How to see Iceland in 10 Days - A Ring Road Itinerary

Jordan & Soph
9 May 202429:40

Summary

TLDRThis video script details a 10-day budget-friendly adventure around Iceland's Ring Road, exploring diverse landscapes and natural wonders. It covers essential travel tips, an 8-day road trip itinerary, and a 2-day Reykjavik city exploration. The journey includes visiting hot springs, waterfalls, black sand beaches, and historical sites, with a focus on camping and local experiences. The summary also provides a breakdown of the total trip costs, offering a comprehensive guide for planning an Icelandic adventure.

Takeaways

  • 🌍 Visiting Iceland offers a diverse landscape that feels like exploring a different planet.
  • 🚗 The best way to explore Iceland is by renting a vehicle, with options like cars, camper vans, or all-wheel drive vehicles.
  • 💸 A budget trip to Iceland is possible, with the video detailing a 10-day trip with an 8-day road trip around the Ring Road and 2 days in the capital, Reykjavik.
  • 🏕️ Camping is a cost-effective accommodation option, with the video mentioning a total cost of $150 for campgrounds throughout the trip.
  • 🛣️ The Ring Road offers smooth paved stretches, but off-roading is illegal and travelers should expect gravel roads and rough f-roads.
  • 💰 Icelandic Krona is the local currency, but credit cards are widely accepted; however, carrying some cash is advisable for certain expenses.
  • 🛒 Groceries can be bought at the airport for self-catering, which helps save money on the expensive restaurant meals.
  • 📍 The itinerary includes must-see locations such as the Golden Circle, various waterfalls, black sand beaches, and hot springs.
  • 🏞️ Iceland's natural attractions are breathtaking, including geothermal pools, volcanic landscapes, and icebergs on the Diamond Beach.
  • 🏡 Reykjavik, the capital, is compact and walkable, offering a variety of shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions.
  • 📈 The total cost for the 10-day trip, excluding flights, was $3,957, highlighting the expenses on accommodations, food, transportation, and activities.

Q & A

  • What is the population of Iceland?

    -Iceland has a population of less than half a million people.

  • What is the best way to explore Iceland according to the script?

    -The best way to explore Iceland is by renting a vehicle, such as a car, camper van, or an all-wheel vehicle, and embarking on a journey along the Ring Road.

  • What additional convenience did the travelers opt for with their vehicle rental?

    -The travelers opted for a pop-up tent on top of their all-wheel vehicle for added convenience and flexibility during their trip.

  • What is the approximate cost of renting a vehicle and camping gear for the trip described in the script?

    -The cost was $794 for the vehicle plus $1,095 for the tent and camping gear.

  • What are 'F roads' in Iceland?

    -'F roads' are rough, unpaved routes in Iceland that often lead inland and may involve river crossings.

  • Why is it important to stick to designated campsites in Iceland?

    -It is important to stick to designated campsites because off-roading is illegal in Iceland, and camping outside of these sites can lead to environmental damage.

  • What is the currency of Iceland and how is it related to credit card usage?

    -The Icelandic Krona is the country's currency, but credit cards are widely accepted all around the island.

  • What was the total cost for campgrounds during the trip?

    -The total cost for campgrounds was $150, averaging $20 a night for two people.

  • What is the significance of the Golden Circle route in Iceland?

    -The Golden Circle is a popular route in Iceland that includes significant sites such as Geysir and Gullfoss waterfall, and is a great option for those with less time to explore the island.

  • What is the name of the restaurant recommended for a meal in Iceland, and what makes it special?

    -The recommended restaurant is Friðheimar, a family-run greenhouse that uses geothermal energy to grow tomatoes and has a restaurant featuring tomato-based dishes.

  • What is the name of the waterfall that is said to have a hidden treasure chest behind it?

    -The waterfall with the legend of a hidden treasure chest is Skógafoss.

  • What is the name of the famous plane wreck site on the southern coast of Iceland?

    -The famous plane wreck site is called Sólheimasandur, which is the remains of a US Navy DC3 aircraft that crash-landed in 1973.

