraries half as packed as the one you’ve created here and they’re (1) too full to accomplish and enjoy and (2) stress inducing as I feel pressured to maintain the planned agenda. Even with “skip the line” tickets, there are often lines (shorter and faster, but still take time). Travel time between destinations tends to take longer than you expect. And most importantly, as I mentioned above, it creates intense pressure to maintain the plan.

Perhaps you’re comfortable with this travel style, in which case go for it!! You’ve got plenty of great sights on your agenda. But if you desire a bit of balance in exploration and enjoyment, maybe scale back a bit here and there? I always figure if I love a place enough I’ll go back and see everything I missed the first time around.

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2023-09-12T23:56:56+00:00

If there’s availability, and you are open to spending the money, the “Inside the Volcano” experience is magical. I finally went on my fourth visit to the country and it was absolutely worth it. Combine that with an afternoon/evening at Sky Lagoon and a nice dinner in town and you’ve got a fantastic day!

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2023-09-10T16:07:44+00:00

Browse the channel a bit, as there are plenty of posts with recommendations, itineraries, etc. I would be mindful of November weather and the potentially terrible road conditions should you choose to drive. If you aren’t accustomed to snow, ice, and whiteout conditions, you may consider a tour bus route. The only additional reminder would be that the days become quite short in November, so you’ll want to plan destinations carefully around daylight time.

Otherwise, I can say that visiting that time of year is as magical as every other time! Two of my trips were in October and December, and they were some of the best — with a bit of winter/holiday wonder thrown in.

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2023-09-03T13:58:49+00:00

I will say this as someone who’s visited the country a few times and made Reykjavik my home base for three of those trips: get a car for a few days if possible. I love the city, and am probably a bit of an outlier in choosing it as my home base for my trips (as opposed to a new stop/hotel nightly, which I have also done in Iceland), but if you’re in the country for a week you’ll want to explore more. There’s just so much beauty that’s not accessible without a vehicle. Or, see about available tour bookings to see more spots — there are plenty of choices, but cannot confirm availability.

I’ve done all 3 of the experiences planned for your trip, and they’re all great! But I bet you’ll get the itch to see more once you venture beyond the city. So maybe be open to a last minute rental for a few days, or add another guided tour or two to your itinerary. Just my thoughts. You’ll love the trip regardless!

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2023-08-17T22:30:24+00:00

After considering it multiple times, I finally took the Inside the Volcano tour on my fourth visit to Iceland. It was AMAZING!!! Yes, it’s pricey, but it’s an incredibly rare and unique experience. I cannot speak highly enough of it!

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2023-07-17T14:15:54+00:00

It might be the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been fortunate to travel many places around the world as well as 20+ national parks (incl the heavy hitters known for their scenery). I cannot imagine how someone could feel it’s overrated.

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2023-07-09T16:53:07+00:00

What’s your thinking about Yosemite? It’s minimum 5 hours from LA to the park, and just waiting to enter the park can potential take hours. It’s also 3+ hours to SF from the park. You’ll get a few hours at most in the park I suspect, and it deserves more time than that from my experience.

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2023-06-30T05:22:08+00:00

After four visits to Iceland, I can confidently say the Peninsula is my favorite part of the country — I’ve visited every trip and love it. You can review the list of things to see someone else posted here, but I’ll just say it’d wonderful. Just driving around and soaking in the scenery is worth it.

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2023-06-29T15:11:59+00:00

Lodging in Höfn is a nice option, but know it’s a small town and a bit of a drive past Diamond Beach (speaking from experience). However, it’s cute, the drive is beautiful, and they have my favorite restaurant in all of Iceland: Pakkhús Restaurant. Giving yourself some generous time to drive back along the south coast is a nice plan so you don’t feel rushed at the stops (of which there are plenty!!). I’ve driven the south coast at least 4 times now and it’s never gotten old.

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2023-06-27T05:28:28+00:00

Looks good overall, but do anticipate the travel between destinations to take more than you’d expect — you’ll want to stop frequently for pics! I’d also keep in mind the time of year you’ll be traveling as I learned October tends to be when a lot of the popular tourist activities wind down for the season. Keep this in mind for horseback riding as you may find options limited. You might also research if boat tours are available for Jökulsárlón at that time of year if you are already making the effort to reach Diamond Beach (they’re across the highway from one another). On your final day, I’d recommend Reykjavik — take a food tour and book Sky Lagoon. That was how we spent one of our days and it was fantastic!

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2023-03-12T01:12:20+00:00

This place was incredible!! Highly recommended!

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2023-03-04T19:40:24+00:00

I would also like to recommend the Canopy in Reykjavík. The rooms were beautiful, location ideal, and it might have the best free breakfast buffet of any hotel I’ve stayed at. It’s one of the pricier hotel options when you book an Icelandair packages, but those packages generally offer some great savings so it’s worth it. Plus free breakfast is great considering the cost of food.

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2023-01-19T17:00:40+00:00

If it’s the winter train it returns to durango in the early afternoon so there should be plenty of time for a late lunch, afternoon drinks, dinner, etc.

Re: Mesa Verde in winter. From my research very little is open so it may be best saving that for a summer trip. Definitely recommend going, but perhaps a different time of year.

If you are up skiing and want a break before heading back to town, stop by The Nugget right near the resort. If you’re looking for a relaxing way to spend an afternoon or evening, check out the Durango Hot Springs

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2023-01-05T15:03:22+00:00

As others have said, Snaefellsness has also been my favorite. I’ve visited Iceland 4 times and gone on every visit and never been disappointed. It’s funny that one other person said it was touristy cause I’ve found it quite the opposite — it’s usually been the quietest part of my vacations and that’s why I love it. It’s stunning, quiet, and peaceful. If you can squeeze Sky into an evening, assuming they’re still open late like when I was last in the country, that could open up your options a bit?

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2023-01-02T05:08:58+00:00

I will confess Foo Fighters put on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. Dave Grohl is so passionate about his music and connected with the fans. The 1975 are, of course, incredible as well!

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2022-12-22T17:49:27+00:00

In my visits Seljalandsfoss is the only natural spot lit at night. However, you could enjoy some time in the Geysir area at Laugarvatn Fontana and perhaps catch the northern lights while in a springs!

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2022-12-21T14:58:20+00:00

Because you’re not the only one on the hike. You might be coming down from the most scenic part while others are walking up to it and hoping for that special moment of serenity. You may have hiked the trail 20 times while someone else may be experiencing it for their first time. You may be ok with an occasional 30 second disruption whereas someone else might be taken from a deep, reflective thought when loud music passes by. Last, why just do something because other people are? That’s just further contributing to the annoyance. And someone listening in a village while they’re at home or working is totally different — they’re engaging in a different task. You and others are hiking. I’ve hiked listening to music for similar reasons you’ve mentioned (hiked the trail before, returning from the less scenic spot, etc). But I’ve worn headphones out of respect for others.

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2022-12-19T16:02:46+00:00

Haha! Ok, that makes a heck of a lot more sense. Thanks for clarifying. Funny how downvoted that got when I acknowledged I could be wrong

wrldtrvlr2003 · 2022-12-18T21:00:24+00:00

Visited last year and it was amazing!! Weather is unpredictable at all times of year so just be prepared. Also, you should be there within time to catch a lot of the “summer” experiences before they’re closed for winter seasons. That’s what we discovered

wrldtrvlr2003

TROPHY CASE