Iceland: A remarkable destination that should be on your bucket list

As a vacations specialist Adelman’s Sarah Van Elsen visits many great destinations, but a trip to Iceland had been at the top of her bucket list for several years. She was especially excited when her dream of traveling to this unique country became a reality. 

“My first impression when I stepped off the plane was that it was like being on a different planet,” said Sarah. “Iceland’s terrain is so different from anything I’ve seen elsewhere.” Since Iceland has many volcanoes, the landscapes have a lot of black volcanic rock. The scenery is very dramatic as much of Iceland is untouched still.

Sarah and her friend chose to tour Iceland by car. “This turned out to be a perfect option for us,” said Sarah.  “It allowed us to visit the sites we definitely wanted to see and stay as long as we wanted. We could go at our own pace.”

Sarah’s trip was full of highlights including the Blue Lagoon where they took a swim. “This is something that needs to be on the list for anyone who goes to Iceland,” Sarah advised.

Next was traveling the Golden Circle, which Sarah says is a fabulous way to see some of the major points of Iceland. There are many tour companies that offer this as a half-day or full-day excursion. Stops include Thingvellir National Park, where it is possible to see the rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates; Geysir, to view the geysers; and the dramatic Gullfoss Waterfall. “We spent the full day completing this circle and added extra stops to see the Icelandic horses and Fridheimar, which is a completely geothermal greenhouse,” Sarah said.

Other highlights from Sarah’s trip included more waterfalls, black sand beaches and glaciers. “Iceland has so many waterfalls, and they are all spectacular to see,” Sarah said. “The black sand beaches are gorgeous, as is the scenery along the coast. I would highly recommend taking a drive along the southern coast of the country,” Sarah said. She also stopped at the Solheimajokull Glacier and hiked out as far as she could without special gear.

Iceland also offers interesting food options such as Skyr Icelandic yogurt, dark rye bread produced in a hot spring and unusual fish and seafood dishes. “I tried lamb, but adventurous travelers need to try the famous Icelandic hot dog,” Sarah said. Iceland also offers a mix of unique, locally crafted beverages such as Appelsin soda, Reyka Vodka and a variety of micro-brewed beers and spirits such as Brennivin Icelandic schnapps.

“Overall, my trip to Iceland was truly remarkable. It’s completely different from any other country I’ve traveled to and there’s so much to see and do,” Sarah said. “The landscapes vary so drastically with the waterfalls, lava fields, volcanoes, beaches, and glaciers. My only regret was that while we were there the Northern Lights were active, but it was cloudy, so we couldn’t see them. That just means I’ll have to go back someday!”

For more information on Iceland or any other dream destination, please contact Sarah or any of our other experienced vacations advisors at 800-749-7116 or visit our website at www.adelmanvacations.com.