  • What is the name of the hot spring that the travelers visited on their second day?

    -The travelers visited the hot spring at Hvítárnes, which is a natural hot spring with a Viking-looking hut.

  • What is the name of the waterfall that travelers can walk behind?

    -The waterfall where travelers can walk behind is Seljalandsfoss.

  • What is the total cost for the trip to Iceland excluding flights, as mentioned in the script?

    -The total cost for the trip to Iceland, excluding flights, was $3,957.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Exploring Iceland's Ring Road Adventure

This paragraph introduces a 10-day budget trip around Iceland, focusing on the Ring Road, which offers access to the island's most stunning sites. The travelers rented an all-wheel vehicle with a pop-up tent for flexibility, costing $794 for the vehicle and $1,095 for camping gear. They encountered various terrains, from smooth pavements to rough gravel roads and f-roads, emphasizing the importance of sticking to designated routes for safety. The total cost for campgrounds was $150, and they budgeted $125 for groceries, highlighting the expensive dining options in Iceland.

05:00

🏞️ Discovering Iceland's Natural Wonders

The travelers share their experiences visiting Iceland's natural attractions, starting with the natural hot spring at Hunal, the largest waterfall at Gullfoss, and the greenhouse restaurant Frida. They ventured into the highlands of Landmannalaugar, encountering diverse landscapes and a memorable hike through a lava field. Despite a challenging river crossing, they enjoyed the beauty of Iceland's nature, including a campsite with a hot spring and a waterfall.

10:01

🚗 Continuing the Journey Through Iceland's South Coast

The script details the travelers' encounters with Iceland's south coast, featuring the famous Skógafoss waterfall, the lesser-known Seljalandsfoss, and the historical site of a 1973 plane crash at Sólheimasandur. They also visited Dyrhólaey, known for its puffin colonies and arch-shaped rock formations, and camped in the coastal town of Vik, enjoying the local facilities.

15:05

🌅 Sunrise at Reynisfjara and the Majestic Glaciers

The fourth day began with a sunrise view at Reynisfjara, known for its black sand beach and basalt columns. The travelers continued through the surreal landscape of Eldraun Moss Field and visited the canyon formed by glacial waters. They marveled at the unique basalt columns at Skógar and the glacier Fjallsjökull, before ending the day at the mystical Vatnajökull National Park, home to the iceberg-dotted Diamond Beach.

20:08

🛤️ Exploring the East Coast and Northeastern Iceland

The travelers ventured off the Ring Road to explore the east coast, including a visit to the Port Town of Stokksnes, famous for its blue church. They enjoyed a special lunch of Icelandic lamb and cod and continued to the northeastern part of the island, where they visited the Dettifoss waterfall and the Askja crater. They opted for the Myvatn Nature Baths as a more affordable alternative to the Blue Lagoon, enjoying the geothermal pools.

25:08

🏞️ Hidden Gems and Cultural Landmarks in Northern Iceland

The journey continued along the North Coast, with a stop at the Godafoss waterfall, a hot spring overlooking the ocean, and the town of Akureyri with its heart-shaped traffic lights. The travelers camped in Hofsós and visited the oldest church in Iceland, the hot spring at Fossá, and the historical site of Erik the Red's homestead. They ended the day in the town of Grímsey, on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

🏛️ Thingvellir National Park and Reykjavik's Cultural Attractions

The final stops on the Ring Road included the Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the cultural landmarks of Reykjavik. The travelers explored the city's center, visited the iconic Hallgrimskirkja church, and indulged in Icelandic cuisine, including hot dogs, skyr, and traditional pastries. They also experienced the unique rye bread ice cream and decided to skip the fermented shark due to its strong taste.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Iceland

Iceland is an island nation in the North Atlantic Ocean, known for its diverse landscapes, geothermal features, and a population of less than half a million people. In the video, it is the main travel destination, offering a variety of natural wonders and outdoor activities that are central to the theme of exploration and adventure.

💡Ring Road

The Ring Road, also known as Route 1, is a circular highway that circumnavigates Iceland, connecting various regions and providing access to many of the country's most stunning sites. In the video, the Ring Road serves as the primary route for the 10-day trip, allowing the travelers to experience the breadth of Iceland's natural beauty without backtracking.

💡Adventure

Adventure in this context refers to the exploratory and often physically challenging activities associated with travel, particularly in natural environments. The video's theme revolves around the adventurous spirit of exploring Iceland's untouched landscapes and participating in activities like hiking and camping.

💡Budget travel

Budget travel is a form of travel where the focus is on minimizing costs while still enjoying the experience. The video provides insights into how to explore Iceland on a budget, including tips on renting vehicles, camping, and grocery shopping to save on food expenses.

💡Camping

Camping is an outdoor recreational activity involving overnight stays in tents or other temporary shelters. In the video, camping is the chosen accommodation method, allowing the travelers to experience the natural environment up close and save on lodging costs.

💡All-wheel drive

All-wheel drive refers to a vehicle configuration where all wheels receive power from the engine, providing better traction and stability, especially on rough or slippery surfaces. In the script, an all-wheel drive vehicle is rented for the trip to handle Iceland's diverse road conditions, including gravel and F-roads.

💡F-roads

F-roads in Iceland are rough, unpaved routes that often lead inland and may involve river crossings. They are not suitable for all types of vehicles and require caution. The script mentions F-roads as part of the off-the-beaten-path experiences that travelers can encounter while exploring Iceland.

💡Geothermal energy

Geothermal energy is heat derived from the Earth's interior, used for various purposes, including heating and electricity generation. The video mentions a greenhouse that uses geothermal energy to grow tomatoes, illustrating Iceland's utilization of its natural resources.

💡Waterfalls

Waterfalls are a natural phenomenon where water flows over a vertical drop or cliffs, often creating scenic and dramatic landscapes. The script describes several waterfalls, such as Gullfoss and Skógafoss, which are central to the video's exploration of Iceland's natural beauty.

💡Hot springs

Hot springs are geothermal features where heated water flows from the Earth's crust, often used for relaxation and bathing. The video includes visits to various hot springs, such as the Secret Lagoon and the hot spring at Foss, showcasing Iceland's geothermal wonders.

💡Cultural attractions

Cultural attractions refer to sites or activities that reflect the history, art, or traditions of a place. In the video, Reykjavik's cultural attractions, such as the Hallgrimskirkja church and traditional Icelandic foods, provide a glimpse into the country's cultural heritage.

Highlights

Exploring Iceland's diverse landscapes feels like visiting a different planet.

Iceland, with a population of less than half a million, offers untouched landscapes for adventurers.

The Ring Road circumnavigates Iceland, providing access to breathtaking sites without backtracking.

A budget-friendly 10-day trip itinerary includes an 8-day road trip around the Ring Road and 2 days in Reykjavik.

Renting a vehicle is the best way to explore Iceland, with options like cars, camper vans, or all-wheel drive vehicles.

Off-roading is illegal in Iceland; stick to designated campsites and paved roads.

Camping on top of the vehicle eliminates the need for booking additional stays.

The total cost for vehicle rental and camping gear was $794 for the vehicle plus $1,095 for the gear.

Icelandic Krona is the local currency, but credit cards are widely accepted; however, carrying cash is still advisable.

Groceries for a week cost approximately $125, a budget-friendly alternative to dining out.

Hveravellir, a natural hot spring with a Viking Hut, offers a unique bathing experience.

Gullfoss, Iceland's largest waterfall, is a must-visit site on the Golden Circle route.

Fridheimer, a family-run greenhouse restaurant, offers a unique dining experience with tomato-based dishes.

Landmannalaugar offers stunning highland landscapes with a variety of mineral colors.

Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls are iconic and majestic, with legends of hidden treasures.

The Solheimasandur plane wreck is an eerie symbol of Iceland's unforgiving landscape.

Reynisfjara beach is known for its black sand and basalt columns, but caution is advised due to powerful waves.

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, part of Vatnajokull National Park, is home to countless icebergs on the Diamond Beach.

Vestrahorn Mountain is believed to be inhabited by hidden elves and spirits, adding to its mystical allure.

The total cost for a 10-day trip to Iceland, excluding flights, was $3,957.

Transcripts

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welcome to Iceland an island with a

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landscape so diverse it feels like

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you're visiting a different

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[Music]

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planet with a population of less than

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half a million people much of Iceland

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remains untouched and is the perfect

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place for adventurers at heart to

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explore to truly experience the wonders

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of Iceland there's no better way than

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embarking on a journey along the Ring

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Road which circumnavigates the entire

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Island providing access to some of its

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most breathtaking sites without the need

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for

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backtracking our 10-day trip began with

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a flight from Dublin marking our 40th

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country visited for our year-long trip

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around the

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world we opted for an 8-day Road Trip

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Around The Ring Road followed by 2 days

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to explore the capital city of

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reic if you're looking to do something

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similar on a budget this video is for

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you I will go through our full itinerary

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budget and what you need to know to have

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a great time in

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Iceland before diving into our itinerary

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here are a few essential tips for

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navigating

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Iceland the best best way to explore

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Iceland is by renting a vehicle options

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include cars Camper vans or like us an

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all-wheel vehicle where we opted to have

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a pop-up 10 on top for added convenience

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and flexibility so that we could change

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our plans along the Route since we did

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not have to book additional stays the

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cost was

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$794 for the vehicle Plus

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$1,095 for the tent and camping gear

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this included a full camping set

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including sleeping bags a cook stove

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dishes a table and chairs and what was

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supposed to include a box for Wii except

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that the staff forgot to put it in the

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vehicle we also wanted all-wheel drive

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which brings me to the next thing you

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need to know while the Ring Road offers

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smooth pav stretches if you Veer off of

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it be prepared for gravel roads and what

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are called f roads which are rough

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unpaved routes that often lead Inland

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and make involve River Crossings

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off-roading is illegal so stick to

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designated campsites by camping on top

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of the Jeep we did not have to book any

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stays but we did have to pay for

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campgrounds which cost us $150 total

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which was on average $20 a night for two

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people the Icelandic Crona is the

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country's currency but credit cards are

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widely accepted all around the island

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however it's still advisable to carry

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some cash cash for things like

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Campground showers eating at a

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restaurant is expensive think like $20

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for a bowl of soup so to save some money

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our first stop after landing at the

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airport and picking up our rental car

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was to go to the grocery store where we

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got a week's worth of food for

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$125 and then just treated ourselves to

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a few meals along the way also I will do

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my best with Icelandic pronunciation but

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since I already know that I will fall

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short I ask for Grace in the comments

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for our itinerary on day one we flew in

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picked up our rental car and went

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grocery shopping before we drove past

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ruic continuing East along the Ring Road

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to our first campsite to set ourselves

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up to be able to get a good start on the

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Ring Road the next day this part of the

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Ring Road closest to ruic overlaps with

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a popular route called the Golden Circle

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which is a great option if you have less

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time to explore the island we set up our

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camp and went to bed early so that we

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would be ready for the next long

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day for day two to beat the crowds we

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packed up our campsite up early and

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started the day at hunal which is a

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natural hot spring with a viking looking

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Hut this privately owned land used to be

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a free-for-all to visit but with his

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growing popularity it now costs 2500

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Icelandic Crona or $17 USD per person to

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visit and they limit the amount of

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people to about 12 to 15 to avoid

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overcrowding we were the first people

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there right at 8:00

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a.m. and had a blissful 15 minutes of it

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all to ourselves before more people

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started to

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arrive the pool was originally built by

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a farmer in the 1890s to do laundry and

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take baz in

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today it's the perfect place for

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tourists like ourselves to soak like we

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did for about 45 minutes with the max

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time allowed being an hour and 30

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minutes this stop also has a shower on

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site that you can rinse off after next

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we continued along the road to gulfos

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Iceland's largest waterfall which gives

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the Golden Circle its name gulfos

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meaning waterfall of gold G meaning gold

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and Foss meaning waterfall in Icelandic

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[Music]

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for lunch we continued on to free

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timer if you're going to spend money at

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one restaurant on the island we

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recommend this one be it it is a family

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Run Greenhouse that uses geothermal

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energy from the island to grow tons of

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tomatoes and has a restaurant with every

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item on the menu featuring tomatoes that

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they grow in house including an iced

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tomato latte which I tried and was quite

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good we got the all you can eat soup and

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bread bar that includes coffee and ate

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as much as we possibly could for $25 per

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person and you get to sit and eat

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surrounded by the tomato

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plants for the afternoon we went up into

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the highlands of landman

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[Music]

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aler this is where we end Ed up on some

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f roads but it was totally worth it once

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we made it to the

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[Music]

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[Applause]

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campsite the parking lot here is divided

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by a small River Crossing which we saw

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many people do but did not try it

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ourselves

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there was plenty of parking without

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having to cross it but note that the

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campsite is across the

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river we wish we had a whole day or two

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to dedicate to this

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area but we didn't arrive until early

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afternoon we did a 6.8 M Loop hike

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through a lava

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field and up onto the mountain where you

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can see a wide array of colors

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from the different minerals on the

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mountain it was a gorgeous hike and

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totally

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[Music]

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underrated and afterwards we relaxed in

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the hot spring that's back at the

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campground we got a waterfall there and

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a waterfall

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leaving this area we tried to take a

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shortcut to our campsite for the night

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but ran into a river

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crossing so we had to turn around and

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take the long way out and back around to

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the Ring

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Road Again it might have been wise for

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us just to Camp that night at land

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menager but with all the midge Flies

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that were swarming the campsite it

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really turned us

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away and although we didn't get to our

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campsite until really late we were back

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on the Ring Road so that we could get an

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early start the next day to continue

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on day three started by driving to CIA

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landos which is only a short hike from

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the parking lot to the stunning

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waterfall that you can walk

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[Music]

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behind further down the road and tucked

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away Along Iceland's dramatic Coast

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coastline is a quick stop to see a 99th

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Century ancient Cliffside settlement the

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buildings were carefully crafted using

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traditional Icelandic building

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techniques with walls made from stacked

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stone and turf roofs designed to blend

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seamlessly with a natural land

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[Music]

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ski next stop was

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skafos one of Iceland's most iconic and

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Majestic waterfalls standing at 60 M or

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197 ft tall skafos is a sight to

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behold fed by the skoga river the

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waterfall Cascades over the edge of a

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cliff sending plumes of mist into the

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air creating rainbows in the

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sunlight Legend has it that a treasure

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chest is hidden behind the waterfall

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left behind by a viking settler many

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have searched for the chest over the

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years but it remains

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elusive next to skafos is a lesser known

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and often overlooked waterfall

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ceru the waterfall is fed by the caverna

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river and drops gracefully over a rocky

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Cliff creating a picturesque scene that

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feels like something out of a fairy

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[Music]

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tale the hike to ceru is relatively

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short and easy through through a canyon

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making it accessible to Travelers of all

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ages and fitness

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levels continuing along the Ring Road on

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the south coast our next stop was to the

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famous Soul Hender plane rack which is

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the remains of a US Navy DC3 aircraft

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that crash landed on this remote beach

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in 1973 miraculously all the passengers

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survived but the wreckage has since

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become an eerie symbol of is unforgiving

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landscape the walk out is deceitfully

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long with nothing to look at except the

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flatness and black rock there is also a

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shuttle bus that runs every 30 minutes

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it takes about 10 minutes each way and

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costs about $21 USD per person for a

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round trip so we just decided to walk

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next along the way we stopped for a

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little picnic stop and to hike up to the

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famous picture spot where the Rocks

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perfectly frame the landscape behind

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it next we continued on to the deer Hy

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Viewpoint we nowed for its dramatic

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Cliffs with the arch-shaped rock

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formation that shuts out into the sea

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and this is also one of the best places

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on the island to watch puffing colonies

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up close

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[Music]

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it was hard for us to leave this area

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with so much to see but to end our day

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we camped in the coastal town of

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VI this Campground has a really nice

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facility and we cooked out and rested

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after a long day

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[Music]

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[Music]

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day four started by backtracking

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slightly outside of vek to riseria beach

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which we saved for Sunrise so that we

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could beat the crowds as this is one of

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the most popular stops on the southern

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coast it's known for its striking black

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sand towering Basalt columns and

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Powerful

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waves Legend has it these columns were

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once trolls who turned to stone by the

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Rising Sun but Rus fia's beauty comes

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with a word of caution the powerful

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waves and unpredictable currents along

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this Coastline can be dangerous and

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visitors are advised to exercise caution

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due to what are called sneaker waves and

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stay back at all

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[Music]

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times as we continued we pass through

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through the elron Moss Field a surreal

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landscape unlike any other found on

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Earth stretching as far as the eye can

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see this lava field which was formed

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during a massive volcanic eruption in

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the 18th century is blanketed in a thick

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layer of green moss here it was dry due

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to the lack of rain when we visited but

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it still creates a mesmerizing contrast

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against the St black volcanic rock

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beneath it's very important though to

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not walk on the Moss as it takes years

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to

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grow next was a canyon carved by the

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glacial Waters of a river over

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time this Majestic Canyon offers a

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glimpse into the geological forces that

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have shaped Iceland's of rugged

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[Music]

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terrain continuing down to the southeast

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we hiked about a mile out to Saras which

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is set apart from other waterfalls in

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Iceland with its incredible backdrop of

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Basalt cins which resemble a magnificent

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Organ Pipe

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formation a few minutes more down the

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road is fenus yokut

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Glacier which is a short walk from the

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parking lot and is is the outlet Glacier

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of vat yuk the largest ice cap in

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Europe as temperatures rise andall the

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glaciers shift and change carving out

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new creases and Ice formations with each

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passing year and is a place to

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definitely use caution while

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exploring next was one of the most

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popular stops on the South Coast Diamond

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Beach as you step onto the black sand

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shores of Diamond Beach you will be

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greeted by a breathtaking

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sight countless icebergs sculpted by

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Nature dotting the coastline like

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glistening Jewels strewn across the

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sand these icebergs have been broken off

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in the nearby Lagoon and are carried out

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to sea by currents from being washed

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ashore this also turns out to be a great

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spot to watch seals as the tide rolls in

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[Music]

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we ended day four at the vestro Horn

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Mountain according to Icelandic folklore

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Vester horn is said to be inhabited by

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hidden elves and Spirits who are said to

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protect the mountain and its surrounding

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landscape whether or not you believe in

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these ancient Tales there's no denying

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the mystical Allure of the vestra horn

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not only is there a stunning reflective

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Beach here here but there's also a

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lighthouse a coffee shop an abandoned

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Viking movie set and a campground where

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we spent the

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[Music]

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night we started day five at Sunrise so

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that we could catch the reflective beach

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at the perfect time and we the only

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people out

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there we then went to the Viking village

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where again since we were there nice and

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early we were the only

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people and then before we left this area

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we went to the Viking Cafe where we had

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Icelandic waffles called vaffa which

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come in the shape of Hearts before we

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hit the road to explore the east coast

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of Iceland for the

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day by driving about 20 minutes off of

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the Ring Road to the Port Town of stus

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furer famous for its little blue church

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and its popularity as a stop for cruise

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ships we scored big with a two for one

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lunch special here at the Nordic

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restaurant where we were able to try

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Icelandic lamb and freshly caught Cod

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for the price of one

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plate this did turn out to be a long

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driving day but we made it to the

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northeastern part of the island by

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around 5:00 p.m. where we made it to the

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stoil canyon which was a short hike out

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to this stunning

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spot although we were there when the

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water was high and unfortunately pretty

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brown this spot is known for its vibrant

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Blue River which winds its way through

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the basal Canyons creating a striking

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[Music]

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contrast we continued along to a

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campground on the northern part of the

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island for the night it turned out to be

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a super nice Campground with a

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restaurant and grassy Rolling

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Hills day six started at dtif fos

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Europe's most powerful

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waterfall with a height of 44 M or 144

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ft and a width of 110 M or 330

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ft for our next stop of the day we vent

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Ed Into the Heart of an unworldly

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landscape stopping at the Cavite crater

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which was formed during a volcanic

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eruption in the 18th century this Lake's

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coloration is caused by the presence of

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minerals and gases seeping up from deep

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within the Earth this crater is also

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steeped in history and folklore with

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Tales of hidden treasures and mythical

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creatures that are said to dwell within

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its depths the only creatures present

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while we were there were the Mitch flies

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which like to hang around our heads and

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follow us

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everywhere since we knew we would be

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traveling to the northern part of

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Iceland where not as many Travelers make

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it to we decided to skip the Blue Lagoon

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and go instead to the meat nature bass

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to save on costs and be fighting less

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crabs the bass are fed by a combination

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of hot spring water and cool groundwater

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and are rich in silica sulfur and other

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beneficial minerals the cost was $98 per

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person and after we soaked for a few

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hours we enjoyed some treats at the cafe

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make sure you ask for your one free

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refill of coffee and your free refill of

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soup these things matter in Iceland next

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we went to goth ofos which translates to

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Waterfall of the Gods Legend has it that

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goth ofos ear earned its name during its

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conversion of Iceland to Christianity in

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the year 100000 ad the chieftain grew

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his statues of the Norse gods into the

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waterfall thus symbolizing the country's

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conversion to

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Christianity we continued along the

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North Coast and stopped at a true Hidden

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Gem right before you get to the town of

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accurary is a hot spring that's on top

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of a waterfall that overlooks the ocean

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and the town across the bay this spot is

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simply called Foss or waterfall since it

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doesn't really have a name it is off of

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Route 83 down a gravel road it was one

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of our single favorite spots of the

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whole trip and for the most part we had

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it to ourselves because not as many

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people know about this

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[Music]

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stop it was so hard to leave the hot

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spring but next we drove through the

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town of ACU

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which has the heart-shaped red traffic

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lights and then we ventured a little

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ways off of the Ring Road to Camp that

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night in the town of Hof sauce which is

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one of the oldest trading ports in

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Northern Iceland dating back to the 16th

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century on our way there we passed by

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some beautiful River braids to our left

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on Route 76

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[Music]

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the reason that we camped so far up here

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was so that we could start day seven

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right in early at garar kirkia the

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oldest church in Iceland over the

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centuries the church has weathered

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storms earthquakes and other challenges

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yet it remains a Beacon of Hope and

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inspiration for generations of

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icelanders our next stop of the day was

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another dip into a hot spring at fost

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log this one is also a little off of the

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beaten path next to a river which turns

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into a

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waterfall this was also one of our

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favorite stops with a short walk out

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from the parking lot which has a $5

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honesty box for

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parking this was another situation where

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we got lucky with a window of time to

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have the hot spring to

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ourself at around 10:00 a.m. in the

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morning but once the crowds started to

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show up we decided it was time to to

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leave to make room for more tourists as

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it didn't take long for the spot to feel

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very

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overcrowded so we continued along the

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Northwestern coast of

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[Music]

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Iceland where we went to a beautiful

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Canyon that's been carved over a

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millennia by the river and waterfall

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that run through it

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next we continued along to a historical

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site for the afternoon which is believed

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to be the homestead of Eric the Red the

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legendary Norse explorer who is credited

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with establishing the first Norse

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settlement in Greenland the long house

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reconstructed on its original site

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offers a glimpse into the daily life of

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Viking settlers we found the museum

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however to be overpriced charging us $50

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to walk into the sod reconstructed long

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housee if I had to redo it I would have

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just opted to view it from the outside

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or skip it all together to end our day

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we drove an hour and a half to our

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campsite for the night in the town of gr

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the fer on the snif

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peninsula here we grabbed some soup in

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the town which was the cheapest thing

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that we could

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find for day 8 we stopped at the

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stunning kirkell

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[Music]

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before continuing on to a beautiful

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Church on top of a hill that has a long

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road leading up to

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[Music]

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it next we drove to the end of the

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selness peninsula to see the orange

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Lighthouse dating back to the late 19th

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or early 20th

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century the coastline here was also

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beautiful to see and was a great stop

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before continuing along the southern

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part of the sness peninsula to the

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famous black

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church it's one of the few remaining

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black churches in Iceland and is

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considered a cultural and Architectural

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[Music]

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Landmark our very last stop on the Ring

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Road was thinger a UNESCO world heritage

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site located in southwestern Iceland

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about 25 mi from ruic thinger sits on a

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rift valley created by the separation of

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North American and Eurasian tectonic

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[Music]

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plates it was now time for us to

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organize and repack the Jeep we've been

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living out of for over a

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[Music]

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week this was not a proud moment as it

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had gotten pretty out of hand and so

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here we are just trying to get our life

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in order in the middle of the parking

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lot we turned our vehicle in and opted

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to use public

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transportation which was not convenient

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but did save us some money Day N we woke

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up in reic and explored the compact City

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Center which is easily explored by foot

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and is home to an array of shops

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restaurants cafes and the cultural

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attractions we visited one of re's most

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iconic landmarks hulm kikia is a

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towering church with a striking design

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inspired by Iceland's basal lava

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flows we also did a self-guided food

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tour trying the famous Icelandic hot

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dogs Hut the Byron's best to stand which

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was topped with crispy fried onions raw

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onions ketchup sweet mustard and

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rayad we also had skier which is a

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traditional Icelandic dairy product that

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resembles yogurt but is technically a

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type of soft cheese we also tried some

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amazing pastries including the Twisted

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donut and the famous cinnamon buns at

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bruo as well as lobster soup at the sea

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Baron by the picturesque

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Harper at Cafe Loki we tried the Ry

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bread ice cream with a dark rye

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Icelandic bread that was traditionally

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baked in pots or steamed underground

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using the geothermal heat everything you

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read online will tell you to try the

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fermented shark however this traditional

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Icelandic delicacy is not for the faint

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at heart we heard it leaves a really bad

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taste in your mouth for up to an hour so

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we decided to pass on that one day 10

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was time for us to pack our bigs and fly

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back to the US which we had left a year

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ago we caught local buses to try to save

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money to get back to the

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[Music]

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airport and there you have it how we

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spent 10 days in

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Iceland but now let's look at our total

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costs for the trip our biggest expense

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was the pop-up tent and camping gear

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that we rented for $1,095

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in place of renting stays along the Ring

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Road as an additional add-on package

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through the company where we rented the

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Jeep for

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$794 food was the next largest expense

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at

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$620 which included our initial grocery

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run and more groceries picked up along

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the way as well as all the food that we

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ate at restaurants guest is a large cost

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to consider if you are driving the full

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Ring Road has it can be as much as $10 a

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gallon costing us a total of $578

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after dropping off a rental car we spent

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three nights in an Airbnb in ruic for

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$400 for the cost to go to the different

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Hot Springs across the island including

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the mivat nature bath our total was

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$166 to take the local Transportation

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around ruic and back and forth from the

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airport it cost us

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$154 and finally every campsite has a

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fee per person and a lot of the parking

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lots at the popular stops also have fees

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which came out to $50 total for us so

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our total not including flights for 10

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days in Iceland came out to $

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3,957 when we visited in mid August I

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hope this guide gave you some insight as

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you plan your next trip to Iceland if

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you found this to be helpful please

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consider subscribing for more travel

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tips and inspiration please let us know

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in the comments which country guide

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you'd love to explore next and thanks

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for watching watching

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[Music]

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